Free The Mystery of Revenge by G. X. Chen Page A

and admired him. He is so smart and generous, and he offered to rescue me from the financial disaster I was in at that time. You certainly know how difficult it is to pay for your rent and meals as a scholarship student, it’s ten times more difficult for me as I had to pay everything myself. It’s just impossible! So I saw him not only as a potential lover but also a lifesaver. I was so poor, and he was there, generous, sympathetic, and supportive. How could I not turn to him for help? I know it sounds very selfish, but it’s true.” She sighed. “Oh, Ann, I wish you couldunderstand.”
    Ann knew everything Yi-yun said was true but couldn’t accept her decision to leave Fang Chen. It was sounfair!
    “I wish we could have the permit to work off campus,” Ann said longingly. As foreign students with F-1 visa, they weren’t allowed to work outside the campus by immigration law. Only places would hire them were restaurants like China Dragon where she and Yi-yun were paid by the owners who hired illegal for lower wages. She was paid $2 an hour, plus tips, all in cash and no benefits. If she had a work permit, the outcome of her job search would be totally different. She hated working for the cold-blooded Coffin Face. “Or that we were able to take out student loans like American students do.” Then nothing like this would have everhappened.
    “Yes, I wish I were an American citizen,” Yi-yun said with a twisted smile. “It was my dream to come to America when I was a teenager. But I didn’t realize how hard life can be when you are not a citizen. Sometimes I do regret not listening to my parents when they told me to stay home in China. If I had listened, I wouldn’t be in this mess right now. I’d probably be married to a guy I really love and I would be a differentperson.”
    Ann nodded. Yes, probably. Did she have regrets? Yes, when she was abused by Coffin Face, when she stayed up all night to finish her school work, and when she could barely afford to pay the rent. Sometimes, she couldn’t help wondering if it had been worth to trade in her daily comforts forfreedom.
    “I know it’s difficult to justify having an affair,” Yi-yun continued in a dreamy voice. “But I do hope you canunderstand.”
    Ann dropped her eyes. “Have you talked to Fang Chen yet?” she asked without looking at Yi-yun.
    “No,” Yi-yun said in a small voice. “I haven’t. I don’t knowhow.”
    “But he needs to know,” Ann said quietly, looking up at her friend. Poor Yi-yun, how lost she looked at that moment. “It’s unfair to keep him in thedark.”
    “I believe he already knows,” Yi-yun said, turning her head away. “I told him whom I’ve been hanging out with from thestart.”
    “Then you have to choose between the two of them. You can’t live with Fang Chen when you are in love with Tom,” Annsaid.
    Yi-yun shook her head sadly. “I know. I have to leave Fang because I know I can’t live without Tom.” In addition to the intense love they shared, for the first time in her life Yi-yun had a purpose, which made her happy even though she had to work in order to make money. To be with Tom, she would no longer be an useless and spoiled princess but a heroine engaging in something huge and noble. Imagine supporting and nurturing a great musician! Imagine being the source of his beautifulmusic!
    “Poor Fang Chen,” Ann said helplessly because she genuinely liked him. “I don’t know what tosay.”
    “I know everybody will blame me for leaving him, but we all know there are two sides to every argument,” Yi-yun pointed outdefiantly.
    “I guess so,” Ann said meekly. “As the Chinese old saying goes, there is no black and white in adivorce.”
    “No, there isn’t” Yi-yun saidfirmly.

    “Have you talked to Fang Chen yet?” Ann asked Paul Winderman. “I think he is the ultimate victim in thisaffair.”
    “Yes,” he said. “We have, and I’m planning on chatting with himagain.”
    She nodded. “I