Early in the morning, the landlord Pierre was arguing with the housekeeper Lia again, this time over a missing bag of bread.

The television news reported an explosion in the slums, with several casualties. The police strongly condemned such cowardly terrorist attacks.

Chen Yi put down his phone and told Miao Jing that a tourist from China had been stabbed and hospitalized yesterday after resisting a robbery attempt. Though their life wasn’t in danger, the incident had left everyone feeling unsettled.

Bogotá was equally rich in sunshine and rain. The entire city was divided into levels from 1 to 6, where the poor could barely feed themselves while the rich lived lives of extravagance – just like a city of magical realism straight out of a novelist’s pen. When Miao Jing chose Colombia, she had bet that Chen Yi would follow her here. As she had wished, her activities in Bogotá were essentially restricted – she never had the chance to go out alone. Freedom? Only in dreams.

Si Nan and Miao Jing had signed up for Salsa dance classes. Chen Yi would drive them there on weekends and spend the hour smoking outside the classroom. The male dance instructor inevitably encountered Chen Yi’s gloomy, irritated gaze, barely containing his agitation.

If only this blue-eyed dance instructor could speak more normally, Chen Yi’s gaze would have been much friendlier.

“Can I take a picture with you? I want to show my friends that angels do exist.”

When she first heard this line, Miao Jing couldn’t help but laugh. The sweet talk she rarely heard from Chen Yi was made up for by other men.

During casual conversation, the male instructor asked Miao Jing which neighborhood she lived in. Before she could answer, he had an epiphany: “Ah, I know – you live in my heart.”

Faced with such blatant flirting, Miao Jing hadn’t even processed it when Si Nan, who was better at Spanish, calmly gulped down half a bottle of water and screwed the cap back on.

She was used to it. They were all like this.

Though it never reached the level of sexual harassment, this kind of everyday flirting and teasing, the direct enthusiasm and compliments that came straight at you, still took Miao Jing a long time to get used to.

Dating culture was prevalent here, and couples breaking up and getting together was common. Relationships between men and women weren’t taken so seriously. Even in restaurants and bars, many people would hit on Miao Jing right in front of Chen Yi, which eventually led to him glowering with a threatening look, ready for a fight.

Did they think his 187cm height was just for show?

Latin American men were like Golden Retrievers – clingy and enthusiastic, wagging their tails and panting, with eyes full of love, but they’d run off with someone else after a bit of flirting.

Chen Yi was more like a wild dog, silent with his tail down, eyes fixed intently, occasionally baring his teeth in warning. When he got fierce, he’d pin his prey down on the bed by the neck. After getting out of bed, he’d lazily bristle his fur. This cycle repeated until not even scraps of his prey remained.

Miao Jing had been thoroughly worn out by him. Whether it was politely smiling at the incredibly handsome restaurant waiter, chatting a bit too long with backpackers from Northern Europe, or those uncontrollable phone messages – it all led to the bedside drawer being filled with small aluminum foil packages of various colors, with alarming annual consumption rate.

The atmosphere here was open, and very tolerant of sex. Anytime, that’s fine.

“Don’t use work as an excuse. If we don’t go wild now, are we waiting until retirement?” He said roguishly. “It’s just like eating – once you stretch your stomach, you get used to it.”

Miao Jing really couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him.

Chen Yi grinned shamelessly: “Haven’t you noticed your appetite has improved?”

She ignored him with cold eyes, but the flush on her cheeks remained, indescribably enchanting.

Miao Jing felt she might have gained a little weight, possibly from consuming too many creamy desserts. The underwear she’d brought from China was gradually being retired. Local lingerie brands never quite fit right, and the ones that did fit were too sexy and fiery. Chen Yi came up behind her, measuring with both hands and whispered something scorching hot in her ear.

After seeing so many Latin women with their voluptuous figures, Chen Yi found the sight before him even more sensually beautiful. He lazily smoked, brows slightly furrowed, his deep dark gaze fixed on her as she adjusted the pale green silk straps. His fingerprints were still visible on her flawless skin, faint red marks left from his passionate grip, particularly eye-catching.

His voice seemed steeped in strong liquor as his fingers lightly brushed over her cool skin, smooth as silk: “Does it hurt?”

“A bit sore.” She turned her head to look, examining her body, with a slightly complaining tone, “There’s more.”

There was more – all his love bites. He hadn’t expected her skin to be so delicate. Chen Yi rubbed his chin as he watched Miao Jing put on her shirt and long skirt, then a loose sweater over top. All that allure was instantly concealed, returning to her clean, cold, refined appearance.

If only her red lips hadn’t been slightly swollen from his kisses.

Life was both richly colorful and simply peaceful. On weekends they would watch movies – American films that hadn’t been released in China. They would put their heads together, struggling to follow the Spanish subtitles. After the movie, they’d eat at a nearby university, and play a game of pool in the student district. Some girls would stare at Chen Yi’s perfect backside, coming right over to flirt with him.

Miao Jing sat to the side, raising an eyebrow as she watched Chen Yi lean on his pool cue while talking to two S-curved bombshells.

Chen Yi pointed his cue at Miao Jing, saying he had a girlfriend, but the girls just shrugged carelessly, still insisting on leaving their phone numbers, saying he could call them after breaking up.

It was Miao Jing’s turn to sigh softly, staring at his ripped jeans, her mind recalling the image of his taut thigh muscles and perfect posterior.

As the Spring Festival approached, Miao Jing asked Chen Yi if he wanted to go back to China for a visit. She had 20 days of family leave she could take.

The round-trip tickets were certainly expensive. Chen Yi asked if she was planning to see Wei Mingzhen, but she shook her head: “No, I won’t see her. I’ll go back to Teng City.”

Since coming to Colombia, Miao Jing had called Wei Mingzhen a few times, chatting about work and life, but without very intimate contact. Wei Mingzhen was still young, with a family and children – it wasn’t yet time for her daughter to be concerned about her.

Teng City? Chen Yi had intermittent contact with Bo Zai and Mao, there was no need to specially go back to visit. Besides, they could celebrate the New Year anywhere. They’d never properly celebrated Spring Festival before, so why not save the cost of round-trip tickets?

Since they weren’t going back to China, Miao Jing booked tickets and hotels, planning for them to vacation in the Caribbean.

They stayed in Bogotá for New Year’s Eve. The Chinese friend circle had activities planned – Miao Jing’s company and its sister companies had found a venue to organize events, making dumplings together while watching the Spring Festival Gala, and even putting on their performances. Chen Yi had made some friends too, and getting together for hotpot at a restaurant on New Year’s Day would be nice.

On New Year’s Eve, Chen Yi drove everyone on several trips between the supermarket and the market. They bought beef, live fish, alcohol, and snacks from the supermarket, then seasonings and rice from the Chinese supermarket, and of course seafood, vegetables, and flowers from the market.

Miao Jing was particularly beautiful that day. She and Si Nan had gotten their hair permed at a salon called “Manhattan East,” instantly upgrading to sultry “American Beauties.” She even wore the most expensive dress that she’d been saving.

Chen Yi’s gaze traveled up and down her body, and he couldn’t help but smile, whistling with his hands in his pockets: “Dressed so beautifully – is some leader coming to inspect tonight?”

Indeed, a high-ranking leader was coming to extend greetings. To match her, Chen Yi rarely dressed formally – casual shirt and dress pants, shiny leather shoes, and a silver watch. He looked spirited and handsome, steady and refined, with the shallow scar between his brows adding a touch of ruggedness to break up the gentility.

Used to seeing him dress casually and boldly, even Miao Jing couldn’t help but stare.

“What are you spacing out about?” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his voice clear and mellow. “Stunned speechless?”

She didn’t deny it, honestly answering with an “Mm.”

Speaking from the heart, it would be hard for any more outstanding man to catch her eye.

Everyone gathered in the living room to chat and watch TV. While making dumplings, Chen Yi stood next to Miao Jing helping, the two of them very close, moving in perfect sync. They were pleasing to the eye and elegantly matched, creating an especially strong visual impact.

Si Nan and Miao Jing’s colleagues had never seen Chen Yi like this before, and made many jokes, saying he was like a different person – dignified and proper, no wonder Miao Jing liked him. They asked if they had plans to marry, though, with expatriate work, those with experience knew marriage and children were troublesome matters, each with their difficulties.

Miao Jing hadn’t thought about marriage, casually deflecting that it was still early, work was the priority for now. Chen Yi, arm around her shoulders, also said he wasn’t sure, just that they were still young and hadn’t considered those things.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, it wasn’t too late when they got home, but not wanting to bid early farewell to this special night, Chen Yi asked if she wanted to go for a drink at a bar. His eyes sparkled as he honestly said he wanted one of those hot bars right now, with colored lights swaying dreamily, holding his beloved girl close for passionate kisses on the dance floor, then finding a hotel for an explosive encounter.

Miao Jing smiled and said no, she wanted to take a walk on this gentle night. This time of year would be deep winter back home, even Teng City would have a chill. Though Bogotá’s weather wasn’t great, it wasn’t too cold. It was the dry season now, and the night temperature was quite comfortable. Chen Yi said okay, holding her hand in his pocket as they walked down quiet streets, turning into the brightly lit commercial district. Seeing a Korean fried chicken shop by the road, they stopped to buy a serving of spicy fried chicken with two bottles of beer, sitting in the shop’s small courtyard to eat and chat.

They talked about many things – how they used to spend Spring Festival, though there wasn’t much ceremony to it. Their current life was already happy enough. Chen Yi said Bo Zai’s wife had given birth to a daughter, just over a month old, adorably chubby. Even Mao had found a girl and was anxiously rushing to get married.

Family and children were… quite distant concepts for the two of them.

After finishing the fried chicken and heading home, they got a call from Si Nan inviting them to come play games at her apartment. Someone had dug out a Monopoly set and Chinese Checkers. They could also play cards and mahjong, betting small amounts for good luck in the new year. Chen Yi perked up at hearing this – his card skills were excellent, mastering various games. He effortlessly won a full pot, only to lose it all back to Miao Jing in the end.

They stayed up all night before going home to sleep.

After having a hotpot on New Year’s Day, Chen Yi went out for a while without saying where. Miao Jing stayed home packing for their vacation. Finally, they went to Bogotá airport and boarded a plane bound for the Caribbean.

San Andrés Island.