The People’s Republic of Desire

33 Internet Date No. 3

After two cyberlove debacles, Lulu tells me, "I'm still a young woman, in my prime. I can't live my life like a nun. If I can't find love, perhaps I can meet someone online for a one-night stand."

"Lulu, you have always talked about how sex should be the 'ultimate fusion of body, mind, and emotions.' I thought you didn't approve of one-night stands," I say.

"I guess I'm a bit desperate now. I simply want to find somebody to love and to marry, but I've been so unlucky in that department. So what's the point of clinging to those old values? I have a girl's needs too!" Lulu exclaims.

"Anyway, you don't have to go on the Internet to get laid. Girls like you could walk into any bar any night and pick up whoever you want, " I say.

"Humph. I can't do it. I need to take revenge on men with the help of the Internet, " Lulu says, terse and firm.

Lulu's new online identity is Beijing Lover, a bored forty-something married housewife looking for a hot one-night stand. After she posts her ad, she receives 120 replies in less than a week. She screens out all replies without pictures and those less than two lines long. Out of the twenty-one "candidates" remaining, she sends replies to the top two men, along with five of her pictures.

One of them, named Wild Heart, answers her right away through Yahoo Instant Messenger.

"How do I know your picture is real?" Lulu writes.

Wild Heart turns on his webcam. He has a handsome face and a fit body.

"Your webcam is great. Why don't you do a touyi wu, a little striptease for me?" Lulu types. She is shocked that she has settled in so quickly to her new bad-girl Beijing Lover identity.

"???" Wild Heart is shocked too.

Perhaps he is not as wild as his name. Lulu thinks, then types:

Beijing Lover: "Sensual body movement turns me on."

Wild Heart: "I've never done it before. I'm afraid of disappointing you."

Beijing Lover: "Are you a good lover, then?"

Wild Heart: "Yes. Satisfaction guaranteed."

Beijing Lover: "Show me."

Wild Heart starts to dance naked in front of the webcam. Because of the delay of the live video transmission over the Internet, Wild He art looks ridiculous. Lulu feels guilty, but then she reminds herself; "This is my revenge. I'm regaining power."

Soon, they agree to get together, and arrange a time and location to meet. Wild Heart suggests a room in a public bath-house. Lulu vetoes it because she doesn't like cheap, sleazy places. Even a one-night stand ought to be romantic, according to Lulu.

Wild Heart mentions the Kunlun Hotel, a five-star hotel that is past its prime. They agree.

At three-thirty in the afternoon, standing in the lobby of the Kunlun Hotel, Lulu suddenly becomes nervous. Wild Heart strides in. His images from the webcam are mainly in the nude, so he looks just a little strange wearing a suit and tie. Even though he has a model's good looks, Lulu isn't excited. "Am I really going to do it with some guy I've just met on the Internet?" Lulu asks herself.

"Hi, Beijing Lover, is that you?" Wild Heart recognizes her and walks to her with a full smile. He looks confident, not nervous at all. She greets him as casually as possible.

"Should we get a room?" Wild Heart says.

Lulu nods, biting her lower lip. Would they be noticed and stopped by the hotel security staff? Would the police think she was a hooker? If she was questioned, she wouldn't even be able to tell them his name.

Wild Heart goes to the counter to register. Lulu stands two meters away as Wild Heart shows his ID card.

"The executive business suite is 888 RMB per night," she hears the room clerk quote the rate.

"Sure." Wild Heart nods, patting his pockets. "Sorry. I left my wallet in my car – I'll be right back," he says to the clerk and Lulu.

"I'll split half of the cost later," Lulu thinks to herself. "At least, it shows I am his equal."

Lulu waits in the lobby alone, trying to ignore the occasional searching gaze from other men and some disapproving glances from the women who walk by. Women who loiter in Beijing hotel lobbies always arouse suspicion.

Half an hour later, Wild Heart has not returned. Lulu finally realizes that he is not coming back. She's been fooled again, but somehow, this time she is happy to be fooled. It stops her from doing something that she'd regret later.

She tells the story in great detail to me immediately. I understand why she prefers the Internet. After all, it is Beijing Lover's afternoon that has evaporated, not hers.

TUOYI WU: Strip dance.