Short story by Chi Ta-wei, translated by Susan Wilf. This English translation was first published in Renditions no. 63 (Spring 2005) and is now available to read online at The Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing website. Chinese version also available to read on same site.
Emerging from the station, I tightened my collar and headed for the corner, where the glare of the strip club’s gaudy yellow neon lights blotted out all of the stars in the sky. At the doorway, an attractive young man flashed a neatly arranged sheaf of stage photos at me. They all showed scantily clad men—this club didn’t peddle female flesh. But I didn’t need a hard sell. I’d come of my own accord, even though I’d never dreamed of setting foot in such a place before.