006 The desolation of regaining freedom

Back in the cell shortly, a fellow inmate passed the lunch through the iron bars - the meal was indeed paltry: two steamed buns, a bowl of plain congee, and a plate of salted cabbage.

As Zhang Ziwen looked at the meal in front of him, he cursed inwardly, "Damn! This is truly a meal of misery." No wonder the inmates in prison all looked so sallow, subsisting on such fare. How could one maintain good spirits with such meager sustenance?

After managing to get through the meal, consuming the two buns perked him up a bit. Lying on the small iron bed, he found sleep elusive. The boredom in this small cell was palpable, and time seemed to crawl by. The taste of lost freedom was indeed bitter.

Zhang Ziwen thought to himself, feeling uncomfortable in just this short half-day. If he had to stay longer, he might just go mad.

Lying down and then getting up again in the cell, pacing back and forth a few times, he couldn't tell how much time had passed. Finally, he began to feel a hint of drowsiness.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep on the small iron bed, the grating sound of the iron door opening broke the silence.

"Zhang Ziwen."

Zhang Ziwen opened his eyes to see one of the policemen who had brought him here earlier.

"What's the matter?" Zhang Ziwen muttered, wondering if he was going to be interrogated again.

"You can leave."

"Leave? Where to?" Zhang Ziwen's spirits soared, the sleepiness instantly dissipating.

"Where else? Home. You're in the clear now. We've sorted out your case. You can go home."

"Wow!" Zhang Ziwen exclaimed, excitedly jumping up. Cleared? Everything's fine now?

The sky had darkened, and the streetlights were on. Neon lights adorned the shops and rooftops, shimmering in various colors. Zhang Ziwen walked aimlessly along the street, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his hands in his pockets. He had no desire to return to his nest after leaving the detention center; he just kept walking.

City buses passed by occasionally. Zhang Ziwen didn't know how many stops he had walked. When he passed a bus stop, he didn't even think about getting on a bus. It was rush hour, and the buses were crowded with passengers heading home from work. Most of them seemed accustomed to the traffic congestion, showing no signs of impatience. They all had vacant expressions, gazing blankly out the window.

In over a year in Zhonghai, Zhang Ziwen still felt somewhat unaccustomed to life here. He found it strange, considering he had grown up in this city. Perhaps it was the result of the intense and difficult years away from the city. The bustling urban life seemed overwhelming to Zhang Ziwen.

Unconsciously, Zhang Ziwen had reached the city center. Ahead was the famous commercial street renowned throughout the country. Giant billboards covered half of the buildings, their bright lights shining even more brilliantly under the street lamps.

The commercial street was bustling with people, bustling with people, bustling with people. People flowed in and out of the ornately decorated shops lining the street, carrying bags of various sizes. People indulged in shopping and consumption.

"There are indeed many wealthy people now," Zhang Ziwen sighed inwardly. "The country is prosperous, and most people are prosperous too. Why am I still so poor?"

Zhang Ziwen walked into the bustling commercial street, following the crowd. He didn't intend to go shopping in the stores; he just wanted to soak in the lively atmosphere. Among the throngs of people were fashionable young women. It wasn't very hot in early summer, but some moderately beautiful young ladies couldn't wait to show off their impressive figures, whether in camisoles or tank tops, with bare shoulders and backs. As they brushed past him, the scent of various brand perfumes wafted in the air, stirring the young heart of Zhang Ziwen.

Leaving the commercial street, the scene on the street outside was another sight to behold. Pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks, while traffic flowed steadily on the roads. Zhang Ziwen looked at his watch - it was past nine. He wondered where all these people and vehicles were headed. What were they busy with? Perhaps there were few people as idle as him - leisurely and bored.

Today was Zhang Ziwen's birthday, and no one wished him a happy birthday. Last year, at least a few buddies got together for a little celebration. Zhang Ziwen took out his phone, thinking of asking some buddies out for a drink, not because he wanted them to wish him a happy birthday, but just for some company. However, for some reason today, he felt particularly lonely.

Opening his phone, he found it was dead. Zhang Ziwen smiled bitterly. The excitement of asking his buddies out for a drink evaporated instantly.

MKs was a club. Zhang Ziwen walked in. He had been to places like this with friends before. Zhang Ziwen didn't know how to dance, and he couldn't say he liked it or disliked it, but the atmosphere inside was suitable for him today: crowded, with booming music, and a bit smoky.

At the circular bar, already occupied by quite a few people, Zhang Ziwen found an empty seat. He ordered half a dozen beers and noticed the attractive bartender. Thinking to make a playful remark, he found the bartender not giving him any chance. After opening his bottle, she turned away to attend to others, leaving him with just her fragrant silhouette.

Disappointed, Zhang Ziwen poured himself a glass, downed it in one gulp, feeling quite thirsty after walking for so long. Within a short while, he had already finished three bottles.

Inside the not-so-large dance floor of the club, the crowd surged, and on the elevated platform, the DJ occasionally shouted into the microphone, riling up the crowd below. With the booming music, heads shook more vigorously, and hips swayed more freely.

Zhang Ziwen tried hard to hear what the DJ was shouting about, wondering what could incite such frenzy in the clubbers.

Then, the DJ let out another strange yell into the microphone, hoarse and inarticulate, "ohyecombaby*you*you*you".

With a burst of laser beams and even more intense music, the men and women in the dance floor raised their hands wildly, shaking their heads from side to side. Some of the women's long hair danced along with the vigorous movements, and as Zhang Ziwen noticed, most of the hands raised were flipping the bird rhythmically. Even the beautiful women were not exceptions. Damn, the moral decline of society.

"Hey handsome." Zhang Ziwen felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see a heavily made-up woman with a cigarette in her mouth blowing smoke toward him, almost choking him. Zhang Ziwen furrowed his brows, wondering what she was up to.

"Hey handsome, all alone?" 

"Um."

"Buy me a drink, will you?" The woman coquettishly threw him a flirtatious glance. Zhang Ziwen was sure her face was caked with makeup.

"Sure." Zhang Ziwen grinned through the nausea and handed her one of the beers on the table. He was feeling a bit desperate for company, and being called handsome by her was oddly satisfying, even though he knew he was indeed quite good-looking.

"Oh, handsome, I don't drink this." The woman pushed away the beer in Zhang Ziwen's hand.

"You asked me to buy you a drink, didn't you? Why approach me if you don't drink?" Zhang Ziwen was puzzled.

"No, I mean, I don't drink beer."

"What do you want then?"

"Give me that." She pointed in the direction of two XXs accompanied by an O. Just by looking at the bottle, Zhang Ziwen knew it was expensive. Damn, was she taking him for a sugar daddy?

"Come on, handsome, just buy me this." The woman swayed her body, clinging to Zhang Ziwen's shoulder, her panda-like dark circles getting closer to Zhang Ziwen's face.

"Okay, if you want it, you pay for it yourself."

"Lady, bring me a bottle of liquor." She called out to the bartender, throwing flirtatious glances at Zhang Ziwen. "You're so sweet, handsome." After saying that, she leaned in to kiss Zhang Ziwen's face, which he dodged with his elbow, smiling. "What's wrong? It's not like I'm paying for it."

"What?" The woman's expression changed so quickly, her dark circles turned white, and her eyeballs disappeared. "You little brat, are you messing with me?" With that, she flipped him the bird, tossed her head, and walked away with a huff, presumably in search of the next sugar daddy.

Zhang Ziwen shook his head with a bitter smile, wondering how he ended up with such a vulgar woman. Damn, he wished a beautiful woman would approach him instead. Who knows, he might have thrown away some cash.