people's republic of desire

Ting, 42, is CC's boss at a PR agency in Beijing. She is considered open-minded for her age. Her generation didn't have mandatory English education, but she learned to speak English fluently on her own. While most women of Ting's generation take pride in being loyal wives and good mothers, she is a natural flirt. She is not afraid to flash her seductive smile at a man. At the agency, everybody knows that Ting has been having an affair with a married man called Jack for 10 years. Jack is a successful real estate developer, and Ting is proud that she has never received expensive gifts from him. She often tells CC that their love is real love, not one based on material things.

Two years ago, Ting divorced her husband and left her only child, hoping to marry Jack. Although Jack declared his love for Ting, he has not mentioned divorcing his wife. In private, Ting's colleagues, including CC, all think Jack will never divorce his wife to marry her.

Ting's personal life is a mess. When she gets along with Jack, she is nice to her colleagues. But when she and Jack aren't getting along, Ting becomes a bitch. Assessing Ting's attitude towards them each morning, her colleagues can tell what has happened between her and Jack the day before.

Today, Ting is unhappy with the business plan CC wrote and reprimands her: 'Don't you wear that 'I'm an Oxford graduate - I'm better than you!' expression around me! If you're really that smart, how can you write such crap?' After yelling at CC, Ting bursts into tears.

'What's going on with you, Ting? Are you OK?' asks CC. Ting stands still for a moment. Then she says in a soft voice: 'I'm pregnant. And Jack says that he has no time to accompany me to the hospital for an abortion.' Ting forgets she is at the office, in a professional setting, where decorum is required, and starts crying again.

Since being with Jack, Ting has had two abortions, which are routine in China since the advent of the 'one child' policy.