企鹅版《性之罪》的开头：

Prologue

He waited, wrapped inhis raincoat, under a large tree beside the northern moat of the Forbidden City. A chill spring rain fell through the dark curtain of night, rinsing thedry, dirty air and driving pedes trians indoors. The streets were deserted. Occasionally a car passed, scattering the puddles that shimmered under the street lights.

The new leaves on the trees obscured his view. He could only just make out the road in front of him. Although the area wasn’t well lit, this darkness wasn’t the kindthat brought terrors ……and it was preferable to the blackness overhead. His eyes skimmed the faint lights pulsing across the puddles and on towards the watch tower at the far corner of the Forbidden City.

The tower rose like a gigantic monster, crouched on top of the high walls, ready topounce on its prey. A light flickered. He stared at it. He couldn’t decide if it was a street lamp or a window. The rain swept like a white mist in front of his eyes and the light turned an eye-catching red, a single flower nestled amidst the dark foliage. It reminded him of the display screens at the brokerage house. His ears filled with hoarse cries and curses of despair, as if he were back in the frenzy of the trading floor.

It was days since he’d last been there, to Hongyuan Securities. Ever since the ‘incident’, he’d been rushing around the city, looking for help. He used to think he had friends in high places. Now he knew there was no one he could turn to. He was beginning to understand the fickle nature of human relationships.

When he’d got home yesterday, worn out, his mother told him the police had come to ask about him. He didn’t know what they wanted but he had a bad feeling, because of that letter. He also knew, no matter what, that he had to see FangQiong. He rang her and arranged to meet at eight o’clock, here amongst the trees, where they’d experienced that unforgettable moment. He conjured up the image of her slim figure and entrancing face.

He’d fallen for her the first time they met at Hongyuan, when she was a brand new clerk. He wouldn’t say it was love at first sight but he was attracted by her looks, her figure, her personality and – most of all – her gentle femininity. His high school girlfriend seemed like a child in comparison. He found it hard to control himself around her, and tried everything possible to ingratiate himself, but she was always so cool towards him. She neither returned norrejected his attention. When he sent her fresh flowers, she smiled and put them on the desk behind her. When he asked her out to dinner, she declined. When he tried to walk her home, she skilfully avoided him.

Eventually, though, he found a way to get close to her. He discovered that she was a keen ballroom dancer. He took a three-month crash course. He learnt how to stand: stomach in, buttocks raised, back straight and stretched. How to walk: keep the torso still, move on the balls of your feet. How to move as a couple: upper halves slightly apart, lower halves together; keep your bodies together when you turn, the man’s leading foot between the woman’s feet . . . He picked it up quickly and made good progress. He asked her out as soon as the course had finished. She was surprised and happy to hear he could dance. They went to a hall south of the Temple of Earth that she liked because of the elegance of the other dancers. He could only manage a few basic steps. She taught him a few more. But when they had to press together, his body reacted, affecting hismovement. If she noticed – and she did – she glared at him and told him to concentrate on his dancing and stop fantasising. He was grateful for the dim lights for hiding his blushes.

They went dancing once a week. Time flew when they were together, but he found the waiting hard to bear. He tried everything to become more intimate with FangQiong. After dancing he’d invite her to dinner but she always excused herself, saying she had to go home and shower. She never let him see her home. In the dance hall he could hold her close, but outside she wouldn’t let him touch her or even hold her hand. She said they were dance partners. He had no choice but to play along.

One evening after Chinese New Year they went to their regular dance hall. FangQiong seemed tired but in good spirits. As the music played a soft, gentletune, she pressed herself against him. The sensation of her breasts squashed against his chest turned him on. Normally she insisted on dancing without a break until the hall closed, but that evening they were only halfway through when she said she’d had enough. When they left the hall he put his arm around her waist, and she didn’t push it away. Tentatively, he invited her to dinner, which she accepted. He hailed a taxi and took her to the Da San Yuan restaurant just north of the Forbidden City. The first dinner had to be special.

He talked a lot during the meal, about his dreams for the future. He had a ‘road map’, he said. He planned to become a millionaire within three years, then go south to get some experience on the Shenzhen stock market and become a broker. He’d heard that in Hong Kong, brokers could earn as much as ten million a year. One day he even wanted to have his own brokerage house. Fang Qiong just smiled at him.

After dinner they walked to the moat outside the Forbidden City and stood facing each other under a tree. Summoning his courage, he managed to stutter the words ‘I love you’. She was touched but told him they weren’t right together. She was mucholder than him. He should find himself a younger girlfriend. He said he didn’t care; he liked that she was older. She shook her head; it might be fine now, but what about in ten years’ time, when he’d be in his prime and she’d be an old woman? He didn’t care about ten years from now; he would only be happy if they could be together now. Holding her close, he kissed her for the first time. She didn’t break off or push him away, but she didn’t let him put his hand up her blouse. She also made it clear that nobody at Hongyuan could know about them. He agreed. He said he hoped she’d be able to leave her job to enjoy a better life soon. She replied tenderly that she was looking forward to him becoming a millionaire.

Since that night, he’d arrive early every morning on the VIP trading floor at Hongyuan and gaze at the display screen, thinking of Fang Qiong. He stucks crupulously to her condition of secrecy, but if ever they were alone he would try to snatch a brief moment of intimacy. He became increasingly impatient and so decided to put his millionaire road map into play. Holding his nerve, he maxed out his credit and placed his biggest order ever, for 100000 shares in a company called Yansheng Holdings. But his road map hit a road block – a hundred thousand times worse, in fact – which is why he was standing where he was today: alone, sad, suffering, in the place they’d shared their first kiss.

The rain fell harder. A peal of thunder rolled across the sky. He glanced at his watch: eight twenty p.m. He sighed. Would she come, despite the rain? He didn’t give up hope. If he were honest with himself he’d admit he didn’t understand how he felt about Fang Qiong. She was a riddle he had to solve, a seductress and atemptress.

He couldn’t think straight and paced back and forth beneath the trees. The clatter of footsteps cut through the sound of the rain. His head whipped around. He made out a shadow to the east, in the mist. His heart raced and he started towards the noise. The footsteps drew closer, but disappointment hit him when he saw two figures. A woman’s voice called his name. ‘Xia Zhe!’

He stared hard. He did not recognise her. ‘Who are you?’ he said.

A man’s voice said, ‘Police. Come with us, please.’

Instinct took over. Xia Zhe turned and ran. They chased after him. He sprinted along the street, water flying off his clothes and from under his feet. He was young. He was fast. He could out run them.

Then he saw a police car coming towards him. He looked around. There was nowhere to hide. He ran on towards the car. It pulled up beside him and two officers jumped out.

Xia Zhe gasped at them, ‘Officers . . . behind me . . . two people . . . they tried to mug me!’

The two policemen shouted down the street at the other officers that they’d ‘got him’,and pushed Xia Zhe into the car.

八宫版《性之罪》的开头：

The Prologue

She went into the bathroom, leaving behind a trace of female fragrance. He walked, involuntarily, to the closed but unlocked bathroom door. 

Hearing the water flow, he desired to see the body in shower. Many times had he laid the hand on the door, but guilt within him pulled it back. He struggled until the sound of water ceased.

The door opened and she walked out with a pair of very thin pajamas. With slight surprise, she asked, “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” He blushed.

Having noticed his embarrassment, she smiled and walked on. Through her pajamas, he saw anenticing curve.

She walked to the bedside and turned to him, “I have agreed to let you see my scar on the hips. Do you want to see?”

He hesitated for a second and advanced towards her.

She turned around, untied her pajamas, took off her pair of underpants and throw it onto the bed. Then she lifted her pajamas and pointed her finger to her right hip, saying,“Here, you see.” She cast a glance on him, adding, “Don’t touch! There is electricity!”

He was scrutinizing the dark red scar on her plump and white skin, trying to hold back. But he soon lost control of himself and touched the scar with hand. It appeared that electricity passed from her smooth skin through his arm to his heart, making it beat faster. He could not help but embraced her.

She did not resist,asking wittily, “What have you seen?”

Before she could complete the sentence, he set kiss on her lips and held her close to his chest. After a long and enthusiastic kiss, both gasped.

*

Having no idea how many hours elapsed, he awoke. After relishing his experience in the mind with eyes closed, he opened his sleepy eyes and saw her lying next to him. He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

She was awake, too, but her eyes were still closed. “Your bad mustache made me itch.”

“Did I hurt you just now?”

She opened her eyes, seeing his earnest expression, and laughed, “That is called orgasm. You don’t understand? It appears this is your first time, right?”

He nodded, putting his mouth to her ear, saying, “But now it is the second one.”

“Oops, you recharged yourself so quick.”

“I have a lot of energy.”

“Don’t boast. How much do you have?”

“Whatever amount you want!”

“I’ll want whatever available in you!”

“Good, I’ll let you have it!”

“Oh, you are damn good. Spare me. I don’t want it now. Good brother, please…”

Both were tired after the vigorous and satisfactory love-making. They lined up on bed, closed their eyes, as if both were pondering their own stories.

She asked, all of a sudden, “You didn’t have a girlfriend?”

He replied honestly, “I had one during the school years.”

“How about now?”

“We parted before graduation.”

“Why did that happen?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe it was a misunderstanding.”

“Was she pretty?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see her since?”

“No.”

“But you could not forget her?”

“How to say? Well, yes. But now I think you are the woman most worthy of my love. Please trust me. I’m loving you with sincerity and will do so for the rest of my life. I can make you happy, for sure. Really! What’s wrong? You don’t believe me? Why are you crying?” He sat up, seeing her sobbing on her pillow, and asked anxiously.

Suddenly, she sat up, too, wiped her tears, looked at him and burst into hysterical laughter.

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