light, short, scattered

Chapter 3 "Devil's Corner"

"Have you heard this story? The devil is at this corner of the street, people often say that. They also say that as long as you sit on a certain bench across the street corner because of negative emotions such as anger, distress, sadness, etc., the devil will Appear. If you are willing to give up something in exchange for it, it can fulfill one of your wishes." A man came over and said to me with a smile.

"Really?" I smiled dubiously, my previously sad expression somewhat subdued.

"My name is Jock. You look sad. Are you okay, my friend?" Jock said with a smile, as if I was a good friend he hadn't seen for many years.

"It's okay, I'm just sitting on this street corner. I'll leave right away." I said cautiously, knowing that it was already dark.Looking at Jock's shabby clothes, he must be a beggar. Maybe the bench I am sitting on is his bed tonight.

"Want to hear my story? Before you leave?" Jock still had the same smile, but he was already sitting next to me.

I looked at the smile on his face and was horrified.I'm afraid that he will threaten me next.I said tremblingly: "What's the story about the street devil you just told?"

"Of course it's a story about a deal with the devil! Listen to me and tell you slowly." Jock said with a deep smile on his face.

He told stories.

. . .

I still remember ten years ago when I came to this street corner frustrated.I was eighteen that year, and I was helpless and had only 63 yuan left in my pocket.I am sitting here, and if I remember correctly, this is where you are sitting now.The devil appears.

The arrogant devil said to me: "Are you willing to give up one thing to gain another?"

Of course, the devil also said many, many more words, but unfortunately I can no longer remember them.It’s not that I have a bad memory, it’s that I’m not interested in other people’s stories.

At that time I was thirsty and hungry, and I was very frightened when I saw the proud demon.He said cowardly: "I want endless money, what do you want me to give in exchange?"

The devil said arrogantly: "Just use your smile in exchange. You can no longer smile because you are happy in exchange for spending money that you don't play with! How about it?"

"I agree, what's the use of laughing? Laughing can't make me full. I agree to the exchange!" I said decisively at that time.

. . .

"Aren't you smiling happily now?" I asked Jock doubtfully.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you that it's rude to interrupt someone else's story?" Jock still had the same smile, as if he wasn't teaching me a lesson.On the contrary, it has a comforting flavor.

"Sorry!" I quickly apologized.

. . .

I left the corner happily and got a pocket from the devil.It was filled with endless gold coins, but I really couldn't laugh.certainly!I was extremely excited and happy.

I started eating and drinking in the most luxurious restaurants and staying in the most luxurious hotels.Splurging everything I could because I knew the gold in my pocket would never be used up.Of course I have more and more friends.They follow me every day and I say I am the boss of mining.Piles of gold were dug up, and there was endless money to spend.But because my face was injured during an adventure, I couldn't laugh happily.

Everyone soon started calling me Boss Qiao.I ate, drank, whored and gambled in luxurious hotels every day.As long as someone plays with me, I will give them gold coins.Lots and lots of gold coins.

Time passed quickly until that day when I drank too much and went to the toilet.I overheard everything my friend was holding a cigarette and talking to the lady at the bathroom door.He said: "That idiot with a paralyzed face is really difficult to deal with."The lady actually agreed and said with a smile: "That's right, he always has a straight face. Every time I please him, I don't know whether he is happy or not, which makes me feel sick."

From that day on, I started to pay attention, and I found that every friend around me was scolding me behind my back.But I actually give them so many gold coins every day.

I tried to crack a smile, but found it impossible.I angrily swore that I would never give any gold coins to my friends, and they would never get another penny from me.

In this way, my friends are getting fewer and fewer.Until I returned to this street corner again in distress.

The devil still looked at me so proudly, which I felt was a shame.But I can only ask it to give me a smile back, and I can give it anything in exchange.

The devil proudly repeated the conversation I had with him at that time: "I agree, what's the use of laughing? Laughing can't make me full. I agree to the exchange!"

Of course, I was ashamed and could only pray blindly.

The devil looked at me and said: "I can give you a smile back, but the condition is exchange. That is to say, exchange, you can get your smile back, but you can't leave this street corner, take on the devil's work and continue to exchange with others." Arrogant The devil is set free.Yes, it's free.And I want to smile back.

This is my story.

. . .

I looked at Jock in surprise and couldn't say a word.

"Tell me, kid, what do you want?" Jock said with a weird smile.

"Me? I want the person I like to like me too!" I said loudly.

"Then this time, we cry in exchange for not crying, and exchange for love? How about that?"

"I agree, crying will only make me weak. Weak people have no love and will only be pitied." I blurted out subconsciously without any hesitation.

"I hope you won't be disappointed?" Jock smiled excitedly, which made me feel unnatural.

I came out of the corner and took a lipstick in my hand.

The price is never crying again.

I exchanged my crying for a lipstick and gave it to my favorite person.

This lipstick works very well.

We got married, had children, and lived a happy life, but things didn't seem to be what I thought.

I work hard, but the salary I get cannot satisfy my lover at all.

And my kids don’t look like me either.

Whenever she cried in my ear that the money I made was not enough to support our family, I always had a blank face.

Because I won't cry at all.

And she always cried and said that I was a cold, emotionless monster.

And I also discovered.

She would ogled and dropped hints crazily on every man she met.

She's slept with more men than I thought she would.

Later I learned that what the devil exchanged for my crying was not to make my lover fall in love with my lipstick.

But lipstick that makes people want to be debauched.

I returned to that street corner again feeling disappointed and sat on that bench.

I think I could switch back to my crying.

Because this is so uncomfortable, I really want to cry.

But Jock laughed and taunted me with the same words I had said, just like the proud devil he described taunting him.

(End of this chapter)