My sister-in-law from Qingdao

That evening, my cousin and I were at a small tavern outside Linglong Embroidery Co., Ltd.

In a corner, we sat facing each other and ordered a few rather refined side dishes and a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor).

I took out a Taishan Buddha Light from my bag and handed it to my cousin.

"Here, take this."

My cousin was stunned for a moment, then a look of surprise appeared on his face.

"Hey kid, what's up with you? Why did you buy this cigarette? It's pretty expensive."

"I didn't buy them. Today, my boss asked me to go to her office and gave me two packs. My boss is my sister-in-law's best friend, so I guess she's taking such good care of me because of her relationship with my sister-in-law."

My cousin revealed a malicious smile.

"You're something else, kid. You've hooked up with the female CEO in just one day. Don't say I didn't warn you, Lin Moli is a woman of many charms."

I quickly waved my hand with a wry smile and said, "Brother, what are you talking about? Your brother is here to work and earn money; he's just a wage earner."

"What do you know, kid? Lin Moli is divorced, has a stunning figure, and that seductive scent about her makes me fantasize about her all the time. If she and your sister-in-law weren't best friends, I would have made my move on her long ago."

My cousin said it without any attempt to hide it.

"Brother, I haven't been out of school for very long, and I haven't been in the workforce as long as you have. I'm very naive when it comes to relationships."

My cousin picked up his wine glass, took a sip, then grinned at me and said, "I didn't ask you to talk about relationships. I just want you to win over Lin Moli. These days, you have to learn to be assertive when it comes to being a kept man. You're knowledgeable and handsome. Once you win over Lin Moli, your life will be much better."

My cousin's words surprised me greatly. He was only two months older than me, yet he had such a thorough understanding of the relationship between men and women.

I have to admit that from childhood to adulthood, even after graduating from university, I have never had a serious relationship.

Therefore, I don't understand playing with emotions. If I like a girl, I will devote myself to her wholeheartedly. I will never get close to a woman for any benefit.

Perhaps it's because I'm immature, or perhaps it's because I'm too naive.

"Brother, let's not talk about this anymore, let's drink."

I raised my glass to clink with my cousin's. I wanted to have a few more drinks with him so we could have a good talk and stop him from arguing with his wife.

"If we don't talk about this, what else can we talk about? When men get together, it's all about women and money. Your job has nothing to do with my industry, so we can't talk about money, we can only talk about women."

Don't let my cousin's drinking habits fool you; he doesn't seem to have a high alcohol tolerance. Half a jin (250ml) of baijiu (Chinese liquor) is enough to make him drunk.

"But that's my boss, I have to learn to respect him."

"You silly boy, you must remember one thing I said: even though I've read fewer books than you, this is a profound truth."

My cousin pointed his finger out of the air and said confidently.

"What nonsense! A profound truth, indeed?"

"Women don't love men who aren't a little bad. If a man is too serious, he's like a dead salted fish. No matter how handsome you are, no woman will fall for you."

Men can be a little naughty, a little direct. Take a young married woman like Lin Moli, who's divorced; she'll practically beg and plead to be with you.

I immediately refuted what he said.

"Brother, you're being too hasty. You're talking about an ordinary young married woman. Someone like Lin Moli has money, looks, and a powerful family. How many men must be around her? I'm just an employee under her. Stop fantasizing."

My cousin leaned forward, patted my shoulder, and said, "My dear brother, there's a saying that goes, 'The higher you climb, the colder it gets.' Most men see Lin Moli as a queen who is high and mighty, and no one dares to extend an olive branch to her."

If you take the initiative, she will definitely respond, especially since she's the one who's pursuing you.

I was both amused and exasperated, and had to admit that my cousin and I were completely different kinds of people.

"My goodness, she just gave me two packs of cigarettes. Someone else gave them to her; she said she only smokes thin cigarettes, not coarse ones, and then she gave them to me. How did that make it seem like she was actively pursuing me?"

My cousin had a playful smile on his lips.

"You're really stupid, don't worry. At this rate, you'll be in Lin Moli's bed in less than a month."

Looking at my cousin's confident expression, I found it quite amusing.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. It's completely unrelated."

"This is my last sentence, and I'm telling you this last sentence. You must understand it clearly, or you will suffer the consequences."

My cousin said it again, very seriously.

"Okay, go ahead."

"If Lin Moli takes the initiative to pursue you, keep a little distance. After you get into bed, don't be clingy or pester her. Just make sure you get what you want from her. Don't get emotionally involved."

Although I felt that what my cousin was saying was impossible, I couldn't help but ask, "If you've already slept together, how can you sleep together without developing feelings?"

My cousin gave a helpless, bitter smile, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

"You've gone stupid from studying too much! Who is Lin Moli? She's a woman worth over 100 million. Does she lack men? Of course she does."

If she gives you two packs of cigarettes, she's confessing her feelings. She likes you and is willing to play around with you. But if you sleep with her and become emotionally involved, you've lost. If you're a pro, you can take advantage of that initial spark and get more out of her—that's the real deal.

My cousin's words left me speechless and dumbfounded.

I never imagined he could say such a thing; it shocked me.

Am I really too naive?

"Brother, why don't you give me this pack of cigarettes again? I'll just give it back to her. I don't want to get entangled with a divorced woman."

I reached out and grabbed the pack of cigarettes next to me again.

My cousin reached out and snatched the Buddha's light away.

"Silly boy, you don't understand anything. Aren't you being taught by your brother? Don't say I didn't warn you, if you make that woman Lin Moli happy, you can easily make a million or two a year."

In short, remember what I said: if she sleeps with you, you absolutely must not let anyone at the company know, and you must not be clingy or pester her, understand?

I smiled wryly and said, "Brother, you're worrying too much. That kind of thing won't happen."

My cousin sneered and said, "You're just an idiot. You don't cherish the opportunity that's right in front of you. If you offend Lin Moli, you won't even be able to keep this job. Don't think that just because your sister-in-law is her best friend, she will treat you well."

Remember this: men and women can never be friends. They'll either become husband and wife, lovers, or enemies; in short, they can never be friends.