We live in an age of emotionalism, falsity appears true, so that what seems true will be false. How do you know who really has true feelings? Which man can you believe? I am really afraid of marriage. I feel more and more convinced that spinsterhood is the only safe option: it avoids trouble, and keeps life safe and straightforward.
Table of Contents
Preface 5 A Determined Singleton 7 Interview location: a cafe in Haldian District, Beijing Interviewee: Liu Yue Age: 28 Profile: head of the administrative office of a real estate company. From Sichuan, bachelor's degree, previously a personnel secretary and office manager. Love with a Shelf Life 18 Interview location: a restaurant in Chaoyang District, Beijing Interviewee: Wang Mengmeng Age: 28 Profile: boss of a culture company, bachelor's degree Is It Wrong to Be Prudent? 28 Interview location: a pub and a restaurant in Sanlitun, Beijing Interviewee: Cao Xiaoqi Age: 33 Profile: a high school teacher, MA degree, from Northeast China, columnist for some Beijing newspapers Proof-Reading Error Leads to a Love Affair 36 Interview location: a teahouse in Chaoyang District, Beijing, and QQ messaging Interviewee: Liu Qingqing Age: 29 Profile: from Hubei, junior college graduate, worked for a Beijing newspaper, now a freelancer. All Men Are Promiscuous 44 Interview localion: McDonald's in Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing Interviewee: Deng Na Age: 29 Profile: from Chongqing, teacher at a Beijing beauty school. An Unwilling Dependant 50 Interview localion: a care in Pudong District, Shanghai, and MSN messaging Interviewee: Pan Yanmei Age: 30 Profile: from Zhejiang, formerly a postage stamp dealer in Suzhou, now a company employee in Shanghai Mystery and Innocence 60 Interview localion: a restaurant and cafe in Jingtian in Futian District, Shenzhen Interviewee: Yang Xiaohui Age: 27 Profile: from Hubei, associate degree, formerly an administrative clerk and secretary to a company general manage, currently a freelancer Beautiful Marriage Obsession 69 Interview localion: a Hakka hotel in Luohu District, Shenzhen Interviewee: Xu Zijuan Age: 29 Profile: bachelor's degree, from Guangdong, formerly a computer trainer, now staff member of a public institution A Single Mother 75 Interview localion: MSN messaging Interviewee: Chen Qing Age: 25 Profile: bachelor's degree, administrative clerk of a company From Fairy Tale to Myth 92 Interview localion: a meeting room in Shenzhen Times Interviewee: Zhong Haiyan Age: 26 Profile: owner of a garment shop Woman of Fierce Desires 97 Interview location: the offices of Shenzhen Evening News Interviewee: Jiu-mei Age: 28 Profile: from Hubei, formerly owner of a garment store in Shenzhen. Living with Two Men 107 Interview location: the offices of Shenzhen Evening News Interviewee: Qin Xiangyu Age: 28 Profile: enterprise employee; currently living in Shenzhen. Loves that Led Nowhere 116 Interview location: the meeting room of Shenzhen Times Interviewee: Ma Xiaofei Age: 36 Profile: from Heilongjiang Province; BA degree; living in Shenzhen as a company clerk for over 10 years; cosmetics saleswoman; now running her own company. The Dazzling City 123 Interview location: meeting room at the Shenzhen Times Interviewee: Xu Jiaming Age: 30 Profile: from Shandong Province; BA degree, living in Shenzhen for almost four years; a website editor in Shenzhen until late 2004; now an enterprise employee in Shanghai. Looking for a Holiday Lover 128 Interview location: the offices of Shenzhen Evening News Interviewee: Cao Zimei Age: 29 Profile: from Hunan Province; formerly a website chief information officer; now a company branch manager United Hearts but Separate Lives 134 Interview location: UBC Coffee House, Futian, Shenzhen Interviewee: Xu Xiaoting Age: 27 Profile: from Zhejiang Province; once lived in Xiamen, Dongguan, Shenzhen and Beijing; now a care manager. Lovers in Heaven 151 Interview location: The meeting room of Shenzhen Times Interviewee: Liang Cuiye Age: 36 Profile: director of teaching and guidance office in a Shenzhen school Fruitless Loves 160 Interview location: the offices of Shenzhen Evening News Interviewee: Zeng Miao Age: 26 Profile: university graduate; living in Shenzhen; enterprise employee My Life is Like a Screenplay 168 Interview location: numerous e-mail messages Interviewee: Marry Age: 21 Profile: from Wuhan; a company employee. In Flight from the Wealthy 176 Interview location: a Western-style diner in Guangzhou Interviewee: May Age: 27 Profile: graduate of a prestigious university; on the staff of a public institution.