Bing owns his own business, drives a Mercedes-Benz, wears a Versace shirt and a Rolex watch, and carries a Nokia mobile phone and a Louis Vuitton wallet.

Bing wants to tell Niuniu that his wallet is authentic, not like the fakes Hong Kong people buy in Shenzhen. Bing, who likes to impress, would tell Niuniu to look at his wallet from afar, so she could see the colour remained the same: a rich honey brown, thereby authenticating it.

Bing is a typical example of China's rising nouveau riche. He is stylish from head to toe - well, almost. To be more accurate, he is chic from eyebrow to toe. His hairstyle is not quite right, with the hair on top of his head long and concentrated and the sides shaved to a stubble, making him look like someone from a small town whose barber has not seen television or a magazine in years.

Most of Niuniu's childhood friends in Beijing are doing well financially - understandable, considering they're from well-connected families. Being in the right place at the right time, they enjoy the cushion of both socialism and capitalism. Bing tells Niuniu that she could have become a member of the Chinese upper class if she hadn't gone to America, implying that Niuniu's status as a struggling middle-class employee failed to impress him.

Niuniu was Bing's first love and also the only woman not impressed by his financial success. He tells Niuniu stories about how he tossed US$100 (HK$780) chips on the gaming tables as tips in Las Vegas casinos and how he was driven around in stretch limousines complete with television, DVD player, a fully stocked bar and a personal driver. But Niuniu is not interested.

He has a new girlfriend each time he visits Niuniu even though he is married. He doesn't feel ashamed but instead wants to show how popular he is with women. He wants to make Niuniu jealous but instead she ignores him. Not being able to impress others with his wealth and power angers and hurts Bing.

One day he invites Niuniu for coffee. She arrives 15 minutes late, and he sees it as a good chance to get one over on her.

'I have overseas returnees working for me. I'd fire them on the spot if they were late for a meeting, even just one minute late,' he says when she arrives.

'I'm not your employee,' Niuniu replies politely, with a smile.

Bing finally asks the question he's been wanting to ask Niuniu for a long time. 'Do you think that although I didn't go to school in America, I am still on the way to being fully Westernised?'

Niuniu knows that like many new rich in China, Bing has the false image that being promiscuous is celebrated in the West. 'Your clothes are Westernised, but your concepts aren't,' she tells him.

Bing is displeased and defends himself. 'We don't need to be Westernised to be cool. I can buy all kinds of imported products as long as I have money, and I never have to consider the price.'

'Good for you,' says Niuniu.

Bing continues: 'Tell me one thing that China doesn't have, but that America does.'

Niuniu thinks for a second and says: 'Clean air.'