Tattooed Whales

Jiu Lu shrugged off her backpack, rested it on the chair and sat down obediently beside it.

The shop was initially very quiet. She looked around and ended up studying each of the designs displayed on the wall. After a while, electric whirring noises could be heard from the room, and occasionally, low moans from the woman, seemingly in pain, could be heard too.

Conversational sounds could be heard too, with short acknowledgements from the man while the woman asked questions. Jiu Lu figured that it was perhaps done to distract herself from the pain.

After long, Jiu Lu’s legs became numb from sitting and she stood up to move around. Only after 10 minutes did a few men walk into the shop.

An overweight man first entered, and was followed behind by young, slim man with long hair. This man came carrying a few takeaway boxes. After which, a pair of good-looking man and another woman entered, and they appeared to be older, judging from their clothes and mannerisms.

Jiu Lu stood up immediately and stared at them.

The crowd’s attention collectively landed on her.

The overweight man spoke up. “Who’re you waiting for?”

“… ….” Jiu Lu froze for a moment. “Isn’t this shop a tattoo parlour?”

“You’re here to get a tattoo?” The man asked in a slightly exaggerated voice and couldn’t help but to stare at her.

Li Jiu Lu came straight from school, and was still wearing her uniform under her coat. Her hair was tied in a ponytail and it rested loosely on her left shoulder. It made her neck seemed especially slender. She also had a very clean face with hints of naivety.

Everything about her pointed to be being an young obedient kid who wouldn’t visit places like this.

Jiu Lu lightly nodded her head.

Wan Peng slapped the back of Pang Zi’s head forcefully, placed the takeaway boxes on the table and then shouted, “Jian Ge, food is here, come eat after you’re done.”

There was no response.

Li Jiu Lu felt that the nickname felt a little familiar, but couldn’t quite tell who it was.

Wan Peng then picked up a few booklets and greeted her. “Please sit.”

Jiu Lu sat beside the table.

“Which part are you tattooing?”

“I haven’t decided. Any suggestions?”

“The web between your thumb and your index, or your wrist, your upper shoulder, ankle, chest or waist. These locations are quite popular among girls.” Wan Peng was a lot more professional than Pang Zi and also much more serious.

Li Jiu Lu nodded her head but didn’t indicate her preference.

“What designs do you like?” Wan Peng flipped open the booklets and tried to change the direction of the topic. “Realistic designs? Or perhaps abstract designs?”

Jiu Lu waved her hands in surprise. “I’m not looking for a design, I just want to tattoo a name.”

“That’s easier, I’ll get a paper so you can write the name out.”

Jiu Lu wrote, stroke by stroke, Ma Xiao Ye’s name and gave it to Wan Peng.

After a few more minutes, sounds came out from the room again and the woman came out with her clothes buttoned up neatly. The weather was freezing, but her forehead seemed to be soaked in sweat.

“Follow me.” Wan Peng said.

Li Jiu Lu was initially not nervous but after hearing what the woman went through, she reassessed her thoughts and her hands uncontrollably shook as she followed Wan Peng.

The tattooist earlier had too, came out of the room just as they were about enter.

Jiu Lu stepped back to allow him to pass but he stood as he was, with his hands propping up the curtain.

“Li Jiu Lu?”

Jiu Lu raised her head and Chi Jian took off his mask.

“It’s you!”

Chi Jian stared in surprise while slowly taking off his gloves. “You came to find me? How do you know I was here?”

Before she could reply, Wan Peng spoke up. “You know each other? That’s great, she wants to tattoo a name.”

He passed the piece of paper to Chi Jian.

Chi Jian didn’t take the paper. He took a brief glance at the paper and the smile in his lips gradually disappeared. He looked to Jiu Lu.

He remembered indistinctly a name that was mentioned by Supervisor Jiang, saying that a boy in her class used to send her home daily but was called up by the teachers after such behaviour was picked up.

If he was right, this boy was the same person who had kissed her on the cheek in-front of the restaurant.

“Jian Ge?”

Chi Jian moved for a second and snatched the piece of paper over. “A tattoo is not removable, do you know that?”

“I know.”

“Do you know what tattooing a name means then?”

“I……”

Without waiting for her reply, he turned away and walked out.

“Hey-“

His expressions were so stern and so obvious that it changed Jiu Lu’s perception of him. She used to think that even though he wasn’t a gentle person, she still got along fine with him. This was the first time she realised that he too, could change moods faster than flipping a page of paper.

Wan Peng immediately came up to ease the tension. “I’m sorry, could you sit and wait outside for a while? It won’t take long.” He then ran behind Chi Jian. “Jian Ge, even if you know her, you can’t just leave her there?”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“No, no! That’s not what I meant.” In a joking manner, Wan Peng tried to explain what he meant.

“What I meant was, it’s not very friendly to leave her hanging there.”

“Have you and the rest ate?” Chi Jian stopped and took out a cigarette.

Wan Peng was confused but answered anyways. “Yeah?”

“I have not eaten. Chi Jian spoke plainly, and took out his lighter as he walked further to the back. “What are you still standing here for?”

“Jian Ge? I…”

“Go find Hong Yu.”

Hong Yu was usually responsible for more intricate designs and specialised in tattoo sleeves and full back tattoos. As time passed, he had little patience for smaller, simpler tattoos and grew a little sick of small designs. Therefore, such tattoos were often thrown to Chi Jian to do.

Business was blooming, especially in the autumn and winter.

But no matter how busy it got, Wan Peng never saw Chi Jian grow irritated angry even once. As compared to the busy periods they’ve had so far, Wan Peng felt that Chi Jian was perhaps using this small situation to vent.

Wan Peng scratched his head and stared at his back in confusion. Helpless, he went back in and called for Hong Yu.

Chi Jian came out without his jacket and the moment the wind blew, he felt his entire body shivering.

At the back of the shop was an isolated alley. There was a dead-end on the left, but it led out to a stretch of busy karaoke bars and their exits to the alley were often left unclosed. Just then, Chi Jian spotted a group of 3 to 5 youngsters squatting on the floor, smoking as they argued among themselves. This alley had people from all walks of life and it wasn’t a good place to hang around.

But Chi Jian was used to such sights. He found a small spot to avoid the wind and leaned on the wall as he lit his cigarette.

The soundproofing for the karaoke bars weren’t done well so it was inevitable that loud noisy music could be heard clearly in the alley.

Chi Jian rested his head on the wall and smoked. This was his first cigarette of the day and he had only realised how sore his body now that he had the time to relax. Closing his eyes, he tilted his neck and tried to massage the soreness away. He then took a few more smokes from the cigarette and held it between his lips.

He took out the paper again and narrowed his eyes as he stared at it. The words on the paper were neat, and the strokes gave him a sense of gracefulness.

Staring a this, his memories came to him untimely as he suddenly recalled their first meeting; the way she swam, it was simply unforgettable.

His sight gradually became blurry as he remincised the events on that day.

Li Jiu Lu had rushed out of nowhere, into his world that day in the swimming complex.

The moment she dived into the water, it was as if a beam of light had been scattered into a thread of broken gold and they followed behind her like a school of fishes.

Even the bubbles in the water reflected the radiance caught in that moment.

She swam so naturally in the water, her entire body gave off a delicate yet unwavering sense of allure.

Chi Jian watched as she approached him slowly, like a deep sea fairy from a beam of light, and swam past him gently, mysteriously, almost as though she was out of reach.

In that moment, his surroundings and their sounds muddled together and he could only hear the beating of his heart.

Not far from him, the youngsters had started arguing louder and louder and it brought Chi Jian’s focus back.

His sight returned to the piece of paper.

After which, he suddenly straightened his back and his lips gradually lifted into a smile.

Extinguishing his cigarette, he crushed the paper into a ball and walked back to the shop.

Hong Yu had already prepared his equipment and was discussing with Jiu Lu what type of font she wanted.

Chi Jian took away the booklet and closed it. “Let me do it.”

Hong Yu stood up and yelled at him. ‘What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Chi Jian pretended not to hear him.

Hong Yu couldn’t say much in-front of the customer, so he packed his tools and left.

After a seconds of silence, Li Jiu Lu spoke up. “I didn’t know that you work here.”

Chi Jian took out a piece of thermal paper and drew out a design.

Touching her nose, Li Jiu Lu spoke again. “Oh yeah, I forgot to ask your name. I heard others calling you Jian Ge, but what’s your last name?”

Chi Jian sneered. “Don’t try to act close.” He stared at her and then smiled. “It’ll still be painful.”

“… …”

And now he’s in a good mood? That’s a little sudden.

Jiu Lu thought uncontrollably as she pursed her lips.

Chi Jian prepared his needles and twisted open the cap of the stencil fluid bottle. When he turned, he realised that Jiu Lu was still standing confusedly behind him.

“What, are you planning to get a tattoo on your clothes?” He waved his finger around. “I don’t know how to sew.”

“… … I actually haven’t decide on where to get the tattoo.”

Chi Jian looked at her.

“The wrist, arms and ankles are too obvious. Your mom will notice it right away. The chest, butt and waist aren’t as obvious, but it doesn’t suit you; it’s too painful.” He suggested. He got closer and rested his hand on her shoulders and intentionally spun her around. “Do it on your left shoulder, above your shoulder blade.”

Chi Jian’s suggestion was surprisingly thoughtful and Jiu Lu nodded her head.

Chi Jian however, didn’t release his grip on her shoulder. It felt like the hands were exerting a hidden force upon her.

He lowered himself and stared eye-level at her. “You really thought this through? You really want this tattoo?”

Jiu Lu moved her legs slightly. “What’s there to hesitate?”

“You still have a chance to regret your decision.”

Li Jiu Lu thought for a while and replied passively. “I’m getting it.”

Chi Jian stared at her for a moment before turning away and nodding his head.

Jiu Lu turned away and removed her clothes.

She had intentionally wore an additional layer of camisole for today. She then removed her sweater and couldn’t help but shiver as the air conditioning in the room flared. She turned unconsciously to face Chi Jian, who wasn’t focusing on her. The door was somehow closed tightly before she could realise.

He instructed Li Jiu Lu to sit lying on the chair and then carried a stool over for him to sit.

The transfer of design was complete and the tattoo pen starting whirring after it was connected and ready with ink.

Jiu Lu couldn’t help herself as she turned to ask Chi Jian a question. “Is it going to be painful?”

Chi Jian raised an eye. Her ponytail was loose but he could see some baby hair that had stuck to her skin. Also, seeing as she was under the light, her ears appeared to be especially translucent. She also smelled clean and refreshing. Chi Jian didn’t speak for a while as he used his fingers to hook her hair to the front. Yet, a few strands of baby hair remained intact and stuck stubbornly on her skin.

Chi Jian wasn’t wearing a mask. He supported himself up with the handles on the chair and turned his body as he blew a gust of air on her neck.

Involuntarily, Jiu Lu shrank into the chair and felt slightly tickled, as though she was shocked lightly by static. In response, her skin immediately produced tiny goosebumps.

Chi Jian froze at the sight and stood up immediately.

The atmosphere in the room fell hazy in that moment. Chi Jian had faced a lot of female customers and seen parts much more sensitive then her shoulder, but her little response made his entire heart fluttered; something he had never experienced before.

“Is it in the way? I’ll retie it.” Jiu Lu spoke up nervously.

“It’s fine.” He held her down and took the chance to calm down. “You asked if it was going to be painful?”

“Yeah. Is it?”

“It depends.”

The atmosphere returned to back to normal in just a few seconds.

“Oh.” Jiu Lu nodded. “I heard that person shouting in pain earlier on.”

“She wanted a tattoo in the middle of her chest, it would be a miracle if it wasn’t painful.” He pretended to be serious and continued, “but it also depends on the skills of the artist.”

Some words that Chi Jian had used made her extremely embarrassed and Jiu Lu turned her head and asked another question. “So are your skills good?”

“Not really.”

“… …”

The conversation couldn’t be continued, and she laid on her arms, refusing to speak.

The process was curiously smooth; other than the first injection, the subsequent pain felt endurable. She could very clearly feel the sensation of the needles on her skin as well as the sensation of something wiping on her skin.

For a very long time, only sounds of electric whirring noises could be heard.

“Asleep?”

Jiu Lu raised her chin slightly. “No, are you finishing soon?”

“Soon.”

“It takes this long to tattoo a name?”

Chi Jian pretended to be serious and teased her. “It doesn’t seem like you know much about the process; it’s much more complicated than you think.”

“… … I also added some patterns.”

“Oh.” Jiu Lu paused for a few seconds before asking curiously, “Do you have any tattoos on you?”

“Tattoos of names?”

“Something like that.” She tilted her head. “Something similar.”

“No.”

This surprised her, as she had thought of this profession as one that only those that had a passion for tattoos entered, and as such, it wasn’t unnatural for them to have a few tattoos on their bodies.

“Is it because you don’t like it?”

“I do like it.” Chi Jian stopped for a moment and stroked the name on with his fingertip. “My body is reserved for one person, so I’m taking extra precaution.”

Li Jiu Lu stretched her slightly sore shoulders and was unusually in the mood for gossip. “Have you met that person then?”

Chi Jian replied half-heartedly. “Not really, soon.”

Li Jiu Lu could tell that he wasn’t serious in his answer and decided to shut her mouth and stopped talking.

“What about you?” Chi Jian spoke up coldly. “Don’t you need to think more about this before getting a tattoo?”

Jiu Lu’s line of vision was especially straight as she focused on a random object in-front of her. “It’s just a tattoo, I don’t think……. Ouch, that hurts!”

Jiu Lu shivered and Chi Jian gritted his teeth.

“This is the name of your first love?”

Jiu Lu bit on her lip, not responding but it felt like she was admitting it.

“You like him a lot?”

“Like… …. ouch…….”

Jiu Lu took in a gush of air as she bit on the joints of her fingers. “Why is it so painful suddenly?”

“I said my skills weren’t that great.”

Chi Jian really didn’t hesitate, it almost as if he had wanted to use the extreme pain she was feeling now to engrave this moment onto her forever.

It was a form of consequences for her, for her reckless and flippant attitude she held for others and herself.

After god knows how long, Chi Jian finally put down his pen and raised an eye as he stared at her. Jiu Lu’s head was still buried in her arm.

Using his finger, Chi Jian poked her. “It’s done.”

Chi Jian grabbed a tissue and wiped about excess ink on her skin and took out a mirror.

“Take a look, how is it?”

Jiu Lu wiped away her sweat and got up. She slowly looked to the mirror and forgot her pain temporarily.

She had initially thought that he was just tattooing a name, but who knew he had made his own decision to draw a whale on her back.

The whale’s head faced downward as its tail hung up highly on her shoulder. The fins on the tails had seemingly made quite a splash on the waves, breaking them up into smaller threads of water. What made the tattoo much more eye-catching, was the addition of cherry blossoms petals around the whale. The whale’s snout had pointed slightly upwards which propped up a few vines of cherry blossoms. Then, hidden among the vines, was a faint name.

The juxtaposition of a large, strong creature with soft pink petals made the whale appear powerful, yet gentle.

The tattoo had taken up her entire left shoulder, and the lines on it was extremely precise and clean. Even the colours created layer that made the entire tattoo seem energetic and bright.

The tattoo of a whale swimming on her thin shoulder felt somewhat alluring.

“A blue whale?”

“Yes.”

Jiu Lu looked to Chi Jian. “Why it?”

“I thought it resembled you.”

Li Jiu Lu was unable to find any similarities between her and blue whales and didn’t know what she had done that gave him such a crass impression. It was however, undeniable that it was beautiful.

“But I didn’t ask for this?”

“You don’t like it?”

“… … No.” She pursed her lips and tried to take a look at the design again. “I was just thinking that you should have asked for my thoughts beforehand.”

Chi Jian was holding up the mirror for Jiu Lu but shrugged as he teased, “Sorry, I had an inspiration the moment I saw your body.”

Jiu Lu’s heart skipped a few beats as she stared at him. Nor the smile on his lips or his tone held any sincerity. Even his choice of words felt ambiguous.

“It’s fine, I’m not asking you for more money anyways.”

“You… ….”

He turned to keep the mirror.

“Wait.” She tried to turn her shoulder, “The name looks a little weird… almost as if…”

“You won’t think it’s weird after you get used to it.”He cut her off.

Without giving her another chance to admire the tattoo, he kept the mirror away. He then applied a layer of vaseline on her skin and wrapped it. “Remove it after 3 hours, and remember to use warm water to wash it. Try to wear fabrics that are lighter and allows for air to flow. Don’t eat seafood and don’t use any body wash on it. Also, don’t use your fingernails to pick at it.”

Li Jiu Lu carefully wore her sweater. “Oh.”

Chi Jian leaned on a drawer as he stared at her. He took off his black elastic gloves, threw them into the bin and lit up a cigarette.

Jiu Lu zipped up her uniform and muttered, “I’m going.”

Chi Jian sneered lightly. “You skipped class again?”

She corrected his words. “Self-study, is voluntary.”

“Oh.” Chi Jian took a glance outside the window. “Let’s go, I’ll send you.”

When I first read this novel, this was the chapter that made me realised that the author was kinda funny.