The Illusion of a Second Spring

March 26, 2017.

Chen Jinquan left home promptly at seven in the morning, a bento box clutched in his hand. “I’m heading out!” he called.

After the door clicked shut, Chen Jinquan stood rooted at the entrance for a moment before finally departing.

He arrived at his company in Jiangzhou City by subway before eight o’clock.

At noon, Chen Jinquan opted not to eat in the company cafeteria. To his colleagues’ astonishment, he had brought an exceptionally lavish bento box.

He ate his meal alone, a gentle smile occasionally gracing his lips.

This sight proved a brutal blow to the office’s single employees.

Consequently, news of Chen Jinquan, the middle-aged bachelor, having found a second spring spread like wildfire throughout the company.

At five in the afternoon, Chen Jinquan clocked out precisely on time, not lingering for a moment. He ignored even those who greeted him.

His colleagues grew even more certain, sighing with emotion that this perennial bachelor had finally found someone.

This discovery stirred an unconscious restlessness among the other single employees, who had previously been mired in their work. The entire staid office suddenly brimmed with a youthful energy.

Upon returning home, Chen Jinquan would gently call out after opening the door:

“I’m home.”

The enticing aroma of cooked food wafted from within the house.

Chen Jinquan stepped inside, closed the door, and first went to the bathroom to wash his hands before heading to the dining table.

On the table sat a simple spread of three dishes and one soup. Yet, for a single person, the portion was quite substantial—far too much to finish alone.

He took a seat, smiling gently at the empty chair opposite him. “You’ve worked hard,” he murmured.

As if receiving a joyous reply, he burst into hearty laughter. “It’s no hardship!” he declared.

“A man’s duty is to work and provide for his family!”

“……”

“Mm-hmm, I understand. I won’t overexert myself.”

“……”

“Speaking of which, I’m about to be promoted to department head soon. Manager Zhang asked me to prepare for the handover today.”

“……”

“Not at all, it’s nothing special… Hey, I’m thinking, once I’ve saved enough money, we should move to Jiangzhou City center. There are so many fun things to do there, and it’s closer to work. I’ll take you out whenever I have free time.”

“……”

“Is that so? Well, alright then. This area is indeed quite nice, and the air quality is much better than downtown. It’s good for both you and the baby.”

“……!”

“Oh, come on! Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me! We don’t have one now, but we will eventually, won’t we? Or… do you not want one?”

“……!”

“Alright, alright! No more talk about that. Let’s eat first.”

“I’ll do it! I’ll do it! Don’t move. I’m clearly closer to the kitchen.”

Chen Jinquan quickly rose and went to the kitchen, scooping out two steaming bowls of rice.

One bowl was for himself, the other he placed across the dining table.

Sitting there was a meticulously crafted silicone doll, dressed as a housewife.

April 2, 2017.

A week had passed since Chen Jinquan’s colleagues had become convinced he was no longer single.

Yet, this ‘old dog’ Chen Jinquan remained tight-lipped, offering no explanation whatsoever. It was a shame, considering they had introduced him to numerous blind dates in the past.

Though none had worked out, at least the goodwill from their helpful intentions remained, didn’t it?

That lunchtime, several colleagues cornered Chen Jinquan as he was enjoying his lavish bento.

“Huh? Why aren’t you all going to eat?”

Chen Jinquan looked at his colleagues, each with an accusatory expression, utterly bewildered.

“Still pretending?”

“Chen Jinquan, how long do you plan to keep us in the dark?”

“Exactly! Spill the beans, now!”

His colleagues chattered away, all glaring fiercely at Chen Jinquan as if he owed them a fortune.

“Confess what? I don’t owe you money, do I?”

Chen Jinquan shoveled a mouthful of rice, then looked up at his colleagues with an innocent expression.

“Oh, you’re quite good at playing dumb!”

A senior female colleague, unable to contain herself, directly asked:

“When exactly are you going to introduce us to your significant other?”

Chen Jinquan froze, then slowly began to speak.

“My… significant other?”

“You ‘old dog’ Chen! How dare you still feign ignorance!”

The senior colleague was displeased. Chen Jinquan was usually a good-natured man, often helping them with work. While workplace dynamics could be unpredictable, when it came to Chen Jinquan’s lifelong happiness, his colleagues genuinely wished him well. Yet, this man was treating them like outsiders?

“Never mind! Whether you admit it or not, we’re definitely having that celebratory drink! Right, everyone?”

“Right!” “Exactly!” “Sister Liang’s right!” “Chen Jinquan, you’re being too distant!” “You brought a bento made by your girlfriend, and you still won’t admit it?” “Precisely! Don’t even try to say you made it yourself. Who would believe such a lavish meal came from you?”

His colleagues chimed in one after another, discussing animatedly, and the corner instantly grew boisterous.

Chen Jinquan’s heart, however, sank to rock bottom.

The bento he had woken up over an hour early to prepare was now being ridiculed, with his colleagues claiming he couldn’t possibly have made it himself, insisting on attributing it to some imaginary girlfriend.

At this moment, his memories became severely muddled. Fragments from his time at home flickered through his mind, and a gentle female voice seemed to echo in his ears.

Yet, he couldn’t recall such a person ever existing.

His colleagues all claimed he had a girlfriend, but he remembered having no such person. He had merely purchased a doll.

Just a doll, a mere object to satisfy physical needs—how could it possibly be considered a girlfriend?

His colleagues’ faces twisted in Chen Jinquan’s vision. They seemed to be mocking him, ridiculing him, this lonely middle-aged bachelor, for being so pathetically desperate as to consider a silicone doll his girlfriend.

Yet, by nature, he was submissive. Even now, he couldn’t muster any anger, only feeling utterly useless.

Rising to his feet, he forced a smile against his true feelings. “Alright, alright!” he said.

“It’s my fault! I shouldn’t have kept it from you all! It’s just not the right time yet. When it is, I promise to introduce you all immediately, alright?”

“Alright, alright.” “Couldn’t keep it a secret anymore, could you?”

His colleagues exchanged a few more pleasantries, then dispersed.

Chen Jinquan stared at the bento box in his hands, lost in thought for a long time.

Suddenly, in a fit of horror, he threw the bento box into the trash can.

After work, Chen Jinquan went to the Chuanbei County police station.

The police cooperated with him, conducting a thorough search of his home, inside and out.

The investigation revealed that the only traces of life in the house belonged to Chen Jinquan himself and his tabby cat, Mimi.

There was absolutely no one else!

Accompanying the investigating officers downstairs, Chen Jinquan watched them depart.

Turning back to look at the floor where his home was located, Chen Jinquan found himself unable to go back up. He had even intentionally left his keys behind when he went out, severing any possibility of returning home.

Amidst the night, Chen Jinquan began to wander aimlessly, his mind in a daze.

He found a bar, a place he typically avoided. But tonight, all he wanted was to get thoroughly drunk.

Chen Jinquan continuously poured drinks down his throat at the bar, until he was utterly inebriated, collapsing onto a sofa.

Time slowly drifted by.

When the clock struck exactly 10:00 PM.

Chen Jinquan, who had been passed out on the sofa, suddenly rose.

He calmly paid his bill and left the bar with steady steps.

Half an hour later, Chen Jinquan arrived at the front door of his own home.

The main door slowly opened.

Chen Jinquan stepped inside.

“I’m home.”