Chapter 7 Are You Impotent

• As the woman entered the ward, her daughter, who appeared pale and was connected to an IV drip, anxiously asked, "Mommy, where's Daddy? Why isn't he here?"
• The woman stood frozen, staring at her daughter. She wanted to tell the girl that the dishonest man was not her father, but she couldn't bring herself to say it when she saw her daughter's condition.
• "He... Well..."
• "Where did Daddy go? I want Daddy, Mommy! I want Daddy!" The little girl became teary-eyed and started crying when she saw her mother hesitate.
• "Daddy didn't leave. He... just went to buy you something. You mentioned wanting that huge doll, right? Well, Daddy went to buy it for you, Annie. He'll bring it to you once he gets it," the woman explained. She felt guilty for lying to her daughter, who had already endured so much suffering at such a young age.
• Annie suddenly became excited upon hearing this. "Really? Did Daddy really go to buy me a present?"
• "Yes, that's right. Daddy will come back to you as soon as he finds that doll. So, be a good girl and get some rest, okay?"
• "Okay! I'll be a good girl and wait for Daddy to come back!" Annie replied with a smile and lay quietly on the bed. She even started imagining her father returning with her present in hand.
• Unable to bear seeing her daughter like this, the woman turned around and ran off to cry in the stairwell once again.
• That was when she heard her phone's ringtone indicating an incoming message. She wiped her tears away and took out her phone, only to see that it was a text from Enrique. The woman fell into deep thought when she saw that he had sent her a picture of his ID card.
• While strolling down the street, Enrique casually took out his phone and made a call.
• "Hey, Ricky! What's up?" a man's voice answered on the other end.
• "If I remember correctly, it's the weekend, right?" Enrique asked.
• "Oh, come on! You could just check the date on your phone if you wanted to! Spit it out! What's up?"
• "Is your wife at home today?" Enrique inquired.
• "You want to come over for lunch, don't you? Is there no limit to your shamelessness?" the man asked.
• "Hey! Who are you calling shameless? You know me, I only go to someone's place if I like them! If I didn't like you, I wouldn't show up even if you offered to escort me in person!"
• "Alright, I understand. We should feel grateful and honored that you want to come over and have lunch with us. By the way, I was just about to call you when you rang. Zoey made your favorite smoked salmon and told me to invite you over for lunch. Where are you right now? Hurry up and come over!"
• Enrique burst into laughter and said, "See? I knew Zoey was the best! Unlike you, she knows how to treat a friend properly! I can't believe I considered you my best friend for so many years!" He paused for a few seconds before continuing, "However, I don't feel like going anymore."
• "What the hell is wrong with you? You called and said you wanted to come over for lunch, so why would you change your mind all of a sudden?" the man exclaimed angrily over the phone.
• "It's true that I initially wanted to come over, but I won't if both of you are inviting me. You two have always dreaded me coming over for free food and drinks, so there must be something going on if you're inviting me for lunch! I'd rather go home and have some instant noodles instead!" Enrique said as he sat down on a bench and lit a cigarette.
• "Hey! Have you no shame, Ricky? You practically live off us by coming over six days a week for free food! Anyway, stop the nonsense and come over!"
• "Fine! I'll come over, but your wife better not try to introduce any more women to me, or I'll leave immediately! Consider yourselves warned!"
• "You heartless jerk! Do you know what Zoey asked me this morning?"
• "What?"
• "She asked me if you're suffering from erectile dysfunction or something. I mean, why else would a man of your age not even want to have a wife? Be honest, Ricky! Are you so impotent that you've lost all interest in women?"
• "Oh, screw you! I use more tissues for masturbating in a month than you do for wiping your *ss! Alright, the bus is here, so I'm hanging up now!" Enrique snapped at him and ended the call.
• The man who had called him was Jesse Langdon, nicknamed "Jes," and he had been Enrique's roommate since university. Zoey Neal was his girlfriend back then. Both of them were working white-collar jobs in Salinsburgh after graduating from university. Although their lives seemed to be going well, they were actually struggling financially. In a large and globalized city, employees like them barely had enough to get by despite their seemingly high salaries. The two had planned to get married a few years ago but postponed it because they wanted to buy a house first. However, housing prices increased much faster than their salaries could keep up with. In the end, they didn't buy a house and lent all their money to Enrique instead.
• After boarding the bus, Enrique made his way directly to Jesse's residence. Due to his initial lack of funds upon arrival, he had been residing in the rented apartment shared with Jesse. The apartment was rather small, consisting of only one bedroom, which Jesse and Zoey occupied while Enrique slept on the living room couch. Unfortunately, the room's soundproofing was subpar, allowing Enrique to overhear everything transpiring within. Thus, Enrique remained at Jesse's place for a continuous period of three months. Eventually, the inconvenience became unbearable, leading to Enrique's eviction.
• Putting jokes aside, Enrique and Jesse shared an incredibly close friendship, always willing to go the extra mile to assist each other.