Lustful? So What? - Chapter 23
Cheng Yedu and I maintained this arrangement.
He would fly to the U.S. every so often.
He had a cushy job at his family’s company, so he wasn’t busy. When Fang Xiaolin came to the U.S. for a visit, he was there.
Fang Xiaolin was incredulous. “Seriously, Zhixia? You’re actually going back to him?”
My weakness for handsome men is a fundamental flaw. I can’t control it.
After spending a few days with us, Fang Xiaolin said, “Whatever. As long as he’s good to you.”
“And anyway, you’re not like you were before. You don’t get so easily hurt by him anymore.”
That night, Cheng Yedu pinned me down in my room.
“Even the kid can see it.”
“You only care about your research. I’m just your fuel, a disposable consumable for science.”
I turned and kissed him. “That’s not true.”
He begged me to let him appear in my vlog.
“Your colleagues have been in it, that senior from your university has been in it…”
I was kissed until my mind went foggy, and I vaguely agreed.
When I woke up, I saw that he had posted a picture of me on his social media, devouring a burger outside my lab.
It was from the free burger day last week. I had taken him with me.
He had complained about how bad it tasted, but he still ate plenty.
The comments section was a war zone. Some people commented on lust and desire, while others dug up the video with Ji Tangli and said that the “other woman” deserved what she got.
Let them talk. He had come all this way to see me. I was willing to spoil him a little.
Epilogue
Thirty years old. The controlled nuclear fusion project our team was working on had a major breakthrough.
The technology was commercialized, bringing the cost of electricity down to a fraction of that from fossil fuels.
Everyone on the team became financially independent.
I looked back at the wishes I made on my 20th birthday:
Participate in a research project related to controlled nuclear fusion ✓
Get my PhD at MIT ✓
Buy my parents a big house in our hometown ✓
Learn to surf.
Travel the world ✓
Date a super, ridiculously hot guy ✓
To be determined (crossed out) 7. Save 1.5 million (crossed out) 7. Save 2 million ✓
Everything was checked off except for surfing.
Surfing was too hard. I had given up.
A few years later, I returned to China to teach at a university.
At the same time, I established a charitable foundation to fund high school and university education for girls in impoverished areas. I wanted to help more girls realize their potential and live a life of their own choosing.
I had several relationships. Cheng Yedu and I were on-again, off-again.
Netizens all figured out I was obsessed with looks. Most female netizens were understanding.
My mother, seeing that I wasn’t getting married, tried to persuade me.
“A man’s looks aren’t that important. What matters is that he’s a good person.”
No, Mom, it’s very important.
We women need to treat ourselves to something good to have the strength to work hard.
I have always believed this.
