Making a living in Dongguan, her fiery red lips offer me tenderness.

At 26, she's still a fledgling. It's unbelievable. What kind of bizarre thing is this?

"Xiaoyang, don't you believe me?"

"No, no, it just seems a bit unbelievable."

"What's so incredible about it? There are plenty of girls my age in the factory who haven't been in a relationship."

"Xiao Yi, what's the situation like in your hometown?"

"My hometown is Xiangyang, Hubei, you know? My parents raise fish at home, and many people in our area raise fish."

"Oh, then your family must be quite well-off."

"It's alright, considering it's in the countryside."

"Didn't you go on blind dates at home?"

"When I went home last year, someone came to set me up on a blind date, but I didn't like it and I rejected them. I rarely go home anyway."

"oh!"

"Xiaoyang, what's going on between you and Liu Jing? Have you two had sex?"

Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?

"Of course it is."

"On the first night I came to look for a job, I couldn't possibly stay at the factory, so I stayed at a hotel in the urban village behind our factory, and she stayed with me."

"Did you two have sex?"

"It was just one night. After that, I stayed in the factory dormitory. You don't need to know every detail, do you?"

"Scumbag!"

"You asked me that yourself, so I'm just telling you the truth."

"Has Liu Jing told you about her previous boyfriends?"

"I did tell her. She said she broke up with her boyfriend almost two years ago. He was the electrician at your factory."

"Ding Yang, aren't you disgusted? She's already had a boyfriend."

"These days, she's almost 27, isn't it normal for her to have had boyfriends?"

"I've never talked about it."

"You haven't dated anyone because you haven't met the right person, it doesn't mean you don't want to."

"So, how about you talk to me now?"

"Liu Jing and I have already gotten back together. Doesn't that bother you?"

"It's okay, men and women are different, I'm open-minded about it."

I go!

"Xiaoyi, my family isn't well-off, we're very poor. My father passed away a long time ago, and I was raised by my grandparents. Don't you mind?"

"As long as you're good to me, I don't care about these things. Who among us migrant workers comes from a wealthy family?"

"Thank you, but I really don't want to hurt you. To be honest, I might not be able to stay for long before I leave."

"You're not planning to work here anymore?"

"Xiaoyi, I'm already 24, not young anymore. I'm a man, unlike girls. Staying here is a waste of my youth. I've thought about it a lot lately, and I don't plan to work in a factory anymore."

"So what are you planning to do?"

"I plan to look for another job."

"What kind of job?"

"I'm telling you this, and I'm not afraid to admit it, but I want to find a job where I can meet rich people. There's no chance of getting ahead in a factory, especially for an ordinary employee like me."

"Xiaoyang, if you do well, I'll promote you to team leader in six months."

"Even if I become a team leader, so what? Even if I become a supervisor, so what? I'm still just an employee. A little over 2000 yuan a month means nothing to me."

"Xiaoyang, you're not thinking of going astray, are you?"

"Don't worry, I won't do anything illegal. I plan to work here for a while longer and then quit. The factory doesn't deduct wages, so I can still get some money when I leave."

"Xiaoyang, what will I do if you leave? I really like you."

"Xiaoyi, just focus on your work. It's not easy to become a supervisor. There aren't many supervisors in the factory. Your job is relatively easy. You might not be able to find a better job if you leave this factory."

"You're a girl, unlike me. Girls need stability, while boys need to explore."

"Xiaoyang, do you like Liu Jing?"

"To be honest, I slept with her after only one day of getting to know her. It was all a bit dazed, and I didn't even know if I liked her or not."

"Xiaoyang, what do you plan to do after leaving the factory?"

"I haven't decided yet, but I'm not content with the status quo. Rather than working in a factory, I'd rather be a motorcycle taxi driver; at least that would be more free."

"Xiaoyang, I'm willing to go with you. As long as you're willing to take me with you, I can give up this job. Even if I have to wander with you, I'm willing."

Ding Yang was suddenly moved.

"Xiao Yi, you should work here and stay. I can't bear to let you wander with me. We're good friends, and I'll come to see you when I have time."

"Are we just going to be friends? I want to be your girlfriend."

"I don't want to hurt you; I can't take responsibility right now."

"I'm 26. I don't need you to take responsibility for me. I'm responsible for myself. If I want to get married, I can go home and go on blind dates. I just want to find someone I like to be with."

Ding Yang didn't know how to answer for a moment.

The two finished their milk tea.

"Xiaoyi, let's go back. It's almost 9 o'clock, and there won't be any more buses soon."

"Weren't you going to get your feet washed?"

"Why bother washing? You've worked hard all day, and half an hour is all gone. Let's go, or the last bus will be gone."

"If you don't have one, you don't have one. You can take a taxi."

A short while later, the two went downstairs. Wang Yi held Ding Yang's hand tightly, and the two walked hand in hand. Ding Yang could feel that her palms were sweating.

Outside the supermarket, Ding Yang bought a pack of Temex.

"Xiaoyang, let's go see a movie."

"Xiaoyi, the dormitory closes at 11 o'clock. I'm just a regular employee, unlike you who's a supervisor. I can't get in. It's almost 9 o'clock now. After watching the movie, the dormitory will be closed."

"If the dorm is closed, we won't go back; we'll stay at a hotel."

Ding Yang was stunned. Are all women this casual?

"Xiaoyi, I can't take that responsibility. To be honest, I'm not a good man. If you stay at a hotel with me, you might lose your virginity that night, and I don't want that."

Wang Yi blushed and her heart pounded.

"As long as you treat me well, I'm willing to be your girlfriend."

Speechless. Are virgins this easy to be?

A short while later, the two boarded the bus, only to find it was already packed.

The two could only stand. With Ding Yang's physique, the girl felt quite safe with him.

Back in Yantian,

Ding Yang asked:

"Should we go online, go ice skating, or watch a movie?"

"Let's sing karaoke, at an open-air karaoke bar."

"I can't sing well, and I don't like to sing. I'd rather go to an internet cafe and play games. That's more practical."

"I'll listen to you!"

"The two went to an internet cafe. Ding Yang played Legend of Mir, and Wang Yi played Audition Online."

Time flies when you're in an internet cafe; it was almost 11 o'clock an hour later.

Ding Yang got off the plane.

Let's go!

"Xiaoyang, shall we go get some late-night snacks?"

"Xiaoyi, it'll be 11 o'clock in a few minutes. The dorms are closing, and if I want to get some late-night snacks, I really won't be able to get back. Are you sure you want to go to a hotel with me?"

"What's there to be afraid of?"

"Alright, let's have a late-night snack first."

The two went to a street food stall and ordered two servings of stir-fried noodles, one serving of snails, and a bottle of beer.

On the street near the Shinano factory, the dormitories close at 11 p.m., and the whole street gradually becomes quiet after 11 p.m.

The two were having a late-night snack when the shop was empty. Wang Yi kept glancing outside, looking guilty.

Ding Yang almost laughed.

"Eat up!"

Ding Yang ate very quickly, finishing a bottle of beer in just a few gulps.

Did you bring your label?

"I brought it!"

About half an hour later,

The two finished eating.

Ding Yang laughed and said, "Are you really going to a hotel? I'm out of money."

"I have money on me, but you're not allowed to bully me."

Ding Yang wanted to laugh, but he didn't say anything.

The two were walking on the street, where many late-night food stalls were packing up to close.

Let's go!

Wang Yi said, "The urban village is over there."

"You silly girl, you actually want to go to a hotel? What are you thinking? That's unhealthy. If I just went to a hotel and slept with you, would I still be a man?"

"Don't worry, you're the QC supervisor at the factory. You've been working here for so many years, the security guards all know you. They won't stop you. Don't be nervous. Just act confidently like you always do at work and walk right past them."

Upon arriving at the front gate of the Shinano factory, Wang Yi hung the factory badge around his neck.

He shouted, "Open the door!"

The security guard glanced at him and, seeing it was Wang Yi, immediately opened the small door. The two guards didn't dare utter a sound.