Chapter 8: Shang Simla

It was time for us to go to China. Liang's original plans of moving to Shang Simla were replaced with plans to move to Bridgeport with me. I was so happy. Liang said he would love to stay with me because he had no reason to continue living in his boring town. We packed our stuff and Liang asked me a million times if I had my book with me. Now I'm standing in the elevator with my new boyfriend and we're taking our first trip together.

After we got to Shang Simla, put our bags in the hotel and delivered my book, Liang asked me what I wanted to do. I didn't really know, so he suggested going to the Forbidden City. It sounded cool because it was forbidden, so I agreed. When we got there, it turns out that was the place I went the first time I was in China to play that tourist game.

Liang and I went downstairs to explore the tomb. We looked in some treasure chests. It turns out mine was empty, but Liang found some gold coins. I wondered if we could sell them when we got home because we could use some more money.

We came into a room with a round body of water and Liang wanted to jump into it, but he was wary.

"Nubby, you were here before, is there danger in this pool?"

"No, it's a tunnel with another pool on the other side. There's also a treasure chest."

"Oh, I want to swim!"

Liang was always making me laugh. I guess he didn't care too much about getting his clothes wet because he just jumped right into the water.

"Oh. That was a good swim. I found a stone fragment, Nubby!"

Liang peeked his head out from the pool. He was so adorable.

"Ah. I have water in my ear."

"Sorry, Liang, the Q-tips are in the hotel room."

"Which way do we go now? I want to find a secret door."



I walked into a little room and saw that there was a floor panel that had footprints on it. I remembered from the first time that a glowing panel meant one that had already been activated. Liang stepped on it and a secret door opened. He was still soaking wet and his clothes were clinging to him. I wondered what it was about water that emphasized a man's hotness.

As night fell, Liang and I explored a building that had... you guessed it, stairs. We climbed four flights of stairs and I felt like my knees were on fire. Being out of shape sucks. Just when I thought I might fall over, I turned around and felt all of my breath leave my body. The view of Shang Simla was beautiful from where we were standing.

We were both tired and hungry, so it was time to go back to the hotel. I had ice cream for dinner and Liang had canned soup. I realize ice cream may not have been the best choice since I was so out of shape, but I really wanted something to make me happy.

Sometime during the night, I felt Liang hug me. It was a nice warm feeling I'd never gotten to experience before. My life is going so much better these days.

In the morning Liang and I got up and both made one side of the bed. I guess he was kind of like me in the neat and tidy department.

We got egg rolls and hung out at the market all day. Liang got a phone call when he was washing his plate.

"Hello Mother."

"Hi, Liang. Are you getting all ready for moving to Simerica?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Good. Have a good time with your girlfriend."

"Thanks, Mother."

Liang wanted to go to the Academy. I had no idea what that was, and I was just happy to try new things so I followed him. It turns out that the Academy was a gym. There was a television, which I chose to watch. Liang likes to work out so he started using the weight machine. I stole glances at him because the television was right next to the machine he was using. Lucky for me, Liang doesn't care that I'm fat even though he likes to work out.

Liang and I headed to the market after he was done working out. It turns out he bought some fireworks from that guy who almost ran me over the first time I was in China.

I wanted to learn how to fish, so Liang and I explored until we came across a landscaping area with lots of small ponds. It was gorgeous and there were a lot of fish jumping around. Liang started singing. He was so cute and he sang often. He sang when he was cooking, he sang in the shower, and apparently he sang when he was fishing too.

Our vacation went well, and Liang got all of his stuff that he wanted to bring back with him. We got back home and were starving, so we ate some leftovers that we had in the fridge. When Liang was done eating, he made a face like something bad had happened.

"Ick! What did I eat? This plate looked fine when I first started eating."

"I hope my plate doesn't end up like that. I love goopy carbonara."

After dinner I went to the publishing office. They had called me to discuss distributing my book to a wider market. Since it was a science fiction book, they had released it to various comic book stores, but they thought maybe they should just release it to the mainstream bookstores as well.

Chapter 7: Love

So.. here I am, sitting with Liang, nervous as hell because I accidentally brushed my hand against his. My dumb insecurities tell me I just screwed up our friendship. To my surprise, Liang smiled at me and moved closer. Oh my berry! He's sitting so close to me!

"Look, Nubby! A shooting star!"

"Did you make a wish?"

"What? I don't understand."

"When you see a shooting star, it's time to make a wish."

"Ok, then I wish for you to always be my friend."

Liang leaned close like he was telling me a secret when he said those words. Wow. Did he really enjoy my company that much? We sat there for a few more minutes and then it started to get chilly. Liang went inside and I said I'd be up later because I had to clean up all the papers that had accumulated on the front step while I was away in China.

During the time I was cleaning the papers, I thought about the wish I had thought of earlier. I had wished for Liang to stay. We had tickets for Shang Simla again because he was going to go back and I had forgotten the book I was supposed to deliver on my first trip. I wondered if we could manage to ignite a spark between us by spending these extra days together. So far all I knew was that I was overreacting because he was the first guy who had ever given me the time of day and I was confusing that for feelings.

After I finished cleaning up the front step, I walked into my apartment and saw Liang with his butt sticking out. Okay, so he was just looking in the refrigerator, but my eyes went to his butt. It was a cute butt. I was really tired, so I took a nap.

When I woke up, I saw that Liang had made waffles, and set out a plate for me on the dining room table. He had just finished his plate and went to wash the dishes. Suddenly the water came spraying out of the top of the faucet. Liang raised his arms to shield the water from going into his eyes.

"Oh, Liang, I can fix that when I'm done with breakfast."

"No, Nubby. I will do it. I was a repairman in China. I know how to fix things. Let me help you."

Liang found a wrench and took the faucet apart. He found the broken rubber seal and put it aside. He looked in my toolbox for a replacement seal. I guess he found one because in no less than half an hour, my sink was in working order once again. Liang even went so far as to mop the puddle the sink had created. Now I really wanted Liang to stay. He was living proof that there were still true gentlemen in this world.

I was still tired so I went back to bed after Liang finished mopping the floor. I hadn't fallen asleep yet, so I felt when Liang pulled back the covers and slept on the other side of my bed. I guess he felt more comfortable with me now than he did a few days ago. I was glad for the extra warmth his body gave off even though we were nowhere near the point of cuddling.

The night of our flight, Liang cooked dinner. I was feeling sad all day because even though I was going with him, I was pretty sure we would part ways and never see each other again once my visa expired. I don't know what got into me, but I followed Liang into the kitchen after dinner. When he turned around after washing his plate in the sink, I surprise kissed him.

I cringed as I pulled back, keeping my eyes closed, not wanting to see the aftermath of my rash actions. I must have looked ridiculous, but I felt Liang touch my hand and I opened my eyes to see him smiling back at me.

"Nubby? Do you love me more than friends?"

"Um, I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that. I don't have to go to China with you if you don't like me anymore."

"Why would you say that? I love you more than friends."

He was so adorable when he tried to speak Simlish. He wasn't half bad at it, but sometimes he messed up sentences. I always knew what he was talking about, though, and I think he just said he loved me.

Chapter 6: Still Here

Here we are, standing in the elevator of my apartment building. I can't believe there is a guy standing next to me who is actually going to stay with me for a few days. Liang wanted to see some of the sights in Simerica and wanted to stay with me for a little while. Oh my berry, things are crazy right now. He's even sort of cute. I feel like a schoolgirl right now with her crush standing next to her. I don't know if I have a crush on Liang or not, but I keep thinking I want to kiss him. I've never been kissed. Don't tell me you're surprised by that.

"Well, Liang, this is my apartment. That door over there is the bathroom. Make yourself at home. We can take turns sleeping on the couch so that one of us can always have a good night sleep."

"Thank you, Nubby, for showing me around and letting me stay in your home."

Oh my berry, he is still being so nice. In the back of my mind, I always thought he was going to come with me, go sightseeing, and then make up some excuse for why he needed to stay at a hotel. Yes, I have trust issues. That's just what happens when you have a face like mine. People just aren't nice to you.

I laughed to myself as Liang ate his waffles with the pair of chopsticks he bought from Chinatown. I kept asking him if he wanted a fork, but he declined every time. Tomorrow we were going to go clothes shopping. Liang wanted to get some clothes that were more Simerican, as he put it.

After he finished his waffles he started working out to the Fitness Channel on the television. I wasn't quite sure what to think about this considering my abysmal physical fitness routine. He was nice, right? So he wouldn't push me into getting more fit? A girl can hope.

I was getting rather sleepy so I told Liang I wanted to go to bed. He was really sweet and he turned off the television since the bed was in the same room, choosing to go play chess instead. I hope he never leaves. He's my friend now. Oh dear, that sounded creepy. I don't know how to do this. I'm glad he's here, maybe that sounds better.

When I woke up, Liang was sleeping on the couch. He looked so peaceful, I had thought about waking him up and letting him know he could use the bed, but I didn't want to disturb him.

Liang woke up and went into the kitchen. There was a small traffic jam when I went to the refrigerator as he was trying to use the stove. I sighed because my fat ass got in the way again. Liang started singing while he was cooking the mac and cheese. I had no idea what he was talking about. I wondered if he would eat his pasta with chopsticks again.

After we had eaten, I took Liang to the store so he could check out some new clothes. We rode the subway and he was very intrigued that we didn't use bicycles to go everywhere. He agreed that it seemed to be faster to use the subway than a bicycle. He also was very impressed with the elevator in my building because of course, he was used to climbing eighty bajillion stairs everywhere he went. The nighttime lights seemed to be distracting him like a girl seeing a shiny object. He was very cute.

Liang made a funny face when we went up to the mirror. I don't know if he was just being silly because there was a mirror there, but it made me laugh.

"Tell me, Nubby, how do I dress like a Simerican?"

I went and picked out some clothes for him that I thought would look good on any guy. He tried them on and the result was very nice.

I picked out a t-shirt with a zip up jacket and some shorts. He looked excited to be wearing new clothes.

"Oh Nubby! I look like the Simericans I saw on the subway! These will be so fun to take home with me!"

My heart sank just a little bit because even though I knew Liang was just here for a few days, and I was by no means in love with him or anything like that, I did enjoy his company. I wondered if there could be anything more between us.

I picked out another outfit from the rack, it was a pair of hip jeans and a sexy suit jacket, shirt, and tie. When Liang put them on, my jaw dropped. He was hot. I guess it is true, put a man in a suit and his hotness level goes up by at least double.

I wanted to show Liang some of the nightlife in Bridgeport, but it was the wrong time, so I took him to the Bridgeport Sell n' Swap since it was next door to the clothing store. We found a couch and sat and talked.

"What do you do for money, Nubby?"

"I write books."

"Really? That is nice."

"Yeah, that's why I was in China. My publisher wanted me to bring a copy of my book to China."

"Nubby? I am glad you visited China."

Liang and I were both getting tired so we headed back to my apartment. It was my turn on the couch. I had almost fallen asleep when I heard the smoke detector go off. No, don't leave me, Liang. That was the first thing I thought. I peeked over the top of the couch and saw this. Good boy. Liang was extinguishing the fire.

After the fire, Liang must have been feeling hot because he went and got some ice cream to eat. At least he ate that with normal utensils. Liang laughed and told me they have spoons in China, just not normally forks. I told him he could have the bed tonight and resumed my place on the couch.

We both got up when it was still dark so I asked him to watch the stars with me. I got stuck in the elevator door again, but instead of laughing at me, Liang rushed over to help me pry the doors open. I still fell on my face, but he helped me up. When we got outside, I accidentally touched his hand. Crap. Now what do I do?

Chapter 5: Liang

Today I decide to go to the flea market. Maybe I can find some interesting souvenirs to take home with me. The flea market is just as beautiful as the hotel. There are pretty little fountains everywhere leading up to it.

I pick the souvenir side of the flea market and walk in. There are exotic vases and even swords on the wall. Everything's so pretty. When I see the employee, I wonder if he's the same guy who almost ran me over yesterday morning.

"Welcome to my store."

"Thank you."

I decide to buy a vase from him and then go back to the hotel before I spend too much money. Plus, I have to pee and I didn't see a bathroom anywhere at the flea market.

When I got back to the hotel, I saw this guy sitting in the dining room, looking down into his tub of ice cream. I wonder if he was sad that there was nothing left in the container.

I decided to take a chance and talk to him. He was wandering all over the hotel so I guessed that he might be a guest there too. I was feeling a strange confidence coursing through me today, probably because no one had made fun of me or ran away screaming since I got here. I really wanted to get my logic skill to level four, and I thought it might be nice to actually play chess with another human being for once.

"Hello. Would you like to play chess with me?"

"Sure."

He was kind of cute, although a little wrinkly. Despite that, he still looked a million times better than me. I wasn't complaining though because he was the first guy who wasn't treating me as a joke.

"Are you enjoying your stay in Shang Simla?"

"Yes, thank you. Do you live here?"

"I am from China but from a different city. I am visiting Shang Simla because my city is a boring place. I am thinking of moving here."

I ended up winning the game, and to my pleasant surprise he cleared the board and reset it. This was so exciting to me, he wanted to start a second game with me. Partway into our third game, my cell phone rang. It was the Shang Simla Welcome Center, offering me a chance to meet someone named Jiannan Lu who had a request for someone with guts. I found this weird because everyone has guts in the literal sense, but I figured it was a translation error and it meant they wanted someone brave. Since I had been so lucky with trying new things, I accepted.

"What was your phone call about?"

"I accepted a task from the Shang Simla Welcome Center."

"Oh, that is good. They always have fun activities for tourists. I am sleepy, if you don't mind, I would like to call this game finished?"

"Yes, that's ok. What is your name if you don't mind me asking?"

"I am called Liang Yat Sen. But you can call me Liang."

"My name is Nubby Tubby."

"Good night Nubby."

"Good night Liang."

I decided to go visit the Welcome Center to see what the task was all about. A lady was standing outside the building. It turns out she was the Jiannan Lu I was looking for. She gave me a key to a tomb. It sounded kind of scary but Jiannan reassured me that this was just a game for tourists to play and that was how tourists gained Visa Points so they could come visit for longer than three days. She told me I could go to the market and get some supplies for my adventure. I took the key and thanked her for the opportunity.

I went to the market again, and was hungry so I went to the restaurant to try some local food. I ordered a bowl of creamy rice pudding with fruit in it. I hoped it tasted good. It looked kind of like oatmeal.

Afterwards, I went into the tomb that Jiannan told me about, and she was right, it wasn't incredibly scary. At the entrance to the tomb, there was even a couch and some tables set up there. I returned the relic that was planted there to Jiannan, and she paid me 500 Simoleons! I didn't have any idea I was going to get paid for it. I had to leave Shang Simla in a few hours, and this was the best way to end my trip. Now I don't feel so bad for buying that vase yesterday morning.

I had stayed up all night, so I went back to the hotel. I was hoping to see Liang again. Luckily for me he was sitting on one of the couches reading a book.

"Hi, Liang."

"Hello, Nubby. Did you go play the tourist game?"

"Yes! I got the relic back to the Welcome Center."

"Good for you. Did you have fun?"

"Yes, I did. Liang, I like talking to you."

"Thank you."

"I have to go home today. My flight leaves at midnight."

Liang stood up quickly when I said that. He walked in front of me. I've never had a guy stand that close to me before.

"Nubby, would you think me strange if I said I wanted to come visit Simerica?"

"No, but it would be strange if you wanted to visit me."

Liang hung his head. Crap, he misunderstood me. Dang insecurities that make me awkward. I quickly tried to remedy the situation. He was the first guy who I'd talked to who was nice to me. I grabbed his hand out of nervousness and looked into his eyes.

"Liang, I didn't mean that I didn't want you to visit Simerica. I just- no one's ever been nice to me like you have and I don't know how to take it."

"Nobody is nice to you? That is so sad. You are such a beautiful person."

What the berry did he just say to me? Beautiful? Surely he couldn't mean that. I am definitely not that.

"Um, Liang? You don't have to be nice to me and call me beautiful. I know I am not."

"Nubby, your heart is beautiful."

There it is. He does think I'm ugly. Damn, why did I have to go and ruin that? Couldn't I have just left it as what he said earlier, that I am a beautiful person. Blah, why do I have to go and sabotage everything? Maybe I should tell him to come with me to Simerica. He is a very nice man.

"I would love it if you came to Simerica with me."

Liang smiled. I'm glad he doesn't hate me. I hate myself for trying to twist his words, even though I never told him the mean things I was thinking about myself. Maybe Liang could help me with that part of myself.