Chapter 15: The Courtesan

As Qin Feng stepped into the courtyard, he saw a car pull in. The door opened, and a woman named Li Jing got out. Qin Feng cast her a cold glance and then walked past her toward the courtyard gate.

Whenever he saw her, the image from that night—Li Jing entwined with another man in bed—flashed vividly in his mind, filling him with an overwhelming mixture of disgust, anger, and humiliation. It was because of this repulsive woman that Qin Feng had come to Shannan.

Qin Feng and Li Jing had been university classmates. She was the undisputed beauty of their class, while he was a campus celebrity—tall, handsome, and eloquent. Before their freshman year ended, they had become a couple, frequenting the campus grove and the guesthouse by the gate.

After graduation, Qin Feng went to work for a company in Shanghai, while Li Jing returned to their hometown, Shannan County, to work.

During the two years apart, Li Jing grew increasingly cold toward Qin Feng, and arguments became frequent. Qin Feng thought it was the strain of a long-distance relationship, so for the sake of love, he gave up his prestigious job and secretly applied for a civil service position in Shannan County. He was admitted with the top score.

On the night before he was to report to Shannan, without telling Li Jing, he bought flowers and a diamond ring, planning to surprise her with a proposal. But the moment he opened the door and stepped inside, what he saw was not her joyful smile but Li Jing, naked and tangled with another man in bed.

“Have you been fired? If you’ve been fired, you should leave Shannan as soon as possible—the farther, the better. Otherwise, he won’t stop,” Li Jing said to Qin Feng in a flat tone.

Qin Feng stopped and asked coldly, “Who is he?” The answer was obvious.

“His father is the executive deputy county magistrate—the most powerful deputy. Even the county magistrate listens to him,” Li Jing said smugly.

Suddenly everything that had puzzled Qin Feng for days became clear. He understood why Li Jing had betrayed him and why he, despite his top score, was assigned to this godforsaken place called Bishan.

“So this was all his doing?” Qin Feng asked coldly.

“Not just transferring you to Bishan. Everything you’ve suffered there lately, including being fired, was orchestrated by Li Ji. The township chief, Wang Yunfei, is his man,” Li Jing said, hands in pockets, looking pleased.

The doubts that had haunted Qin Feng finally vanished. He realized why his luck had been so terrible and why it felt like the entire world was against him. The root of it all was that man.

Qin Feng sneered twice. “Indeed, a big shot. How impressive.”

“What’s the matter? Not convinced? In Shannan County, killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant. You beat him so badly that night—do you think he’d let you off? When has he ever suffered such a grievance? Transferring you to Bishan and having Wang Yunfei torment you was just the first step. Now, with your dismissal, I’m telling you, this is far from over. As long as you stay in Shannan, he won’t spare you.”

“Look, for the sake of all these years we’ve been together, I came to see you secretly today. You’d better leave Shannan immediately!” Li Jing spoke with a condescending tone, full of pride.

“So I should thank you, right? Thank you for bringing another man into the house I paid for and into the bed I bought for you? Even the damn condoms were bought by me last year,” Qin Feng roared from the depths of his heart, unable to contain his fury.

“I know you hate me, but I don’t think I did anything wrong,” Li Jing still wore a self-righteous expression.

“What can you give me? What do you have? No power, no influence, no money. Can you help me get a permanent government post? You have nothing. With you, I’d never have the life I want, but he can give me all that. Compared to him, you’re worlds apart.”

“I admit I love you, but love doesn’t put food on the table. Compared to reality, so-called love is worthless,” Li Jing reasoned, growing more convinced of her own justification.

“Don’t you dare say you love me... it makes me sick,” Qin Feng said coolly, then turned and strode away.

“Where are you going?” Li Jing shouted after him.

“Is that any of your business?” he replied.

“Are you out of your mind? I told you his father is the deputy county magistrate. It’s easy for him to ruin you here. Why don’t you run? Do you want to die here?” Li Jing cursed loudly.