The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

Tang Qiu shook her head, fending off an incredulous laugh. “I’m not upset. It’s just… shocking they’re together, that’s all.”

Over the phone, Xie Qingqing had revealed that Ning Mufan had gotten into a fight at a bar last night. Afterwards, photos of him and Niu Caijie in bed together had been leaked on her social media. Despite her friend’s worry, she truly wasn’t upset. She recalled the events of the previous day.?He confessed to me, and went to sleep with Niu Caijie right afterwards.?It had all been a sham, then, leaving her flustered over nothing.

“You don’t have feelings for him at all?”

“Of course not!” f𝑟e𝒆𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗oѵ𝐞𝗹.c૦𝑚

“Oh.” A pity, Xie Qingqing privately mused. “I was hoping you could escape from your sickly husband and find yourself a better man. I just didn’t expect that Ning Mufan would… Well, in any case, that crazy bitch Niu Caijie got lucky with him!”

“My husband will recover,” Tang Qiu insisted. “Even Professor Sun said so. Besides, he’s undergoing treatment now.” At the mention of her husband, her lips curved into a smile, but she didn’t notice. She and Ning Mufan had always been from two separate worlds; his confession had filled her with nothing more than a detached sort of surprise. He had his life, she had her own, and she had better things to do than engage in gossip about what he did with his.

Last night, Jiang Shaocheng had kissed her till she was breathless–then turned his back to her without warning. Dazed as she was, she had only managed to ask, “What’s wrong, dear?” He had insisted he was fine, but Tang Qiu wondered if he had been withdrawing from her in shame. His wife had been right next to him, yet he couldn’t…

With her medical knowledge, it wasn’t hard to imagine that a man without the ability to perform would view it as a weakness, a failure on the part of his masculinity.

***

Tang Qiu and Xie Qingqing were eating together in the canteen when Niu Caijie approached them, her expression smug. “I have news for you, Tang Qiu.”

Tang Qiu grabbed her friend’s arm, intending to move to another table, but Niu Caijie seized her wrist. “I slept with Ning Mufan,” she declared. “You’re not jealous, are you? He was so strong, so vigorous… I couldn’t get enough of him.”

Her words only left Tang Qiu irked and disgusted. Xie Qingqing, on the other hand, didn’t bother with restraint. “What’s there to be jealous of? Why don’t you show us a video too, if you’re so proud of what you did?” She ran a critical eye up and down Niu Caijie’s body. “On second thought, forget I asked. There’s not much of you to grab, and your face looks like someone threw up on it. I don’t want to lose my appetite.”

Niu Caijie slapped her across the face.

“I know what you’re really thinking, you bitch.” Her face was contorted with rage. “You’re just jealous because you like Ning Mufan, right? Listen: you’re not good enough for him. I’ve already slept with him, there’s no use pining after him. Good luck finding a man willing to use your body in the future.” f𝐫ee𝘄ℯ𝚋no𝐯𝐞l.c𝘰m

“You…” Xie Qingqing clutched her cheek. “How dare you? I’ll kill you!”

She lunged forward.

Tang Qiu was startled. Then she was pouncing on Niu Caijie like they were wildcats, tearing at her hair, kicking out, limbs flailing blindly. It was one thing to bully her–and another to hit her best friend. Niu Caijie fell backwards with a howl of pain. Her hair was ruffled, and scratches littered her face and neck. “You’ll pay for this!” she screamed, stabbing a finger at both of them.

“What are you so proud of?” Xie Qingqing yelled back. “You slept with him, that’s all. Do you think that automatically makes him yours? We all know about your family situation; he probably used you as he would a gutter whore. You both sicken me. You want to fight? Bring it on!”

A misunderstanding. The idea was so ludicrous. What misunderstanding could there be, unless Niu Caijie had forced herself on Ning Mufan? And she had wanted her best friend to end up with him, like an idiot. She met Tang Qiu’s gaze. They didn’t want to escalate things–but neither would Niu Caijie let the matter rest.

Xie Qingqing hoisted Niu Caijie up by the arm and shoved her against the wall. Her cheek was still stinging, so her hand lashed out and slapped Niu Caijie across the face.

“Weren’t you just bragging about being Ning Mufan’s woman? Where is he now? Call for your hero… see if he comes to save you!”

“What’s going on?” A male voice sounded from behind them.