The Nymph of Hong Kong Island

In the 1990s, as the bells rang out for the handover, Ning Fu was sent by her father from a small county town to Hong Kong Island, to live with her mother, who was supposedly wealthy and successful, and had remarried after her divorce.

Her mother's critical gaze swept over her before she finally said, "What an improper name."

So her name became Ning Zhifu. It was a long time before she learned that "Ning Fu" was the English name for a water spirit, a creature considered seductive and improper.

At night, the lights revealed hidden dust among the villas. It turned out her mother wasn't looking for a daughter to inherit the family business, but a son-in-law who came with a family business of his own.

*

At a holiday ball, her mother introduced her to Bo Sixue. His father ran a hospital, and his mother was a council speaker. He was an heir with a "real business," a kind of "solid" wealth that could "make money from money," and was now studying medicine at a prestigious university.

Bo Sixue was gentle and loved to laugh. He treated her well, too, but there was always an inexplicable mockery or condescension in his eyes.

They carried on an awkward, undefined relationship. They were neither engaged nor dating, but they danced together at parties, took the occasional walk, and exchanged gifts.

What were they to each other?

She knew the answer without needing to ask:

It didn't matter what they were. She needed to find herself another target.

*

After searching for a long time, Ning Zhifu finally found a suitable fool. She drew a slender cigarette from an enamel case and struck a match, wearing just the right smile.

But the fool was called away, and her plan came to nothing.

Annoyed, she watched the man behind it all walk toward her. It was Bo Sixue's friend, Fei Yiming. His deep-set eyes were the color of rust, marking him as a mixed-race man with a shady past. His body filled every fold of his suit. She had heard that he used to be a low-level runner who took orders from others, but now he was a polished businessman.

He leaned over and snuffed out her cigarette, ignoring her icy stare. His voice was calm and low.

"Since you've chosen him, don't do this again."

"If you want to catch a big fish, you need to be patient."

Ning Zhifu said nothing. She watched his fingers press down on the cigarette. They were beautiful hands, but rough, too. How long had it taken those hands to go from serving tea to holding a fountain pen? Probably not very long.

Then she looked into his gray eyes and smiled. "If your friend is a fish, then what are you?"

He smiled back. "You tell me."

#Turn of the millennium, alternate setting

Theme: Don't judge people by appearances alone.