The two exchanged glances, and the younger woman said, “Do you know how I got in here?”
“How?”
“My mother and my husband got me in here.” The woman’s eyes were brimming with tears. “My biological mother, not my mother-in-law. My biological mother!”
It was only later on that Jing Chu found out that this young lady was called Qiao An. She was 27 years old and had been in prison for three years already. She had two more years of her sentence to go.
The older lady was called Xiong Mingming and was 38 years old. She made all of them call her Sister Xiong. As her crime of embezzling funds was more serious, she had been in here for 12 years already and had three more years ’til her sentence was to end.
No matter what kind of person it was, everyone became the same kind of person after they entered prison.
As the days passed, Pei Yi completely died inside Jing Chu’s heart.
She did not have a single hope toward him lingering inside her anymore.
And she did not wish to have any ties with him at all in the future.
From the moment he had given up on her, she had done the same to him as well.
From the moment he had given up on her, it meant that he no longer wanted her.
From then onwards, she was free.
All she wanted was to be herself.
She wanted to live a different life.
One in which she could depend on no one but herself.
As the time that the four spent grew increasingly longer, they began to develop a deeper understanding of each other. To Jing Chu, this was a blessing amidst the misery of being in jail.
She was able to chat with the rest every day and even learned how to knit from Qiao An.
The knitting set was sent by Xiong Mingming’s family, so she took time out to knit quietly whenever she had nothing to do.
Even Qiao An, who was originally in the most weary state, gradually walked out of her pain and awaited the day she got out of prison with the others.
——
Two years was enough for one to put their mind at ease and thoroughly change a person as well.
When Jing Chu entered prison, it was around the middle of April, and it was in May when she was sentenced. Back then, she had not even passed her 21st birthday. On the day she was released from prison, the weather was also extremely humid.
As she came out carrying her things, she raised her head and looked up at the sky, a grin forming on her calm face.
She was finally free.
A car started to pull over in front of her slowly. Fat Lass’s head popped out from the car window, and she waved at her.
“Sister Jing Chu…”
She looked toward the direction where the sun was in, and Tang Zhijing drove the car right in front of her and pulled over.
During these two years, other than Tang Zhijing and Fat Lass, who was later released from prison, nobody else came.
Her hair was kept rather long, and her hair was as black as kelp. She looked beautiful.
As she had not been out in the sun too frequently, her skin was so white that it was rather shocking.
Tang Zhijing got down from the car and looked at her, grinning lightly. “Let me take you somewhere. Get on.”
“A utopia?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
She sat at the back row of the car while he placed her luggage inside the car boot for her.
The car drove off very soon.
There was air-conditioning in the car, so it wasn’t humid inside at all.
She turned to ask Fat Lass, “How are you doing?”
“Good. I’m working as a maid at Mr. Tang’s house. Sister Jing Chu, because you asked Mr. Tang to take me in back then, I was able to get a job. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known where to go when I came out of prison.”
“This is because of how benevolent our Mr. Tang is.”
Tang Zhijing, who was driving, chuckled as he replied, “Good that you know.”
He gazed at her from the rear-view mirror, noticing that she was different from how she was two years ago.
She seemed to have lost the innocence that she used to possess.
Tang Zhijing drove the car to the entrance of a building.
Seeing that he had pulled over, Jing Chu asked, “Where is this?”
“It’s my company. Get off and have a look.”
“Alright.” She and Fat Lass both got off the car and followed Tang Zhijing as he passed through the turnstile.
They then followed him upstairs.
He had bought two floors of the building.
The area of the space was rather large.
Only after checking it out did Jing Chu realize it was a modeling company.
“You opened this company?”
“Yes. It’s been open for a few years already and has been developing quite well. Are you interested in coming to work here?”
“But, I don’t know anything…”
“You can learn if you don’t know. Don’t tell me, you’re not confident?”
She asked, “Then, what can I do here?”
“You can be a model.”
“Models are all rather tall. Would my height do?”
“You’re not short at all. Let me take your height.”
He took a measuring tape to measure her height, and it was 1.67 meters.
Tang Zhijing added, “With heels, you’ll be at least 1.70 meters tall. Sorry, I haven’t found a utopia yet, but I want you to find the utopia inside your heart. The real peace should come from within yourself. Achieving inner peace is what you really need, isn’t it?”
These words went straight to her heart. “Actually, I know that as well. There’s no such thing as a utopia in this world. It’s all just self-deception. But don’t models all have long legs and need to be at least 1.70 meters tall? Would my height really do?”
“This is my company. If I say it’s allowed, then it is. Why do you have to be like those models with long legs? Not every model has such expectations. Also, being a model needs hard practice as well, because you haven’t been in this occupation. But I want to know, Jing Chu, do you want to live a life that you want?”
Jing Chu looked at his eyes and nodded as she replied, “I do. I want to earn money as well.”
During these two years in prison, Jing Chu had been thinking about what she could do when she was released. She had not come to any conclusion all these while, because, other than learning knitting and words in prison, she really did not know anything else.
Now, there was a job given to her and an opportunity for her to earn money. She naturally had to grab hold of it. However, she still had some concerns.
“If I become a model, do I have to go on television?”
“Of course. If you get famous, you’ll be on television for the whole world to see.”
Jing Chu shook her head vigorously. “Then I can’t take this job.”
“Why?”
She explained, “If the group of people who captured me previously see me and know that I’m still alive, would they allow me to live?”
This question was really…
How could he forget this?
“For the consideration of your safety, I know what job is suitable for you.”
“What?”
“A kindergarten teacher.” Tang Zhijing went on, “You’ve learned quite a lot of things in prison. You basically know how to write already. The job in the kindergarten mainly requires you to take care of children. I’ll arrange such a job for you. You’ve done volunteer work in prison, so I know you’re someone with patience. How is it?”
“Great. I think it’s good too. Thank you, Tang Zhijing.”
“Why stand on ceremony with me? If you really want to thank me, give me a hug. You’ve never hugged me before.”
Fat Lass, who was at one corner, started to cover her mouth as she laughed. She remarked cheekily, “Sister Jing Chu, just give Mr. Tang a hug. Show him some care.”
What was the big deal with a hug?
She reached out her arms and approached him to give him a hug. Just when she was about to release her arms, he tightened his grip around her. “This is the first time you’re hugging me. I need to enjoy it properly.”
“Are you trying to strangle me?”
He finally released her from his arms and, seeing that she was blushing, he grinned. “Come, I’ll bring you there. My friend and his wife opened a private kindergarten. It’s fine even if you don’t have an identification card. On my account, they’ll have no choice but to let you have a job.”
