The Phonecall

Xu Jing was fussing over the documents related to Lin Corp's increasing brash attempts at a hostile take-over when he received an alert that signified he just got a mail.

Frustrated at the lack of a visible break in the other company's predatory business move, he clicked on the mail with the hopes that the email might bring him a much needed distraction. However, the frown between his eyes only deepened when he saw the address of the sender.

The message of the email was short and it came attached with a video file. Before he could stop himself, Xu Jing had already started reading the message, such was the habit of a businessman, they were fast readers.

"Brother Xu Jing, good morning [smiley face].

"Have Brother Xu Jing seen the latest trailer for the upcoming movie 'Bringing the Nation's Husband Home'? This is going to be my first silver screen project and I could not have been more excited and proud!

"What am I saying? Of course Brother Xu Jing must have seen the trailer already, Sister Joann would have showed it to you already.

"But on the off chance that she did not, here is this! Sister Joann is wonderful in it! Brother Xu Jing, you must be so proud!

"Oh, how I wish one day I will have a man exactly like Brother Xu Jing in my life who is as supportive of me as Brother Xu Jing is of Sister Joann [twinkly eyes].

"Of course, it would not hurt if he is half as handsome as Brother Xu Jing too [shy face]."

Xu Jing had half a mind to close the email when he was half way through the message but he stopped himself when he saw the mention of his wife's name.

His lips curved involuntarily into a smile.

In Chinese popular culture, Xu Jing would be classified as a wife slave, a man who was so devoted to their better halves that they willingly enslaved themselves to them.

Xu Jing was so smitten with his wife that just a mere mention of her name could make him smile.

However, an emotion so intense could be easily manipulated, after all, love and hate is often just a thought away.

Human beings practice not agapic love but possessive love. When humans love something or someone, they wish to possess it and when said subject of devotion commits to betrayal or action of similar nature, it is not uncommon for envy to poison said love.

In any case, Xu Jing would not give up the opportunity to see his beautiful wife on screen.

The video started normally with a trailer until it soon cut to an intimate scene with his wife and the male actor.

When the question, "You've been rushing around for so long, aren't you tired?" fell out of his wife's lips which the man had been kissing, the pen that Xu Jing was holding snapped in his palm.

Xu Jing knew he should have looked away but humans have the curious tendency of delivering hurt upon themselves as if to prove that they are indeed hurting.

The better half of his brain, the part that was responsible for logic and rationality told him that it was merely a movie. She was a professional actor, she was merely doing her job.

However, the more primitive and emotional part of his brain retorted, 'even so, she should have consulted my opinion before taking on such a forward challenge. Did she not consider how this might reflect on her husband or even her daughter? Do we deserve such little amount of respect? Are we that unimportant in her mind?'

While his brain was combating various emotions, Joann continued to moan on screen and the male actor could be seen unbuttoning his wife's clothes.

Soon, all articles of clothing went flying onto the floor and Xu Jing could see her wife's naked body on screen. The veins in his forehead popped.

Eventually the world would be able to see things that were supposed to be reserved underneath the sheets between husband and wife.

The male actor leaned in then, probably to whisper sweet nothings into his wife's ears. Then, Xu Jing saw his wife flash her bedroom smile, one that he believed should be seen by him alone.

Right then, a new message came into his mail. It was from the same person. Since Xu Jing was already reading the mail, he did not even need to open it.

"Oopsie [embarrassed face]. I did not mean to send the unedited version. That was an honest mistaken on my part [winking face]. Here is the correct version." A shorter video was attached to this new message.

The person continued, "Brother Xu Jing, I hope you will not misunderstand the scene. Sister Joann merely wished to do everything she could for the success of the movie. You understand that right?

"It is not even in her contract to do the nude scene, the company has prepared a stand-in for her but she insisted on doing it personally because she is that professional and responsible of an actor! You have to admire that!"

The last message managed to send Xu Jing over the edge. In the battle between emotions and logic, the former won out with a push from an outside force.

The man was eaten inside out by envy and rage, like the previous time, he had lost the capability of thinking clearly.

By then, he only had one goal in his mind and that was to get even!

He searched for his phone and searched for the number that he promised he would not call again after the "accident" last time. He only hesitated for a moment before making the call that he would come to regret later when his mind was working normally and sensibly again, however, it would be too late by then.

An innocent sounding voice answered the phone, "Brother Xu Jing, hello!"

Xu Jing mumbled something on his end and the innocent voice continued, "Brother Xu Jing, you wish to come over later?

"Of course, I can always make time for my dear Brother Xu Jing… but do you mind keeping this a secret from Sister Joann?

"You know how it is, woman and their penchant for misunderstanding. I just don't want her to get the wrong idea, you understand that right, Brother Xu Jing?"