My Life with Narration-Chapter 250 - 249: Cigarette Knife

Tang Nan smoking was quite surprising to him, but upon closer thought, he can understand; the entertainment industry is stressful, and it’s not uncommon for entertainers to smoke.

The most important point is, although smoking is not a good habit, it’s considered a normal behavior, like drinking, something people are used to. Women smoking is the same, just that he hasn’t encountered it much.

Like old Su, he smokes too, but he isn’t addicted; he only thinks of cigarettes on certain occasions or when something happens.

Wang Xing’s addiction is much stronger than his. His not-so-well-off older brother, Li Maoquan, is an old smoker. Even many policemen at the station smoke.

But none of this was as shocking as Tang Nan because her image and identity seemed too perfect to him. When you think about it, female entertainers are also people, needing to eat and use the bathroom.

"You smoke too? I couldn’t tell," Shen Yi asked, looking at the two on the balcony.

The question was naturally for Su Qing because Tang Nan and the others have been friends for so many years and were fully aware of each other’s habits. How could it be only now that she would bring it up? Naturally, it must be him.

"Uh... just occasionally, occasionally!" Su Qing said dryly, seeing the dangerous expression on Shen Yi’s face.

For some reason, he suddenly felt like a teenager caught smoking by a parent, a little guilty.

Even now, his parents still didn’t know he smokes because he wasn’t addicted, and he never smoked at home, nor was he into drinking, making them believe their son to be a wholesome young man who neither smokes nor drinks.

"Occasionally? I doubt it! When did you learn to smoke?" Shen Yi asked, interested, gazing at the pack of cigarettes in her hand.

She had known Su Qing for more than two months, and this was the first time she saw him ready to smoke in front of her. There was never any smell of smoke at her house. From this, one could infer Su Qing was telling the truth when he said "occasionally."

Hearing this, Su Qing awkwardly scratched his head. His brain whirred, and he sighed lightly, speaking:

"That was the summer after my senior year when our class had just taken our graduation photos. A heavy sadness enveloped us, so I walked into a storefront and immediately saw it lying there in white, elegantly and calmly.

I nervously asked about the price, ten yuan, and I took it home with me.

Back home, I carefully opened the packaging, lifting it over and over again. Its long figure, its white attire—I couldn’t understand how it was only ten yuan."

Su Qing’s voice was low, magnetic, and with his slightly melancholic tone, leaving the three women momentarily speechless.

Shen Yi felt a bit overwhelmed; she wondered why he was so melancholy over her casual question.

Coming to this point, Su Qing shifted into personification.

"Just then, Little Jiao timidly asked: ’Brother, why do you keep staring at me? Aren’t you going to smoke?’

I snapped back to reality, took a gentle puff, it didn’t taste harsh, and there was a hint of citrus aroma. I smiled, but when Little Jiao looked at me, she incredulously asked if I found her too gentle.

I told her I thought it was just right and asked her to stay with me forever. Little Jiao was a bit surprised but agreed.

So, Little Jiao accompanied me night after night, until I went to university, a good friend passed away, and that day, I felt the fragility of life. It seemed Little Jiao sensed something and asked if I would let her accompany me again next time.

I said nothing, just remained silent. Until recently, I went to see my deceased friend and went back to the store, once again seeing Little Jiao. She was just as when I first met her, in white, gentle and elegant. I brought her home again.

She smiled and said, ’Long time no see.’ I was silent for a long time before finally thanking her. Thank you for accompanying me through the toughest times.

She just smiled and shook her head, replying, ’Thank you too, Brother. It’s been years, and rarely anyone comes back to see me anymore.’

She then accompanied me at home ever since."

The story was a bit sad, mixed with some of his experiences, naturally rich and emotional, bewildering the three women.

Shen Yi widened her eyes, the cigarette in Tang Nan’s hand burned out, and she still hadn’t reacted. Isn’t it just smoking? Why give such a strong reason?

As the two remained immersed in surprise, a choked voice appeared.

The landlady, slightly red-eyed, said: "Little Jiao must have waited for you a long time! You heartless man!"

Su Qing: ...

Bullshit, lady, didn’t you hear what I just said? Little Jiao, Bai Jiao, that’s a cigarette, not a girl. What does this have to do with being heartless?

Instead, Shen Yi rolled her eyes at him and then extended her slender finger, poking his forehead hard:

"Stop with the nonsense, what Little Jiao or not, I’ll confiscate these. Find some time to come to my office!"

Saying this, she quickly patted Wen Nanqing on the shoulder: "Sister Qing, just listen to his nonsense. He’s turning smoking into a spectacle; don’t let him deceive you, don’t overthink it!"

The landlady is such an elegant, gentle woman, soft and tender like water. Her character and unpleasant experiences make her especially sensitive. She can’t stand these soft tricks.

It’s as if she can empathize; even knowing he’s talking nonsense, she can’t help but get emotionally involved.

"But... it’s really hard. Why can’t they always be together? Ah, I see now, parting is the normal state!"

Shen Yi was left speechless and then turned back to glare at him again. She understood Wen Nanqing’s personality well and knew her emotional nerves had been touched again.

In contrast, Su Qing stood bewildered, wondering if he had said something wrong.

He merely used a bit of rhetoric to make his smoking habit appear less abrupt. Simply put, he wanted to find an excuse for himself to smoke; it’s a subconscious reflex for anyone feeling guilty.

But he seemed to have overdone it. As the saying goes, ’Of all the cruel tortures, any but the Cigarette Knife.’

But ultimately, it’s all about the art of language.

"Hahaha, Shen teacher is starting class! Little brother-in-law, you’re in trouble; I heard Sister Qing say you two are always charging in the office; is it true!

Out of curiosity, how much space is there under her office desk?"

Tang Nan laughed so hard that she could hardly control herself, thinking that Shen Yi resembled a teacher in some work. She even thought of a name for it: "My Next Door Beautiful CEO.avi"

Upon hearing this, Su Qing glared at Tang Nan and spat: "Pfft, do you want to be charged too?"

Tang Nan waved her hands while laughing: "No thanks, sister, I’m not for charging!"

"Oh, so you’re inflatable!"

"Eww~~ How could you think like that? Xiao Yi, your little man knows quite a bit, did you teach him?"

"Tang, I think you’re itching for a beating!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Don’t tear my clothes, my pantyhose! Sister Qing, help!"

Watching the two women rolling on the sofa, Wen Nanqing went up to Su Qing’s side, appreciating the little battle, and then asked:

"Will you let Little Jiao stay with you forever?"

Su Qing: ...

Hmm, there’s no denying the mighty force of the Cigarette Knife, yet the landlady is still not over it.

At 9 p.m., the little girl was sleepy, so the landlady took her home, and Tang Nan tagged along.

Once it was just the two of them in the room, Shen Yi saw him still busy on the computer with the stock market, thought for a moment, and placed the cigarette beside him, saying:

"Try not to smoke, it’s bad for your health!"

Even though she knew Little Jiao was a joke, Shen Yi was aware that some truths lie hidden in jokes.

This is Shen Yi; her rich experiences render her neither hard like young girls nor particularly forceful. She has her own methods for showing care to those she values, and it’s precisely this maturity that constitutes her greatest charm.

On the other hand, Su Qing was taken aback at first, then looked at Little Jiao on the table, exhaled deeply, and smiled, saying:

"I got it, don’t worry, I’ll be fine!"

"Alright then, sleep early!"

Watching her departing figure, for the first time, Su Qing felt a sense of acceptance from a woman, which felt really good.

...