Chapter 34 Chapter Thirty-Three

Wait, want something to drink?Ross asked. OK.I said. See you later.He said. Ross reported for work a few days ago.He's good-looking, and exudes a casual but just-right confidence in his hair and clothes.I don't understand how he wants to do this kind of work.Eighty percent of them just want to earn some cash, and when they are full, they pat their ass and leave.The first day he came, I tried to strike up a conversation with him.He looked at me curiously, and I babbled with him casually.I felt like I was blushing and hated myself and him for it.After that day, we worked in different areas of the site, blind to each other.I did the wiring, plumbing, plastering.He was responsible for the painting and finishing work.He has lost interest in me.

According to Petra, author of The Successful Dating Handbook.According to Davis, the most important principle is: care about others.Petra.Davis was wrong.She was dead wrong.The secret, as I've discovered, is this: Don't give a damn.I discovered this during the days at work after the murder.Now it seems that everything has become unimportant and meaningless, and I am the only one in the world who knows this secret.My head was buzzing, thinking about Paige's life, Paige's death, the police and the family, so I was working like a walking dead with no interest.But from the whispers and nods of approval, I found myself working faster and more efficiently than ever.I'm plastering the walls that will be the master bedroom in the future.I was so absorbed in my own world that I barely knew where I was or what I was doing.But when I was done, I took a few steps back and was amazed at what I had achieved.Works flawlessly, one entire wall is smooth and level.

I'm not interested in Ross now.I care what he thinks of me, as if it were a thousand years ago.I helped him fix the cornice once, but otherwise we hardly spoke a word.So when he asked me for a drink, it seemed like a joke to me.However, he actually asked me out. We washed our hands and headed off, but it wasn't bad: and, even better, when we got to the bar, I found out that Rose was meeting his girlfriend Laura.His girlfriend also brought in Melanie, a young colleague who worked with her in the gallery.All in all, our disparate pairing was utterly comical; the young woman with the ironed and haircut, and the disheveled, befuddled man.Lola, in particular, who looks like she's just come from a show competition, is so happy to see her filthy construction worker boyfriend, stroking his hair in feigned disgust.I'm really surprised that the store is willing to let you in, she said, didn't the sign at the door say that construction workers and gypsies are not allowed to enter?

I'm going to order some wine.I said. I went inside and came back with a cold, damp bottle of wine and glasses.They talked about names and places I didn't know.Then there was a break in the conversation, and Laura looked me up and down as if I were a pet in her stable.So how did you meet this guy?she asked. He's an expert, Ross said, and he's the one to go to. I didn't have a coy smirk, and I didn't blush back and say;I looked at Laura closely enough to see the fine hair on her cheeks and the strands of untied hair blown to her forehead. real or fake?She said, is the next job available after the project is over?

not yet.I said. Very well, she said, I remember you. Be careful.Ross said, and he and Laura both laughed.He glanced at his watch, then at Laura. yeah, she said, you know me and ross No problem, I said, see you next time. As I was about to get up, I paid serious attention to Laura's friend for the first time.She said very little.Apparently she pales in comparison to Lola.Her brunette hair was left untouched.Her hair and dark eyes made her even paler.I looked at her, and as soon as she caught me looking at her, the blood rushed to her cheek.She was completely unattractive to me, and that immediately piqued my interest.Nothing matters and nothing is at stake.

Xiaomei.I said. Actually, my name is Melanie. Want to find another place to eat?I asked. She muttered something, blushed and continued to mutter, and then said: Yes, yes, yes.When she stood up, I noticed her outfit for the first time: a short-sleeved light green top with a white ruffled neckline, paired with a long white skirt and sandals, all very light, summery and girly. I had to go home to freshen up and change, and I said, no, you can come and meet my roommate. I introduced this big family on the subway, and when I described them, I exaggerated somewhat, which made her laugh out loud.I told her that the situation at home was a little delicate because we were all going to be kicked out of the house soon.I also brought up the homicide and the police involvement, and her eyes widened.

Do you know that neighbor?she asked. Oddly enough, I said, murder victims become celebrities.Everyone wants to know them, or to know their friends. Sorry, she said, I didn't mean that. Petra.Davis would have told me to comfort Melanie and say, Of course you didn't mean that.But I didn't say a word, just stared at her.For a moment I suspected that I had made a big mistake.Do I really want to spend the whole night with this woman, and night after night, night after night, until maybe the fourth time, with a botched, half-baked sex? I opened the door of the house on Maitland Road and met a group of people in the foyer with shopping bags and wine bottles.They all looked at Melanie.At one point I felt as though I was bringing my girlfriend home to meet my parents for the first time.She is Xiaomei, I said.

Everyone rushed to greet her, and I felt that she was about to be overwhelmed. Let's have a picnic together.Estelle said. Xiaomei looked terrified.We are planning to go out to eat.she says. fair enough.Okay, I said, it's an initiation, but I'll protect you.I'm going to take a shower first. Our strange group marched toward the park.It reminds me of school excursions, where schoolchildren walk slowly down the street in file, led by their teachers.Everyone was there except Owen.Pipa was walking with a man in a suit who looked more embarrassed than Melanie. After we took our seats on the grass, Owen arrived belatedly, wandering around with his camera to take pictures.I poured out Melanie's drink from a plastic cup, and poured myself a glass too.

I haven't had a picnic in years.she muttered.She moved towards me, resting her shoulder on me. There are ants on the ground, I said, and I can't sit still.You can't take food and drink at the same time. But I like it.she says. I filled her plate with food, dipped a small slice of carrot into a paper cup of chickpea-sesame dressing, and popped it into her mouth.I found Estelle looking at me.I know what she's thinking.Oh, so sweet, little Davey has a girlfriend.Still, at least I'm letting the world know: I'm not some weird loner.I stroked Melanie's hair, but at the same time I was aware of someone standing beside me.It's Estelle.I looked at Melanie.Can we have a word in private?I said.

Oh fine.she said, and moved aside to sit by herself, pretending to sip her wine. Astrid moved closer to me and spoke to me in a negligible volume.I imagined Melanie was watching us.She probably thought we used to be boyfriend and girlfriend.Estelle was a little agitated, after all, she was questioned by the police again.At first I thought she was suspicious, but later I realized that she had a vague recollection of another person being on the steps when the accident happened.I forced myself to think clearly.Should I tell her the truth directly, or allow him to be the mysterious suspect in the blurred background?I'm mad at myself for not thinking of this beforehand.I decided to blatantly dodge questions on Dalio's behalf.This has the potential to mess things up a bit, but I'm not sure it's the best policy.

Maybe someone else was there, and I said, even if there was, you should ask Dalio. Estelle will never be fooled by others, or it should be said that she was really fooled by me.In this way, Dalio's customers will have to die.The only bad ending is when he sees Peggy come home with me, but I'm almost 100% sure he's gone long before that.Estelle is clearly concerned, as she turns her attention to Pipa, saying that Jeff should file a confession with the police.It's funny how pipa squirms, like a beetle being pricked by a needle. Not a very good idea.she says. While it's not my strategy, I can't help it.Is it possible that he is a married man?I said. She gave me a nasty look, and I just looked back at her mildly. It would be embarrassing.she says. It was a golden and dazzling evening, with long shadows.I watched Estrie and Owen, and the weather seemed to get colder; then Miles came and started complaining about what he had started.The magic dissipated, and everyone rose to collect the remains of the picnic.On the way home, I pondered what was going to happen next, and whether there was anything to worry about. It's time for me to go home too.A voice came from beside him. I looked down.Unexpectedly, I almost forgot about Melanie.I shake my head.I have something to show you.I said. We didn't talk again until we got home.While everyone else was going downstairs for coffee or a cigarette, I took Melanie by the hand and led her upstairs into my room.I took her to the bedside, then pressed my hands on her shoulders to keep her still, and stared into her big eyes.The neckline of her blouse was tied in a bow with a white ribbon.If I can untie it without breaking a sweat, then God wants me to fuck her.She said something, but I just shook my head.I took one end of the ribbon and pulled it lightly.It was like a shoelace that was loosely tied and just untied.I tugged at the bottom of her blouse and lifted it over her head.She had to raise her arms to undress smoothly.I undo her bra and let it fall to the floor.Then pull down her skirt and panties together.She had to lift her sandaled foot out of the clothes.I sat her down on the bed and took off her sandals. As soon as I first entered her, I imagined that I was on the lute, and then I pushed harder and harder, and I heard Melanie screaming under me.So I thought of Estelle.I picture her head attached to Melanie's body. And the moment I ejaculated, or the moment I was about to ejaculate, I regretted everything: meeting Melanie, spending the evening with her, taking her home, fucking her.I feel her hands on my shoulders and her heels against the back of my thighs.She hugged me tightly and let me go deep into it. Davy, after a long time, she said to me, I've never done anything like this.Then I heard a sniff and saw her crying. After she fell asleep, I got up and went into the bathroom.I drew the shutters up and looked out at the garden.I saw something moving in the garden, and I looked at it for a while before I could see what it was.who are they.What are they doing.I knew it, although I didn't know why I had this premonition, but I just knew it.Estrie and Owen, like animals, don't care who they see.The throbbing in my eyes increased dramatically.I taste sour at the bottom of my throat.I'm about to throw up.