65 Disappointment and Desperation

Liu Ming was rummaging through cigarette butts in the ashtray and finally picked up a slightly longer cigarette butt, lighted it up and took a puff hastily. The tobacco smoke occupied his lungs for a few seconds before he blew out a cloud of smoke. He managed to inhale only twice before the cigarette had burnt itself to the tip of its filter. After that, he reluctantly threw it away and started rummaging through the ashtray again.

His young and beautiful wife, Huang Yuying took the ashtray away from him and uttered, “Don't smoke again. You are making the house smell.”

Liu Ming snorted, “We will die eventually. Why are you trying to keep me from enjoying my life before I die?”

“Why are you speaking this way? Aren’t we still alive and well?” Huang Yuying said sourly.