Chapter 6: The Person He’s Looking For Is Me
After finally recovering, I looked back at it, and it was once again its usual blank, dazed self.
I jumped up from the chair and carefully examined it from head to toe. After a long, long time, I finally relaxed.
—There was nothing abnormal about it.
I thought maybe from the earlier angle, its expression had just looked strange.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I realized my spine felt chilled, the sweat cold on my back—sweat caused by those few seconds of fright.
When did I become such a coward?
I chuckled bitterly.
The coffee stain on my pants had dried, smelling faintly sweet and burnt. I carefully placed the handkerchief on the table and started undressing.
Throughout, the doll stood unmoving right in front of me; I neither dodged nor avoided it.
For one thing, it wasn’t a living person, just a thing. And even if it were, I wouldn’t be shy at all. We’re both men. What other men have, I have too—nothing special.
… Or maybe not quite.
If the person standing before me were Liang Zhiting, that’d be a different story—I probably wouldn’t even have the strength to unbutton my clothes.
What am I thinking?
I laughed at my own foolish daydreaming.
There was no way I’d ever have the chance to undress in front of Liang Zhiting.
After drying off, I went straight to shower, tossing the doll a casual order, “Bring me my clothes.”
The shower easily rinsed away sweat and coffee stains. Then I lay back in the bathtub filled with water.
As I reclined, water overflowed and spilled slightly onto the floor.
At that moment, it entered carrying my clothes.
Its feet stepped on the wet floor, making soft plopping sounds.
I relaxed in the tub with arms resting on the rim, slowly opening my eyes, turning my head to look at it.
Wearing the black shirt, it held a white bathrobe folded in its bent arms—black and white contrasting sharply, drawing all my attention.
That bathrobe was a cheap piece I’d bought on a whim during a promo, made of thin, poor fabric that barely covered anything on a person. I’d thought to toss it out for rags but never got to it, so I’d tossed it into the wardrobe—never expected it to dig it out.
If I didn’t know its head was empty, I’d almost think it did this intentionally, hiding some secret plan.
I wiped my face—the damp bangs clinging unpleasantly—and brushed my hair back.
The bathroom steamed hot, I took off my glasses and everything grew blurred in mist.
I raised my wet fingers and beckoned, “Come here.”
Hearing its footsteps splashing on water, the blurry figure drew closer and came to the tub’s edge.
“Kneel.”
It obeyed, kneeling at the tub’s side. I caressed its cheek intermittently, feeling its skin unlike human flesh. Water streaks left tracks on its face.
It had some chip in its head. If I wasn’t afraid it’d get water damage, I’d like to bathe with it together.
However long I soaked, it knelt there as long.
When I’d had enough, I climbed out, stretching lazily into standing. “Towel.”
It fetched a towel, but when it handed it over, I didn’t take it. My body was soft and weak from the bath—I didn’t want to lift my hands.
“Help me dry off.”
Kneeling, it used its stiff arms to wipe droplets off me.
Looking down at it, I casually pulled the towel from its hands and tossed it back into the tub.
The towel soaked up the water and slowly sank.
No need for the towel.
I pried its lips apart, tugging its tongue, narrowing my eyes.
…
Half an hour later, I wore the bathrobe as I left the bathroom; it followed closely behind.
Wet footprints marked the floor from its feet.
I couldn’t bear it, tossing it some tissues. “Dry your feet.”
Ignoring whether it understood, I turned to get the handkerchief from the table to sniff Liang Zhiting’s scent before bed.
But it was nowhere to be found. I upended everything on the desk searching, still nothing.
My heart sank.
What happened? I clearly put it on the table before the shower.
My eyes swept the room and caught sight of something familiar in the trash can next to the desk.
What else but that handkerchief!
I picked it up tenderly and dusted off non-existent dirt.
A gust of wind blew in through the poorly closed window, stirring my hair. I walked over and closed it tight.
Looks like the wind blew the handkerchief in there.
Luckily, the trash was new and empty, so it wasn’t dirty. Had it been so, I would have regretted it to death.
This was the first thing Liang Zhiting had given me voluntarily—I couldn’t treat it carelessly.
I sealed the handkerchief in a plastic bag and put it in the drawer.
Having taken care of that, I collapsed limp onto the bed, recalling every moment spent with Liang Zhiting during the day.
The doll stepped on the tissues on the floor, absorbing all water from its feet.
Having dried off, it walked to me.
I lay still, eyes half-open, watching.
It reached the bedside, and in the light, I saw a slight shimmer on its lip—a small wet patch, still fresh.
I smiled.
The bathrobe was loosely tied at the waist with a belt. This cheap one-size-fits-all piece was a bit big for me and slipped easily with any movement.
I shifted back on the sheets, making space beside me.
“Come here.”
It kneeled on the sheets first—causing the mattress to creak—then propped itself with hands and slowly crawled over.
Its body blocked the light; I sank into its shadow.
Raising a hand, I rubbed the nape with my fingertips awhile, then grasped its shirt collar and gently tugged down. “Take it off.”
…
Accidentally hitting the remote switch, the TV clicked on, resuming a paused movie.
Voices exchanged on screen; the couple whispered amorous words, faces brushing intimately.
But its two eyes weren’t drawn to the TV—I liked its good behavior. I hoarsely said, “Continue.”
…
That money was well spent.
Far beyond what any dream could offer.
I, a more-than-twenty-year-old despised old virgin, knowing my prospects for a partner were bleak and likely lifelong loneliness, had always handled such things myself—with numb compliance. After meeting Liang Zhiting, only his photos could push me to uncontrolled extremes. I liked dirtying his image, as if to pull him a little closer.
No matter how good something tastes, eating it every day eventually sours the appetite. So even pictures had worn out their effect.
Now fate had given me something far more wonderful than photos.
This was much more satisfying than fingers could ever be.
In good spirits, I hummed an off-key tune.
It stared deeply at me.
Seeing it with Liang Zhiting's face so focused on me filled me with contentment. Its lips parted slightly. I stared a moment, then suddenly grasped its hair at the back, breathing heavily as I kissed it.
This was my first real kiss with it.
Before, it was just light, fleeting brushes of the lips. Now, caught in the atmosphere, my fragile clarity vanished, leading me to such irrational infatuation.
Any unease in my mind lasted barely a second before vanishing.
I didn’t care.
No one was watching, after all.
I had it hold me, and we nestled together on the small bed.
After some playful antics, I entered a restful haze. Sleepiness overwhelmed me.
I yawned, eyes narrowing, vision hazy. It seemed to bow its head, kissing my lips.
“I like you so much.” Drowsily, I subconsciously bit it, murmuring, “If only you were really Liang Zhiting.”
It seemed to pause for a second. I didn’t mind, then settled comfortably under the covers and fell asleep utterly.
The next day, I went to work as usual, sharing a long goodbye kiss with it by the doorway before leaving.
At the office, the same dull, repetitive tasks awaited. At noon, I went out to get lunch and unexpectedly saw Liang Zhiting at the company entrance.
He wore a clean white T-shirt, holding a cup of milk tea, looking inside—as if searching for someone. His work badge still hung around his neck, not yet removed; he probably came during lunch break.
Most people in the office knew him, but I hadn’t seen Liang Zhiting here before. He shouldn’t have close ties in our company.
Had someone in our company gotten close to him recently?
During break, when Liang Zhiting appeared at the entrance, many people stopped eating to crowd around and talk with him.
He smiled warmly and responded gently.
I began to envy the person he was searching for.
I didn’t know who it was.
I watched secretly from the corner, and suddenly our eyes met.
Before I could look away, he smiled broadly and waved at me.
Yes, waving directly to me.
His wave drew everyone’s attention toward me.
My scalp tingled, my limbs stiffened.
I never expected it.
The person Liang Zhiting has been looking for… is actually me.
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