Chapter 1

“May I ask what your occupation is?”

While shopping, my best friend Li Shiyu and I were stopped by a reporter for an interview.

Li Shiyu couldn’t wait to answer for me:

“Full-time housewife!”

I took off my sunglasses and nodded in agreement.

“May I ask what your usual work entails?”

Through my sun-protection mask, I replied softly, “Dancing, cosmetic treatments, traveling abroad.”

The reporter was stunned.

“Then, may I ask, what is your monthly salary?”

Li Shiyu snapped, “Don’t you get it? She’s a full-time housewife. There’s no such thing as ‘salary’!”

The reporter changed the wording:

“How much do you spend each month?”

“As much as I want…” I twirled my hair with my finger, “But generally, it takes more than fifty thousand just to cover basic expenses.”

In that instant, every worker present clenched their fists.

The reporter took a deep breath and pressed on: “Then, may I ask, what’s the biggest setback you’ve ever encountered?”

I tilted my head back and looked at the sky, thinking for a full three minutes.

The reporter was exasperated: “Surely there must be something that’s gone wrong!”

I blew on my freshly done nails:

“There is, like not picking up dance moves quickly, or forgetting the choreography.”

The reporter started probing aggressively into my family background:

Local, only child, two apartments in the inner city, kids looked after by grandparents, housework done by a nanny.

All I have to do is eat, drink, and have fun.

I listened as her tone grew weaker and weaker, until she asked one last question:

“How old are you this year?”

With my mask on, only my eyes were visible.

Clear, bright, no bloodshot veins, not even a wrinkle.

I smiled and winked at her:

“Over forty.”

At that moment, everyone except me was shattered.