C1 The Story of Thirteen Soldiers

The city streets were alive with the ebb and flow of people and the steady stream of traffic.

Katie leaned against the street corner, her expression tense as she took a call, head tilted back in a listless gaze at the sky.

"Mom, I understand. A young, accomplished manager at an international trade firm, attractive and affluent, 33, the epitome of a Chinese gentleman! Alright! I'm heading over to meet him now and clinch the deal!" Katie hung up, glanced at the coffee shop across the street, inhaled deeply, and sent a quick text.

"Call me in 30 minutes—emergency backup!" She fired off the message to her friend Nancy, flung her phone into her bag, and hurried across the street.

Stepping into the coffee shop, Katie scanned the room and fixed her gaze on table eleven, where a man in a black suit sat, his back to her, looking quite respectable.

"Hello, I'm Katie," she said, approaching with a polite and charming smile.

She wasn't keen on this, but she had to put on an act.

If she didn't, her mother would surely be out to pick up the pieces.

"Hello! I'm Aize! Please, have a seat," Aize looked up, appraising Katie from head to toe. She was dressed in a red gown, statuesque and slim, with her glossy hair reaching her waist, her skin fair and features delicate, a straight nose, and clear, almond eyes—a stunning sight.

Katie took her seat, offering a demure smile as she assessed Aize. His looks were agreeable, and his glasses gave him an intellectual vibe.

"I'm 33, single, with my own car and house. My yearly income is 200,000. I have a strong family background and dual degrees. I've been involved with a few women, but they weren't quite innocent enough. To put it plainly, upon meeting Ms. Rowland today, I was smitten at first sight. I'm hoping we can progress quickly towards marriage," Aize said, pushing his glasses up and looking at Katie intently.

Katie was about to take a sip of her coffee when her hand trembled, nearly spilling it! She quickly set the cup down, sat up straight, and gave Aize a deep, searching look.

"What do you mean by 'not pure enough'?" His comment sparked her curiosity, and she was keen to know what this presumptuous man considered the benchmark for innocence.

Aize elegantly raised his coffee cup and took a sip, his annoyance clear as he spoke. "Before me, they've had a string of boyfriends, even lived with them! I've overlooked all that, but when we get to talking marriage, they suddenly get cold feet... probably afraid I'll discover they're not virgins."

Katie's eyes widened as she leaned back, almost biting her tongue. Her previous good impression of him dissipated instantly.

"You're saying you're a...?" Katie asked softly.

Flushing with anger, Aize replied, "Absolutely, I'm a virgin! In our traditional country, intimate relations are meant for the wedding night. The Jenkins family upholds strict morals; we never engage in casual relationships."

Katie took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "But you just said they wouldn't let you...?"

"Ms. Rowland, you've never been in love, have you? I want my wife to be emotionally untouched. But if you've had relationships, it's not a dealbreaker! For a man with a car, a house, savings, and a good job, my expectations aren't unreasonable, right? I hope you can see where I'm coming from," he explained, defending his views.

Katie fought to keep her cool, her hand quivering as she gripped her coffee cup, the temptation to splash it on him growing. Yet her manners held strong, and despite her annoyance, her smile didn't waver.

"What's next?" she pressed.

"I've finished decorating my new place. If you're agreeable, I'd like Ms. Rowland to move in within three days, and we can get the marriage license within a week. The wedding will be modest; we just need to collect the red envelopes we've previously given out," Aize stated, eager to start his married life with Katie, moving in together and tying the knot quickly.

"Oh, and why the hurry to live together before getting the license?" Katie asked, barely holding back a chuckle. It was then she realized she had been far too lenient.

Nancy, by contrast, would have had none of it – she might have even chopped him into pieces.

"Love between a man and a woman doesn't follow a timeline," he proclaimed confidently, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Catching Aize's eye, a thought crossed Katie's mind—three words that flashed with a warning: AIDS!

Katie casually flipped her hair, her smile taking on a mischievous edge as she locked eyes with Aize. "I once dated a guy—let me tell you, he was something else! Thirteen times a night was just par for the course, and twenty was within reach! I even had a pet name for him: 'Brother Thirteen.'"

Aize's expression darkened, his once radiant smile instantly replaced by a scowl.

"I'm a gold member at the Seven Days chain, so I can get a 15% discount right now," Katie said, pulling a card from her purse and offering it to him.

Aize's face turned even more sour, his disappointment clear as he regarded Katie.

She had been a goddess in his eyes; now, she was just another girl.

"Ms. Rowland, I have other commitments. I need to leave," Aize announced, picking up his briefcase and leaving in a huff, his face a mask of frustration, without a backward glance.

"Mr. Jenkins, you haven't settled the bill," Katie called after him, always one to have the last word. Aize returned, threw a fifty on the table with a deep, lingering look at Katie, and said, "We're splitting it."

He finished his coffee in one gulp, living up to the adage 'waste not, want not.'

"Alright, I'm heading out." As soon as Aize turned to leave, Nancy's call came through, right on cue.

"Got it," Katie said, recounting the entire eventful exchange to Nancy in vivid detail.

On the other end, Nancy tried to stifle her laughter. "Damn, six yuan for spicy soup, and the legend of Brother Thirteen! You're practically a copycat! Well played, girl..." Nancy was thrilled, both women known for their bold, carefree attitudes, and well aware that Katie was up for anything.

But with Aize frightened away, what would she tell Mollie?

If word got out that her daughter had been with a man before marriage, boasting about a night of thirteen rounds, the consequences were unthinkable...

As the evening set in and the city lights came to life.

At the elegant Jiangbei Restaurant.

Inside the VIP suite, a magnificent round table was heaped with fine cuisine.

Katie lounged in her chair, glancing up at Aize and their eyes met. Feeling a bit awkward, she quickly turned away, her almond-shaped eyes lifting to study the ceiling instead.

The company was in the midst of a partnership with a large foreign trade corporation, and tonight was set for negotiating the joint venture. With the manager's secretary out for the day, Katie was called in at the last minute to attend the dinner. She thought it would be a straightforward task, but she was in for a surprise. Across the table sat the man she was meant to meet on a blind date.

The same man who had been scared off by her frankness a whopping thirteen times was now staring at Katie with a raw intensity, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

The manager noticed Aize's unusual gaze. Having navigated the business world for many years and encountered countless individuals, he instantly understood the meaning behind Aize's look.

"Katie, why not toast to Mr. Jenkins?" the manager suggested, giving the silent Katie a nudge, hinting for her to break the ice.

Katie squinted slightly, picked up her purse, and stood up. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," she announced.

The manager watched Katie head toward the door, purse in hand. He stood up, prepared to call her out.