[{"content_id":317,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":1,"chapter_title":"Chapter 1","content":"

The mobile phone in his pocket vibrated twice. It was the fifth time in three minutes. Jiang Cheng opened his eyes.

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The car had been driving for almost three hours. Outside the car window, the sky was still gloomy. The girl sitting next to him was still asleep, with her forehead resting firmly on his shoulder. His right shoulder was already numb.

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He twitched his shoulders irritably, and the girl only tilted her head. He used his finger to push the girl's head away, but after a few seconds, her head leaned back on his shoulder.

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He had repeated this many times. He felt the girl was not asleep but knocked out.

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Annoying.

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He didn't know how much longer it would take to arrive. When he got the ticket, he didn't check how long the ride was. He only knew he was going to a small town he hadn't even heard of before this trip.

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Life was strange indeed.

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When the phone vibrated for the sixth time, Jiang Cheng sighed and took out his phone.

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- What's going on?

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- Why didn't you mention you were leaving at all before?

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- Why did you suddenly leave?

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- Why didn't you tell me?

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What, what, what, why, why, why.....

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The messages were from Yu Xin. She was probably unable to call during her tutoring session, and at a glance, there were only question marks.

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Just as he was about to put the phone back in his pocket, the seventh message came in.

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- If you don't reply to my messages, we're breaking up!

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Finally, not a question mark. He breathed a sigh of relief, turned off his phone, and put it back in his pocket.

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Breaking up didn't mean much to him. Puppy love for two months in high school was just talking more than other classmates, having someone bring breakfast, having a personal cheerleader during basketball games... It didn't even have a chance to develop into anything substantial.

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Looking at the scenery outside the window that kept changing yet seemed to stay the same, the broadcast finally announced Jiang Cheng's destination. The girl next to him stirred, seeming to be waking up. He quickly pulled out a red highlighter from his schoolbag, uncapped it, and held it in his hand, spinning it around.

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The girl woke up and lifted her face. There was a large imprint on her forehead, as if she had been practicing martial arts.

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After her eyes met his, the girl wiped the corner of her mouth and took out her phone, lowering her head while tapping on it and muttered, "Sorry."

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How was this an apology? Jiang Cheng smiled at her meaningfully. The girl was stunned as her eyes fell on the highlighter spinning in his hand.

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Jiang Cheng forcefully capped the highlighter with a snap.

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Two seconds later, she suddenly covered her face and rushed towards the restroom.

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Jiang Cheng also stood up, looked out the window, and finally saw that it was snowing outside. He took his suitcase down from the luggage rack, put on his coat, and walked to the door, taking out his phone and turning it on.

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The phone was quiet. Yu Xin's messages did not come in anymore, and there were no missed calls either.

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It felt like this was the most relaxing interaction with Yu Xin these past few days. Not bad.

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But there was no one else contacting him either.

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Like the person he thought would pick him up from the station.

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Following the crowds out of the station, Jiang Cheng zipped up his down jacket and looked at the dreary winter city.

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The chaos and dilapidation around the train station was his first impression of this city.

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No, this was the second impression. The first impression was the blankness in his mind when his mother said, "Go back, that's your real home."

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Dragging his suitcase, he walked to the southernmost edge of the station square. There were fewer people, and a small street next to it, lined with all kinds of dodgy hotels and restaurants that would probably give food poisoning.

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He sat on his suitcase, took out a cigarette, and lit it up.

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The phone was still quiet, no one had contacted him.

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He had the phone number and address, but he just didn't want to make a move or say anything. He felt utterly confused, despairing, and angry about suddenly ending up here.

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Staring at the icy ground while feeling angry, he fumbled for a lighter and lit the cigarette, watching the smoke dissipate before him. He sighed.

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If his teacher saw this, who knew what he would say.

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But it didn't matter. He was here now. At this distance, not to mention the teacher, even the person who had lived with him for over ten years might never see him again.

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The rundown school in this rundown town probably wouldn't care if he smoked or not.

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Jiang Cheng had only smoked half the cigarette before he couldn't stand the cold. He stood up intending to grab a bite first, but as soon as he took a step dragging his suitcase, he felt something bump into his ankle quite hard. It hurt.

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He frowned and turned back to see a skateboard on the ground.

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Before he could lift his head to see where the skateboard had flown over from, someone fell at his feet.

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"What the..." He reflexively reached out to help, but stopped midway.

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Messy long and short hair as if bitten by a dog, dirty clothes... A beggar? Scammer? Thief?

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When this person lifted their head, he saw clearly that it was a little girl who looked no older than eleven or twelve. Although her face was smeared with mud, he could see the skin was quite fair and her eyes were big.

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But before his hand went out to help her up, the little girl was dragged away by four or five other little girls pulling and tugging her. Someone even kicked her in the back, making her stumble and almost fall again.

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Jiang Cheng immediately understood what was going on. He hesitated, then turned around and dragged his luggage to keep walking.

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The laughter behind made him stop again.

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When he was in a bad mood, he didn't like butting into other people's business. Coincidentally, he was in an extremely, especially, and particularly bad mood right now, but the clear dark eyes of the big-eyed girl made him turn back nonetheless.

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"Hey!" He called out.

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The few girls stopped. One who looked like the leader shouted, "What!"

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Jiang Cheng slowly walked over dragging his suitcase, staring at the girl still holding onto the big-eyed girl's clothes. After two seconds, that girl let go.

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He pulled the big-eyed girl to his side and looked at the other girls, "Stop now, go away."

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"Who do you think you are!" The leader faltered but still yelled discontentedly.

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"I'm the big brother with a knife," Jiang Cheng looked at her. "I can give you the same hairstyle as her in thirty seconds."

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"I'll get my brother to take care of you in a bit!" The leader was clearly not a habitual offender and shrank back a little hearing this, but was still stubborn.

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"Then tell him to hurry up," Jiang Cheng dragged his suitcase in one hand and the big-eyed girl in the other. "I'm scared, I'll run away real fast."

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The few girls left, then the big-eyed girl struggled free from his hand.

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"You okay?" Jiang Cheng asked.

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The big-eyed girl shook her head. She took two steps back to the skateboard, stepped on it, and looked at him.

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"Yours?" Jiang Cheng asked again.

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The big-eyed girl nodded. She lightly kicked the skateboard and slid to right in front of him, then stopped steadily, still looking at him.

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"Then you... go home." Jiang Cheng also nodded, and took out his phone to call a cab while walking.

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After walking for a while, he heard sounds behind him. Looking back, he saw the big-eyed girl following slowly on the skateboard.

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"What's up?" Jiang Cheng looked at her.

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The big-eyed girl didn't speak.

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"Afraid they'll come back?" Jiang Cheng asked helplessly.

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The big-eyed girl shook her head.

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"Can't you speak?" Jiang Cheng was starting to feel impatient.

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The big-eyed girl shook her head again.

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"Let me tell you, I," Jiang Cheng pointed at himself, "am in an extremely bad mood right now, extremely irritable. You know I won't hold back if I hit a little girl right."

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The big-eyed girl didn't budge.

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Jiang Cheng stared at her for a while. Seeing she showed no intention of speaking, he swallowed his anger and dragged his suitcase forward again.

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The signal was quite poor now. The cab booking interface just wouldn't load no matter how he tried. He plopped down on a rock beside the bus stop, and lit a cigarette.

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The big-eyed girl was still on her skateboard, standing next to him.

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"Do you need something else?" Jiang Cheng asked impatiently, regretting getting involved and causing this inexplicable trouble for himself.

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The big-eyed girl still didn't speak, just lightly kicked the skateboard and slid to the bus stop sign nearby. She looked up at it for a very long time.

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When she slid back to Jiang Cheng on the skateboard, Jiang Cheng guessed the reason from her lost expression and sighed, "Are you lost? Can't get back?"

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The big-eyed girl nodded.

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"Are you local?" Jiang Cheng asked.

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A nod.

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"Call home for someone to come get you." Jiang Cheng handed her his phone.

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She took the phone, hesitated, lowered her head to press a few times, then gave the phone back.

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"What's that about?" Jiang Cheng looked at the dialed but not called number she had input. "You want me to call for you?"

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Another nod.

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"Fuck," Jiang Cheng frowned and pressed dial, listening to the ringtone. Before the big-eyed girl could answer, the other side picked up.

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Of course, she probably wouldn't have answered anyway. Jiang Cheng said "Hello" into the phone.

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"Who's this?" A male voice.

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"A passerby," Jiang Cheng didn't even know what to say. "I have a little girl here..."

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"Don't want." The other side said, then hung up before Jiang Cheng could react.

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"Who is this person?" Jiang Cheng spat out the cigarette, pointing at the big-eyed girl. "If you're not going to speak, get lost. I'm running out of patience."

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The big-eyed girl squatted by his leg, picked up a piece of stone, and wrote a crooked "brother" character on the ground, then looked up at him.

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"Alright, I got it," Jiang Cheng felt that this little girl might truly be mute.

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He dialed the same number again, and this time, it rang for a very short while before someone answered, "Who's this?"

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Jiang Cheng glanced at the big-eyed girl. "Your sister is here with me..."

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"Tear the ticket*." The voice on the other end replied, then hung up the phone.

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*T/N: Hanging up.

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"Fuck!" Jiang Cheng had the sudden urge to smash the phone. He pointed at the big-eyed girl, "Your name!"

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The big-eyed girl lowered her head to write her name in the ground with a rock.

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Gu Miao.

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Jiang Cheng didn't call again, only sent a text with a photo of the big-eyed girl.

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- Gu Miao, mute, skateboard.

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The phone rang after 30 seconds.

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Jiang Cheng picked up, "Too late, already hanging up, the ticket's torn."

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"Sorry," the other side said, "Could you tell me where you are? Let me see if I can still tape it back together."

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"...East station, the really dilapidated one," Jiang Cheng frowned. "She's lost. Come get her quick, I have things to do."

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"Thank you, thank you so much," the other side replied. "I'll be right there. If you're in a hurry you can leave first, just let her wait for me there."

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Jiang Cheng picked up the half-smoked cigarette he had just tossed to the ground and flicked it into the nearby trash can. Then he lit a new one.

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He had intended to just call a cab and leave originally, but suddenly felt that no one cared whether he stayed or went, so he didn't seem to be in a rush for anything.

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Gu Miao sat on the skateboard for a while before standing up again, skating back and forth on the sidewalk.

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Jiang Cheng watched a few times in surprise. He had thought the little girl was just messing around, but she handled uphill, downhill, steps, acceleration, and sudden stops all smoothly.

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Only the chopped up grass-like hair, dirty face and clothes were jarring.

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After skating for over ten minutes, Gu Miao slid to a stop beside him. With a hook and flip of her foot on the skateboard, she caught it neatly with her hand, then pointed behind Jiang Cheng.

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"Pretty cool." Jiang Cheng gave her a thumbs up then turned around to look. He saw a black motorcycle parked there.

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Couldn't see the rider's face with the helmet on, but the legs propped on the sidewalk in grey fitted pants and short boots were eye-catching.

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Long legs, straight too.

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"Your brother?" Jiang Cheng asked Gu Miao.

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Gu Miao nodded.

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"What happened to your head?" The rider took off his helmet, walked over, and glared at Gu Miao's hair. "And your face and clothes... Did you fall into a cesspool?"

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Gu Miao shook her head.

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"Probably from the classmates' bullying." Jiang Cheng said.

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"Thanks," the man finally turned his gaze to Jiang Cheng's face and held out a hand. "I'm Gu Fei, her brother."

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Jiang Cheng stood up and shook his hand. "Don't mention it."

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Gu Fei looked around his age. His eyes weren't as big as Gu Miao's... his skin was quite fair too.

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Jiang Cheng's current mood was like a bowl of rotten tomatoes, but Gu Fei's hairstyle was as eye-catching as his legs, so he still peeked at it a couple times.

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Very short buzzcut. When he turned his face, a musical staff with a bass clef on one side and half rest symbol on the other could be seen shaved into the short hairs along his scalp. Jiang Cheng didn't see how many dots were on the half rest.

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"Did you just get off a train?" Gu Fei looked at his suitcase.

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"Yeah." Jiang Cheng picked up his phone again, still trying to get the cab app to open.

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"Where are you headed? I can give you a ride." Gu Fei said.

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"No need." Jiang Cheng looked at his bike. However big, it was still a motorcycle.

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"She doesn't take up space." Gu Fei said again.

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"No need, thanks." Jiang Cheng said.

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"Say thanks to the brother." Gu Fei pointed at him and said to Gu Miao, "Shitball."

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Jiang Cheng turned to look at "Shitball", wanting to hear her speak. But Gu Miao only bowed 90 degrees to him deeply.

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Gu Fei straddled the bike and put his helmet on. Gu Miao nimbly climbed onto the back seat and hugged his waist.

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"Thanks." Gu Fei looked at him once, started the engine, did a U-turn, and drove off.

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Jiang Cheng sat back down on the rock, network was pretty good now, yet no one was accepting orders for half a day. Passing taxis didn't even stop when he tried to hail them.

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What the hell kind of place was this?

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Although he was in an awful mood, he hadn't had the chance to slowly savor it, only feeling lost and baffled, unable to even catch a breath. He didn't even think about why he had agreed to all the arrangements and ended up here.

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Rebellious?

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Like his mother said, no one in their family had ever been as rebellious as him, full of thorns.

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Of course, they weren't really family to begin with. Besides, these past years they had been like enemies, glaring whenever they met.

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Jiang Cheng frowned. He hadn't had the time to think over all this.

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Until now, this moment.

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In this unfamiliar, cold, snowing city, he suddenly jerked back to his senses.

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The despair, pain, and resistance to the unknown made his nose sour.

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When he lowered his head, tears streaked fiercely down his face.

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The phone rang when Jiang Cheng was sitting in a KFC at some unknown location. He looked at the unfamiliar number and picked up, "Hello?"

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"Is this Jiang Cheng?" A middle-aged male voice.

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The voice was a bit loud. Jiang Cheng held the phone slightly further away, "Yes."

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"I'm your dad." The man said.

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"...Oh." Jiang Cheng responded. This kind of conversation was actually somewhat amusing. He couldn't help but laugh.

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The man on the other end also laughed twice, "I'm Li Baoguo, you know that right."

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"Mm." Jiang Cheng drank some Coke.

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"Has your train arrived?" Li Baoguo asked.

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"It has." Jiang Cheng looked at his watch, it had been two hours already.

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"Do you have the address? I don't have a car, can't pick you up. Call a cab over, I'll wait for you at the intersection." Li Baoguo said.

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"Mm," Jiang Cheng hung up the phone.

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This time he got lucky, he caught a cab as soon as he went out. The heater in the cab was on full blast, making him feel feverishly hot.

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The driver wanted to chat, but Jiang Cheng leaned silently against the window looking out the whole time. The driver tried to start a conversation several times unsuccessfully before finally giving up and turning on the radio instead.

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Jiang Cheng tried hard to see what this city really looked like, but it was already dark out. The street lamps weren't very bright, and the swirling snow made his eyes dizzy.

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He closed his eyes.

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But soon opened them again.

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He didn't know why, but he felt pathetic like a sissy. So pathetic.

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The cab stopped at the destination, and Jiang Cheng got out with his suitcase, standing at the intersection.

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No one was there.

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The "I'm your dad" Li Baoguo who claimed he would meet him at the intersection was nowhere to be seen.

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Suppressing the irritation in his heart and the stinging pain on his wind-whipped face, Jiang Cheng took out his phone and called Li Baoguo's number.

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"Phew, this hand really stinks..." It took Li Baoguo a long time to answer the phone. "Hello?"

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"I'm at the intersection," As soon as Jiang Cheng heard what he was up to, he instantly wanted to hang up and go find a hotel.

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"Ah? You got here that fast?" Li Baoguo yelled in surprise. "I'm here, I'm here, coming right away."

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This "right away" took about five minutes. As Jiang Cheng stood at the intersection trying to hail a cab with his suitcase, a man wearing a Lei Feng hat came running over. He shouted loudly while forcing Jiang Cheng's arm down, "You're Jiang Cheng?"

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Jiang Cheng didn't say anything. He saw that Li Baoguo had just run out from a residential building right behind them.

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Right away?

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And seeing several heads peeking out of the second floor windows towards them, he really didn't feel like saying another word.

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"I was at a friend's place for a bit, walking around," Li Baoguo patted his shoulder. "Let's go home... You look taller than in your photo."

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Jiang Cheng lowered his head looking at the muddy road as he followed him.

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"Oh," Li Baoguo patted his back twice more. "It's been so many years! Over ten years, yeah? I finally get to see my son!"

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Li Baoguo stuck his head in front of Jiang Cheng's face to stare at him.

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Jiang Cheng pulled up the mask tucked under his chin and put it on properly.

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Suddenly he felt completely empty inside, even the air around him was full of confusion.

\n","published_time":"2023-08-16T00:35:10.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":319,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":2,"chapter_title":"Chapter 2","content":"

According to his mother's words... Jiang Cheng suddenly felt that this title sounded a bit strange, his train of thought was somewhat weirdly interrupted, and he temporarily forgot what his mother had said.

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In his decade and a half of life, his parents and family had always been his one and only, no matter how good or bad the relationship was. His mother was just that woman called Shen Yiqing, his father was that man called Jiang Wei, and he had twin younger brothers... But now there was suddenly another set, Li Baoguo and...several names he had already forgotten.

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It was really hard to wrap his head around.

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His relationship with his family was indeed very tense. No matter whether it was his parents or brothers, they would snap at the slightest irritation, and any spark could lead to an explosion. He and his brothers had barely spoken for almost a year, and even his usually calm and restrained mother had lost her composure before.

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But even as this state persisted from when he started middle school all the way to high school, even as he often thought about not wanting to go home anymore, not wanting to see his parents anymore, let alone see those two identical faces again... When this moment that seemed like a dream come true appeared before his eyes, he still felt completely empty.

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Just empty.

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Extremely empty.

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From when his mother said "there's something I need to tell you", to the months of estrangement and paperwork, up until now, everything felt like an incomprehensible dream.

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Most of the time he didn't feel too upset or too much pain.

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All he felt was emptiness.

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"Cold?" Li Baoguo looked back and asked, coughing a few times, "It's colder here than your previous place, right?"

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"Yeah." Jiang Cheng responded vaguely through his face mask.

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"It'll be warm once we're inside," Li Baoguo said, his loud cough spraying Jiang Cheng's face with spittle, "I cleaned up a room just for you."

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"Thank you." Jiang Cheng replied, adjusting his face mask.

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"No need to thank me," Li Baoguo said with a laugh, patting Jiang Cheng's back twice between coughs, "No need to say thanks between us father and son!"

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Jiang Cheng was unable to respond. Those two pats were quite forceful, and he had already sucked in some cold air and wanted to cough. Hearing Li Baoguo cough made him want to cough even more. After two more hits on his back, he bent over and broke out in a fit of coughing, nearly coughing out tears.

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"You're not very healthy, are you?" Li Baoguo looked at him, "You need to exercise. I was strong as a bear at your age."

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Jiang Cheng didn't speak, just bent over with his arm outstretched, giving him a thumbs up.

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Li Baoguo laughed happily: "Exercise! I'll have to rely on you to take care of me in the future!"

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Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

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"Let's go." Li Baoguo patted him again.

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"Don't touch me." Jiang Cheng frowned slightly.

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"Oh?" Li Baoguo was taken aback, eyes wide as he stared at Jiang Cheng, "What's wrong?"

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Jiang Cheng held his gaze for a while before lowering his mask. "Don't pat my back."

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Li Baoguo's home was on an old, small street. On both sides were shabby but lively shops selling food, clothing, and daily necessities. Above the shops were low-rise houses.

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Jiang Cheng looked up past the mess of crisscrossing wires and surveyed the area. The exterior walls were so discolored that he couldn't tell what their original color was, whether due to the fading daylight or just how they already were.

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With indescribable feelings, he followed Li Baoguo into a corridor, passing piles of miscellaneous items and vegetables, until they reached the innermost door on the first floor.

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"The conditions definitely can't compare to your previous place," Li Baoguo said while unlocking the door, "But what's mine is yours!"

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Jiang Cheng didn't respond. He stared at a lightbulb wrapped in spiderwebs in the corridor, looking like it was about to suffocate.

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"What's mine is yours!" Li Baoguo opened the door and heavily patted Jiang Cheng's shoulders twice before turning back, "What's yours is mine! That's how it is between father and son!"

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"I said don't touch me." Jiang Cheng said irritably.

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"Oh?" Li Baoguo entered the house and turned on the lights, "You've been spoiled, talking to your elders like that. Let me tell you, I never spoiled your older siblings like this. If you had grown up at home, I would've beaten you into shape long ago... Come on, you can sleep in this room...this used to be your brother's room..."

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Jiang Cheng stopped listening to whatever else Li Baoguo was saying. He dragged his suitcase into the inner room. This apartment had two bedrooms, he didn't know how the large family had lived here before.

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The cleaned up room...didn't seem to have been cleaned up at all. He could tell just by smell, without even using his eyes. The scent of dust mingled with a faint musty odor.

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An old wardrobe, a desk, a loft bed. The upper berth was piled with clutter, but the lower berth had been cleared out with new bedsheets and blankets.

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"Just leave your things for now, tidy up tomorrow," Li Baoguo said, "Let's have a few drinks first, father and son."

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"Drink what?" Jiang Cheng was puzzled, glancing at his phone. It was almost 10 pm.

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"Alcohol, of course," Li Baoguo looked at him, "We haven't seen each other in over a decade, how can we not drink a little to celebrate!"

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"...No thanks," Jiang Cheng said somewhat speechlessly, "I don't want to drink."

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"Don't want to drink?" Li Baoguo's eyes widened in surprise, staring at him for two seconds before laughing, "You can't have never drank before...you're in high school already..."

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"I don't want to drink," Jiang Cheng interrupted him, "I want to sleep."

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"Sleep?" Li Baoguo froze for quite a while before waving a hand and turning away, saying hoarsely, "Fine, fine, sleep, sleep."

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Jiang Cheng closed the bedroom door. He stood in the room for almost five minutes before going over to open the wardrobe.

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As soon as he opened the door, the overpowering smell of camphor balls assaulted him. Half of the double wardrobe was packed full - quilts, blankets, old cotton jackets, towels with tattered edges.

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It was hard to describe what he was feeling. Jiang Cheng was certain he didn't miss home or his family yet, but he truly desperately missed his own room.

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He took out some clothes from his suitcase and hung them in the wardrobe, leaving everything else packed away underneath. He then sprayed the inside of the wardrobe with perfume over ten times before closing the door and sitting on the edge of the bed.

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His phone rang. He picked it up to see the caller ID display "Mom" and answered the call.

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"Reached yet?" His mother's voice came through.

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"Yeah." Jiang Cheng responded.

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"The conditions won't be like at home," his mother said, "It might take some getting used to."

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"No need." Jiang Cheng said.

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His mother paused. "Xiao Cheng*, I still hope that you won't feel..."

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*T/N: Xiao means 'little', and is a more affectionate way of referring to someone.

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"I don't feel anything." Jiang Cheng interjected.

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"We didn't mistreat you these past 10-odd years, your father and I never let you know you were adopted, right?" His mother's voice grew severe.

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"But I know now," Jiang Cheng said, "And I've also been kicked out."

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"Don't you forget, your father was hospitalized right at New Year's because of you! He still hasn't been discharged!" His mother raised her voice.

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Jiang Cheng didn't speak. He couldn't understand what his dad being hospitalized for pneumonia had anything to do with him.

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He strangely didn't even hear clearly whatever else his mother said after. This was one of his skills - things he didn't want to hear could truly not enter his brain.

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His mother's harsh, hollow rebukes and communication methods that he deemed completely useless were the fuse to his breakdown.

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He didn't want to listen, didn't want to argue in this unfamiliar environment that made his whole body uncomfortable.

\n\n

By the time the call ended, he couldn't recall what had been said, what his mother had said, what he had said, he didn't remember any of it.

\n\n

Wanting to take a shower, Jiang Cheng got up and opened the door, peeking into the living room. Nobody was there.

\n\n

He cleared his throat and coughed a few times. Still no response.

\n\n

"Are...you here?" He walked into the living room, really not knowing how to address Li Baoguo.

\n\n

The small apartment allowed a clear view of all the bedroom, kitchen, bathroom doors from the living room. Li Baoguo wasn't inside.

\n\n

He must've gone out to gamble, the type who would play a few rounds even just stepping out for a minute.

\n\n

"Come on - let's play cards - there's plenty of time anyway," Jiang Cheng sang a line, pushing open the door to the bathroom, "Come on - take a bath - well..."

\n\n

There was no water heater in the bathroom.

\n\n

"Well..." he continued singing, turning his head to glance at the kitchen connected to the bathroom, still not seeing a water heater there either. He only saw an electric heater attached to the faucet. "Well..."

\n\n

Unable to continue singing, after circling the room twice to confirm that there was indeed no water heater, he felt a sense of frustration and gave the faucet a smack, muttering a curse.

\n\n

After wandering outside all day, he couldn't sleep without a bath. In the end, he had to drag out his suitcase from the room, pull out a collapsible bucket, and carry water bucket by bucket into the bathroom while wearing his underwear. He went in and out, half wiping and half washing, until he finally managed to take a bath.

\n\n

As he walked out of the bathroom, a cockroach scurried past his feet. He jumped and almost bumped into the door.

\n\n

Back in the room, ready to force himself to sleep, Jiang Cheng finally noticed there were no curtains in the room. He hadn't seen the outside view because the windows were too dirty.

\n\n

He pulled the blanket over himself, hesitated for a moment, then sniffed the blanket before finally relaxing, relieved that it was clean. Even sighing seemed too much effort at this point.

\n\n

He closed his eyes for about half an hour, they were sore from being shut for so long, but sleep was elusive. Just as he was about to sit up and smoke a cigarette, his phone rang.

\n\n

He picked it up and glanced at it, it was a message from Pan Zhi.

\n\n

- Damn, you're gone? What's the situation now?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng lit a cigarette, dialed Pan Zhi's number, and walked over to the window, trying to open it.

\n\n

The window was covered in dust and rust. He struggled for a while, and even though Pan Zhi had answered the call by then, the window remained immovable.

\n\n

"Cheng?" Pan Zhi's voice came in a hushed tone, like he was whispering.

\n\n

"Damn it," Jiang Cheng's finger got pricked by something, he frowned and cursed, giving up on the idea of opening the window.

\n\n

"What's going on with you?" Pan Zhi still whispered, "Today, I heard from Yu Xin that you left? Weren't you going to tell me when you were leaving? I bought a bunch of things to give you!"

\n\n

"Just mail them to me," Jiang Cheng put on his coat, cigarette in hand, and walked to the living room. He opened the door, ready to go out, but then he remembered he didn't have his keys. He had to retreat back inside and opened the living room window.

\n\n

His frustration felt like a storm brewing inside him, a mere penny away from turning into a furious battle song.

\n\n

"Have you arrived?" Pan Zhi asked.

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng leaned against the windowsill, looking at the pitch-black street outside.

\n\n

"How's it going? What about your biological father?" Pan Zhi inquired again.

\n\n

"Do you need something?" Jiang Cheng said, "I don't feel like talking right now."

\n\n

"Damn, it's not like I sent you over there. What's with your attitude? When your mother said it 'needs the consent of the adoptee', you didn't hesitate at all back then. Now you're unhappy!" Pan Zhi clicked his tongue.

\n\n

"Not hesitating and being unhappy aren't mutually exclusive," Jiang Cheng blew out a puff of smoke.

\n\n

Suddenly, a slender figure shot out onto the empty street, riding a skateboard at an astonishing speed.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng blinked, remembering the girl named Gu Miao he had encountered earlier. There were quite a few skateboarders in this rundown city.

\n\n

"Should I come over?" Pan Zhi suddenly suggested.

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng didn't catch on immediately.

\n\n

"I mean, should I come over to see you?" Pan Zhi clarified, "It's not time for school to start yet. I can bring the things I bought for you."

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng replied.

\n\n

"Don't be stubborn. You haven't told anyone about this. Right now, I'm the only one who can offer you some warmth," Pan Zhi sighed, "Let me come and comfort you."

\n\n

"How are you going to comfort me?" Jiang Cheng said, "Give me a kiss?"

\n\n

"Damn it, Jiang Cheng, can you have some dignity!" Pan Zhi shouted.

\n\n

"If you're so eager to come, I might as well cooperate with you," Jiang Cheng paced around the room with the cigarette, finally finding a jar of Eight-Treasure Porridge covered in cigarette ash. He opened it, but the lingering smell of old smoke almost made him gag before he could see the contents clearly.

\n\n

He threw his cigarette butt inside and closed the lid. At this moment, he felt like he would never want to smoke again for the rest of his life.

\n\n

The unfamiliar and annoying environment, the unfamiliar and annoying "relative".

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had thought he wouldn't be able to sleep under these circumstances, but upon lying down, the previous agony of insomnia vanished. He was surprised to find that he was sleepy, not just sleepy, but the kind of sleepy fatigue after pulling consecutive all-nighters cramming for exams.

\n\n

It was sudden.

\n\n

After closing his eyes, it was as if he had lost consciousness and fallen asleep.

\n\n

He didn't even dream all night.

\n\n

The first feeling upon waking in the morning was soreness all over. Getting out of bed, Jiang Cheng had the illusion that his true identity was actually a dock worker who moved heavy packages, the kind who hadn't worked a full week yet.

\n\n

He picked up his phone to check the time. Still rather early, just past 8 am.

\n\n

After getting dressed and leaving the room, everything in the house remained exactly as it was last night. Even the empty bed in the other bedroom.

\n\n

Li Baoguo hadn't come back all night?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng frowned. After washing up, he felt a little bad about his attitude yesterday. Li Baoguo suggesting they drink together didn't have any malintent either, just that they had different habits. Yet Jiang Cheng had bluntly rejected him. Could Li Baoguo have not come back all night because of this?

\n\n

He hesitated, then took out his phone to call Li Baoguo. Having a meal together in the morning even if they didn't drink together last night shouldn't be a problem.

\n\n

Just as he was dialing, the sound of keys came from outside, followed by the door lock rattling for a good twenty seconds before the door opened.

\n\n

Li Baoguo walked in bringing a gust of cold air. His complexion was dark and his expression weary.

\n\n

"You're up?" Li Baoguo called out loudly when he saw him, "You got up pretty early huh, slept well?"

\n\n

"...It was fine." Jiang Cheng answered as the pungent smell of smoke assailed his nose, mixed with some inexplicable foul odors, like what could be smelled on those old green or red trains.

\n\n

"Had breakfast yet?" Li Baoguo took off his coat and shook it. The smell grew stronger, saturating the not very large living room.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng said, "Why don't we..."

\n\n

"There are breakfast stalls outside, lots of them. Go eat," Li Baoguo said, "I'm dead tired, gonna sleep first. Go eat on your own if I'm not up by lunch."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched as he went into the other bedroom, not even taking anything off before collapsing onto the bed and pulling the covers over himself. He asked somewhat speechlessly: "Where...were you last night?"

\n\n

"Gambling. Been on a losing streak lately, wasn't too bad last night! You brought me some good luck, kid!" Li Baoguo said brightly in his hoarse voice before closing his eyes.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took Li Baoguo's keys that were left on the table and went out the door. He felt irritated thinking about how he had felt a little apologetic earlier.

\n\n

The snow had stopped and the air held a piercing chill.

\n\n

The small street was livelier during the day compared to at night, with people and vehicles about. There were also the sounds of firecrackers, but in the morning light, the shabbiness that could be hidden under the cover of darkness was now in full view.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wandered back and forth on the street twice, finally entering a steamed bun shop. He ate a few buns and had a bowl of tofu pudding. The soreness in his body didn't ease; instead, it felt even worse, as if he had woken up from something and was feeling more uncomfortable.

\n\n

He probably was coming down with a cold. After finishing his breakfast, he went to the nearby small pharmacy and bought a box of medicine.

\n\n

After buying the medicine, he stood by the roadside feeling a bit lost. Should he go back?

\n\n

The image of Li Baoguo, who had fallen asleep wrapped in a strange smell, irritated him. He didn't even know what he would do if he went back.

\n\n

Sleep or just idle around?

\n\n

He stood at the pharmacy entrance for a few minutes, deciding to take a walk around the area, getting familiar with this place where he didn't know how long he would stay.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wandered up and down the small street aimlessly before turning onto the main road and making another turn into a small street parallel to the previous one. He wanted to see if there was a way to loop back from here.

\n\n

On this small street he saw a tiny music store and an ice cream shop decorated in a very pink style, but apart from these two stores, the other stores were no different from those on the previous street.

\n\n

When he walked past a grocery store dressed up like a small supermarket, he stopped and went inside, planning to buy a bottle of water to take his medicine first.

\n\n

As soon as the warm air smelling of lemon hit him when he entered the store, he stopped at the entrance, and wanted to turn around and leave.

\n\n

In the small space in front of the checkout counter were squeezed four people, each with a chair, either sitting or leaning.

\n\n

As soon as he came in, the several people who had been chatting stopped and turned around together to stare at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at these four people, from their looks to their expressions, from their clothing to their temperament, and each person's face seemed to spell a word.

\n\n

Not, a, good, person.

\n\n

While hesitating whether to turn around and leave or just go to the shelf next to him and grab a water, Jiang Cheng caught sight of three more people squeezed in front of the shelves in his peripheral vision.

\n\n

He turned his head. Before he could see the person clearly, he first saw a pile of broken hair on the ground and a bald head, then a pair of big eyes.

\n","published_time":"2023-08-17T00:03:05.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":321,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":3,"chapter_title":"Chapter 3","content":"

The shaved head peeking out from in front of the shelves belonged to Gu Miao. After having her head shaved completely bald, it was impossible to tell that she was a girl anymore. She was wearing a greyish-blue boys' down jacket, and if not for her eyes, Jiang Cheng would not have recognized her as Gu Miao.

\n\n

Behind her stood Gu Fei, holding an electric scooter, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Seeing Jiang Cheng, he seemed a bit surprised and froze with the scooter in hand.

\n\n

Gu Fei was dressed differently today compared to yesterday, in a pullover sweater and casual pants, looking comfortable and relaxed.

\n\n

His looks, outfit and temperament made him stand out starkly from his four friends. He was the eye-catching type you could spot immediately in a crowd.

\n\n

His whole body exuded an "I'm their boss" aura.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had always believed he didn't look like a bad person, although his temper wasn't great to the point that he even scared himself sometimes, making him feel like he was stuck in perpetual adolescence and just couldn't get over it... But when he was feeling calm and just wanted to buy a bottle of water, he was sure he looked completely harmless.

\n\n

So when everyone in this makeshift grocery store stared at him in silence with expressions that said "You looking for trouble?", he felt it was rather unfounded.

\n\n

During this process, some ash from the cigarette in Gu Fei's mouth fell onto Gu Miao's shaved head. She lowered her head and brushed at it for a long time.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had no intention of paying them any mind. He was a fearless youth who didn't shy away from "What are you looking at?", especially when he was both physically and mentally unhappy.

\n\n

He walked to the shelves, picked up a bottle of mineral water.

\n\n

When he looked up, Gu Fei had already walked over to the other side of the shelves. After another silent staredown across two rows of potato chips, Gu Fei said, "Welcome."

\n\n

"This your family's shop?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei nodded.

\n\n

"What a coincidence," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't respond, and he didn't really feel like talking either, so he tossed the water bottle and turned to walk to the cash register.

\n\n

"Two bucks," said a person who leaned against the table behind the register, staring at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him. It wasn't one of the four punks sitting there motionless. This was the man who had stood beside Gu Fei earlier.

\n\n

Because of the dim lighting earlier, he didn't get a good look. Now under the lamp, he saw the man was quite handsome, with delicate features like a girl's, except for his narrow eyes. Other than that, compared to Gu Fei, he actually resembled Gu Miao's sister...brother more.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng fished a 10 yuan bill from his pocket and handed it over. The man took the money and punched some buttons on the register, then looked at him again, "Friend of Da Fei's*? Haven't seen you before."

\n\n

*T/N: 'Da' is a way of referring to someone as a boss.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng said. He took out some medicine from his pocket, popped two pills into his mouth, then twisted open the water bottle and drank a few mouthfuls.

\n\n

"No?" The man's gaze went past his shoulder to look behind him. He put the change on the table. "Oh."

\n\n

After taking the medicine, Jiang Cheng threw the half-finished water bottle into the trash can by the door. He flipped up the door curtain and walked out.

\n\n

"Hey, wouldn't a small bottle have been better?" came the voice of the man behind him. "So wasteful."

\n\n

"...Forgot," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

He was right, why didn't he buy a small bottle? He wouldn't have been able to finish it anyway.

\n\n

Probably because the achy feeling all over his body had intensified again, making his mind sluggish.

\n\n

He stood on the steps outside the door, momentarily unable to remember where he'd been headed before entering the shop... Go back? Back where? To Li Baoguo's... No, his new home?

\n\n

Thinking of the awful environment in the house and Li Baoguo's earthshaking snores, his chest tightened uncomfortably. Then he found himself unable to breathe at all, not one bit.

\n\n

His vision blacked out and golden spots appeared before his eyes.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng lost control of his body. Like a spinning sack, he sank down. With a sigh, he thought, how graceful.

\n\n

Gu Miao felt her bald head and picked up her skateboard, heading for the door.

\n\n

"Hat," Gu Fei grabbed his coat from a nearby chair and fished a rolled up green knit hat with little flowers from the pocket. He tossed it onto her head.

\n\n

Gu Miao tugged it on properly.

\n\n

With head lowered as she dragged her skateboard out the door, she quickly ducked back in and slapped the countertop twice.

\n\n

"What's up?" Li Yan lay on the counter and tugged her hat. He glanced at Gu Fei, "Why'd you really knit her a green hat..."

\n\n

"She picked the color herself," Gu Fei said as he put away the scooter. Looking at Gu Miao, he asked, "What is it?"

\n\n

Gu Miao pointed outside.

\n\n

"A dog?" Gu Fei kicked a chair aside and went to flip open the door curtain.

\n\n

The big spender who bought water only to pour half out was sprawled on the sidewalk outside.

\n\n

Hugging the ground with his face.

\n\n

"Oh," Gu Fei walked out and gently kicked his leg. He didn't know the guy's name. "You okay?"

\n\n

The big spender didn't move. Gu Fei bent down to look at his smashed nose. He carefully lifted his head so he could breathe properly, then called into the shop, "Hey, got a fainter out here!"

\n\n

Li Yan came out first and was stunned by the scene. "He got stabbed?"

\n\n

"You're the stabber here," Gu Fei felt a burning temperature on his face. "He's running a fever."

\n\n

"Fevers make you faint now?" Li Yan seemed surprised. He looked back at the others who had come out. "What do we do? Call 120?"

\n\n

"Let's not get involved," Liu Fan looked around. "If some nosey auntie calls the cops, they'll definitely say we did it. I just got out yesterday..."

\n\n

"Drag him in," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Drag him... You know him?" Liu Fan asked.

\n\n

"He said drag him so just do it. Doesn't matter if Da Fei knows him or not, he touched him already," Li Yan said. "If some auntie really reports this, you think the cops won't question you?"

\n\n

"Fainting from a mere fever, you guys are wasting your parents' money not being screenwriters," Gu Fei turned him over. "Hurry up."

\n\n

A few of them went over to carry him inside, dumping him in Gu Fei's little resting room.

\n\n

"I've never properly slept in this bed," Li Yan tsked after everyone had left. "Now some weakling gets to enjoy it."

\n\n

"Go smash your face outside and I'll happily get you in bed in here," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Shameless," Li Yan said.

\n\n

"You're the shameless one," Gu Fei gave him a push. "Go outside."

\n\n

"Ah," Li Yan said as he stood still, turning his head to murmur, "He said you weren't friends?"

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei gave another push, making him stumble back a few steps as he closed the door, "He's the person who picked up Er Miao yesterday."

\n\n

"Er Miao was picked up by him?" Li Yan was quite surprised, "What a coincidence."

\n\n

Gu Fei ignored him and sat down behind the cash register, taking out his phone to start playing games.

\n\n

"He's pretty handsome," Li Yan leaned on the cash register, speaking in a low voice.

\n\n

Gu Fei glanced at him but he turned his head away and didn't say anything more.

\n\n

Gu Miao walked over and held out her hand in front of Gu Fei's eyes, crooking her fingers.

\n\n

"Eat up, look how much weight you've gained these past two months, no one wants to play with you anymore," Gu Fei took a 10 yuan note from his wallet and put it in her hand, "Your face is completely round now."

\n\n

Gu Miao ignored him, lowering her head to put the money in her pocket, even patting it, before dragging her skateboard outside.

\n\n

"With her bald head, no one would play with her even if she wasn't fat," Li Yan sighed.

\n\n

"No one would play with her even without the bald head," Gu Fei continued playing his game, "Ever since she was small she had no friends, who would want to play with a mute."

\n\n

"Don't say that about her," Liu Fan chimed in, "It's not like she's really mute, she just doesn't talk, what's the big deal about that."

\n\n

"If this goes on what will she do in the future," Li Yan sighed again, "School is fine, she can just not go if she doesn't want to, but this habit of only talking to Da Fei..."

\n\n

"If you didn't worry about the world, it would probably be destroyed," Gu Fei interrupted him, "Why don't you go write a report and apply for the Nobel Peace Prize."

\n\n

"Damn," Li Yan slapped the table and went to sit in the chair next to Liu Fan.

\n\n

The shop fell silent. Liu Fan and the others sitting by the radiator all had vacant, sleepy expressions, it was a little frightening, their faces drooping down like that. Even three people who wanted to come in to buy things took one look through the curtain and turned to leave.

\n\n

"Hey you guys," Gu Fei knocked on the table, "Go away."

\n\n

"Go where?" Li Yan asked.

\n\n

"Go mess around," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I don't want to go out," Liu Fan stretched lazily, "It's so cold out and there's nowhere to go anyway."

\n\n

"You're scaring away all the customers coming in," Gu Fei lit a cigarette and held it in his mouth.

\n\n

"When more people come in later we'll grab them for you," Liu Fan laughed and slapped the table, "Guaranteed none of them will get away."

\n\n

"Get lost," Gu Fei said, "Annoying."

\n\n

"Leaving, I'm leaving," Liu Fan clicked his tongue and stood up, kicking the chairs of the others, "Master Gu is having another episode, later he'll chop us up with a knife."

\n\n

Several of them were reluctant but still got up to leave, grumbling under their breaths as they put on coats and filed out.

\n\n

Li Yan lingered at the back. As he was about to leave, he turned and said, "There's still one inside, how come you're not kicking him out too?"

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't respond, just looked at him.

\n\n

Li Yan didn't say anything else either. He flipped up the curtain and left.

\n\n

After smoking a cigarette, Gu Fei checked the time. The big spender had been lying there for almost 20 minutes. Fainting spells generally only lasted a few minutes, so he should have woken up by now.

\n\n

He went over and pushed open the door to check inside. The big spender still hadn't woken up and was lying in the same position as before with eyes closed.

\n\n

"Hey," Gu Fei gave him a shove. "Don't die in my place."

\n\n

The big spender still didn't move.

\n\n

Gu Fei stared at him for a while.

\n\n

The big spender's face was a bit dirty, but he looked decent enough, with drooping eyes that gave him a casual arrogance.

\n\n

By Gu Fei's standards of barely liking how anyone looked, he was handsome. It was just that when they first met yesterday, Gu Fei immediately disliked his prickly demeanor, although the prickliness was quite subtle, he could sense it.

\n\n

After staring for a few minutes, he lifted the blanket and rummaged around in the big spender's pockets, taking out a wallet. There was an ID card and some membership cards stuffed together.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

He put the wallet back, leaning in close to the big spender's ear and shouting, "Hey!"

\n\n

"Mm." The big spender finally stirred, giving a low, disgruntled grunt. He sounded very unhappy.

\n\n

Gu Fei kicked the bed again before turning to leave.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't know what had happened to him.

\n\n

When he opened his eyes, it was as if he had amnesia. Who am I, where am I?

\n\n

It took him a good while to recall the last scene he could remember, which was the extremely filthy ground rushing up to meet his face, mixed with snow trampled into mud.

\n\n

He had actually fainted? That was a first.

\n\n

He sat up and tossed aside the blanket covering him. Looking down at his mud-stained clothes, he quickly pulled the blanket back up to check. A few spots had gotten on it, but he brushed at them without getting the mud off.

\n\n

Just as he was thinking he should find some water to scrub clean, he suddenly realized—

\n\n

Who am I? Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Where am I? Don't know.

\n\n

It was a small room, tidy enough, cleaner than the one Li Baoguo had given him. Letting the blanket fall, he went to open the door.

\n\n

Seeing the shelves outside, it finally hit Jiang Cheng that he was still in Gu Fei's shop.

\n\n

"You're up," Gu Fei was leaning against a recliner next to the cash register. He glanced at Jiang Cheng briefly before turning his gaze back to his phone.

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng brushed the dried mud off his clothes. "Thanks."

\n\n

"Don't mention it," Gu Fei kept looking at his phone. "Mainly didn't want trouble if I left you outside."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng looked back into the room. "The blanket...got dirty."

\n\n

"There's a wash basin out back," Gu Fei said. "Go wash it."

\n\n

"What?" Jiang Cheng was taken aback, and felt like losing his temper. But he couldn't find a suitable outlet since Gu Fei's words made perfect logical sense.

\n\n

"Why ask if you don't want to wash it?" Gu Fei's line of sight finally left his phone and settled on Jiang Cheng's face.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't respond. He stared back at Gu Fei.

\n\n

He was actually quite grateful that Gu Fei had brought him inside, but Gu Fei's current attitude made it hard to feel grateful. The only reason he didn't blow up was because he still felt unwell after fainting.

\n\n

After staring for a while, Gu Fei lowered his head to his phone again.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng turned and left.

\n\n

The sun outside was nice, the only warmth in the northern wind, but it didn't help much. Still cold.

\n\n

His headache was awful. Jiang Cheng took a ski hat from his pocket and put it on, pulling up his coat hood as well. He checked the time—he had been passed out for about half an hour, not too long.

\n\n

Not that he had anything else to do anyway.

\n\n

Standing by the roadside, he looked both ways. Finally he decided to keep wandering for a bit until he found the intersection two streets over. Then he'd head back from the intersection.

\n\n

He didn't want to return to listen to Li Baoguo's snoring, but he had to change clothes.

\n\n

Trudging through the muddy snow, he suddenly felt lonely.

\n\n

In the past he had spent many days wandering outside like this, sometimes for days on end without going home. But he'd never felt lonely like now.

\n\n

He didn't know why.

\n\n

Maybe it was the acute feeling of abandonment and banishment, or the unfamiliar and rundown environment, or having no friends around, or maybe...just because he was sick.

\n\n

His phone dinged with a message. Jiang Cheng took it out to look—it was from Yu Xin.

\n\n

-I regret it now.

\n\n

He sighed and replied:

\n\n

-A person of their word can't go back on what they promised.

\n\n

Yu Xin didn't message back. Jiang Cheng didn't know if she was angry, had no face, or was simmering and waiting for another chance to erupt.

\n\n

He put his phone away and pinched the bridge of his nose.

\n\n

Just now he noticed his nose really hurt. It was probably smashed into the ground when he fell.

\n\n

Tsk.

\n\n

He carefully felt over his nose from bridge to tip, making sure nothing was broken, before putting his hand back into his pocket.

\n\n

After walking forward a few steps, he saw a small intersection ahead which was probably the one he was looking for.

\n\n

Before he could look away, a green head darted out from the intersection, zipping by like the wind.

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng saw it was Gu Miao speeding by on a skateboard, she had already flashed past him without giving him a clear look at her face.

\n\n

Skateboarding girlie.

\n\n

He looked back. What a cool girl, except for her shaved head.

\n\n

He wondered if that was her own brother. Would it be so hard to get her messy hair trimmed at a barber shop instead of shaving it all off? It's freezing out... Oh, a green hat?

\n\n

Just as Jiang Cheng started to turn back to double check if his eyes were playing tricks, three rickety bicycles shot out from the intersection.

\n\n

The rackety clanging rang loud and clear. But they were riding pretty fast.

\n\n

"Damn, she's so fast!" someone on the bike yelled.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was taken aback. From what he said...Gu Miao was being chased and bullied again?

\n\n

He didn't even feel sympathetic anymore, just inexplicably annoyed.

\n\n

What the hell kind of place was this!

\n\n

When he got back to his new "home", Li Baoguo was still asleep, though the snoring had stopped. But he started coughing heavily after Jiang Cheng came in, hacking painfully as if his lungs were being ripped out.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng couldn't help going to check on him twice, but Li Baoguo kept his eyes shut, seemingly fast asleep.

\n\n

He didn't have the skill to sleep cough like that. Any coughing would definitely wake Jiang Cheng up from sleep. This was probably one of Li Baoguo's special talents.

\n\n

After changing clothes, Jiang Cheng found a towel in his suitcase. He wet it and wiped his dirty clothes clean.

\n\n

Then he sat on the bed in a daze.

\n\n

He didn't know what to do now.

\n\n

Li Baoguo next door had stopped coughing, but started snoring again.

\n\n

He had no words to describe his feelings. This man was his biological father, they shared the same blood flowing in their veins.

\n\n

To be born into such a family, although he had not yet seen the other members of this family, Li Baoguo was already a big 'warning sign'.

\n\n

He had avoided thinking about this issue for some time, but now sitting here looking at the dilapidated scene inside and outside the house, he really could not escape it anymore.

\n\n

Long ago, he had discussed adoption with his parents.

\n\n

It was meaningless, some things were encoded in genes, and nurturing in later life was still no match for them.

\n\n

He could not remember clearly how his parents had answered back then, he only remembered his own words, and now those words were like slaps hitting his face hard.

\n\n

His two younger brothers had personalities like Dad and Mom, prudent, taciturn, fond of tranquility and reading books, while he was completely different, although not much of a talker either...

\n\n

Even the neighbors had said they did not seem like one family.

\n\n

Yes, the misfit was encoded in his body.

\n\n

Li Baoguo suddenly coughed violently, as if choking, and did not stop for a good while. He should be awake now. Jiang Cheng heard his grumbling voice.

\n\n

After a while, the snoring sound rang out again.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was suddenly afraid.

\n\n

An intense suffocating fear.

\n\n

He stood up, went to the living room to get the keys, preparing to go out to duplicate a set, and find a hospital to see a doctor at the same time. He was really uncomfortable all over, probably having a fever.

\n\n

Gu Fei squatted by the flower bed outside the shop door, watching Gu Miao passing flamboyantly in front of him for the third time, her face flushed red from the cold.

\n\n

The fourth time she passed, Gu Fei waved to her. She made an emergency stop and turned around, slowly sliding up to him.

\n\n

"Time to go home for lunch," Gu Fei stood up, "go put your stuff away."

\n\n

Gu Miao dragged her skateboard into the shop.

\n\n

Gu Fei lit a cigarette, pondering what to have for lunch.

\n\n

A minute later, Gu Miao's screams came from the shop.

\n\n

He threw away the cigarette and jumped up and rushed into the shop.

\n\n

The screams were coming from the toilet at the back. He rushed out from the back door and pushed open the toilet door. Gu Miao was covering her eyes facing the sink, screaming nonstop.

\n\n

Gu Fei reached out and turned off the faucet, then picked her up and carried her out of the toilet, gently patting her back, "Shhh....quiet, there's no more water, no more water..."

\n\n

Gu Miao's screams stopped. Hugging his neck, she lay on his shoulder and said softly, "Hungry."

\n\n

"Me too," Gu Fei held her in one arm and picked up her skateboard in the other, "Let's go have a big meal."

\n","published_time":"2023-08-18T03:13:43.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":322,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":4,"chapter_title":"Chapter 4","content":"

Gu Fei drove his motorcycle to the store entrance. Gu Miao hugged her skateboard and climbed nimbly onto the back seat, putting her arms around his waist and pressing her face against his back.

\n\n

"Let me see your face." Gu Fei turned his head around.

\n\n

Gu Miao raised her face looking at him.

\n\n

"Still got tears, wipe them off." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Gu Miao wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and wiped her nose with her sleeve.

\n\n

"Ah," Gu Fei sighed, "If you were a boy you'd definitely be a rough one."

\n\n

Gu Miao smiled and pressed her face back against his back.

\n\n

Gu Fei drove the motorcycle out, heading straight for the downtown shopping mall. For Gu Miao, the so-called big meal referred specifically to the self-service barbecue restaurant in the shopping mall.

\n\n

This little girl was stubbornly set in her ways about certain things. Going out to eat a big meal, she would only go to that one restaurant, which was one example.

\n\n

The biggest advantage of small cities was probably that everything was centered in one place, and no matter which district you came from it didn't take long to get to the center.

\n\n

But this was when the barbecue restaurant had the most people. When they arrived, there were basically no empty tables left inside.

\n\n

"Any promotions today?" Gu Fei asked the server, taking out his phone to look for discount coupons, then flicked Gu Miao on the head, "Go find a table."

\n\n

Gu Miao put her skateboard down on the floor and put one foot on it. He swiftly put one foot on it as well: "Walk."

\n\n

"Do you want to leave the skateboard at the front desk?" The server asked with a smile.

\n\n

Gu Miao shook her head and quickly bent down to pick up her skateboard, hugging it in her arms.

\n\n

"She'll hold it herself." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Gu Miao ran inside hugging her skateboard.

\n\n

"Damn, I already told you I'm hungry," Pan Zhi swallowed, "I'm serious, I'll come see you in a couple days, you can take me to eat there too, with the prices here we would never be able to afford so many dishes back home."

\n\n

"Did your family go on a poverty alleviation trip this New Year's?" Jiang Cheng asked, holding his phone in one hand and meat tongs in the other, slowly picking up food, pork belly, beef, pork belly, beef... To him there wasn't much difference in what was available to eat, he only liked these few things.

\n\n

"How can you compare them," Pan Zhi said, his tone somewhat low, "Last semester we said we'd go out for barbecue over New Year's, but not only did I not get to eat the meat, I didn't even get to see you."

\n\n

"You can stay at a hotel when you come," Jiang Cheng put down the tongs and piled more meat onto a plate, continuing to pick things up, "And you'll have to book it yourself, I have no energy to do anything right now."

\n\n

"I can just stay at your place." Pan Zhi said.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng frowned, with the room he was staying in now, even he didn't want to spend extra time there, "Book a standard room and I'll come over."

\n\n

"...Are you not getting along with your dad?" Pan Zhi thought about it.

\n\n

"We haven't established a relationship yet," Jiang Cheng said, carrying two plates of meat and going to grab a bottle of beer, "Can't say if it's good or bad yet..."

\n\n

When he got to the table he was stunned.

\n\n

A four person table, a skateboard on one chair, a little bald girl in a blue shirt sitting on another chair, and on the table there was also a... green knitted hat with little pink flowers.

\n\n

"Gu Miao?" Jiang Cheng looked at her in surprise.

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded, seeming unsurprised, and took the skateboard off the chair and put it under the table.

\n\n

"You..." He set the plates on the table and pointed at Gu Miao, "Who did you come with?"

\n\n

Gu Miao stood up and pointed toward the entrance. She waved her hand a few times.

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng looked over, he saw Gu Fei, who looked just as surprised as him.

\n\n

"Let's find another table," Gu Fei came over, "This brother is already sitting here."

\n\n

Gu Miao looked around but remained seated without moving.

\n\n

"The server just told me there are some tables open over there." Gu Fei pointed inside, "Let's go over there."

\n\n

Gu Miao still didn't move, looking up at him expressionlessly. It was unclear what she was trying to express.

\n\n

After a brief stalemate with her, Gu Fei glanced over at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Hm?" Jiang Cheng also looked at him.

\n\n

"You're alone?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Yeah." Jiang Cheng responded briefly and sat down.

\n\n

The server came over and turned on the grill, laying down paper. Jiang Cheng put a few slices of meat on to cook and brushed on sauce.

\n\n

"Then we'll..." Gu Fei seemed hesitant before finishing his sentence, "Eat together?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him. To be honest, he really wanted to answer, you wish, go wash the blanket!

\n\n

But with Gu Miao's big eyes also fixed on him, he couldn't get those words out. After brushing sauce on the meat a couple times, he nodded.

\n\n

"Thanks," Gu Fei said, then gestured at Gu Miao, "Sit here and wait for me, I'll go get food."

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded.

\n\n

After Gu Fei left, Jiang Cheng layered two more slices of fatty beef on the grill, asking Gu Miao, "Which do you want? Pork belly or fatty beef?"

\n\n

Gu Miao pointed at the fatty beef.

\n\n

"The pork belly is also delicious, sizzling with oil... I could eat five or six plates," Jiang Cheng turned the meat over and brushed on some oil, "Do you eat spicy food?"

\n\n

Gu Miao shook her head.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng put a grilled slice of fatty beef on her plate: "Go ahead and eat."

\n\n

Gu Miao hesitated, turning to glance in the direction Gu Fei had walked off in.

\n\n

"It's fine..." Jiang Cheng didn't finish his sentence, suddenly noticing a clear five centimeter scar on the back of Gu Miao's bald head. He was a bit shocked.

\n\n

Not seeing Gu Fei, Gu Miao turned back and lowered her head to stuff the fatty beef in her mouth, smiling at him.

\n\n

"Want to try the pork belly?" Jiang Cheng asked her.

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded.

\n\n

He picked up a slice of pork belly and put it on her plate, casually moving the hat on the table to the chair next to them. He couldn't help clicking his tongue, "Who bought you that hat?"

\n\n

Gu Miao continued eating without answering.

\n\n

No speaking while eating.

\n\n

This girl was probably the only person he'd met who followed that rule most perfectly.

\n\n

Gu Fei quickly brought over some dishes, but his dish-carrying skills were clearly inferior. He only brought three plates in one trip, whereas Jiang Cheng could have easily managed six if he hadn't been on the phone with Pan Zhi earlier. After they finished eating, some fruit would just about wrap it up.

\n\n

The four person table was against the wall. Gu Miao sat opposite them on the outside happily eating away. Jiang Cheng sat on the inside grilling meat while Gu Fei hesitated before sitting down next to him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was quite unhappy and was about to take Gu Fei's dishes to grill them for him, when Gu Fei reached out and lightly poked Gu Miao on the head, "Go get a drink yourself."

\n\n

Gu Miao stood up and headed over to the drink station. Gu Fei swiftly got up and sat down opposite him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him and continued grilling pork belly and fatty beef.

\n\n

A server came to open up the grill, laying down paper. He put a few slices of meat on to cook and got ready to brush on sauce.

\n\n

"You're sick and still eating such oily food?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Hm?" Jiang Cheng paused briefly, looking at the rice cakes he was grilling, "You knew?"

\n\n

"My hand was scalded by you when I dragged you in, how could I not know." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Dragged?" Jiang Cheng involuntarily imagined himself being dragged into the restaurant by Gu Fei pulling his hair like a ragged sack.

\n\n

"What, did you expect me to carry you in?" Gu Fei put two more strips of bacon on to cook, with each person using half of the grill. It looked quite harmonious.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't know how to continue the conversation, so he ate a slice of pork belly.

\n\n

Gu Miao soon came back hugging several bottles. She set beer bottle by beer bottle on the table, four of them, all opened, and there was even a glass of orange juice.

\n\n

"You're pretty capable," Jiang Cheng looked at her in shock, "Didn't spill them everywhere?"

\n\n

Gu Miao shook her head and sat back down at the table. She slid a bottle of beer and the glass of orange juice in front of him.

\n\n

"I don't..." He was about to have Gu Miao drink the orange juice herself, but before he could finish speaking, Gu Miao had already poured some beer into her own glass from a bottle. "You..."

\n\n

Gu Miao raised the glass and drank a large gulp, sighing contentedly. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at Gu Fei, only to see him completely unconcerned, not even looking in Gu Miao's direction as he wrapped a slice of pork belly in a lettuce leaf.

\n\n

"She drinks alcohol?" Jiang Cheng couldn't help asking.

\n\n

"Yeah, when eating barbecue," Gu Fei handed the wrapped lettuce roll to him, "Not usually."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at the lettuce wrap.

\n\n

Gu Fei just held it there without speaking.

\n\n

"...Thanks." He had no choice but to take it and bite into it.

\n\n

"Don't you find it too greasy eating just pork belly?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"It's fine, I quite like it." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Gu Fei also wrapped two rolls for Gu Miao, then asked again, "You're not from around here right? I can tell by your accent."

\n\n

"No, I'm not." Jiang Cheng answered. Being asked this suddenly made him a little annoyed, the irritation that had finally been suppressed by pork belly and beef was desperately trying to flare up again.

\n\n

"Who's Li Baoguo to you?" Gu Fei continued asking.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was stunned. How did Gu Fei know about Li Baoguo? But this question was soon drowned out by the annoyance. He flung two slices of meat onto the grill, "What's it to you?"

\n\n

Gu Fei glanced at him, smiling without responding. He picked up a beer bottle and lightly clinked it against the bottle in front of Jiang Cheng, drank some, then continued grilling meat.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had never eaten a meal face to face with someone he barely knew before. He hadn't wanted to talk to begin with, and now he was even more at a loss for words.

\n\n

Gu Fei across from him also seemed to have lost interest in speaking. Gu Miao really did seem to be mute, eating meat and drinking happily without making a sound.

\n\n

Amidst the silence, Jiang Cheng ate four plates of meat despite his pounding head. Gu Miao also seemed to have had her fill as Gu Fei had gone to get several more rounds of food.

\n\n

Only after Jiang Cheng finished did she put down her chopsticks and lean back against her chair, rubbing her stomach.

\n\n

"Full?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

She nodded.

\n\n

"You eat more than your brother." Jiang Cheng couldn't help summarizing.

\n\n

Gu Fei also put down his chopsticks. "How did you get here? I can give you a ride back, it's on the way."

\n\n

"Motorcycle?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Yeah." Gu Fei nodded.

\n\n

"Drink driving and even overloading?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't respond. He stared at Jiang Cheng for a very long time with an expression that was unclear whether it was mocking or something else. Finally, he patted Gu Miao on the shoulder, "Let's go."

\n\n

After Gu Fei left with Gu Miao, Jiang Cheng got up and went to get another half tray of meat and a small basket of lettuce leaves.

\n\n

The pork belly lettuce wrap Gu Fei had made for him earlier was pretty tasty, fresh and not greasy.

\n\n

After finishing this half tray of meat, he felt like he should walk back to digest the food.

\n\n

But it was too cold outside. He huddled behind the curtain at the mall entrance and took out his phone to call a car, but no one accepted the order after five minutes.

\n\n

Instead, Pan Zhi called again: "There are two train stations here, and the times are different too. Which one should I buy tickets for?"

\n\n

"East station," Jiang Cheng said, "That's the only one I know."

\n\n

"Got it," Pan Zhi said, "Come pick me up at 4pm tomorrow. Send me your address later, I'll look for hotels nearby."

\n\n

"Probably none around," Jiang Cheng thought back to the overall vibe of the area, it didn't seem like somewhere that would have hotels, "Just book wherever, it's not that big here."

\n\n

After hanging up, someone finally accepted his order. Getting into the car, Jiang Cheng felt irritated all over.

\n\n

This was probably culture shock. Usually he seldom even caught a cold, but after changing environments he had become a delicate flower, messing around all morning and even eating his favorite food yet showed no sign of recovering at all, nearly at his limit.

\n\n

He sighed and closed his eyes.

\n\n

It seemed like there were more cars on the road today with locals coming home for New Year's. The driver stepped on the gas and slammed the brakes. Ten minutes after setting off, Jiang Cheng felt his stomach start churning.

\n\n

Although it wasn't a long ride, only half an hour, as soon as he saw the intersection near Gu Fei's place, he couldn't hold it in any longer. Unable to even speak, he patted the car door several times.

\n\n

"Here?" The driver asked.

\n\n

He nodded, patting the door again.

\n\n

The driver stopped the car. He practically tumbled out the door and rushed to a trash can by the roadside, throwing up violently.

\n\n

This disgraceful scene was unbearable even for him to watch.

\n\n

After upturning heaven and earth, it finally settled down, leaving just a splitting headache. He braced against the wall trying to take tissues out of his pocket but couldn't find any after a long time.

\n\n

Just as anger was rising from his feet, a small arm reached over from the side holding a few tissues.

\n\n

He grabbed the tissues and covered his mouth, wiping a few times before glancing to the side.

\n\n

What a coincidence this world was.

\n\n

Gu Miao stood next to him wearing her green hat, with Gu Fei three steps behind looking on with interest.

\n\n

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng nodded at Gu Miao. This kind of shameful situation that he couldn't just turn and leave from or curse at was quite suffocating.

\n\n

Gu Miao reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling forward as if wanting to support him walking.

\n\n

"There's no need." Jiang Cheng pulled his hand back.

\n\n

Gu Miao grabbed his hand again, still trying to help him.

\n\n

"Really, I'm fine." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

When he tried to pull his hand back again, Gu Miao held on tight.

\n\n

"Er Miao..." Gu Fei walked over.

\n\n

Gu Miao still wouldn't let go.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't know how to communicate with her. Various irritations made him feel impatient. He shook Gu Miao's hand off forcefully, "I said I don't need help!"

\n\n

Gu Miao didn't move, her hand still suspended in midair, stunned.

\n\n

Before Jiang Cheng's guilt could spread, he suddenly felt a sharp tug at his neck as Gu Fei grabbed his collar from behind and yanked him into stumbling.

\n\n

"Fuck..." He turned around, elbowing back at the same time.

\n\n

Gu Fei caught his elbow, and his grip on Jiang Cheng's collar tightened. He had no choice but to stand closely against Gu Fei.

\n\n

The choking hold made him want to vomit again.

\n\n

"She really likes you," Gu Fei said softly by his ear, "But sometimes she can't read people's emotions well, please be patient with her."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wanted to say he'd never seen someone make a request in such a manner in his 17 years of life, but he couldn't get out so many words. All he could squeeze out from between clenched teeth was: "Gonna puke."

\n\n

Gu Fei let go.

\n\n

He dry heaved against the wall a couple times but nothing came out.

\n\n

Gu Fei handed him a bottle of water. He accepted it, twisting the cap open and gulping some down. After settling down, he looked at Gu Miao, "I'm fine, don't need help."

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded and retreated to Gu Fei's side.

\n\n

"I'm going back." He tossed the half empty bottle in the trash and walked toward the intersection up ahead.

\n\n

Fuck!

\n\n

Walking in the door at Li Baoguo's place, Jiang Cheng immediately smelled the aroma of cooked food.

\n\n

Li Baoguo was standing in the living room dialing his phone.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was about to speak when his own phone in his pocket rang. He took it out to see Li Baoguo's number: "You..."

\n\n

Hearing his ringtone, Li Baoguo turned around and bellowed, "Oh! When did you get back? I was calling you!"

\n\n

"Just got in," Jiang Cheng closed the door, "You... didn't hear?"

\n\n

"Bad hearing," Li Baoguo pointed at his own ears, "Have to turn my head to hear clearly."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng responded.

\n\n

"Where'd you go?" Li Baoguo went into the kitchen and brought out a pot of soup, "I've been waiting to eat with you for ages."

\n\n

"I..." Jiang Cheng hesitated, not mentioning that he went to eat barbecue, "Went to the hospital."

\n\n

"You went to the hospital?" Li Baoguo immediately started shouting, reaching over to feel Jiang Cheng's forehead and face, "Sick? What are you uncomfortable? Fever? Is it the change of environment?"

\n\n

"Took medicine, it's nothing." Seeing the lunch prepared, Jiang Cheng tolerated his hands reeking of cigarette stench and filth without slapping them away.

\n\n

"I'm telling you, if you feel unwell, you don't need to go to the hospital, there's a clinic in the neighborhood street nearby that's pretty good," Li Bao said, "It's just the entrance is a bit tucked away and not easy to see, next to the little supermarket."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang thought for a moment, "Little supermarket? Is it Gu Fei..."

\n\n

"How do you know Gu Fei?" Li Bao turned his head, looking at him in surprise, "You just got here, and are already getting along with him?"

\n\n

"No," Jiang was too lazy to explain, "I went to the little supermarket to buy stuff this morning."

\n\n

"Let me tell you," Li Bao's voice grew louder, although his voice had always been quite loud, but it was especially loud now, "Don't hang out with him, that kid is no good!"

\n\n

"....Oh," Jiang took off his coat and threw it into the inner room.

\n\n

Li Bao looked at him, probably waiting for him to ask why, after waiting for a while and seeing he had nothing more to say, he moved closer, with the look of someone with a story to tell, "Do you know why I say he's no good?"

\n\n

"Why?" Although Jiang didn't really have much interest in knowing these things, he still asked obligingly.

\n\n

"He killed his own dad!" Li Bao said, leaning in a bit closer, specks of excited spittle spraying onto half of Jiang Cheng's face.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng abruptly stood up to dodge away, wiping his face forcefully several times. Just as he was about to lose his temper, he suddenly reacted: "What? Killed who?"

\n\n

"His own dad!" Li Baoguo half-shouted, "Drowned his own dad in the lake."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him without speaking. Looking at Li Baoguo's excited expression, if he was willing, Li Baoguo could probably chat about this gossip for an entire afternoon.

\n\n

Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng didn't believe it.

\n\n

"If he killed his own dad, wouldn't he go to jail?" He sat down on the chair by the table, squeezing his throbbing temples.

\n\n

"It was something from many years ago, why would he go to jail now," Li Baoguo also sat down, "No one actually saw it happen with their own eyes either."

\n\n

"No one saw it happen huh..." Jiang Cheng laughed.

\n\n

"Everyone knows what happened, when the police came his dad was in the lake, he was at the shore, his expression..." Li Baoguo made a series of tsk tsk sounds, "One look and you know he did it... Eat, try the dishes, see if they suit your taste?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak, picking up a piece of pork rib.

\n\n

"It was because of his family's Er Miao," Li Baoguo probably sensed his disbelief, and added an explanation as if to increase credibility, "His dad threw her and she split her head open, after being saved she couldn't even talk anymore."

\n\n

"Ah," Jiang Cheng bit into the pork rib and responded lightly, recalling the startling scar at the back of Gu Miao's head.

\n","published_time":"2023-08-19T03:23:14.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":324,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":5,"chapter_title":"Chapter 5","content":"

When Pan Zhi called, Jiang Cheng was still sleeping like he was about to hibernate. His phone rang for a good while before he groggily picked up: “...Hmm?”

\n\n

“Fuck, I knew it,” Pan Zhi said. “Open your dog eyes and see what time it is.”

\n\n

“It’s four o’clock?” Jiang Cheng woke up and brought the phone to his face, wanting to check the time, but his eyes were still blurry.

\n\n

“It’s three thirty!” Pan Zhi said. “I knew you’d be like this, that’s why I called early.”

\n\n

“There’s still time,” Jiang Cheng sat up. “I’ll go wait for you at the station exit later.”

\n\n

“Which exit?” Pan Zhi asked.

\n\n

“There’s only one exit,” Jiang Cheng looked out the window. Through the dirty glass that looked fogged over, he could see that the weather was nice today, bright and sunny. “I’m hanging up.”

\n\n

After getting dressed and getting out of bed, he felt much more comfortable, except that he was a little short on sleep. The awful irritable feeling from yesterday, when he wanted to grab anyone he saw and beat them up, was gone.

\n\n

Counting the time, he had slept from yesterday afternoon to now, a whole day. His steps were a little unsteady.

\n\n

Li Baoguo wasn’t home, he didn’t know where he had gone.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt this “home” was very strange. When his mother wanted to rescind the adoption, Li Baoguo had stubbornly gone to visit several times, even though he himself didn’t want to see him.

\n\n

Now that he was here, Li Baoguo didn’t have that desperate attitude of wanting to bring his son back anymore.

\n\n

As for his legendary older brother and sister, he still hadn’t seen them after two days.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn’t have any interest in or expectations for this new “home”. Every time he woke up, no matter what time it was, he was alone in this lifeless house. It didn’t feel too good.

\n\n

If this house wasn’t an apartment building, he would have thought it was a hundred-year-old house, inside and out it exuded decay beyond saving.

\n\n

This was also why he didn’t want Pan Zhi to stay here. Compared to his previous elegant and clean room with a piano, Pan Zhi would probably howl for two or three days here.

\n\n

Even if he didn’t come to live here, just seeing the train station would probably make Pan Zhi howl for a while.

\n\n

“Fuck,” Pan Zhi dragged a large suitcase and carried a big backpack. As soon as they met, he sighed, “This place is a little hard for me to accept!”

\n\n

“Then go back,” Jiang Cheng pointed at the ticket office. “Hurry and buy a ticket.”

\n\n

“Where's the brotherhood!” Pan Zhi said. “I dragged all this stuff from far away to see you! Shouldn’t you be touched?”

\n\n

“Very touched,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Pan Zhi glared at him. After a while, he spread his arms, “I really missed you a bit.”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng went over to hug him. “I didn’t have time to miss you.”

\n\n

“Do you know why you only have me as a friend?” Pan Zhi let him go.

\n\n

“I know,” Jiang Cheng nodded. “Because you’re an idiot.”

\n\n

He had a lot of friends, but they were all dispensable. They fooled around together, wandered around together. When they got into minor trouble, they banded together. When they got into big trouble, they scattered like birds and beasts.

\n\n

Only Pan Zhi, although they had only known each other since third year of middle school and was in the same class in high school, not even three years, he was loyal.

\n\n

After coming to this small broken city, the only person he had missed was Pan Zhi.

\n\n

“Sir, do you know this place?” After getting in the taxi, Pan Zhi immediately asked the driver.

\n\n

“Of course I know it,” The driver laughed. “It’s the best hotel in our city.”

\n\n

“Not bad at choosing,” Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

\n\n

“No need to choose. Their rooms are the most expensive,” Pan Zhi rummaged in his pocket for a long time before taking out a lighter and handing it to him. “See if you like it?”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at the lighter. It was the style he liked, smooth with no decorations. Only two letters were engraved at the very bottom. He brought it closer to look carefully. “What is this engraved? Police?”

\n\n

“J, C, the initials of your name,” Pan Zhi said. “Cool right?”

\n\n

“...Really cool,” Jiang Cheng put the lighter in his pocket. “How long are you staying?”

\n\n

“Two days,” Pan Zhi sighed. “School is starting.”

\n\n

“Why are you sighing about school starting?” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“Annoying,” Pan Zhi frowned. “Classes, exams, homework. I wish I could learn everything effortlessly like you, not go to class but still test in the top ten. Then I wouldn’t be sighing.”

\n\n

“Who said I don’t work hard,” Jiang Cheng glanced at him. “Don’t you know when I pull all-nighters to study?”

\n\n

“The key is no matter how many nights I pull, it’s useless,” Pan Zhi dragged out his words and sighed again. “Fuck, I know why I miss you so much now. With you gone, there’s no one to let me copy test answers!”

\n\n

“Just drop out,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“Where's your humanity!” Pan Zhi glared at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng laughed and didn’t reply.

\n\n

Pan Zhi wasn’t satisfied with this small city, but he was satisfied with the hotel. After entering the room, he inspected the bed, under the bed, bathroom, and toilet: “Still alright.”

\n\n

“Let’s go eat something,” Jiang Cheng looked at the time. “Go eat barbecue?”

\n\n

“Okay,” Pan Zhi opened his suitcase. “I have other gifts for you too.”

\n\n

“Oh?” Jiang Cheng was sitting on the edge of the bed.

\n\n

“Guess first?” Pan Zhi rummaged around in the suitcase.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced in the suitcase. It was full of all kinds of snacks in different sized packages, no room for anything else.

\n\n

“A tin whistle,” he said.

\n\n

“Fuck,” Pan Zhi laughed. He took out a long black case from the very bottom. “Was it too easy to guess or are we too in sync?”

\n\n

“Too easy to guess,” Jiang Cheng took the case and pulled out the black whistle to look at it. “Pretty good.”

\n\n

“Susato, D,” Pan Zhi said. “I didn’t buy the wrong one right? It’s the same as your old one?”

\n\n

“Yea,” Jiang Cheng blew a couple notes randomly. “Thanks.”

\n\n

“Don’t break this one again, it's a gift from me,” Pan Zhi said.

\n\n

“Okay.” Jiang Cheng put the whistle away.

\n\n

He actually didn’t have the habit of getting angry and breaking things. After all, he had been “disciplined” for over ten years, so he could get in fights and hit people, but he rarely broke things.

\n\n

The last time he broke the whistle was only because he had nowhere to vent his anger, it wasn’t like he could get in a fight with his dad.

\n\n

He hesitated about whether to send Li Baoguo a text or call him since he wasn’t going home tonight. In the end, he chose to call. It took Li Baoguo a very long time to pick up. “Hello!”

\n\n

From the noise, he could tell Li Baoguo was playing mahjong. Jiang Cheng felt a little speechless, he didn’t know if his mother knew about this habit of Li Baoguo’s, but... compared to the way his presence destroyed their family's atmosphere, this wasn’t such a big deal.

\n\n

“A classmate came to visit me, I won’t be home tonight, at a hotel,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“A classmate came huh?” Li Baoguo coughed a few times. “Then go play with your classmate, why even call me? I thought it was something.”

\n\n

“...Then I’m hanging up,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Li Baoguo didn’t say anything else, just directly hung up.

\n\n

“What kind of person is your dad?” Pan Zhi looked at him.

\n\n

“Don’t know, just smokes, coughs, snores, plays mahjong,” Jiang Cheng summarized.

\n\n

“You smoke too, everyone coughs...snores...not a big deal...” Pan Zhi tried to analyze. “Snore...”

\n\n

“Annoying or not?” Jiang Cheng interrupted him.

\n\n

“Let's go barbecue,” Pan Zhi waved a hand.

\n\n

The barbecue itself wasn’t anything special, but Pan Zhi ate with great enjoyment. Jiang Cheng himself couldn’t eat as much as yesterday. After all, he was a delicate flower freshly recovered from illness.

\n\n

But when they left the barbecue restaurant, he did feel he had overeaten.

\n\n

“You’re in a bad mood,” Pan Zhi said. “The pork belly today wasn’t bad, how could you only eat that little...”

\n\n

“Good observation,” Jiang Cheng nodded. His mood wasn’t bad enough to make him unable to eat, but he didn’t want Pan Zhi to know about his fever and vomiting yesterday.

\n\n

“Let’s take a walk,” Pan Zhi patted his stomach. “Any fun places around here?”

\n\n

“No,” Jiang Cheng said, then added after thinking about it, “Don’t know.”

\n\n

“Oh, where’s your new school?” Pan Zhi suddenly said. “Let’s go take a look?”

\n\n

“Now?” Jiang Cheng pulled his collar. “No.”

\n\n

“Then tomorrow. We’re on break anyway, and you’re alone. Let’s go take a look at the school, right?” Pan Zhi put his arm around his shoulder. “Didn’t you go take a look when you were handling the paperwork and stuff before?”

\n\n

“Don’t you know if I went to take a look or not?” Jiang Cheng felt a little irritated.

\n\n

“Oh right, you just got here,” Pan Zhi laughed.

\n\n

The new life and environment made him feel vexed, but Pan Zhi still brought him some comfort. Amidst the unknown and unfamiliar, at least there was a familiar person by his side.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn’t sleep much that night, chatting with Pan Zhi, but he couldn’t remember what they talked about. Anyway, it was just like when they used to sit at the edge of the sports field and chat, rambling about random things. What they talked about wasn’t important, what was important was having someone to chat with like this.

\n\n

The two of them dozed off for a bit near dawn, then were woken up by a truck honking downstairs at around eight.

\n\n

“Fuck, isn’t this downtown?” Pan Zhi hugged the blankets. “How can big trucks drive right to the hotel entrance?”

\n\n

“Don’t know,” Jiang Cheng said with his eyes closed.

\n\n

“Is there breakfast? Should we get some sent up now?” Pan Zhi asked.

\n\n

“Whatever,” Jiang Cheng said. “Are you going back to sleep?”

\n\n

“Maybe,” Pan Zhi laughed. “Any plans for today?”

\n\n

“Let’s go take a look at the school later,” Jiang Cheng said. “Then check if there’s anything fun to do here, though in the winter there probably isn’t anything even if there is usually.”

\n\n

“No problem, I’m someone who values spiritual enjoyment,” Pan Zhi said. “I came to see you, seeing you is enough.”

\n\n

“Then I’ll sleep and you can pull up a chair to sit and watch, that works too,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“Hey,” Pan Zhi leaned in to stare at him for a while. “You haven’t really talked to anyone for the past couple days right?”

\n\n

“What do you mean?” Jiang Cheng yawned.

\n\n

“I feel like you’ve been holding it in,” Pan Zhi said. “You've been speaking more than usual.”

\n\n

“...Maybe,” Jiang Cheng thought about it. That was true, he had no one to talk to and nothing to talk about.

\n\n

Looking on the map, the transfer school wasn’t too far from Li Baoguo’s home. As for what kind of school it was, Jiang Cheng hadn’t looked into it and had no interest in finding out.

\n\n

Transferring in high school required a lot of paperwork. From the time when his mother and father had stubbornly handled the paperwork, he had lost interest in everything. He didn’t even have the energy to go get into fights.

\n\n

It was as if something had been drained out of his body, he was like a pile of mud, content to just lie in a suitable hollow.

\n\n

After Pan Zhi looked up the route, he dragged him onto the bus.

\n\n

“You know, the most authentic vibe of a city can be seen on the bus,” Pan Zhi said.

\n\n

“Oh,” Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

\n\n

“That sounded really philosophical right?” Pan Zhi asked a little smugly.

\n\n

“Yeah,” Jiang Cheng kept looking at him.

\n\n

Pan Zhi stared back at him for a while. “Oh, that’s something you said.”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng shook his hand.

\n\n

There weren’t many people on the bus. Getting around was clearly much more relaxing in a small city. No one shoving anyone, no hair in your face, no situation of not being able to get on, and no being shoved off either.

\n\n

“Sitting on this bus is way more comfortable than back home,” When they got off, Pan Zhi expressed his satisfaction. He looked at the map on his phone. “Number 4 High School, just go straight for another 500 meters and turn at the intersection.”

\n\n

“They probably won’t let us in,” Jiang Cheng pulled his collar.

\n\n

“Then let’s just look around outside, walk around the area. This will be your main turf from now on,” Pan Zhi held up his phone towards him and snapped a picture.

\n\n

“What are you doing?” Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

\n\n

“Taking a picture,” Pan Zhi said. “Yu Xin knew I was coming. She cried, begged, and knelt to ask me to take a close-up shot of you for her. I feel like, it’s hard to reject a girl’s request...”

\n\n

“She paid you right?” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“Yes,” Pan Zhi nodded seriously.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng smiled, unable to hold it in. “Shameless.”

\n\n

“You two really broke up huh? I thought she was pretty good,” Pan Zhi held up his phone towards him and snapped two more pictures.

\n\n

“No point,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“Is it because she’s a girl, so no point?” Pan Zhi continued holding up his phone towards him as if interviewing him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him without replying.

\n\n

“I think, it’s still best to get a girlfriend, finding a boyfriend is too much trouble. The wider environment still isn’t good,” Pan Zhi put away his phone. “Don’t get misled by the crowds of rotten girls* online. When you actually encounter them in real life, they’re gone.”

\n\n

*T/N: Fujoshis, who love seeing BL.

\n\n

“You’ve also been holding it in for a long time without talking right?” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“Ever since the break started and I haven’t seen you, I basically haven’t talked much,” Pan Zhi clutched his chest. “I’ve been holding it in so much I changed from an A to a B.”

\n\n

“I’ll get you a bra as a gift before you leave,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“We’re here,” Pan Zhi pointed forward. “Number 4 High School...not bad, looks bigger than our school.”

\n\n

The school gates were open. When they walked in, the guard glanced at them but didn’t say anything.

\n\n

“Not going to stop us?” Pan Zhi said.

\n\n

“What, you’re not happy if they don’t stop us?” Jiang Cheng glanced sideways at him. “Masochist.”

\n\n

“Let’s walk around,” Pan Zhi waved an arm and stretched lazily.

\n\n

“It’s...pretty big,” Jiang Cheng looked around.

\n\n

“Of course, our school in the downtown doesn’t have space to expand even if they wanted to,” Pan Zhi said. “This school is so nice, the sports field must be huge too...let’s go check out the basketball courts?”

\n\n

“Okay,” Jiang Cheng agreed.

\n\n

The courts were probably the only thing he and Pan Zhi cared about the most. Their previous school only had some indoor basketball courts. The soccer field had been leveled to make space for classroom buildings, even though neither of them played soccer, it still felt stifling.

\n\n

In contrast, the facilities here at No. 4 High made them much more comfortable.

\n\n

There was a soccer field. Surprisingly, some people were even playing in this cold weather.

\n\n

Next to it were two outdoor basketball courts, with space for volleyball too.

\n\n

“There’s an indoor one, let’s go in and see?” Pan Zhi nudged him with his arm.

\n\n

The gloom that had been plaguing Jiang Cheng for days was significantly alleviated by this open campus compared to Li Baoguo’s home and the street Li Baoguo lived on. Like he could finally breathe freely here.

\n\n

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then slapped Pan Zhi’s shoulder: "Let's go see."

\n\n

The indoor court wasn't too big, but had areas for volleyball, badminton, and basketball, all in the same space.

\n\n

Both basketball courts had people playing in them. They all looked over when they entered.

\n\n

Pan Zhi paused in his steps. Jiang Cheng ignored the looks, casually sticking his hands in his pockets as he strolled over to sit in the chairs by the court.

\n\n

He hadn't played ball in a long time, so he planned to enjoy watching others play.

\n\n

After eyeing them for a bit, the players on court resumed their game.

\n\n

"Are they the school team training?" Pan Zhi sat next to him and asked.

\n\n

"Doesn't seem like it," Jiang Cheng said. "Enthusiast level."

\n\n

"Want to go play together?" Pan Zhi said with a smile. "We can coordinate."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng lifted his feet in front of Pan Zhi and wiggled them. He was wearing casual sneakers today.

\n\n

"Ah," Pan Zhi leaned back, pillowing his head on his arm. "No idea when we'll get to play ball together again."

\n\n

"Don't change your style, it doesn't suit you," Jiang Cheng said. Someone on court made a beautiful three pointer and he called out in a low voice, "Nice shot."

\n\n

The player glanced at him and smiled, giving him a distant fist bump.

\n\n

Although not getting on court himself, sitting at courtside with Pan Zhi watching others play still gave him a brief moment of tranquility, cutting out all the irritating parts of life.

\n\n

As long as he didn't think about how once Pan Zhi left tomorrow, he'd go back to a dreary existence.

\n\n

He watched the players intently. He didn't notice when more people entered the court, not coming back to himself until the players all stopped, looking towards the door with indescribable expressions.

\n\n

"Looks like there's going to be a show to watch," Pan Zhi said excitedly in a low voice beside him.

\n\n

"What..." Jiang Cheng turned to look, startled, "A show?"

\n\n

One, two, three, four, five, six, six people came in.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was so surprised he almost dislocated his jaw.

\n\n

Not, a, good, bird, all four of them, and even the one who collected money from him in the back, Gu Fei wearing a baseball cap walking last, the cap covering the musical note on his head.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was a little impressed by his own facial recognition skills, even when dizzy with fever he could remember all these faces.

\n\n

In a strange city, a strange school, meeting six strangers he had seen all at once was really a miracle.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt like he had been infected by Pan Zhi, watching them slowly walk over with an expectation of a great show about to start.

\n\n

It looked like they came to play basketball, Gu Fei was wearing basketball shorts and shoes, and one of them was carrying a ball.

\n\n

"Da Fei?" someone on the court said.

\n\n

"Ah," Gu Fei responded.

\n\n

"What are you doing here?" the person asked.

\n\n

"Here to play ball," Gu Fei said very calmly, without any gunpowder smell at all.

\n\n

"...all of you?" the person hesitated and asked again.

\n\n

"Only the old, weak, sick or disabled won't play," Gu Fei said, taking off his coat and turning to throw it over. Then at a glance he saw Jiang Cheng sitting on the chair and choked on his own spit, staring and coughing for quite a while.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng put away the "wanting to watch a good show but the show ended before it began, how disappointing" expression on his face: "What a coincidence."

\n\n

"Good morning," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"You're together?" the person on the court asked.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng answered.

\n\n

Of the six people including Gu Fei, three stayed to play basketball, and the other three came to sit next to Jiang Cheng and Pan Zhi.

\n\n

The one who collected money sat next to Jiang Cheng and reached out his hand, "I'm Li Yan."

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng," Jiang Cheng patted his hand, and pointed at Pan Zhi, "My buddy Pan Zhi."

\n\n

"All from No. 4 High School?" Li Yan looked them over, "Never seen you two before."

\n\n

"We will be from now on," Jiang Cheng didn't want to explain too much, "You're all from No. 4?"

\n\n

The two people behind both laughed, maybe not on purpose, but with a habitual mocking in their voices. Li Yan glanced back at them, "Do we look like students to you?"

\n\n

"Who knows," Jiang Cheng was a little annoyed, "I don't have the habit of staring at people."

\n\n

Li Yan's expression instantly turned unfriendly, he turned his head to look at the people on the court, and ignored him.

\n\n

The people behind probably didn't sense the atmosphere between them, one of them said, "Da Fei is in 10th grade."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng responded.

\n\n

What a coincidence indeed.

\n","published_time":"2023-08-20T03:33:26.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":325,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":6,"chapter_title":"Chapter 6","content":"

Jiang Cheng sat with his arms crossed and his legs stretched out, feeling a bit unhappy.

\n\n

The few people who were just playing basketball on the court weren't very good. If he had worn sneakers and gone up with Pan Zhi for a two-on-five, it probably wouldn't have been a big problem. But it was still quite fun watching them play, giving him a sense of superiority.

\n\n

But now that Gu Fei and his two friends were on the court, the whole atmosphere had changed.

\n\n

Because Gu Fei played basketball...extremely well. Back at their original school, he would have definitely enjoyed the screams of many girls during the city high school league games. The level of the "birds" in the not a good bird combo were also not bad. The person doing a combo with him, who usually had a lazy punk look sitting in the grocery store, was also surprisingly good. The remaining two people on their side looked a bit redundant in comparison.

\n\n

So for Jiang Cheng, watching this kind of ball game didn't give him that sense of superiority anymore.

\n\n

He didn't particularly dislike Gu Fei, but definitely didn't have any affection for him either. At this moment, one part of him thought, wow, this guy plays pretty good ball; another part forcibly corrected himself - good my ass, just a flashy show-off...

\n\n

"This guy plays ball pretty well," Pan Zhi said tactlessly, "How do you know him?"

\n\n

"Just average on our old team," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Oh yeah?" Before Pan Zhi could speak, Li Yan next to him cut in, his tone provocative, "Why don't you let one of the guys on the other side switch out and you go up?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng turned his head and looked at him: "No."

\n\n

"No?" Li Yan was stunned, thinking he would readily take up the challenge. He didn't expect the refusal. "Why?"

\n\n

"You guess," Jiang Cheng said, standing up and walking toward the gym door.

\n\n

Pan Zhi lazily stretched and followed him, leaving behind several bewildered people.

\n\n

"What's this nameless anger burning you up for," Pan Zhi shivered as they exited the gym, "You got a grudge against that guy?"

\n\n

"I just got here three days ago," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"That's true. Not enough time to form a grudge against anyone," Pan Zhi sighed. "Anyway, right now whoever you see, you don't like."

\n\n

"Look who's talking," Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

\n\n

Pan Zhi laughed. "Really though, how do you know him? He's from the same year?"

\n\n

"......Neighbor," Jiang Cheng answered simply.

\n\n

"Same building as you?" Pan Zhi asked.

\n\n

"Next street over," Jiang Cheng replied tersely.

\n\n

"Ah," Pan Zhi responded.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng actually felt Pan Zhi might not fully grasp the concept. They had both grown up in gated communities. Neighbors were only two kinds - same building, or same complex. Nodding acquaintance for the first, glance and forget acquaintance for the second.

\n\n

Neighbors from the next street over, they hadn't had much contact with that kind of neighbor.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed lightly, feeling as if he had actually come to participate in an alternate reality show.

\n\n

"Any mountains around, let's go look at snow?" Pan Zhi clapped his hands together.

\n\n

"Climb mountains in this cold? You're not afraid it'll freeze your brain even more, since it already doesn't work too well," Jiang Cheng said. "Never seen snow before?"

\n\n

"Bigger snow here than where we're from," Pan Zhi leaned his arm on Jiang Cheng's shoulder. "Cheng'er, bro will take you out to get some air. No big deal just changing schools, no big deal just changing parents, that's...that one's a bit much, let me think how to say it..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng laughed. "Fine, let's climb the mountain. Fuck it, no big deal."

\n\n

After playing a game of ball, Gu Fei felt pleasantly warm. The lingering sleepy feeling the past couple days had finally disappeared. He put on his jacket and glanced back at the few people on the court whose eyes showed their delight that he'd finally decided to leave: "Thanks."

\n\n

"Not playing anymore?" Someone asked out of habit.

\n\n

"Want to go another round?" Gu Fei said.

\n\n

No one made a sound, looking awkward.

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed and zipped up his jacket. "Let's go."

\n\n

After leaving the court, Liu Fan bounced a couple times. "Boring. I said we should rent a court at the sports center. You just had to come to your school."

\n\n

"Then how exciting did you want it to be," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"What's the point playing with high schoolers," Liu Fan said.

\n\n

Li Yan slanted a glance at him. "You're only two years out of high school yourself."

\n\n

Gu Fei flipped the bird right in front of Liu Fan's face. "One-on-one, you can trash talk me after you win."

\n\n

They all laughed.

\n\n

"Fuck off," Liu Fan swatted his hand away. "Let's go eat, I'm starving."

\n\n

"I'm not going," Gu Fei looked at his phone. "I'm going home."

\n\n

"The shop?" Li Yan asked. "Isn't your mom at the shop today?"

\n\n

"I'm taking Er Miao for a physical. Got the form earlier. Set it up for today," Gu Fei said. "She needs half a day of coaxing for a trip to the hospital. Too time consuming."

\n\n

"We'll come over and hang out tonight," Liu Fan said.

\n\n

"We'll see," Gu Fei took out his car keys. "I'm off."

\n\n

"You always did just take off whenever," Li Yan said. "Feels weird you're being so enthusiastic today."

\n\n

"You're asking for it," Gu Fei turned and left.

\n\n

When days are dull, they pass excruciatingly slowly. But when there's even a tiny bit of spirit, they whoosh by unstoppably like a waterfall.

\n\n

The relaxation and cheer Pan Zhi brought quickly slipped away.

\n\n

"You're not taking all that food back?" Jiang Cheng stood in the transit lounge watching the scrolling information boards.

\n\n

"If I said I was taking it, will you go back to the hotel now and bring it to me?" Pan Zhi said.

\n\n

"Don't take it seriously. Just making conversation," Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

\n\n

"I brought all that food for you to eat, afraid you wouldn't be able to find anything right away," Pan Zhi sighed. "Say it. Are you going back on May 1st or should I come again?"

\n\n

"I'm not going back," Jiang Cheng said. "I told you I won't go back again."

\n\n

"Being stubborn for no reason," Pan Zhi said. "Then I'll come over. I'll bring our class' dumbasses to come play too. What do you think?"

\n\n

"We'll talk about it then," Jiang Cheng leaned against the wall. "Hard to say now if we'll be close enough months from now for them to still want to make the trip out. Not like this is a tourist spot."

\n\n

"Yeah, we'll figure it out then," Pan Zhi nodded.

\n\n

They were silent for a bit. Pan Zhi, who had been sitting the whole time, suddenly stood up directly facing Jiang Cheng, staring at him.

\n\n

"What the hell!" Jiang Cheng jumped, pointing at him. "Don't kiss me! I'll hit you."

\n\n

"Hug," Pan Zhi opened his arms.

\n\n

"Fuck off," Jiang Cheng felt a bit speechless, but opened his arms for a quick hug.

\n\n

"Don't forget me," Pan Zhi said seriously. "I mean it."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed lightly. "Come see me on May 1st and I won't forget."

\n\n

Pan Zhi smiled. "Good."

\n\n

In the days before school started, Li Baoguo cooked one meal. Every other mealtime he wasn't home.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had initially thought about trying to cook some noodles himself, but after stepping into the kitchen and seeing all the messy pots and dishes strewn about and ingredient bottles caked with grime, he instantly lost all motivation.

\n\n

These past few days he had tried all the restaurants within a kilometer radius on the food delivery app that looked interesting by name. Finally school started.

\n\n

On the first day, his new head teacher gave him a call, which surprised Jiang Cheng a bit.

\n\n

"Your dad hasn't been picking up his phone," the teacher said.

\n\n

That wasn't too surprising. He was hard of hearing and always at the mahjong table.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had passed by the building a few times where Li Baoguo played mahjong. Even from downstairs, loud ruckus could be heard from above.

\n\n

The teacher's surname was Xu. Sounded like an older man. Quite warm. It lessened Jiang Cheng's anxiety about the new environment a little.

\n\n

It started snowing early morning on the day he went to report to the school. Indeed, like Pan Zhi said, he hadn't seen snow this heavy before.

\n\n

Felt pretty great.

\n\n

Glancing around at the other students walking in the school gate, he felt they looked about the same. But still all high schoolers, still many unfamiliar faces, the feeling of unfamiliarity was especially strong.

\n\n

He deliberately looked around for Gu Fei's face but didn't see him.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng, nice name," Teacher Xu was indeed an older man. Sounded like he might have had a drink this morning too. "My surname is Xu, I'm Xu Lin, your head teacher. I teach Chinese. The students all call me Old Xu, Head Teacher Xu."

\n\n

"Teacher Xu...Director," Jiang Cheng very properly bent slightly at the waist in greeting. Felt strange no matter how he addressed him.

\n\n

"Let's chat first. Chinese is the first period after the morning reading. I'll take you over," Old Xu pointed at the seat next to him. "Have a seat."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sat down.

\n\n

"Not too many transfer to second year," Old Xu smiled. "Especially coming to our school...I saw your previous grades. You did very well!"

\n\n

"Decent, I guess," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Not just decent. Very good. Don't be modest," Old Xu laughed. Then sighed softly, "Coming to our school is a bit of a waste."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stayed silent, looking at Old Xu.

\n\n

His previous head teacher had said the same thing. Waste of your talent...their school's teachers, student quality, and teaching quality were all lacking...Jiang Cheng was quite surprised to hear Old Xu say the same thing.

\n\n

"I see your science grades are better than humanities," Old Xu said. "Why did you choose humanities?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt this question wasn't easy to answer. His parents had both hoped he would choose science. He couldn't bring himself to give that kind of sophomoric response. Although he had already done it, saying it out loud still made him feel like a sparkling rainbow.

\n\n

After hesitating half a day, he finally said, "I like our head teacher. He oversees the humanities classes."

\n\n

"I see," Old Xu was stunned for a moment. "Well, hopefully you'll like me too. Switching to sciences now would be troublesome."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng looked at his face.

\n\n

After mutually staring for a while, Old Xu laughed. Jiang Cheng laughed along for a bit. This head teacher was pretty interesting.

\n\n

After the preparatory bell for first period, Old Xu grabbed a file bag and tucked it under his arm, then took a USB stick and put it in his pocket. "Let's go. I'll take you to class."

\n\n

"Okay." Jiang Cheng swung his backpack over his shoulder and followed him out of the office.

\n\n

From Old Xu's description, No. 4 wasn't a great school, but the campus was quite big, just the layout of the classroom buildings was a bit unique. The second and third year humanities classes were placed together in a three story old building, divided by the stairwell in the middle. Second years on the left, third years on the right.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt he was nearly becoming a believer in fatalism. Even a school transfer landed him in a dilapidated building. The floors were still wooden boards. Worn so much the original color couldn't be seen. The ancient floors made him worried two stomps could send him crashing straight from the third floor to the first.

\n\n

"This is an old building," Old Xu explained. "Don't underestimate it. The design is very scientific. Teachers in the classrooms don't need mics or to raise their voices. Students in the back rows can hear very clearly."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng nodded.

\n\n

"Our class is on the third floor," Old Xu went on. "Can't see too far from there, but there's still a view of the track field."

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng continued nodding.

\n\n

"Our school..." Old Xu spoke as they walked. As they turned the corner on the stairs, he suddenly called out softly, "Gu Fei! Late again!"

\n\n

The name made Jiang Cheng's eyebrows twitch involuntarily. He looked up to see a person walking slowly up the stairs ahead turn around, still chewing on a carton of milk.

\n\n

Although backlit, Jiang Cheng recognized Gu Fei in one glance. It wasn't just someone same name.

\n\n

"Morning, Teacher Xu," Gu Fei mumbled unclearly with the milk carton in his mouth. He swept a glance at Jiang Cheng's face, probably just as unsurprised by the encounter as Jiang Cheng was.

\n\n

"Late again, and you're still dawdling! Get up there!" Old Xu pointed at him. "First day back and already so lazy!"

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't respond. Just turned and strode up the remaining stairs, disappearing onto the third floor.

\n\n

This No. 4 really couldn't compare to his previous school. Class bells were ringing and teachers had all entered classrooms, yet many students showed no intention of going to class, leaning against the railings chatting.

\n\n

The second year side was lazy and lackadaisical. Jiang Cheng looked over at the third year side. Also a mess. He looked closely but didn't see Gu Fei who had just come upstairs.

\n\n

Old Xu entered a classroom near the stairs. Jiang Cheng peeked at the sign by the doorframe. Year 2 (8).

\n\n

8. Not bad. Finally something auspicious. Though he didn't know how an 8 could make him strike it rich.

\n\n

Outside classroom 8, many students lined the corridor too, not moving even though they saw Old Xu enter. Spotting Jiang Cheng following him in, they finally seemed to enter out of curiosity to size up the new kid.

\n\n

Old Xu stood at the lectern, gazing patiently at the dozens of students who wouldn't settle down. He seemed content to wait for total silence.

\n\n

During this process, Jiang Cheng stood by the lectern the whole time, bearing all sorts of looks and hushed discussions.

\n\n

He felt awkward being stared at like this. Usually he would stare right back at anyone who looked at him. "Whatcha looking at" had no deterrent effect for him. But now a few dozen people were all staring at him. He felt a bit lost, too many targets causing him to lose focus. All the faces blurred into one mass.

\n\n

Irritation writhed inside him. He shot an impatient look at Old Xu, who still had a serene expression waiting for the dozens of students to quiet on their own.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt his assessment of the head teacher was mistaken. He wasn't kind. He clearly had no control over the students.

\n\n

After waiting a while longer, on the verge of erupting, Jiang Cheng couldn't stand it and asked, "Waiting for for total silence?"

\n\n

Old Xu turned to look at him.

\n\n

At the same time, the dozens of students who had been buzzing like mosquitoes suddenly all fell silent.

\n\n

Once Jiang Cheng was riled up, it was hard to restrain himself. He generally tried to restrain it before it got out of control. When he couldn't restrain it, fuck it all.

\n\n

Just standing here like an idiot for at least three minutes, stared at and gossiped about by dozens...for him it was like detonating a pack of explosives between his legs.

\n\n

Balls exploded, he was no longer in this world.

\n\n

"Alright, let me introduce..." Old Xu smiled and clapped his hands.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng, transfer student," Jiang Cheng cut him off in a low voice. "Can I sit down now?"

\n\n

Old Xu was stunned.

\n\n

Someone in class whistled. Immediately shouts rose up again, mixed with yells of "Pretty badass!"

\n\n

"Then have a seat, you can sit..." Old Xu looked to the back. "There, Gu Fei raise your hand."

\n\n

From the first row to the last, heads turned back domino-style. Jiang Cheng's gaze followed to the back.

\n\n

Saw Gu Fei in the last row, still chewing on a fried doughstick, feet up on the bookrack.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt a force within him yelling encouragement to go write a book called <King of Coincidence - All the Coincidences in the World Belong to Me>.

\n\n

Gu Fei very perfunctorily raised a hand.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng used to sit in the back row too. Seats rotated weekly so everyone could sit up front, but he always switched back to the last row.

\n\n

He liked the back row. It was quiet. Undisturbed. Easy to sneak a nap or slip out the back door.

\n\n

But sitting in the back row now made him uncomfortable.

\n\n

Desks and chairs were all askew. It was a tight space, the back practically touching the wall. And no one around him was quiet.

\n\n

Chatting. Playing on phones. And with the one slowly eating fried doughstick next to him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was a bit speechless. Although he had never pleased his teachers with anything other than grades back in school, he had still been in a school that could compete with key high schools in college entrance rates. He had never experienced such a casual classroom atmosphere like a friends' gathering.

\n\n

He took out his book and opened it, feeling like he would look like a nutcase to the other students here if he tried to listen to Old Xu's lecture.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't chat with others or sleep, just put in earbuds and started listening to music.

\n\n

The guy sitting in front of them started rocking his desk back, turning his head and calling out, "Da Fei."

\n\n

The desk shook.

\n\n

"Da Fei."

\n\n

The desk shook again.

\n\n

"Hey, Da Fei."

\n\n

Another shake.

\n\n

"Da Fei?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stared at the words in his book, debating between slapping this guy on the head or smacking his head with the book. Finally he reached out and yanked the earbud from Gu Fei's ear.

\n\n

Gu Fei glanced at him, but Jiang Cheng just stared back without speaking.

\n\n

"Da Fei, yo, Da Fei," the guy in front rocked his desk again.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei responded, still looking at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng met his gaze indifferently.

\n\n

"Can you lend me your camera for tonight? I'll give it back tomorrow," the guy in front said.

\n\n

"No," Gu Fei turned his face away.

\n\n

"F*ck, don't be stingy, I just want to take a couple shots."

\n\n

"Piss off," Gu Fei said simply, then put his earbuds back in to keep listening to music.

\n\n

"Just for one night," the guy rocked his desk again, "I'll return it first thing tomorrow morning."

\n\n

The desk shook again.

\n\n

"Dammit, Da Fei, Da Fei..." The guy kept rocking the desk.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng really didn't understand why this had to be discussed during class, or why the guy had to keep shaking the desk, or why he was so stubborn after being rejected, or why Gu Fei was unwilling to lend a camera and had such an arrogant attitude, or how he could tolerate a desk having a seizure.

\n\n

He lifted his leg and kicked the guy's chair hard.

\n\n

It made a loud bang.

\n\n

The guy was kicked violently forward into his desk.

\n\n

"The f*ck?" He whipped around.

\n\n

The surrounding students all stared over.

\n\n

"Please don't shake the desk," Jiang Cheng looked at him with a mild tone. "Thank you."

\n\n

The guy seemed stunned speechless, just gaping without responding.

\n","published_time":"2023-08-23T22:37:45.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":326,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":7,"chapter_title":"Chapter 7","content":"

Gu Fei raised his eyebrow, took off his headphones, and turned his head to look at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

This kid was still really a troublemaker. All his thorns had not been restrained at all after arriving in this unfamiliar new environment.

\n\n

He looked at Zhou Jing in front of him with quite a bit of interest. Zhou Jing still had his mouth open in shock, and if he hadn't already finished eating his egg, he would have liked to stuff one in his mouth.

\n\n

However, the kick Jiang Cheng gave could still be considered well-targeted at Zhou Jing. Zhou Jing was an annoying teenager with no temper that was easy to bully, and if this kick had been aimed at... Gu Fei glanced to the right, then there would have been a fight already.

\n\n

"What's going on? What's happening?" Old Xu clapped the podium, "It's class time, class time, what are you doing Gu Fei?"

\n\n

Gu Fei was startled, pointed at himself and mouthed, "Me?"

\n\n

"Who else!" Old Xu said, "You finished eating early and got bored, didn't you!"

\n\n

The people at the surrounding tables laughed, and Gu Fei couldn't help but laugh too, turning to look at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"What are you looking at him for," Old Xu pointed at him, "His grades leave you all in the dust by eight hundred and seventy four streets!"

\n\n

"Yo——" The class immediately sounded with shouts.

\n\n

"Top student ah——"

\n\n

"Old Xu found a star student to focus on!"

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed. Old Xu's IQ was as if he had never taught a bad class before like a pure novice teacher. With just this one sentence, he built a three-foot high threshold for Jiang Cheng to integrate into this class.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at Old Xu and sincerely suspected that this person was an undercover agent sent by his mother to torment him.

\n\n

Although he was not afraid of various provocations and had not suppressed his temper since entering the classroom until now, he also did not want to be praised by the class teacher for having good grades in a class that could be seen as chaotic with one glance.

\n\n

The two words "top student" were simply ironic.

\n\n

"Alright," Old Xu cleared his throat, "Let's continue class... We were just talking about..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't listen to what Old Xu had said at the podium before, and was even more unwilling to listen now. He slumped over his desk, took out his phone, and started playing with it.

\n\n

In school before, every time he played with his phone in class it was like doing something illegal - ringer muted, media muted, earphones plugged in with the cord running through his sleeve to cover his ear.

\n\n

The class teacher's drawer was filled with confiscated phones like a second-hand phone stall.

\n\n

No. 4 High School was different. Jiang Cheng glanced over at Gu Fei's side and saw he had put his phone on the desk, propped up on a stand, and clearly had earphones plugged in while he leaned back in his chair watching videos with his arms crossed.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng slumped over his desk and took out his phone. Old Xu at the podium sounded like he was chanting scriptures, and the chattering around him also sounded the same - he was chanted into a dazed stupor for half the class. Bored to death, he sent a message to Pan Zhi.

\n\n

-Grandson.

\n\n

Pan Zhi quickly replied:

\n\n

-Grandpa, what class are you in, you're so free?

\n\n

-Chinese lit, you?

\n\n

-English, teacher sprang a quiz on us, asking for our lives

\n\n

-It's not even a formal exam, why make such a fuss?

\n\n

-I don't know a single question, teacher said something about testing our foundation, I feel like he's got malice!

\n\n

Pan Zhi sent a picture along with this message. Jiang Cheng took a look and sighed - it was a page of multiple choice questions, taken from a tricky angle that clearly risked confiscation and a summer without his phone.

\n\n

He checked the time, enlarged the picture, and started quickly writing down the answers with his pen while looking at the questions. He had just written two when Pan Zhi sent three more pictures over continuously. He glanced at them and was a little speechless - this was all the multiple choice questions from the test paper.

\n\n

-Wait a minute

\n\n

He replied to Pan Zhi and then continued looking at the questions.

\n\n

They weren't even that hard, he could guess most of them. He didn't know why Pan Zhi couldn't write down a single answer.

\n\n

It was quite noisy around him. Jiang Cheng secretly admired Old Xu's endurance - maybe teachers who were used to teaching bad classes had stronger endurance.

\n\n

He still remembered their chemistry teacher in 10th grade. Her teaching wasn't very engaging, and when some students chatted in class, even though they were much quieter than what he was hearing in his ears now, she had cried from anger and wanted to quit. If she came here, she would have cried herself into a transparent glass flower.

\n\n

Look at how awesome Old Xu was in comparison.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced up at Old Xu as he wrote down the answers. No matter if you took a nap or chatted below, as long as you didn't stand up and start dancing, Old Xu wouldn't even pause his lecturing.

\n\n

Tsk tsk tsk.

\n\n

Pan Zhi had only sent the multiple choice questions over. It didn't take Jiang Cheng long to finish them. As he entered the answers into the chat to send back to Pan Zhi, he checked the time - a few minutes until class ended, enough for him to copy the rest.

\n\n

As for the other questions...Pan Zhi was always too lazy to write them, sometimes even too lazy to copy.

\n\n

After sending the message, he idly opened his friend circle's feed on his phone and slowly scrolled down. He saw a selfie posted yesterday by Jiang Yijun...his dear younger brother. The background showed his dad and mom - a happy family of four, which suddenly made him feel stuffy and strangely nauseous.

\n\n

He blocked this entire family of four, then put his phone back in his pocket.

\n\n

Just as he was about to look up, something fell on his head. Before he could react, there was another round, like a handful of pebbles thrown at his head.

\n\n

Then he saw a white powder, and smelled the smell of wall plaster.

\n\n

"The fuck?" He looked up in surprise.

\n\n

There were large and small chunks of grey wall plaster all over his desk and on the table.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng first brushed off his head, then glanced at Gu Fei's head next to him.

\n\n

Gu Fei's phone was still on the desk, and what was playing on the screen could no longer be seen under the layer of wall plaster. His head and face were also covered in white plaster, but he remained in the same crossed arm position without moving.

\n\n

Only his expression was a little ugly.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked up at the ceiling. The plaster there had fallen off above their heads, probably all over them and the desk, exposing the wooden slats underneath...it really was an old building.

\n\n

When his gaze returned to the desk, he noticed a small black pebble that didn't seem to be part of the fallen plaster on the corner.

\n\n

The class bell happened to ring at this moment. Old Xu closed his textbook: "Alright, class dismissed... Did the wall plaster fall again? Who's on cleaning duty today? Sweep it up."

\n\n

As soon as Old Xu left, the classroom suddenly roared to life, with everyone looking back at the last row.

\n\n

It was in this instant that Jiang Cheng made a judgement - that little pebble, Gu Fei's darkened expression, and the people whose faces said "showtime!" as they stood up to look over as soon as the bell rang...normally the wall plaster may fall by itself, but this time, it definitely didn't fall by itself.

\n\n

He remained seated without moving, took out some tissue from his pocket, and slowly swept the plaster on the desk onto the floor.

\n\n

In this situation without a clear target, it was actually quite easy for him to control his anger.

\n\n

Gu Fei shoved his desk aside and stood up, taking off his jacket and shaking it a few times. He glanced up at Wang Xu with his eyes.

\n\n

"Da Fei, I'm really sorry," Wang Xu had already come over and put his arm over his shoulder, patting his jacket. "Come on, let's go to the school store. I'll buy you a drink."

\n\n

Gu Fei shook his arm off and left the classroom through the back door with his jacket on.

\n\n

Wang Xu quickly followed him out. Going down the stairs, he walked alongside Gu Fei: "Hey, Da Fei, I really didn't mean it."

\n\n

"Hm," Gu Fei grunted in acknowledgement. He was too lazy to talk much with Wang Xu. The plaster on his head had put him in a very bad mood, and some had even gotten in his eyes.

\n\n

"I fucking meant to put that kid in his place," Wang Xu said. "A transfer coming in acting so arrogant on his first day of class - if I don't teach him a lesson he won't know there are rules everywhere!"

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak. After going down one floor he directly turned left.

\n\n

"Hey, the school store is this way," Wang Xu said. "Where are you going?"

\n\n

"Taking a piss," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"You're going all the way to the teacher's bathroom to piss? That's so far." Wang Xu said.

\n\n

"Less people." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"You're so picky even about pissing...I'll get you a milk tea later, is assam okay?" Wang Xu said.

\n\n

"Drink it yourself." Gu Fei said, turning his head.

\n\n

"Assam it is then!" Wang Xu said.

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed.

\n\n

The bathrooms near the sports field were close to the teacher's offices. Students usually didn't want to come here, and really not that many teachers came either since there were bathrooms in the office building. So it was quite clean and quiet here.

\n\n

Gu Fei took a cigarette out of his pocket as he walked in, lighting it up and taking a puff just as a door next to him opened and Old Xu walked out.

\n\n

"Head Teacher Xu," Gu Fei mumbled around the cigarette in his mouth.

\n\n

"Do you have to come smoke in the Old's bathroom, what's wrong with you!" Old Xu hissed at him, pointing, "Are you looking to make trouble! Who are you trying to show off for?"

\n\n

"How am I showing off by having a smoke," Gu Fei laughed, standing in front of the urinal. "I'll show off for you, are you scared of me?"

\n\n

"I'll give in to you," Old Xu came over, pointing at his cigarette, "Put it out!"

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed and flicked the cigarette into the squat toilet behind him, then grabbed his fly and looked at Old Xu, "Now I need to piss."

\n\n

Old Xu sighed and turned to walk out of the bathroom.

\n\n

Gu Fei had just pulled himself out and started pissing when Old Xu suddenly stopped and said, "That Jiang Cheng..."

\n\n

Because of the distance, Old Xu's voice boomed loudly in the bathroom.

\n\n

"Fuck..." Gu Fei braced against the wall, startled by Old Xu's yell and nearly pissing on his shoes, "Head Teacher Xu, could you at least wait a minute!"

\n\n

Old Xu walked out.

\n\n

Gu Fei zipped up, lit another cigarette, and randomly went into a stall to close the door and stand smoking inside.

\n\n

Besides the peace and quiet, Gu Fei had another important reason for coming here - the bathrooms here didn't smell as bad.

\n\n

Old Xu was actually quite a serious teacher at heart, but unfortunately he was horrible at teaching classes. None of the students wanted to listen to his classes, and his lackluster emotional intelligence as a class teacher didn't help either. So no matter how hard he tried with the students, no one took him seriously.

\n\n

Sometimes Gu Fei felt tired for him.

\n\n

When he walked out of the bathroom, Old Xu was standing outside in the snow waiting for him.

\n\n

"Maybe assign him another seat?" Gu Fei said, straightening his collar.

\n\n

"Don't want to sit with him? Or don't want a seatmate at all?" Old Xu looked at him. "Gu Fei, you can't keep being so antisocial like this."

\n\n

"Don't analyze me," Gu Fei said. "You've analyzed me for two years without ever being right."

\n\n

"Try to adapt a little more, it's only the first day," Old Xu smiled. "This Jiang Cheng...his grades really are quite good. Sitting with him could have a positive influence on you too!"

\n\n

Good grades? Positive influence?

\n\n

Gu Fei thought back to Jiang Cheng just playing on his phone the entire class. He couldn't really accept Old Xu's conclusion that he had "good grades".

\n\n

"Class is starting." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Go back to the classroom," Old Xu said. "Remember, adapt a little more."

\n\n

When Gu Fei returned to the classroom, he ran into Wang Xu on the 3rd floor staircase. Wang Xu handed him a milk tea.

\n\n

"Thanks." Gu Fei took the milk tea and entered the classroom.

\n\n

Their second class today was English. The English teacher had a bad temper and loud voice. Although he was the same as Old Xu in having no prestige among the students, his creative cursing for half an hour straight without repeating himself made people not dare provoke him without good reason, plus he had fought students before, bravely confronting all troublemakers without retreating.

\n\n

So unless they were feeling particularly hot-blooded, the class would quietly file in when the warning bell rang.

\n\n

The desk had already been cleaned up, but it probably wasn't just Jiang Cheng who had cleaned it. Gu Fei happened to see Yi Jing walking away with a rag.

\n\n

"Thanks," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"No problem," Yi Jing tidied her hair and smiled. "I'm on cleaning duty today."

\n\n

Gu Fei sat back down in his seat and glanced at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng was sitting quite calmly, leaning against his chair and looking at the blackboard.

\n\n

He took out his phone, intending to continue watching his movie.

\n\n

Just as he opened the video, Jiang Cheng suddenly stood up.

\n\n

And smoothly picked up the chair in one hand while holding a long broom in the other.

\n\n

Gu Fei was startled. He swiftly glanced over at Wang Xu's side again - Wang Xu had just sat down and was chatting and laughing with his deskmate.

\n\n

He frowned. Was this going to turn physical?

\n\n

This person called Wang Xu, aside from Gu Fei, was the second name Jiang Cheng had memorized in this class.

\n\n

Wang Xu's seat was one desk away from him. The desks and chairs in the classroom were arranged very tightly. To get there carrying an metal chair, he'd have to go around by the podium, quite troublesome.

\n\n

So he put down the chair, and said to the two people at the next desk: "Excuse me."

\n\n

Those two looked at him bewilderedly, but still stood up to let him squeeze by behind them.

\n\n

In passing, he casually pulled one person's chair out.

\n\n

"Hey! What are you doing!" That person yelled.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked back at him. The two glared at each other for two seconds before the person didn't speak again.

\n\n

The whole class looked over. Wang Xu also realized this was aimed at him, and stood up arrogantly: "Oh, gonna come at me? Come on then, let the top student show us what he's got..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak, slamming the chair noisily next to Wang Xu's seat, then slowly retreated a few steps back, swinging the long broom in his hand like a javelin flying up at the ceiling, precisely poking the ceiling above Wang Xu's head.

\n\n

Wang Xu had reacted as soon as Jiang Cheng swung his arm up, but when he turned to leave his seat he was blocked for a moment by the chair at his leg. Just as he wanted to kick the chair away and come out, the broom and a large piece of plaster came crashing down.

\n\n

His head and desk were instantly covered in white dust.

\n\n

After a brief silence, the class simultaneously broke out into screams, jeers, stomping, and table banging, instantly chaotic.

\n\n

"Fuck your mom!" Wang Xu roared, kicking the chair away to charge out.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't dodge, standing in place waiting for him to come over. With this wide open stance he didn't even need to aim properly, one punch would make the guy's nose bleed.

\n\n

"What are you doing!" A roar suddenly came from the classroom door.

\n\n

This roar was probably the most impactful roar Jiang Cheng had heard in his life, shaking the heavens. He was so frightened he almost reflexively charged at Wang Xu.

\n\n

"What are you doing, what are you doing!" A middle-aged male teacher charged in waving a teaching stick. He pointed at Jiang Cheng first. "Which class are you from! What are you here for!"

\n\n

Without waiting for Jiang Cheng's reply, his teaching stick poked at Wang Xu's face: "You! Is it that you got wax in your ears making you deaf! Can't hear the bell ringing for class? Gone deaf, have you! Can you hear me clearly now! Can you! Can you!"

\n\n

Then again without waiting for Wang Xu to speak, his stick pointed at the surrounding students: "Here to watch a show, huh! Should I put on a performance for you! Give me some applause! Clap clap clap! Come on!"

\n\n

After this bout of yelling, the class quieted down. Wang Xu glared, but had lost the will to charge over. Jiang Cheng worriedly glanced up at the ceiling again, feeling like if this teacher yelled any louder the whole ceiling would collapse.

\n\n

"Get back in your seats!" The teacher slammed his teaching stick on the podium. "Hurry up!"

\n\n

Low laughter and complaints sounded in the classroom as everyone returned to their seats. Jiang Cheng turned to go back to his seat.

\n\n

"You!" The teacher called for him to stop. "Which class are you from?"

\n\n

"The new transfer top student—" someone said.

\n\n

The teacher looked him up and down in surprise for a good long while: "Sit down! Who are you waiting for to carry you to your seat!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was yelled at until he couldn't muster any anger anymore. He swept the teacher a glance and turned to sit down.

\n\n

"Class is starting!" The teacher slapped his teaching stick on the podium. "Pay attention!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was stunned for a moment. He almost couldn't help laughing when he heard this English sentence spoken with an accent.

\n\n

After the teacher started the class, the student sitting in front of him who had been leaning back in his chair earlier leaned back again. But this time he didn't look for Gu Fei, instead he turned his head and called out to Jiang Cheng: "Hey study god, you're pretty awesome, casually provoking Wang Xu like that."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything.

\n\n

"Get lost," Gu Fei said next to him.

\n\n

"The fuck?" the student said in a low voice, "I wasn't even talking to you. Do you just habitually tell me to get lost whenever you see me?"

\n\n

"Yup," Gu Fei propped his phone up on the desk.

\n\n

"You're going to get into trouble," the student turned his head to glance at the teacher at the lectern, then turned back with a serious expression and said to Jiang Cheng, "Wang Xu definitely won't let you off. Our school has connections, don't you know..."

\n\n

"What's your name?" Jiang Cheng interrupted him.

\n\n

"Zhou Jing," he said.

\n\n

"Thanks," Jiang Cheng said, then pointed at his chair, "Don't bump the desk anymore."

\n\n

"...Oh." Zhou Jing was stunned for a moment before nodding.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng opened his book and stared down at it.

\n\n

Zhou Jing's expression froze awkwardly for a bit before turning back around.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt like the start of his new semester was truly spectacular, it was too bad he didn't have the habit of keeping a diary.

\n\n

He didn't care at all if this Wang Xu would leave him alone or not. He just felt extremely gloomy now. That WeChat post, the selfie full of familial warmth because of his disappearance, suddenly made him feel completely weightless.

\n\n

Of course, it made logical sense that someone who didn't care about him wouldn't care if he disappeared.

\n\n

But it still felt stuffy.

\n\n

He stared at the textbook. In the scent of paper and ink he faintly smelled a milky fragrance, and suddenly felt a little hungry as he realized he hadn't eaten breakfast that morning.

\n\n

He turned his head and saw Gu Fei watching a video while unwrapping a candy.

\n\n

Gu Fei met his gaze for a moment, then paused before reaching into his pocket, rummaging around, and placing a piece of candy on top of his book. Then his eyes returned to his phone screen.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at the candy on his book, feeling somewhat bewildered. But the scent of milk candy wafting over from Gu Fei's side made his stomach nearly roar.

\n\n

After hesitating for two minutes, he picked up the candy and unwrapped it.

\n\n

...It wasn't even a milk candy!

\n\n

It was a fruit candy!

\n\n

He couldn't help looking over at Gu Fei again.

\n\n

Gu Fei glanced at the fruit candy he had put in Jiang Cheng's hand, then lowered his head to rummage around in his pocket. He directly poured a handful of candies onto the desk, all different kinds of packaging and flavors, at least a dozen pieces.

\n\n

"Pick for yourself," Gu Fei said.

\n","published_time":"2023-08-31T01:03:03.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":327,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":8,"chapter_title":"Chapter 8","content":"

Jiang Cheng hadn't been this picky with candy even when he was little. His family basically didn't let him eat candy or snacks or drink soda. He always felt like he was living an ascetic life, so much so that even now he didn't really like snacks, candy, and things like that. Whenever Pan Zhi ate something tasty, he would shove a bunch to Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Now Gu Fei put this handful of candy on his desk and let him pick for himself. He suddenly had a novel feeling.

\n\n

Coffee candy, milk candy, mint candy, fruit candy...some were soft and some were hard. He stared at them for a good while before taking a milk candy.

\n\n

Just as he unwrapped it, Gu Fei reached out and took away the rest.

\n\n

"The fuck?" Jiang Cheng was dumbfounded. He remembered Gu Fei had said to "pick one yourself", not "they're all for you". His logic was airtight. Jiang Cheng had to admit defeat and couldn't help but look at him. "Are you that miserly? Will Wang Jianlin* hug your leg tomorrow?"

\n\n

*T/N: A top businessman in China, known to be very stingy.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't make a sound. He looked down at the candy in his hand, picked out two more milk candies and put them in front of Jiang Cheng, then put the rest back in his pocket.

\n\n

...This psycho!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng peeled all three milk candies at once and shoved them in his mouth. He really didn't know how else to express himself.

\n\n

English Teacher Lu's classes were more effective at keeping people focused and quiet than Old Xu's, because he would yell at people. The classroom discipline was better than Old Xu's classes.

\n\n

Although Jiang Cheng felt that none of today's teachers could compare to teachers from his previous school, Teacher Lu was very energetic for the whole class. If someone so much as scratched an itch, he would wave his teaching stick and ask if they wanted help scratching. Jiang Cheng hadn't been this attentive in class for a long time, the moment he zoned out, his spirit would be shocked back into place by him.

\n\n

When the bell rang to end class, the classroom instantly became noisy, as if they had been holding it in the whole time. Some people even yawned loudly several times while stretching.

\n\n

"You!" Teacher Lu suddenly pointed his teaching stick toward the back of the classroom. "Come with me for a bit."

\n\n

The "you" and his pointing covered a wide area. Everyone played hot potato again with their gazes. When Jiang Cheng felt a wave of eyes on him, he didn't think much of it. He was a new transfer student, so the teacher didn't even know his name...

\n\n

"Gu Fei!" Teacher Lu yelled again.

\n\n

"...Oh," Gu Fei had been looking at his phone. At his shout, the phone fell to the floor. He glanced up at Teacher Lu, then tilted his head toward Jiang Cheng's side. "He means you."

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng was startled, "Me?"

\n\n

"It's you! Gu Fei's deskmate!" Teacher Lu pointed his teaching stick at him again, and the heads under it quickly moved away.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had no choice but to stand up, not knowing what the English teacher wanted with him.

\n\n

However, as he walked toward the classroom door, he glanced back at Wang Xu. The jerk had also stood up. If the teacher hadn't called Jiang Cheng away, they probably would have started fighting already.

\n\n

"Your name's Jiang Cheng, right?" Teacher Lu turned and walked downstairs.

\n\n

"Yes," Jiang Cheng followed him downstairs. "What do you need me for, Teacher?"

\n\n

"Earlier your Head Teacher Xu boasted to me, said a true capital study god had come..." Teacher Lu said.

\n\n

"What? Capital study god?" Jiang Cheng didn't understand.

\n\n

"True. All caps. Study God." Teacher Lu looked at him and explained, "You don't even understand this?"

\n\n

TRUE STUDY GOD.

\n\n

"...I understand now." This was Jiang Cheng's first time hearing someone enunciate the capital letters.

\n\n

"Our school used to be a regular high school, then changed to a vocational high school, and now changed back to a regular high," Teacher Lu said. "So we can't compare with your previous school. I hope it doesn't affect you, just keep studying the same way you did before.?"

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng thought about how he used to study and felt the teacher probably didn't know him well enough.

\n\n

"Those students like Wang Xu, Gu Fei and the sort, don't provoke them. They just muddle along, if I hadn't called you out here, he'd be looking to cause you trouble right now. He won't rest until he gives you some problems, he's already got a demerit on record."

\n\n

"...Oh," Jiang Cheng nodded. He felt this Teacher Lu was quite concerned about the students.

\n\n

"Aren't you going to thank me?" Teacher Lu looked somewhat dissatisfied at him.

\n\n

"Thank you." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Be the representative for my class, since your English grades are outstanding," Teacher Lu immediately said. "Your class rep right now is Yi Jing. She's the class president and also the Chinese class rep..."

\n\n

"Hmm?" Jiang Cheng was startled, but quickly shook his head again. "No."

\n\n

"Why not," Teacher Lu was a bit surprised. "Old Xu told me you were class president before. Being a class rep wouldn't be too tiring for you, right?"

\n\n

"I was only class president for one semester before I stopped." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Why?" Teacher Lu asked.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him: "Fighting and cutting class."

\n\n

Teacher Lu stared with eyes wide, mouth agape but no words came out.

\n\n

"Can I go back to class now?" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"You...wait," Teacher Lu thought for a moment. "When you're free, help me make some class materials?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed inwardly. He really wanted to say he didn't have a computer right now, but felt Teacher Lu was pretty nice and it would be bad to turn him down twice after already rejecting him once. So he nodded.

\n\n

"Good," Teacher Lu smiled. "Go back to class."

\n\n

"Fuck, gone so long," Wang Xu sat on Jiang Cheng's desk. "Is he hiding from me, huh? Think he can hide?"

\n\n

"Teacher Lu probably had something to discuss with him." Zhou Jing said.

\n\n

"Bullshit he had something to discuss! When have you ever seen Teacher Lu need to discuss something with someone! He just asked about his situation as a new transfer, then when he's done this coward didn't dare come back to class!" Wang Xu said.

\n\n

"Are you going to settle this here?" Gu Fei, who had been quietly playing a mobile game, suddenly asked.

\n\n

"No shit!" Wang Xu angrily combed his hair again with his fingers. "Fuck!"

\n\n

Gu Fei put down his phone and glanced at him.

\n\n

"...Then where else can we settle it." Wang Xu hesitated a little.

\n\n

"I don't care," Gu Fei said. "Don't make trouble here, it's annoying."

\n\n

"Or just forget it," Zhou Jing said. "You guys are even at one hit each."

\n\n

"Fuck being even!" Wang Xu glared back at Zhou Jing.

\n\n

"Either the sports field or off campus," Gu Fei went back to his game. "Don't do it next to me, it's annoying."

\n\n

"He's back." Zhou Jing said.

\n\n

Gu Fei glanced forward to see Jiang Cheng ambling back with his hands in his pockets, eyes on Wang Xu.

\n\n

"Hiding from me, huh?" Wang Xu gave a cold laugh. "The bell hasn't rung yet, and you dared to come back?"

\n\n

"Three things." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Wang Xu seemed to not understand what he was talking about.

\n\n

"One, get down," Jiang Cheng held up a finger and spoke, then held up two fingers, "Two, whoever cast the first stone is the guilty party."

\n\n

Just as Wang Xu regained his senses and was about to speak, Jiang Cheng cut him off by holding up three fingers: "Three, say directly how you want to resolve this. I'll admit defeat if you're just going to curse."

\n\n

When he finished speaking, the classmates who had been waiting to watch the excitement fell completely silent.

\n\n

Everyone was looking to see Wang Xu's reaction.

\n\n

Gu Fei tilted his head back against the wall and gave a long whistle.

\n\n

Based on his many years of experience as a melon-eater, Jiang Cheng's words and their forceful delivery had made Wang Xu's road to bosshood suddenly very blurred.

\n\n

Wang Xu's expression was a bit complicated. Jiang Cheng couldn't tell what he was thinking, but he distinctly saw Wang Xu glance toward Gu Fei first.

\n\n

Wang Xu was afraid of Gu Fei, or subconsciously treated Gu Fei as his backer.

\n\n

Since seeing the Not a Good Bird combo at Gu Fei's shop, Jiang Cheng knew Gu Fei's seeming mild-mannered politeness and "none of my business" attitude were only pretense.

\n\n

Tsk.

\n\n

Pretending to be some carefree immortal.

\n\n

"Meet me at noon after school ends," Wang Xu jumped off the desk and walked back to his seat, pointing at Jiang Cheng. "Don't run then."

\n\n

"Mm." Jiang Cheng responded and sat down.

\n\n

After thinking for a bit, he turned and asked Gu Fei: "Is he your class boss?"

\n\n

Only now did he notice the sharp on Gu Fei's left ear was a thirty-second note with three dots.

\n\n

"More or less." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"What do you mean more or less?" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"He'll fight whoever says he isn't." Gu Fei kept staring at his phone, fingers busy swiping.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng saw he was surprisingly playing Candy Crush, a little time-killing game he would only play in middle school when he was bored with nothing else to do.

\n\n

Gu Fei was either watching videos or fully invested in this game. What an idiot.

\n\n

"You still play this?" Jiang Cheng couldn't help but say.

\n\n

"Yeah, doesn't take much brain power," Gu Fei said. "I'm not a study god."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was already irritated from everything this morning. Hearing this, he nearly smashed a fist straight into the thirty-second note.

\n\n

He didn't hit him for two reasons. One was that Gu Fei had helped him when he fainted. Two was that he'd just eaten Gu Fei's three candies...but was that really a reason?

\n\n

"Being able to admit to your own water-filled brain is a kind of courage," he said. "You have my respect."

\n\n

Gu Fei turned and stared at him. His expression was blank, but his tone was extremely annoying: "Do your best this afternoon, yo."

\n\n

What goddamn 'yo', you giant yellow dog!

\n\n

Fuck.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't pay much attention in the remaining classes. He felt indignant, and kept wanting to unblock his family and check in on them, even though he'd blocked all four.

\n\n

The relationship was bad, the atmosphere tense, but that was the "family" and "home" he'd spent over a decade in, the "family members" etched into his memories that he saw every day. He couldn't easily discard these feelings.

\n\n

But it seemed no one was affected at all by his absence, possibly a permanent goodbye... Or maybe they just didn't show it?

\n\n

Sensing such calm made him feel more lost than being shut out of the home he'd lived in for over ten years.

\n\n

He lay his head down on the desk, using his hat as a cushion, and closed his eyes. Forget it, he'd get some sleep. Although he wasn't picky, after coming here he hadn't gotten any proper rest.

\n\n

Li Baoguo's old house not only had cockroaches and spiders but mice too. He could hear mice scurrying around all night, making him constantly feel like he was sleeping in a garbage dump.

\n\n

No. 4 High's teachers were much more understanding than his previous school's teachers. He slept right through until the bell, without a single teacher coming to bother him.

\n\n

Not until the end of last period's bell rang did Wang Xu slap the desk to wake him up. Only then did he give a big yawn and straighten up, his waist sore.

\n\n

"Let's go." Wang Xu looked askance at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak, just shoved his books and notes into his desk, grabbed his bag, and stood up.

\n\n

Wang Xu turned very coolly and walked toward the rear classroom door. If not for his down jacket and lack of wind, there definitely would have been a "wow, the big boss is coming" vibe.

\n\n

Three to four people followed him, looking excited. They were probably his lackeys. The rest who wanted to watch the fun hadn't caught up yet.

\n\n

"Hey." Jiang Cheng called out from behind him.

\n\n

"What, chickened out?" Wang Xu immediately responded.

\n\n

"Are they your teammates or cheerleaders?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

Wang Xu looked at the people around him, then glared at Jiang Cheng. "What, you scared?"

\n\n

"It's fine if they're cheerleaders," Jiang Cheng glanced at them and continued walking forward. "If you want to fight, sort out a queue number amongst yourselves first."

\n\n

"Don't follow us." Wang Xu waved them off.

\n\n

"Going to watch?" Zhou Jing nudged the desk.

\n\n

Gu Fei was still playing Candy Crush, the game no study god would play. Not until he finished this round did he stand up. "Not going."

\n\n

"Let's go watch, what if something happens?" Zhou Jing said.

\n\n

"Even if something happens, what's it to me?" Gu Fei put his phone in his pocket and turned to leave.

\n\n

When he got downstairs, Wang Xu's lackeys were peering toward the back door. Jiang Cheng and Wang Xu were nowhere to be seen.

\n\n

"Da Fei..." Someone noticed him and sidled over.

\n\n

"Shh," Gu Fei put a finger to his lips. "Don't bother me."

\n\n

The elementary schoolers didn't have school yet today, so Gu Miao must have been waiting at the gate an hour ago. He didn't have time to watch Wang Xu get beat up.

\n\n

That's right, he arbitrarily decided Wang Xu would definitely get beat if he fought Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's nonchalance was something Wang Xu lacked, and the dissatisfaction he was radiating, just dissatisfaction on top of dissatisfaction, could probably scare someone with trypophobia to death. If he wasn't dealing with some recent unhappy event, then this guy had long-term mental issues.

\n\n

How could someone with a severe chuuni syndrome like Wang Xu possibly be a match for this mentally ill guy in a perpetual bad mood?

\n\n

The moment he stepped out the school door, a green head swept past him like the wind, and "whoa"s rang out all around.

\n\n

Gu Fei went to the parking area, got his bike, and had just mounted it when Gu Miao blew past him like the wind again. She grabbed a handful of candy from his pocket in the 2 seconds she stopped beside him.

\n\n

When he rode to the intersection, Gu Miao was standing at the roadside unwrapping candy, picking out all the fruit candies.

\n\n

"Want me to take you home, or are you following me?" Gu Fei asked, braking the bike.

\n\n

Gu Miao hugged her skateboard, about to get on the back when he stopped her with one hand and pinched her chin to look at the scrape by her eye. "That from falling or fighting?"

\n\n

"Falling." Gu Miao said.

\n\n

"Get on." Gu Fei didn't ask further.

\n\n

Gu Miao got on the back holding her skateboard and hugged his waist.

\n\n

Whether it was from falling or fighting someone, this stubborn girl would insist on handling it herself and taking the hits she got.

\n\n

"Let me buy you those gloves you wanted," Gu Fei pedaled. "Those little leather gloves?"

\n\n

Gu Miao quickly took off her dirty down gloves, thumbs up.

\n\n

The back gate area of No. 4 High was more bustling than the front. Quite strange.

\n\n

Probably because the back gate side was a small street with looser management, and all kinds of umbrella-covered stalls lined up, mainly food stalls, very lively.

\n\n

Following Wang Xu through the tempting smells, Jiang Cheng almost said why don't we eat something first...

\n\n

But Wang Xu looked furious, eyes resolute, so he didn't speak up. He was afraid the guy would cry from anger.

\n\n

He'd just treat it as sightseeing for now and come back to eat later.

\n\n

There was a lot he wanted to eat, all kinds of grilled foods, beef, lamb, pork belly, tripe.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng swallowed.

\n\n

After they left the small street, the aromas also disappeared. He didn't know where Wang Xu intended to go at all.

\n\n

"Are we hiking somewhere?" he asked irritably, hungry.

\n\n

Wang Xu ignored him, but after walking forward a few more steps he suddenly stopped, frowning at what was ahead.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked ahead.

\n\n

A few meters away, three people stood by the roadside looking their way, hands in pockets. After he and Wang Xu looked over, they slowly walked toward them.

\n\n

Wang Xu's hand went into his pocket.

\n\n

"What's up?" The tallest and thinnest opposite them smiled. "Gonna call Gu Fei? He just went home with his sister, probably won't bother with your business."

\n\n

"What do you want!" Wang Xu asked impatiently in a gruff voice.

\n\n

"Oh," The tall thin one exaggeratedly acted shocked. "So tough today, not running away?"

\n\n

He glanced at Jiang Cheng again: "New buddy? He must be awesome for you to not run away."

\n\n

"You used to run away in a gust of wind." Another person behind the tall one laughed.

\n\n

The tall thin one mocked them: "Or how about I count to three and you guys..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng punched him straight in the nose, interrupting him and stunning both sides.

\n\n

He didn't stop, because for things like this, speed was key.

\n\n

After punching him, he grabbed the skinny guy's head with his hat and hair and yanked it down, then kneed him in the nose again.

\n\n

The force of the two blows wasn't too great. Based on Jiang Cheng's experience, the nose bone wouldn't be hurt, but blood would certainly gush out, creating a ketchup-smeared mess all over his face.

\n\n

Sure enough, when he let go and shoved the skinny guy away roughly, blood poured from his nose, and he reflexively wiped it away...

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at Wang Xu, then rammed his shoulder into the arm of another guy who seemed to be reaching for a knife. He followed up by headbutting the guy's nose.

\n\n

That man let out an "Ow!" and covered his nose.

\n\n

"Run, dumbass!" Jiang Cheng yelled at Wang Xu, then took off running forward.

\n\n

Wang Xu was stunned for a moment before hurrying to catch up.

\n\n

"This way," Wang Xu pointed left when they got to the intersection.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng followed his zigzagging lead through a side alley, taking two more turns before stopping in a small open space formed by the back walls of several houses' courtyards.

\n\n

"What is this place?" Jiang Cheng looked around. It was a dead end, surrounded on three sides by other people's walls, dilapidated, with piles of snow and fallen branches and all kinds of garbage strewn on the ground.

\n\n

"This is..." Wang Xu caught his breath, "where I meet people to fight."

\n\n

"You've got unique taste," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Um," Wang Xu looked at him, hesitating for a long while before saying, "thanks for just now."

\n\n

"Why are you thanking me," Jiang Cheng took out a cigarette and lit it, holding it in his mouth, "I didn't do it to help you."

\n\n

Wang Xu stared at him: "Fuck, are you really a top student?"

\n\n

"Let's get this resolved," Jiang Cheng checked the time, "I'm hungry, hurry up and finish this so I can go eat."

\n\n

"It's resolved," Wang Xu sat down on a nearby three-legged chair that was as tattered as a prop from a haunted house, "we don't have any issues anymore."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue. "Then I'm leaving."

\n\n

"Wait," Wang Xu stopped him, "Monkey and the others are definitely still around here somewhere. There's a lot of them, we'll run into them if we go out."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything.

\n\n

"Really, there were just three that we saw earlier. If you run into them again after beating Monkey's face bloody, it definitely won't be just three people. I'm...calling someone over to help." Wang Xu took out his phone.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng frowned, remembering the skinny guy's words from earlier, and asked, "Who are you calling?"

\n\n

"Da Fei," Wang Xu said.

\n\n

"What the fuck? Gu Fei?" Jiang Cheng immediately felt like he was losing his dignity, and his face was falling in pieces to the floor.

\n","published_time":"2023-09-07T20:15:18.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":333,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":9,"chapter_title":"Chapter 9","content":"

Jiang Cheng flicked away his cigarette and turned to walk towards the alley entrance.

\n\n

"Hey! Don't go out!" Wang Xu called out, "Do you think I'm afraid of trouble? Monkey and the rest really can't be offended! Last semester someone from the No. 7 High was beaten so badly they were in the hospital for months!"

\n\n

"Can't handle it?" Jiang Cheng looked back at him, "Someone so awesome, and you only called Gu Fei over to handle it?"

\n\n

"Gu Fei is different," Wang Xu said, "He grew up around here, and also... anyway just listen to me, you did me a favor, I can't let you go out there and get your head bashed in!"

\n\n

And also... and also what?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly remembered Li Baoguo's words, and strangely felt amused. These old inner-city neighborhoods really did have their own legends, which was pretty interesting.

\n\n

"What the f*ck are you laughing at!" Wang Xu was pissed off at his laughter.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng ignored him and prepared to continue walking, but as soon as he took a step Wang Xu grabbed him from behind in a bear hug, dragging him back.

\n\n

"Hey, hey, hey!" Jiang Cheng was startled, "Let go! What's your problem!"

\n\n

"Problem?" Wang Xu was confused for a moment, then hastily let go, "I don't have a problem... I didn't mean anything else! Don't get the wrong idea! Don't get the wrong idea!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him for a moment: "Did I say you meant something else?"

\n\n

Wang Xu didn't reply, taking out his phone to make a call.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed, lighting another cigarette to smoke while squatting against the wall out of the wind. He idly scratched random patterns in the snow with a twig.

\n\n

"Da Fei, Da Fei," Wang Xu held his phone, speaking in a low voice as if Monkey and his gang were hiding in the next courtyard, "We got blocked by Monkey... ran away, no, I mean we can't get out now... he beat him bloody, how could we leave! Who else could it be, it's just me and Jiang Cheng."

\n\n

Wang Xu glanced at Jiang Cheng as he spoke.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't make eye contact, just focusing on the wisps of smoke dissipating rapidly in the wind. Although Wang Xu wasn't very capable, he also wasn't a complete coward. For him to be so frightened, these people really weren't easy to provoke.

\n\n

In fact, when he made trouble in school in the past, Jiang Cheng would also avoid provoking outsiders. It was too much hassle.

\n\n

But thinking that he was calling Gu Fei, he felt that just going out and taking a beating might be better. He still had some sense though, this wasn't a situation that could be resolved in a fight or two.

\n\n

"Da Fei will be here soon," Wang Xu said, poking around the trash heap with his foot, "He's eating noodles with his sister, they haven't finished yet."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was speechless.

\n\n

Wang Xu found a half-meter long wooden stick in the trash and tossed it at Jiang Cheng's feet, then kept rummaging without finding anything else worthwhile before starting to dismantle a rickety three-legged chair.

\n\n

"What are you doing?" Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"Finding weapons," Wang Xu said, "Monkey knows this area well, what if they come looking for us before Da Fei gets here?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed, searching through his backpack and taking out a knife, tossing it at Wang Xu's feet: "Use this."

\n\n

"Holy sh*t!" Wang Xu jumped in fright at the sight of the knife, looking back at him in shock, "Are you really a top student? What top student goes around with a knife!"

\n\n

"I've never used it before," Jiang Cheng said, "It's just for scaring people, never sharpened the edge."

\n\n

Wang Xu picked up the knife and inspected it carefully for a while before walking over and squatting down in front of him: "Jiang Cheng, you're out of my league."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him without responding.

\n\n

"Let's put our issues behind us," Wang Xu continued, "From now on we won't cross each other's lines, how about it?"

\n\n

"Just remember that yourself," Jiang Cheng said, "Top students like me are busy with studies, there's no time to mess around with you."

\n\n

After saying this, both of them fell silent as they squatted facing each other.

\n\n

After squatting for a while, Wang Xu spoke again: "Let me give you some advice."

\n\n

"Oh?" Jiang Cheng watched the smoldering cigarette butt, the rising smoke writhing wildly for a brief moment before swiftly dissipating without a trace.

\n\n

"If Monkey gets here first, play nice," Wang Xu said, "No matter how tough we act, we're still students. Can't go head-to-head with those society punks."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him in surprise, seems like this kid still had some brains left.

\n\n

"Da Fei said that." Wang Xu added.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng kind of wanted to stub out his cigarette on his face now.

\n\n

Gu Fei actually arrived pretty quickly, in around ten minutes. Jiang Cheng was confused that he had brought Gu Miao along.

\n\n

The little girl had tied a rope from her skateboard to the back of Gu Fei's bike to tow it.

\n\n

A whole family of psychos!

\n\n

Gu Fei had just put his foot down when Gu Miao hopped off her skateboard, kicking it to pop it into her hand in one smooth move.

\n\n

She walked over to Jiang Cheng and smiled at him, before running back to stand by Gu Fei's leg.

\n\n

"Who beat them up?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Me," Jiang Cheng stood up, "What about it."

\n\n

"You ran into Monkey?" Wang Xu immediately asked.

\n\n

"At the alley entrance," Gu Fei glanced back, "Probably on their way here now."

\n\n

"F*ck," Wang Xu frowned, "Can we get out?"

\n\n

"Depends how you want to get out," Gu Fei said, looking at Jiang Cheng again, "Two options."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng understood he really was in some trouble now, sighing as he leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets: "Let's hear them."

\n\n

"Let him come get payback, call it even," Gu Fei said, "If you're not willing, I'll get you out now, but you'll have to rely on luck if they try blocking you again in the future."

\n\n

Wang Xu immediately looked to Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Payback is fine, but I'll fight back if they go overboard," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

When Monkey arrived, he still had cotton stuffed up his nose. Jiang Cheng figured his platelets must be low since the bleeding hadn't stopped for so long.

\n\n

Like Wang Xu said, Monkey had brought more people today, at a glance at least seven or eight guys, with a strong small town hooligan vibe.

\n\n

"Er Miao, wait for me at the entrance." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Gu Miao glanced at Jiang Cheng before putting her skateboard down and kicking off, darting through the crowd like an arrow.

\n\n

"You also go out." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Gu Fei stared at him silently for a while leaning on his bike handlebars: "Wang Xu, come out with me."

\n\n

"I..." Wang Xu hesitated, looking at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Go on out." Jiang Cheng said. He didn't want an audience for this kind of pure beating.

\n\n

Gu Fei wheeled his bike around without another word and headed for the alley entrance, Wang Xu following behind.

\n\n

Monkey walked over to Jiang Cheng with a dark expression.

\n\n

As Gu Fei passed by him, he suddenly grabbed Monkey's right wrist, pulling his hand out of his pocket.

\n\n

"What are you doing?" Monkey looked at him.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't reply, forcefully jerking his arm downwards to remove something, tossing it aside against the wall.

\n\n

The metallic sound when it hit the bricks was quite clear.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced over following the sound. It was a black brass knuckle.

\n\n

F*cking bastard.

\n\n

"There are still rules to follow." Gu Fei said in a low voice, then pedaled away towards the entrance.

\n\n

"He won't be in trouble, right?" Wang Xu stood under a bare tree at the entrance, hunching his shoulders against the cold while watching Gu Miao nimbly weave around a snow pile on her skateboard.

\n\n

"If you're afraid of trouble then don't cause it." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I didn't cause trouble, I ran the moment I saw Monkey," Wang Xu said, "F*ck, how was I supposed to know I'd run into him today. Jiang Cheng didn't know the situation, he went straight for it."

\n\n

"You settled things with him?" Gu Fei glanced at Wang Xu's face, "Did you get on your knees and beg him not to hit your face?"

\n\n

"...it's over with," Wang Xu sighed, glancing back towards the alley, "My eyes are opened now. Top students even come in this model, I'm out of my depth."

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled.

\n\n

After just a few minutes, Monkey and his crew came out.

\n\n

Monkey still looked a bit unhappy, but otherwise seemed normal. The guy behind him though didn't look good, with a clearly visible large lump swelling on his forehead.

\n\n

"He fought back?" Wang Xu's fear returned at the sight.

\n\n

Monkey exchanged a look with Gu Fei but didn't say anything more, leaving with his guys.

\n\n

"F*ck, where's that dumbass Jiang Cheng?" Wang Xu looked into the alley.

\n\n

Gu Fei frowned. Based on this, Jiang Cheng must have fought back, likely not initiating but in response to "going overboard". But by rights Monkey shouldn't break the rules again in this case.

\n\n

So where was Jiang Cheng?

\n\n

Even taking a roundabout way, it wouldn't take this long to come out... Gu Fei's phone rang in his pocket, he took it out to see it was surprisingly Jiang Cheng calling.

\n\n

"Where are you?" he answered.

\n\n

"I... got lost." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"What?" Gu Fei was very surprised, "Lost?"

\n\n

"Yeah lost! It was already a maze when we first came in, now I've gone around so much I don't know how to get back. These alleys really are built like a damn labyrinth!" Jiang Cheng said, extremely unhappy.

\n\n

"Okay, wait," Gu Fei looked at Gu Miao, "Er Miao, go bring Jiang Cheng out."

\n\n

Gu Miao spun her skateboard around and sped into the alley.

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng heard the sound of skateboard wheels he called out: "Gu Miao?"

\n\n

Gu Miao's figure darted out from a bend up ahead, waving at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng followed her. He had come this way earlier, after one more turn with Gu Miao he saw the small street from before.

\n\n

Damn, if he had known it was this close he wouldn't have called Gu Fei and embarrassed himself.

\n\n

Today had been a parade of disgrace.

\n\n

"You're okay right?" Wang Xu asked as soon as he emerged, staring at his face.

\n\n

"Fine." Jiang Cheng rubbed his stomach.

\n\n

"Didn't hit your face?" Wang Xu looked at his hand.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng met his gaze, "Why, you want to?"

\n\n

"Just asking," Wang Xu said, "Hit your stomach? Does it hurt?"

\n\n

"I'm hungry." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Did you fight back?" Wang Xu kept probing, "I saw that guy come out with a huge bump on his head, how'd that happen?"

\n\n

"I said I'd retaliate if they went too far," Jiang Cheng was getting impatient with the questions, "I smashed his head against the wall, want me to try it out on you?"

\n\n

"I'm going home," Wang Xu said, "I'm leaving... oh right, Da Fei, I'll treat you to lunch tomorrow at noon."

\n\n

After Wang Xu left, Jiang Cheng stood with Gu Fei watching Gu Miao play with her skateboard for a while before speaking up to say: "Thanks."

\n\n

Although he still got beaten up, and Monkey's two punches to his stomach made him still feel like throwing up, without Gu Fei there wouldn't have been the option to resolve this. Hust going outside would probably mean running into Monkey patrolling, and he wouldn't be able to live like that.

\n\n

"You're really okay?" Gu Fei glanced at him.

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng didn't want to discuss this further, and thought for a moment, "Have you eaten?"

\n\n

"No." Gu Fei replied.

\n\n

"...Wang Xu said you were eating noodles, and had to finish before coming over." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Then you two would've been beaten to a pulp by now," Gu Fei said, "I was eating noodles at the street, if I actually waited to finish eating it would've taken half an hour to get here."

\n\n

"Let's go eat something else," Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Miao, "What do you want to eat?"

\n\n

Of course Gu Miao didn't reply, only looking to Gu Fei.

\n\n

"Lead the way." Gu Fei lightly patted her head.

\n\n

Gu Miao immediately kicked off, clearly heading towards the barbecue street from before.

\n\n

“Come on up,” Gu Fei looked at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

“I’ll walk over,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn’t say any more, just rode his bike over himself.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed, pressing on his stomach which was a bit nauseous. He wasn’t sure if it was from hunger or getting punched by that monkey.

\n\n

Gu Miao had picked the stall furthest to the side. By the time Jiang Cheng ambled over, she had already picked out a bunch of food.

\n\n

As Jiang Cheng smelled the barbecue, the discomfort in his stomach finally disappeared, leaving only intense hunger. He pointed at the meat, “Same ones, ten skewers, and two jin of spicy rabbit heads.”

\n\n

This stall didn’t have the spicy rabbit heads, so he ran to the stall half a block down to buy two jin and bring it over.

\n\n

When piles of meat were stacked on the table, Gu Fei couldn't help asking: "Do you always eat this much?"

\n\n

"Xiao Ming's grandpa lived to 103*." Jiang Cheng bit into a lamb skewer.

\n\n

*T/N: By not digging his nose into other people's business.

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled. He had the owner bring a bottle of beer.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was about to ask if he really had to drink every meal, but Xiao Ming's 103-year-old grandpa stopped him.

\n\n

Gu Miao was silent as always, and they didn't have much to talk about either, so the meal passed in silence like their previous barbecue dinner.

\n\n

This was nice too, eating their fill. Whenever he ate with Pan Zhi, too much talking often led to not eating enough, needing second helpings.

\n\n

Sitting quietly at their table in the lively barbecue joint, they were like a vivid stroke of scenery. The owner glanced their way more often, probably thinking they were gangsters meeting to negotiate and could break into knife fights at any moment.

\n\n

It wasn't until Gu Miao finished eating, taking off her hat to scratch her head, that Jiang Cheng broke the silence.

\n\n

"Why buy her a green hat?" he asked Gu Fei. This question had been bothering him since seeing Gu Miao in the store with the hat.

\n\n

"She likes green." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Miao's green hat, Gu Fei's answers were always so logical that he couldn't follow up, "Finding a hat this color is a miracle in itself."

\n\n

Gu Miao shook her head.

\n\n

"Hm?" Jiang Cheng looked at her.

\n\n

"Didn't buy it." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Knitted it?" Jiang Cheng felt the hat, the handiwork was pretty good, he hadn't noticed, "Who made it for you? Your mom?"

\n\n

Gu Miao smiled and pointed at Gu Fei.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng whipped his head around to stare at Gu Fei: "F*ck me?"

\n\n

"Watch your language." Gu Fei's expression was calm.

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng smiled awkwardly at Gu Miao, then turned back to Gu Fei, "You knitted this? You can knit?"

\n\n

"Mm." Gu Fei grunted in affirmation.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt his impression of Gu Fei becoming muddled. A person who kept candy in his pocket, knitted wool hats, a murderer who killed his own dad.

\n\n

After eating, Gu Fei got on his bike while Gu Miao untied a rope from the back and took it in hand, stepping onto her skateboard.

\n\n

"Be... safe." Jiang Cheng really didn't know what to say now.

\n\n

"See you tomorrow." Gu Fei said, then rode off towing Gu Miao, disappearing into the crowds on the small street.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng only reacted after settling the bill.

\n\n

See you tomorrow?

\n\n

Had today ended already?

\n\n

Of course today wasn't over yet, there were still three afternoon classes, two of which were on politics, and the mere sight of the schedule made Jiang Cheng drowsy.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't show up at all that afternoon, so it really was "see you tomorrow".

\n\n

Jiang Cheng napped on his desk all afternoon. One benefit of Gu Fei not being there was Zhou Jing didn't keep turning around to chat. Pretty peaceful.

\n\n

The Politics teacher had even less presence than Old Xu, the most transparent of all the teachers that day.

\n\n

He even had to keep raising his voice at the podium for his words to cut through the relentless droning chatter in the classroom.

\n\n

In the last period, Pan Zhi sent a message over.

\n\n

-No teacher for self-study, feels good

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at the teacher on the podium and replied to Pan Zhi.

\n\n

-I'm always feeling good, this class is like a marketplace

\n\n

-You'd be sleeping either way, isn't it just disturbing your nap right

\n\n

-What do you know

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed. Pan Zhi really didn't know. He did sleep in class, but not every time. With eyes closed he still listened to the lectures, and didn't sleep or skip when exams were approaching.

\n\n

In this kind of environment, he really was a bit worried that his capability as a study god would drop.

\n\n

As the bell rang to signal the end of class, the classroom instantly burst into noise. Almost everyone packed up their belongings in an instant - some left while chatting happily with others. It was a cheerful scene.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng packed up his things and left the classroom, bag in hand. As he walked down the hallway, he felt numerous gazes on him. He glanced to the side and saw many people leaning on the railings watching him, though he couldn't tell if they were second- or third-years. Their eyes held curiosity and probing.

\n\n

Tsk.

\n\n

He looked back for Wang Xu. That guy must have said something, maybe even boasted wildly about this matter.

\n\n

As he walked downstairs, his phone rang. He figured it was Pan Zhi, but when he took it out, it was an unknown number.

\n\n

"Hello?" he answered the call.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng right? You have a delivery here, come pick it up." said the voice on the other end.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was puzzled for a moment before realizing this wasn't a courier, but a logistics company. He'd have to go pick it up himself. After asking for the address, he inquired where the package was sent from, then hung up.

\n\n

It was from his mother. It was probably those odds and ends from his room.

\n\n

She had prepared a bank card for him before he arrived, and thoughtfully sent his belongings over too, yet didn't contact him again.

\n\n

He didn't know whether to be thankful to his mother, or resent her.

\n\n

But he wasn't feeling too awful - he seemed to have grown numb these past few days. When he thought about it, there would be a wrenching feeling in his chest, but it would quickly pass.

\n\n

He slowly wandered back, knowing Li Baoguo definitely wouldn't be home now. He'd probably be eating alone tonight. As he walked, he contemplated what to eat. Dumplings it was - he ate a lot at lunch and wasn't even hungry now.

\n\n

Near Li Baoguo's home was a small plaza with many restaurants. Jiang Cheng had passed by during a stroll before; it was quite lively. One dumpling restaurant looked particularly clean.

\n\n

To get to the plaza, he had to cross a small pedestrian bridge. As Jiang Cheng approached the bridge, he glanced over and his steps faltered.

\n\n

The snow had stopped at noon and the sun had been bright all afternoon. Though the sun had set now, half the sky was still suffused with a faint golden glow like veins.

\n\n

The small bridge was also cast in the warm light.

\n\n

In that moment, Jiang Cheng felt strangely tranquil inside. All the stuffy irritation from this chaotic day dissipated.

\n\n

He quickened his pace towards the bridge. If he had come half an hour earlier, it would probably have looked even more beautiful.

\n\n

This was likely the most stunning spot he had seen in this shabby little city so far.

\n\n

There weren't many people on the bridge. As he walked nearer the middle, he saw someone ahead with a camera, probably photographing the bridge and sky.

\n\n

From the side...no, just the legs and he knew who it was.

\n\n

Gu Fei.

\n\n

It wasn't surprising at all to recognize Gu Fei. What was surprising was seeing Gu Fei, who had skipped class all afternoon, here with a professional-looking camera and bag.

\n\n

No wonder he wouldn't lend his camera to Zhou Jing.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng hesitated over whether to approach Gu Fei or go the other way pretending he hadn't seen him. They didn't really have anything to talk about anyway.

\n\n

Just as he was about to step away, Gu Fei seemed to finish taking photos and turned around, walking in his direction.

\n\n

It would be impossible to feign ignorance now. Jiang Cheng sighed and walked over to meet him.

\n\n

He was trying to figure out how to greet Gu Fei and make small talk when Gu Fei saw him. He paused briefly, then raised his camera towards Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Too shocked to raise his hand to block his face, Jiang Cheng heard the camera shutter sound.

\n\n

Click.

\n\n

Damn it!

\n","published_time":"2023-09-16T01:06:51.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":341,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":10,"chapter_title":"Chapter 10","content":"

"Fuck, what the hell are you taking photos of!" Jiang Cheng cursed. At this moment there was no Gu Miao around, so he didn't care about being civilized or not.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't say anything, just clicked at him a few more times.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt that all the not-so-beautiful expressions on his face had probably been captured.

\n\n

"I'm asking you!" He walked up to Gu Fei and reached out to grab the camera.

\n\n

Gu Fei quickly pulled the camera back a bit: "Two hundred and sixty-seven years old."

\n\n

"What?" Jiang Cheng was stunned, "What two hundred and sixty...seven?"

\n\n

"Two hundred and sixty-seven." Gu Fei repeated.

\n\n

"What two hundred and sixty-seven years old?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Xiao Ming's grandpa." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stared at him for a full thirty seconds, not knowing whether he was speechless or trying to hold back the urge to laugh.

\n\n

Finally he pointed at Gu Fei's camera: "Give it to me, or delete them."

\n\n

"Why don't you take a look first?" Gu Fei handed the camera over.

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng took the camera, he was nervous. It felt so heavy, as if it would fall to the ground and smash at any moment. Looking at the buttons on the camera, he was at a loss about what to press to delete or even just view the photos.

\n\n

"Here." Gu Fei reached out and pressed the camera once, and the screen showed the photos.

\n\n

There were a total of four. Jiang Cheng flipped through them silently.

\n\n

He had never been interested in taking photos, whether it was scenery or people taking photos of him. He'd rather see with his eyes.

\n\n

Although he usually felt that he was quite good-looking, he would still be startled by the front camera every time... He didn't expect that he looked quite good in Gu Fei's photos.

\n\n

It was quite true to life, hmm.

\n\n

It didn't have the ferocious expression he was worried about, just looked a little impatient.

\n\n

And he actually really liked the first one.

\n\n

The chaotic and bleak background was blurred to reveal a faint sadness. It made him inexplicably think of the line "someone else's hometown."

\n\n

And the him walking towards the setting sun, needless to say, looked amazing.

\n\n

After flipping through his own photos twice, he didn't know what to do.

\n\n

"The bottom right button is delete." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I know." Jiang Cheng answered somewhat awkwardly.

\n\n

He was the one who said he wanted to delete them, but after seeing the photos he didn't want to delete them anymore, because he'd never taken such amazing photos before.

\n\n

Last year during New Year, the whole family went to a photo studio to take a family portrait. He thought the photos would turn out quite good, but when he saw them, he almost tore up the photos. He even argued with his parents for two days and didn't go home...

\n\n

He seemed to have gotten lost in his memories. He collected his thoughts and looked at Gu Fei.

\n\n

"You're quite photogenic," Gu Fei said, "If you don't mind, I'd like to keep them. I've taken photos of many classmates and kept them all."

\n\n

Gu Fei's way out was very timely. Jiang Cheng hesitated for two seconds: "Why did you take photos of so many people?"

\n\n

"For fun." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"...Oh," Jiang Cheng nodded, he really admired Gu Fei's ability to perfectly prevent the conversation from continuing, "Photography enthusiast."

\n\n

"I'll add you as a friend later," Gu Fei took out his phone, "I can send you a copy after editing the photos?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng really wanted to decline, I don't need this stuff.

\n\n

But when he opened his mouth, he nodded: "Oh."

\n\n

After the "oh", still holding the camera, he didn't know what to do. Gu Fei was also silent, seemingly very used to this kind of awkward silence.

\n\n

"Can I see the other photos?" Jiang Cheng asked. He really couldn't associate Gu Fei with this awesome professional camera.

\n\n

"Go ahead." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Many of the photos were of bridges and sunsets. You could tell from the lighting that Gu Fei had stayed here for an afternoon, taking many photos, of scenery and people walking across the bridge.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't understand photography, but he could discern whether a photo was good or not.

\n\n

Gu Fei's photos were taken very professionally. The composition and tones conveyed a warm feeling. If he wasn't standing at this spot right now, blowing cold wind, just looking at the photos really made him feel as comfortable as sitting by a heater basking in the sun.

\n\n

Flipping further back, the photos were probably not taken today.

\n\n

Many were street scenes.

\n\n

Trees and old houses, snow piles and stray dogs, fallen leaves and people's feet walking by... Extremely ordinary things you see every day but don't notice.

\n\n

Just as he felt this was Gu Fei's photographic style, a backlit photo of Gu Miao bent over grabbing her skateboard mid-jump in bright sunlight made him gasp involuntarily.

\n\n

"Hm?" Gu Fei was leaning on the bridge railing smoking. Hearing his reaction, he turned his head.

\n\n

"This one has a great feel, Gu Miao looks so cool," Jiang Cheng turned the photo to show Gu Fei, "Little flying hero."

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled: "Snapped shot. She jumped like that dozens of times before I got this one."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him a few more times. Gu Fei was quite hard to read. Usually he looked indifferent with a 'none of my business' vibe that ended conversations. But when he was with Gu Miao, or talking about Gu Miao, he would become gentle.

\n\n

Especially caring.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng thought of Gu Miao's crocheted hat.

\n\n

Caring brother holding yarn...

\n\n

This scene even had background music.

\n\n

But the music didn't seem quite fitting.

\n\n

"Your phone rang." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng awkwardly took out his phone...

\n\n

"Chengcheng ah!" Came Li Baoguo's explosive voice.

\n\n

"You...what did you call me?" Jiang Cheng broke out in goosebumps.

\n\n

Gu Fei had probably heard it. Although he quickly turned his head away, Jiang Cheng still saw him smiling out of the corner of his eye.

\n\n

Damn.

\n\n

"You must be almost home right?" Li Baoguo said, "Hurry back, your older brother and sister are back, waiting for you to eat!"

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng suddenly felt depressed. Not only were the plans to eat dumplings dashed, but he was pulled back to reality again, to face people who he basically had no life intersections with before but were now his family. He suddenly couldn't even move his legs, "I know."

\n\n

"Are you going back then?" After putting away his camera, Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Yeah." Jiang Cheng answered.

\n\n

"Let's go together, I'm going home too." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Driving?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"...I walked here." Gu Fei glanced at him.

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng turned and walked back.

\n\n

The temperature dropped sharply after sunset. The two of them walked back in the cold north wind.

\n\n

After walking for a while, it wasn't so cold anymore. Jiang Cheng turned and looked at Gu Fei: "Do you know Li Baoguo?"

\n\n

"Most people on those streets know each other," Gu Fei said, "Grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunts, older and younger brothers and sisters...they're all old neighbors."

\n\n

"Oh, then...what's he like?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

Gu Fei pulled his hat down and turned to look at him: "What is he to you?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't really know how to say it. He pulled up his mask covering half his face, only then did he feel more relaxed.

\n\n

"He's...my biological dad." He said.

\n\n

"Hm?" Gu Fei looked quite surprised as he raised his eyebrows, "Biological dad? Li Baoguo has two sons? Though I have to say...you do look a bit like Li Hui."

\n\n

"I don't know," Jiang Cheng said irritably, "Anyway, that's what he told me... So I'm asking what he's like, can you just answer me directly?"

\n\n

"Veteran gambler," This time Gu Fei answered very readily, "Level 10 alcoholic."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's steps faltered.

\n\n

"Still want to hear more?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"What else is there?" Jiang Cheng sighed softly.

\n\n

"Domestic violence, beat his wife away," Gu Fei thought for a moment, "That's pretty much the main stuff."

\n\n

"That's already bad enough," Jiang Cheng frowned, but still stared at Gu Fei hesitantly, "Is all this credible?"

\n\n

"You feel it's not credible?" Gu Fei smiled.

\n\n

"These kinds of neighborhood rumors are a bit..." Jiang Cheng didn't finish. The neighborhood also said you killed your own dad, but he couldn't possibly say that. No matter what really happened, the fact was Gu Fei's dad had died.

\n\n

"These aren't rumors," Gu Fei said, "You go home every day, don't you know he gambles?"

\n\n

"Mm." Jiang Cheng suddenly didn't want to talk anymore.

\n\n

They walked silently to the intersection. Gu Fei walked towards his street, while Jiang Cheng wasn't in the mood to say goodbye. But Gu Fei didn't say anything either.

\n\n

He pulled up his mask and walked towards Li Baoguo's home.

\n\n

From afar, he could hear people arguing fiercely, a group argument with both men and women.

\n\n

Walking closer, he saw it was the building next to Li Baoguo's house. Downstairs stood a man and a woman, while upstairs at the window there was also a man and a woman.

\n\n

He couldn't make out why they were arguing, but both sides were cursing very seriously, enunciating clearly.

\n\n

All kinds of reproductive organs and unspeakable scenes spewed out. Some words were even repeated over and over. Jiang Cheng felt embarrassed for them just listening.

\n\n

When he walked downstairs, the man upstairs suddenly appeared at the window holding a basin. Jiang Cheng took one look and quickly jumped aside two steps.

\n\n

Immediately after, a basin of water with vegetable leaves poured down.

\n\n

Although he didn't get drenched, he still got splashed all over. He was instantly disgusted to the point where his mask nearly flew off.

\n\n

"What the hell! Bunch of idiots!" He yelled, "Come down and fight fair and square if you've got the guts! Looks like you've put all your skill points into being a shrew! Cowards!"

\n\n

After yelling, he didn't look at the others either, just turned and entered the stairwell.

\n\n

He didn't know if the arguers were stunned by his yelling or didn't understand what he was yelling. Anyway, both sides lowered their voices, cursed a few more times, then the fight was suddenly called off like that.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng patted the water off himself, along with a few fingernail-sized vegetable leaves. Fuck!

\n\n

Just as he took out his keys, Li Baoguo's door opened. Li Baoguo stuck out his head, grinning from ear to ear: "Was that you just now?"

\n\n

"What?" Jiang Cheng asked gruffly.

\n\n

"Well scolded," Li Baoguo said with a laugh, "Just like my son."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't respond, just went inside.

\n\n

The room was still shabby, but livelier today.

\n\n

A table full of dishes, and two men and two women sitting at the table, plus three kids, crowded the small living room packed full.

\n\n

"Come on, Chengcheng," Li Baoguo closed the door and came over very intimately putting an arm around his shoulder, "Let me introduce you."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng extremely disliked being touched by unfamiliar people. He gritted his teeth to keep from shaking him off.

\n\n

"This is your older brother Li Hui," Li Baoguo pointed at a 26-27 year old man, then pointed at the young woman next to him, "This is your sister-in-law, those two are your nephews...come call uncle!"

\n\n

The two boys who were watching TV just glanced over here, then turned their heads back as if they hadn't heard.

\n\n

"Hey! You little brats! I told you to call uncle!" Li Baoguo yelled.

\n\n

The two kids didn't even turn their heads this time.

\n\n

"You guys..." Li Baoguo pointed at them, seemingly wanting to say more, but didn't seem to know what else to say.

\n\n

"It's fine, we're not familiar," Jiang Cheng patted his arm. He just wanted to get away from Li Baoguo's loud voice and spittle as soon as possible, and the arm draped over him making his whole body stiff.

\n\n

"I'll settle accounts with you brats later!" Li Baoguo pointed at the other woman, "This is your sister Li Qian, this is your brother-in-law...your niece. Call uncle!"

\n\n

"Uncle." The little girl who looked around 4-5 years old called him uncle very softly, sounding frightened.

\n\n

"Hello." Jiang Cheng squeezed out a smile.

\n\n

Li Baoguo finally let go of him. He said he was going to change and hurried into the inner room, closing the door and leaning against it with his eyes shut.

\n\n

In this room full of people, from when he entered, besides Li Baoguo, not a single person had a smile on their face.

\n\n

When Li Baoguo introduced them one by one, everyone just nodded silently, not saying a word.

\n\n

But this coldness didn't seem to be unwelcoming him or dissatisfied with him, but a kind of innate, inborn daze and numbness.

\n\n

Even more frighteningly oppressive.

\n\n

In just this minute or two, Jiang Cheng already felt he couldn't breathe.

\n\n

He took off his coat, took a few deep breaths leaning against the wall, slowly breathing out, inhaling again, slowly exhaling again, then sighed softly.

\n\n

He didn't even remember how many sighs he had sighed these days, probably enough to blow up a huge welcome balloon.

\n\n

After staying in the room for a few minutes, Li Baoguo called for him again outside. He had no choice but to rub his face and walk back out.

\n\n

Everyone was already seated at the table. The two brats who had ignored them were also sitting properly now. Not only sitting properly, they had already started eating, directly grabbing ribs from the plates and gnawing on them.

\n\n

"Eat some food." Li Qian said and reached out to take his rice bowl in front of him.

\n\n

"Thanks, I can get it myself," Jiang Cheng quickly took the bowl, "You eat."

\n\n

"Let her serve you," Li Baoguo said from the side, "Women are supposed to do these things."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was stunned. Li Qian took the bowl from his hand and went to the pot to serve him rice.

\n\n

"Come, we have to drink some good wine today," Li Baoguo picked up two bottles of wine from the floor, probably brought by Li Qian or Li Hui, but before Jiang Cheng could see what wine, he had already opened the cabinet door and put them inside, then took out another bottle, "This is homemade by me, hawthorn wine."

\n\n

"Let's just drink what Li Qian brought," Li Hui seemed reluctant, "Your rotten wine you always boast about tastes like hotpot water.

\n\n

"Oh?" Li Baoguo slammed the wine bottle on the table, "Don't like your dad's wine? If you don't like it, you should've brought wine. Coming back empty-handed then being picky?"

\n\n

"Dad, what are you saying," Sister-in-law spoke up, full of dissatisfaction, "Your son comes home, and all you do is nitpick about whether he brought anything or not."

\n\n

"You shut up!" Li Baoguo glared at her, "Since when do women get to talk in this family!"

\n\n

"What's wrong with women!" Sister-in-law raised her voice, "Without me this woman, could you have two grandsons? Do you expect your daughter to give you grandsons? She can't even have one!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt somewhat shocked, shocked that this family would argue over just a couple sentences, shocked that they would argue at a dinner that should at least express some family harmony. And seeing Li Qian's silent family, he was even more shocked.

\n\n

"I have grandsons because I have sons!" Li Baoguo's voice was loud enough to shatter the broken light overhead, "Now I have another son, if I want grandsons, it's easy as pie! Li Hui, are you even a man anymore, with a wife like this you can't even fart huh!"

\n\n

"What's there to argue about!" Li Hui slammed down his chopsticks and stood up. It was unclear if this was aimed at Li Baoguo or his wife.

\n\n

"You're asking me? What's there to argue about, don't you know?" Sister-in-law shrieked loudly.

\n\n

At this shriek, the two brats eating with their hands simultaneously looked up and started bawling, like pulling an alarm, grating on the ears.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stood up and went back to his room, closing the door.

\n\n

They were still arguing loudly outside, men yelling, women screaming, children wailing unrestrainedly. This flimsy wooden door couldn't block these desperate sounds at all.

\n\n

Behind the thin wooden partition were his real family members - the kind of irritating relatives you see on TV dramas that he had always looked down on. No, not even looked down on, they were the kind of people he basically never paid any attention to.

\n\n

If he had grown up here over the past decade or so, would he have turned out like them?

\n\n

Was his own personality, which was rebellious and lasted longer than normal, inherited?

\n\n

Was it written in his genes?

\n\n

Rebellious period? Maybe it wasn't a rebellious period at all.

\n\n

But his terrifying essence.

\n\n

The door behind him was knocked lightly twice. People were still arguing loudly outside, he even heard the sound of someone kicking over a chair. He wouldn't have heard these light knocks if he wasn't leaning on the door.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng?" Li Qian's voice came from outside, just as soft.

\n\n

He hesitated for a few seconds before opening the door a crack and saw Li Qian standing outside looking rather uneasy.

\n\n

"Are you okay?" Li Qian asked.

\n\n

"I'm fine," Jiang Cheng answered.

\n\n

Are you okay? That's what he should be asking Li Qian.

\n\n

"Um..." Li Qian looked back at the smoky room full of people, "Let me get you some food to eat in your room, okay?"

\n\n

"No need, thanks," Jiang Cheng said, "I really...can't eat."

\n\n

Li Qian didn't say anything more. He closed the door again and locked it.

\n\n

After standing dumbly in the room for half a day, he walked over to the window and twisted the handle a couple times.

\n\n

The window didn't budge.

\n\n

Ever since he arrived, he had wanted to try opening the window, but never succeeded. The window was sealed shut without even a gap.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng twisted the handle violently several more times, then started pushing.

\n\n

He was sweating from the effort but still unsuccessful.

\n\n

Staring at the window, listening to the chaos outside, he felt something inside him about to explode.

\n\n

He turned and grabbed the chair behind him, swinging it forcefully at the window.

\n\n

The window glass made a loud crisp sound.

\n\n

This sound made Jiang Cheng feel extremely satisfied. All the pores on his body seemed to stand up in that instant. He lifted the chair and smashed it against the window again.

\n\n

The glass shattered noisily.

\n\n

He kept swinging and smashing. The arguing outside the room turned into banging on the door, but he didn't care to listen.

\n\n

After all the window glass was shattered, he kicked the empty window frame.

\n\n

The window opened.

\n\n

He heard the sound of keys outside the door. He pushed off the window sill and jumped out.

\n\n

Fuck all of you.

\n","published_time":"2023-09-21T01:01:55.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":349,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":11,"chapter_title":"Chapter 11","content":"

The moment he leapt out the window, the cold wind rushed into his breath, then drilled into his pores, and finally seeped into his body.

\n\n

Refreshing.

\n\n

The broken glass on the windowsill below made a few crisp sounds under his feet. Jiang Cheng felt that the suffocating feeling he had finally disappeared.

\n\n

Outside, the sky had completely darkened, there were no streetlights, and the moon was hidden. Only the faint weak light coming from the windows of each house could vaguely reveal that this was the back of a row of houses, with a large area of uncleaned snow.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took out his mobile phone from his trousers pocket and turned it on. He walked forward with one foot shallow and one foot deep in the snow, bypassing the back of the building to the end of the alley.

\n\n

Ahead was a small factory, and there was no road here.

\n\n

He stopped and stood in the dark.

\n\n

After the outbreak, he slowly calmed down in the cold wind, and now he was a little confused.

\n\n

Where to go?

\n\n

What to do?

\n\n

No goals or purposes.

\n\n

He looked down at the time on his mobile phone and pondered what he should do now.

\n\n

It was so damn cold that he had forgotten to go and put on his coat when he jumped out.

\n\n

There was a dirty mark on the phone screen. He wiped it with his finger, but the previous mark was not wiped off, but more was added.

\n\n

It was too dark around him to see clearly what it was. He only vaguely felt that his fingers were wet.

\n\n

But he realized it very quickly. He held up the phone screen to shine on his fingers.

\n\n

Blood.

\n\n

"Damn it," he said in a low voice.

\n\n

It was a bit scary, hands full of blood.

\n\n

His hands were numb from the cold, and he didn't feel any pain. He even had to look around before seeing the cut in his palm.

\n\n

It was quite deep, and the blood kept gushing out.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt around in both trousers pockets, but didn't find a single scrap of paper, so he could only grab the corner of his sweater and clench it tightly in his palm.

\n\n

In such cold weather, even the wound didn't freeze.

\n\n

...Yeah, such cold weather.

\n\n

Not even a coat.

\n\n

This could be fatal!

\n\n

It wasn't until now that Jiang Cheng suddenly felt the piercing cold, as if he had just been sharply awakened.

\n\n

No coat, no money, bleeding nonstop.

\n\n

He judged the direction and ran to the intersection leading to the alley next door. Li Baoguo said there was a community hospital there where he could get someone to help bandage it first and also warm up.

\n\n

After running a few steps, he was so cold that he could barely stand it. He went from running to hopping, and soon he couldn't even feel the warmth in his own breath.

\n\n

Damn it was so cold!

\n\n

Li Baoguo said that the community hospital was not very noticeable, and he was right, it was not just unnoticeable. Jiang Cheng had already run past it before seeing it.

\n\n

The lights weren't even on.

\n\n

...The lights weren't on?

\n\n

He was stunned. Weren't the lights on?

\n\n

He went closer to the closed door and took two more looks before seeing a sign hanging on the door. His eyes were shivering from the cold, and he could barely make out that the doctor had gone home for dinner.

\n\n

"...You gotta be kidding me!" He knocked on the door twice without any response.

\n\n

There was also a phone number left on the sign, but he didn't call. Waiting for the doctor to come over after making a call, he estimated he would have frozen to death here.

\n\n

He frowned, turned his head and looked around.

\n\n

Gu Fei's shop was only about five meters away, with the lights on.

\n\n

Although he was very reluctant for Gu Fei to see his miserable appearance again, but...it was so damn cold!

\n\n

He hopped over, pulled open the door, and lifted the curtain.

\n\n

The warmth that rushed up made his whole body, which had been stiffened to the point of cramping, instantly relax.

\n\n

But then he was stunned again, feeling a little awkward.

\n\n

He didn't know why, but every time he entered Gu Fei's shop, he would feel extremely awkward.

\n\n

The empty spot where no-good birds had sat last time now had a small table. There was an electric stove burning on the table, and a pot of what was probably mutton soup steaming hot. He could smell it.

\n\n

Gu Fei was serving the soup to Gu Miao.

\n\n

And in the position facing the door, there was also a woman, looking like she was in her early twenties.

\n\n

Apart from the age difference being a bit large, these three people looked like a family of three, making Jiang Cheng suddenly feel that he had appeared at a very inappropriate time.

\n\n

"You..." Gu Fei was startled when he turned his head to see him, "What's going on?"

\n\n

"Can you not ask?" Jiang Cheng said, "I just...passed by."

\n\n

"Your friend?" The woman looked at Gu Fei and asked.

\n\n

"Yeah." Gu Fei stood up and walked over to Jiang Cheng, his eyes falling to his hand.

\n\n

The woman also stood up, "What..."

\n\n

"First aid kit," Gu Fei said over his shoulder.

\n\n

"Mm." She walked quickly into the small room.

\n\n

Gu Miao was still sitting at the table without moving, tightly holding a spoon in her hand, her eyes wide open, watching over a little nervously.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng noticed that Gu Fei moved slightly to the side to block Gu Miao's line of sight. He quickly hid his hand behind him.

\n\n

"Go into the room," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng walked quickly into the small room. The woman had already taken out the first aid kit. Seeing him come in, she asked softly, "Your hand?"

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng replied. "The community hospital next door..."

\n\n

"The doctor is probably eating now," the woman said. "Is it serious? Let me help you rinse it first, disinfect it."

\n\n

"It's not serious," Jiang Cheng looked at the first aid kit, the stuff looked quite complete, "I can do it myself."

\n\n

"It's more troublesome with one hand," the woman smiled, "I'll help you and it'll be faster."

\n\n

"Knife wound?" Gu Fei asked, coming in.

\n\n

"No." Jiang Cheng hesitated, then released the sweater he had been clutching.

\n\n

This loosening of his hand frightened himself. The sweater was already stained with a large area of blood.

\n\n

"You..." Gu Fei frowned at his hand, then glanced at the sweater, and said to the woman, "Let me do it."

\n\n

"It's okay, can I be scared by such a small wound," the woman smiled and pushed him lightly, "go accompany Er Miao, I saw she was very nervous just now."

\n\n

"...Okay," Gu Fei hesitated for a moment, turned and walked out. After two steps, he stopped and turned back, introducing them to each other, "My classmate Jiang Cheng, this is my sister, Ding Zhuxin."

\n\n

"Just call me Sister Xin," Ding Zhuxin smiled and pulled Jiang Cheng's hand over, "Let me see... the wound looks quite deep..."

\n\n

"Is it?" Jiang Cheng responded.

\n\n

Zhuxin*? This name doesn't sound very good, the heart of bamboo is empty.

\n\n

*T/N: The words Zhu and Xin are the characters for bamboo and heart respectively.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt confused about his artistic thoughts today.

\n\n

"Let me rinse it with saline first," Ding Zhuxin said, "then use iodine later."

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng nodded, "thanks."

\n\n

"Don't keep thanking me." Ding Zhuxin said.

\n\n

The room was warm and he soon felt warm himself, but the pain from the injury seemed to awaken and started drilling into him.

\n\n

After Ding Zhuxin rinsed the blood off his hand, he saw the cut was bigger than he thought.

\n\n

"Must be from broken glass, why so careless," Ding Zhuxin said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't reply.

\n\n

Gu Fei's sister's surname was Ding? Following their mom's surname?

\n\n

And although Ding Zhuxin was very pretty, with her skin so pale it was nearly transparent, and from Jiang Cheng's angle her long thick lashes covered her eyes completely, she looked nothing like Gu Fei or Gu Miao.

\n\n

"Are you Gu Fei's sister?" he asked.

\n\n

"Not blood-related," Ding Zhuxin laughed. "He calls me sister, I used to live upstairs from their home."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng also laughed lightly.

\n\n

"I watched him grow up, when he was little he followed me everywhere," Ding Zhuxin said as she applied iodine. She took some gauze from the first aid kit to wrap the injury. "This will have to do for now, cover it and see if the doctor can look at it later."

\n\n

"Thanks," Jiang Cheng stood up.

\n\n

"Why so polite," Ding Zhuxin put the things back in the kit. "When I patch up Gu Fei he never says thanks."

\n\n

He is so rude.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng said to himself again, then felt it was probably because they were too close.

\n\n

After he entered, although Ding Zhuxin didn't say much to Gu Fei, Jiang Cheng could sense they were very familiar, especially when Ding Zhuxin turned her head and he saw a little music note earring on her earlobe...

\n\n

Sister? Tsk.

\n\n

He didn't expect Gu Fei to be into this. The woman looked at least four or five years older.

\n\n

"You're Gu Fei's classmate?" Ding Zhuxin said. "I don't think I've seen you before...but he doesn't hang out with classmates much either."

\n\n

"I just transferred," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"I see," Ding Zhuxin glanced at him.

\n\n

"Done?" Gu Fei pushed the door open.

\n\n

"Done," Ding Zhuxin said. "Dr. Zhang can take another look later."

\n\n

"Is the cut deep?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"How deep can it be from just a slice," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Er Miao wants me to ask if Brother Cheng has eaten," Gu Fei looked outside.

\n\n

"...No," Jiang Cheng answered, somewhat gloomy.

\n\n

"Then you can eat together, perfect timing," Ding Zhuxin said, walking out and naturally patting Gu Fei's shoulder. "I was thinking they couldn't finish all the lamb I bought today."

\n\n

"Isn't it inconvenient?" Jiang Cheng hesitated and lowered his voice.

\n\n

"What's inconvenient?" Gu Fei didn't understand and also unconsciously lowered his voice.

\n\n

"Um..." Jiang Cheng quickly glanced back at Ding Zhuxin, "Your sister."

\n\n

Gu Fei was confused for a moment, then leaned against the doorframe with a smile. "Oh."

\n\n

"Oh?" Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"Nothing inconvenient, Er Miao is here too," Gu Fei went inside and grabbed a sweater from the cabinet, tossing it on the bed. "Change into this, she'll be scared."

\n\n

After Gu Fei left, Jiang Cheng picked up the sweater and looked at the size, seemed right, so he changed into it.

\n\n

Then he examined it again. This sweater couldn't have been knitted by Gu Fei himself right...

\n\n

"Need help?" Gu Fei called from outside.

\n\n

"No need!" He quickly replied, folding his clothes and putting them on the chair.

\n\n

As soon as he stepped out of the hut, the rich lamb soup aroma filled the shop. Jiang Cheng immediately felt anxious with hunger.

\n\n

"Smells good huh," Ding Zhuxin was ladling the soup into bowls.

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng went over and sat at the small table.

\n\n

"First time I've seen Er Miao ask someone to eat together, such progress after just two months," Ding Zhuxin put two lamb chunks in Gu Miao's bowl. "Jiang Cheng, you transferred a while ago right? Last semester?"

\n\n

"This semester," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Ah," Ding Zhuxin looked at him for a good few seconds before smiling and placing a bowl of soup in front of him. "That's surprising."

\n\n

Gu Miao drank her soup while sneaking peeks at the bandage around Jiang Cheng's hand.

\n\n

"It's fine now," Gu Fei grabbed Jiang Cheng's hand and held it out to her. "See."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had injured his right hand, so he wasn't holding the chopsticks steadily. When Gu Fei grabbed him, the chopsticks flew out and fell on the floor.

\n\n

Gu Miao very carefully touched his hand.

\n\n

"Let go," Ding Zhuxin smacked Gu Fei's hand. She picked up the chopsticks. "His hand is hurt, don't grab so hard."

\n\n

"I'll wash them," Gu Fei reached for the chopsticks.

\n\n

"I'll go..." Jiang Cheng made to stand up.

\n\n

"You two sit, I'm not eating anyway," Ding Zhuxin went out the back door.

\n\n

"She's not eating?" Jiang Cheng was confused, noticing three sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table. He suddenly felt awkward, were there only three sets total? Not enough with him here!

\n\n

"She doesn't eat at night, hasn't for years," Gu Fei gave Jiang Cheng his chopsticks. "I haven't used these yet."

\n\n

"No rush," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"No rush?" Gu Fei tilted his head looking at him. "Your eyes look starving."

\n\n

"Piss off," Jiang Cheng took his chopsticks and put a lamb chunk in his mouth.

\n\n

He really must be hungry, this lamb instantly ranked in the top three most delicious foods he'd eaten the past two years.

\n\n

When Ding Zhuxin returned and saw the chopsticks in Jiang Cheng's hand she paused, setting down the cleaned chopsticks in front of Gu Fei and saying softly, "I'm going."

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei stood up and took her coat from behind the counter.

\n\n

"Don't you want to eat a little? It's...really good," Jiang Cheng stood up awkwardly.

\n\n

"You guys eat, have some more," Ding Zhuxin smiled and put on her coat. "I'm dieting."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng hesitated before sitting back down. Gu Miao pointed at the lamb in the pot and he nodded, "I'll get some for you."

\n\n

Gu Miao pointed at his empty bowl.

\n\n

"I'm...it's no rush," Jiang Cheng felt a little embarrassed, even this little girl could see how hungry he was. To show he wasn't impatient, he glanced back at Gu Fei and Ding Zhuxin again.

\n\n

"Keys," Ding Zhuxin held her hand out to Gu Fei.

\n\n

"Aren't you cold?" Gu Fei took the motorcycle keys from his pocket.

\n\n

"I was racing bikes when you were still in middle school," Ding Zhuxin took the keys and walked out the shop door.

\n\n

Gu Fei watched her from the door before coming back to sit down.

\n\n

After Ding Zhuxin went out, Jiang Cheng inexplicably felt relieved. This was the first time he had felt such a strong sense of awkwardness being with a girl.

\n\n

Ding Zhuxin was very beautiful, a kind of beauty that was neither flashy nor aggressive. To be honest, if he saw this kind of face on the street, he would look twice.

\n\n

He picked up a piece of mutton with the chopsticks. His hand still hurt. He didn't dare to use force when picking up the meat, watching his posture as if he was about to detonate a bomb, afraid the meat would fall off the table if his hand shook.

\n\n

Gu Fei took a large ladle from the side, put it in the pot to scoop up a large scoop of mutton, and handed it to him: "Just watching you makes me feel awkward."

\n\n

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng scraped half of the mutton into his own bowl, then took Gu Miao's bowl and scraped the rest into her bowl.

\n\n

"How did you hurt your hand?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't answer. He really didn't know what to say. Gu Fei should know about Li Baoguo's family. If he talked about this, it would only give people more gossip, although Gu Fei didn't look like someone who would gossip with others.

\n\n

He was silent for a while: "Bit myself."

\n\n

Gu Miao looked at him, stunned for a moment, then laughed.

\n\n

"Good bite," Gu Fei nodded. "But you still have to learn to cherish yourself and be gentler next time you bite down."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng smiled at Gu Miao and lowered his head to drink the soup.

\n\n

"Are you heading back later?" Gu Fei asked again.

\n\n

"Not going back," Jiang Cheng answered decisively this time.

\n\n

"Got somewhere to go?" Gu Fei picked two sprigs of greens from a basket and put them in the pot to blanch.

\n\n

"I do," Jiang Cheng replied, then hesitated and was silent nearly two minutes before forcing out his next words with difficulty. "Do you have money? Can you lend me some?"

\n\n

"How much?" Gu Fei set his chopsticks down.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng considered, "500 should do, I can transfer it back on my phone."

\n\n

"No problem," Gu Fei took out his wallet and counted out 500 yuan.

\n\n

"Thanks," Jiang Cheng took the money, feeling much more reassured as he got out his phone. "Add me so I can transfer it to you."

\n\n

"Actually if you go out the intersection and turn right, 200 meters down is a fork, go to the end and there's a Home Inn," Gu Fei took out his phone and tapped a few times. "Won't need 500."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him silently, then picked up his bowl and sipped some soup.

\n\n

Although Gu Fei hadn't guessed wrong, and also couldn't have guessed wrong, since in this situation besides a hotel he had no other options. But saying it so plainly made him lose face.

\n\n

His phone dinged and he looked at the screen.

\n\n

It was a friend request from Gu Fei.

\n\n

Cute Little Bunny.

\n\n

He nearly spat his soup on the phone seeing that nickname.

\n\n

"This is you?" He held his phone out to Gu Fei.

\n\n

"Mm, cute right?" Gu Fei's expression was calm.

\n\n

'"...So cute," Jiang Cheng was a little speechless. After accepting the friend request, he took another look at Gu Fei's profile picture.

\n\n

It matched his nickname well, a green rabbit. If he judged correctly, judging from the artistic style and use of color, the artist was probably Gu Miao. "This profile picture was drawn by Gu Miao, right?"

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded beside him.

\n\n

"It's...really good," Jiang Cheng reluctantly complimented. Gu Miao's drawing skills were worlds apart from her skateboarding skills.

\n\n

Just as he was preparing to transfer money to Gu Fei, the shop door rang as someone pulled it open, then the curtain was lifted open a crack.

\n\n

He glanced over and felt it was a bit strange. It was normal for someone to come buy things at this time, but why lift just a corner of the curtain like they were peeking?

\n\n

Before he could figure it out, Gu Fei had already thrown his phone on the table and jumped up.

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng was startled, holding up the phone and watching Gu Fei rush out. Was he catching a thief?

\n\n

He generally didn't get involved in other people's business. He would definitely live to 103 that way. But right now he was at Gu Fei's place, and Gu Fei had rushed out, so he couldn't just sit there.

\n\n

He stood up, intending to follow him out. He was about to tell Gu Miao not to come out when he glanced down and saw that Gu Miao was calmly eating, as if nothing had happened around her.

\n\n

"I'll go take a look," Jiang Cheng said and ran out after him.

\n\n

As soon as he got out the door, he saw Gu Fei grabbing the collar of a struggling man.

\n\n

The dim light of the long-neglected streetlamp made everything hazy. He could only make out that it was a man around thirty years old, wearing a village-style leather jacket. His tight pants wrapped his thin legs like two toothpicks, making him look disgusting.

\n\n

"What are you doing! Let go!" The man grabbed Gu Fei's hand and pulled hard, but he was clearly no match for Gu Fei in either height or strength. After struggling for a while without moving Gu Fei at all, he could only shout again, "Let me go!"

\n\n

"Didn't I tell you not to let me see you again?" Gu Fei asked in a low voice.

\n\n

"Who do you think you are? I don't care if you said it or not. So what if you did?" The man shoved his face close to Gu Fei's eyes, taunting him. "I'm right here now. You see me, don't you? So what are you going to do about it..."

\n\n

Before he could finish spewing questions, Gu Fei grabbed his collar and swung him towards the nearby tree.

\n\n

Like an empty rag doll, the man smashed face-first into the tree trunk.

\n\n

"Bang!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt his eyes widen with the sound. This was the first time he realized a human body hitting wood could make such a loud noise.

\n\n

After the bang, the world was quiet.

\n\n

The man stayed plastered against the tree for two seconds before slowly sliding down the trunk and kneeling on the ground. Then he slumped to the side and lay there motionless.

\n\n

"Damn!" Jiang Cheng walked over a couple steps. Was he dead?

\n\n

After staring at the unmoving man for a while, Jiang Cheng turned back to look at Gu Fei, unable to speak for a long time.

\n\n

Although this guy was thin and not very tall, he was still a man. Yet Gu Fei had flung him into a tree with one arm. If it was captured in a slow-motion shot, it could probably last two or three seconds...

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt a chill down his back. With Gu Fei's fighting skills, killing someone actually seemed plausible.

\n\n

"Come inside," Gu Fei glanced at him and walked back to the shop. "Aren't you cold?"

\n\n

"Who is this guy?" Jiang Cheng came to his senses. "You're just leaving him there? What if he freezes to death?"

\n\n

"If he freezes to death, I'll kill you to keep you quiet," Gu Fei said with a smile.

\n","published_time":"2023-09-27T14:48:08.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":357,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":12,"chapter_title":"Chapter 12","content":"

Jiang Cheng felt that he was pretty confused too. He had skipped classes, gotten into fights, and caused trouble all the time, but he had never knocked someone out in the snow and then just went inside to eat.

\n\n

"Hey," he followed Gu Fei into the shop, staring at Gu Fei who sat back down in his chair. He didn't want to say it directly in front of Gu Miao, so he could only hint vaguely, "That...aren't you going to do anything about it?"

\n\n

"Don't worry, it's nothing," Gu Fei glanced at him, "He'll get up and leave by himself later. At most his nose needs to be fixed... You're quite kind-hearted. When you met that Monkey gang, were you worried about them too?"

\n\n

"Did I make them..." Jiang Cheng pointed at the door, carefully choosing his words, "fall asleep out there?"

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him without speaking, but Jiang Cheng could see he was suppressing a smile.

\n\n

"Fine," Jiang Cheng sat down, "It's not even my business anyway."

\n\n

Gu Fei lowered his head to continue eating. He didn't say anything else either, although he wasn't really sure if that guy outside could "get up" and "leave by himself".

\n\n

Maybe it was the different environment, but the one he grew up in meant that no matter how much trouble he caused, there was always a "limit". But for Gu Fei, looking at this shabby old neighborhood, looking at the people around him, this kind of thing was probably no big deal to anyone.

\n\n

Thinking about this, he really should thank Gu Fei for not letting him freeze to death lying in the snow by the door.

\n\n

Eating with the Gu siblings in silence, he was getting a little used to it already. The previous two times they ate, Gu Miao didn't speak, he had nothing to say, and Gu Fei didn't seem to want to talk at all.

\n\n

Eating like this saved a lot of time. They finished eating in about ten minutes.

\n\n

As he put down his chopsticks, about to say thanks, pained cursing could be heard from outside. Based on the sounds, it was the one who had been "asleep".

\n\n

Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and listened.

\n\n

The man sounded like he was cursing with great difficulty. Probably because his nose was broken, or some other bones were broken too. Listening casually, his style sounded quite similar to Li Baoguo's neighbor when they were arguing.

\n\n

It was probably part of the local culture.

\n\n

But there was one particularly loud sentence that made Jiang Cheng glance at Gu Fei.

\n\n

"I'll f*ck your mom, what are you gonna do about it!" The man's words were a little unclear, but you could still make it out.

\n\n

After Gu Fei exchanged a look with him, he drank another sip of soup before saying: "That's my mom's boyfriend..."

\n\n

"What?" Before Gu Fei could finish, Jiang Cheng was shocked enough to eat two pounds of lamb. Although that guy was quite disgusting, he looked around thirty at most. Gu Fei's mom must have been nearly forty if she gave birth to him at twenty.

\n\n

"One of them." Gu Fei finished his sentence.

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng was confused.

\n\n

"Eat your fill?" Gu Fei asked. "There's still meat left, add more if you're not full."

\n\n

"I'm full, I'm full." Jiang Cheng quickly nodded.

\n\n

"Er Miao, clean up." Gu Fei put down his chopsticks.

\n\n

Gu Miao immediately stood up, very adeptly collecting the bowls and grabbing the chopsticks in one swoop. She headed out the back door holding them.

\n\n

Looking at this, Jiang Cheng suddenly felt a little unhappy. It reminded him of what Li Baoguo said, "This is women's work." He reached out, ready to help clean up.

\n\n

"Just sit," Gu Fei stopped him. "Let her take care of it."

\n\n

"This is women's work, isn't it?" Jiang Cheng looked at him sideways.

\n\n

Gu Fei was startled for a moment then laughed. "Did I say that?"

\n\n

"Goes without saying, right." As Jiang Cheng thought about the chaotic scene with Li Baoguo's family that night, the anger that had finally subsided was rising again.

\n\n

"I cook," Gu Fei pointed at himself, "Gu Miao washes dishes."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"Anything wrong with that?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng looked at him as the rising anger instantly turned into embarrassment.

\n\n

"Hmm?" Gu Fei also looked at him.

\n\n

"...Oh." Jiang Cheng really didn't know what to say anymore.

\n\n

Gu Fei ignored him and walked away, sitting down behind the cashier counter and lighting a cigarette.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wanted to leave, but his upbringing meant he couldn't just get up and walk out after finishing a meal at someone else's place. He could only sit at the table and watch Gu Miao run back and forth two or three times to clean up the table.

\n\n

Just as he was wondering if he could ask Gu Fei for a cigarette, Gu Fei stood up with a cigarette in his mouth and followed Gu Miao out the back door.

\n\n

Only Jiang Cheng was left in the shop staring blankly at the empty table.

\n\n

Fuck.

\n\n

He took out his phone and sent a message to Pan Zhi.

\n\n

-Grandson.

\n\n

-Grandpa! Chat for a bit?

\n\n

-No time

\n\n

Pan Zhi sent an audio: "Are you f*cking playing with me! I just got lectured by my mom and she didn't even let me eat dinner!"

\n\n

As soon as Jiang Cheng heard it, he laughed and sent Pan Zhi a laughing audio for 20 seconds.

\n\n

After laughing, he stood up, thinking of going to the back to see what the Gu siblings were doing. If nothing was going on, then he should get going.

\n\n

Behind the back door was a small courtyard, probably shared by a few storefronts, with a toilet and a small kitchen.

\n\n

As soon as Jiang Cheng stepped out the door, a gust of wind hit his face. He hurried into the kitchen.

\n\n

Gu Fei stood with his back to the door. Gu Miao stood at the sink washing dishes with hot water, looking quite skilled at it. Her expression was also very focused.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched for a while. He felt he didn't really understand why Gu Fei was standing here when he had told Gu Miao to clean up and wash the dishes. Was watching really necessary when she was the one washing?

\n\n

"Um..." He cleared his throat.

\n\n

Gu Miao seemed so absorbed in washing she didn't hear him, still washing the dishes attentively.

\n\n

Gu Fei turned around: "Hmm?"

\n\n

"I'm about to leave," Jiang Cheng said. "Do you have a coat you don't wear? Lend me one."

\n\n

"I don't have any," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Fuck, what do you mean by that?" Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"I have ones I wear daily," Gu Fei said. "In the cabinet inside, get one yourself."

\n\n

"...Oh, thanks." Jiang Cheng turned to go get a coat.

\n\n

"Brother Cheng," Gu Fei called out to him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stopped. Gu Fei following Gu Miao to call him Brother Cheng made him feel a little strange, but strangely quite awesome too. He almost wanted to respond, What's up, little bro?

\n\n

"Go after she's done washing," Gu Fei said. "Say bye to her."

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng nodded. "You...give me a cigarette."

\n\n

Gu Fei took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket and handed them to him, then turned back to watch Gu Miao wash dishes.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng lit a cigarette and retreated to the door to smoke, also watching Gu Miao wash dishes.

\n\n

Although uncertain and not really appropriate to ask, he felt Gu Miao was probably not like a normal child, which was why Gu Fei had to watch even as she washed dishes.

\n\n

But if he was so anxious, why did he also let her skateboard all over the streets alone and didn't seem to care much when she got bullied?

\n\n

How strange.

\n\n

Everyone here was so strange.

\n\n

Sometimes he even felt that everything was surreal - these streets, these scenes, the people he saw, the things that happened, they all had an unreal feeling. Only when he contacted Pan Zhi did he feel he had returned to the real world.

\n\n

A different time? A different space?

\n\n

Inside a painting?

\n\n

He startled himself with a shiver.

\n\n

Gu Fei happened to glance back at him. "It'd be better if you stayed in the room."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng ignored him.

\n\n

When Gu Miao finished washing, she tidied up the bowls and headed out of the kitchen. She passed by Jiang Cheng as if she didn't see him at all. Jiang Cheng followed her into the shop. Only when she turned around to look for someone did she notice Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"You're pretty capable," Jiang Cheng gave her a thumbs up.

\n\n

Gu Miao rubbed her nose, a little embarrassed.

\n\n

"Um," Jiang Cheng bent down to speak to her, "I'm leaving now."

\n\n

Gu Miao looked at Gu Fei, then nodded at him.

\n\n

"Bye?" Jiang Cheng waved at her.

\n\n

Gu Miao also waved at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng smiled. He had thought he could hear her say "bye" this time, but it was still a mute theater.

\n\n

Gu Fei came into the room and took out a long down jacket for him.

\n\n

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng took the coat and looked at it.

\n\n

"Hat, gloves, scarf, face mask?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"...No need," Jiang Cheng said. It was only a few hundred meters. "Do you have a spare charger?"

\n\n

Gu Fei went back into the room and brought out a charger for him.

\n\n

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng took it and put it in his pocket.

\n\n

"...If someone punched you, would you still reflexively say thanks?" Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Want to try it?" Jiang Cheng put on the coat, lifted the curtain and walked out.

\n\n

Gu Fei stretched lazily, looked at the time on his phone, and gently patted Gu Miao on the head. "Let's go home."

\n\n

Gu Miao very quickly shut the doors and windows. Hugging her skateboard, she waited for him outside the shop door.

\n\n

He tidied up the money in the cash register, turned off the lights.

\n\n

"We're walking home today. Sister Xin took our ride," Gu Fei locked up the shop. "Go straight to your room and do your homework when we get back. Come out only after you're done."

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded, put down her skateboard, and kicked off. She slid about ten meters before tripping over something and falling off the board.

\n\n

Gu Fei whistled and laughed.

\n\n

Gu Miao ignored him, got up, stepped on her skateboard, and slid off again.

\n\n

It was just past eight o'clock when they got home. The living room lights and TV were on, their mom's bedroom door was closed but light shone through the gap under the door.

\n\n

After Gu Miao went in to do homework, Gu Fei knocked on the bedroom door.

\n\n

There was no response from inside.

\n\n

"I'm coming in after one minute," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

He boiled some water in the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea. Then he went back to his mom's bedroom door, knocked twice, and unlocked it.

\n\n

The door wasn't locked. It couldn't be locked anymore after he had smashed it when his mom had her suicide scare. It was never fixed.

\n\n

"Get out," Mom sat on the small sofa by the window, holding her phone, eyes shooting daggers at him. "Get out! Who allowed you in!"

\n\n

"Was that the call with the brat?" Gu Fei raised his voice. "Tell him, if you don't hang up now, I'll go find him tomorrow. Him and his job and the shop he works at, I won't leave a speck behind."

\n\n

"You..." Mom glared at him and put the phone to her ear. "Let me tell you..."

\n\n

"Hello? Hello? Hello! You bastard!" Mom slammed the phone angrily on the sofa.

\n\n

"What is wrong with you! Mom's dating and you go on and on about it. Aren't you managing me a bit too much! You don't have anything to inherit! Afraid someone's going to steal from you two?"

\n\n

"Pick someone from those losers of yours, one that's more reliable," Gu Fei drank some tea. "Let's see then if I'll manage it or not."

\n\n

"What's unreliable about them!" Mom frowned. "So annoying."

\n\n

"Which one's reliable?" Gu Fei looked at her. "Try not giving them money. See who still cares about you."

\n\n

"Why wouldn't they care!" Mom slapped the sofa. "Am I ugly? If I were ugly, could I have raised you to be called handsome since you were little!"

\n\n

"Hmm," Gu Fei picked up a small mirror from the bedside table and looked at himself. "Handsome."

\n\n

"You..." Mom started but was interrupted.

\n\n

"Everyone tells me how pretty and beautiful you were when you were young," Gu Fei put down the mirror. "Do you know what 'when you were young' means? Now there are so many girls prettier than you, younger than you, and dumber than you. Who in their twenties without your bit of money would date a forty-something..."

\n\n

"Get out get out get out!" Mom jumped up from the sofa and pushed him out the door. "I have nothing more to say to you, get out!"

\n\n

Gu Fei grabbed her wrist with one hand. "Don't take money from the cash register again. I know exactly how much is in there even without counting."

\n\n

Mom didn't reply. She went back into the room and slammed the door shut.

\n\n

Gu Fei flopped onto the living room sofa, drank some tea, and flipped through a few channels with the remote. At this time it was all hysterical mother-in-law daughter-in-law sister-in-law uncle dramas, or saintly dramas about using love to melt scumbag men with no consideration for the past.

\n\n

He turned off the TV after a few glances and went into his room.

\n\n

After turning on the computer, there wasn't a shred of hesitation in choosing to work on photos over homework.

\n\n

Homework, he wouldn't be able to finish or pass anyway whether he did it or not.

\n\n

He found processing photos quite interesting, much more so than going to class.

\n\n

It's just that recently this music player had been organized too aggressively. The songs on his private station were more explosive than the last, making his mouse clicks seem electrified and fumbling about.

\n\n

He switched the music to his own playlist on his hard drive and calmed down quite a bit.

\n\n

After shuffling two songs, familiar guitar sounds rang out, followed by the piano, then the female vocals.

\n\n

I miss a step, I'm about to take flight... Looking up I'm lost, looking down I hear you say this world is desolate...

\n\n

Gu Fei moved his mouse and clicked on the next song.

\n\n

It's been a few years, hadn't it? It didn't feel overly naive when it was written, but listening now it did feel a bit childish. The vocals are by Ding Zhuxin. She grasped it very well, lazy and husky with questions and struggles.

\n\n

When he finished Jiang Cheng's photo, he glanced at the time. Nearly eleven. Time passed like this. When you needed it there was none, and when you didn't need it no amount of killing time made it go faster.

\n\n

He stretched lazily, looking at Jiang Cheng's face filling the entire screen. The lighting was just right, the tune was just right, the disdainful expression of the youth was just right, the averted gaze was also great.

\n\n

The mood was much stronger than the models from that shabby online shop Ding Zhuxin had paid to practice on back then.

\n\n

He minimized the photo, checked that there were no major issues, then saved it before opening Meitu Xiuxiu*.

\n\n

*T/N: A photo editing app in China.

\n\n

Desaturate, darken, add filter, dreamy, starlight...

\n\n

Finally he added text onto the image - Sad songs, reckless spinning, the night seems even more silent.

\n\n

After arranging the composition, he sent it to Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

stofthewilds, Jiang Cheng's ID seemed to suggest he was a top student, but although Gu Fei couldn't read this English any better than pinyin, he had heard this song before and really liked it, the metallic whistling wind.

\n\n

Looking again at Jiang Cheng's avatar, a blurry back view and side profile, but the nose shape made it recognizable as Jiang Cheng himself...not bad for a self-taken shot.

\n\n

There was no movement from Jiang Cheng's side for a few minutes before he responded.

\n\n

-Are you sick...

\n\n

He laughed.

\n\n

-What's up?

\n\n

-You must be a meme creator! Why don't you make me a middle-aged meme! Tonight, to our friendship, cheers, something like that.

\n\n

-Want me to make one for you?

\n\n

-Piss off

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed for a good while, then sent another message.

\n\n

-What, don't like it?

\n\n

-Are you still human

\n\n

Gu Fei sent the original photo while still laughing.

\n\n

No activity from Jiang Cheng's side again, before responding after a few minutes.

\n\n

-Just one? Any others?

\n\n

-No more. The other shots weren't good so I deleted them.

\n\n

-......You're really hard on yourself huh, can't you just send it and let me delete it myself?

\n\n

-Didn't you say this afternoon you were going to delete it?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't reply.

\n\n

Gu Fei put down his phone, got up to stretch his stiff arms and legs, and left the room.

\n\n

Gu Miao's lamp in the room had already been turned off. He gently pushed the door open and took a peek inside. The little girl had already finished her homework and washed up. She was sleeping soundly, wrapped up in her quilt.

\n\n

When he was busy with his own things, he didn't let anyone disturb him. Not only did Gu Miao remember this, even their unreliable mom knew it... his mom had gone out at some unknown time. She had left without making a sound, without disturbing him at all.

\n\n

Gu Fei frowned and took his jacket that was hanging by the door. He checked his wallet and found that all the large bills were gone.

\n\n

"Damn it." He muttered.

\n\n

He went back to the room, took his phone, and called Liu Fan.

\n\n

"Da Fei? Coming out? We're drinking right now," Liu Fan's cheerful voice came from over there, "Li Yan and the rest are all here."

\n\n

"I'm not going, I'm tired and want to sleep," Gu Fei said, "Go out with me tomorrow, okay?"

\n\n

"Where to?" Liu Fan asked immediately.

\n\n

"That disc shop we talked about before." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"The one where the boss and all the clerks pretend to be music connoisseurs?" Liu Fan asked.

\n\n

"The boss really is a poser," Gu Fei said, "I need to find that skinny cricket."

\n\n

"I know, you don't need to go, it's not appropriate for you," Liu Fan tutted, "I'll bring people over there, what kind of result do you want?"

\n\n

"An effect where he turns around and runs when he sees my mom." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Okay." Liu Fan agreed.

\n\n

After hanging up, his phone rang with a message from Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

-Thanks

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at his avatar and found that it had already been changed to the photo he just sent over.

\n\n

-Changed your avatar huh?

\n\n

-Yeah, pretty stylish

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled and put down his phone, ready to go wash up. When he got to the door, his phone rang again.

\n\n

He went back and picked it up to look.

\n\n

-I might have to wear these clothes again tomorrow, won't have time to buy new ones until after school

\n\n

-You're giving them back to me without washing?

\n\n

-......Do you have a cleanliness obsession?

\n\n

-No, just wash either the sweater or clothes, you pick one

\n\n

-I'll wash the clothes and give them back to you

\n\n

Gu Fei yawned. He didn't know if it was because he ate too much meat last night, but he was extremely sleepy.

\n\n

After washing up, he flopped down on the bed and immediately fell asleep. In the middle of the night he woke up feeling cold and pulled the quilt over himself.

\n\n

When he woke up in the morning, there was no one home. Mom was out all night, and Gu Miao had already gone to school herself. He looked at the time - forget morning reading, the first class was already halfway over.

\n\n

"Ah--" he let out a long yawn and lazily stretched. He slowly got ready and went out.

\n\n

As soon as he got downstairs, he got a call from Old Xu: "With how you've been this semester, are you trying to get expelled?!"

\n\n

"I overslept." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I don't care what excuse you have today," Old Xu said, "I'm going to have a talk with you at noon! I need to take responsibility for you!"

\n\n

"......What have you done that you need to take responsibility for me?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Don't play dumb with me!" Old Xu said. "I didn't know about your situation before, that was my negligence! Now that I know, I need to take responsibility!"

\n\n

Gu Fei's footsteps paused: "What situation of mine?"

\n\n

"Your father's situation," Old Xu said very sincerely, "As your head teacher, I hope you can open up to me..."

\n\n

"Don't need you to manage my business," Gu Fei said, "I don't care who you are, do you believe I can open up then beat you up?"

\n","published_time":"2023-10-08T00:39:58.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":365,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":13,"chapter_title":"Chapter 13","content":"

Jiang Cheng got up a bit late in the morning. When he opened his eyes, it was almost time for class.

\n\n

The longest he had skipped class was two days, and he had stayed out all night for three days. But for some reason, he rarely arrived late if he planned on going to school. So when he saw the time, he jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom, grabbing some disposable toothbrushes.

\n\n

Normally when staying at a hotel, he wouldn't use these things. The toothbrushes were stiff and huge, the toothpaste usually didn't have a good flavor... While rinsing his mouth, he realized that either his left hand was brushing too hard or the toothbrush was too bad - his teeth were bleeding.

\n\n

Raising his head to look in the mirror, he saw his own pale, sleep-deprived face, with dark circles under his eyes. Along with the toothpaste foam around his mouth...

\n\n

"Ah..." He covered his chest with his bandaged hand, pointing at himself in the mirror. He panted painfully a few times, "Sh*t... poison... ah!"

\n\n

After amusing himself for a while, he hurriedly splashed some water on his face to wash up, realizing he was almost out of time.

\n\n

As he checked out and ran downstairs, he felt like the Home Inn across the street was laughing at him.

\n\n

That's right, yesterday he had tried to find Home Inn according to Gu Fei's vague directions. But with only 500 yuan and a phone on him, wearing clothes that weren't even his own, he hadn't been able to check in.

\n\n

Because he didn't have an ID, when he had asked the front desk to help him find a way, the clerk had even threatened to call the police. It was f*cking ridiculous.

\n\n

In a small, broken-down city district, it was so difficult just to stay at a shop!

\n\n

He was already wearing Gu Fei’s sweater, Gu Fei’s down jacket, using Gu Fei’s charger, and had eaten his food, smoked his cigarettes. He really didn't have the nerve to go back and ask Gu Fei to borrow his ID.

\n\n

When he had thought about making do at an internet cafe for the night, he saw this small hostel across the street and finally got a reprieve.

\n\n

He looked back again at the small hostel. Zhou Family Hostel, he made a note of it. He could come back and relive this moment when writing his memoirs in the future.

\n\n

He bought some breakfast at the small shop downstairs, but didn't have time to eat it. Jiang Cheng stuffed the food into his pockets and sprinted towards school.

\n\n

The distance from No. 4 High School wasn't exactly far or near. Just two small stops away. But walking and squeezing onto the bus took time too. It was still early morning and he couldn't get a cab.

\n\n

When he arrived at the school gate, Jiang Cheng heard the warning bell ring. The people slowly gathering towards the school gate around him didn't react at all, continuing to eat and chat as they strolled into the school grounds.

\n\n

He slowed down his pace, not wanting to appear like a nerd hurrying to class among the crowd.

\n\n

If this was his former school, the teacher on duty would have already come over and scolded him based on his current state - arriving late with sleep-deprived pale skin and faintly visible dark eye circles. But the teacher standing at the No. 4 High School gate, whether easy-going or just used to it, only gently called out: "Hurry up! Walk faster! Later when the gate closes, anyone who climbs over will be registered and deducted points!"

\n\n

Climb over? Jiang Cheng looked back at the school gate.

\n\n

No. 4 High's gate was still majestic with two floors. The first floor was an electric half-height door, with two large iron gates inside, topped with spikes.

\n\n

He suddenly recalled that Gu Fei had also arrived late yesterday and climbed over to get in.

\n\n

Tsk. Just thinking about those spikes, he felt a cold draft blow through his crotch.

\n\n

Someone called his name from behind as he went upstairs: "Jiang Cheng!"

\n\n

He looked back to see Wang Xu holding a large fried pancake, taking bites as he ran over.

\n\n

"F*ck, it really is you," Wang Xu looked him up and down, "I thought it was Brother Fei at first. Why are you wearing his clothes? Those are his, right?"

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng continued going upstairs without a word.

\n\n

"Did something happen?" Wang Xu looked at his hand again, "F*ck? What happened to your hand? Was it Monkey? You went to hide at Da Fei's place?"

\n\n

"No, it's nothing," Jiang Cheng replied.

\n\n

"You don't have to hide it from me," Wang Xu patted his shoulder righteously, "This happened because of me. I'll take responsibility, just tell me the truth..."

\n\n

"Don't," Jiang Cheng turned to look at him, "pat my shoulder."

\n\n

Wang Xu held up his hand.

\n\n

"Or pat my back," Jiang Cheng added.

\n\n

"F*ck," Wang Xu stuffed his hands back in his pockets, clearly annoyed as he strode ahead upstairs, "jerk."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't come to morning self-study. Jiang Cheng didn't know if he was late again or skipping class.

\n\n

Lying on the desk, he slowly ate his breakfast, hidden behind Zhou Jing in front. At least five other people around him were also eating.

\n\n

As he ate, he lamented to himself that after just coming for two days, he had already inexplicably assimilated.

\n\n

His own breakfast was simple, fried dumplings and soy milk. He had purposefully chosen cabbage filling for the dumplings to avoid any smell during class.

\n\n

But looking at the people beside him, there was scallion-filled baozi, scallion pancakes. Not only fragrant fillings, but someone even had a bowl of beef noodles that they were slurping down noisily.

\n\n

The first class was English. As usual, Teacher Lu came in shouting, and even snatched away half of a baozi from the student who was eating the slowest - eating through morning self-study and into this class without finishing.

\n\n

"Hey," Zhou Jing leaned his head over, "Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him without responding.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng?" Zhou Jing called him again, "Jiang Cheng."

\n\n

"Just say it directly if you've got something to say." Jiang Cheng suddenly understood why Gu Fei was too lazy to bother with him. This guy had to call your name until you responded before he would speak.

\n\n

"Are you wearing Da Fei's clothes today?" Zhou Jing asked.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wrinkled his brow, looking at the down jacket hanging over the back of the chair. He felt like the clothes he was wearing were probably Gu Fei's most commonly worn ones.

\n\n

Wang Xu could recognize them with one glance. Zhou Jing had also noticed. Probably half the class already knew he had come to school wearing Gu Fei's clothes.

\n\n

Glancing down at the sweater he wore, he could only pray it wasn't one that Gu Fei wore often.

\n\n

"The sweater is Da Fei's too right?" Zhou Jing continued, "Were you at Da Fei's house yesterday?"

\n\n

F*ck!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng ignored him, lying down on the desk wanting to sleep.

\n\n

"Hey, Jiang Cheng," Zhou Jing didn't bump the desk anymore, "Why didn't Da Fei come today?"

\n\n

"If you don't shut up, I'll hit you," Jiang Cheng said with closed eyes.

\n\n

Zhou Jing sighed and fell silent.

\n\n

The classroom was very warm and cozy, but it would be inappropriate to take off the sweater. Besides, he had nothing on underneath, he couldn't just bare his upper body to attend class.

\n\n

This Gu Fei looked quite low-key, barely speaking two sentences at school, and never seeming close to anyone - even going to the bathroom alone. But everyone actually remembered what clothes he wore.

\n\n

It really was f*cking magical.

\n\n

The second class was Chinese. After class, Teacher Xu walked to the front of his desk: "Jiang Cheng, come out for a bit."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng got up and reluctantly put on Gu Fei's clothes again to follow Teacher Xu out of the classroom. They stood in the hallway: "What is it, Teacher Xu?"

\n\n

"Why didn't Gu Fei come to class today?" Teacher Xu asked.

\n\n

"How would I know?" Jiang Cheng felt a little speechless.

\n\n

"You don't know?" Teacher Xu looked at him, his expression clearly conveying disbelief, "You really don't know or you don't want to tell me?"

\n\n

"We're not close at all, why would I cover for him?" Jiang Cheng said irritably.

\n\n

"Oh, I see," Teacher Xu sighed, "I saw you wearing his clothes and thought you were together yesterday, so you'd know why he didn't come."

\n\n

"......Oh," Jiang Cheng could only respond with that one word. He felt like a mouthful of old blood would spurt out if he said anything more.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng," Teacher Xu looked at him earnestly, "After interacting with Gu Fei these past two days, what do you feel about him?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stared at Teacher Xu. If he didn't know that he was currently at school, facing his head teacher, and Gu Fei was just his deskmate, he really felt like he was facing a matchmaker.

\n\n

"One day," Jiang Cheng corrected Teacher Xu's words, "to be precise, half a day."

\n\n

"Right, he didn't come yesterday afternoon," Teacher Xu frowned, "So what do you feel..."

\n\n

"I don't feel anything," Jiang Cheng interrupted him, "Teacher Xu, I don't have any impressions about this person."

\n\n

"Gu Fei is quite smart, different from those other underachieving students," Teacher Xu stubbornly persisted, "If we could get through to him ideologically, his grades could improve."

\n\n

"Me?" Jiang Cheng pointed at himself, almost wanting to ask if Teacher Xu was awake.

\n\n

"No no, me," Teacher Xu laughed, pointing at himself, "Of course ideological work is done by the head teacher."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak. He could see that Old Xu was quite nice, but given his current standing in the eyes of the students, the difficulty of this task was a bit big - even Zhou Jing probably wouldn't buy it, let alone Gu Fei.

\n\n

"In the past, I would ask Yi Jing to tutor him when she had time. Yi Jing is the class president, very responsible, but she's still a girl in the end, it's not convenient," Teacher Xu said. "So I hope that you can... without impacting your grades, care about your classmate a bit."

\n\n

Teacher Xu looked very sincere, his tone suggesting he was asking for Jiang Cheng's opinion. This made Jiang Cheng unsure of how to respond.

\n\n

He had always been amenable to soft tactics, not domineering ones, and to sincerity, not pretentiousness. But Teacher Xu's overly naive request was really hard for him to accept.

\n\n

"Teacher Xu," he also spoke very sincerely, "I think you should get to know me first before considering whether I'm suitable for this. Grades aren't the only measure of a person. You saw that I didn't even bring my books today for class, right?"

\n\n

The conversation didn't continue. The bell rang signaling the start of class.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't come to school at all in the morning. None of the teachers asked about his absence in class, seeming not to care whether he came or not.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was the first one out of the classroom when school ended. He had nothing to pack up, just taking the clothes on his back as he sped out of the school faster than those rushing to fight for food in the cafeteria.

\n\n

Luckily when he exited the school gates, he saw a taxi dropping off passengers. He got in the front passenger seat before the riders had even fully exited.

\n\n

"Other than the shopping mall in the city center, where else can I buy clothes?" Jiang Cheng asked the driver.

\n\n

The driver thought for a moment: "The shopping mall."

\n\n

"Which one?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"The one in the city center," the driver replied.

\n\n

"......Oh," Jiang Cheng leaned back and closed his eyes, "Then go there."

\n\n

The shopping mall was very dated. Jiang Cheng had casually browsed around when eating barbecue with Pan Zhi. He hadn't seen anything worth buying, but now he had no choice - as long as they were clothes.

\n\n

He randomly entered a shop claiming to have slash-your-throat-and-jump-off-a-building sales, making it seem like the boss would just die if you didn't buy something. He grabbed a sweater and down jacket to try on. Feeling they were decent enough, he directly paid at the counter and had the clerk cut off the tags.

\n\n

As he left the mall holding Gu Fei's clothes, he felt a sense of relief.

\n\n

The style of the newly bought clothes was nothing special, but the quality was good - warm with reasonable prices. Though definitely not slashed-your-throat level, at most jump-out-a-first-floor-window level.

\n\n

He ate something simple at the mall, then didn't know where to go.

\n\n

Maybe head back to school directly. Find a dry cleaners nearby to wash Gu Fei's clothes.

\n\n

He didn't take a taxi this time, and saw there was a bus stop up ahead as he walked.

\n\n

Just as he was approaching, his phone rang.

\n\n

It was Li Baoguo calling.

\n\n

He reluctantly picked up: "Hello?"

\n\n

"Chengcheng!" Li Baoguo's loud voice came through, "You're out of school now right!"

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng continued towards the stop.

\n\n

"Where did you sleep last night?" Li Baoguo asked, "Blowing up like that, the neighbors who don't know anything thought I did something to you!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak, standing under the sign at the stop to see if any buses went to the school area.

\n\n

"Still angry?" Li Baoguo continued asking, "Come back and eat, I bought dumplings, just waiting for you to come back and eat them!"

\n\n

"I..." Jiang Cheng didn't want to go back, but was tongue-tied now and could only say, "I'm at the shopping mall."

\n\n

"Not far! Just take bus 19 from the east gate of the mall and you can come back!" Li Baoguo immediately said, "It's at the bus stop on the east side of the mall!"

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng returned holding the clothes to Li Baoguo's street, he discovered there was a dry cleaner not far away. It looked a little unreliable, but the display window had many clothes hung up. He hesitated, then brought Gu Fei's clothes inside and paid extra to have them washed and picked up that evening.

\n\n

He stopped when he reached the building entrance. A pedicab was parked at the end of the hallway with sheets of glass loaded in the carriage. Li Baoguo was standing to the side, taking down several panes of glass and walking back with some difficulty.

\n\n

This was probably to replace the window he had smashed yesterday. Jiang Cheng sighed and ran over, "Let me carry those."

\n\n

"Yo, you're back!" Li Baoguo called out, "Don't move, I can carry them. It'd be expensive if they broke on the way back!"

\n\n

Seeing they really would be hard to handle, Jiang Cheng took the keys from Li Baoguo's hands and went to open the door.

\n\n

"Such teamwork!" Li Baoguo yelled upwards, not knowing who he was shouting at, "See that? This is my son! We have such teamwork!"

\n\n

"Why didn't you just get some workers to come directly install it?" Jiang Cheng grabbed a broom from the kitchen, seeing the broken glass still on the floor, "This..."

\n\n

"Get workers?" Li Baoguo's eyes widened, "How much would that cost! Let me tell you, even just getting these few panes of glass, I got them on credit!"

\n\n

"On credit?" Jiang Cheng froze holding the broom.

\n\n

"The glass shop on the backstreet, the boss and I play cards together. I asked him for them first," Li Baoguo said. "I'll go give him money after I win some hands in a couple days."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng opened his mouth but didn't say anything. He didn't even have money for a few panes of glass? He had to rely on winning at cards?

\n\n

"It's on the backstreet right?" He bent down, sweeping up the broken glass, "I'll go give money for it later."

\n\n

"Good son!" Li Baoguo put the glass panes on the table with a slap, clapping his hands, "Knows to feel distress for his dad! Your mom's side gave you quite a bit of money right?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced back at him without responding.

\n\n

When Li Baoguo went to the kitchen to take out the dumplings, he grabbed his jacket thrown on the bed and took out his wallet. Opening it, he suddenly felt speechless.

\n\n

The cash didn't seem to have been touched, but the card had been moved. He looked at the number again to confirm it was the original one before putting the wallet back in his pocket. Sitting on the edge of the bed, his entire being felt a little weak.

\n\n

Gu Fei reached for his cigarette case, wanting to take out a smoke, before realizing a pack was already finished.

\n\n

He furrowed his brow, crumpling the cigarette case into a ball and throwing it on the ground by his feet.

\n\n

On the ground besides the cigarette pack was a cigarette butt.

\n\n

Today was quiet. Old Xu had called several times this morning, and so did his mom, and Li Yan. He didn't answer any of them, eventually turning his phone off completely.

\n\n

The world was quiet now, he could savor the fear from the depths of his heart alone.

\n\n

The sky had already begun to darken, and the north wind blew harder and harder. The wind could pierce through his hat, earmuffs, and mask, scraping at his face again and again.

\n\n

He turned around and walked out along the small path between the two rows of tombstones, grabbed a broom, and came back in to sweep up the cigarette butts on the ground. Then he stared at the photo on the tombstone.

\n\n

This was the first time today he had looked at the photo after spending the whole day here.

\n\n

In the dim light, the person in the photo looked especially unfamiliar, yet still carried a trace of something that filled him with dread.

\n\n

"I'm leaving now," he said.

\n\n

As he turned to leave, he always felt like someone was behind him.

\n\n

But when he looked back, there was only a silent row of tombstones.

\n\n

As he continued forward, his steps grew heavier. Gu Fei took a deep breath and quickened his pace.

\n\n

The instant he put down the broom, a huge sound of water rang in his ears.

\n\n

His breathing even stopped for a moment, and he felt the darkness suddenly close in around him.

\n\n

It wasn't the sound of flowing water, nor the ordinary sound of splashing. This was...the sound of someone struggling desperately in water, filled with despair, agony, and tremendous noise.

\n\n

The water splashed up, wave after wave, only to be smashed down again. In the spray, a pair of eyes stared fiercely at him.

\n\n

"Why aren't you saving me! Are you itching for a beating?"

\n\n

In a moment of terror, Gu Fei kicked fiercely at the trash can next to him. The clanging sound as it toppled over brought him back to reality.

\n\n

He pulled at his collar and hurried down the deserted road toward the cemetery gates with his head lowered.

\n\n

This wasn't the last thing he heard, but it was what had echoed repeatedly in the nightmare he couldn't wake from the night his father died.

\n\n

His father hadn't had a chance to speak before he died, and couldn't speak. He only struggled desperately.

\n\n

He didn't know why he would dream of these words, and didn't expect them to follow him for years to come, becoming a terror he couldn't face.

\n\n

The feeling of standing soaked by the lakeside always felt so real. So real that every time, he had to grab at his clothes and check over and over that they were dry.

\n\n

The side of the cemetery they were on was actually quite lively. Once he left the gates, it was a major street. Gu Fei practically jogged into a supermarket.

\n\n

Once surrounded by the light, he finally began to feel some warmth, and the stiffness in his body slowly faded away.

\n\n

He bought two packs of cigarettes and a bottle of water, and also got some food to eat in the seating area before going back outside.

\n\n

He lit a cigarette in a sheltered spot by the road, but stubbed it out after just one puff, wanting to vomit.

\n\n

His throat now felt completely coated in sand.

\n\n

After getting on the bus and downing the entire bottle of water, he finally felt a little better. He took out his phone.

\n\n

Missed calls, mostly from Old Xu, the others didn't have anything urgent and knew he had his phone off so they wouldn't keep calling. Only Old Xu was like a loyal, perseverant suitor.

\n\n

After checking his missed calls, he went to his messages. There was only one, from Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

-Bringing clothes at 8

\n\n

Seeing Jiang Cheng's avatar, he remembered the pic he had sent Jiang Cheng yesterday and inexplicably laughed for a good while leaning on the window.

\n","published_time":"2023-10-11T23:23:28.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":373,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":14,"chapter_title":"Chapter 14","content":"

The bus route from the cemetery back home was very long, circling around half the city. Gu Fei leaned against the window shaking back and forth and fell asleep after just a couple of stops.

\n\n

When he opened his eyes there was still one stop before his home, but the time was already past eight o'clock. He took out his phone and glanced at it. Jiang Cheng hadn't sent any messages yet, he probably hadn't arrived yet.

\n\n

There was also a message from Gu Miao, just two words.

\n\n

- I ate.

\n\n

The neighbor downstairs set up a small dining table. Sometimes when he came home late without having made dinner, Gu Miao would go eat at the neighbor's place by herself, and Gu Fei would settle the bill with the neighbor again at the end of the month.

\n\n

But occasionally when his mom was in a good mood she would also cook a meal or two. His mom was a great cook, and he and Gu Miao both loved to eat her food, it was just very rare for it to happen.

\n\n

- Did you eat downstairs?

\n\n

- Yup

\n\n

Gu Fei put his phone back in his pocket as he stood by the bus door waiting to get off. This little girl was getting cooler and cooler, the words she used even for texting were sparing.

\n\n

After eight o'clock, it was already quite late at night at the old city blocks, and for their extra old streets it was basically the middle of the night already. The shops closed at this time, and there were hardly any people still out and about, except for the ones playing cards.

\n\n

As Gu Fei walked towards his shop, from far away he could see someone standing at the door. He could make out in the dim light that the person was pacing back and forth on the sidewalk, like they were dancing.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng?

\n\n

He quickened his pace walking over, and saw that it was indeed Jiang Cheng hunched over with his hands in his pockets, jumping up onto the storefront steps and bouncing back down.

\n\n

"Damn it!" Before he could say anything, Jiang Cheng glanced to the side and saw him. Whether it was from the cold or as a threat, he said in a low suppressed voice, "Why the hell aren't you only coming tomorrow!"

\n\n

After saying this last part, Gu Fei confirmed he was shivering from the cold. His voice was trembling and his teeth were chattering.

\n\n

"Sorry," Gu Fei said as he took out his keys, "the bus was slow."

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng pointed at his closed shop door, "you run a really casual business here huh."

\n\n

"Hmm?" Gu Fei glanced at him.

\n\n

"The doctor next door who just left said you didn't open the shop this afternoon." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Is that so," Gu Fei opened the door and the indoor heating rushed out, "my mom was here this afternoon...probably had something to do and left."

\n\n

"Let me in, let me in..." Jiang Cheng followed behind him and pushed him aside to get into the shop. He stomped in place for a good while before heavily sitting down on a chair, "Damn, freezing to death here."

\n\n

Gu Fei put an electric heater next to him and turned it on. "When did you get here?"

\n\n

"Seven fifty." Jiang Cheng threw the bag with clothes onto the checkout counter.

\n\n

"That early." Gu Fei was surprised.

\n\n

"I," Jiang Cheng pointed at himself, "was raised to be punctual since I was little."

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him for a while before saying, "You arrived but didn't let me know?"

\n\n

"Would you have been able to come even if I told you?" Jiang Cheng said, "Plus my phone died from the cold and wouldn't turn on."

\n\n

"Why didn't you just go back first," Gu Fei took a cup, put a lemon slice in it, poured some hot water and handed it to him, "I could've gone to pick it up too."

\n\n

"Why are you asking so many useless questions." Jiang Cheng took the cup and drank some water, glaring at the heater.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't ask anymore, "I'll bring your clothes to you tomorrow morning, brought them back to wash."

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng looked up at him, "Aren't they hard to wash, there's blood on them."

\n\n

"It's fine, anyway they're already washed." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"You're welcome," Gu Fei sat down behind the checkout counter, propping his legs up on the table, "mainly because it'd be too gross not to wash them, you didn't take them with you."

\n\n

"......Damn," Jiang Cheng said, "I forgot about them."

\n\n

After that neither of them spoke again.

\n\n

Gu Fei was very comfortable half-lying behind the counter playing on his phone. Jiang Cheng didn't have a phone to play with, so he just sat there spacing out.

\n\n

He knew that around this time all the shops on this street would be closing except for the ones with card games, and Gu Fei was probably waiting for him to leave so he could close up.

\n\n

But he didn't want to leave.

\n\n

Today it had been very lively at Li Baoguo's house. He didn't know why Li Baoguo had suddenly gone crazy, calling over a bunch of people to play cards at his place.

\n\n

At noon Li Baoguo had very skillfully fixed the two broken windows that he had punched through. Jiang Cheng was quite impressed, when it came to handyman skills, the older generation was much more capable.

\n\n

But before he could even finish the ten dumplings that Li Baoguo had claimed to make for him, suddenly five or six men and women squeezed into the room.

\n\n

Surrounding him from all sides, asking him all sorts of questions and openly gossiping.

\n\n

What a bargain, someone else raised their son to adulthood for them.

\n\n

You can just tell kids who grew up in big cities are different!

\n\n

Your adoptive parents must be quite wealthy right!

\n\n

Definitely rich, look at how he dresses and carries himself, tsk tsk tsk...

\n\n

The last middle-aged gossipy woman said, he clearly looks blood-related, look look look, he looks so much like Baoguo! Identical!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was already clenching his teeth and on the verge of bursting. As soon as he heard this he couldn't hold back anymore.

\n\n

Look alike?

\n\n

Like hell! Identical my ass!

\n\n

He pushed through these people and went straight back to his room, slamming the door shut. Only then did they give up.

\n\n

Then they ate up the entire pot of dumplings, even the three left in Jiang Cheng's bowl that he didn't get to eat.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt like nowadays he was constantly surrounded by all kinds of "unbelievable" things, looking left it was inconceivable, looking right it was unimaginable, he couldn't even breathe properly.

\n\n

When he walked out of school in the afternoon, he could already tell from the noise that the crowd was still there, clearly planning on staying the night. He didn't even go inside and directly turned back around.

\n\n

He went to the dumpling shop that he had wanted to go to the other day but didn't get to eat at, and ate dumplings. After messaging Gu Fei he did all his homework at the shop. By the time the whole lobby was empty except for him, only then did he get up to leave.

\n\n

He had a kind of unspeakable feeling of loneliness.

\n\n

He couldn't go back to his previous life, and he couldn't integrate into his current life either. Suspended outside all sorts of unfamiliarity, without family, without friends, without a place he could settle down.

\n\n

His whole being was like hanging in midair.

\n\n

After spacing out for almost half an hour in Gu Fei's shop, Jiang Cheng glanced at Gu Fei. He was still the same as before, head lowered looking at his phone screen.

\n\n

"You're waiting to close up right?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't respond, still looking at his screen.

\n\n

"If you're in a hurry to close up I'll leave," Jiang Cheng said, "if not I'll stay a while longer."

\n\n

Gu Fei still didn't make a sound or move.

\n\n

What game could be so absorbing? Jiang Cheng hesitated for a moment before getting up and leaning over the counter to peek at his phone screen.

\n\n

Stupid match-3 game!

\n\n

"Damn it." He couldn't help muttering under his breath. How could someone be so focused on playing this kind of game that they couldn't even hear people talking!

\n\n

He looked at the level, it was quite hard, just three moves left, but every move had to count or else he wouldn't pass this level. Gu Fei was probably calculating it.

\n\n

Leaning over, he also calculated it out. He quickly figured out which piece to move first, but upholding the gentleman's code of observe but don't speak, he stayed silent and waited.

\n\n

Gu Fei still didn't make a move.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng leaned over the counter for almost five minutes already, but he still didn't move. Adding the time from before, he had been spacing out here calculating these three steps for almost half an hour...

\n\n

Jiang Cheng remembered what Old Xu had said this morning, Gu Fei was quite smart...this was considered smart?

\n\n

He really couldn't stand it anymore, and reached out a finger wanting to point out an obvious move, "Can't you see here?"

\n\n

His fingertip had just passed Gu Fei's view without touching the screen yet, when Gu Fei suddenly jerked his head up. Then he grabbed Jiang Cheng's finger and twisted it backwards.

\n\n

"Ow!" Jiang Cheng yelped, the force wasn't great, but it scared him badly. He immediately became enraged, and smashed a fist at Gu Fei's chest, "What the hell is wrong with you!"

\n\n

Gu Fei let go of his hand.

\n\n

"Is there something wrong with you!" Jiang Cheng shook out his hand. Luckily he had used his left hand to point, if it was his right hand, his wound probably would've torn open.

\n\n

Gu Fei stood up and Jiang Cheng watched his movements closely, wondering if the guy had some weird temper and was getting ready to pick a fight.

\n\n

"I..." Gu Fei tossed his phone aside, poured half a glass of water and drank it. "I just fell asleep."

\n\n

"What?" Jiang Cheng was confused.

\n\n

"Sorry," Gu Fei looked at his hand, "Did I hurt you?"

\n\n

"You sleep with your eyes open?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Then I must have spaced out, didn't hear you speak," Gu Fei sat back down and checked his phone. "You wanted to tell me about the next move?"

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"What's the move?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Figure it out yourself," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked down for a bit, then swiped the screen and immediately frowned with an "Ah."

\n\n

"Dead?" Jiang Cheng watched him.

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei grunted agreement.

\n\n

"Are you..." Jiang Cheng didn't finish the second half of his sentence.

\n\n

"An idiot?" Gu Fei finished for him. "It's an idiotic game I'm playing."

\n\n

"No, didn't you see you could make a vertical bomb in the top right? With a bomb of the same color you could've used one move to get the one below..." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Before he finished, Gu Fei nodded, "Oh."

\n\n

Then he tapped and swiped the screen twice.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glared at him.

\n\n

"Passed it," Gu Fei breathed out in relief, turning to look at him. "Thanks."

\n\n

"Piss off," Jiang Cheng was a bit speechless.

\n\n

Gu Fei tossed his phone on the counter and stretched lazily. "Homework today?"

\n\n

"Obviously," Jiang Cheng said. "You guys ever not have homework?"

\n\n

"Did you do it?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng just looked at him silently.

\n\n

"Let me copy it," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng continued looking at him. Asking to copy homework with a classmate he wasn't that close to, who he'd shared a desk with for just two days and hadn't seen for a day and a half, Gu Fei's tone didn't have a hint of pleading.

\n\n

"Please, homework," Gu Fei sighed. "Let me copy it, thanks."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng also sighed, then felt a hint of amusement after.

\n\n

"Lots of homework today, it'll take a while to copy," he took out several workbooks and test paper from his bag, tossing them on the counter. "Bring them back tomorrow morning."

\n\n

"Don't need the test paper, I didn't get one," Gu Fei flipped through the books. "Your handwriting doesn't look like a top student's at all."

\n\n

"Just copy if you're copying," Jiang Cheng said. He had no objections to this, his handwriting was ugly. One line looked like a drunk boxing routine. "Beggars can't be choosers."

\n\n

Gu Fei stood up and paced around the shop twice before dragging his schoolbag out from the corner. He had just put the notebook down on the table when his phone rang.

\n\n

He pressed it, it was a voice message, and the speaker was on, so Jiang Cheng sitting to the side could hear it clearly.

\n\n

"Big bro! Bro...ah damn! I'm wrong! Big bro I'm wrong...I'll stay as far away as I can from now on...ah! Don't hit me, stop hitting! Damn it stop hitting or I'll die...a violent death!"

\n\n

The person in the voice message was screaming and begging for mercy. It made Jiang Cheng frown in surprise.

\n\n

"That's enough." Gu Fei picked up the phone and said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him for a long time, "That was the guy stuck to the tree yesterday right?"

\n\n

"Yes," Gu Fei said as he dug through his schoolbag, it took at least ten tries before he finally fished out a pen. He scribbled a couple lines but it was out of ink already. He looked at Jiang Cheng, "Got a pen?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng handed him a pen.

\n\n

There were levels even among bad students. Pan Zhi was also a bad student, but compared to Gu Fei, he was almost a pure and innocent bad student. At least Pan Zhi had pens, more than one.

\n\n

Gu Fei lowered his head to start copying homework, very focused as he copied. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was very hardworking.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sat for a while, but really couldn't stay any longer. He couldn't just sit here waiting for Gu Fei to finish copying homework.

\n\n

He stood up, "I'm leaving."

\n\n

"I thought you didn't have anywhere to go." Gu Fei said as he copied.

\n\n

Congratulations! You're correct!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything, feeling a helpless shameful bitterness.

\n\n

"Just stay here if you don't have anywhere to go, when Li Yan and Liu Fan have nothing to do they also lounge around here." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I'm leaving." The thought that in others' eyes, he had already fallen to be seen as an unsavory character, made Jiang Cheng's heart stuff up instantly, he almost lost his temper.

\n\n

He fiercely flipped aside the door curtain, and crashed into someone rushing in.

\n\n

"Bastard!" The person he crashed into was a woman, before they even separated she was already cursing, "Bastard!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was so shocked he even lost his anger, staring wide-eyed at this woman.

\n\n

"Don't block the way!" The woman shoved him forcefully aside, "Gu Fei you scumbag!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng staggered several steps back from her push, by the time he could get a clear look at this woman's appearance, he was stunned.

\n\n

No need for introductions or guessing, with one look you could tell this was definitely Gu Fei's mother. Their eyes and noses were identical.

\n\n

"What's wrong with you." Gu Fei threw down his pen and stood up, frowning.

\n\n

"What did you do!" The woman rushed forward and slapped Gu Fei.

\n\n

Gu Fei grabbed her hand, glancing at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Umm..." Jiang Cheng was so awkward he didn't know where to look, "Auntie, I'm leaving."

\n\n

"Why are you leaving!" The woman turned back and rushed over to grab his arm, "You're in it together with this bastard! You can't leave either!"

\n\n

"Wha...what?" Jiang Cheng was stunned.

\n\n

"What did you guys do!" The woman slapped his arm.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't dare grab her hand like Gu Fei did, after all this was Gu Fei's mother. He could only grit his teeth and take the slap.

\n\n

To be honest, this woman was very beautiful, but he really couldn't understand her crazy state.

\n\n

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Gu Fei grabbed her arm and flung her onto a nearby chair. Pointing at her face, "Go crazy again, I dare you!"

\n\n

The woman finally didn't leap over again, but suddenly started crying, "Am I not your mother! I find a boyfriend and what's wrong with that, you go and beat him up so badly he doesn't dare see me again...do you want me to stay a widow forever!"

\n\n

Gu Fei's expression was very ugly, his hands were even shaking slightly.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt that if he wasn't here, Gu Fei might have slapped his mother.

\n\n

But in this situation, even if he left and Gu Fei's mother got slapped, he still had to leave. He could roughly sympathize with Gu Fei's mood, just like how he didn't want others to see his relationship with Li Baoguo.

\n\n

He retreated towards the door, when Gu Fei looked over, he gestured at the door.

\n\n

Gu Fei tiredly nodded. He quickly slipped out the door.

\n\n

The overwhelming awkwardness and commiseration dissipated bit by bit in the cold wind outside.

\n\n

Damn, what the hell kind of mother!

\n\n

He frowned, was there even one normal person in this damned place?

\n\n

Behind him came the sound of wheels scraping the ground, a very familiar sound. He hurriedly looked back, and sure enough saw Gu Miao skateboarding over.

\n\n

Passing by the shop door, she probably heard the noise inside and paused for a second, but didn't stop. With one push off the ground she flew over like the wind.

\n\n

When she reached Jiang Cheng she waved, before Jiang Cheng could warn her to be careful, she had already kicked off and leapt up, swooshing past Jiang Cheng. She landed steadily in front of him, then beautifully spun around and stopped.

\n\n

"Why didn't you go home?" Jiang Cheng looked at her, knowing she definitely wouldn't answer.

\n\n

Gu Miao didn't say anything, just lightly kicked the skateboard and it slid to Jiang Cheng's feet.

\n\n

"Letting me ride it?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded, adjusting her hat.

\n\n

"I can ride, just haven't in a long time." Jiang Cheng said, rubbing his hands.

\n\n

Gu Miao still didn't speak, only looking at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng unexpectedly saw a trace of provocation in her eyes, and couldn't help laughing, "You're challenging me huh?"

\n\n

Gu Miao leaned against a nearby lamppost, hugging her arms as she watched him.

\n\n

"Yo," Jiang Cheng threw his schoolbag onto a nearby snowdrift, stepping onto the skateboard, "Pretty cool chick."

\n\n

Gu Miao lifted her chin slightly, signaling him to hurry up.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng used to enjoy playing with things like rollerblades and skateboards in elementary and middle school, but after that his mother eliminated all these "irrelevant to studying" items for the high school entrance exam.

\n\n

He took a deep breath, pushed off with his foot, and slid out.

\n\n

The speed wasn't high. He wasn't familiar with the terrain here, but luckily Gu Miao had a twin-tip board, the type he was most familiar with, so it was relatively easy to get used to.

\n\n

After sliding a distance, he heard footsteps behind him. Looking back, he saw Gu Miao running after him. Seeing him look back, Gu Miao immediately clapped her hands, though he couldn't tell if she was applauding him or hurrying him along.

\n\n

Still, the fact that a little girl could keep up while he was on a skateboard...it was pretty amusing.

\n\n

Gu Miao hopped as she ran, mimicking a tiger jump.

\n\n

Can't lose face in front of a little girl. He steadied himself and pushed off the board, leaping over a small snowdrift ahead and even managing to point at Gu Miao.

\n\n

Gu Miao's eyes lit up and she jumped excitedly, snapping her fingers crisply.

\n\n

Her finger snap made Jiang Cheng feel inadequate. Very crisp.

\n\n

After landing he kept sliding until he reached the street corner. This time he slid very quickly, and Gu Miao didn't follow. She stood where she was, watching him.

\n\n

When he slid back, he even dared to jump onto and down the steps with the risk of falling on his face. Luckily he didn't fall, just wobbled a bit.

\n\n

Skateboarding is a good way to relieve stress. Riding the board, gliding past people like the wind, leaving behind all that's annoying, boring, vexing.

\n\n

Although doing this in the cold winter wind is pretty chilly, it feels awesome.

\n\n

The road back sloped slightly, and his speed increased considerably. His feel for it was also slowly coming back.

\n\n

He glanced at Gu Miao. She was watching him full of anticipation. Keeping his eyes on the ground, he planned to leap over the large snowdrift as he passed Gu Miao.

\n\n

His current speed was just right. Jiang Cheng sped forward with the wind. The snowdrift quickly drew near.

\n\n

Just as he was about to jump, he noticed a small brick on the ground ahead.

\n\n

Damn!

\n\n

The brick was right in his path. With his currently rusty skills, avoiding it would be hard. He could only jump early, but might still land on top of the snowdrift.

\n\n

...It all depended on how high he could jump.

\n\n

He stomped the board and leapt vigorously upwards.

\n\n

But luck wasn't on his side.

\n\n

Maybe it was too cold, or he was too nervous. Anyway, he didn't exert enough force or pull his legs up high enough... He already knew where he would land.

\n\n

The nose of the board would likely spear into the top of the snowdrift.

\n\n

As for himself, he would probably crash onto the sidewalk ahead.

\n\n

Come on! Fly! Youth!

\n\n

After the brief flight, the board nose speared into the snowdrift as he had predicted. In the instant he crashed out, he suddenly noticed someone in front of him.

\n\n

Crap.

\n","published_time":"2023-10-19T07:20:08.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":381,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":15,"chapter_title":"Chapter 15","content":"

There's some law that says if you hit one red light, you'll hit them all. No matter how fast or slow you go, you'll always run into red lights.

\n\n

There should also be a law that says if you embarrass yourself in front of someone once, you'll keep embarrassing yourself in front of them no matter how unlikely it seems or how careful you are - your dignity is never really your own.

\n\n

Just like now. Gu Fei looked ready to hit his own mother five minutes ago, and five minutes later he mysteriously appeared on the sidewalk as if sent by the heavens itself to witness his further disgrace.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't fly for long, but it was long enough to contemplate many things in a flash.

\n\n

For example, he could tell Gu Fei was in a terrible mood from the expression on his face. One look and you'd know he was a powder keg ready to explode.

\n\n

He also knew that from this angle, if he kept going he'd run smack into the foul-tempered Gu Fei.

\n\n

He knew that with their momentum the collision would be powerful, probably enough to knock Gu Fei over.

\n\n

He also knew he should immediately move his hands out of the way. Otherwise when they collided his scraped palm that was just starting to scab over would burst right open.

\n\n

......

\n\n

In short, when he spread his arms like he was flying towards the sun and barreled into Gu Fei, Gu Fei's expression changed unpredictably.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng slammed into him with a solid thud.

\n\n

Bang!

\n\n

After the first time he'd learned how loud it was to hit a tree, now he learned for the first time how a collision between two people could also make such a vivid sound.

\n\n

His forehead smashed into Gu Fei's collarbone first, then his mouth collided with who knows what - it felt like he'd bitten into a zipper or something. After that it was a blur of body parts crashing into Gu Fei at different speeds.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't even stumble, just tipped straight backwards and fell on the ground.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng went tumbling after him.

\n\n

He didn't feel any pain when they collided, but now falling to the ground really didn't hurt either, probably because Gu Fei cushioned his fall.

\n\n

When he hit the ground Jiang Cheng even had the fleeting impression of a cloud of snow mist puffing up around them.

\n\n

It took him several seconds to confirm it was just an illusion - there was no snow under Gu Fei, just the brick pavement.

\n\n

The fall left them both a little stunned.

\n\n

It wasn't until Jiang Cheng heard Gu Fei mutter "Fuck me" under his breath that he came to his senses. He shifted his uninjured left hand to push himself up. "Sorry ab-"

\n\n

His hand bumped Gu Fei's ribcage instead of finding purchase.

\n\n

"Fuck!" Gu Fei yelled in pain. "What the hell is wrong with you!"

\n\n

To be honest, Jiang Cheng was in a terrible mood. The brief delight from recklessly skateboarding with Gu Miao did little to help. Wandering the streets at night skateboarding like a gradeschooler was depressing no matter how you looked at it.

\n\n

Now Gu Fei's words set him off. But he was the one who'd plowed into Gu Fei after all, and not lightly either - he'd even knocked a zipper off Gu Fei's jacket.

\n\n

"Get off me!" Gu Fei shoved him away.

\n\n

"Fuck your uncle, it's not like I did it on purpose!" Jiang Cheng said, then winced as his teeth ached. There was something in his mouth. He turned his head and spat out half of a zipper pull.

\n\n

Ping.

\n\n

Pretty crisp sound.

\n\n

As soon as he heard it his mouth filled with pain. He didn't dare imagine how he'd bitten half a zipper off. He didn't even have the courage to lick his teeth to see if they were still there.

\n\n

"Cut the bullshit! Quit wandering around with a fucking attitude acting like you're something you're not!" Gu Fei looked ready to blow as he roughly shoved him again. "Top student my ass!"

\n\n

"Fuck off," Jiang Cheng plopped down on his butt, instantly furious. "Try that again if you've got the balls!"

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't even glance at him. He just kicked him in the stomach.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng instantly felt like the whole world faded away. All that was left was this fucker Gu Fei. He sprang up and kicked Gu Fei right back.

\n\n

Gu Fei dodged to the side quickly so Jiang Cheng's kick hit nothing but air. But he immediately followed it up with another kick to Gu Fei's back.

\n\n

"Fuck!" Gu Fei grabbed his ankle and yanked.

\n\n

As Jiang Cheng crashed back to the ground he lashed out with his other leg, trying to kick Gu Fei's face.

\n\n

Gu Fei blocked it with his arm and jumped on him, punching him right in the face.

\n\n

Fuck his mom! Why was he hitting so hard!

\n\n

This bastard!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's left eye flashed a string of stars, like a little train had run it over. He couldn't worry about anything else now. He shoved Gu Fei's chin hard with the heel of his hand. Gu Fei rocked back a bit. Jiang Cheng took the chance to jab his ribs with an elbow...but he wasn't successful. Gu Fei grabbed his wrist quickly.

\n\n

What happened next was completely unexpected. The bastard pressed down on the scrape in his palm.

\n\n

"Ahhh!" Jiang Cheng yelled and reflexively drew his legs up, ramming his knees into Gu Fei's back.

\n\n

Gu Fei lurched forward, catching himself with one hand planted next to Jiang Cheng's head.

\n\n

Playing dirty huh? Fine!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng turned his head and bit Gu Fei's wrist.

\n\n

"Ah!" Gu Fei also cried out in pain. Jiang Cheng kept his teeth locked on. Gu Fei could only grab his cheeks and try to pry him off.

\n\n

The bastard had incredibly strong hands. Jiang Cheng felt like his cheeks were being crushed, aching waves radiating through them.

\n\n

But at least now he was sure his teeth were still there, and still going strong.

\n\n

Just as things were devolving into an idiotic quagmire with them rolling around grappling inseparably, a voice called out from the side: "Gu Fei?"

\n\n

They were too absorbed in their scuffle to react, continuing to earnestly trade blows.

\n\n

"Gu Fei!" The person yelled, paused, then shouted again, "Jiang Cheng? What are you... Stop! Both of you stop!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng recognized Old Xu's voice right away, but didn't even have time to wonder why he'd suddenly appeared.

\n\n

"You two stop!" Old Xu came over and kicked them each once. "What's gotten into you! Did you eat too much?"

\n\n

They finally halted at the same time.

\n\n

But they only stopped, as if someone had hit pause. Their positions were still frozen, grappling with each other.

\n\n

Neither dared let go easily now that they'd scraped palms and bit wrists. Unsure if the other would resort to more childish tactics, they held their grips and stared each other down.

\n\n

"Let go!" Old Xu pulled at their arms for a while before finally separating them.

\n\n

"What's going on here!" Old Xu glared at Gu Fei. "How could you fight your deskmate!"

\n\n

"Did you only see me hitting him?" Gu Fei wiped his mouth corner. "Are you blind?"

\n\n

Old Xu didn't care about Gu Fei's irritation. He turned to Jiang Cheng. "And what's with you? You're such a good kid normally. How did you end up brawling as soon as you got here?"

\n\n

"I told you," Jiang Cheng shook out his hand. It was numb, he couldn't feel any pain. "Don't judge someone by their grades. Not one teacher has called me a good kid."

\n\n

"Ah!" Old Xu sighed. He pointed across the street at Gu Miao. "That's your sister isn't it! Look how frightened you've made the poor girl!"

\n\n

Only now did Jiang Cheng remember Gu Miao was still there. He immediately felt a little uneasy and looked over. But he was taken aback to see Gu Miao sitting alone on a stone bench across the street, one hand on her cheek, watching them with utter calm.

\n\n

Or not calm exactly, more like indifference, uncaring.

\n\n

"She's not afraid of fights." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak again. Gu Miao really was a bit strange... Earlier when he'd hurt his hand, Gu Fei had carefully blocked her view. She was clearly afraid of blood.

\n\n

But now he and Gu Fei had practically scoured the pavement clean, yet she watched with a blank expression. Jiang Cheng remembered how she hadn't even glanced up from her food when Gu Fei pinned someone to a tree.

\n\n

What was up with this girl?

\n\n

"You two should clean up a bit," Old Xu couldn't get anything out of them, so he pointed at their bags on the ground. "I happened to be here for a home visit. Let's talk about why you fought first."

\n\n

Home visit?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was a little surprised. A homeroom teacher braving the bitter night wind for a home visit at 9 pm...he really didn't know what to say.

\n\n

"Whose home are you visiting?" Gu Fei tidied his clothes, then tried to zip up and noticed the pull was gone. He looked over at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glared back.

\n\n

What are you looking at? I ate it!

\n\n

"I've made it all the way here already. Whose home could I be visiting?" Old Xu sighed again. "Of course it's your home."

\n\n

Gu Fei was silent for a moment before turning to walk back. "Then let's go."

\n\n

"Wait," Old Xu apparently hadn't expected such straightforward agreement. "I still want to understand why you two fought."

\n\n

"We were bored," Gu Fei looked back at him. "Are we going or what?"

\n\n

Old Xu seemed unsure whether to visit first or resolve their fight first. He took a step forward, stopped, took a step back, paused to think, then took another step forward.

\n\n

"I'm going home," Jiang Cheng wanted to clap a beat for him. "Thanks Head Teacher Xu."

\n\n

He turned and walked towards the street before Old Xu could respond.

\n\n

Behind him Gu Fei whistled. Jiang Cheng didn't look back - Gu Fei was probably summoning Gu Miao. Sure enough he immediately heard the sound of her skateboard wheels rolling on the ground.

\n\n

He sighed softly. What a night...fantastic.

\n\n

The card game at Li Baoguo's house was still going. But these men who spent their lives immersed at the card table seemed to have nothing left except the square foot in front of them. Curiosity and gossip couldn't compete with those dozen shuffling cards.

\n\n

After the brief spectacle and discussion at lunchtime, Jiang Cheng had vanished from their awareness. No one even glanced up when he came home and went inside. Only Li Baoguo said, "You're back huh? We had delivery, want anything to eat?"

\n\n

"Don't worry about me." Jiang Cheng said and went into his room.

\n\n

He took off his jacket and looked it over. It was smudged with dirt and scraped in two spots.

\n\n

Damn, he frowned, these were new clothes!

\n\n

His face probably didn't look too great either. He paced the room twice but couldn't even find a mirror, so he took out his phone and tried turning it on.

\n\n

Warmed by his body heat, the phone started up successfully.

\n\n

He looked at his face in the front camera.

\n\n

There was some slight swelling on his forehead, nothing too bad since his hair covered half of it. His lower lip had a small split, probably from hitting Gu Fei's zipper.

\n\n

The rest was just minor scrapes.

\n\n

He sighed again, unsure how he felt.

\n\n

The fight had been a bit...reckless actually. He didn't usually brawl like that, rolling around in the muck. It felt more like he'd just been venting.

\n\n

He wasn't even sure what he wanted the outcome to be with Gu Fei. He just wanted to fight, to tear and struggle, to exert himself, to break free of that invisible, intangible restraint weighing him down.

\n\n

As for Gu Fei, whether affected by him or not, the guy who could one-handedly swing people around had ended up gracelessly tussling on the ground, even scraping palms. Fuck! How he wished Gu Fei's lackeys could've seen!

\n\n

Hey guys, your boss is a street dragon rolling on the ground!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked down at his hand. Blood had seeped through the bandage.

\n\n

He rummaged in his backpack - he'd gotten some alcohol, cotton, and medicine from the community clinic yesterday. Luckily it was all still intact, uncrushed.

\n\n

He unwrapped his hand and awkwardly rinsed it with his left hand, disinfecting it. The clumsiness of his left hand made him jab the wound several times, pain bringing tears to his eyes.

\n\n

He really felt like crying. Although he'd always believed crying was pointless, ever since the holiday had started, a suppressed urge to find somewhere private and bawl his eyes out welled up periodically.

\n\n

He felt like one day he should just go somewhere secluded and have a good long cry, really let it all out.

\n\n

In the morning when Jiang Cheng got up, the overnight card game in the living room had finally ended. Two men were passed out on the couch while Li Baoguo snored thunderously in bed.

\n\n

He didn't linger for even a second after washing up, just grabbed his backpack and left.

\n\n

Before he even reached school, the delivery company called again: "It's been three days already. Tomorrow at the latest or we'll have to start charging storage fees!"

\n\n

"Can you drop it off at my place?" Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

"We can, ¥200 to the building entrance," they said. "There's an extra fee if you want us to bring it upstairs."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't reply. He actually felt upset about how he was starting to feel pained over money.

\n\n

"I think it's best if you pick it up yourself," they were pretty considerate. "Lots of motorized tricycles around here, shouldn't cost more than ¥100 to get it hauled back."

\n\n

"Got it, thanks." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Saturday was tomorrow, good.

\n\n

But as he thought about it he started to worry again. With his current room, fitting a bed and cabinet took up almost all the space. He'd have to squeeze the desk in. He had no idea where he'd put the stuff once he brought it back.

\n\n

...Maybe his mom hadn't packed up too much after all.

\n\n

He walked into the classroom wearing a face mask. The swelling on his forehead had gone down somewhat, and was half-hidden by his hair, so no one noticed anything off even as he sat down.

\n\n

He didn't know what Old Xu had said to Gu Fei during the home visit last night, but Gu Fei had miraculously entered the classroom before the morning self-study bell.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced over and froze.

\n\n

Gu Fei's face was uninjured, just some scraping on his jaw... What stunned Jiang Cheng was that the guy was wearing glasses!

\n\n

What the fuck! Pretending to be a top student?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stared at him.

\n\n

Strangely, no one else seemed surprised to see Gu Fei in glasses. So he probably...wore them often?

\n\n

It reminded Jiang Cheng of Pan Zhi. Pan Zhi was also a bit nearsighted but refused to wear glasses.

\n\n

"How could I wear glasses with grades like mine!" Pan Zhi had said. "I'd rather see blurry!"

\n\n

Look at motivated Pan Zhi, that guy has aspirations and multiple pens...

\n\n

Gu Fei walked over and tossed a bag on Jiang Cheng's desk before sitting down.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng opened it and saw his sweater and homework inside.

\n\n

Fuck! His homework!

\n\n

He'd completely forgotten to take it back after the fight yesterday!

\n\n

Getting in a brawl and having his homework copied by the same person, too damn embarrassing.

\n\n

"Still swollen?" Gu Fei said from beside him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked over, trying hard to discern if his tone held apology or smugness, but failed. Gu Fei spoke as casually as commenting on the day of the week.

\n\n

So he didn't respond.

\n\n

"Da Fei!" Zhou Jing leaned onto their desk. "Da Fei!"

\n\n

Gu Fei pushed his glasses up and looked at him.

\n\n

"Da Fei?" Zhou Jing tilted his face. "Hey Da Fei..."

\n\n

Gu Fei smacked the back of his head.

\n\n

"How come you didn't come yesterday? Out partying?" Zhou Jing rubbed his head and asked.

\n\n

"No." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I thought you were skipping class again like last semester, off travelling." Zhou Jing said.

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed and looked at him. "You think you can travel for just one day of skipped class?"

\n\n

"...Good point, it's not enough time for just one day," Zhou Jing said. "Hey you..."

\n\n

"Piss off." Gu Fei ended it simply.

\n\n

Class today was no different than the first two days. The teacher lectured, students goofed off, perfectly peaceful and harmonious.

\n\n

Gu Fei also acted the same as usual. First with the silly candy crash games, then earphones and videos once he got bored of the little red hearts.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng couldn't help glancing over at his face several times.

\n\n

Gu Fei, if you ignored his eyes, gave off a rather gentle impression. His clothing and styling were all quite comfortable designs and colors. With glasses on, he looked completely nerdy, like a real top student.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was truly somewhat shocked by this miraculous aura he had about him.

\n\n

After looking several times, he finally put his attention back on the teacher. No matter how bad the teacher's lecture was, he had to listen. No matter if he was half asleep laying on the desk, he had to listen when it came to key points.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng never admitted he was the type who could test well without studying. He was very clear that he had spent a lot of time on studying. This kind of classroom environment and study atmosphere really made him feel nervous.

\n\n

He didn't think too highly of his grades at his previous school, but he definitely didn't want his grades to drop after coming to the No. 4 High.

\n\n

In the last English class, Old Lu taught very passionately. Perhaps it was because the weekend was coming tomorrow, everyone in the classroom was a bit distracted. He had to yell to wake everyone up.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was quite serious, half laying on the desk taking notes.

\n\n

"Let's talk about today's homework!" Near the end of class, Old Lu slapped the desk, "Your homework could be put in an exhibition! Such a simple homework but you all couldn't write it correctly, a hundred ways wrong!"

\n\n

"There's not a hundred people in our class," Wang Xu replied.

\n\n

The whole class laughed.

\n\n

"You!" Old Lu pointed with his teaching stick, "The expression 'useless snack' is referring to you! If human organs degenerate you'd definitely only have a mouth left!"

\n\n

Wang Xu pushed his desk a bit, somewhat annoyed.

\n\n

"If you're unhappy then come to my office after class!" Old Lu yelled. Without waiting for Wang Xu's reaction, his teaching stick pointed in Jiang Cheng and the other's direction, poking forward, "Gu Fei!"

\n\n

"Here," Gu Fei raised his head.

\n\n

"Say, don't you have a problem! You copied the homework right? You copied it right!" Old Lu said in succession, "Did you copy it! Just say if you copied it! Did you copy it!"

\n\n

Gu Fei waited a long time but didn't find a chance to reply.

\n\n

"You copied homework! Do it with some skill okay! Okay!" Teacher Lu slapped the desk, "Copying without a single mistake! Not one mistake! Say it, whose did you copy!"

\n\n

This time he did give Gu Fei a chance to reply.

\n\n

Gu Fei was silent for a bit, then raised his finger and pointed at Zhou Jing: "His."

\n\n

"Zhou Jing!" Teacher Lu immediately yelled, pointing at Zhou Jing, "You're so great! How about I add 'helpful to others' to your end of term assessment!"

\n\n

Zhou Jing was frightened, he looked back and saw Gu Fei pointing at him. He opened and closed his mouth but didn't say anything.

\n\n

Teacher Lu scolded and held onto the homework the whole time until the end of class. He waved his teaching stick, tucked it under his arm, and left the classroom.

\n\n

"Damn," Zhou Jing looked back, "Whose did you copy?"

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him but didn't say anything.

\n\n

After a while, Zhou Jing stood up, "Forget it, whatever."

\n\n

After Zhou Jing left, Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Fei, not knowing what to say.

\n\n

"Er Miao will be waiting at the school gate later," Gu Fei said while packing up his bag, "Go with her."

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng was stunned, "I just fought with her brother, I don't want to go with her."

\n\n

"Go ahead and try," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Fine, damn it," Jiang Cheng was a bit mad, "Then I'll try."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak. After a while he deeply breathed in, "Do me a favor, thanks."

\n\n

"Oh, how hard for you," Jiang Cheng suddenly felt much better.

\n\n

"Yes," Gu Fei said.

\n","published_time":"2023-10-26T00:39:04.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:31:28.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z"},{"content_id":389,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":16,"chapter_title":"Chapter 16","content":"

As Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei walked out of the school gate one after the other, Jiang Cheng really wanted to say to Gu Fei, "I'm doing this for Gu Miao's sake, not yours."

\n\n

But Gu Fei never looked back, so he never got a chance to say it.

\n\n

When they were standing side by side, he couldn't say it either, as Gu Miao was sitting on the handrail of the sidewalk swinging her legs, hugging her skateboard.

\n\n

Seeing them come out, she immediately jumped down, kicked her board forward, chased it for two steps, jumped on and slid up to them. Then she reached into Gu Fei's pocket and took out a bag of candy.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was stunned for a moment, watching Gu Miao pick out all the fruit candies from the bag.

\n\n

He carries a bag of candy with him every day just for little Gu Miao?

\n\n

After unwrapping a candy and putting it in her mouth, Gu Miao suddenly turned her head and rushed off on her skateboard, riding close to the edge of the sidewalk, presumably to avoid hitting people.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng could only follow behind and keep an eye on her. Although Gu Miao was very agile and technically skilled, she was still an elementary school student after all... Moreover, her brother simply turned around, got on his bike and left without even glancing in her direction.

\n\n

After sliding forward a section, Gu Miao stopped and looked back at him.

\n\n

"What?" Jiang Cheng walked quickly to her side.

\n\n

Gu Miao jumped off her skateboard and moved it aside.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng really wanted to say, I'm still sore all over from fighting your brother yesterday, I don't want to skate. But Gu Miao stared at him with big round eyes, and he couldn't get the words out.

\n\n

"Okay." He sighed, stepped onto the skateboard and slowly slid forward.

\n\n

Fortunately, after turning a corner, this was not a main road and there were few people.

\n\n

Gu Miao ran after him, and suddenly clapped her hands.

\n\n

When he looked back, Gu Miao accelerated towards him and made a gesture, indicating for him to get off.

\n\n

"You're pretty good at this..." He understood Gu Miao's intention, jumped off the skateboard.

\n\n

Gu Miao timed it perfectly, leapt onto the board as it came to her, used the momentum to accelerate, kicked a few more times, then looked back at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Ah..." Jiang Cheng felt really tired, but still ran over, "Why don't you get your brother to do this with you..."

\n\n

Gu Miao jumped off the board. He immediately jumped on the still moving board and continued forward.

\n\n

They just took turns like this, sliding segment by segment.

\n\n

It was actually quite fun. Gu Miao didn't talk, and he didn't need to either. Just cooperating with her like this was enough. The key was that she was skilled, so Jiang Cheng didn't have to worry about her falling.

\n\n

Gu Fei followed them about ten meters away the whole time, riding his bike. One leg was dragging on the ground as he slowly pedaled forward, head lowered as he played with his cell phone, not watching the road or his sister.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng kept hoping he would crash into one of the uncovered manholes.

\n\n

But this shabby little city, while shabby, was quite well managed. Even the bricks on the sidewalk had no missing ones. Gu Fei rode all the way to their street smoothly and safely.

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng jumped off the skateboard, sweaty from the ride, "I'm going back that way."

\n\n

Gu Miao put one foot on the skateboard and waved goodbye to him.

\n\n

He also waved back.

\n\n

Gu Miao whistled, and Gu Fei looked up at her. He suddenly stomped hard on the pedals, and the bike shot forward. As it passed her, she reached out and grabbed the back of the seat, getting pulled along by Gu Fei like waterskiing.

\n\n

"...Take off and fly." Jiang Cheng watched, a little speechless.

\n\n

Gu Fei probably didn't have a father. His mother was also questionable. Gu Miao was likely raised by Gu Fei like a puppy.

\n\n

If this happened in his family, his mother would probably nag about it for half a year if she saw another child's brother treat his sister like this.

\n\n

...Some things were like obsessive compulsions, uncontrollably coming to mind over and over.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked up and took a deep breath of the icy air, feeling his heart lighten a little.

\n\n

Returning to Li Baoguo's home, the card players were all gone. The living room was a mess, with unfinished card games and jars full of cigarette ashes on the table, just looking at it made one nauseous.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng went into the kitchen. He couldn't keep ordering takeout. He had no allowance now, all spending and no income, he had to save money. Considering Li Baoguo's situation, not even asking him for money would be considered decent.

\n\n

As soon as he entered the kitchen he wanted to smash things. Yesterday after Li Baoguo made dumplings, he had just left everything as is, unwashed and uncleared. The pot still had half a pot of noodle soup.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wanted to wash the pot, but as soon as he picked it up, he froze in place.

\n\n

A drowned cockroach was in the noodle soup.

\n\n

The scene shocked him so much he couldn't even vomit. He just stood there holding the pot, feeling like multi-legged creatures had crawled all over him, itchy with disgust.

\n\n

After standing there for at least two minutes, he gritted his teeth and poured the noodle soup into the toilet, then put the pot on the floor and rinsed it thoroughly with the faucet for a good while, scrubbing it hard with detergent. Finally he filled the pot with water and started boiling it.

\n\n

Even after the water boiled, he didn't turn off the heat, just staring at the churning water surface until he felt like he had boiled away the last traces of the cockroach. Only then did he pour out the water and boil a fresh pot, planning to cook some noodles for himself.

\n\n

There was a fridge in the kitchen. Opening it brought a wave of odor. Inside there were only a few small red peppers, looking at least a month old from their condition.

\n\n

No meat, no eggs, nothing.

\n\n

Damn! Did Li Baoguo buy meat for the dumplings by weight? Not a penny more!

\n\n

After spacing out at the pot of water for a while, he turned off the heat.

\n\n

He struggled painfully between going out to eat, ordering takeout, and buying some ingredients to cook noodles. Finally he resolutely chose to go buy groceries.

\n\n

Under the current circumstances, he was powerless to change them. The only thing he could do was try to adapt, although it was easier said than done.

\n\n

He took his wallet and phone and went out to buy groceries.

\n\n

He should go to the vegetable market, but... after coming here for so long, walking around the vicinity every day, he still hadn't found a vegetable market.

\n\n

He wanted to ask someone, but had walked all the way to the street entrance without encountering any pedestrians. It was cooking time now, so people were at home.

\n\n

He frowned and glanced down another street.

\n\n

Gu Fei's pseudo-supermarket. That must have vegetables. Even if no greens, at least processed meats, canned ham, fish etc... He didn't know if it was because he had been living too miserably lately, but when he thought of these things, he actually swallowed involuntarily, hungry.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng, just look at yourself!

\n\n

After this self-reflection, he still turned into that side street.

\n\n

Now, even lifting the curtain to Gu Fei's shop gave him a sense of awkwardness. Every time it felt embarrassing. After fighting this morning and barely exchanging three sentences all morning, coming to shop felt even more awkward.

\n\n

As soon as he lifted the curtain, he immediately felt like a dense array of eyes were glaring at him.

\n\n

It wasn't awkward, he was so startled he nearly tripped.

\n\n

Fourteen eyes from seven people - the Gu siblings, their not-a-good-bird friends, and Li Yan.

\n\n

Gu Fei seemed a bit surprised. He turned back holding his chopsticks without speaking. When he didn't speak, neither the unsavory friends nor Li Yan made a sound.

\n\n

Only Gu Miao stood up and waved at him.

\n\n

He smiled at Gu Miao, then walked in, "I'm here to buy some things."

\n\n

"Go ahead," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Just... ham sausages and such. Where are they?" Jiang Cheng looked around. The Gu family shop was quite large, with several rows of shelves.

\n\n

"Furthest in by the window on that row." Li Yan said.

\n\n

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng glanced at him and walked over.

\n\n

The selection was quite comprehensive: ham, sausage sticks, sliced sausage, red sausage. He took a pack of each, and also a canned pork and a canned fish.

\n\n

After taking two steps towards the cash register, he turned back halfway, grabbing some oil, salt, sauce and vinegar as well, as he harbored deep fears about everything in Li Baoguo's kitchen.

\n\n

"Quite a haul," Li Yan said behind the counter as he rang up the purchases. "Cooking?"

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng hesitated, "Do you have... pots?"

\n\n

"Pots?" Li Yan was surprised and looked over at Gu Fei. "Do we have pots?"

\n\n

Gu Fei was also surprised. He stood up, "What pots?"

\n\n

"Just... pots for stir-frying, stewing..." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"We do," Gu Fei said, "Though you can get better quality from the department stores."

\n\n

"No worries, as long as they work." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him, then turned and walked to the furthest corner. From a pile of buckets and basins he fished out two pots, one a wok and one a soup pot, and held them up towards him. "This size?"

\n\n

"That works." Jiang Cheng nodded, going over to take them.

\n\n

"Might as well eat together, it's just a matter of adding one more pair of chopsticks." Li Yan leaned on the counter.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took out his wallet. Li Yan spoke enthusiastically, but his eyes held unfriendly provocation as he looked over.

\n\n

What Jiang Cheng hated most was people inexplicably confronting him like this. He snapped his money out and slapped it on the counter, bracing his hand on it as he stared back.

\n\n

"Your eyeballs are gonna pop out," Gu Fei walked over and sat back down, saying, "Take the money."

\n\n

Li Yan stared at him a moment longer before looking down to take the money and counting out change after much deliberation.

\n\n

Seeing that Li Yan had no intention of getting him a bag, Jiang Cheng glanced around the cash register and grabbed two from a stack of shopping bags hanging there. He put everything inside, then turned and left the shop.

\n\n

"Are you sick or something?" Liu Fan looked at Li Yan.

\n\n

"Not sick," Li Yan sat down and took a drink, "I don't know why either, I just can't stand looking at the punk."

\n\n

"Can't stand looking?" Liu Fan said, "People who don't know better would think you're love at first sight, staring like you're about to lick him up."

\n\n

"Do you know how to talk?" Li Yan glared at him.

\n\n

"Brother Yan's in a bad mood today, huh." Luo Yu smiled as he gnawed on a bone.

\n\n

"None of your business," Li Yan slanted him a glance. "I made this meal, if you don't want to eat nicely then go cook noodles in the back courtyard yourself."

\n\n

"Speaking of which, this big bone you bought today is really good," Liu Fan said, "Fresh."

\n\n

"Had my mom buy it," Li Yan said. "When it gets cold I just crave meat all the time... Er Miao, wipe your oily mouth, you're still a little beauty, be aware of your image."

\n\n

Gu Miao took a napkin and wiped her mouth, bowing her head to continue eating.

\n\n

"Right, that guy hasn't come around again, has he?" Liu Fan asked.

\n\n

"Mm." Gu Fei put some greens into Gu Miao's bowl.

\n\n

Gu Miao quickly picked out the greens, trying to put them into Li Yan's bowl, but Gu Fei's chopsticks pinned hers down. "Your face is so dry it's peeling."

\n\n

Gu Miao could only retract her hand and stuff the greens into her mouth.

\n\n

"A dry, peeling face is from lack of skincare." Li Yan leaned over to look at Gu Miao's face. "Er Miao, have you been using that moisturizing cream I bought you?"

\n\n

Gu Miao didn't answer.

\n\n

"She finds it troublesome." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Li Yan tsked. "Don't know who she got this rough temper from, not your mom or brother either..."

\n\n

He stopped mid-sentence, stuck for a long while, before putting a noodle in his mouth.

\n\n

"It's fine." Gu Fei drank some soup.

\n\n

Today's meal was cooked by the ingredients Li Yan had brought. One benefit of having a few jobless vagrant friends was that when his unreliable mom wasn't around, they would come help out.

\n\n

When Gu Fei wasn't skipping school, his mom would come to the shop, but she would leave within half a day at least twice a week. Li Yan would come on those days, watching the shop and cooking.

\n\n

He wasn't a great cook, just throwing various ingredients together into a messy pot, everything coming out tasting the same. But he was willing to buy plenty of ingredients, always cooking a full pot and calling people over to eat together.

\n\n

After the meal, Liu Fan and the others left. Li Yan leaned back in his chair, head tilted back as he rubbed his stomach. "Er Miao, I'll do the dishes later. Gotta digest first, ate too much."

\n\n

Gu Miao looked at Gu Fei with her skateboard in hand.

\n\n

"...Go on." Gu Fei acquiesced a little helplessly.

\n\n

Gu Miao's love for skateboarding was like an obsession. She practically hugged the board to sleep.

\n\n

"Da Fei," After Gu Miao left, Li Yan opened his eyes to look at Gu Fei. "It's warmer now, go out and have some fun."

\n\n

"Where to?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Dunno, maybe ask Sister Xin," Li Yan said. "Go out with her band."

\n\n

"Forget it." Gu Fei lit a cigarette in his mouth. "I'm not going out these days. I'm still burdened with that demerit record."

\n\n

"You still care about that?" Li Yan laughed.

\n\n

"Gotta at least graduate." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"If you got a little closer with that top student, maybe you could even test into a good university." Li Yan looked at him.

\n\n

Gu Fei gave him a glance. "Shit for brains."

\n\n

"Actually," Li Yan thought for a moment, looking at the ceiling. "If that kid wasn't so cocky, he's... not bad."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak.

\n\n

"I quite like this type." Li Yan added.

\n\n

"You'd be beaten to a pulp by this type," Gu Fei said. "Retard."

\n\n

"Your pattern's growing out," Li Yan looked at his hair. "Trim it?"

\n\n

"Are you that uncomfortable from boredom?" Gu Fei blew out some smoke.

\n\n

"Yes." Li Yan nodded.

\n\n

Gu Fei turned his chair, back facing him.

\n\n

Li Yan took out a toolkit from under the counter. "How long do you plan on keeping this pattern? Want a new one?"

\n\n

"No." Gu Fei tilted his head back against the chair.

\n\n

"Zhuxin really is your goddess." Li Yan carefully started fixing the pause sign on his left side.

\n\n

"My goddess is Gu Miao," Gu Fei said. "Stop always linking me with Sister Xin, especially in front of her."

\n\n

"Got it," Li Yan nodded. "You're not her little follower anymore, don't look up to her either. Might as well not even like women now."

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled a little. "Is she paying you a salary or something?"

\n\n

"Nah, I just feel she's silly. Clearly knows you..." Li Yan sighed. "What's she thinking, still liking you."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak.

\n\n

Zhuxin's previous name was Zhuyin. She later changed it herself to Zhuxin.

\n\n

Bamboo has no heart.

\n\n

Right. What was she thinking.

\n\n

When he was little he rather admired Zhuxin, thought she was cool and unrestrained. In those most confused and helpless years, Zhuxin's support meant much more than his mom's. He still greatly respected her now. He just hadn't considered that many things would change, alterations happening gradually until suddenly realizing everything was different.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng used his phone navigation and struggled for a full hour before finally arriving at the logistics warehouse.

\n\n

When the staff rolled out his things on a pallet jack, he got a shock. Several huge crates were stacked into a small mountain.

\n\n

"Check it against the list, all numbered." The staff gave him a sheet.

\n\n

After Jiang Cheng signed, he hurried out to find a freight truck. The driver was unwilling to help carry the crates onto the truck, even for extra money. Jiang Cheng could only drag and haul the crates onto the truck himself with one hand and a half.

\n\n

Now his whole body ached unbearably, like he had fought and run a marathon.

\n\n

He closed the lid of the cardboard box. Mom probably mailed over every last book from his bookshelf. The box below was also full of books.

\n\n

He didn't particularly like reading books, and he didn't have many books on his shelf, but with all the review materials added in, these two boxes were heavy enough to match his mood.

\n\n

After hesitating for a moment, he opened the smaller box next to it.

\n\n

It was full of his little trinkets, various little decorative pieces and interesting toys that were on his desk and in the drawers, craftworks, alarm clocks, pen holders, small picture frames, and even an old lighter that was out of gas.

\n\n

He closed his eyes, rubbed his face vigorously several times, and propped up his forehead, not wanting to move anymore.

\n\n

Judging by this, Mom probably didn't leave anything of his behind. Other than the piano, she had likely shipped everything over in one go.

\n\n

All this time, he had felt depressed, oppressed, unable to understand or accept, and also resentful and angry, but seeing these things now, he felt truly heartbroken for the first time.

\n\n

Arguing with his family, being scolded by his parents, being sent back to his hometown by them, none of that had made him feel heartbroken. It was only when he saw that Mom had boxed up and shipped over everything indiscriminately, without considering whether he needed them, as if completing a task, that he felt a pain in his heart.

\n\n

This heartbreak was stronger and more inescapable than any of his previous emotions.

\n\n

When the driver stopped the car, he could barely stand up.

\n\n

After all the big and small boxes were unloaded from the truck and it drove away, Jiang Cheng lightly kicked the boxes and sighed.

\n\n

Leaning against the boxes, staring blankly at the snow on the side of the road that had been trampled into black mud, he didn't move until a junk collector rode by on his tricycle.

\n\n

"These two boxes of books," Jiang Cheng pointed at the boxes.

\n\n

The collector looked them over. "We pay scrap paper prices for books now."

\n\n

"Fine, take them," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

After the collector weighed the books, Jiang Cheng opened the box of trinkets and took out the only thing he wanted to keep - a large black slingshot. Then he asked, "What about these?"

\n\n

The collector rummaged roughly through the box, taking things out and looking them over. "These are useless, can't take them apart for anything... thirty yuan."

\n\n

"Take them," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"That thing in your hand is worth some money," the collector said. "Twenty?"

\n\n

"Not selling this," Jiang Cheng put the slingshot in his pocket. He felt this guy was pretty shameless, asking for twenty when it had cost over two hundred.

\n\n

The collector was still quite interested in the two boxes of clothes. "What about the clothes?"

\n\n

"What do you think?" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

The collector chuckled and took some money out of his pocket to hand to him, along with a business card. "If you have anything else to sell, give me a call. I live nearby and can come quickly."

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng stuffed the card and money into his pocket.

\n\n

Dragging the two boxes of clothes inside, they felt as heavy as iron.

\n\n

Or maybe he was just out of energy.

\n\n

There was enough room in the house for the two boxes of clothes. He sat on the edge of the bed looking at them.

\n\n

So many things, such effort to ship back, then sold for scrap, he couldn't help laughing. His brain worked great, truly a top student.

\n\n

He took the dirty money out of his pocket. It was all small bills, but looked like quite a lot.

\n\n

Those heavy, huge boxes had turned into a few small pieces of paper.

\n","published_time":"2023-10-11T23:23:13.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-11-02T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":397,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":17,"chapter_title":"Chapter 17","content":"

Gu Fei sat behind the cash register, playing on his phone while watching Li Baoguo, who had circled around the shelves for the third time. Li Baoguo had no particular goal, just going around in circles, occasionally glancing over at Gu Fei.

\n\n

Li Baoguo had stolen things more than once, so whenever he came, Gu Fei would stare directly at him. But now that Jiang Cheng had suddenly shown up, he was a bit conflicted on whether to stare or not.

\n\n

Li Baoguo was not a thief. Sometimes when he gambled away all his money and wanted to buy something, he would put it on credit first. It was not uncommon for people living here at the bottom rungs of society to buy things on credit, but whenever Li Baoguo bought things on credit, he would also try to figure out ways to steal a little more...

\n\n

"Da Fei," Li Baoguo put his hand into the big cotton coat pocket, then pulled it out again. He went to the freezer to grab a bag of fish balls and came to the cash register. "This one, I'll pay you back in a couple days? Together with what I owe last time?"

\n\n

"Okay," Gu Fei took out a notebook from the drawer, found Li Baoguo's page, and started writing. "One bag of fish balls, one bottle of Erguotou, the big one..."

\n\n

"What? I didn't take any alcohol." Li Baoguo said somewhat awkwardly.

\n\n

"The bottle in your pocket," Gu Fei glanced at him. "Uncle Li, drink a little less, okay? You can't even remember things clearly."

\n\n

"Oh, oh," Li Baoguo pulled his mouth into a smile and laughed drily a few times, patting his pocket. "Right, I took a bottle of the big Erguotou...also give me a pack of Changbaishan."

\n\n

Gu Fei grabbed a 10 yuan pack of Changbaishan cigarettes and handed it to him, then recorded it in the notebook.

\n\n

"You write very nicely," Li Baoguo leaned in to look. "Hey, do you know my son?"

\n\n

"You mean Li Hui? Of course I know him." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Not Li Hui, my younger son, Chengcheng," Li Baoguo rested his elbow on the counter. "Just got him back recently, couldn't afford to raise him when he was little so I sent him away... He's also in No. 4 High, you know him right?"

\n\n

"Mm, I think so." Gu Fei nodded.

\n\n

Li Baoguo grinned, "He studies very well, not like little Hui. He's an honor student, you know what an honor student is right? You rascals are all failing students, but my little son is a good student."

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled, "Yes."

\n\n

"You wrote it down right? I'll have Chengcheng bring the money over to you in a couple days," Li Baoguo looked at the notebook again, pointing with his finger, "His writing is definitely better than yours."

\n\n

"...Okay." Gu Fei kept nodding.

\n\n

After Li Baoguo left in high spirits, Gu Fei looked down at his own writing in the notebook.

\n\n

He wasn't sure about the rest, but Jiang Cheng's writing... could only be described as hahaha. It definitely belonged to the type that even if everything was written correctly, the writing was so ugly it could still shock the teacher and get points deducted.

\n\n

Around noon, his mother came in carrying a lunchbox, "I made some braised pork."

\n\n

"You didn't go out today?" Gu Fei stood up and propped up the small table next to him. "Did you eat?"

\n\n

"Go out where! Where could I go!" His mother had an unhappy expression. "If I went out with someone, wouldn't I scare them half to death! I didn't eat!"

\n\n

"Can't you find someone who doesn't deserve a beating?" Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Is there anyone in your eyes who doesn't deserve a beating? When have you ever seen the good in other people!" His mother was very dissatisfied. "You don't like this one, you don't like that one. You're fine with your mom being a widow, is that it!"

\n\n

"The good in a person has to be there for me to see it." Gu Fei opened the lunchbox lid, took out a small container, and scooped half of the braised pork into it.

\n\n

"Where's Er Miao?" His mother asked.

\n\n

"Went off to play, leave some food and she'll come back when hungry," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

His mom sighed, "Always running wild like this, with that kind of personality... Watching her gives me a headache, what will we do in the future?"

\n\n

"Then don't watch," Gu Fei sat down and started eating.

\n\n

"Go today," his mom suddenly said, looking at him.

\n\n

"Go where?" Gu Fei ate a piece of meat. Though he knew what his mom meant.

\n\n

"You forgot what day it is today!" His mom slapped the table. "Your dad's been dead for how long and you already forgot!"

\n\n

"He's been dead a while," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

His mom glared at him silently, then after a bit took out a tissue and started dabbing her eyes.

\n\n

Gu Fei never understood what kind of feelings his mom had for her husband. When he was alive they fought every day, fought and beat each other, then she would beg heaven to let the man die soon. But after he died she'd cry at the slightest mention.

\n\n

Sometimes she'd cry so genuinely, heartbrokenly.

\n\n

"I went to the cemetery a few days ago," Gu Fei said as he ate.

\n\n

"Useless, I said going to the grave is useless!" His mom looked at him. "Go where he died! How many times do I have to say it! Otherwise he won't be at peace! If you don't want to go I'll go myself!"

\n\n

"I'll go this afternoon," Gu Fei sighed.

\n\n

"Burn some paper," his mom dabbed her eyes. "That idiot was so bad with money, he's probably begging over there."

\n\n

"You stay in the shop this afternoon," Gu Fei said. "Don't touch money. If you dare take money, I'll tell the King of Hell that what I burnt is all counterfeit."

\n\n

"...You psycho!" His mother glared at him.

\n\n

The lake where his dad died was quite far, in an abandoned lot that had been cordoned off with plans for a small park that was never built. Since there wasn't much residential area nearby, there were few visitors on ordinary days.

\n\n

In the last two years, the water had nearly dried up, so in the winter you couldn't even see anyone there.

\n\n

If the lake had been this dry back then, if the water had frozen just a little more solidly that winter...his dad would not have died.

\n\n

But.

\n\n

When he was summarizing Li Baoguo's situation for Jiang Cheng, he had spaced out for a moment, briefly thinking he was describing his dad to someone else.

\n\n

Sometimes he didn't dare examine it closely, didn't dare face the fact that he had once wished for that man's death so badly, didn't dare face that even now, he still felt that if he could do it again, he would still hope for that man to die.

\n\n

His heart and this lake were both places he was unwilling to get close to.

\n\n

If it wasn't for his mother making him come burn paper every year, he would never come near here.

\n\n

Leaving home, turning left, going past the small factory, just keep walking straight. No turns, no forks in the road. When you couldn't walk any further, you'd arrive.

\n\n

After circling past the small factory, there wasn't a single person on the road. Just desolation and bleakness all around, an eerie feeling like having entered another space.

\n\n

Gu Fei pulled his hat low, made sure his face mask was on right, then took out his earmuffs to put on. Maybe because there weren't many buildings here, maybe because he was afraid, but he felt cold. He felt like the wind could creep into his body from anywhere, slowly radiating chilliness back out layer by layer.

\n\n

There wasn't much snow this year, but because no one cleared it, there was still a layer on the ground. Faint crunching sounds made him uneasy as he stepped on it.

\n\n

After walking for a while, he lowered his head to look at the ground and suddenly noticed a trail of footprints.

\n\n

He froze for a moment, looking back at the road he had come from. Indeed, there were two sets of prints, one going in, none going out.

\n\n

Someone had actually gone to the lakeside in this kind of weather.

\n\n

He frowned.

\n\n

Coming here to burn paper was something he didn't really want others to see. He didn't want people to think he felt guilty.

\n\n

He didn't feel guilty. All he felt was fear.

\n\n

Although the lake wasn't big, once he reached the shore, the wind blew much more strongly, stinging his eyes.

\n\n

He passed through the sparse trees and stepped on the grass piles to get to the water's edge. The previous footprints had disappeared among the broken ice shards.

\n\n

He looked left and right but didn't see anyone. Hesitating, he stared at the lake bottom already exposed in many places, but no one was there either.

\n\n

Of course, even if someone had walked on the thin ice and fallen through...the lake was too shallow now to drown anyone, only freeze them.

\n\n

He found a tree to squat against, threw his bag on the ground, and took out a cigarette to light it up.

\n\n

He wanted to wait a little longer. He didn't want to continue along the lake's edge. This was the necessary path in and out, so he wanted to wait for the other person to come out before starting to burn the paper.

\n\n

But after waiting nearly twenty minutes without moving, he would freeze up. He stubbed out the cigarette with frustration, picking up the bag.

\n\n

He could only go in a little deeper, one to see who had come, two to find a more hidden place.

\n\n

After walking a few hundred meters inland, Gu Fei heard a crisp crack coming from the middle of the lake. It didn't sound like natural cracking of the ice, more like someone stepping on it or something hitting the surface.

\n\n

He hurriedly turned to look at the center of the lake, but didn't see anyone there, nor anything else. Everything was still.

\n\n

He suddenly felt a chill down his back and whipped around again to look behind him.

\n\n

Still no one there, nothing suspicious either.

\n\n

Before he turned his head back, there was another crisp crack from the lake surface. He cranked his neck back so fast he nearly twisted it off.

\n\n

Still nothing. But this time the sound was muffled compared to before.

\n\n

He slowly backed up a few steps until leaning against a tree. Childish, but having something solid at his back did make him feel more steady.

\n\n

This time he stared fixedly at the lake.

\n\n

After just a few seconds, he saw a small, stone-like object fly out from the withered grass dozens of meters from the shore, hitting the ice.

\n\n

The sound this time was not crisp, but a muffled "plop".

\n\n

Someone throwing rocks?

\n\n

That bored?

\n\n

But judging by the speed it flew out, it didn't seem like something thrown by hand.

\n\n

Gu Fei tugged at his clothes and slowly moved towards that direction.

\n\n

Before he had walked even twenty meters, he could see a swaying figure in the indented rocky area of the shore, mostly obscured by grass nearly a meter high, but recognizable as a person.

\n\n

Not a ghost.

\n\n

He had been scared by someone who was probably just extremely bored and throwing rocks at the lake to play.

\n\n

Although he felt a bit silly, he still let out a big breath of relief.

\n\n

He didn't continue forward, but retreated back into the woods, wanting to wait for the person to leave, and also curious what they were doing.

\n\n

The figure didn't notice anyone approaching, bending down as if picking something up, then extending one arm forward and pulling back the other arm.

\n\n

A black object shot out with a swish, hitting the ice surface.

\n\n

"Plop."

\n\n

Gu Fei immediately realized this person was playing with a slingshot, and felt the clothes looked a bit familiar.

\n\n

He stared at the figure in the grass a few more times before freezing up.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng?

\n\n

That was the same coat Jiang Cheng had worn when they fought, hideously ugly with two hand-width strips of greyish white across the chest.

\n\n

He looked all around again. There was no one else, Jiang Cheng had actually found this place alone?

\n\n

And was using a slingshot to play on the icy lake?

\n\n

What an good student...instead of studying at home during his precious time, he ran here to play with a slingshot.

\n\n

Gu Fei lit a fresh cigarette and watched Jiang Cheng's side.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng seemed to be using small pebbles, but with the shore frozen over now, pebbles weren't easy to find. Each time he bent over, he had to dig for a while, sometimes even kicking at the ground with his foot.

\n\n

After watching for a bit, Gu Fei felt Jiang Cheng seemed to be in a bad mood again. Several times when he kicked, the motions were as violent as if he was itching for a fight, clearly agitated.

\n\n

But after seeing him shoot out four or five pebbles, Gu Fei was also surprised.

\n\n

He took off his glasses from his inside pocket and put them on, staring closely.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was aiming at the same spot every time, around 30 meters from the shore. He was able to hit it accurately each time, and had already pummeled a hole in the ice there.

\n\n

Damn impressive.

\n\n

Lots of people played with slingshots. Among the people Gu Fei knew, many bragged about their accuracy and skill, claiming they could hit chickens from 70 meters away.

\n\n

But this was the first time he had personally witnessed someone able to repeatedly hit the same hole ten plus times in a row.

\n\n

As he watched Jiang Cheng stop after shooting for a while, bending over yet again to dig and kick futilely for a long time before standing back up, Gu Fei was astonished again.

\n\n

He slowly backed up another distance, not wanting Jiang Cheng to discover him here right now, or the two of them really might flatten all the trees around.

\n\n

"Fuck!" After failing to find any pebbles for a long time, Jiang Cheng shouted in frustration, loud enough to carry over on the wind for Gu Fei to hear clearly.

\n\n

No pebbles left, so he should leave now right?

\n\n

But Jiang Cheng didn't leave. Head lowered, he stared at the ground, kicking snow away in a few spots until uncovering a small patch of rocks.

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng grabbed a few and put them in his coat pocket, glancing at the lake then turning around.

\n\n

After a pause, he suddenly whipped around, shooting out a pebble.

\n\n

With a snap, it hit a thin piece of exposed rebar far away.

\n\n

Damn.

\n\n

Gu Fei was shocked. Without his glasses, he wouldn't even have noticed the rebar.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng walked a few steps sideways, then swung forcefully around again. The pebble flew out and once more hit the rebar, shattering upon impact.

\n\n

"Oh! Yeah!" Jiang Cheng clapped and waved the slingshot in the air, taking a few bows around. "Thank you, thank you."

\n\n

Gu Fei held in his laughter. He slowly retreated some more, certain that if Jiang Cheng discovered him here now, the two of them really would flatten this whole area.

\n\n

"Contestant Jiang Cheng has decided to increase the difficulty again! He has decided to increase the difficulty again! Wow—" While Jiang Cheng energetically commented, he took two pebbles from his pocket.

\n\n

This time he didn't turn his back on the rebar, but aimed straight at it.

\n\n

Gu Fei heard two nearly simultaneous sounds.

\n\n

Clunk.

\n\n

Plop.

\n\n

He had flung two pebbles out simultaneously, hitting with one while the other veered off, hitting the ground.

\n\n

"Ah, what a pity," Jiang Cheng fished in his pocket for more pebbles as he spoke. "Coach X, what do you think, was that a mistake or is his skill lacking?"

\n\n

Coach X?

\n\n

It took Gu Fei a bit to realize what a Coach X was.

\n\n

"I think there's still room for his skills to improve," Jiang Cheng pulled back the slingshot again. "He seems to want to try a new challenge...is he lowering the difficulty this time or continuing..."

\n\n

With a flick of his wrist, the first pebble flew out. Before Gu Fei could see the result, he immediately pulled again, shooting out the second pebble, followed rapidly by a third.

\n\n

Ping ping ping.

\n\n

Three hits.

\n\n

Gu Fei watched his back, truly wanting to applaud if not for the current circumstances.

\n\n

It wasn't just accuracy; the motions were pretty stylish too.

\n\n

If Li Yan was here to watch this muted scene, he probably wouldn't say it was unpleasant to look at anymore.

\n\n

But after this amazing performance, Jiang Cheng surprisingly didn't clap for himself or take any bows, just standing there silently.

\n\n

After a while, he slowly lowered into a squat, hands holding his head.

\n\n

Gu Fei froze.

\n\n

That invested in the performance...?

\n\n

But soon he saw Jiang Cheng's shoulders trembling lightly a few times.

\n\n

He was crying.

\n\n

Gu Fei finished the last two puffs of his cigarette, stubbing it out at his feet as he got up to continue deeper inland.

\n\n

He didn't have much interest in watching this kind of scene. Watching for amusement was one thing, peeking at someone's wounds and watching a guy who normally seemed like a cannon cry had no meaning.

\n\n

The lake did have an end. Continuing along, you couldn't even circle it once. Up ahead was a mountain shaped like a rotten sweet potato that you couldn't get around.

\n\n

Gu Fei found a small patch of ground without grass. It took him ten minutes just to get the fire lit.

\n\n

Then he took out the bundles of paper money from the bag, tossing them into the flames.

\n\n

Some were gold, some yellow, some flowered. Denominations ranged from worthless to hundreds and trillions. Everything you could want.

\n\n

Gu Fei watched the rising flames, holding his hands out to warm them.

\n\n

He probably needed to say something at this moment, others would likely tell him to keep the money, we're all doing fine, don't worry about it, if you run out just say so and we'll take care. But if he were to speak, he truly wouldn't know what to say.

\n\n

Silently watching the flames change color, rising up in the thick smoke, swaying about in the wind as if waving, then gradually shrinking, until only black smoke remained.

\n\n

Gu Fei took a tree branch, poked at it, and black ash floated up with sparks, then everything returned to stillness.

\n\n

He stood up, kicked some loose snow over from the side to cover the patch of black ash, then turned and left.

\n\n

Every year after this day, Gu Fei felt like a weight was lifted all of a sudden, and life returned to mundanity - watching the store, watching Gu Miao dart around the streets like a rabbit, attending boring classes at school, playing mindless games like candy crush, and watching Old Xu futilely try to save him from the so-called darkness.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't cry for long by the lakeside that day. When he finished burning the paper and looked again, Jiang Cheng was already gone.

\n\n

But there didn't seem to be anything unusual when they ran into each other at school. He was still just as prickly, listening in class lying face down or with eyes closed, occasionally taking some notes with eyes half-open.

\n\n

The two of them didn't interfere with each other during class, nothing much to say.

\n\n

Just that every time Gu Fei thought back to his performance by the lake, he kept worrying he might burst out laughing.

\n\n

"Da Fei," Zhou Jing leaned on their desk, "Da Fei? Da..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng impatiently whacked him over the head with the book in his hand, lowering his voice, "Spit it out if you've got something to say! Have you never been beaten up for this?"

\n\n

"Fuck!" Zhou Jing clutched his head and glared at him, then looked to Gu Fei again, "Da Fei, I heard Old Xu mention earlier when I was in his office, seems like the school is organizing a spring basketball tournament next month."

\n\n

"Don't know," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"You should join! Our class is counting on you, we'll definitely lose if you don't join." Zhou Jing said.

\n\n

"Don't bother me," Gu Fei waved him away.

\n\n

Zhou Jing turned and slumped back at his own desk.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was suddenly a bit stunned - next month? The spring basketball tournament?

\n\n

Was March considered spring?

\n\n

Thinking of the basketball tournament, he was hit with a wave of emotions.

\n\n

Whenever he recalled his days playing basketball at school, it would bring up other unhappy memories, yet he just couldn't stop pondering those exhilarating memories of running around on the court.

\n\n

Compared to now, those memories were all bright.

\n","published_time":"2023-11-09T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-11-09T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":405,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":18,"chapter_title":"Chapter 18","content":"

Jiang Cheng squatted on the floor of his room assembling a small bookshelf, sweating from the effort but still unable to get it right.

\n\n

This was probably the most worthwhile thing he had bought with the money he had been sending to Daddy Ma Yun* for quite some time now.

\n\n

*T/N: Jack Ma, owner of Taobao.

\n\n

The five hundred yuan bookshelf felt heavy, and each piece he picked up conveyed a sense of quality unlike anything else. The main pieces were especially complex, and each was a different weird shape.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at the instructions for half a day before managing to attach the legs and bottom shelf, and there were still screws to be screwed in. His eyes weren't good enough, so he hammered them in instead, which was difficult...

\n\n

"Did you buy this thing online?" Li Baoguo pushed the door open and yelled loudly.

\n\n

From when he was little to now, no one had ever just pushed open the door and entered Jiang Cheng's room without knocking first. Li Baoguo's yell made Jiang Cheng's heart want to leap out of his mouth and stick itself to the wall.

\n\n

The hammer in his hand slammed down directly onto his left thumb.

\n\n

He gritted his teeth and endured the pain that exploded from his fingertip for a second before it started spreading.

\n\n

"It's a bookshelf, right?" Li Baoguo asked again.

\n\n

"Yes." Jiang Cheng squeezed the word out from between clenched teeth.

\n\n

"How much was it?" Li Baoguo walked in and bent down to look at the pieces on the floor. "You have to assemble it yourself?"

\n\n

"Yes," Jiang Cheng took a breath, finally recovering a little. He looked at Li Baoguo, "Can you knock on the door before coming in next time?"

\n\n

"Knock on the door?" Li Baoguo was stunned for a moment, then laughed as if Jiang Cheng had said something hilarious. He laughed for a long time before slapping Jiang Cheng on the shoulder. "Why knock on the door! This is my son's room. I don't need to knock to enter my son's room! You came out of my dick!"

\n\n

"Wha... what?" Jiang Cheng was a little shocked.

\n\n

"Just joking!" Li Baoguo continued laughing loudly. He pointed at Jiang Cheng, "You silly kid, you're scared by this?"

\n\n

"No." Jiang Cheng stared at the pieces on the floor, not wanting to lift his eyelids again, much less continue assembling the shelf.

\n\n

"Let me tell you, our family doesn't have so many rules. We're just a crude bunch, can't pretend to be rich," Li Baoguo said. "Look at you, you can't even assemble a shelf... But it's fine, you focus on studying. Kids who study well just can't do things like this. All you know is book learning."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng listened to his disjointed words silently, hoping to defeat Li Baoguo with silence and get him to leave after he was done talking.

\n\n

But Li Baoguo didn't admit defeat. He squatted down next to Jiang Cheng. "Let me see."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't move. Li Baoguo picked up the pieces directly and looked at them, then at the picture of the finished product in the instructions: "Okay, just stay there. I'll do it."

\n\n

"Hmm?" Jiang Cheng turned to look at him.

\n\n

"This is simple," Li Baoguo sorted through the pieces, took out two, and grabbed a twisted piece of wood. He started assembling, "Let me tell you, this is just wasting money. I can make something like this for you in two hours with some boards from a construction site."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched his skilled movements without speaking. At this moment, Li Baoguo seemed much more pleasing to the eye than his usual wide-eyed look at the mahjong table.

\n\n

In less than half an hour, Li Baoguo assembled the bookshelf completely without even looking at the instructions.

\n\n

"Done," he slapped his hands and looked at the bookshelf. "This thing is so ugly. You bought this..." He trailed off, then asked, "How much did it cost?"

\n\n

"...Three hundred," Jiang Cheng had wanted to say four hundred, but hesitated and took some off after thinking about it.

\n\n

"Three hundred?" Li Baoguo yelled in surprise. "Just this wooden shelf costs three hundred? You spendthrift!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak. He didn't know if Li Baoguo would still yell if he said two hundred, or one hundred.

\n\n

The shelf really wasn't cheap, but first, the quality was good, and second, Jiang Cheng really liked the design. In this room that didn't belong to him before and wouldn't feel like home later either, he needed "his own things" to feel secure.

\n\n

But Li Baoguo couldn't understand that, and Jiang Cheng couldn't make him understand either.

\n\n

"My son really spends like a tycoon," Li Baoguo sighed. "And I, his dad, have to buy things on credit."

\n\n

"What did you get on credit this time?" Jiang Cheng was surprised.

\n\n

"That day I bought a bag of fish balls, remember? You said they were pretty good," Li Baoguo said. "And that bottle of liquor... Eh, that brat's eyes are too sharp. If it wasn't alcohol I wouldn't have had to pay... But I did get other things on credit before, so a little more doesn't matter."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stared at him, feeling like his eyeballs were about to fall out. He wanted to catch them with his palms.

\n\n

"Or..." Li Baoguo looked at him awkwardly, "Son, do you have money on hand?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng really wanted to say no, but he couldn't deny that the half hour Li Baoguo had busied himself assembling the shelf for him, he had felt a little touched, even moved.

\n\n

Although now he felt like the only purpose of Li Baoguo helping him assemble the shelf was to get him to go pay off his debts... he still nodded, "I do."

\n\n

"My son is really reliable!" Li Baoguo slapped his arm.

\n\n

"Which shop did you get credit from?" Jiang Cheng asked. "How much in total? I'll go pay it back now."

\n\n

"The small supermarket next street... You should know it, Gu Fei," Li Baoguo said. "That kid Da Fei, his family's shop..."

\n\n

"What? Gu Fei?" Jiang Cheng didn't let him finish before interrupting loudly, his voice almost cracking.

\n\n

"Yeah, he seems to know you too," Li Baoguo said. "He's also from your No. 4 High School, you should know him right?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak. Amidst the shock, chaos, and indescribable embarrassment, he grabbed his coat and went out the door.

\n\n

This was too fucking... humiliating!

\n\n

His own dad! Got store credit at the shop of a classmate he had just fought with not long ago!

\n\n

Actually getting credit wasn't that big of a deal, considering Li Baoguo's circumstances. But from his words, it sounded like he was stealing while getting credit!

\n\n

And Gu Fei had caught him!

\n\n

Fuck!

\n\n

Fuck fuck!

\n\n

Endless fuck...

\n\n

Why did he have to go pay the money himself?

\n\n

Couldn't he just give Li Baoguo the money to pay?

\n\n

That's right, why did he have to personally go embarrass himself, Jiang Cheng turned around to go back.

\n\n

He had just reached the entrance to the apartment building when he heard Li Baoguo's voice, seeming to speak to a neighbor coming up the stairs: "My young son is really going places! As soon as he heard I still had unpaid bills at the supermarket, he immediately went to pay!"

\n\n

"Oh," the neighbor auntie said. "You're lucky to pick up a son like this for free."

\n\n

"What do you mean got him for free! He's my seed!" Li Baoguo yelled happily at the top of his lungs. "This kid is better than Li Hui. He didn't even let me go run this errand!"

\n\n

"Look at you, grinning ear to ear," the auntie said. "You should live well. If you keep drinking like this, your son won't care about you in the future either!"

\n\n

"Tsk! Of everyone in this building, you speak the most unlucky words. If people talked nicely, no one would just drop dead!" Li Baoguo said.

\n\n

"Then why the hell are you bragging to me! If you didn't brag you wouldn't just drop dead either!" the auntie yelled back.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't keep listening. Now he knew why the neighbor was always arguing with someone. If they kept going like this, a fight breaking out was just a matter of time.

\n\n

He leaned against the wall outside the building entrance, frustrated as he yanked off his hat to scratch his head.

\n\n

After a five minute ideological struggle, he gritted his teeth and walked towards Gu Fei's shop anyway, mainly because it was too cold. His face was already numb after finishing his struggle.

\n\n

It wasn't a big deal anyway. He was just going to pay money, not get things on credit, and definitely not steal...

\n\n

He could even add interest if he wanted to!

\n\n

After crossing the intersection, the entrance to Gu Fei's family's shop was basically right in front. At the intersection, Jiang Cheng immediately saw Gu Fei standing at the entrance, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he looked down to play with his phone.

\n\n

Probably because he had never done something so humiliating before, the second Jiang Cheng saw Gu Fei, all the gusto he had earlier about "adding interest if he wanted to" fled like refugees.

\n\n

When Gu Fei looked up and saw him, Jiang Cheng felt like he was almost walking crooked.

\n\n

Too fucking humiliating. How could Li Baoguo live so shamefully...

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him expressionlessly until he had crossed the street and was still walking towards Gu Fei. Only then did Gu Fei take the cigarette from his mouth and ask, "Here to buy a pot again?"

\n\n

"...Let's talk inside." Jiang Cheng saw the pharmacy owner next door come out.

\n\n

Gu Fei turned and entered the shop. Jiang Cheng followed him in.

\n\n

"Hmm?" Gu Fei turned to look at him.

\n\n

"Li Baoguo got credit here, didn't he?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei nodded and leaned against the checkout counter. "But not too much. I don't have many expensive things here."

\n\n

"How much?" Jiang Cheng took out his wallet. "I'll pay you."

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him, turned and extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, then pulled open a drawer and took out a ledger, flipping through it as he asked, "Your own money?"

\n\n

"What else could it be," Jiang Cheng said. "If he had money he wouldn't need credit, right?"

\n\n

"He wouldn't need credit if he didn't gamble," Gu Fei handed the ledger to him. "Two hundred and sixty eight. Check if it's right."

\n\n

"No need to check." Jiang Cheng didn't take the ledger, just directly took out 300 yuan and gave it to Gu Fei.

\n\n

He really didn't want to look. That kind of life Li Baoguo had... No, that kind of life his mahjong buddies all lived, and were still able to keep living like that.

\n\n

Gu Fei gave him change while leaning on the counter, looking at him. "Are you going to pay for him next month too?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him, annoyed as he shoved the money haphazardly into his wallet. "None of your damn business."

\n\n

"I mean he should pay it himself," Gu Fei said. "He can probably pay it back."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him. Could pay it all back? But Li Baoguo's earlier words gave the impression that he couldn't pay anymore.

\n\n

"But if someone pays for him, of course he won't need to worry about it himself," Gu Fei sat down on a chair. "You didn't realize that?"

\n\n

"...No, my eyesight's bad," Jiang Cheng sighed. "I don't wear glasses to show off like you."

\n\n

"These are nearsighted glasses." Gu Fei glanced at him.

\n\n

"From playing too much Candy Crush, right?" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"No," Gu Fei laughed. "Where were you before this? The people there must have pretty good temperaments, right?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him without responding.

\n\n

"With your temper, if you weren't my deskmate, no, if Er Miao hadn't taken the wrong medicine and saw you as especially cute," Gu Fei pointed at him, "I would've beaten you until even Xiao Ming's Grandpa didn't recognize you anymore."

\n\n

"You?" Jiang Cheng sneered. "How would you beat me, by pinching my palm?"

\n\n

"That's true, you're fiercer." Gu Fei pushed up his sleeves, showing Jiang Cheng his wrist.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at it and saw a faint red mark.

\n\n

"Damn," he was a little shocked. "Still not healed after biting it so many days?"

\n\n

"Your teeth are pretty good. If I had known you could bite zipper pulls off, I would've been more wary," Gu Fei said. "You left me a string of blood blisters. The scabs just fell off."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't respond. He really hadn't expected to leave Gu Fei like this with a casual bite that day.

\n\n

But if Gu Fei hadn't pinched his wound...

\n\n

He suddenly felt an urge to laugh. He and Gu Fei had fought in such a silly way.

\n\n

He held in his laugh and glanced at Gu Fei. Gu Fei's expression was clearly also trying not to laugh, with the corners of his mouth twitching up.

\n\n

"Fuck," he said.

\n\n

Then he and Gu Fei burst out laughing together.

\n\n

This kind of silly laughter was like a contagious disease of silliness. The more you didn't want to laugh, the harder you laughed, and you couldn't stop.

\n\n

Pan Zhi had said before that when the head teacher was scolding him furiously, he had been scared witless inside, but he just couldn't stop laughing. In the end when he was kicked out into the hallway, he went out guffawing heroically.

\n\n

Right now Jiang Cheng also didn't want to laugh. He wasn't feeling good, his emotions were low, and he didn't want to laugh together with Gu Fei either.

\n\n

But he couldn't stop.

\n\n

Gu Fei leaned against his chair, and Jiang Cheng leaned against the shelves. They laughed for almost a full minute before Jiang Cheng really got angry from embarrassment and flipped the curtain up to leave the shop.

\n\n

"Fuck!" He finally stopped the crazy laughter under the wind, and swore.

\n\n

After swearing, he didn't go back into the shop. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and strolled towards the street corner.

\n\n

He was pretty upset. Just this bit of silly laughter could only maintain his mood for such a short while. As soon as the laughter stopped, he went back to reality.

\n\n

He suddenly felt a little panicked. If this continued, would he get sick from holding it in?

\n\n

Jing Zhi had been right before about the spring basketball tournament.

\n\n

When Old Xu called Jiang Cheng to the office, with one look at the basketball on Old Xu's desk, he knew what Old Xu wanted from him.

\n\n

"I don't know how to play basketball," he said.

\n\n

"Why are you like this," Old Xu brought over a stool, "Sit down, let's chat."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sat down. To be honest, he wanted to play basketball, but only if it was casually messing around with some people, not taking on any formal responsibility to win with Old Xu.

\n\n

"You were on the school team before, right?" Old Xu asked.

\n\n

"Let's not ask these kinds of false questions, Old Xu," Jiang Cheng sighed. "I feel like you've already researched my ancestors back eight generations."

\n\n

"It's a versatile top student, of course I have to research more!" Old Xu laughed. "Actually when I called you over, I already guessed you would refuse. But I still wanted to try."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng responded.

\n\n

"Our school has a basketball tournament every year, more than once. The principal loves basketball," Old Xu said. "Anyway, I've led our class every time, and no matter what competition, we've never won a match..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt a little surprised. He had seen Gu Fei play basketball. Even if no one in class could cooperate with him, they still shouldn't lose every match, right?

\n\n

"Isn't Gu Fei pretty good?" He couldn't help but say.

\n\n

"That kid," Old Xu sighed, "is very unreliable. He's never participated in any class activities. It'd be good if he didn't go help other classes play against us."

\n\n

"Then what are you asking me for?" Jiang Cheng said. "I probably can't win a match by myself either."

\n\n

"Be the team captain," Old Xu said. "I feel like you have the ability to..."

\n\n

"What makes you feel that way?" Jiang Cheng felt a little helpless.

\n\n

"From your spirit," Old Xu said.

\n\n

"Ah," Jiang Cheng couldn't help touching his chest.

\n\n

"If you agree," Old Xu smiled, "then I'll go chat with Gu Fei. With you two, plus Wang Xu, Guo Xu, and Lu Xiaobin... we can at least get five people. Then find time to practice everyday. I feel like we'll have a chance at winning.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak. He had no idea who these Guo Xu and Lu Xiaobin were.

\n\n

But Old Xu kept discussing it with him sincerely, so Jiang Cheng couldn't immediately think of a reason to say no either.

\n\n

"Head Techer Xu, I just have one request," he said. "I definitely won't be captain. You seem to have misunderstood my character. Pick someone else, I'll just play along."

\n\n

With Jiang Cheng's agreement, Old Xu seemed to be injected with chicken blood, immediately coming to find Gu Fei during the self-study period.

\n\n

"Gu Fei, come to my office for a bit," Old Xu knocked on his desk.

\n\n

"I haven't been late or skipped classes lately," Gu Fei said, leaning his forehead on the desk edge playing his dumb match-3 game.

\n\n

"It's not that," Old Xu knocked again.

\n\n

"I don't play basketball," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"It's not that either," Old Xu said. "Come on."

\n\n

Old Xu turned and left the classroom. Gu Fei insisted on finishing the round first before very reluctantly getting up and ambling out slowly.

\n\n

"Hey, Jiang Cheng, Jiang..." Zhou Jing called out twice as if remembering something, then didn't continue. "Is Old Xu talking to you two about the competition?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stayed silent.

\n\n

"I could tell with one look you can play ball, right? You play basketball?" Zhou Jing asked again.

\n\n

"Has your class ever won a competition before?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Never won before," Zhou Jing said, "It's a liberal arts class, it's normal not to win."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him: "Bullshit."

\n\n

Gu Fei came back to the classroom ten minutes later and took out his phone to continue playing games after sitting down.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng thought he would say something, but he didn't make a sound. Old Xu probably failed.

\n\n

He glanced at Wang Xu's side. If it wasn't for Gu Fei, being asked to play basketball with idiots like Wang Xu...would be pretty boring.

\n\n

"I didn't expect Old Xu to be such an innocent old man but still lie to people," Gu Fei said softly beside him.

\n\n

"Hmm?" Jiang Cheng turned his head, "What did he lie to you about?"

\n\n

"He said it wasn't about basketball," Gu Fei said while playing, "He said you would play, is it true?"

\n\n

"...Yeah," Jiang Cheng replied, "He sounded quite pitiful."

\n\n

"You think everyone is pitiful," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Yeah, I think you're pretty pitiful," Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

\n\n

"Is it pitiful for me to play Candy Crush?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"It's pitiful you can't pass a single level after playing it for four days," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Gu Fei put down his phone and turned to look at him: "I find you very annoying."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng smiled at him smugly: "If you can't talk back, you can shut up. Bickering is pointless anyway."

\n\n

"What position did you use to play?" Gu Fei asked, lowering his head to continue playing.

\n\n

"Defender," Jiang Cheng reflexively answered.

\n\n

"Then let's try it," Gu Fei said, "I didn't say no to Old Xu."

\n\n

"It's not that," Jiang Cheng felt a bit confused, "It's just basketball, why make such a big deal out of it? It's not like I'm asking you to sacrifice yourself."

\n\n

"It's annoying," Gu Fei said, "Just think, even the likes of Wang Xu has to play."

\n\n

"What's wrong with him playing?" Jiang Cheng glanced at Wang Xu, who had his arms crossed and was resting with his eyes closed.

\n\n

"Every class has people like him..." Gu Fei threw his phone into the desk, probably because he failed to pass the level again, "Nothing will happen on court, but who knows what'll happen after. That's what annoys me."

\n\n

"So are you playing or not?" Jiang Cheng asked, "I'm annoyed too. Let's just try and see. If you want to play then play, if not then drop it."

\n\n

"Fine," Gu Fei said, "You play and I'll play."

\n","published_time":"2023-11-16T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-10-01T22:23:06.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-11-16T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":413,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":19,"chapter_title":"Chapter 19","content":"

Gu Fei promised Old Xu that he would play in this basketball match, and Jiang Cheng felt that Old Xu was as excited as Gu Fei getting into Beijing University. Right after school in the afternoon, he called the five players he had picked out to his office.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took a quick look at the few of them, and finally matched up Guo Xu and Lu Xiaobin with their names.

\n\n

"No substitutes?" Wang Xu asked. "Just these five playing the whole game?"

\n\n

"You guys can look for suitable classmates as substitutes," Old Xu said. "As for the captain..."

\n\n

As Old Xu spoke, his eyes glanced over at Gu Fei. Gu Fei held up a finger, then pointed at Wang Xu: "Him."

\n\n

Wang Xu immediately raised his chin, with a very reluctant expression: "Hey, I'm no good, I don't want to be the captain, isn't it too annoying."

\n\n

Watching his performance, Jiang Cheng almost wanted to laugh. Bad acting!

\n\n

"Then Wang Xu it is. Starting tomorrow, you guys practice first," Old Xu took the basketball on the desk and handed it to Wang Xu. "This is a good ball. I went to check our gym equipment room and the balls there were no good, so I bought this one for you guys. The competition will definitely use new good balls too, so we should practice with good ones to get used to it."

\n\n

"Thanks, Head Teacher Xu." Guo Xu took the ball from Wang Xu's hands and dribbled it on the floor a couple times.

\n\n

Watching his movements, Jiang Cheng thought, not bad, he doesn't seem too skilled but at least knows how to play.

\n\n

Wang Xu looked quite arrogant, he probably also thought he played pretty well. The other one, Lu Xiaobin, hadn't said anything yet, but he was the tallest, looked to be about 1.9 meters, and quite muscular, standing there like a door panel, pretty good.

\n\n

Substitutes were easy to find. Although it was a liberal arts class, there were still quite a few boys. When team captain Wang Xu called the few 1.8 meter guys from the back row, they were set.

\n\n

Many wanted to participate, after all they could skip self-study and go play ball instead.

\n\n

Old Xu had already reserved a court for them. Seeing how enthusiastic he was, Jiang Cheng felt tired for him. It was just a lousy class in a lousy school, grades were poor, the physical education class was a mess, yet Old Xu was still full of vigor.

\n\n

"Let me see your skill levels first." Wang Xu held the ball, standing in the middle of the court with an air of captain.

\n\n

"We've played together so many times already," someone said. "What's there to check on skill levels?"

\n\n

"We still need to get a feel for each other!" Wang Xu kept a stern face, and looked again at Jiang Cheng squatting at the sidelines. "Or Jiang Cheng, you try first. You just transferred here, I'm not clear on your actual skill level either."

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng stood up and took off his coat. "How do we do this?"

\n\n

"You dribble past me," Wang Xu threw the ball over. Then he took on a blocking stance.

\n\n

"Alright." Jiang Cheng caught the ball, bounced it a couple times to get a feel for the elasticity, then rushed at Wang Xu dribbling the ball.

\n\n

Wang Xu stood in place without moving. When he reached out to block, Jiang Cheng had already slipped past his left side. In three steps he did a layup and scored.

\n\n

"Nice!" Guo Xu called out.

\n\n

"Wait," Wang Xu's face couldn't keep pretending anymore. "I didn't say start yet, you attacked without warning."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng went back to stand in front of him with the ball.

\n\n

Wang Xu posed dramatically for a while again, then lifted his chin: "Go!"

\n\n

As soon as Jiang Cheng moved, he rushed forward, waving his arms to block while trying to steal the ball. Jiang Cheng hesitated for a moment, then holding the ball went straight up for a jump shot. The ball went in again.

\n\n

"Three pointer." Gu Fei said from the bench at the side.

\n\n

"Awesome! We have a chance this time!" Someone shouted excitedly.

\n\n

Wang Xu's expression didn't look too happy. Just as he was about to speak, Gu Fei cut in: "Hurry up, it's cold."

\n\n

The heating in the gym wasn't good. Everyone had taken off their coats by now and were just wearing single layers. Wang Xu could only nod: "Let's split into two teams and play half court to get a feel first?"

\n\n

Everyone agreed.

\n\n

Old Xu had been watching at the side. He came over and said: "Gu Fei and Jiang Cheng on opposite teams."

\n\n

"Why?" Wang Xu asked. "They're both good, better if they cooperate together."

\n\n

"If those two are together, we don't even need to play," Lu Xiaobin said. "Split between both teams so we can all practice."

\n\n

"Alright then." This time Wang Xu didn't put on airs as captain, and split the players on both sides evenly.

\n\n

Lu Xiaobin, Guo Xu plus two others Jiang Cheng didn't recognize were on one side, while Jiang Cheng's side had Wang Xu and three others he didn't know either.

\n\n

By this time Jiang Cheng had gained new awareness on just how bad his recent emotional state was, that after so long he still couldn't recognize everyone in class.

\n\n

Ten on court, five he didn't recognize, had to go by their clothes, and there were two he had just managed to tell apart today...

\n\n

Old Xu took a whistle and went to the sideline: "I'll be the referee."

\n\n

"It's just half court, what for." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Even for half court, we'll do proper rules," Old Xu stood with one hand on his hip and the other holding the whistle. "Starting from the jump ball, just shorter time, everything else is regulation."

\n\n

"Okay," Wang Xu called his side together. "Man-to-man defense, shut Gu Fei down. Once you get the ball, pass to Jiang Cheng, don't dribble yourself. If Gu Fei comes close, pass immediately, he's too good at stealing."

\n\n

"Got it." Everyone nodded.

\n\n

"We'll rely on you for scoring," Wang Xu lifted his hand, about to pat Jiang Cheng's shoulder, then pulled it back. "Forgot you hate being touched."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

No surprises with the jump ball, it was between Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei.

\n\n

Old Xu held up the ball between them: "Focus. I'm throwing it up."

\n\n

"What referee says this stuff." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Pay attention!" Old Xu glared at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at Wang Xu standing behind him, wondering how his reflexes were.

\n\n

He had always played guard, never did jump balls in real games. This ball would likely get snatched by Gu Fei's team.

\n\n

Old Xu tossed the ball up.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched the ball, calculating its drop point, then jumped.

\n\n

As he jumped up, he felt his timing wasn't too bad. But when he reached to touch the ball, Gu Fei's hand had already batted it away.

\n\n

As expected.

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng landed and turned around, Guo Xu had already gotten the ball and was dribbling to the basket.

\n\n

And Wang Xu was following him. With one look, Jiang Cheng felt speechless. They had just discussed man-to-man defense before the game started, yet when the ball went out, not only did Wang Xu go chase it, two others went along too, leaving only one in the blue shirt marking Gu Fei.

\n\n

Meanwhile he got smothered by Lu Xiaobin.

\n\n

Guo Xu was decent, dribbling very steady, just lacked speed. By the time Jiang Cheng caught up, he had just reached inside the three point line, ready to pass.

\n\n

Their plan was probably the same as Wang Xu's, once you get the ball, pass to Gu Fei.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at Gu Fei's position, then sharply faked right. Lu Xiaobin and the other guy marking him both fell for it and shifted along with his fake. Seizing the opening, Jiang Cheng charged through forcefully between them.

\n\n

His timing was good, Guo Xu saw him just as the ball left his hands.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng reached out and blocked the pass down.

\n\n

"Get back, get back!" Wang Xu reacted very quickly, immediately running back.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng turned and dribbled back, but Lu Xiaobin blocked him right away.

\n\n

This guy was so huge, as soon as he got close Jiang Cheng felt a little blinded. After two dribbles he passed to Wang Xu the moment he saw an opening.

\n\n

But that idiot Wang Xu was actually just charging forward with his head down, completely missed the pass.

\n\n

"Wang Xu!" Jiang Cheng had to call out.

\n\n

Only then did Wang Xu hurry to turn his head and chase after the ball, managing to get it before it went out of bounds.

\n\n

While Lu Xiaobin was turning to look at the ball, Jiang Cheng spun and shook him off. Then he ran to the basket. Wang Xu had no one on him now, if he could bring the ball over, Jiang Cheng could look for a chance to score.

\n\n

But after just a few steps, with Gu Fei coming up to block him, Wang Xu passed the ball back and even yelled: "Jiang Cheng!"

\n\n

What the hell! Was he planning to pass to Gu Fei!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng really had no words. As soon as he caught the ball, Gu Fei's hand was already reaching over, speed astonishing.

\n\n

He quickly protected the ball and pivoted, shaking left and right to adjust. Then he lowered his stance wanting to go around the side.

\n\n

But Gu Fei gave him no chance. He moved along with Jiang Cheng at the same time. He didn't even waver when Jiang Cheng faked a jump.

\n\n

Damn!

\n\n

Luckily they had shitty teammates on both sides, not just his.

\n\n

The guy in blue didn't have anyone covering him this time, and easily got behind Gu Fei. Jiang Cheng passed the ball from between Gu Fei's □□.

\n\n

*T/N: Got censored out. Pretty self-explanatory.

\n\n

"Fuck," Gu Fei looked back to see Blue Shirt with the ball already under the basket, probably pretty speechless too.

\n\n

Blue Shirt hesitated with the ball, with one glance Jiang Cheng could see he still wanted to pass instead of shooting.

\n\n

"Just shoot!" Jiang Cheng yelled.

\n\n

Only then did Blue Shirt jump up and toss the ball.

\n\n

It didn't go in.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng knew it wouldn't go in, just getting the ball over the baseline with that form was asking too much.

\n\n

The ball bounced off the backboard far from the hoop.

\n\n

The bunch under the basket jumped up scrambling for the rebound, some fast some slow, batting at the ball fiercely. Jiang Cheng grabbed it from between them and brought it to the sidelines.

\n\n

But now three opponents had him surrounded in a semicircle. He needed a teammate who was open.

\n\n

"Pass the ball," someone said on the right.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng quickly passed down the sideline.

\n\n

Only when the ball was in the air did he realize with a jolt - that was Gu Fei's voice!

\n\n

Sure enough, he looked over to see Gu Fei smoothly catch it.

\n\n

"F*ck!" Jiang Cheng couldn't help but curse.

\n\n

This bastard was so devious!

\n\n

Gu Fei smirked.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng what are you doing!" Wang Xu yelled.

\n\n

"Guard him tight!" Jiang Cheng was also annoyed. "He's running all over alone, why aren't you on him!"

\n\n

But it was too late to mark Gu Fei now. He moved fast with the ball, while Jiang Cheng was tangled up by two here and couldn't get free. By the time his useless teammates tried to block Gu Fei, he was already at the free throw line.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched as he jumped up, passed the ball, lightly tossing it in.

\n\n

He had passed the ball right to Gu Fei himself. Jiang Cheng felt like grabbing Gu Fei's collar, how could he be so sly!

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng pay attention to who's who," teammate Yellow Sneakers said. "Having trouble telling us apart?"

\n\n

"Yeah, sorry about that," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Pass to your teammates," Captain Wang looked at him. "Not your deskmate!"

\n\n

"You'd best stand where I can pass to you," Jiang Cheng glanced at him. "All the openings were their guys, if I don't pass to my deskmate the only option is out of bounds."

\n\n

Wang Xu's brows rose, clearly very unhappy, just as he was about to speak the ball bounced over.

\n\n

"Hurry up," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng caught it and passed to Wang Xu. "You send it in, I'll bring it over. Stay on him, don't let Gu Fei get close to me. Tangle him up, grab his arms, step on his feet, foul him if you have to, just don't let him get free."

\n\n

"Got it," Wang Xu glared at him.

\n\n

Lu Xiaobin was probably the most diligent at his role, sticking right by Jiang Cheng as Wang Xu was throwing the ball. Wang Xu held the ball for ages before finally passing it.

\n\n

In the end Jiang Cheng had to rush forward in front of Wang Xu before he'd pass it over.

\n\n

Wang Xu wasn't bad at ball handling though, staying along the side protecting Jiang Cheng as he brought it up, squeezing against Lu Xiaobin until it looked like they might start fighting soon.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't come up to block him this time. Blue Shirt and Yellow Sneakers sandwiched him from front and back, just short of hugging him. But after crossing half court Jiang Cheng saw Gu Fei still managed to shake free of them.

\n\n

No time for a slow layup now. Still fuming over Gu Fei's sly craftiness, Jiang Cheng drove the ball straight to the three point line without stopping to adjust. Right as Gu Fei jumped to block, he launched the ball upwards.

\n\n

It traveled in a high arc before dropping cleanly into the basket.

\n\n

"Great shot, damn!" Wang Xu yelled loudly.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng breathed out in relief, and looked at Gu Fei.

\n\n

"Nice." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Playing half court didn't feel like much at all, especially with the chaotic running around and zero teamwork. It looked intense, but the scoring was pitifully low.

\n\n

After Old Xu blew the whistle, he clapped and said: "Not bad, not bad!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng especially wanted to ask, what was not bad?

\n\n

"We now have a team with two strong players," Old Xu said. "But you guys played half a game without committing a single foul. That won't do! You have to foul, be more daring! Bolder! Gu Fei, how did you feel about the play?"

\n\n

"A mess." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Old Xu wasn't too satisfied with his answer, so he turned to ask Jiang Cheng: "What do you think, Jiang Cheng?"

\n\n

"Same assessment." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"It's only the first day of practice," Old Xu could only continue on his own. "There's still huge room for improvement! Have confidence in yourselves! Come on!"

\n\n

No one spoke.

\n\n

"Come on!" Old Xu waved his arms. "Answer loudly!"

\n\n

Still no one said anything.

\n\n

After playing half court, Jiang Cheng also had a good sense of things. Other than him and Gu Fei, these people normally didn't even play basketball. The few who could play were quite mediocre.

\n\n

"Come o..." Old Xu kept trying to pump them up.

\n\n

"Yes." Unable to bear watching Old Xu's futile efforts, Jiang Cheng answered.

\n\n

"Yes." Wang Xu also responded.

\n\n

Everyone else lifelessly murmured "yes" together.

\n\n

"That's it! That's the spirit!" Old Xu immediately smiled happily. "Our goal this time is to make the semi-finals! Do you have confidence?"

\n\n

Everyone continued with the lifeless "yes", and Old Xu nodded satisfactorily: "There's still half a month until the games. There's enough time. Aside from PE class, you guys can also practice during self-study in the afternoons."

\n\n

The special privilege was still quite attractive. The group immediately showed enthusiasm, saying they would practice hard.

\n\n

After that, Captain Wang didn't let them continue playing a real game, but switched to 3-on-3, scoring wins, losers sub out.

\n\n

Gu Fei hadn't gone back in, just sitting on the bench watching.

\n\n

Although these people weren't skilled, it had been so long since Jiang Cheng last relaxed this way that he found the game quite enjoyable.

\n\n

"Stop blocking, okay?" Guo Xu said helplessly hugging the ball. "Jiang Cheng, don't you want to take a break?"

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng, take a break," Wang Xu said. "With you in there we don't even need to sub."

\n\n

"Alright." Jiang Cheng smiled and switched out with Lu Xiaobin, sitting next to Old Xu to watch.

\n\n

"How is it?" Old Xu asked.

\n\n

"How's what?" Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"This team." Old Xu said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak. He could feel Old Xu's intense anticipation.

\n\n

"Try cooperating tomorrow to see the effect?" Old Xu asked again.

\n\n

"Okay." Jiang Cheng nodded.

\n\n

"Making the semi-finals will be hard, don't get your hopes up too high," Gu Fei said from the side. "Depends on which class we draw in the elimination round. If it's Class 2, just go home."

\n\n

"Stay positive!" Old Xu said.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei looked at Old Xu. "Ha, ha."

\n\n

When the after school bell rang, a lot of people came into the gym.

\n\n

"Let's go," Wang Xu said. "They're all here to practice, we need to keep things secret."

\n\n

"Keep what secret?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Keep our skills secret, maintain the image of us as a rookie team in other classes' eyes," Wang Xu said seriously. "Also can't let others know Gu Fei is playing this time, or that Jiang Cheng is great. "

\n\n

"Right, we have two secret weapons now." Everyone nodded enthusiastically, with the excitement of bearing hardship on their faces.

\n\n

"Everyone who just came in saw me here." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Don't be afraid," Wang Xu said, "let's put on a show."

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed and got up to put on his coat. He turned around and walked straight to the door.

\n\n

"Fuck!" Wang Xu shouted, scaring Jiang Cheng who was next to him. He glared at Gu Fei's back, "Can you have some collective sense of honor?!"

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't look back, just flipped the middle finger over his shoulder.

\n\n

"Wang Xu," the person who had just come in said with a laugh while taking off his coat, "that's progress, at least Da Fei came by this time."

\n\n

"Let's go." Wang Xu got up and led the way out of the gym.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng almost wanted to applaud Wang Xu. This act was so in character, his skills had improved tremendously compared to when he had previously pretended to decline the captain position.

\n\n

"Gu Miao didn't come to wait for you today?" Jiang Cheng didn't see Gu Miao with her skateboard at the school gate.

\n\n

"She doesn't come every day. Sometimes she just goes off on her own," Gu Fei said. "Are you still walking home?"

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng replied.

\n\n

"Should I give you a ride?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng hesitated for a moment: "Okay."

\n\n

As Gu Fei went to get his bike, Jiang Cheng was reminded of the "pass the ball" during the game earlier, and he got a little angry again: "Hey, I realised you're too devious."

\n\n

"I just said it casually," Gu Fei straddled the bike and pushed off, "How would I know you'd actually pass it over?"

\n\n

"Why say something like that casually?!" Jiang Cheng also straddled the bike, "You're insane."

\n\n

"It works during games. What if one of the other team's idiots really passed the ball over?" Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Fuck!" Jiang Cheng cursed.

\n\n

"I'll ask some people to come practice with us tomorrow," Gu Fei said. "It's no fun like this."

\n\n

"Who are you asking?" Jiang Cheng thought of the "no-good birds" Gu Fei had brought to play basketball last time, so he asked, "Those no-good birds combo again?"

\n\n

"What?" Gu Fei was confused for a moment.

\n\n

"Uh... nothing," Jiang Cheng quickly said, "Those guys who played ball with you last time?"

\n\n

"Who are the no-good birds?" Gu Fei laughed. "Are you including me too?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything.

\n\n

"Yeah, it's them," Gu Fei didn't press him further, "the no-good birds."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

The two of them didn't speak again for the rest of the ride. Jiang Cheng stared blankly at the small snow piles on the roadside, lost in thought. Lately he had been doing that a lot, zoning out as soon as he quieted down, thinking all sorts of random things. He didn't use to be like this before. Zoning out was just zoning out, he wouldn't even know where his mind had wandered off to.

\n\n

He wondered when he would be able to get out of this current emotional haze.

\n\n

Gu Fei rode pretty fast. Soon they arrived at the street corner. As the bike slowed down, Jiang Cheng jumped off: "Thanks."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't say anything, just looking down the street.

\n\n

At the same time, Jiang Cheng heard shouting and screaming coming from Li Baoguo's street. He looked back to see several people surrounding and kicking someone lying on the ground.

\n\n

"Damn," Jiang Cheng frowned. There was always endless chaos on this street. "What's going on now..."

\n\n

Gu Fei got off his bike and locked it to a roadside tree, looking at him: "The one on the ground is Li Baoguo."

\n","published_time":"2023-11-22T00:25:21.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-11-02T00:28:10.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-11-22T00:25:21.000Z"},{"content_id":421,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":20,"chapter_title":"Chapter 20","content":"

Gu Fei usually avoided trouble and didn't like to meddle in other people's business. But in this part of town where he grew up, all kinds of trouble happened every day. All the melodramatic plotlines from TV dramas could be seen here, and were often more extreme.

\n\n

When he was bored, he would watch the hopeless struggles of people stuck at the bottom as if they were TV dramas. For a long time, these people who didn't seem to have any feelings inspired the songs he wrote for Ding Zhuxin.

\n\n

You watch them despair, yet they live vigorously and laugh at you for being oversensitive.

\n\n

Things like Li Baoguo being beaten all over the ground happened two or three times a month. The main character was sometimes the same person, sometimes different. It wasn't rare.

\n\n

Normally, he would sit in the backseat of the car here and watch for a while.

\n\n

But today, he couldn't just watch after that. After Jiang Cheng saw that the man really was Li Baoguo, his expression changed unpredictably. It was hard to say whether it was bewilderment or confusion.

\n\n

If he was a little closer with Jiang Cheng, like he was with Wang Xu, he would definitely stop Jiang Cheng from going over there.

\n\n

This kind of situation usually didn't kill anyone. Anyway, neither side was good people, so whoever beat who wasn't being unjust. Breaking some bones and drawing some blood counted as teaching them a lesson. Sometimes it could even resolve some matters.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything. He just silently turned and walked over there. Maybe because his relationship with Li Baoguo was so bizarre, he didn't look anxious, panicked, or angry.

\n\n

Gu Fei yawned and slowly followed about ten meters behind. He took out his glasses and put them on.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't go pull them apart or even say a word. He threw his schoolbag against the wall and went over to elbow the back of the man kicking Li Baoguo in the head.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's elbows were skilled, and he was pretty strong too. Gu Fei had experienced it before.

\n\n

With this blow, the man shouted and turned around. Gu Fei recognized him as being from the steel factory. His nickname was Da*. As for whether this nickname was based on his actual body size, there was no way to verify. Anyway, these guys often came over to play cards, and normally didn't let others cheat while they cheated.

\n\n

*T/N: Means 'big'.

\n\n

Before Da could react, Jiang Cheng headbutted him right in the nose he had just turned over.

\n\n

Gu Fei instantly felt his own nose tingle a little.

\n\n

Then Jiang Cheng grabbed Da by the collar and shoved him back forcefully. He stumbled and knocked into the two people behind him.

\n\n

The few who had been beating Li Baoguo suddenly noticed the sneak attack and started cursing in brief confusion before quickly turning their attention to Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"F*ck! What the h*ll!" Someone cursed and swung a fist at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

To Gu Fei's surprise, Jiang Cheng didn't dodge at all. He went forward to meet the fist, and after it grazed past his temple, his own fist landed heavily on the man's left eye.

\n\n

This angered the few people who hadn't figured out the situation yet. Several of them abandoned Li Baoguo curled up on the ground and swung their fists at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Gu Fei frowned and looked around. The ground was surprisingly clean. If Jiang Cheng got beaten too badly, he didn't even have a brick around to help.

\n\n

"Stop hitting!" Li Baoguo curled up on the ground, covering his head and shouting, "Stop hitting!"

\n\n

None of the few going for Jiang Cheng paid him any attention. Although they didn't have any weapons in hand, they were all big guys, and one punch from them would be enough to injure someone.

\n\n

One, two, three, four. Gu Fei counted four people surrounding Jiang Cheng, with another hopping around outside.

\n\n

But before that guy could hop three times, one of them flew out of the circle and fell to the ground.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had kicked him out.

\n\n

Right after, Jiang Cheng rushed out too and stomped on the guy's stomach as he lay on the ground.

\n\n

"F*ck!" Da's face was covered in blood as he shouted and jumped up to kick Jiang Cheng in the back. The stance looked awful, but he didn't hold back on force.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stumbled forward several steps before stopping. He raised a hand and wiped the corner of his mouth.

\n\n

When he turned around, Da was taking a running start for another kick. Jiang Cheng just stood there without moving. After Da jumped up, he suddenly bent down and charged forward, ramming Da with his shoulder...

\n\n

Da didn't even make a sound as he fell to the ground, mouth wide open as he gasped for breath, his face twisted in pain.

\n\n

Gu Fei pushed up his glasses. If he wasn't mistaken, Jiang Cheng hadn't actually hit the critical area dead on. Otherwise, Da should have passed out from the pain already.

\n\n

Did he hit at an angle, or could Jiang Cheng still control his emotions and grasp the right level of force even in this situation?

\n\n

But because the way Da fell looked so miserable, his companions hesitated for a moment.

\n\n

That was how these guys were. Beating someone like Li Baoguo, each was bold as a boss. Touch a tough spot, and they instantly got timid. Didn't dare to duel one-on-one, had to wait for someone else to take the lead if ganging up.

\n\n

In that slight moment of hesitation from them, Jiang Cheng charged at the frontmost one again and slammed into him heavily. Maybe academically inclined students were good at learning---he jumped up before slamming into the guy, learning from Da, but his stance was much more elegant.

\n\n

And he used his shoulder, jumping up and ramming the shoulder right under the guy's chin.

\n\n

The man was immediately knocked back by the blow, bouncing off the ground. It wasn't clear if he had bitten his tongue or cut his lip, but when he moved his hand away from his mouth, it was covered in blood.

\n\n

After two were down, the remaining three probably felt threatened. And looking at the numbers, they still had the absolute advantage. So the three rushed Jiang Cheng together.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was probably injured somewhere when they had surrounded him earlier. This time he didn't dodge, and was surrounded by them again.

\n\n

Gu Fei could clearly see several punches land on his stomach and waist. He sighed and walked across the street.

\n\n

He had just stepped off the sidewalk when he saw someone tackled down by Jiang Cheng, pinned to the ground and punched in the face. Two blows even landed on the neck. The person struggled, coughing and howling.

\n\n

The other two couldn't pull Jiang Cheng away, so they started kicking him from behind. After taking a few kicks, Jiang Cheng grabbed back onto one of the legs and yanked hard, then pressed the leg down as he turned around.

\n\n

That guy didn't have good flexibility. Being forced into such a big split was obviously too much. He yelled hoarsely, wanting to kick out but unable to exert any strength. He could only flail his arms at Jiang Cheng, but that didn't accomplish anything either.

\n\n

The one still standing raised his leg then, and Gu Fei could tell he was aiming at the back of Jiang Cheng's head.

\n\n

"Hey," Gu Fei called out and took out a dictionary from his schoolbag.

\n\n

When the guy looked over, Gu Fei smashed the dictionary viciously into his face.

\n\n

English-Chinese dictionary. No one dared skip English class with Old Lu without one. Not expensive and very practical. Hardcover too. Gu Fei had never opened it, so it still retained that solidness from when it was new. It flew over and hit the face like a brick.

\n\n

After being whacked with the dictionary, they all stopped. And looked at Gu Fei.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't say anything else either. He went to pick up the dictionary, dusted it off on his pants, and put it back in his bag.

\n\n

At this time, Jiang Cheng also released that man's leg and stood up.

\n\n

"You f*cker..." The one who got hit with the dictionary glared at Jiang Cheng, seeming to want to say something but getting cut off by Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Anything else?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

The ones standing and sitting on the ground were stunned speechless together. No one said anything.

\n\n

"Then I'm leaving." Jiang Cheng turned around to grab his schoolbag and walked toward the street entrance.

\n\n

"You know him?" Someone asked Gu Fei.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him. "Break it up."

\n\n

It hurt.

\n\n

His whole body f*cking hurt. He couldn't even tell exactly where.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth. Every step forward felt difficult.

\n\n

But it also felt pretty awesome, like finishing a marathon, sore and aching all over. But every breath felt crisp, cool all the way to the intestines.

\n\n

He had originally wanted to ask why Li Baoguo was getting beaten. But after this fight, he didn't want to know anymore. He just knew the man lived like this, crawling on the ground like this. Neither he nor Li Baoguo himself could change it.

\n\n

It was very discouraging, and also hopeless.

\n\n

Irritation and hatred stem from these things.

\n\n

He wasn't a particularly great person. He didn't want to save anyone, or change anyone. He just thought this man was his biological father, and he couldn't erase that fact. So he tried to adapt.

\n\n

But while he could try to adapt to Li Baoguo's vulgarity, sloppiness, straight male chauvinism, gambling addiction, alcohol addiction, he realized Li Baoguo showed more than just these traits. Many other things he couldn't accept or adapt to were slowly revealing themselves before his eyes.

\n\n

Stealing things. Getting beaten all over the street.

\n\n

What else? How much more?

\n\n

Someone behind him whistled.

\n\n

Without turning around, he knew it was Gu Fei. So he didn't turn. It would make his neck sore.

\n\n

"Go to the hospital and get checked out," Gu Fei said from behind.

\n\n

"No need." Jiang Cheng's voice was muffled.

\n\n

"Want to make a bet?" Gu Fei still didn't catch up, following from the back.

\n\n

"On what?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Your ribs are broken," Gu Fei said. "Go get examined. If broken, you'll help me with homework and let me copy on exams for a week. If not, I'll treat you to a meal."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stopped.

\n\n

Gu Fei walked up beside him. "Are they broken?"

\n\n

"Don't know. Never broke them before, no experience," Jiang Cheng glanced at him. "You seem experienced. Do you break them a lot?"

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed. "I should've gotten that guy to kick your neck broken just now."

\n\n

"Thanks for that, by the way," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

His ribs were probably broken. Jiang Cheng felt that usually when getting hit in the stomach fighting and stuff, it had never hurt this badly for so long afterward.

\n\n

"Where's the nearest hospital?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"There's a mining hospital," Gu Fei said. "Five minutes by taxi."

\n\n

"Right," Jiang Cheng walked forward a few steps, then turned back with effort to bite out a "Thanks."

\n\n

"You're so polite, I want to bow and tell you no need for thanks." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything else. After walking out to the street entrance, he didn't have to wait long before a taxi came by. He waved it down.

\n\n

"I'm about to go off duty," the driver said. "You can call another car."

\n\n

"I need to go to the hospital. I might die in the streets otherwise," Jiang Cheng looked at him. "I probably have acute enteritis."

\n\n

The driver stared at him for two seconds. "Get in, I'll take you to the hospital before going off duty."

\n\n

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng got in the car.

\n\n

The instant he sat in the backseat, the pain almost made him cry out. The change in posture made the right ribs hurt as if punched again.

\n\n

"Got in a fight, huh?" The driver looked back at him through the rearview mirror as he drove. "Acute enteritis wouldn't hurt your face."

\n\n

"Is my face injured?" Jiang Cheng asked. He knew his mouth was hurt, he could taste blood.

\n\n

The driver laughed. "It's injured, but doesn't look too serious. Won't ruin your looks."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng responded.

\n\n

"Young people nowadays, don't be so impulsive," the driver said. "Even if you don't care what happens to yourself, your family will still worry, right?"

\n\n

"Mm." Jiang Cheng forced a smile at the corner of his mouth.

\n\n

The corner was probably injured too. Even that light tug made the pain spread to his ear.

\n\n

Family would worry too, right?

\n\n

Is that so?

\n\n

What family?

\n\n

The family he used to have wouldn't know about his current situation. He never let them know when he got into fights before either. And now...his biological dad had been right there, curled up covering his head without a peep the whole time.

\n\n

He didn't even look at Jiang Cheng when he left.

\n\n

Who would worry?

\n\n

Ridiculous.

\n\n

At the hospital, he went to the ER. Not many people.

\n\n

After telling the doctor his ribs might be broken, the doctor pressed on his chest and back with his hands. "Anywhere hurt?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng seriously focused on the sensations. "No."

\n\n

"Doesn't hurt?" The doctor said. "Let me see."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng unzipped his jacket, then looked down and was about to lift his sweater when he suddenly saw bloodstains on it. He froze. "F*ck?"

\n\n

The doctor lifted his shirt. "This is a cut wound, right? Doesn't seem to be any fractures from the outside... Let me listen for bone friction sounds."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng was a bit confused about how his clothes weren't torn but he was injured enough to bleed so much.

\n\n

The doctor examined him thoroughly before pressing beside the wound again. "Do the bones hurt?"

\n\n

"The flesh hurts." Jiang Cheng answered.

\n\n

"No fractures," the doctor said. "Get an x-ray if you're still unsure."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng relaxed. "No need."

\n\n

The wound on his ribs wasn't serious either. The doctor treated it and taped some gauze on, then he was good to go.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sat in the hospital chair spacing out for a long time. The pain all over his body slowly subsided quite a bit. The explosive soreness from earlier had eased off.

\n\n

He reached under his clothes again to carefully poke and prod along his ribs. Nothing hurt anymore.

\n\n

F*ck!

\n\n

Gu Fei that psycho, speaking so definitively as if he had ample experience, scaring him into going to the hospital when he hadn't wanted to endure it!

\n\n

But knowing his ribs weren't broken, his first reaction was surprisingly that at least it wouldn't affect the basketball tournament. How wonderful that he had such a collective sense of honor. Must be Old Xu's subtle and profound influence.

\n\n

His phone rang in his schoolbag. He took it out and was stunned when he saw the number on screen.

\n\n

It was his mom's call. Although he had deleted the numbers of all four family members, he couldn't erase his mom's from his mind in such a short time.

\n\n

"Hello?" He answered the call.

\n\n

"Xiao Cheng?" His mom's voice came through. "I haven't contacted you for a while, there's been lots of family matters. How are you doing now?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was silent for a very long time without answering. He didn't know what to say, or what he could say. His mind was a mess, just buzzing.

\n\n

"Did you get the things I mailed you?" His mom asked again.

\n\n

"Got them." Jiang Cheng breathed in with his eyes closed.

\n\n

"How are things with you and your...dad's family?" His mom asked.

\n\n

"Great," Jiang Cheng bit his lip. The pain from the corner tugged and made him frown. "After all he's my biological dad."

\n\n

His mom laughed softly. "That's good. I was a little worried at first. Felt he was pretty uncouth and was afraid you..."

\n\n

"I'm fine." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

His mom went silent on the other end, seeming to be looking for conversation topics.

\n\n

"I really am good," Jiang Cheng lowered his head to look at a clump of mud smeared on his shoe somehow. "Don't worry."

\n\n

"Xiao Cheng..." His mom called his name and sighed again.

\n\n

"I'm living really well now, adapted pretty well too. I'm busy now," Jiang Cheng said. "Gotta go first."

\n\n

He hung up before his mom could speak.

\n\n

After spacing out and staring at the darkened phone screen a while longer, he got up and left the hospital.

\n\n

"I hadn't planned on coming," Yi Jing stood in front of the checkout counter, holding her schoolbag, "but I happened to be passing by... Head Teacher Xu said you guys have a basketball game coming up, I figured you probably wouldn't have time to study for your midterms, right?"

\n\n

"Whether I have time or not, I'm not going to study," Gu Fei poured her a cup of hot water, putting a slice of lemon in it, "You're more worried than Old Xu."

\n\n

"Not really," Yi Jing smiled somewhat bashfully, "I'm just free."

\n\n

Gu Fei also smiled: "Okay then, or you could let me copy your homework today, I could..."

\n\n

"Can't copy," Yi Jing said right away, "If you don't understand I can teach you."

\n\n

Gu Fei wanted to say he could just copy Jiang Cheng's, but still took out his textbook from his bag: "Fine, then you can teach me English, I only plan on doing the English homework today."

\n\n

"Alright," Yi Jing sighed, "The only homework you dare not skip is English huh."

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei stood up and propped up the small table next to him, "No one dares to owe Old Lu homework."

\n\n

Yi Jing took a stool and sat down, taking his workbook and starting to go over the problems with him.

\n\n

Gu Fei was a bit absent-minded, whenever it came to studying, he would be absent-minded, even if Old Lu was sitting in front of him right now, he would still be spacing out.

\n\n

Yi Jing was Head Teacher Xu's capable assistant, just as enthusiastic about this class as Head Teacher Xu, even when Wang Xu had angered her to the point of crying twice during self-study period just a week after she took on this role last semester, she remained steadfast.

\n\n

"So this is..." Yi Jing wrote on the scrap paper with her pen, "See..."

\n\n

The curtain at the door was suddenly flung open, Gu Fei turned his head to see Jiang Cheng standing there holding the curtain open.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng?" Yi Jing turned around, looking at him somewhat surprised.

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng responded, seeming a bit awkward as he pointed outside, "Or should I..."

\n\n

"No, it's okay, did you need Gu Fei for something?" Yi Jing quickly said, also feeling somewhat awkward as she stood up, "I was just going over some homework with him... If you need him I can leave first... Or you can teach him?"

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng was confused.

\n\n

"Teacher Lu said your English grades are great," Yi Jing smiled, "I'll get going then."

\n\n

"Hey, you..." Jiang Cheng didn't get to finish as Yi Jing already squeezed past him somewhat awkwardly.

\n\n

"Went to the hospital?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng walked in, hesitating by the shelves, "Treat me to a meal."

\n\n

"It's not broken?" Gu Fei was a bit surprised.

\n\n

"Why do you sound so disappointed that it's not broken?" Jiang Cheng said, "If you want it broken so bad come over here and break it yourself."

\n\n

"What do you want to eat?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Don't know, anything's fine," Jiang Cheng frowned, "I'm starving, annoyed."

\n\n

"Alright," Gu Fei stood up, thinking for a moment, "I'll take you to eat my favorite food."

\n","published_time":"2023-12-07T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-11-09T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-12-07T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":428,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":21,"chapter_title":"Chapter 21","content":"

Jiang Cheng didn't know what Gu Fei's favorite food was that he wanted to take him to eat. He also didn't ask. His mood right now meant that he didn't even have an appetite. No matter what he ate, it would probably all taste the same.

\n\n

He came to find Gu Fei because he didn't want to be alone. He didn't want to go back, didn't want to see Li Baoguo, didn't want to know what he looked like after being beaten, and didn't want to hear Li Baoguo's reason for being surrounded and beaten. He didn't want to think about it, piles and piles of unwillingness, enough to fill his empty head and heart to the brim, blocking him so much that he couldn't even breathe.

\n\n

And in this city, other than Li Baoguo's home and school, the only other place he could go was Gu Fei's family store. Thinking about it, it was a bit pathetic, but there was no other way.

\n\n

Gu Fei tidied up the store a bit, then closed the door, "Wait here for me, I'm going to get the bike."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng wanted to ask if it was a bicycle or motorcycle. If it was a motorcycle, he really didn't want to ride in the cold. He'd rather walk. But Gu Fei went straight into the small alley next to the store.

\n\n

Whatever, it couldn't get that much colder. The spring basketball tournament was about to start anyway. Theoretically, spring was here.

\n\n

How magical.

\n\n

The sound of an engine came from the small alley, but the engine sounded very weak and fragile, completely unlike Gu Fei's 250cc motorcycle.

\n\n

Just as he was wondering, a small yellow car that looked like a regular or mini mantou bun emerged from the alley.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched in shock as the corn flour mini mantou swayed back and forth before stopping in front of him. Then a small door opened.

\n\n

"Get in," Gu Fei said from inside the mini mantou.

\n\n

"What is this thing?" Jiang Cheng stared at the car. If he wasn't mistaken, this was a mini senior mobility vehicle.

\n\n

"A car," Gu Fei said. "It keeps out the wind and rain, runs on gas instead of batteries like the electric ones, and has more power."

\n\n

"...Oh!" Jiang Cheng walked to the door and stared for a long time. "How the hell do I get in?"

\n\n

Gu Fei got out and looked back, "You have to... crawl in first."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng hesitated. Gu Fei added, "Even if I drove a Volkswagen Beetle, you'd still have to crawl into the back, right?"

\n\n

"I'd sit in the passenger seat in a Beetle!" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Hurry up," Gu Fei checked his phone. "They close at 9."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had no choice but to squeeze through the one-foot gap between the door and driver's seat. All his injuries ached as he squeezed in and he nearly cried.

\n\n

He had seen old men use these things to bring their old wives out. How did the old ladies get in?

\n\n

Once seated, Gu Fei reached over and folded the driver's seat back, "You can put this down to make more room."

\n\n

Looking at the suddenly much more spacious area, Jiang Cheng felt like getting out and fighting Gu Fei again. He pointed at Gu Fei, "Shut up."

\n\n

Gu Fei closed the door and started the engine, driving out to the street.

\n\n

The space inside was very small. Sitting in the back, Jiang Cheng felt no different than sitting on the back of Gu Fei's bicycle.

\n\n

But it did keep out the wind and rain. Looking out the tiny window, he had an inexplicable feeling of wandering the streets, begging all day before finding a cheap food stall to eat a bowl of noodles.

\n\n

"This your family's car?" Jiang Cheng knocked on the plastic hull.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei replied. "My mom bought it. It's pretty convenient for hauling stuff sometimes."

\n\n

"...Oh," Jiang Cheng looked at his position, "What stuff can you haul in this little space?"

\n\n

"Our shop doesn't have that much to haul," Gu Fei said. "Most gets delivered. We haul some ourselves."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything more, watching Gu Fei drive over the bridge from that day. He guessed if there was any good food around, it had to be on the other side of the bridge.

\n\n

What would it be? He saw many shops when he went to eat dumplings last time, hot pot, barbecue, Chinese, Western, many types, but he didn't hope Gu Fei would take him somewhere too expensive that he'd have to treat him back later. That would be troublesome.

\n\n

The mini mantou drove past all kinds of big and small restaurants on the road but didn't stop, continuing straight ahead before turning onto a smaller side street.

\n\n

"Not there yet?" Jiang Cheng couldn't help asking, feeling they had left the restaurant area.

\n\n

"Almost, just up ahead," Gu Fei said, turning the car onto another street.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked out. Like Li Baoguo's neighborhood, it was an old shabby area with a very depressing down and out vibe.

\n\n

The car slowed and stopped in front of a few small shops. Jiang Cheng stared at them for a few moments. One sold buns, one sold noodles, and another was...

\n\n

"Get out," Gu Fei jumped out and opened the door.

\n\n

"No way," Jiang Cheng squeezed out, confused. "Why do I feel like these shops sell breakfast?"

\n\n

"They sell breakfast too," Gu Fei closed the door and hit a remote.

\n\n

"Damn, this little mantou has a remote lock?" Jiang Cheng was very surprised.

\n\n

"It runs on gas after all," Gu Fei said. "Even battery cars have remotes. Why wouldn't it?"

\n\n

He walked into one of the shops, "Here."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at the shop, shabby inside and out, with dim lighting and a dubious environment. It looked sketchy.

\n\n

Seeing the sloppy handwritten four characters on the door that could rival his own bad handwriting, he froze.

\n\n

"Wang Er Xian Bing?" He pointed at the sign. "You brought me out at night to eat pan-fried buns?"

\n\n

"Super delicious," Gu Fei lifted the curtain. "Smell."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wasn't in the mood to smell. He was still shocked to be eating pan-fried buns for dinner with someone for the first time. But the shop was surprisingly packed. Business was booming.

\n\n

When he followed Gu Fei inside and saw a server carrying a bowl of soup to customers, the shock multiplied and he nearly popped his eyes out.

\n\n

"Da Fei, you came!" Wang Xu dumped the soup on the table and saw Jiang Cheng. "Damn, Jiang Cheng too?"

\n\n

"Ah," Jiang Cheng responded dully, watching Wang Xu spill half the soup.

\n\n

"Crap! It spilled out!" The customer said unhappily.

\n\n

"I'll bring you another small bowl later," Wang Xu wiped the table hastily and came over. "Go upstairs to the private room. It's empty."

\n\n

"Private room?" Jiang Cheng didn't think he could recover from the shock. A pan-fried bun shop with private rooms.

\n\n

The private room really was private, enclosed on four sides with wood panels, with a small AC.

\n\n

"What happened to your face?" Wang Xu turned on the AC and stared at Jiang Cheng's face. "Did you fight with Monkey..."

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng cut him off. Wang Xu could think of Monkey from the slightest disturbance. He felt he owed it to Wang Xu to go fight them again.

\n\n

"Beef, marbled pork, mutton, donkey, bring a few of each," Gu Fei told Wang Xu. "And mutton soup. Have you eaten? if you haven't eaten yet, let's eat together."

\n\n

"Got it, bringing them," Wang Xu said. "I found two bottles of good wine Dad hid. We can drink some later."

\n\n

After he left, Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Fei, "Wang Xu's family runs this?"

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei nodded. "Wang Er is his dad. Famous in the city. People come from the development zone across town to eat here."

\n\n

"Oh!" Jiang Cheng responded. He couldn't think of anything else to say.

\n\n

"I'll go grab soup," Gu Fei also left. "Drink some soup first."

\n\n

Two minutes later he came back with three big bowls of mutton soup on a tray. Jiang Cheng felt like he could eat the bowls too when he smelled the soup.

\n\n

Shortly after, Wang Xu brought in seven or eight buns in a simple bamboo basket, "Just made, eat while hot. More later."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took a bite. He was moved. He swallowed almost without chewing.

\n\n

"This one is made of donkey meat," Wang Xu looked at him. "How is it?"

\n\n

"Very," Jiang Cheng took another bite. "Delicious."

\n\n

Wang Xu smiled smugly, "Of course it's delicious. Donkey is a must order. Everyone who comes has to eat at least two donkey buns. Da Fei can eat ten."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng thought he could eat more than ten.

\n\n

Wang Xu's buns weren't big, half a palm sized, with thin skin and huge chunks of meat filling, thick and soft. One bite was bursting with meaty flavor, oily but not greasy...

\n\n

Wang Xu also secretly brought a bottle of wine his dad had hidden. No label, the bottle looked dirty.

\n\n

"Drink?" Wang Xu put a cup in front of Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng shook his head. He wasn't used to drinking liquor. No one drank at home and he only drank beer sometimes with Pan Zhi.

\n\n

"Boring," Wang Xu poured for himself and Gu Fei. "Nerd's pretty upright."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was too lazy to bicker since he was eating Wang Xu's delicious buns.

\n\n

It was a very enjoyable meal, all kinds of big meat buns, thick mutton soup, full and warm. It seemed to soothe his indistinguishable aches. The stabbing pains turned into dull ones buried in the meat.

\n\n

Of the three, only Wang Xu kept talking, about class stuff that Jiang Cheng couldn't follow since he didn't know anyone. Gu Fei was also pretty quiet, just eating and nodding yes at times. Wang Xu's enthusiasm wasn't affected.

\n\n

"I heard Class 2 is getting some outside help," Wang Xu mentioned the basketball tournament. "Should we get one too? To win?"

\n\n

"You want me and Jiang Cheng to bring in outside help?" Gu Fei said. "Where's the fun in winning like that?"

\n\n

Wang Xu thought for a moment with a frown, "No fun. I probably wouldn't even get to play then?"

\n\n

"With outside help, they wouldn't let you play at your level." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Damn!" Wang Xu was a little upset.

\n\n

"I'll call some friends to practice with us tomorrow," Gu Fei said. "Can't expect to improve now, just get used to cooperating and familiarize with everyone."

\n\n

"Right!" Wang Xu glanced at Jiang Cheng. "Don't pass to others again."

\n\n

"I passed to my deskmate, not others," Jiang Cheng drank some soup. "My deskmate is on my team."

\n\n

"...Quibbling," Wang Xu sneered.

\n\n

"Dispute me then," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

After eating at Wang Xu's shop for an hour, Jiang Cheng left feeling his injuries must have split open from his stomach being so full.

\n\n

"Come often!" Wang Xu's mom saw them off. "Discounts for Wang Xu's classmates!"

\n\n

"Thanks Auntie," Jiang Cheng said, stifling a burp.

\n\n

He really ate too much.

\n\n

On the ride back he was half lying in the back seat.

\n\n

"I'm driving drunk," Gu Fei started the car.

\n\n

"Nonsense," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Though the meal was enjoyable, as he walked back to Li Baoguo's place on the cold windy street, exhaustion crept up again.

\n\n

He slowly trudged one step at a time until inevitably arriving at the entrance.

\n\n

The lights were off when he opened the door. He felt around for the switch and slapped it on.

\n\n

He didn't know why he could never get used to the light switch at Li Baoguo's place being a bit higher than his old home.

\n\n

Li Baoguo wasn't home, whether at the hospital or playing cards, he didn't know. He took out his phone and hesitated before deciding not to call.

\n\n

After a simple wash up, he went to his room.

\n\n

After finishing his homework, it was almost 11.

\n\n

Someone upstairs was beating a child. The cries and screams made him jittery, afraid the kid was being beaten to death.

\n\n

He lay in bed, put on earphones and closed his eyes.

\n\n

How determined Head Teacher Xu was to win at least one game became clear to Jiang Cheng. He actually informed the basketball participants that they could skip Chinese class today to train in the gym.

\n\n

Gu Fei had no choice but to call the punks early to come in the morning.

\n\n

"You're not listening in class anyway," Head Teacher Xu said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wanted to say he would still listen in class since he was a top student after all.

\n\n

The morning gym was empty besides them. Jiang Cheng reflected that he had no confidence at all in this group winning any games. Victory depended completely on how bad the opponents were.

\n\n

"Our special practice team will come soon," Wang Xu squatted on the sidelines. "Starters get on court first to warm up and find your feel."

\n\n

"If anyone asks, say Gu Fei brought people to help us practice," Wang Xu added. "Remember to sound really upset, make them feel like we begged forever to get this favor, and the guy has no team spirit."

\n\n

Everyone nodded gravely.

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed.

\n\n

The no-good birds' timing was good, coming in after class started to avoid the crowds during passing period.

\n\n

Still, Jiang Cheng found it unbelievable that these guys with "Troublemaker" signs on their heads could just stroll into No. 4 High School when late students had to climb the gate. The school management was questionable...

\n\n

"Let's start," Gu Fei said. "Make use of the time."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked them over. Four no-good birds, plus Li Yan...? Li Yan was playing too?

\n\n

"Liu Fan, Luo Yu, Zhao YiHhi, Chen Jie, Li Yan, get to know each other, doesn't matter if you forget, they're opponents anyway," Gu Fei rapidly introduced everyone in one breath.

\n\n

They took off jackets and got on court. Two substitutes blew whistles as refs, one brought over the scoreboard.

\n\n

Seeing the lineup, Jiang Cheng suddenly felt the long absent thrill of excitement.

\n\n

"I'll jump ball," Gu Fei said softly. "Liu Fan will guard tight."

\n\n

"Liu Fan?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"The one with the big iron chain," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng glanced over at the "A" in "Not A Good Bird".

\n\n

"That chain, is it real iron?" Wang Xu asked.

\n\n

"How would I know, if not iron then silver, stainless steel, aluminum," Gu Fei looked at him. "Why don't you go ask?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng held in a laugh.

\n\n

"Won't ask, I think it's stainless steel," Wang Xu said.

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed, "Guard him and his steel chain tight."

\n\n

Liu Fan was Gu Fei's jump ball opponent, a bit taller than Gu Fei, but height alone didn't determine things, reflexes and vertical leap mattered more.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched the ball.

\n\n

After it was tossed up and reached its peak without dropping much, Gu Fei and Liu Fan jumped simultaneously, but Gu Fei touched it first.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng found it amazing how Gu Fei always got to the ball first on synchronized jumps.

\n\n

Though Gu Fei tipped the ball first, and it flew towards Lu Xiaobin, Li Yan swooped in as Lu Xiaobin touched it and flicked it away.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was a bit surprised. Last time when he saw them play basketball, if he remembered correctly, Gu Fei had considered Li Yan to be one of the "old, weak, sick and disabled" who were not allowed on the court.

\n\n

How could an old, weak, sick and disabled person sweep the ball away so easily!

\n\n

Lu Xiaobin was clearly also shocked. He immediately chased after Li Yan quickly, looking furious as if he would pick Li Yan up and throw him out if not for the rules.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was in no hurry to chase. Li Yan's dribbling speed was not fast. It looked like he did not intend to dribble all the way to the basket either. When he slightly turned his head to the right, Jiang Cheng saw the stainless steel chain Liu Fan already stretching out his hand and running towards the right sideline.

\n\n

He suddenly accelerated and charged forward. When Li Yan passed the ball towards Liu Fan, he leapt forward to intercept it.

\n\n

But he did not get the ball in his hands. Instead, it bounced towards the waving-armed Lu Xiaobin.

\n\n

This time, Lu Xiaobin reacted well and hugged the ball.

\n\n

"Give it to me," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

With Li Yan coming over to steal the ball again, Lu Xiaobin smashed the ball right at Jiang Cheng's face.

\n\n

As Jiang Cheng caught the ball, he thought thank goodness this ball with the force of a cannonball did not smash into his face.

\n\n

When Li Yan tried to come over to block him, Guo Xu stuck to him.

\n\n

The two fools' style of sticking to whoever had the ball worked at this moment. Li Yan was relatively weaker and got sandwiched between Guo Xu and Lu Xiaobin until he was almost invisible.

\n\n

As Jiang Cheng dribbled towards their basket, he saw Gu Fei who had already shaken off his defender and was also running to the basket. Gu Fei was also looking at him.

\n\n

Without hesitation, Jiang Cheng bounced the ball to Gu Fei, aiming ahead. The ball bounced off next to Liu Fan's foot and Gu Fei caught it steadily.

\n\n

But these no-good birds were not weak opponents like their classmates yesterday. As soon as Gu Fei got the ball, either Luo Yu or Zhao Yihui instantly turned around and cut off Gu Fei's path to the basket.

\n\n

Gu Fei brought the ball back and Jiang Cheng quickly squeezed through to get open. Not knowing whether he had too much faith in his teammate or was too careless, Gu Fei did not even look back and just passed the ball behind him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng caught the ball.

\n\n

The no-good birds had probably played together for a long time. Their offense and defense were seamless. There was no way to get to the basket. With the ball in his hands, Jiang Cheng was forced out beyond the 3-point line.

\n\n

This fast break did not work. The opponents were all back defending the basket. In this situation, there was no way for him and Gu Fei to score.

\n\n

Just as he was holding the ball, waiting for an opportunity, Gu Fei suddenly raised his hand. Jiang Cheng saw him hold up three fingers.

\n\n

Damn.

\n\n

Fine, three points it is!

\n\n

He charged forward vigorously with the ball. Liu Fan immediately came up to defend him. Pressing against the 3-point line, using his momentum, he leapt high. Liu Fan was like his shadow, also jumping up to block right away.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had to bring the ball back in and do a hook shot with one hand, shooting the ball past Liu Fan's left side.

\n\n

As he twisted his waist, the wound on his stomach was ripped open and Jiang Cheng could not help but yell out.

\n\n

It was so freaking cool!

\n\n

"Damn!" Liu Fan landed and immediately turned his head. Seeing the ball go in, he looked at Jiang Cheng again, "Awesome."

\n\n

"Nice shot," Gu Fei clapped his hands over his head and gave Jiang Cheng a thumbs up after making eye contact.

\n","published_time":"2023-12-14T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-11-16T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-12-14T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":435,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":22,"chapter_title":"Chapter 22","content":"

Although Jiang Cheng scored a very cool and technically superb goal.

\n\n

And shouted very impressively.

\n\n

But after all he's not a great player plus Li Yan and Gu Fei's long-term cooperation level is far better than him and the other three on his team, and Li Yan's own skills are much stronger than the others on their team. In the first half they only got 15 points.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng got two three-pointers, the rest were basically goals scored by Gu Fei, only Wang Xu got 1 point from a free throw. Jiang Cheng was very surprised that Wang Xu could make a free throw with his weird shooting form like an elementary school student.

\n\n

At halftime he glanced at the scoreboard, 28:15. This kind of score was really sad. With this kind of skill and teamwork, there was absolutely no way to catch up. If this was a formal game, in the second half they could probably only play with the noble mentality of "not letting the point difference get bigger".

\n\n

"Change two people," Li Yan said sitting on the court floor, "Luo Yu and Zhao Yihui rest, change to two of their substitutes to play for a bit, let everyone practice."

\n\n

"I think that's good," Team captain Wang Xu nodded, "We can't keep playing without substitutions, I don't think Class 2 has this level either, the opposing practice team is too strong, playing makes me lose all my confidence."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything as he sat there. When he took the shot just now he only felt the wound hurt, after landing he didn't feel much, but now after resting for two minutes, he felt the wound was burning hot again like it was on fire.

\n\n

He looked at his excited teammates, he didn't say he wanted to substitute either. If he was replaced, Gu Fei would be the only one left, they wouldn't even be able to coordinate plays, there was no point in practicing like that.

\n\n

Also he didn't want Wang Xu to know he was injured, Wang Xu had an obsessive attachment to the "you got in another fight with the Monkey gang" scenarios, he couldn't handle it.

\n\n

"Want to rest?" Gu Fei asked him softly.

\n\n

"No need," Jiang Cheng said, standing up to stretch his arms, "Let's play it through first."

\n\n

"Ok," Gu Fei looked at him and called several team members over, "You're used to it after half a game, have a sense of it now right. Second half I'll go from the sideline to under the basket, you guys continue the man to man defense, pass the ball more, don't keep dribbling. Give the ball to Jiang Cheng, I'm responsible for scoring."

\n\n

"Good, do as Da Fei says," Wang Xu as team captain wasn't able to assign tasks, he could only forcibly agree.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt Gu Fei was playing a little restrained in the first half, as if he was testing Wang Xu and the rest's skills. In the second half from the start he was different from before, playing excitedly.

\n\n

Only then did Jiang Cheng realize Gu Fei's movement speed was quite amazing. Liu Fan and the others knew him well but still couldn't keep up with him on defense.

\n\n

His path was very simple, drive straight from the sidelines to under the basket, take the pass and shoot, if someone tried to block him he would pass the ball out to Jiang Cheng or another teammate, and Jiang Cheng would pass it back to him in the end.

\n\n

This style suited Jiang Cheng very well, but he had some trouble keeping up. He had to pay attention to everyone's position on court at all times, and also watch out for Gu Fei's passes thrown without even a glance.

\n\n

The score did catch up by five or six points, but Jiang Cheng still couldn't help saying: "Look where I am when you pass the ball, ok?"

\n\n

"I did look," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I was still ten steps away and you passed already." Jiang Cheng lowered his voice.

\n\n

"But you got there right?" Gu Fei said. "Didn't lose the pass either."

\n\n

"....What if it was lost?" Jiang Cheng was a little speechless.

\n\n

"That would be my bad." Gu Fei answered very calmly.

\n\n

"Cut the crap," Jiang Cheng said, "Does the point not count if it's your fault?"

\n\n

"Brother Cheng," Gu Fei smiled and looked at him, "You used to be captain of your school team right?"

\n\n

"What's it to you," Jiang Cheng also looked at him, "I'm just telling you to watch it."

\n\n

"Got it." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Gu Fei did make some changes after saying he got it. He would glance at Jiang Cheng's general position with the corner of his eye, but even after that glance, his passing style remained the same. As long as you tell me to see where you are, I'll take a look, and after looking I'll still pass however I was going to pass.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was too lazy to say any more. Gu Fei and the No-good Birds played basketball with a streetball style, no discipline. They forcefully demanded perfect coordination from teammates, and played excitedly as if high on drugs. In less than ten minutes they committed three fouls.

\n\n

"Pay attention to limits," Jiang Cheng said helplessly, "We only have so many people, if all of us graduate do we let Old Xu come on?"

\n\n

"Awesome!" Guo Xu ran past him waving his arm.

\n\n

The game continued, Jiang Cheng didn't have time to care about more things, and followed along.

\n\n

Wang Xu intercepted the ball from a teammate subbed in on the opposing team, and immediately shouted excitedly as if a god had descended: "Ah----"

\n\n

Seeing him holding the ball reveling in excitement and seemingly having no intention of passing or attacking, Jiang Cheng had no choice but to clap his hands: "Pass the damn ball!"

\n\n

Wang Xu came back to his senses and swung his arm to pass the ball out.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt his heart clench. He had finally shaken off that Chen Jie's entanglement. No one was guarding him now, so any normal person would know this pass was to him.

\n\n

He never expected Wang Xu to swing his arm and pass to Gu Fei, when Gu Fei was currently tangled by Liu Fan to the point they were almost dancing cheek to cheek.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng could only watch this scene speechlessly.

\n\n

Gu Fei probably also didn't expect this situation and that he would get passed to. Amidst all the chaos he reacted very quickly, reaching out and slapping the ball before Liu Fan could touch it.

\n\n

This volleyball-like slap changed the ball's trajectory, flying straight at Jiang Cheng's face.

\n\n

"Fuck!" Jiang Cheng was startled, feeling like his heart was going to jump out of his rib injury.

\n\n

Luckily he reflexively raised his hand and the ball landed right in it.

\n\n

"All blind as hell!" He cursed and took the ball, too lazy to care about anything else. He carried his anger and charged to the basket like a tank.

\n\n

Anyway time was almost up, no time left to adjust tactics.

\n\n

When he got to the basket he found he had no chance for a shot. Liu Fan's close man-to-man defense skills were super seasoned. He followed all the way here and with a turn boxed Jiang Cheng in tightly.

\n\n

In Jiang Cheng's peripheral vision he didn't see Gu Fei, only the heavily guarded Wang Xu and Lu Xiaobin. And at this time he also couldn't turn his head, Liu Fan's hands were waving in front of his eyes. The ball would be stolen with the slightest distraction.

\n\n

"No time left----" someone shouted from the sidelines.

\n\n

If he didn't shoot now they would lose the two points. Jiang Cheng had no other choice but to guess Gu Fei would be there to get the pass, not under the basket but behind him.

\n\n

So he hooked his hand back and passed the ball out. Right after that he braced against Liu Fan and turned his head.

\n\n

Gu Fei stepped over, smoothly receiving the ball. Seamlessly chaining moves, he jumped up for a three-pointer. The ball traced a long arc in the air.

\n\n

"It's in! Fuck!" Wang Xu shouted loudly, "Three points!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng gave a thumbs up. Although this shot didn't change the situation of the game, it was beautifully done.

\n\n

The whistle blew, game over.

\n\n

"Not bad, not bad! I think it was great. Although the score...." Wang Xu wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked at the scoreboard, "Damn still down by 11? But still really good!"

\n\n

Everyone echoed agreement while wiping sweat.

\n\n

"Coordination needs work," Jiang Cheng pulled at his clothes. He felt the wound was a bit painful, probably because of sweating. It was scalding hot. "Eyes not on teammates or opponents, only on the ball. This needs to change."

\n\n

"Right, well said," Wang Xu nodded and repeated the summary, "Look at your own people, look at opponents too, don't just look at the ball."

\n\n

After completing the practice opponent task, the no-good birds left. The group excitedly discussed as Old Xu came over.

\n\n

"Hurry and clean up, change clothes," Old Xu said, "I got you guys ten minutes off next period's politics class. Don't affect other students when you go back to the classroom."

\n\n

Everyone went to the gym bathroom, some to wash faces, some to pee.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng waited until everyone was done before going in. After washing his face, he lifted his clothes and looked in the mirror.

\n\n

"Fuck your grandpa," seeing the blood seeping through the bandage over the wound, he couldn't help cursing softly, "You, fucking, grandpa."

\n\n

He had nothing to treat wounds on him now, and didn't want to go to the school doctor either. The school doctor would have to report this kind of injury. Who knew what Old Xu would do to 'educate him with love' if he knew....

\n\n

A whistle sounded behind him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng hurriedly pulled his clothes down and glanced in the mirror. Gu Fei was walking in.

\n\n

"Got bandaids?" He relaxed.

\n\n

"Use bandaids for that wound?" Gu Fei said. "I'll...go get some gauze from the school doctor for you."

\n\n

"That's not good right," Jiang Cheng frowned, "What if the doctor asks?"

\n\n

"No one will ask if I go get it," Gu Fei looked at his wound again, "Why didn't you say yesterday it was hurt this badly?"

\n\n

"What's there to say about it." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Wait here for me." Gu Fei turned and left.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed leaning on the sink. At first when playing ball his attention was diverted so he didn't feel too painful. Now relaxing, it felt scalding hot in waves, with stabbing pains mixed in.

\n\n

He carefully peeled off the bandage and looked. Slightly red with some blood seeping out, but it didn't look too bad.

\n\n

He hadn't gotten a bloody wound like this in a long time. In high school he fought a few times too, mostly just bruised. Suddenly seeing blood on himself felt pretty depressing.

\n\n

Was this for Li Baoguo?

\n\n

Didn't seem like it. He was too lazy now to even ask about Li Baoguo's situation.

\n\n

The crux was that since yesterday until now Li Baoguo hadn't contacted him either, off playing cards again probably, or intercepted by those people again, who knew.

\n\n

Thinking carefully, he started feeling uneasy again. What exactly did Li Baoguo do? Was this trouble resolved or not, would there be other troubles in the future?

\n\n

This time he was beaten on the street. Next time would they find his home?

\n\n

Smash things to pieces or beat him bloody?

\n\n

Just thinking about it made him feel cold.

\n\n

Gu Fei came back pretty quickly. He held a small bag coming into the bathroom, with alcohol, iodine, gauze, medical tape and such inside.

\n\n

"I'll help you?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"I'll...do it myself." Jiang Cheng took some cotton balls and poured alcohol on.

\n\n

Ever since realizing his interest in men was greater than for girls, he didn't really like physical contact with others. Aside from Pan Zhi, being touched by anyone made him uncomfortable.

\n\n

Especially someone good-looking like Gu Fei with nice hands. He was always worried he might have some extra thoughts.

\n\n

But trying to lift his clothes in one hand while treating the wound with the other wasn't easy to control. When changing cotton balls he would let go and his clothes slid down rubbing the wound.

\n\n

"Wang Xu said you're uptight." Gu Fei watched and commented.

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng answered, "What, you wanna give him a like?"

\n\n

"Yeah you are pretty uptight," Gu Fei said, "Trying to show your indomitable spirit?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed and glanced at him holding the alcohol bottle: "I'm afraid you don't know your own strength, you play ball pretty thoughtlessly."

\n\n

"I've been treating my own wounds since I was four," Gu Fei took the bottle from him and poured some on the cotton as he talked, "I'm a skilled worker."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak.

\n\n

Four years old?

\n\n

What a braggart. He didn't even have memories at four.

\n\n

But Gu Fei's motions were quite skilled, the cotton barely hurt the wound, and he was very fast. It was done before he even felt pain.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng kept his gaze on the faucet beside them.

\n\n

"This wound won't heal by the match," Gu Fei put the gauze over the wound, "Press on it yourself a bit."

\n\n

"No major issue really." Jiang Cheng pressed the gauze down and quickly glanced at Gu Fei's fingers. Gu Fei had long fingers, especially the pinky, very suitable for piano......He continued looking at the faucet.

\n\n

Gu Fei quickly taped the gauze in place: "Done, take these and change it yourself later."

\n\n

Returning to class, the politics teacher was yelling from the podium.

\n\n

But the buzz below wasn't suppressed by her yelling. The "basketball team" members just played a game and were extremely excited now.

\n\n

"Old Xu is simply unable to distinguish priorities!" The politics teacher slapped the podium, "Don't plan on passing the midterms I guess! Going to play basketball! Actually using class time to play ball! It's not that I look down on your class, with how you guys are...."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng lowered his head and swiftly sat in his seat. As a top student, he usually showed teachers respect. When teachers were angry and yelling, he would act meeker.

\n\n

But Gu Fei was not so cooperative. Amidst the teacher's scolding, he slowly sauntered back to his seat. He neatly arranged his jacket before sitting down.

\n\n

"Hey Da Fei," Zhou Jing leaned over and whispered, "Hey Da..."

\n\n

Before he finished talking, the politics teacher slapped the podium: "Zhou Jing! Get out!"

\n\n

"Huh?" Zhou Jing was stunned.

\n\n

"Out!" The teacher pointed at him and kept yelling.

\n\n

Zhou Jing hesitated, then stood up, took his jacket and went out to stand in the hallway.

\n\n

"You two in the back! Out too!" The teacher pointed at Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei, "Everyone else is back already, just you two last to return! Looks like you don't want to take class! If you don't want class then stand outside!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at the teacher. Though he was always distracted in class, cutting too, this was the first time a teacher singled him out and drove him from the classroom.

\n\n

Gu Fei was very obedient, more than when told to listen in class. As soon as the teacher finished, he stood up and left, standing by Zhou Jing leaning on the hallway railing.

\n\n

"You!" The teacher kept pointing at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed speechlessly and got up to leave too. He didn't even need to take his jacket, hadn't had a chance to take it off.

\n\n

"Wang Xu said you guys are really awesome now?" Zhou Jing wasn't downcast at all about being kicked out. He continued his earlier question leaning on the railing.

\n\n

"Awesome my ass." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Captain Wang Xu asked everyone to act like hopeless losers, but he couldn't help bragging at the slightest thing.

\n\n

"Da Fei, did you play?" Zhou Jing asked. "Wang Xu said you didn't agree even when Old Xu begged you."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng nearly laughed out loud hearing this. Wang Xu was still sticking to the plotline of Gu Fei not playing, but really made people want to interview him about where he got these ideas.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei turned his head, "I'm a person without any collective honor."

\n\n

When Gu Fei turned his head, his breath brushed Jiang Cheng's face. He quickly dodged and bounced in place twice, inconspicuously circling around Zhou Jing to cling to the railing and look downstairs.

\n\n

"Really?" Zhou Jing looked doubtfully back at Jiang Cheng, "You're not kidding me?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him. Zhou Jing wasn't a bad person but one look and you could tell he was the blabbermouth type. Telling him anything would probably spread as soon as he turned around.

\n\n

"Mm." Jiang Cheng nodded.

\n\n

"But Wang Xu said you guys are really good now...how's that possible, it's not like I haven't seen them play," Zhou Jing frowned, then his eyes lit up, "I get it! This is your strategy right? Telling everyone you're super good!"

\n\n

Although Jiang Cheng really wanted to ask what the point was of such a bluff and intimidation, he still nodded.

\n\n

"Ah..." Zhou Jing wanted to say more but Gu Fei's phone rang, interrupting him.

\n\n

It was his mom calling. Gu Fei picked up, "Hello?"

\n\n

"Are you out of school?" Mom's anxious voice came through, "Something's wrong with Er Miao..."

\n\n

Upon hearing Gu Miao's screams, Gu Fei felt his heart clench suddenly: "I'm on my way back."

\n\n

After hanging up, he turned around and rushed straight down the stairs.

\n\n

There were several possible reasons for Gu Miao's screams. In recent years, it was usually because of water, but that didn't always elicit a reaction, only occasionally. And Mom knew about it too, she was always careful.

\n\n

Given Gu Miao's reaction now, it probably had nothing to do with water. So what was going on?

\n\n

He rushed out of the school gate. The guard tried to stop him to ask something but didn't even have time to raise his hand.

\n\n

Riding his bike home, Gu Fei felt very tired. This feeling of fatigue always came on so suddenly, in an instant he felt like he could fall asleep until the end of time if he closed his eyes.

\n\n

He didn't feel physical fatigue, he didn't feel like he had gotten tired at any point. Only the mental fatigue was something he couldn't get rid of. He could ignore his mom, even yell at her to vent his frustration, but he couldn't do that with Gu Miao.

\n\n

He was extremely cautious, trying to help Gu Miao defend herself against all kinds of potential harm, while also protecting and watching out for her, guarding against accidents that could happen anytime.

\n\n

Running up the stairs, he could hear Gu Miao's screams through the door.

\n\n

The old lady from across the hall opened her door, looking at him worriedly: "Er Miao, she..."

\n\n

"It's fine," Gu Fei said as he opened the door and went in.

\n\n

His mom was hugging Gu Miao on the couch. Gu Miao had buried her face in her chest, screaming incessantly.

\n\n

"Er Miao, don't scream anymore. Look, your brother's back," Mom patted Gu Miao's back, "Gu Fei is back..."

\n\n

Gu Fei went over and took Gu Miao from his mom's arms, patting her back with one hand and massaging the back of her neck with the other: "It's okay now, Er Miao, it's okay."

\n\n

Gu Miao hugged his neck, still screaming, her body shaking a little.

\n\n

Gu Fei frowned. Gu Miao wasn't scared, she was angry.

\n\n

"What happened?" Gu Fei said softly, "Tell your brother, why are you angry?"

\n\n

"Angry?" His mom looked at him puzzledly.

\n\n

He pointed at Gu Miao's schoolbag. His mom brought the bag over. As he flipped through Gu Miao's books and notebooks, he asked, "Is it a book? Or your notebook? Did someone tear up your book?"

\n\n

Gu Miao's screams quieted down but she was still vocalizing, mixing in two indistinct words: "Draw pictures."

\n\n

Gu Fei opened up her vocabulary notebook, and after just a couple pages, he saw one page covered messily in red ink, with a crudely drawn figure falling down, next to what looked like a skateboard. There were also words written on both sides.

\n\n

Pig, mute, idiot...

\n\n

"Er Miao, stop," Gu Fei put down the notebook and held Gu Miao's shoulders, "Look at me, look at me."

\n\n

Gu Miao finally stopped screaming. She looked up at him, eyes wide open.

\n\n

"Do you know who it was?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded.

\n\n

"For this matter," Gu Fei looked into her eyes, "should I handle it for you? I'll go talk to that classmate."

\n\n

Gu Miao stared at him for a good while, then shook her head.

\n\n

"No?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

Gu Miao continued shaking her head.

\n\n

"Then what are you thinking?" Gu Fei asked, "Tell your brother."

\n\n

It took Gu Miao a very long time before she said very softly: "Myself."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't know how she planned to handle this herself, but no matter how much he asked, Gu Miao didn't say anything more or respond to him again. She turned around, went into her room, and closed the door.

\n\n

"What has my life come to..." Mom covered her face as she sat on the couch sobbing softly, "Married a scumbag, can't even raise my own kids properly... must've done something bad in my previous life... even trying to find someone again is..."

\n\n

"Mom, go back to your room first," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Even my son is so heartless to me..." Mom covered her face as she cried while going back into her room.

\n\n

Gu Fei pinched the bridge of his nose.

\n\n

The room became very quiet, with no sounds at all.

\n\n

He peeked through the door crack and saw Gu Miao hugging a quilt on the bed, seeming to have fallen asleep. There was no noise from his mom's side either.

\n\n

He sat back down on the couch and closed his eyes.

\n\n

After resting for about half an hour, he opened his eyes and made a call to Ding Zhuxin: "Sis Xin, are you free to hang out tonight?"

\n","published_time":"2023-12-21T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-11-23T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-12-21T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":442,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":23,"chapter_title":"Chapter 23","content":"

Gu Fei skipped his politics class directly and left without even taking his schoolbag. The politics teacher was so angry that he went to the office and scolded Old Xu. Old Xu came to the classroom after school.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng." He stopped Jiang Cheng who had just picked up his schoolbag and was about to leave.

\n\n

"I don't know." Jiang Cheng answered. He knew Old Xu wanted to ask about Gu Fei, but he really didn't know anything.

\n\n

"There must be a reason why he suddenly ran away?" Old Xu said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng only knew that Gu Fei received a phone call and said "I'll be right back", he didn't hear anything else.

\n\n

However, he didn't want to tell Old Xu. Who knows what's going on with Gu Fei and whether he's willing to let Old Xu know about this. He didn't want to gossip.

\n\n

However, Zhou Jing obviously didn't think as much as him. As soon as Old Xu asked, he said, "He received a phone call saying he had to go home, so he ran away. It must be something going on at home, right?"

\n\n

"Is that so?" Old Xu frowned. After Zhou Jing left, he grabbed Jiang Cheng again, "Zhou Jing knows about it, how come you don't know?"

\n\n

"Does it matter if I know or not? Don't you already know now?" Jiang Cheng took his schoolbag and walked out.

\n\n

"Are you going to send Gu Fei's schoolbag back to him?" Old Xu said from behind.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng turned back, "Teacher Xu, if I ran away from school halfway without taking my schoolbag, please don't ask anyone to send it back to me."

\n\n

"Why?" Old Xu asked.

\n\n

"Because it's annoying," Jiang Cheng said. "Not everyone is willing to let others touch their stuff and send it back home. Seriously, if he wants to take it, he'll come and get it himself. Even hoodlums can get into the school, how could a student not get in?"

\n\n

Old Xu looked at him and seemed a little confused.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything else, he just turned around and left.

\n\n

Old Xu was like an old lady, caring too much about trivial things. But teenagers like them needed this kind of motherly care the least.

\n\n

Especially someone like Gu Fei who was obviously spoiled.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt that Old Xu would definitely call Gu Fei later, but Gu Fei definitely wouldn't answer him. With the current emotional intelligence of Old Xu, this teacher-student relationship really couldn't be improved.

\n\n

In this regard, Jiang Cheng suddenly missed his previous head teacher a little bit.

\n\n

Just as he started reminiscing about the past, he quickly raised his head and took a deep breath, cutting off that train of thought.

\n\n

At noon, he actually wanted to go to Wang Xu's house to eat stuffed buns, but he felt a little awkward about suddenly showing up and having nothing much to say to Captain Wang. He didn't want Captain Wang to keep talking excitedly to him about tactics either.

\n\n

So he just had a bowl of noodles at a street shop.

\n\n

When he returned to Li Baoguo's house, he was a little surprised to find Li Baoguo actually at home, sitting on the sofa smoking, and holding a piece of paper, reading under the dim light.

\n\n

Li Baoguo's house was sandwiched between the front and back buildings, in a concave structure, so the light was very poor. Although it was sunny outside, once indoors it was like dusk.

\n\n

Every time Jiang Cheng came in, he felt oppressed. He reached out and turned on the living room light.

\n\n

"Oh," Li Baoguo seemed startled and looked up, "Chengcheng, you're back?"

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng glanced at him. His face was bruised and his mouth was still swollen. It looked like he was beaten up badly yesterday. If Jiang Cheng hadn't been there, Li Baoguo might have had to go to the hospital by now. "You...are you okay from the fight?"

\n\n

"It's fine, it's fine," Li Baoguo touched his face, "What's a little bruise compared to back when I used to work in the factory, I didn't need more than one hand to take care of those young punks back then..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng interrupted his words, "I already ate, go eat something yourself." Then he went into the back room.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had just taken off his jacket and was about to lie down on the bed for a while, when the door was pushed open.

\n\n

"Chengcheng," Li Baoguo stuck half of himself in, "you're okay right, from yesterday?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was a little helpless. He didn't have the habit of locking doors, because from childhood until now, as long as he closed the door, no one would randomly open his room door. It seemed that now he had to remember to lock the door.

\n\n

"It's fine," Jiang Cheng said, "I want to sleep for a while."

\n\n

"Your dad is useless," Li Baoguo said, not intending to close the door and leave, "Your dad got beaten on the street, and still needed you to come save him. Aren't you ashamed?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak. When Li Baoguo said "your dad" referring to himself, Jiang Cheng's first reaction wasn't to think of Li Baoguo.

\n\n

"But don't worry," Li Baoguo continued, "No matter what happens to your dad, he won't drag you into it!"

\n\n

"Okay, I know," Jiang Cheng said patiently, "I'm a little tired, I want to sleep."

\n\n

Li Baoguo nodded and left, but didn't close the door.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had to get up and close the door himself. He hesitated for a moment before deciding not to lock it, since Li Baoguo was right outside and would hear the lock click, which would be awkward.

\n\n

Lying on the bed, he felt extremely tired, though he wasn't sure if it was from playing basketball with an injury or not sleeping well last night.

\n\n

At noon today, Li Baoguo unusually didn't go out to play cards. All afternoon Jiang Cheng could hear him coughing in the living room. Several times he wanted to tell him to go to the hospital to see if he had pharyngitis. His cough had persisted since the winter break until now nearing the midterm exams, and still hadn't gotten better.

\n\n

It was impossible to fall asleep while listening to that sound during an afternoon nap. Plus the upstairs neighbors were beating their child again, not the ones from yesterday, but another family. There were several families with children in this building, and they took turns beating their kids, your family today, my family tomorrow, together if it lined up.

\n\n

Every child screamed in agony, and if a neighbor couldn't stand it anymore and came out to persuade them, they would get yelled at together. If the one being yelled at got angry, it would escalate into a shouting match.

\n\n

In short, the old buildings here were very lively every day, full of a liveliness that Jiang Cheng had never experienced before.

\n\n

Li Baoguo's coughing finally disappeared along with a thud from the living room door, and Jiang Cheng glanced at his phone to see that it was time for him to get up and go to school.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't come to school in the afternoon either.

\n\n

Since the start of the semester, Gu Fei was either late or skipped classes, as if it was normal. The other students weren't curious and the teachers didn't ask much either.

\n\n

Only Old Xu would persist in asking questions.

\n\n

After school, Jiang Cheng was stopped by Old Xu again.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng, do you not like communicating with teachers?" Old Xu smelled of alcohol.

\n\n

Over this time, Jiang Cheng also noticed that although Teacher Xu didn't get drunk, he often smelled of alcohol. Zhou Jing said he'd drink a couple mouthfuls even with breakfast.

\n\n

He'd been called out by the principal in front of the whole school for it, but it never seemed to rein him in.

\n\n

"In this one way, he's pretty 'jianghu'," Zhou Jing said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't know if it was because of this that Old Xu was especially fond of Li Bai*, often going off topic in class. No matter the lesson content, he could divert it to Li Bai.

\n\n

*T/N: A famous poet who wrote 'Drinking alone under the moon'.

\n\n

"Speaking of this xx, it makes me want to talk about Li Bai," was his typical opener. "That old Li Bai..."

\n\n

"Have you been drinking?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Had some at lunch," Teacher Xu chuckled. "Jiang Cheng, I saw you coordinate well with Gu Fei playing ball, you're on good terms normally too right?"

\n\n

"We just play ball, anyone who can play knows how to cooperate." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"I called Gu Fei several times this afternoon and he didn't answer any of them," Old Xu said, "Previously I didn't care enough about him..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng impatiently interrupted him, "Alright I get it, after school I'll go to his family's shop to take a look, there's nothing else I can do, I'm not that close with him, and I don't even know where his family lives."

\n\n

"Okay, okay," Old Xu nodded very happily, "Let him come to class tomorrow...Actually I was going to ask Wang Xu to go, but he doesn't live as close to you, and that bastard is unreliable..."

\n\n

"Got it." Jiang Cheng nodded.

\n\n

Going to Gu Fei's family's shop to take a look was no big deal, but if it wasn't for Old Xu persistently looking for him, he definitely wouldn't have gone. Who would enjoy being watched by teachers and classmates all the time, and going to someone's family to inquire about them?

\n\n

He strolled out of the school and looked at the bus stop sign outside the gate.

\n\n

Today the wound opened up again during training. If practice continued like this every day, his injury wouldn't heal by the time of the match. He wanted to go to the hospital to change dressings and get some wound adhesive or something that could help him heal faster.

\n\n

There was a bus from the bus stop that went directly to the hospital area. After waiting less than a few minutes, the bus came.

\n\n

He wrapped himself among the No. 4 High students and squeezed onto the bus, which was empty at first. After passing this stop, it was half full, and the next stop was some vocational school. After passing those two stops, no one else could get on the packed bus.

\n\n

The bus was filled with chatting, laughing students.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was squeezed against a pole by the rear door. Every time the person behind him moved, he got knocked into the pole, and after less than two stops he was so annoyed he wanted to shove the people around him to the floor.

\n\n

They passed another school up ahead, Jiang Cheng looked over and luckily it was an elementary school. Elementary school students all had people picking them up, so no one would crowd onto the bus, plus school had been out for them for quite some time now.

\n\n

He leaned his forehead against the pole, his headphones were in his backpack, no way he could take them out now, so he had to rest with his eyes closed, listening to the surrounding students either bragging or gossiping.

\n\n

After going halfway, he heard a commotion in the carriage and opened his eyes.

\n\n

"Yo! Even elementary schoolers are so fierce nowadays!" Someone said.

\n\n

"Ouch, hit in the head like that and it'll crack open!" Another person said while laughing.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked out the window and was stunned.

\n\n

Three young boys were screaming and cursing as they ran, chased by a...little girl with a skateboard.

\n\n

Even without looking closely, Jiang Cheng knew this skateboarding girl was Gu Miao.

\n\n

Gu Miao chased them a few steps, but the boys ran too fast and she couldn't catch up. So she put the skateboard down, stepped on it a few times, then kicked forward and rushed ahead.

\n\n

As she passed by the bus, Jiang Cheng saw an expression on her face that he had never seen before, seemingly cold or angry. His heart skipped a beat.

\n\n

The bus was moving slowly. Luckily after not too long a distance it arrived at the stop, and the hospital was still three stops away. But Jiang Cheng hurriedly squeezed out and got off the bus at this stop.

\n\n

Gu Miao and the three boys were nowhere to be seen. He quickly followed the direction the children had disappeared in and came to a fork in the road, going straight was the main road, turning right was a shabby small street.

\n\n

Just as he was wondering which way to go, he heard shouting coming from the right.

\n\n

As soon as he turned his head, he saw two of the three boys run out of an alley, and the other one had fallen to the ground somehow.

\n\n

And Gu Miao, she was riding on top of him, swinging her skateboard and smashing it down at his head.

\n\n

"Fuck!" Jiang Cheng was so frightened his legs went soft, and he immediately ran desperately towards them.

\n\n

People from the nearby shops had come out, first screaming in shock, then some tried to pull Gu Miao away, but whenever anyone got close, Gu Miao would swing her skateboard at them, and two people in a row failed to get near her.

\n\n

The boy pinned under her also stopped struggling, just hugging his head and crying loudly.

\n\n

Gu Miao took the chance to smash the skateboard down on his head again.

\n\n

This time a man hugged Gu Miao from behind and lifted her up.

\n\n

Gu Miao began to struggle violently, shrieking sharply.

\n\n

By the time Jiang Cheng ran over, the man holding her was a little at a loss what to do, he couldn't throw her down but couldn't keep holding her either.

\n\n

"Gu Miao!" Jiang Cheng ran over and shouted.

\n\n

Gu Miao's eyes were closed, seemingly oblivious to anything, only kept shrieking, still clutching tightly to the corner of her skateboard refusing to let go.

\n\n

"Er Miao!" Jiang Cheng yelled, "I'm Jiang Cheng! I'm Brother Cheng!"

\n\n

"You know her?" someone asked. "What's wrong with this kid! Has she gone crazy!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at the crying little boy being picked up from the ground, he could see blood on his head.

\n\n

"Give her to me," Jiang Cheng said to the man holding Gu Miao. "Give her here."

\n\n

"You can't leave! Is this your family's kid? Beating someone else's child like this! We need to call the police, get your..." the man said.

\n\n

"I said give her to me!" Jiang Cheng shouted, glaring at him.

\n\n

Gu Miao struggling and screaming like this was a sight he'd never seen, looking deranged but also heart wrenching. Jiang Cheng knew she had issues, seeing her like this immediately worried him.

\n\n

The man was startled into silence by his yelling.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng went over and grabbed Gu Miao into his arms.

\n\n

"You can't leave!" More and more onlookers gathered, surrounding them in a circle.

\n\n

"Call the police then," Jiang Cheng held Gu Miao whose screams had lowered in volume but whose body still shook uncontrollably.

\n\n

The boy's head injury wasn't too serious. A lady came over with some alcohol to clean the wound. He had a small cut on the back of his head, but it was unclear if there were other issues.

\n\n

Someone called the police.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng held Gu Miao tightly, vigorously rubbing her back to soothe her, while taking out his phone with his other hand to call Gu Fei.

\n\n

But it only rang half a tone before disconnecting.

\n\n

This bastard had his do not disturb on!

\n\n

He could only send Gu Fei a message.

\n\n

- Gu Miao's in trouble, contact me quick.

\n\n

Then he called Wang Xu.

\n\n

"Yo!" Wang Xu picked up very quickly. "Jiang Cheng? You bastard, calling me?"

\n\n

"Go find Gu Fei right now," Jiang Cheng lowered his voice. "Right this instant! His sister's in some trouble! He's not picking up!"

\n\n

"Huh?" Wang Xu reacted in shock, but Jiang Cheng could hear him start running. "Wait wait, I just got home, I'll go out again! I'll go find him! Where are you?"

\n\n

"Don't know, at an elementary school now...who knows where we'll be after the police get here." Jiang Cheng looked around at the furious shocked crowds, feeling if he wasn't protecting her Gu Miao would be getting beaten now.

\n\n

"Got it!" Wang Xu yelled and hung up.

\n\n

The police arrived quickly and were immediately surrounded and filled in by the crowds.

\n\n

"Take the child to the hospital first," an older officer said, then looked at Jiang Cheng again. "Are you the girl's guardian?"

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng said. "I'm her brother's classmate."

\n\n

"Notify her family," the officer said. "You come with us to the hospital for now, then the station."

\n\n

"Alright," Jiang Cheng held Gu Miao and went to pick up her skateboard, then walked towards the squad car.

\n\n

Gu Miao had gone silent, just clinging tightly to his neck, her fingers digging in painfully at the back. Her nails almost pierced his skin.

\n\n

"Gu Miao, Gu Miao?" Jiang Cheng said softly. "You're going to pinch all the meat off my neck. It's fine now, don't be scared. Your brother will be here soon."

\n\n

Gu Miao didn't react at all, her grip still tight, body still shaking.

\n\n

This state of Gu Miao that he had never seen before made Jiang Cheng extremely worried. First, he didn't know what was going on with her right now, why she had beaten up that boy so badly, and second, after all he wasn't Gu Miao's relative, so he didn't know if his handling of this was right or wrong... If he didn't handle it properly, would Gu Fei come seeking revenge from him...

\n\n

Jiang Cheng paid the hospital fees first, for treating the wounds and various checks. The money wasn't too much, the main trouble was the other child's parents.

\n\n

As soon as the child's parents arrived at the hospital, they rushed over like crazy wanting to beat Gu Miao and Jiang Cheng, and when the police came to stop them, they almost fought the police too.

\n\n

"Don't stop me!" The man roared, "Compensation! Compensation! Look what she did to my son, I'll do the same to her! Crazy child! Psychopath! I'm telling you, I know this crazy girl, she's my son's classmate! Psychopath! If she's in the class I said there'll be trouble! Let her go out if she dares! I'll beat her every time I see her!"

\n\n

"How this matter will be handled will be up to the police," Jiang Cheng knew Gu Miao was definitely in the wrong here, but what the other side said really provoked him, so he suppressed the anger rising up inside and said, "If you hurt her, I'll hurt you, this matter won't end."

\n\n

"Fuck!" The woman screamed, "Officer! Listen to what he's saying!"

\n\n

Gu Fei's phone call finally came through: "Where are you? I'm on my way."

\n\n

"The hospital, hurry." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

As soon as the other parents heard that there was a parent coming over on this side, they immediately became agitated again. When Gu Fei arrived, the police were about to take them to the police station.

\n\n

"What's the meaning of this!" As soon as that man saw Gu Fei he shouted, "Are you trying to start a fight?!"

\n\n

Behind Gu Fei followed Li Yan and Liu Fan, as well as Wang Xu and Ding Zhuxin.

\n\n

"Gu Miao, your brother is here." Jiang Cheng said softly to Gu Miao.

\n\n

"Er Miao?" Gu Fei came running over.

\n\n

Upon hearing his voice, Gu Miao finally let go of Jiang Cheng's neck, glanced at him, then threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.

\n\n

"She beat that kid," Jiang Cheng explained softly, "The skateboard hit his head."

\n\n

"I'm sorry," Gu Fei turned his head and looked at the couple, "My sister..."

\n\n

"Sorry for what! What good is sorry!" The woman immediately pointed at him, "I'm not done with this unless I give her a beating!"

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at her silently for a few seconds, then said: "Come on then."

\n\n

The woman seemed frightened and took two steps back: "My god! What kind of attitude is this! What kind of attitude is this!"

\n\n

"Let's go to the police station first," Ding Zhuxin walked over, "Listen to what the police say, handle this matter however it should be handled, medical treatment, compensation, as long as it's reasonable, we'll cooperate."

\n\n

"You..." The woman wanted to say something more but was interrupted by Ding Zhuxin.

\n\n

"Sister," Ding Zhuxin looked at her, "You're making such a fuss even the police can't get a word in, if you don't want to handle this through proper channels, we can also cooperate with that, then you definitely won't get the better end of things."

\n\n

"Watch how you talk," The officer warned Ding Zhuxin.

\n\n

"Sorry," Ding Zhuxin smiled apologetically at the officer, "The child got hurt, we're all anxious, but we will definitely cooperate, but cooperation can't rely on just one side cooperating, right?"

\n\n

The police took the group back to the station, Gu Fei asked: "My classmate doesn't need to go right?"

\n\n

"He needs to go too." The officer looked at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Okay." Jiang Cheng acknowledged and looked at Gu Miao leaning on Gu Fei's shoulder, she seemed much calmer now, without the previous mad and cold fury.

\n\n

"Thank you." Gu Fei looked at him.

\n\n

"Don't mention it yet," Jiang Cheng said, "Gu Miao...is she okay? I saw her just now..."

\n\n

"She's fine," Gu Fei hesitated for a moment, "I'll find time to explain to you slowly."

\n\n

"Okay." Jiang Cheng acknowledged and followed the officer out.

\n\n

After walking a few steps, Gu Fei called to him from behind: "Jiang Cheng."

\n\n

"You..." Gu Fei pointed to the back of his neck, reached out and tugged at his collar, "It's torn here."

\n\n

It was probably from Gu Miao choking him, such strength from a little girl.

\n\n

But Jiang Cheng didn't have time to think about this, Gu Fei's gesture of pulling his collar made him reflexively slap Gu Fei's hand away.

\n\n

"..It's fine." He said somewhat awkwardly.

\n","published_time":"2023-12-28T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-11-30T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2023-12-28T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":449,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":24,"chapter_title":"Chapter 24","content":"

After spending nearly two hours at the police station, the matter was finally resolved.

\n\n

The boy who was beaten did not admit that he had provoked Gu Miao. He only said that Gu Miao had chased and beat him for no reason. Gu Miao did not say anything, just lay on Gu Fei's shoulder with her eyes closed, so there was no way to verify what the boy said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng did not believe the words of the little boy. With Gu Miao's ondition, she would be bullied in any school.

\n\n

However, the main point of this incident was not the reason why Gu Miao beat someone up. Even if the little boy had bullied her, the police could not do much. The key was that Gu Miao had split open the other boy's head, requiring two stitches.

\n\n

Fortunately there were no other major issues. The other party's parents had demanded compensation aggressively, but Ding Zhuxin had forced them to back down through half reasoning and half threats. In between, she had been warned by the police several times to watch her language.

\n\n

Gu Fei had not said much the whole time, only paying attention to Gu Miao.

\n\n

Li Yan and the others just stood there with their arms crossed, putting on stern faces to assist Ding Zhuxin's threats, displaying an attitude of "If you dare make trouble, we will definitely retaliate since we clearly don't look like good people anyway."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng finally breathed a long sigh of relief when the police let them leave after reaching an agreement.

\n\n

His stomach only woke up now, growling loudly with hunger, but he had no appetite for food.

\n\n

After leaving the police station, it was quite cold outside with wind blowing.

\n\n

"You guys head back yourselves, thanks for the help," Gu Fei said after glancing at Jiang Cheng, "Let's grab a cab, along with Wang Xu."

\n\n

"Okay." Jiang Cheng nodded.

\n\n

After splitting up into the cars, no one spoke during the ride. Jiang Cheng felt a little depressed, and Gu Fei probably wasn't in the mood to talk either. Even Wang Xu the chatterbox had barely opened his mouth, just cursing and sighing. After Gu Fei glanced at him, he fell silent.

\n\n

"None of you have eaten yet right?" Gu Fei asked as the car neared the street corner.

\n\n

"Don't worry about us, hurry back," Wang Xu said. "No need to detour, I'll get off here. Just a turn and I'll be home... Jiang Cheng, want to come over and eat some meat buns?"

\n\n

"I'll pass, I don't feel like eating now." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

When the car reached the street corner, Gu Fei got off holding Gu Miao, while Jiang Cheng carried her skateboard. After walking several steps, Gu Fei looked back, "Thanks for today."

\n\n

"No need for thanks," Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Miao, "Let her take a couple days off these next two days. I saw three little boys today, the other two who didn't get hit might..."

\n\n

"She may not even be able to go back to school without taking time off," Gu Fei sighed. "Help me ask Old Xu for a leave tomorrow morning. I have to go to Er Miao's school."

\n\n

"Okay, what reason should I give?" Jiang Cheng nodded.

\n\n

"I have a fever," Gu Fei touched his own forehead, "Burning hot, from this afternoon until noon tomorrow."

\n\n

"...Fine." Jiang Cheng smiled.

\n\n

Watching Gu Fei's back as he walked away holding Gu Miao in one hand and her skateboard in the other, Jiang Cheng felt somewhat emotional.

\n\n

Previously, he had always felt that Gu Fei lived quite carefreely, carefreely letting his sister skate all over the streets, carefreely skipping and being late for class, carefreely playing basketball, doing whatever he wanted without a care.

\n\n

But now he felt that might not be the case. It seemed like Gu Fei was the only one handling everything in his family. How could someone like that possibly live as he pleased?

\n\n

No one could live solely as they wished, not Gu Fei, nor himself.

\n\n

Just like how he did not want to stay at Li Baoguo's home, did not want to stay in this unfamiliar and shabby city, did not want to face his current life, yet he had no choice.

\n\n

Every change would affect everything.

\n\n

Even something he used to do frequently like staying out all night, he could no longer casually do anymore.

\n\n

Because he had nowhere to go.

\n\n

Hardly anyone could truly ignore everything and just "be themselves".

\n\n

That night, Li Baoguo did not go out to gamble. He coughed loudly all night, snoring and smacking his lips between coughs, lively as can be.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glared wide-eyed in the room with practically no soundproofing, able to clearly hear whether footsteps upstairs were slippers or sneakers.

\n\n

When he got up in the morning, he felt so groggy that he staggered while walking.

\n\n

"Do you want to go to the hospital and get checked out?" he said to Li Baoguo who was putting on his shoes to hurry to his morning mahjong game. "Your cough is really severe, could it be pharyngitis?"

\n\n

"Look at this, my own son!" Li Baoguo said very cheerfully in a loud voice. "No worries, I've been coughing for years, just an old problem. No need to go to the hospital, nothing wrong at all!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wanted to say there was something wrong with what he just said, but before he could speak, Li Baoguo had already rushed out the door.

\n\n

Damn, just stay sick then, Li Baoguo's manner made him feel like an oversensitive weak woman.

\n\n

On the way to school, Jiang Cheng bought a box of ginseng lozenges from the pharmacy. Eating them could slightly perk him up. He often took them when cramming for exams before.

\n\n

At least now he could keep from sleeping like the dead during class after taking them. He didn't want to start snoring during lessons, it would be too embarrassing.

\n\n

As expected, Gu Fei did not show up for morning classes. After the morning self-study period ended, Jiang Cheng went to Old Xu's office and relayed Gu Fei's reason for being absent.

\n\n

"Burning up badly, been running a fever since yesterday afternoon until this noon." Jiang Cheng finished speaking and felt his lack of sleep was severely impacting his intellect.

\n\n

However, Old Xu did not seem to notice his odd phrasing, immersed instead in the joy of Gu Fei asking for leave instead of simply skipping class.

\n\n

"Look, I said he could still be saved!" Old Xu said excitedly. "You see, he asked for leave! I just knew that communicating with you kids requires technique..."

\n\n

But Gu Fei did not wait until the afternoon to show up. During the last language arts class in the morning, he came into the classroom.

\n\n

Old Xu looked at him with concern, "Aren't you sick with a fever? You could have come in the afternoon instead."

\n\n

"I'm better now." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Old Xu nodded and rapped the lectern with his hand, saying spiritedly, "Let's continue where we left off last time..."

\n\n

"You didn't sleep?" Gu Fei asked after sitting down next to Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"......That obvious?" Jiang Cheng was half sprawled on the desk, unable to fully open his eyes.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei said. "Can't even look at you, someone who doesn't know better would think you were the one with a fever burning for a day."

\n\n

"Didn't sleep well last night." Jiang Cheng yawned.

\n\n

"Sorry," Gu Fei said softly, "to keep you tied up for so many hours."

\n\n

"Wasn't because of Gu Miao's thing," Jiang Cheng waved his hand. "Li Baoguo... didn't go gambling yesterday. Coughed all night, couldn't sleep from the noise."

\n\n

"Oh," Gu Fei fumbled in his pocket and took out a small paper box, placing it in front of him. "Have some?"

\n\n

"Wha..." Jiang Cheng opened the little box. Inside were a handful of candies. He was rendered speechless for a moment. "Milk candy?"

\n\n

"Yeah, don't you like eating them?" Gu Fei popped a mint candy into his own mouth from his pocket.

\n\n

"I didn't say I like them. I was just hungry that day." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Is that so," Gu Fei looked at him with an exaggerated expression of surprise, then his expression flattened as he took back the candy. "Then give them back to me."

\n\n

"Hey, I find you very interesting, you know that?" Jiang Cheng stared at him.

\n\n

"You can just say whether you want them or not." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally saying, "Give me a mint one to pep me up."

\n\n

Gu Fei glanced at him, rummaged in his pocket for a while, grabbed a handful out and sorted through them with his fingers. "None left. Want to try this one instead? It's also stimulating, extremely so."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng took the small round candy he was pointing at from his hand.

\n\n

The candy was tangerine flavored and did not have any particularly stimulating taste. Jiang Cheng rolled it around his tongue. How was tangerine flavor supposed to be stimulating, it needed to be lemon at least...

\n\n

Before he could even finish the thought, his tongue suddenly detected a hint of sourness. Maybe it was from the tangerine coating dissolving to reveal something sour inside?

\n\n

Before he could react, the sourness abruptly erupted in full force.

\n\n

His eyes widened in shock.

\n\n

Sour, sour, sour, sour, sour!

\n\n

Damn, mouth full of sourness so bitter it struck the soul and tear ducts!

\n\n

The unbearably sour taste making him shudder involuntarily in agony!

\n\n

"This is..." Gu Fei started to say something after seeing him abruptly sit up straight.

\n\n

But he didn't finish as Jiang Cheng had already spat the candy from his mouth forcefully with a pfft.

\n\n

The candy shot out like a bullet, hitting Zhou Jing's neck in front.

\n\n

"Ah!" Zhou Jing yelped in fright, also immediately sitting up straight and reaching back to touch his neck while lowering his voice to ask, "What the hell? Something fell into my clothes!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was unable to speak. Although the candy was no longer in his mouth, its legacy still lingered. The unbearably sour and bitter taste still remained, making him unable to stop shuddering.

\n\n

"Sit properly." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Zhou Jing, pay attention to classroom discipline." Old Xu called out from the lectern.

\n\n

Although hardly anyone in this class paid attention to classroom discipline, Zhou Jing still sat properly.

\n\n

After two seconds, he turned his head again, "Damn, it's sticky? What is this stuff?"

\n\n

"Candy." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"...Are you guys nuts?" Zhou Jing said grievously as he pulled open his clothes and shook them for a while before the candy finally dropped onto the chair.

\n\n

"Sorry about that." Jiang Cheng said. After finally recovering, he turned to look at Gu Fei.

\n\n

Gu Fei was lowered his head playing with his phone, but Jiang Cheng could see his barely suppressed grin.

\n\n

"Looking to die?" Jiang Cheng said in a low voice.

\n\n

"You said you wanted to pep up." Gu Fei swiped at his phone screen with his finger. "Still feeling drowsy?"

\n\n

"Fuck off!" Jiang Cheng swore.

\n\n

"Not drowsy anymore right?" Gu Fei tilted his head to look at him.

\n\n

"Want me to write you an award certificate or something?" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"No need," Gu Fei turned back to his phone. "I can't read your handwriting anyway."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had to admit he was wide awake and alert now. The drowsiness was completely gone.

\n\n

But the urge to whack Gu Fei with a stick a couple times made him not even want to ask about how Gu Miao's school planned to handle the incident.

\n\n

When the bell for the ending class rang, Gu Fei put down his phone. "Let me treat you to a meal, thanks for your help yesterday."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him without speaking.

\n\n

"Lunch or dinner, whichever is more convenient for you," Gu Fei added. "Do you have time?"

\n\n

"...No need to be so polite." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"It's not just politeness," Gu Fei said. "Without you yesterday, who knows what would have happened to Er Miao. Thinking about it still scares me."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was silent for a while. "Then dinner. I need to catch up on sleep during lunch."

\n\n

"Okay." Gu Fei nodded.

\n\n

Afternoon was self-study class for basketball practice as usual. This self-study period was probably the most beloved class for Wang Xu and the others recently.

\n\n

During lunch, Jiang Cheng went to the hospital to get his wound redressed. The doctor applied some imported adhesive that was supposed to be good.

\n\n

In the afternoon, they mainly practiced coordination without playing formal matches. The wound still felt fine and did not hurt.

\n\n

"I feel we have a shot this time." After practice ended, Captain Wang Xu squatted by the edge of the court, poking the floor repeatedly with one finger. "Just keep up how we are now... but secrecy is still important. Need to keep everyone underestimating us like before."

\n\n

"Then you better not go shooting your mouth all over the place." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"No worries," Wang Xu said unconcernedly. "As long as your and Gu Fei's participation stays hidden, it doesn't matter how much I boast. No one will believe me anyway."

\n\n

"...Oh." Jiang Cheng looked at him, for the first time feeling that Wang Xu was truly sincere. And also a little shocked that he could face the cruel reality so straightforwardly.

\n\n

"Da Fei," Wang Xu turned to look at him. "When you're free, get those brothers to come have a practice match with us again. I feel it was pretty effective."

\n\n

"Mm." Gu Fei made a sound of assent.

\n\n

"Alright, dismissed." Wang Xu waved a hand. "Other classes will be coming soon. Remember our motto!"

\n\n

"Motto?" Lu Xiaobin was puzzled. "We have a motto?"

\n\n

"Oh right, I didn't mention it huh," Wang Xu said. "Our motto is - We Have Secret Weapons!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng still hadn't reacted even after he finished speaking, stunned for a moment before barely holding in the urge to burst into mad laughter and turning his head away.

\n\n

Everyone silently looked at Wang Xu.

\n\n

"We Have Secret Weapons!" Wang Xu repeated once more, then waved his hand again. "Dismissed!"

\n\n

When they walked out the school gate after class ended, Jiang Cheng habitually looked around. He did not see Gu Miao who was usually waiting there holding her skateboard like a little gangster.

\n\n

He glanced at Gu Fei, but Gu Fei did not explain. He just shoved his hands in his pockets and headed down the road.

\n\n

"Not riding your bike today?" Jiang Cheng saw he did not go get his motorbike and asked.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei tugged at his collar. "The piece of junk's wheel warped into a square halfway through riding this morning."

\n\n

"What?" Jiang Cheng did not understand at first. "How did the wheel got warped? No one beat it up..."

\n\n

"...You're so cute," Gu Fei looked at him. "The wheel really did warp from round to square on its own."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng was also quite impressed with himself.

\n\n

"Made me take a hard fall." Gu Fei sighed.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him without speaking. If it was Pan Zhi, he would definitely applaud vigorously and celebrate.

\n\n

"What do you feel like eating?" Gu Fei asked as they walked.

\n\n

"Don't know, nothing in particular I really want to eat. Don't need to make it too formal," Jiang Cheng said. "Just eat however you normally do with friends. It's not an award banquet or anything."

\n\n

"How I eat with my friends is..." Gu Fei smiled. "Pretty interesting. You might not be able to take it."

\n\n

"Eat shit?" Jiang Cheng absently asked. He had these childish, habitual conversations with Pan Zhi. Sometimes he felt they acted no older than seven.

\n\n

"We don't eat that," Gu Fei said solemnly. "But I can arrange it for you if you want."

\n\n

"Let's just eat normal stuff." Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

Just thinking of Pan Zhi now made him sigh. What a strange thing.

\n\n

Lately, Pan Zhi's grandfather was hospitalized so their whole family took turns accompanying him. The two of them hadn't been in contact much. Sometimes when Jiang Cheng saw his silent phone, he would feel very lonely.

\n\n

"Let's go to the supermarket first." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Supermarket?" Jiang Cheng was startled. "Buy what?"

\n\n

"Buy food," Gu Fei said. "Ingredients and such."

\n\n

"Making it yourself?" Jiang Cheng was very surprised.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei nodded. "I normally make it myself with friends. Or we could just..."

\n\n

"No need," Jiang Cheng felt it was best to just go along with Gu Fei's habits. He hadn't expected to be treated to a meal by Gu Fei for yesterday's happenings anyway. "But I have to say first, I can only make instant noodles when cooking.

\n\n

“No problem, it's simple, just a barbecue,” Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was astonished again. Barbecue in this weather? Where were they going to grill?

\n\n

They walked around the supermarket and Gu Fei bought a chopped chicken, some prepped beef and lamb for grilling, and two bags of dumplings.

\n\n

“How do you grill dumplings?” Jiang Cheng couldn’t figure it out.

\n\n

“Dumplings get cooked,” Gu Fei explained patiently, completely serious.

\n\n

“I know dumplings are cooked, I just...nevermind, I’ll see when we eat,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“What do you want to drink? Beer or soda?” Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

“Nothing,” Jiang Cheng pictured them standing freezing in the bitter wind watching a pathetic fire that could go out any second. The thought of drinking anything made him feel cold already.

\n\n

After buying everything, Gu Fei led him in the direction of home.

\n\n

Although he felt a bit uncomfortable with the idea of going to Gu Fei's home for a barbecue...he had been interacting with Gu Fei a lot recently, but still did not feel very familiar with him. Going to someone's home would be quite awkward - he didn't even want to go to Pan Zhi's home.

\n\n

When he arrived at Gu Fei's shop, Gu Fei didn't stop but just glanced inside as he continued walking forward.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng also glanced inside. Through the glass he could see a woman standing at the cash register - judging by her hairstyle it was probably Gu Fei's mother.

\n\n

Continuing forward, this street met up with the street where Li Baoguo lived.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had been to this area before. It was quite desolate, and after passing the abandoned factory up ahead, there was a road that went all the way to a lake that had little water left... He shivered, thinking that if Gu Fei wanted to have a barbecue by that lake, he would probably suggest they go eat at a restaurant instead.

\n\n

But Gu Fei walked directly into that abandoned factory through a small door.

\n\n

"Here?" Jiang Cheng followed him inside, "Was this a factory before?"

\n\n

"Yeah, a former steel factory," Gu Fei said, "It closed down a long time ago... Many people around here used to work at this factory, including Li Baoguo."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng looked around.

\n\n

After entering the gate he realized the factory was very large. The factory buildings and such were still there and looked quite sturdy, but it had become completely overgrown and clearly hadn't been cleaned in a long time, with uncleared ice covering the ground.

\n\n

Gu Fei kept leading him further inside. After passing a few basketball courts, they entered a building that looked like it used to be an office building.

\n\n

"I come here with... the not-a-good-bird bunch," Gu Fei said as they went upstairs, "When we don't want to stay at the shop we hang out here."

\n\n

"There's no electricity here right?" Jiang Cheng looked at the messy stuff on the floor.

\n\n

"We connected our own line," Gu Fei said, "Actually in the summer it gets quite lively here, with lots of open space outside for the old folks to do their square dancing activities and stuff."

\n\n

"Square dancing?" Jiang Cheng repeated.

\n\n

"Yeah, and dance battles, very fashionable, right at the cutting edge," Gu Fei said as he went up to the third floor and unlocked a door with a key.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked inside - surprisingly it was a very tidy empty room. Bricks were stacked in the middle to make a stove, with many low stools and cushions around it, and a sofa with no legs.

\n\n

Against the wall there was a barbecue grill and an induction cooker, and even pots and bottles of oil, salt, etc.

\n\n

"Wow?" Jiang Cheng was very surprised, "You could live here already!"

\n\n

"What do you think, pretty fun right," Gu Fei put the ingredients on the table, "We made the lock ourselves, I can give you a key if you want. You can hang out here sometimes when you don't want to go back home and have nowhere else to go. Li Yan and the others usually come on weekends, there's no one else most of the time."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak, just leaned against the wall watching Gu Fei. He felt a bit gloomy that Gu Fei had so easily pointed out his frequent state of having "nowhere to go".

\n\n

Although unhappy, he surprisingly didn't feel angry. He just felt it was kind of... funny, that even a classmate could see his circumstances so clearly.

\n","published_time":"2024-01-04T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-12-07T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-01-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":456,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":25,"chapter_title":"Chapter 25","content":"

This room used to be the steel factory's reception room. It had a bathroom. Although abandoned, it still had an owner, and the water was always turned on. So when Li Yan first grabbed it, this was the room he took.

\n\n

The place looked quite desolate, but other than the lively area near the factory when it got warmer, this side was not completely unvisited either. There were also people like them who came to idle around and find a place to stay, just not as often as they did.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't come here often, but today he wanted to treat Jiang Cheng to a meal and didn't want to go too far from home. There were no decent restaurants around either, so when Jiang Cheng said he didn't care, Gu Fei thought of this place.

\n\n

"There's no heating here, right?" Jiang Cheng sat on the sofa and stamped his feet.

\n\n

"Make your own fire," Gu Fei took a lighter from the table and threw it over to him, "The bag next to the sofa has charcoal. Go outside and find some torn cloth strips or something..."

\n\n

"Do you know how to start a fire?"

\n\n

"I do." Jiang Cheng got up and went out, then rushed back in after two seconds, holding a torn cloth with a stiff expression on his face.

\n\n

Gu Fei was putting food into disposable plates and was about to divide it up. He was startled by Jiang Cheng's sudden movement: "What's wrong?"

\n\n

"Damn," Jiang Cheng held the torn cloth between two fingernails. "I just picked this up... There was a dead rat under it! Scared the shit out of me!"

\n\n

"Yet you're still bravely holding onto it?" Gu Fei didn't quite understand.

\n\n

"I thought it would be useful, so I toughed it out..." Jiang Cheng threw the torn cloth into the brick stove, "It should be enough to start a fire."

\n\n

"You could've walked ten more steps and found something else without a dead rat under it to start the fire." Gu Fei kept putting food into the plates.

\n\n

"Too lazy when it's cold," Jiang Cheng squatted in front of the stove, "I think I'm hardened now after seeing cockroaches in Li Baoguo's pot."

\n\n

"He doesn't cook often anyway, he gets meals brought over when playing cards," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I can tell," Jiang Cheng lit the cloth, "If he had to take care of the bed, he could probably sell this set of rooms."

\n\n

"Can't sell them," Gu Fei took the pot to the faucet in the bathroom to wash it, then brought out a pot of water, "The rooms originally belonged to the steel factory. Most people here are so poor that they only have themselves left."

\n\n

"...Oh." Jiang Cheng put two pieces of charcoal into the fire, staring at them as if lost in thought.

\n\n

After the charcoal caught fire, Gu Fei put a pot of water on top, then smashed two pieces of ginger and threw them in, followed by a small package of prepared wolfberries and red dates.

\n\n

"Making soup?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei held the lid, "Do you prefer drinking soup or eating meat?"

\n\n

"...What do you mean?" Jiang Cheng looked at him confused, "You cook a whole chicken, then only let me choose between drinking the soup and gnawing on the meat?"

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed. "No, chicken goes into cold water to make the soup richer tasting. After the water boils, adding the chicken will make the flavor of the chicken meat stronger."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng responded in surprise, "Why?"

\n\n

Gu Fei felt Jiang Cheng's reaction perfectly embodied a true nerd's quality - no common sense but curious - yet he didn't feel like explaining it to him: "Just say which one you like."

\n\n

"Soup," Jiang Cheng simply answered as he took out his phone.

\n\n

"Okay," Gu Fei put the chicken into the pot and covered it, "The chicken's cooking. Let's eat BBQ first."

\n\n

"Sounds good," Jiang Cheng looked at his phone while standing up, "What do I do?"

\n\n

"Eat," Gu Fei replied.

\n\n

Li Yan and the rest really enjoyed BBQ here, so everything was pretty well stocked. After Gu Fei set up the grill, he brought some hot charcoals over from the stove. The meat today was pre-marinated so he just had to put it on the grill. Very simple.

\n\n

"Putting chicken in cold water lets the flavor slowly and completely draw out as the temperature rises, so the soup becomes very rich," Jiang Cheng sat by the stove, turning the meat while looking at his phone, "Dropping chicken in boiling water instantly cooks the skin, sealing the flavor inside, so the chicken flavor becomes stronger...right?"

\n\n

"...Right," Gu Fei glanced at him, "Are you going to take notes too?"

\n\n

"Memorization isn't required for this kind of thing, understanding the concept is enough." Jiang Cheng looked back at him.

\n\n

Gu Fei turned his head and started brushing sauce onto the meat skewers. When Jiang Cheng talked like this, it was very nerd-like - the kind you can't continue the conversation with.

\n\n

“Do you guys always gather here? The stuff is so complete,” Jiang Cheng stood by the grill. “There's even sichuan pepper?”

\n\n

“Sichuan pepper, regular pepper, chili powder, it’s all here. Just don't know if it's expired, no idea when they bought it.” Gu Fei said.

\n\n

“...Damn,” Jiang Cheng picked up a bottle to look. “Let me see...expires in 36 months, should be fine. You didn't come eat here 30 something months ago right.”

\n\n

“How long is 36 months?” Gu Fei didn't even lift his head, taking the bottle to start sprinkling.

\n\n

“Three years,” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“At most half a month ago,” Gu Fei said. “You're pretty picky, I generally just eat it if it doesn't smell off.”

\n\n

“You can only eat like that because you can't calculate expiration dates right?” Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

“Yeah,” Gu Fei glanced at him. “Can't compare to a meticulous top student's lifestyle.”

\n\n

The meat had only been grilling a short while before it started dripping oil. The smoke permeating the room took on a thick, appetizing aroma.

\n\n

Grilling skewers didn't require much skill, and Gu Fei looked very experienced, so Jiang Cheng didn't help. He sat back by the chicken soup, warming himself by the fire.

\n\n

Outside was perfectly silent, the sky completely dark now. The open window was like a black cloth, giving a chilly feeling, but the stove and grill in front radiated bright firelight, very reassuring.

\n\n

It was a strange sensation, like that day sitting in the little mantou car - outside was the cold, windy street, but inside the car was peaceful and quiet.

\n\n

Now outside the window was unknown darkness and unease, but right before his eyes was light and warmth.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng quite liked this feeling.

\n\n

All this time since coming here, weighed down by repression, anger, confusion and maladjustment, it wasn't until today, this moment, that he suddenly had a sensation of his feet on solid ground.

\n\n

Although this feeling might be fleeting, just a sensory illusion, he couldn't help but want to quietly savor the experience right now.

\n\n

"Can you handle spicy?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"A little is fine, not too much." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Gu Fei sprinkled on some chili powder and put several skewers onto a plate for him. "Try it. I like them a little burnt. These ones aren't burnt much."

\n\n

"I also like them a bit charred," Jiang Cheng took a skewer and bit into it. "The flavor's pretty good."

\n\n

"I thought you study gods don't like food burnt. You check expiration dates, how come you're not worried that burnt food causes cancer?" Gu Fei kept grilling the meat.

\n\n

"Are you annoying or what?" Jiang Cheng ate and talked. "How much resentment do you have against study gods, so hard to let go?"

\n\n

"After living nearly 18 years, first time seeing a real study god, of course there are complex feelings," Gu Fei glanced at him and smiled. "This study god's mouth is so cocky too."

\n\n

Sitting by the fire eating BBQ on a cold day was extremely pleasant. Jiang Cheng didn't feel like bickering with Gu Fei for now and remained silent, just burying his head to eat.

\n\n

"Want a drink?" Gu Fei rummaged through a paper box next to him. "I think there's leftover alcohol from last time."

\n\n

"White liquor?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"You kidding? Beer on such a cold day," Gu Fei took out a bottle and put it on the wooden box. "At times like this, a bottle of Erguotou touches you and me."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at the bottle and hesitated before nodding. "Fine, I'll have some."

\n\n

When Gu Fei poured, Jiang Cheng was shocked to see him casually fill a paper cup to the brim with liquor like it was beer, he hadn't drank white liquor like this before. But considering their potential to start roasting each other anytime, he didn't say anything and silently watched Gu Fei place a full cup in front of him.

\n\n

"You probably think it's unnecessary to say thanks now," Gu Fei picked up his cup, "But I still have to formally say thanks again."

\n\n

"You probably think it's unnecessary to say you're welcome..." Jiang Cheng also picked up his cup, "But I still have to say no need to be so polite."

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled, clinked his cup against Jiang Cheng's, and took a sip.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Fei's cup. This bastard drank a mouthful of liquor like it was beer. He had no choice but to follow suit and take about the same gulp.

\n\n

The alcohol burned from his throat all the way to his stomach, then travelled back up, igniting his neck and ears.

\n\n

Gu Fei glanced at him. "You don't normally drink, right?"

\n\n

"I don't drink white liquor like it's beer." Jiang Cheng said, lowering his head to take a bite of meat. Actually on such a cold day, a mouthful like this while sitting by the fire felt pretty good.

\n\n

"Just drink a couple sips, you're still injured." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Don't feel it today," Jiang Cheng pressed on the wound location. Indeed there was no feeling there. He hesitated then asked, "How's...Gu Miao doing?"

\n\n

"At home for now," Gu Fei drank another sip, "That parent yesterday brought the parents of the other two to make a scene at the school."

\n\n

"Fuck!" Jiang Cheng frowned. "Gu Miao must've reacted that way because they did something first. Normally she doesn't even look people in the eye!"

\n\n

"They drew stuff in Er Miao's notebook," Gu Fei lifted the lid of the soup pot. The soup was already boiling so he tasted it and added some salt and MSG. "Er Miao wanted to handle it herself. I didn't go ask the school about this matter and didn't expect her to handle it like this."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng could imagine what kinds of things would be drawn in the notebook. Kids this age, while adults still say "He's just a child", are often the cruelest.

\n\n

He still remembered in elementary school there was a child with slightly lower intellect who was ostracized and bullied by almost the whole class. He had even participated himself, afraid that if he differed from the majority he would be similarly treated.

\n\n

"So the school had Gu Miao go home?" Jiang Cheng said. "No investigation of causes and results? Even if fighting is wrong, she shouldn't be barred from school!"

\n\n

"The school didn't want to accept her in the first place. I begged the principal for a long time," Gu Fei paused and was silent for a while before glancing at him again. "Er Miao should go to a special needs school."

\n\n

"...I see." Jiang Cheng had guessed Gu Miao likely had some issues but still didn't know how to continue when he heard Gu Fei say "special needs school".

\n\n

"She's had some problems since birth," Gu Fei sprinkled more cumin onto a skewer. "Couldn't speak, didn't say anything until two or three years old, and even then only blurted a couple words unclearly. Also couldn't learn things, and seems like she doesn't know how to express herself. If she's hungry, thirsty, or uncomfortable she would just scream."

\n\n

"Then she..." Jiang Cheng didn't finish his sentence. Gu Fei kept staring at what was in his hands looking completely unconcerned, yet Jiang Cheng could still sense his gloom.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't continue asking. Gu Fei also didn't elaborate further on what Gu Miao's problems were, or how she got that scar on the back of her head, or if what Li Baoguo said about her being dropped by Gu Fei's dad was true or not.

\n\n

He was curious about all of it but also didn't plan to inquire further.

\n\n

The chicken soup tasted great. He didn't know if it was because hot chicken soup seemed especially tempting on such a cold day, but one sip made him feel dizzy from the warmth.

\n\n

"This chicken soup is intoxicating." Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

"You think it's the soup?" Gu Fei drank some liquor and held up his cup in front of Jiang Cheng, swaying it. "It's what's making you tipsy."

\n\n

"...Oh," Jiang Cheng paused and also drank some liquor before nodding. "Yes."

\n\n

The alcohol content was high. Jiang Cheng didn't normally drink white liquor, but at the moment eating and drinking like this, he'd somehow finished most of a cup.

\n\n

Maybe because of this, he suddenly felt an urge to laugh, just like when he was at Gu Fei's shop, when they started talking about the fight and laughed uncontrollably together. Right now he really wanted to laugh like an idiot.

\n\n

"I..." He turned to look at Gu Fei.

\n\n

Gu Fei was drinking soup and met his gaze for a second before turning away. Then he spat out the whole mouthful.

\n\n

And that did it. Their laugh switches flipped open.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng laughed so hard he couldn't hold his chopsticks. They fell onto the table and when he tried to put them down properly, they rolled onto the floor. He kept laughing while reaching down to grab them, and picked up a small stick which he put by his bowl.

\n\n

Gu Fei was holding his bowl. Seeing the little stick made him laugh so hard soup splashed out and there was barely half left.

\n\n

"I can't take it," Jiang Cheng laughed while pressing the wound on his ribs. "I'm injured...can't laugh this hard..."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak, just kept giggling against the wall for a while longer before finally exhaling deeply. "Almost couldn't breathe."

\n\n

After this laughing spell, originally Jiang Cheng had felt a little cold earlier from the wind coming in the window, and now his back was drenched in sweat.

\n\n

"Ah," Jiang Cheng fumbled in his pockets trying to find some paper to wipe his mouth but couldn't find any after a long search. "Tuckered me out."

\n\n

"Looking for paper?" Gu Fei pointed at the table behind him. "There's some over there."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng turned around. There were several paper rolls on the broken table behind him.

\n\n

He reached over and grabbed one. A sheet of paper floated off the table by his feet.

\n\n

When he bent down to pick it up and put it back, he paused and stared at what was on it, surprised.

\n\n

The brown staff paper, printed with musical staves, was torn from a staff paper book. This kind of brown staff paper was what he loved best, his favorite staff paper books were this color.

\n\n

Nothing too odd about a sheet of staff paper. A loser like Gu Fei probably bought it thinking it was an English workbook...

\n\n

But what shocked him was there was writing on the paper.

\n\n

Most of the page was filled with musical notation.

\n\n

"Fuck," Jiang Cheng blinked his eyes trying to align the doubles he was seeing, then hummed a few bars. "Sounds nice. What song is this?"

\n\n

Gu Fei still leaned against the wall, staring at him for a while before saying, "You can read music?"

\n\n

"No shit," Jiang Cheng also leaned back against the table leg holding up the music, waving it at him and humming some more. "Us study gods, we know everything...Whose song is this?"

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't respond.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at it a while longer before raising his eyes to look at him, even pointing at Gu Fei. "Yours?"

\n\n

"Hm?" Gu Fei drank some liquor. "Why me? Do I look like someone who can write songs?"

\n\n

"You don't, but..." Jiang Cheng flapped the paper. "But this flat sign, look at this B, it's just like how you write it, the stem is longer like someone standing with hand on hip."

\n\n

"The hell." Gu Fei laughed.

\n\n

"You wrote this? Or you copied it for someone?" Jiang Cheng held up the music waving it while pressing him. "Sounds pretty nice."

\n\n

"Study gods will be study gods. You learned staff notation in middle school and can still remember it." Gu Fei didn't answer his question.

\n\n

"Fuck, don't underestimate us study gods," Jiang Cheng stood up and slapped the music onto the table, feeling really buzzed now and speaking breezily. "Let me open your eyes."

\n\n

"You're going to sing?" Gu Fei also seemed in high spirits, standing against the wall clapping for him.

\n\n

"Wait," Jiang Cheng went to the sofa and grabbed his bookbag. "I don't remember if I brought it... Usually I do... Oh, here it is."

\n\n

Gu Fei watched Jiang Cheng dig through his bag for a long time before pulling out a thin, translucent plastic case. A flute?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng could read sheet music, and he could hum it right away just by looking at it. That really surprised him, someone like Jiang Cheng, even if Old Xu called him a top student, without any scores to show probably few people would believe it. Fighting and harming people were his strengths, being good at basketball wasn't strange, but being able to read sheet music was truly unexpected.

\n\n

Just like himself, even if the composition was written by Gu Fei, people unfamiliar would think it was forcibly snatched by beating the composer.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was probably drunk and excited, about two and a half ounces of alcohol in one cup, and Jiang Cheng's cup was already empty. For people who don't usually drink much, drinking two and a half ounces at this speed, would probably lead to this kind of behavior.

\n\n

"A flute? It's so slender." Gu Fei looked at the thin, long, black metal pipe in his hand.

\n\n

"Yeah, a whistle," Jiang Cheng cleared his throat, "an Irish whistle, I quite like it, but usually don't blow it, didn't even blow it at home in the past."

\n\n

"Why?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Because it doesn't look as classy as a piano or something," Jiang Cheng smiled, "My mom... anyway she looked down on it, said it was noisy, she liked the piano."

\n\n

"You can play the piano too?" Gu Fei looked at Jiang Cheng's hands. He hadn't noticed before, but now with Jiang Cheng's fingers over the whistle's holes, they were quite long, slender fingers with distinct but not protruding knuckles.

\n\n

"Yes, want to kneel down? I see there's a cushion on the sofa, grab it over, just kneel here." Jiang Cheng pointed at the floor in front of himself with the whistle.

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled and lit a cigarette to smoke.

\n\n

He felt like he probably hadn't heard a whistle before, but after Jiang Cheng blew a short segment he reacted that for a period of time Ding Zhuxin really liked Celtic music, listening to it daily, which had various wooden and wind whistles, probably including tin whistles too.

\n\n

He didn't know what Jiang Cheng was playing, but it sounded very familiar.

\n\n

Just as he was marveling that Jiang Cheng also played this, and played it very well, fingers nimbly dancing over the holes... Jiang Cheng suddenly stopped and turned his head to cough twice: "Sorry, again from the start."

\n\n

Gu Fei had no choice but to clap again.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at him, brought the whistle back to his lips, lowered his eyes, and notes slid out again between his dancing fingers.

\n\n

This was Gu Fei's first time watching someone play a whistle in front of him, it gave him an indescribable feeling.

\n\n

The dissatisfaction and irritability that Jiang Cheng usually had on his face disappeared the moment the first note leapt out, his lightly trembling lashes looked tranquil and steady.

\n\n

In that instant, Gu Fei suddenly sincerely accepted the premise of Jiang Cheng being a true study god.

\n","published_time":"2024-01-11T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-12-14T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-01-11T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":463,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":26,"chapter_title":"Chapter 26","content":"

The flute sounded bright, and with the resonance of the indoor space, it sounded melodious and agile.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't know why some people thought this kind of instrument didn't have the prestige of a piano. Jiang Cheng leaned against the table and stood there with this thin black tube in his hand, looking quite prestigious.

\n\n

The song he played sounded quite cheerful, but Gu Fei somehow could hear a hint of loneliness, not knowing if it was because of the instrument itself or the player.

\n\n

After the last note echoed in the flickering firelight and slowly faded away, Jiang Cheng's hand holding the flute dropped down, and neither of them spoke.

\n\n

After a while, Jiang Cheng finally looked up with a faint, imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth: "What do you think?"

\n\n

"Awesome." Gu Fei replied, clapping enthusiastically.

\n\n

"Speak properly, can you?" Jiang Cheng wiped the mouthpiece of the flute with a small fluffy cloth, "First words out of your mouth and already so slapworthy."

\n\n

"Very good," Gu Fei replied again, "You must have practiced for a long time, right?"

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng replied with a nod, then shook his head again after thinking about it, "doesn't seem that long, not as long as I practiced piano anyway."

\n\n

"Not that long and played so well already," Gu Fei said, "As expected from..."

\n\n

Gu Fei said halfway and didn't continue. Jiang Cheng sighed, "Yeah, study god, when can we stop with this joke?"

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed for a while before adding another sentence: "But really, you played very well."

\n\n

"Actually it's not difficult, very easy to get started," Jiang Cheng twirled the flute in his hand a few times and handed it over to him, "Want to try?"

\n\n

"...Then let me try," Gu Fei walked over to him and took the flute, "Just blow on it directly?"

\n\n

"What else?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"I mean, do you have mysophobia?" Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng laughed, feeling that he couldn't hold it in all night tonight, and after laughing for a good while he pointed around: "In this environment, who with mysophobia could have come in without having a breakdown already?"

\n\n

"Makes sense, we just took the dead rat's blanket earlier," Gu Fei looked over the whistle and mimicked his posture, putting his fingers over the holes, "Right?"

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng gently flicked his fingertips, "Press tightly, or it'll sound airy."

\n\n

After Gu Fei pressed down properly, he tried gently blowing a note.

\n\n

The flute let out a tight, shrill, screechy sound, and he grimaced and turned his head aside: "Oh, how did it make this sound, gave me a shock."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng held in his laugh: "Blow more gently, let the air out, don't hold it in, the sound has to come out full to be pleasant."

\n\n

"Got it." Gu Fei took a deep breath, then blew again.

\n\n

This time it was much better, the sound loud and long, but listening to it...

\n\n

"Nevermind," Gu Fei let go of the flute, "Easy to get started doesn't mean you can play nice tunes after a couple blows, with this kind of noise, those who don't know better would think a husky was brought over."

\n\n

"Still too tense," Jiang Cheng took the flute and casually wiped it on his pants, "Look at my face, needs to be more relaxed."

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him quite seriously, and he played a scale: "Understand now?"

\n\n

"If I say I didn't understand," Gu Fei smiled, "Would you scold me?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak, just kept playing the flute, scales, short tunes, after playing for a while Gu Fei reached out and poked his face: "This 'relax' that you meant..."

\n\n

The music stopped abruptly, and Jiang Cheng smacked the flute right onto his hand.

\n\n

"Fuck!" Gu Fei retracted his hand, waving it while rubbing the back, cursing, "What's wrong with you?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt like jumping out the window from embarrassment, not knowing if it was because of the alcohol, or the close face-to-face contact that kept making him feel vaguely sultry all around.

\n\n

Gu Fei's voice and breathing when he spoke made Jiang Cheng feel somewhat dizzy.

\n\n

The touch of his fingertip on his face was only a light poke, so small it could be ignored, but this action still made Jiang Cheng overreact somewhat.

\n\n

At that moment he even had some trouble distinguishing whether this was his conditioned reflex or a subconscious avoidance.

\n\n

The key was Gu Fei got smacked by him out of nowhere, and he had no way to explain.

\n\n

Hi, I don't really like being touched by others.

\n\n

Because I like men, so I'm even more unwilling to be touched by men.

\n\n

Hi, Wang Xu saying I'm uptight was actually a very correct judgement...

\n\n

"Wang Xu said you're uptight and don't let people pat your shoulder," Gu Fei looked at him and stole his lines, "You really are quite uptight, huh."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng also looked at him, "You just noticed?"

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak, just glared at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng also didn't know what to say, so he just stood there glaring back at Gu Fei.

\n\n

After glaring for about ten seconds, Jiang Cheng felt big trouble coming, he wanted to laugh.

\n\n

Really wanted to laugh.

\n\n

If something like smacking Gu Fei with the flute then laughing uncontrollably happened, Gu Fei would probably come over to fight him, right?

\n\n

So, can't casually drink big gulps of alcohol, it easily leads to bad things.

\n\n

After this round of countless thoughts, he gritted his teeth and held it in without laughing. Gu Fei probably got tired of glaring at him, and rubbed his hand again: "Lucky you aren't a girl, or else you probably couldn't get married."

\n\n

At that, Jiang Cheng burst out laughing.

\n\n

Laugh your fucking ass off!

\n\n

What's so funny anyway!

\n\n

Just a little bit of alcohol and you turn into an idiot!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng are you a moron? Yes.

\n\n

While berating himself like a storm in his heart, he laughed so hard that even the table he was leaning on started shaking.

\n\n

"You believe I won't smack you?" Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng covered his bruised ribs on his side and continued laughing, and Gu Fei finally got infected by his idiocy again and laughed too.

\n\n

But besides being very idiotic, this round of laughter did have an upside, the awkwardness surrounding Jiang Cheng was finally laughed away.

\n\n

Just that it made his waist sore from laughing.

\n\n

"Oh..." He collapsed onto the sand, "Sorry, I must have drank too much."

\n\n

Gu Fei let out a breath, probably waiting for the laughing fit to pass, then walked over and heavily sat down on the sofa next to him: "Wang Xu said you almost got violent with him when he patted your shoulder?"

\n\n

Despite its shabbiness, the sofa had quite amazing elasticity. With Gu Fei crashing down on it like a cannonball, Jiang Cheng got bounced up, feeling dizzy like he was about to take flight.

\n\n

"I have no interest in getting violent with that wimp." He patted the sofa and also crashed down.

\n\n

Gu Fei on the side bounced too.

\n\n

"How childish can you be?" Gu Fei said, then got up and crashed down again.

\n\n

"You started it first..." Jiang Cheng got bounced quite crookedly this time, falling towards Gu Fei's side.

\n\n

Not a very big sofa, just a two-person loveseat, with this fall, they got squeezed together, heads almost knocking.

\n\n

"Fuck." Jiang Cheng muttered, bracing against the sofa trying to sit straight.

\n\n

As he pushed down, it was right onto Gu Fei's hand.

\n\n

Gu Fei's hand was very warm, the feeling of his knuckles pressing into his palm was extremely clear.

\n\n

But this time Jiang Cheng didn't have the conditioned reflex, he didn't even know why himself, just froze in place like that.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak or move either, and when he turned his head his breath brushed past Jiang Cheng's ear.

\n\n

"You..." Jiang Cheng started but didn't know what he wanted to say.

\n\n

"What?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

Just this simple two words, under the influence of alcohol and proximity, were like a spark of electricity, and as soon as the voice came out, Jiang Cheng felt all the pores on half his body explode open.

\n\n

He turned his face and pecked Gu Fei's face.

\n\n

Crazy.

\n\n

This was the only content still flashing in Jiang Cheng's mind, everything else was wiped blank.

\n\n

Even the brain was fucking gone.

\n\n

Gu Fei still didn't move or say anything more, at this moment the two of them were like frozen statues in some paused space.

\n\n

Gu Fei had no reaction, and feeling dizzy, Jiang Cheng also couldn't see his expression clearly, so he could only hope a lightning bolt would come strike them both into amnesia.

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng woke up the next morning, the time on his phone showed 10:30 already, with 3 missed calls from Old Xu.

\n\n

This was the first time he was late for school since the semester started, a little later and it could count as skipping half a day.

\n\n

He sat up bracing against the bed, head drooped and eyes half closed.

\n\n

He didn't want to go to school.

\n\n

Really didn't want to.

\n\n

Because of what happened last night.

\n\n

His last memory was his lips touching Gu Fei's face.

\n\n

After that, nothing.

\n\n

Even if he could remember, he didn't remember.

\n\n

Forcibly drink to blackout, forcibly forget.

\n\n

If his skills were good enough, he should also forget about this scene.

\n\n

He hadn't slept well all night, having many dreams that were now faded to grey fog.

\n\n

It made him feel very tired.

\n\n

And the first feeling upon sobering up was shame.

\n\n

And unease.

\n\n

Getting to know Gu Fei for just half a winter plus half a semester, and kissing his face when drinking a little... yes, just drunk antics.

\n\n

That's it, just drunk antics. Good explanation.

\n\n

His alcohol tolerance wasn't enough to drink a large glass of Erguotou in such a short time, so he got drunk.

\n\n

Getting drunk led to acting wild.

\n\n

A perfect explanation.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng got out of bed and got dressed. This reasonable explanation suddenly reassured him, after washing up he called Old Xu back, then went to school carrying his bookbag.

\n\n

Going in during the break between classes, Jiang Cheng entered the classroom from the back door carrying his bag.

\n\n

He had been calm all the way, but upon entering the classroom and seeing Gu Fei hadn't skipped class and was playing his stupid Candy Crush, he suddenly felt uneasy again.

\n\n

He swore to the god of top students, before kissing Gu Fei's face, he had no other thoughts about Gu Fei, other than normally finding him good looking with nice hands and that kind of mainstream appreciation, he had no other ideas.

\n\n

But he didn't know if Gu Fei would mind.

\n\n

Although Jiang Cheng was reluctant to admit it, Gu Fei was the only person he was willing to interact with, considered a "friend", after being in this city for so long.

\n\n

He vaguely felt somewhat afraid, if his relationship with Gu Fei was cut off, who could he still chat with.

\n\n

Zhou Jing?

\n\n

Wang Xu?

\n\n

This sudden feeling of emptiness made him inexplicably anxious for some reason.

\n\n

If he had never intersected with Gu Fei and always kept distant from others, this feeling wouldn't have been so obvious.

\n\n

"I'm going in." Jiang Cheng kicked Gu Fei's chair leg.

\n\n

"Oh," Gu Fei looked a bit surprised to see him, "Thought you weren't coming today."

\n\n

"Slept in." Jiang Cheng squeezed in behind Gu Fei's chair and sat down. Gu Fei looked perfectly normal, which reassured him quite a bit.

\n\n

Gu Fei took out his flute from the drawer: "You didn't take this yesterday."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng took the flute, the word "yesterday" made his hand almost shake.

\n\n

"Do you still need the key to the steel factory?" Gu Fei asked while swiping on his phone.

\n\n

"...Yeah," Jiang Cheng thought about it, "Won't the no-good birds have issues with it?"

\n\n

"What issues could they have," Gu Fei took out his own keychain and removed one to give to him, "Anyway they're already no-good birds anyway, even if they had issues we could ignore it."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"They won't have issues, you're not a stranger." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Thanks." Jiang Cheng took the key.

\n\n

"Treat me to a meal sometime," Gu Fei continued his game, "Buns from Wang Xu's home is fine."

\n\n

"...Why?" Jiang Cheng was puzzled.

\n\n

"I gave you a key," Gu Fei said, "And I still have blackmail material against you."

\n\n

"What?" Jiang Cheng turned around.

\n\n

"If you don't treat me I'll tell Wang Xu that you molested me." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I... fuck?" Jiang Cheng felt immense shock, couldn't even feel embarrassed anymore, "I was drunk okay!"

\n\n

"Ask around, who around here gets drunk off one and a half liang of Erguotou?" Gu Fei laughed for a good while.

\n\n

"Then I'm the one who gets drunk off one and a half, so what?" Jiang Cheng felt it was very strange, "What, you guys don't allow people with low alcohol tolerance? Still discriminate based on how much one can drink?"

\n\n

"Makes sense too, you're a southerner after all." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"...I'm not a southerner." Jiang Cheng reminded him.

\n\n

"Anything south of us here," Gu Fei made a line in the air in front of himself with his hand, "is southern."

\n\n

"What a load of bull." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"I already let it out, I even agreed you have low alcohol tolerance already, and you still don't agree to let me drop this load?" Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I..." Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"Don't laugh," Gu Fei pointed at him, "I'm serious, if you keep laughing I'll really ask to meet you at the school's backdoor."

\n\n

He probably wouldn't have thought much of it if it wasn't said out loud, but hearing it, Jiang Cheng felt like laughing again.

\n\n

Luckily Zhou Jing turned around then: "Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng? Jiang... hey, want to discuss something with you."

\n\n

"What is it?" Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

"Midterms coming up soon," Zhou Jing said, "Let me copy your answers during the exam, 'kay?"

\n\n

"How do you sit for exams?" Jiang Cheng asked. He had heard this request often before, but exams in his previous school were always taken separately, half a class in the lab or similar places, also random order, not by student ID, managing to copy answers could be considered fate.

\n\n

Thinking back now, no wonder he and Pan Zhi were so close, every exam they managed to be in the same room, and their papers were always the same too.

\n\n

"Just space the desks out a bit when testing, how else." Zhou Jing said.

\n\n

"Do you get different versions?" Jiang Cheng asked again.

\n\n

"Nope." Zhou Jing replied.

\n\n

"...Oh." Jiang Cheng felt Pan Zhi must really hope he could come take exams at No. 4 High, this was practically begging people to cheat.

\n\n

"Just leave it on the desk, I can look myself." Zhou Jing added.

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng acknowledged.

\n\n

Zhou Jing happily turned back to his own desk.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Fei, remembering they were talking before Zhou Jing interrupted, but after turning around he forgot what he was going to say.

\n\n

"I won't copy." Gu Fei looked at him.

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng turned away, then looked back at him after thinking a bit, "You write your own exams?"

\n\n

"Yeah." Gu Fei nodded.

\n\n

"Do you even know how to answer?" Jiang Cheng felt like Gu Fei's books were always unopened, not sleeping or playing on his phone or listening to music or playing his stupid Candy Crush during class.

\n\n

"Sure, I'll just pick some answers that look right and fill it in, nothing that can't be done," Gu Fei took out a candy, "Want one?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng immediately recognized yesterday's little round candy: "No!"

\n\n

Gu Fei put a caramel in his mouth and laughed for a good while.

\n\n

From then on for several continuous days, Gu Fei didn't bring up the drinking night again. Pretty much the same every day, hw was tardy, playing on his phone during class, or going with the rest to play ball.

\n\n

Occasionally skipping class without an excuse too, Jiang Cheng could feel Old Xu's deep sadness.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng hung the small key on his own keychain.

\n\n

His keychain was quite big, old house key, garage key, room keys, drawer keys, lots of them from the past, and he had kept carrying them all along after coming here.

\n\n

When putting the steel factory's key on, he hesitated for a bit, took off all the old ones. Then he looked at the lone key on the key ring and sighed.

\n\n

At Li Baoguo's place there was only one key, the room had a lock but the key was long gone. None of the cabinets or drawers inside had locks.

\n\n

After hanging up the key, Jiang Cheng held it in his fist, clutching it. The feeling wasn't great, but the loneliness and helpless confusion from before weren't as intense.

\n\n

Time kept moving forward, people kept changing, whether forgetting or adapting, who knew.

\n\n

Gu Miao didn't go to school for a week after the hitting incident. Jiang Cheng knew very clearly because she'd sneak into No. 4 High every day during 3rd period and stand in the hallway by their classroom door.

\n\n

Today he came even earlier. When there were still a few minutes before the end of the second class, Jiang Cheng saw her peeking out with a skateboard from the classroom door.

\n\n

Gu Fei gestured for her to go to the side of the corridor.

\n\n

She turned around, straddled the handrail and leaned over the edge of the hallway.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt that the fight that day and the fact that she could no longer go to school did not seem to have much impact on her, still the same as before.

\n\n

He leaned on the desk, looking out the window, but was intercepted halfway by Gu Fei's profile.

\n\n

Gu Fei was also looking out the window. Bright sunlight spilled in, outlining a very faint halo on his side.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was suddenly reminded of that night.

\n\n

It was already very blurred, and he couldn't even remember what it felt like when he touched Gu Fei's face. This glance brought it all back.

\n\n

Damn!

\n\n

How awkwardly he fell back onto the other side of the sofa, how calm Gu Fei was as he lit a cigarette and even gave him one, how the two of them finished the cigarettes together, and how miraculously they finished the chicken soup together... He clearly remembered all this but forcibly forgot it. It all ran through his mind when he was caught off guard.

\n\n

Now his mind was so disobedient!

\n\n

"Stuffed pancake," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Ah," Jiang Cheng came back to his senses and responded. "Ah?"

\n\n

"When will you treat me? The game is tomorrow." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Let's do today," Jiang Cheng said. "Bring Gu Miao along?"

\n\n

"Yeah." Gu Fei nodded.

\n\n

The game was tomorrow?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took out his phone and checked the date. It really was. Time seemed to have passed a little fast recently, but he hadn't been paying full attention either. The big red banner for the school competition had been up for several days.

\n\n

Gu Miao was in a good mood today, circling around them on her skateboard.

\n\n

"I have to make a call first," Wang Xu said while walking and taking out his phone. "I have to let my dad start on the donkey meat, keep what we need... Oh right, come to my house this afternoon too. Coach Xu lent us the team uniforms for our class' team, we'll distribute them and discuss tactics again."

\n\n

"Okay." Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Miao. The little girl's hair was growing pretty fast, you could see it sticking out from under her hat, just that there was no style to it. Gu Fei shaved his own ridiculous punk hairdo and his sister was either bald or a mess...

\n\n

"You've recovered now right?" Gu Fei asked quietly beside him.

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng touched his ribs, "Basically no issues."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak, but suddenly reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him: "What?"

\n\n

"Conditioned reflex gone dormant?" Gu Fei patted him again.

\n\n

Only then did Jiang Cheng react, rendered speechless for a while.

\n","published_time":"2024-01-18T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-12-21T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-01-18T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":470,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":27,"chapter_title":"Chapter 27","content":"

Jiang Cheng walked with Gu Miao at the very front, Gu Fei and Wang Xu dragged their bikes and followed behind.

\n\n

Wang Xu kept talking about the tactics he had planned at the side, Gu Fei didn't really listen, after all Wang Xu just wanted to talk, the audience wasn't the most important thing.

\n\n

Gu Fei kept playing games on his phone, he had reached the last level, and wanted to pass this level before the next update, but had failed for three days already.

\n\n

"Send me a heart." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Then you can carry the ball..." Wang Xu stopped, "What?"

\n\n

Gu Fei showed him the phone screen and shook it.

\n\n

"Oh, wait," Wang Xu took out his phone and sent him one, then looked ahead again, "Ah, this Jiang Cheng is quite popular with little kids, your sister didn't even glance at me right?"

\n\n

"Nowadays everything depends on looks," Gu Fei kept playing the game, "Entertaining little kids also depends on looks."

\n\n

"Is that so," Wang Xu stood up pedaling the bike to look at himself in the glass of a roadside shop, "I don't think I look worse than Jiang Cheng, just less approachable."

\n\n

"Mm." Gu Fei murmured in agreement.

\n\n

In fact Wang Xu was quite approachable looking, this was probably why he had always wanted to act cool to become the boss but never really succeeded.

\n\n

If talking about unapproachable, it was Jiang Cheng's looks that were truly unapproachable.

\n\n

Gu Fei always felt that people with slightly downturned eyes evoked two feelings, one was pitiful, the other was Jiang Cheng's type, arrogant and made people want to hit him, plus he always looked impatient, clearly much harder to deal with than Wang Xu.

\n\n

But...that night drinking at the steel factory, Jiang Cheng had a few moments where he turned into the first type, looking quite obedient when drunk and excited.

\n\n

Too bad that state didn't last long, as soon as he lit a cigarette he turned back to normal.

\n\n

Even when embarrassed it was still that attitude.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at Jiang Cheng and Gu Miao taking turns jumping up and down on the skateboard...he had already forgotten what it felt like when Jiang Cheng kissed him that day, or rather he didn't have time to feel anything at that time, but Jiang Cheng suddenly crashing onto the other sofa pretending nothing had happened was quite funny.

\n\n

If Jiang Cheng had no reaction at all, he wouldn't have thought much about it, he wasn't a good bird......okay, that group of not-a-good-birds got much more outrageous when drunk, Liu Fan had even tried to masturbate as a performance, he had gotten the camera ready but unfortunately Liu Fan had passed out on the floor before taking his pants off.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's reaction was a bit extreme, but considering his habit of punching anyone who tapped his shoulder, pulled his clothes, or poked his face, it didn't necessarily mean anything.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't plan on thinking more about it. What someone was willing to show, no one would deliberately hide, and what someone didn't want others to notice, knowing brought no joy to him either.

\n\n

That kind of forced probing, once was enough for a lifetime.

\n\n

He never thought anything else about Jiang Cheng, only curiosity, admiration, goodwill, wanted to get closer, and Gu Miao really liked Jiang Cheng...Gu Miao showing goodwill to Jiang Cheng after just meeting him for two days really surprised him at first.

\n\n

Some attracted cats, some dogs, Jiang Cheng probably attracted weird little kids...

\n\n

Wang Er Xian Bing's business was quite good, crowded during lunch and dinner.

\n\n

Today there were no private rooms available, Wang Xu's mom arranged for them to eat in the room they usually ate at themselves.

\n\n

"Too chaotic outside," she said, "Just sit here, you can chat too."

\n\n

"Thank you auntie." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Because Wang Xu had to run in and out to get things, he sat by the door, Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei sat inside, Gu Miao sat right between them.

\n\n

"Wipe your hands," Jiang Cheng took out a pack of wet wipes from his backpack, pulled one out and gave it to Gu Miao, "Your palms are all black, did you fall today?"

\n\n

Gu Miao shook her head, swiped the tissue randomly on her hands a few times then put it down.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed, and looked at Gu Fei: "You want?"

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled: "Actually, my philosophy is, not clean, very dirty, when you eat you'll have no disease... "

\n\n

Jiang Cheng ignored him and pulled out a tissue to wipe his own hands. Before he even grabbed it steadily, Gu Fei's hand reached over. His fingers pinched and he took the tissue away.

\n\n

"Can you not be so annoying?" Jiang Cheng looked at him, "Being more straightforward would make the world better."

\n\n

"Hear that," Gu Fei said to Wang Xu while wiping his hands, "More straightforward."

\n\n

"I don't want to!" Wang Xu immediately said very straightforwardly.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

Gu Miao wasn't here eating buns for the first time, when Wang Xu brought over the small basket of buns, she accurately took a donkey meat one.

\n\n

"You always eat this one," Wang Xu smiled, "Want to try a different filling?

\n\n

Gu Miao ignored him, bowed her head and took a big bite.

\n\n

"Say thank you." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Gu Miao immediately stood up, eating while bowing to Wang Xu.

\n\n

"Aiya, no need to thank," Wang Xu had just sat down and bounced up from the chair again, also bowing to Gu Miao, "Queen, please enjoy."

\n\n

"Proud of you." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"She's too cold-hearted," Wang Xu said, "I'm sincere."

\n\n

"Not boss-like at all now huh." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"With you two here, what boss," Wang Xu eyed him sideways, "But don't drag me down this afternoon when we're deploying our troops with the rest of the team."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng looked under the table.

\n\n

"Looking for what?" Wang Xu also looked down.

\n\n

"Looking for your thighs of course." Gu Fei said while eating.

\n\n

*T/N: He has none, because he's busy hugging theirs for the basketball game.

\n\n

"F*ck!" Wang Xu yelled very unhappily, "Seatmates are really different huh, cooperating so seamlessly after practicing ball together for a few days."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't eat as much today as last time, soon he was already burping, and feeling like even Gu Miao ate more than him.

\n\n

Gu Miao's face was all red from eating, forehead sweating.

\n\n

"Ai," Jiang Cheng took off her hat, and saw the messy hair, "Your hair..."

\n\n

Gu Miao put down the bun, reached up and scratched her hair.

\n\n

"Ai!" Jiang Cheng grabbed her hand, "All oily!"

\n\n

"No problem." Gu Fei said at the side.

\n\n

"She's still a girl." Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"Treat her as a boy and it's fine," Gu Fei took Gu Miao's hat and looked, "Torn? From falling?"

\n\n

Gu Miao looked at the hole in the hat, nodded.

\n\n

"I'll make you a new one okay?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

Gu Miao thought for a bit, then twisted the corner of her own sweater indicating to Gu Fei.

\n\n

"Want a yellow one this time?" Gu Fei said, "Okay."

\n\n

"You're...knitting for her?" Jiang Cheng couldn't help but ask.

\n\n

"Yeah." Gu Fei glanced at him.

\n\n

Gu Miao was very excited about getting a new hat, dragged Jiang Cheng insisting to go buy yarn after leaving Wang Xu's.

\n\n

"I'll take you," Gu Fei said, "Brother Cheng doesn't need to go."

\n\n

Gu Miao didn't react, still grabbing Jiang Cheng's hand and not letting go, leaning halfway pulling him.

\n\n

"Brother Cheng needs an afternoon nap, he needs to sleep." Gu Fei squatted down and said softly to Gu Miao.

\n\n

Gu Miao also looked at him, eyes very wide, but still with no reaction.

\n\n

"It's fine," Jiang Cheng said, "Let's just go, I won't nap today."

\n\n

Gu Miao still maintained that posture, like she didn't hear Jiang Cheng speak.

\n\n

"You..." Gu Fei stood up and beckoned him, "Let her look at you, you say it again."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng also squatted down, moved in front of Gu Miao's eyes, "I'll go with you, no napping today."

\n\n

Gu Miao finally reacted, turned and pulled him to walk forward.

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed softly at the side.

\n\n

"Where to buy?" Jiang Cheng asked him.

\n\n

"Over the bridge, there's a whole street selling yarn," Gu Fei said, and asked again, "You nap everyday?"

\n\n

"You're the one who said I nap everyday." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Oh," Gu Fei laughed, "I need an afternoon nap everyday, or I get sleepy."

\n\n

"You can sleep in class, not like you listen anyway." Jiang Cheng pulled Gu Miao on the skateboard and walked forward.

\n\n

"Can't do that," Gu Fei said seriously, "I have to pass this level, I'm competing with Li Yan so I have to pass first."

\n\n

"You're sick," Jiang Cheng thought for a bit, reached out his hand to him, "Give it here, let me try."

\n\n

"You don't play right?" Gu Fei took out his phone.

\n\n

"I got tired of it which is why I don't play anymore," Jiang Cheng took his phone, "And I've always had good luck, I'm a lucky, smart, study god, get it?"

\n\n

"Now you're the one going on about this endlessly, it's not me anymore," Gu Fei said, "I think I only have three hearts left, is it enough?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak, lowered his head and started playing.

\n\n

From Wang Xu's stuffed pancake shop to the yarn street over the bridge was quite a long walk, Jiang Cheng kept his head down staring at the phone the whole time.

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't have patience for this game, too lazy to think step by step, usually he just cleared wherever he could, but Jiang Cheng was different from him, staring at the screen for a long time before poking around a little.

\n\n

It took at least three times as long as Gu Fei usually took for one round before he finally raised his head a little.

\n\n

"Passed?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng continued looking down at the phone, "died."

\n\n

Gu Miao pulled his hem, looking around excitedly not watching her step, he didn't watch his step either, walked towards a broken step by the bridgeside with Gu Miao.

\n\n

Gu Fei quickly pedaled his bike over, and grabbed Jiang Cheng's arm.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly stiffened. He swung his arm back about to punch, and Gu Fei on the bike couldn't dodge in time, watching his fist carry a gust of wind flying towards his nose.

\n\n

Conditioned reflex was already out of hibernation?

\n\n

But his fist stopped before reaching his face.

\n\n

"Didn't break your arm hitting the brakes huh." Gu Fei let go of his arm.

\n\n

"Sorry," Jiang Cheng turned and looked at the steps, "F*ck."

\n\n

"Er Miao help Brother Cheng watch the road, lead him." Gu Fei flicked Gu Miao's head.

\n\n

Gu Miao nodded, holding the skateboard in one hand and Jiang Cheng's hem in the other, continued forward.

\n\n

After crossing the bridge, they arrived at the yarn shop Gu Fei frequented, and Jiang Cheng still stared at the phone.

\n\n

"With three hearts you can play this long?" Gu Fei said, "We're here already, give up if you can't pass, you're still a study god even if you're unsuccessful."

\n\n

"Look." Jiang Cheng shoved the phone in front of his eyes, screen facing him, with only one step left.

\n\n

"Hm?" Gu Fei looked at the screen.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng extended a finger, slid on the screen, and after a burst of blasting and eliminating sounds, passed.

\n\n

"...Impressive." Gu Fei sincerely exclaimed.

\n\n

"No applause?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

Gu Fei clapped loudly.

\n\n

"That's..." Jiang Cheng gave the phone back to him, "You got a message just now."

\n\n

"Oh." Gu Fei put the phone back in his pocket.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wanted to say that he didn't look, but also felt it'd be overly deliberate, he did glance when the message came in, and saw the sender and content...

\n\n

Zhuxin: Come listen to me sing today?

\n\n

Didn't see what came after that.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had always felt Gu Fei and Ding Zhuxin seemed to be in a relationship, could feel the familiarity and tacit understanding, plus both had music note tattoos, that day when Gu Fei's phone was on do not disturb, he also came to the hospital together with Ding Zhuxin.

\n\n

But looking at Ding Zhuxin's message now, with the "?" punctuation, it seemed like there was some estrangement between them before.

\n\n

Very close people probably would directly say come listen to me sing.

\n\n

Following Gu Fei into the yarn shop, Jiang Cheng felt it wasn't right to ponder others' private matters for no reason, it was none of his business whether they were a couple.

\n\n

"Picking yarn again huh?" The owner greeted Gu Fei as soon as he came in, "Just got new yarn these two days, knits thinner than last batch, good for spring, more colors too, green is also available."

\n\n

"She doesn't want green anymore," Gu Fei smiled, patted Gu Miao's shoulder, "Go pick a color."

\n\n

Gu Miao ran to the rows of yarn to look back and forth.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was clueless about yarn, never saw anyone knit at home before, looking at the balls and rolls of yarn now was quite interesting, he also walked over, reached to rub the yarn balls.

\n\n

Thick, soft and fluffy, so nice to touch...

\n\n

"Feels really nice to touch right?" Gu Fei asked beside him.

\n\n

"Ah," Jiang Cheng nodded, "Feels different from a finished sweater."

\n\n

"Hand knit feels just like the yarn ball," the owner said with a smile, "Machine knit doesn't feel as nice as hand knit."

\n\n

"Is that so," Jiang Cheng was confused, "Never worn hand knit before."

\n\n

"Have your friend knit you one then," the owner rubbed a deep blue yarn ball on his hand, "This yarn is so comfortable, the color suits boys too."

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng was stunned, feeling like this owner was just trying to make a sale no matter what.

\n\n

"How about it?" Gu Fei leaned on the counter beside, smiling and asked.

\n\n

"No no, don't need to," Jiang Cheng quickly pushed away the yarn ball. "I have plenty of sweaters, with the weather warming there's no need for more."

\n\n

"You can still wear it next year," the shop owner held up more yarn. "This yarn would work..."

\n\n

"No, please, really don't..." Jiang Cheng's face was nearly red as he kept backing towards the door to get away, as if avoiding something. "I really don't need it."

\n\n

Gu Fei stood by, grinning without making a sound, just watching the show.

\n\n

"Your friend didn't say he wouldn't knit for you," the owner very eagerly held up the yarn, chasing Jiang Cheng. "Look at this kind..."

\n\n

"Sis, Aunt, Auntie," Jiang Cheng looked at her sincerely. "I really don't need him to knit anything. I, I can knit too."

\n\n

"No no no, don't need him to knit, I, I can knit too." Jiang Cheng quickly pushed away the yarn ball.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked very interested as he raised an eyebrow.

\n\n

"Really?" The owner turned and looked at Gu Fei again in surprise, "You can knit, your friend can knit too, boys these days are incredible."

\n\n

"Mm, yes," Gu Fei nodded, "We're boys of the new age."

\n\n

"Then why don't you buy some?" The owner looked at Jiang Cheng again, "Let me tell you, is you're able to knit, your hands will get itchy if you don't knit and play with yarn everyday."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't want to say anything more after blurting that out, strongly unsatisfied with himself for digging a hole and burying himself in it.

\n\n

The owner pushed yarn balls relentlessly when selling, Jiang Cheng could only nod to get away: "Fine, I'll take...one ball."

\n\n

"One ball?" The owner looked at him, "One ball to knit a sweater?"

\n\n

"No, I'll just knit..." Jiang Cheng really didn't know what one ball could knit, glanced at Gu Fei for help, Gu Fei raised his hands, he quickly said, "Gloves."

\n\n

When they left the shop after buying yarn, Jiang Cheng felt he had sweated a coat from this.

\n\n

"You didn't help either," he sighed, "This owner was just too much."

\n\n

"You said yourself you could knit." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Look at me," Jiang Cheng pointed at himself, "Do I look like someone who can knit?"

\n\n

"Do you think I look like it?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"......Alright," Jiang Cheng was speechless, handed him the small bag with the yarn ball and bamboo needles, "This is for you, it's no use for me, make gloves, a scarf or something for Gu Miao."

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled and took the bag: "Thanks."

\n\n

With no time to return home after buying yarn, Gu Fei had Gu Miao go straight back to the shop at the intersection, then walked to school carrying a bag of yarn with Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Not letting her take this back?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"No need," Gu Fei said, "You passed the level so I've nothing to do this afternoon, I can just..."

\n\n

"You're knitting a sweater in class?" Jiang Cheng was shocked.

\n\n

"Why," Gu Fei said, "I can teach you if you want to learn."

\n\n

"No need!" Jiang Cheng quickly said.

\n\n

Gu Fei indeed was a magical person. He really spent an entire afternoon with his head down knitting a hat for Gu Miao.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng couldn't concentrate much on the afternoon classes, always peeking over at Gu Fei's side. He was both shocked by Gu Fei's knitting skill which was no worse than those grannies who chatted while knitting sweaters and watching their grandkids, and also shocked by Gu Fei's hands... The hands that could haul someone up a tree now held knitting needles so beautifully.

\n\n

What was even more amazing was that no one around him showed any surprise at his behavior - they were probably already surprised before and now used to it.

\n\n

"Oh," Gu Fei let out a soft sigh.

\n\n

"What's up?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Dropped a stitch," Gu Fei said as he pulled the needle back out, "Gotta..."

\n\n

"Damn!" Jiang Cheng couldn't help but curse softly, "Gotta redo all this? Can't even tell."

\n\n

"You probably can't tell," Gu Fei said softly, "Er Miao is quite particular. She won't accept even slightly thicker seams, she'll throw a fit that can't be soothed."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng thought back to Gu Miao's frenzied screaming that day, and felt that being a brother to her was no easy task for Gu Fei indeed.

\n\n

Gu Fei worked quite fast. By the end of school in the afternoon, he had knitted a small patch with twists and turns that made Jiang Cheng want to salute him with fists and yell "Awesome!"

\n\n

"Don't go yet later," Wang Xu said, "I'm getting the team clothes from Old Xu, you guys wait a bit. We'll go to my place for stuffed meat pancakes tonight, and discuss tactics for tomorrow too."

\n\n

The group of basketball players all gathered around Gu Fei's desk to chat while waiting to see the clothes Old Xu was lending.

\n\n

"I think it's better not to expect too much," Guo Xu said, "Think about last year's clothes."

\n\n

"What were last year's clothes like?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Prison No. 4 basketball team No. 2," Gu Fei said while knitting.

\n\n

"...He could even borrow that?" Jiang Cheng was surprised.

\n\n

"With how promising we look this year, hopefully we won't have to wear prison uniforms still, right?" Lu Xiaobin said.

\n\n

"Who knows, Old Xu's aesthetics have always been unique,"

\n\n

After chatting for a while, Wang Xu came back to the classroom carrying two huge bags of clothes. One look at his expression and you could tell these clothes probably weren't much better than Prison No. 4's.

\n\n

"I think we'll still have to rely mainly on aura," he said, putting down the bags.

\n\n

Everyone took the clothes out for a look, and collectively crumbled.

\n\n

"Five Star...Farm Goods Market?" Guo Xu held up a shirt reading the words on it, "Isn't Five Star Farm Goods Market the one two stops north of our school?"

\n\n

"Yes," Gu Fei put away the yarn as he looked at the pile of clothes and sighed.

\n\n

"There's even ads," Wang Xu pointed at the shirts, "Freshest noodles."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng really couldn't help but laugh. He took out his phone while chuckling and snapped a picture of the clothes, then sent it to Pan Zhi.

\n\n

-Grandson, we have a basketball match tomorrow, let me show you our uniforms first.

\n\n

"Put the clothes away," Gu Fei said, "I'll bring you guys clothes tomorrow."

\n\n

"That's awesome," Wang Xu immediately shoved the clothes back into the bags, "What kind?"

\n\n

"My friends' team," Gu Fei said. "Got a team name and all too, at least it's not the Farm Goods Market team."

\n\n

"Damn, should've said earlier, I wouldn't have let Old Xu get these," Wang Xu stuffed the bags into his desk drawer, "Let's go, go eat and discuss tactics."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng packed up and followed the group out of the classroom.

\n\n

Going downstairs, Pan Zhi's reply came back.

\n\n

-Grandpa I feel so touched, tears nearly dropping. You've finally gone back to being the original grandpa!

\n","published_time":"2024-01-25T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2023-12-28T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-01-25T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":477,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":28,"chapter_title":"Chapter 28","content":"

Gu Fei drove towards Liu Fan's home. Halfway there, his phone rang and he put on his headphones to answer. It was Ding Zhuxin's voice on the other end: "Not bad eh, you're really not coming?"

\n\n

"No, I..." Gu Fei suddenly remembered the message Ding Zhuxin had sent him earlier. "Forgot, I can come over now, where are you?"

\n\n

"Don't worry about it, I was just singing casually," Ding Zhuxin said. "I called you earlier when I was at Wildfire, but now I'm out drinking with some friends, definitely not somewhere you'd come to."

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei responded.

\n\n

"As soon as I got here I ran into Xiao Bing and his crew," Ding Zhuxin said. "The lead singer changed again."

\n\n

"They didn't ask you to go back?" Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Even if they asked I wouldn't go back," Ding Zhuxin laughed. "I'm too stubborn."

\n\n

"You were at your best when you were with them," Gu Fei said. "Don't fight with them because of me, it's been three years, let it go."

\n\n

"Have you 'let it go'?" Ding Zhuxin asked.

\n\n

"I hold grudges. I'll resent this my whole life," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Then that's fine," Ding Zhuxin said. "I'm not holding a grudge, I just can't stand... Oh right, when are you free to help me take some photos?"

\n\n

"You?" Gu Fei took a turn and saw Liu Fan walking on the side of the road carrying two large bags. He stepped on the gas and honked.

\n\n

"Damn," Liu Fan turned his head. "Just wondering which idiot would dare flirt with me like this."

\n\n

"You walked to grab these?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Had someone drop them off at the corner," Liu Fan saw he had earphones in. "On a call?"

\n\n

"Yeah, Sis Xin," Gu Fei propped his leg up and tilted his head. "Hop on."

\n\n

Liu Fan got into the back seat: "Drive slower, it's freezing tonight."

\n\n

"It's not to take photos of me," Ding Zhuxin said. "The photographer I had found for the shop went back home to get married, I don't know when he'll be back. And the model I usually use also... Come help me out, I have a bunch of clothes that still need shooting."

\n\n

"Okay," Gu Fei said. "Do you need me to find a model too?"

\n\n

"Yeah, find a temporary one to shoot this batch, don't get Liu Fan though, he's got a good figure... " Ding Zhuxin said.

\n\n

"Bad face?" Gu Fei laughed.

\n\n

"Doesn't fit the requirements. This batch of clothes is a bit 'bad boy', Liu Fan looks too sincere, like an old rogue not a bad boy," Ding Zhuxin said. "Do you have someone suitable? I'll pay a lot more than usual because of the rushed timing."

\n\n

Bad boy?

\n\n

For some reason, Jiang Cheng's face flashed in Gu Fei's mind as Ding Zhuxin said bad boy.

\n\n

Of the people he knew, few were "bad", but for some reason, if it was "bad boy", he felt Jiang Cheng was the most suitable.

\n\n

The school basketball tournament was a big deal. The games didn't start until the second period of afternoon classes, but aside from seniors, few first and second year students went to the first period. Everyone was gathered at the courts.

\n\n

There were four courts, all surrounded by people.

\n\n

Aside from those who had suddenly gained interest in basketball because of the tournament and were messing around on court, many classes had started warming up on court... Or rather, showing off.

\n\n

The team uniforms Gu Fei had brought were clearly better than the prison uniforms and farm goods' market's clothes. The red shirts only had a number on the back along with a flaming "Fei" character designed like flickering flames.

\n\n

"A team named after you?" Wang Xu ripped off his shirt and put one on. "Not bad."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng quickly looked around. Aside from them, no one was left in the classroom. They had all gone to the courts.

\n\n

"I suggest you wear a t-shirt underneath," Gu Fei looked at him. "The captain shouldn't freeze his ass off before the game starts."

\n\n

"Everyone change, Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei bundle up properly," Wang Xu said as he changed. "Don't send them out first. Keep the secret weapons hidden, we'll put them in if it gets desperate."

\n\n

Wang Xu had always wanted to save the "secret weapons" for last, but gave up yesterday when he saw the matchups. Their first knockout game was against Class 5, and Class 5's skill level was comparable to Class 2's. Class 2 had nearly won the tournament when they were sophomores, but had also nearly lost to Class 5 along the way.

\n\n

"I feel like," Guo Xu said uneasily, "we shouldn't wait too long to put them in. If we let the score run away at the start it'll be hard to catch up. It's Class 5, such a strong team."

\n\n

Wang Xu didn't reply. He thought about it miserably then slapped the table in frustration: "Damn, how'd they arrange these matchups? Even if it was random, it should be one strong team against one weak team at least, so the later games are exciting!"

\n\n

"Captain, the drawing was fair," Gu Fei said as he finished changing and put a jacket on. "We're the weak team."

\n\n

"We..." Wang Xu choked then sighed after a long pause. "Sigh."

\n\n

Old Xu was also excited and came to the classroom to hurry them to the court.

\n\n

The group walked out of the classroom with Jiang Cheng bringing up the rear. He felt they each walked with the wind at their backs, as if they were warrior monks who had been looked down on but were about to make a name for themselves...

\n\n

"Their center is good," Gu Fei said as he walked beside him. "Much bigger than Lu Xiaobin, a tower. We basically have no chance if he gets the ball."

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng nodded and glanced at Lu Xiaobin walking ahead. He imagined the center's build. "You just head for the hoop, I'll cover you..."

\n\n

"Do I still need to see where you are to pass?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng turned to look at him. After a while he said: "No need, I can get there."

\n\n

Gu Fei gave him a thumbs up.

\n\n

Class 8 had always had the image of a super weak team. The other classes caused a small commotion and drew looks when they arrived, but when Class 8 came, led by class president Yi Jing, only their own classmates waved.

\n\n

The crowd took no interest in Wang Xu's team... that was inaccurate. There was still someone who interested them, Gu Fei.

\n\n

To carry out Wang Xu's captain's "secret weapon" plan, Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei didn't walk with the team. When they reached the sidelines, several girls raised their phones and openly took photos of Gu Fei without any attempt at subtlety.

\n\n

"Stay away from me," Jiang Cheng couldn't stand it. Girls at his old school also liked to gather and discuss who was hot, and he was often photographed, but the girls were a bit more bashful about it, at least pretending they were taking selfies.

\n\n

Having a bunch of four or five phones raised like this made him uncomfortable.

\n\n

"They're not all taking pictures of me," Gu Fei smiled nonchalantly. "Did you know someone was asking about you on the school forum the day after you transferred?"

\n\n

"...You guys have a school forum?" Jiang Cheng was quite surprised, missing the point.

\n\n

"Yeah, you can check it out," Gu Fei said. "Pretty lively, all kinds of gossip, picking fights, showing off, and showing off but failing."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng sat down on a bench at the sidelines.

\n\n

"Get up, get up," Wang Xu walked over waving at him, face full of smugness. "That's where the players sit, spectators over there."

\n\n

"The fuck?" Jiang Cheng looked at him.

\n\n

"Secret weapon," Wang Xu gave him a meaningful look, trying to keep his mouth still as he spoke. "Play along."

\n\n

"Ugh..." Jiang Cheng sighed reluctantly and went to find a seat at the back.

\n\n

His old school had stands, but if you wanted to sit and watch the game here you had to bring your own chair. Luckily his team was hopeless but had strong logistics, and had brought many chairs over.

\n\n

"If we're in trouble later, you go in first Jiang Cheng," Wang Xu said as he stretched beside him, keeping his eyes forward.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng said. "Gu Fei and I go in together, I'm useless alone since we can't coordinate. No point."

\n\n

"Da Fei?" Wang Xu tilted his head at Gu Fei.

\n\n

"Listen to him." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Alright," Wang Xu bounced and hopped. "You two be ready, I'm a bit nervous..."

\n\n

"Nervous about what?" Jiang Cheng almost laughed seeing his manner.

\n\n

"Because I suddenly feel like you'll have to go in after less than 10 minutes," Wang Xu said.

\n\n

"Make the most of your time in the spotlight then," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Mm!" Wang Xu nodded vigorously and did a little skip as he went to stand at the sidelines, turning to the side to strike various warm-up poses.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced over and immediately laughed. A teacher with a video camera was circling the court, filming it.

\n\n

The opening games today, likely to attract people, were between the two strongest teams. Court 1 had Class 5, Court 2 had Class 2, against league laughingstocks Class 8 and the slightly less laughable after comparing to Class 8, Class 3.

\n\n

After the court selections, the games began.

\n\n

Class 5's side was a mix of screams and applause while Class 8's momentum was clearly weaker, likely because the secret weapons were hidden too well and even their own class didn't have any hopes.

\n\n

Only Old Xu stood with arms akimbo at the sidelines shouting at Wang Xu's team: "Play well! Show your skill! Let them witness your might!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng rather admired Old Xu. He could shout as if Class 8 was the future champions when everyone thought Class 5 was here for an exhibition match.

\n\n

"Relax and play! Open up!" A loudspeaker voice suddenly came from behind.

\n\n

The voice was quite loud. Jiang Cheng jumped in fright and everyone looked back to see Old Lu holding his lecturing mic standing in the back row.

\n\n

"Teacher Lu!" Someone at the referee bench called out. "Teacher Lu! Don't use the mic, it'll disrupt the game!"

\n\n

"The game hasn't started yet!" Old Lu said into the mic.

\n\n

"Put that down, down," Old Xu pointed at Old Lu. "Watch the game properly!"

\n\n

"Do you want to use this?" Old Lu still spoke into the mic.

\n\n

Yi Jing got up, walked to Old Lu and said a few words with a smile. Old Lu handed the mic and speaker to her and went to stand arms akimbo with Old Xu at the sidelines.

\n\n

"Old Lu is pretty confident in Wang Xu and the others?" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"He and Old Xu are close," Gu Fei said. "Longtime partners, if Old Xu was Class 5's head teacher he'd definitely favor Class 5 now."

\n\n

The game began. Lu Xiaobin and the opposite team's Tower jumped for the ball.

\n\n

Tower had a name but Jiang Cheng didn't catch it when Gu Fei said it.

\n\n

When the ball was tossed up, Jiang Cheng knew Lu Xiaobin wouldn't touch it. Though Tower was big he reacted quickly, and was half a head taller than Lu Xiaobin.

\n\n

As expected when the ball came down Class 5 got it, then quickly pressed it towards the hoop. Their side immediately erupted in shouts.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched, rather speechless, as they easily brought the ball right to the hoop and scored 2 points with practically no defense.

\n\n

"Zhou Jing," Gu Fei kicked the chair of Zhou Jing who was furiously slapping his thighs in front. "Go yell at them, tell them to mark their targets."

\n\n

"Got it," Zhou Jing immediately clambered over several chairs, yelling at the court. "Mark up! Mark them! Get back fast! Fight harder for the ball!"

\n\n

Zhou Jing shouted energetically for a bit.

\n\n

But Wang Xu and the others were clearly very nervous as soon as they got on court, they couldn't relax. The other team scored in just over 10 seconds, immediately suppressing them. People on the sidelines were all yelling but they seemed deaf to it all, playing terribly.

\n\n

Not even 5 minutes in and Class 5 had scored four goals already. Wang Xu and the others couldn't stop Tower from getting the ball, so of course they couldn't block shots. The one time they finally got the ball and brought it under their basket, Class 5 immediately booed. They didn't even get the shot off before it was stolen.

\n\n

"Damn," Jiang Cheng looked at the time and score on the board. "They don't usually play this badly."

\n\n

"Right now Li Yadong is just driving straight for the hoop, no one can stop him. Their movement is extremely bold," Gu Fei leaned on his chair hugging himself. "If the first half keeps going like this, it's even possible for Wang Xu and the others to score a big fat zero egg."

\n\n

"You drive the midline later too," Jiang Cheng watched Wang Xu and the others playing increasingly tense. "Kill their momentum."

\n\n

"I'm threatened from both sides going down the midline." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"I'm here." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

When Wang Xu looked over at Gu Fei for the third time, Gu Fei stood up.

\n\n

Wang Xu immediately gestured to Old Xu to call a timeout.

\n\n

Though it wasn't timeout time yet, seeing Wang Xu's gesture seemed to inject the players with stimulants. They ran faster than before.

\n\n

Within two seconds of Gu Fei standing the spectators on both sides and around had noticed. Someone immediately called out: "Holy shit, Class 8 has Gu Fei this time?"

\n\n

"Gu Fei, Jiang Cheng, get ready," Old Xu said as he came over.

\n\n

The class only reacted now and cheers broke out as they all stood and shouted.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng inexplicably felt a bit excited looking at Gu Fei. He hadn't had this feeling even when playing for the school team before.

\n\n

Probably from being brainwashed by Wang Xu going on about "secret weapons" this whole time. As he stood up he truly felt as if he and Gu Fei bore some major historical mission.

\n\n

A timeout was called on court. As Jiang Cheng took off his clothes and pants he felt it was fucking annoying.

\n\n

Gu Fei was a mysterious badass at school, wandering beyond the mortal realm. He had never fought anyone yet no one dared provoke him. He had never participated in any group activities before, yet was now going to play in a game.

\n\n

All eyes turned to them, even the teacher in charge of filming came right up to them, and many phones were aimed their way.

\n\n

And here he and Gu Fei were, taking off their pants between two rows of chairs.

\n\n

It was a wonderful feeling...

\n\n

"I'll serve," Jiang Cheng said. "Wang Xu come get the ball, move like we practiced before, mark them tight. Lu Xiaobin stick to that Tower, your stamina is good, wherever he is you should be there, ignore the ball."

\n\n

"Tower?" Lu Xiaobin asked. He did have decent stamina and wasn't even panting now.

\n\n

"Li Yadong," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Got it," Lu Xiaobin nodded.

\n\n

"Pass from below," Jiang Cheng said. "We don't have a height advantage against Class 5."

\n\n

Wang Xu now had no complaints about Jiang Cheng taking over the captain's job. He stood aside nodding vigorously. When they went on court he didn't even care to give the usual prep talk.

\n\n

The atmosphere on court changed entirely once Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei came on, from the players to the spectators on both sides.

\n\n

Class 5 didn't know Jiang Cheng's skill level but they knew how Gu Fei played. The classes not playing had all squeezed into Court 1.

\n\n

The sidelines were instantly packed, cheers from the cheer squads rang out, even Class 2 who saw Class 5 as their opponent was cheering for Class 8 now, the shouts blending together.

\n\n

"Captain," Jiang Cheng called Wang Xu from behind.

\n\n

Wang Xu immediately turned very happily: "What's up?"

\n\n

"This ball is crucial," Jiang Cheng said. "We're relying on you."

\n\n

"Leave it to me," Wang Xu said, face somber.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng went to the sideline and took the ball from the referee, dribbling it a few times on the floor to test the feel. Still decent.

\n\n

When the whistle blew Wang Xu shook his mark and charged towards Jiang Cheng's side. Jiang Cheng was about to pass it to him when Class 5's shortest suddenly cut diagonally in front of Wang Xu to block him.

\n\n

This guy had a style like Li Yan's, fast and agile. He couldn't pass to Wang Xu anymore. Jiang Cheng glanced to the midcourt and saw Gu Fei tangled with Tower.

\n\n

But Lu Xiaobin was finally doing his job and quickly squeezed over.

\n\n

The instant Gu Fei broke free, he reached out towards Jiang Cheng who threw the ball to him.

\n\n

Gu Fei got the ball and then as agreed before, turned around from the midline to start dribbling towards the basket.

\n\n

The voices on the sidelines suddenly rose at least 20 decibels, shouting as if a wave had been stirred up.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng accelerated to catch up, and Wang Xu cried sadly behind him: "Damn, why didn't you pass to me!"

\n\n

"Follow him!" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

Wang Xu was like he had been kicked, suddenly speeding up and rushing past Jiang Cheng, following behind Gu Fei and tangling with the two people from Class 5 who were marking Gu Fei.

\n\n

Class 5's defense rotated back pretty quickly. Compared to Class 8's previous rotation speed, it was simply lightspeed. When Gu Fei dashed to the basket from the midline quite stylishly, their players had already compressed back into the 3-second zone.

\n\n

Gu Fei's path to the basket was already double teamed. As he moved back out, he passed the ball back behind him. Jiang Cheng took a big step to receive the ball, drove past Li Yan 2 and another person, and when Gu Fei found an opening again, passed the ball back to him.

\n\n

It had to be said, Class 5's Tower was stronger than their class's. Lu Xiaobin was almost hugging him, but still got shaken off.

\n\n

When Gu Fei got the ball, he covered Gu Fei like a quilt.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng quickly moved to prevent anyone from gluing themselves to him. He glanced at the timer; there was still time. Gu Fei should pass the ball out at this time.

\n\n

But the next second, Gu Fei suddenly jumped up.

\n\n

Damn! Jiang Cheng immediately prepared to rebound and get back on defense. Tower followed Gu Fei up like a heavy Mount Tai pressing down on him. If Gu Fei shot the ball, it would surely be blocked.

\n\n

Or...if he pulled some tricks, there might still be a chance.

\n\n

Sure enough, Gu Fei's hand suddenly sank in midair.

\n\n

As long as he could hook it past Tower's arm, the ball might go in.

\n\n

These 2 points were very important to excite Class 8's morale.

\n\n

But Gu Fei's next move made Jiang Cheng curse silently, he actually passed!

\n\n

Although when the ball flew towards him Jiang Cheng immediately understood Gu Fei's intention, he still couldn't help but want to curse.

\n\n

"Damn!" He caught the ball, quickly took a step back behind the 3-point line, and without hesitation, shot the ball high into the air.

\n\n

The moment the ball dropped into the net, another wave rose from the sidelines as Class 8 screamed until their throats nearly broke.

\n\n

"Beautiful!" Old Lu had somehow gotten the loudspeaker in hand again. "That shot was beautiful!"

\n\n

"Damn!" Wang Xu excitedly came over and yelled in Jiang Cheng's ear, "That was fucking awesome!"

\n\n

This coordinated play and 3-pointer instantly got everyone high, and they sprang back on defense like they had springs on their feet.

\n\n

"Any complaints?" Gu Fei said as he ran past Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"No complaints, just watching you mess around." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"We're already all in, might as well beat them to death." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Mm." Jiang Cheng responded.

\n\n

As he ran back, he suddenly remembered Pan Zhi's message from yesterday.

\n\n

It really was...suddenly, he felt a bit of the old feeling coming back.

\n","published_time":"2024-02-01T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2024-01-04T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-02-01T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":484,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":29,"chapter_title":"Chapter 29","content":"

Class 5 was still the strong team from last year after all. Although they were caught off guard by Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei's sudden appearance on the court, after a few laps they slowly adjusted and developed targeted defenses against the two of them.

\n\n

Unlike Class 8 which relied solely on the cooperation of two main players, Class 5 didn't have any particularly outstanding members, but their skills were quite even, and even their substitutes were stronger than Wang Xu's crew.

\n\n

Sometimes Jiang Cheng felt it was quite amazing - in any school, any grade, this kind of situation would happen where the good players were concentrated in one or two classes.

\n\n

He and Gu Fei, in the few minutes when the other side was still in shock, quickly chased the score to just one point behind. During this time Class 5 only scored a 2-pointer. After Jiang Cheng made a three-pointer, Gu Fei scored consecutive layups, and the spectators on the sidelines were practically at the peak of excitement.

\n\n

They probably weren't even this excited watching Class 5 play Class 2. After all, seeing weaklings like Class 8 suddenly rise was so rare that Class 5 was held scoreless for several minutes. Most importantly, this was an elimination match - the losing team would be immediately eliminated to join the spectators.

\n\n

Losing the first elimination match didn't make much of an impression, but when a team that could make the finals lost, that was when it got really exciting for the crowds who just wanted drama.

\n\n

"We can win!" Wang Xu said excitedly, gulping down water during the timeout Class 5 called. "Damn, we can win! We definitely can......"

\n\n

"Stop wasting time blabbing," Jiang Cheng didn't bother leaving any face for the team captain, directly interrupting him. "Guo Xu, rest, sub in whoever's name."

\n\n

"Who?" Wang Xu asked.

\n\n

"Him," Jiang Cheng pointed at one of their substitute players. This kid didn't have great skills, but he was oddly fast. "Don't do anything else, just stick to that...that kid, the short one on their team."

\n\n

"He's called Zhang Yuan," Wang Xu said. "That shorty is called Tang Xiwei."

\n\n

"Yeah, Zhang Yuan just tail Tang Xi," Jiang Cheng said. "You're fast, so just follow him. You can foul, if you can't block him then shove him, but don't shove too obviously. Don't touch him if he has the ball."

\n\n

"Got it," Zhang Yuan nodded. "He's called Tang Xiwei not just Tang Xi."

\n\n

"Got it," Jiang Cheng acknowledged. "If Tang Xi can't get the ball, that'll be really advantageous for us. Half of their alley-oop passes were through him."

\n\n

"What about us?" Wang Xu asked.

\n\n

"That Li Ya Tower has committed two fouls already," Jiang Cheng completely ignored him and looked at Gu Fei instead. "Let's get him a couple more."

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei drank some water. "Li Ya...dong."

\n\n

"What about me?" Wang Xu asked again, even more directly this time.

\n\n

"Captain," Jiang Cheng pulled on his wrist guard. "If anyone bothers me when I have the ball, come over and take care of him..."

\n\n

"Sure! No problem!" Wang Xu thumped his chest.

\n\n

"Also, we're too slow getting back on defense," Jiang Cheng said. "We practiced this during training, right? When they're on offense we need to get back under the basket immediately, two in the key, the rest at the three point line to keep them from coming in."

\n\n

"Got it, liven up! We need to use everything from training now," Wang Xu said, slapping each person on the shoulder. He was very careful to avoid Jiang Cheng, and finally slapped Gu Fei on the shoulder too. "Da Fei, liven up!"

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei glanced at him.

\n\n

"Water?" Someone next to Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

He turned his head to see Yi Jing holding a bottle of water. She looked at Gu Fei first - he was drinking water. Then she turned to offer it to Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Thanks," Jiang Cheng took the bottle from her and twisted it open to drink.

\n\n

"You guys are playing so great," Yi Jing said softly. "Our class has never been this excited before."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng just smiled without answering.

\n\n

They were playing quite well indeed. The cooperation between him and Gu Fei aggressively showing off was really rousing. But...it was also easy to draw hatred.

\n\n

He turned to glance at Class 5. Several of them were staring at them, eyes full of fire.

\n\n

When Li Ya Tower's gaze met his, he suddenly flipped up both middle fingers, pointing them in Jiang Cheng's direction.

\n\n

After flipping him off, he didn't retract his gaze and continued staring at him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had little reaction. He rarely got angry on the court. Playing with emotions was a huge taboo.

\n\n

But riling up the opponent a bit was still ok. After holding Li Ya Tower's gaze for a while, he blew a kiss through the air, even miming a kiss on his hand before blowing it over.

\n\n

"Fuck your mom!" Li Yadong instantly raged, cursing.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng just laughed and ignored him.

\n\n

"I've realised you're really naughty," Gu Fei said softly behind him as they returned to the court.

\n\n

"Remember to get him to foul," Jiang Cheng said. "If he plays too freely we won't do well in the second half."

\n\n

"Sir yes sir," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

There were still less than 7 minutes left in the first half, and Class 5 had the ball. They had to widen the score gap in this bit of time, or else Class 5 would adjust in the second half and have an easier time catching up after.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched the person preparing to throw in the ball, paying attention to observe everyone's positions on the court.

\n\n

Zhang Yuan wasn't bad, what was his name, Tang Xi...Tang Xi something was it? His movement speed was very fast. When someone was tailing him he could easily shake them off and get the ball, but now Zhang Yuan was sticking to him like a koala, and he couldn't shake him off after zigzagging several times.

\n\n

Class 5 also had their own plays. They always inbounded to Tang Xi and let him run the offense, but now he couldn't get the ball, and the rest of Class 8 was glued to Class 5's players. The inbounder was at a loss holding the ball, not knowing what to do.

\n\n

Right before the 5 second violation, the person behind Jiang Cheng finally circled around and rushed forward calling for the ball. The inbounder hurriedly threw the ball out, but because of the distance it didn't make it halfway before Jiang Cheng rushed forward to intercept it and got the ball.

\n\n

"Fuck!" Tang Xi yelled. "You blind?!"

\n\n

As soon as Jiang Cheng got the ball, Gu Fei had already run towards the basket. Jiang Cheng didn't even dribble before whipping the ball hard to Lu Xiaobin outside the three point line.

\n\n

They had practiced this play during training. With height advantage, Lu Xiaobin caught the ball overhead before jumping up to pass it to Gu Fei in a shooting motion.

\n\n

Gu Fei caught the ball, but Class 5 still got back on defense lightning fast. Tower managed to cut Gu Fei off after just a few steps with the ball.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng prepared to move in to receive the pass, but Wang Xu had already rushed into the key and was momentarily undefended, ready to catch Gu Fei's pass any time.

\n\n

This series of reactions, this series of teamwork, made Jiang Cheng feel extremely gratified. He suddenly felt even if Wang Xu came to clap his shoulder now he wouldn't feel averse.

\n\n

But then Wang Xu yelled, "Da Fei, pass the ball! Pass the ball!"

\n\n

In that instant Jiang Cheng felt the urge to go slap him. After he shouted that, the passing routes were completely sealed off.

\n\n

Gu Fei's layups were very accurate, but in this stuck position with Tower it was hard for him to shoot. Not getting the ball stolen by Tower was already good.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt there was no time for a shot, and shooting now would also be hard to make it in. With Li Yadong there, rebounding would be difficult too. Gu Fei should pass or back out now.

\n\n

But right at this moment, Gu Fei suddenly made a motion as if leaping up for a shot.

\n\n

Li Yadong jumped along with him, a split second faster than Gu Fei. After Li Yadong jumped up Gu Fei leapt, and in that tiny time difference Li Yadong already had his arms pressed over him. Gu Fei forcibly shot the ball out from between Li Yadong's arms.

\n\n

The ball flew almost straight up at high speed, spinning as it swished into the hoop.

\n\n

Screams instantly erupted around them.

\n\n

At the same time as the ball went in, the referee's whistle sounded, "No. 5, foul with contact!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt a series of shocks.

\n\n

Holy shit!

\n\n

He made that shot at that angle!?

\n\n

That guy's first shooting motion was a fake!

\n\n

That Li Ya Tower committed an offensive foul!

\n\n

Scoring while drawing a foul and bonus free throw all at once, Jiang Cheng almost wanted to scream along with the spectators.

\n\n

Gu Fei slowly moved back to the free throw line and held up three fingers at Tower, "Three times now."

\n\n

"Fuck!" Li Yadong clenched his teeth, squeezing out a word as his face flushed red.

\n\n

Whether or not Gu Fei could make this free throw basically wasn't in question, but he still didn't know if he was messing with them or trying to rile Li Yadong up. He deliberately created some suspense.

\n\n

After raising the ball to shoot, he turned to look at Li Yadong before releasing it.

\n\n

The ball went in.

\n\n

The whole court screamed. The girls' screams almost drowned out the clapping and cheers from the guys.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Fei. Although Gu Fei's move was super cool, he was also being pretentious to the extreme. Jiang Cheng almost wanted to speak up for little Tower now.

\n\n

"How shameless can you get," Jiang Cheng said as they got back on defense.

\n\n

"Learned it from you. He can't take provocation. By now he's about to go mad," Gu Fei said. "See, he'll foul out before the second half."

\n\n

Gu Fei's judgment wasn't wrong. This Li Yadong had a fiery temper and lots of brute force. He had already committed two fouls when Wang Xu and the others were being suppressed. Now in this emotional state, getting him to foul again was no problem at all.

\n\n

If he was Class 5's captain, he would have subbed Li Yadong out by now. But Class 5 still clearly relied on his scoring under the basket, so they didn't choose to sub him out.

\n\n

Right before the end of the first half, Gu Fei had the ball and was cut off by Li Yadong as soon as he crossed half court. Gu Fei didn't even try to fake him out. As soon as Li Yadong's arm swept over, Gu Fei just shifted his body slightly, and Li Yadong couldn't stop slapping Gu Fei's arm.

\n\n

"No. 5, foul with contact!" the referee blew the whistle.

\n\n

"Time to graduate!" someone in the crowd yelled, and quite a few people started jeering after.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng could tell it was Zhou Jing's voice. He looked over and saw Zhou Jing hiding behind Old Xu.

\n\n

At the end of the first half, Li Yadong had four fouls. No matter how strong he was, he wouldn't play at the start of the second half - he had to be saved for critical moments.

\n\n

But now Class 5 was 9 points behind them. Without Li Yadong on the court, hopes of catching up would also become slim...

\n\n

What a dilemma.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng drank some water.

\n\n

"As long we keep playing like this in the second half, steady and giving it our all, we can win!" Wang Xu said. "Think about it, this isn't just our first time winning a game, we're about to eliminate Class 5! Eliminate them! Eliminate Class 5! The day we trample Class 2 is not far either!"

\n\n

Everyone nodded excitedly.

\n\n

"Any tactical adjustments needed?" Wang Xu asked Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Guo Xu on, Zhang Yuan rest," Jiang Cheng said. "Li Yadong probably won't play at first later. Even if he does, he won't be able to go all out. I guess they'll pass to Tang Xi...wei and let him bring it up himself first. I'll take him, the rest is the same as before."

\n\n

"Good!" Wang Xu nodded.

\n\n

Li Yadong didn't play at the start of the second half. He was replaced by someone around the same height but much thinner. This person didn't jump as high as Li Yadong, and Gu Fei could shoot right over him.

\n\n

Everyone on Class 8 was like they were on steroids, no, like phoenix blood. The court and sidelines were a boiling mess.

\n\n

The spectators also seemed drugged. They probably never imagined they'd see such an unexpected game on the first day of the tournament, and were screaming their heads off not knowing who to cheer for either. Screams when on offense, shrieks when scoring, sharing in each other's joy and success...

\n\n

Jiang Cheng wasn't someone who got excited easily, especially during games. As a guard he needed to stay calm and observant. Even when showing off it was only because of skill, not passion.

\n\n

But now the sidelines were erupting like volcanoes, and for a team like theirs to play to this level, even he couldn't stay calm.

\n\n

"Final quarter, final quarter," Old Lu had somehow gotten the mic again without the refs stopping him. He yelled with as much power as lecturing in class, "Steady! Don't panic! Steady offense!"

\n\n

There were 10 minutes left. Even counting overtime it wasn't much time. Class 8 was going all out, and Class 5 was the same. So the score didn't widen to the 15 point gap Jiang Cheng hoped for. It was now 13 points.

\n\n

Class 5 subbed Li Yadong back in. Jiang Cheng got the ball - if they could get Gu Fei to score here, 15 points would crush Class 5 mentally.

\n\n

Guo Xu was ahead to his right. When Tang Xi came to block him, he quickly passed to Guo Xu.

\n\n

Guo Xu was also blessed at the moment. As soon as he got the ball he didn't even dribble, passing it back overhead to Jiang Cheng who had circled around Tang Xi while he was looking away.

\n\n

"Great pass!" Wang Xu yelled.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng got the ball and continued forward, but Tang Xi was quick to cut him off again.

\n\n

At this moment Jiang Cheng kind of hoped Tang Xi was on Class 8. Speed and reaction like this...He glanced left and as expected, Tang Xi immediately leaned slightly that way. Getting too excited made you overreact like this.

\n\n

Psych! That was a fake!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng charged past on the right carrying the ball. He saw Gu Fei already inside the three point line...and also Li Yadong coming from the right to intercept.

\n\n

Son of a bitch!

\n\n

Jiang Cheng stomped down on Li Yadong's foot with his left and couldn't get his right foot across, instantly losing his balance and falling left.

\n\n

But before falling he gritted his teeth and whipped the ball towards Gu Fei.

\n\n

Then he heavily crashed onto the floor, left elbow scraping as he slid over a meter away.

\n\n

Screams erupted around them again, not sure if they were yelling about Gu Fei's nice shot or him falling hard and not getting up for several seconds.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng!" Wang Xu panicked and rushed over.

\n\n

"Idiot," Jiang Cheng pushed him away. "Get back on defense!"

\n\n

Class 5 inbounded very quickly. Tang Xi was already dribbling past them.

\n\n

"No foul called!" Gu Fei yelled. "Wang Xu, get back!"

\n\n

"Fuck!" Wang Xu jumped up and ran back.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng got to his feet. Gu Fei glanced back at him and he shook his head. His foot was fine, he had protective gear on. Just the previous rib injury jarred when he fell.

\n\n

Everyone was fired up about this ball. Jiang Cheng had just crossed half court and Li Yadong's shot on the other end was perfectly swatted down by Gu Fei already, with the ball going to Lu Xiaobin.

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng!" Lu Xiaobin yelled at the top of his lungs, passing the ball to Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't know if Class 5 thought those 2 points were certain, but when he got the ball the closest person to him, Tang Xi, was still at the three point line on their end.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng got the ball, turned, and took a few steps before stopping at the three point line.

\n\n

As he shot, he looked back at the Class 5 players scrambling to get to him now. Then he calmly released the ball.

\n\n

The ball drew a long arc in the air. Jiang Cheng held up three fingers, then dropped them as the ball swished through the hoop.

\n\n

Nice.

\n\n

Among the cheers from the crowd he heard Old Xu's cracked yell of "Great shot!" He glanced towards Old Xu. His excited face stood out most in the sea of excitement, even redder than those playing.

\n\n

The score widened to a 16 point difference. With not much time left in the final quarter, even without him and Gu Fei, it was unlikely they could make up the gap.

\n\n

"Slow it down," Gu Fei glanced at the game clock.

\n\n

No need to rush scoring now. Play steady, run down the clock before shots.

\n\n

Class 5 had lost morale. Though still filled with rage, they had no chance to erupt.

\n\n

Gu Fei and Jiang Cheng dribbled the ball steadily towards the basket. Class 5 scored 4 points during this time, but Gu Fei gave up 2 points and passed the ball to Jiang Cheng twice for 3-point shots. Jiang Cheng could feel the roar of the crowd every time he shot a 3-pointer.

\n\n

He had never felt so cocky even when playing for the school team before.

\n\n

Finally, amidst the extremely excited atmosphere, the final buzzer sounded.

\n\n

Gu Fei, still holding the ball several steps behind the 3-point line, forcefully threw it toward the basket.

\n\n

"Haven't finished riding the wave, huh!" Jiang Cheng looked at the ball that bounced off the backboard and went in.

\n\n

"Ah--" Wang Xu's voice was especially loud amidst the cheers.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked back and saw him rushing over with open arms. Before he could react, Wang Xu had already hugged Gu Fei and planted a big kiss on his face.

\n\n

"Get lost!" Gu Fei pushed him away and rubbed at his face several times.

\n\n

"Don't touch me!" As soon as Jiang Cheng saw Wang Xu turning towards him, he immediately yelled and pointed at him.

\n\n

"Ah--" Wang Xu recklessly pounced on him, hugging and kissing him.

\n\n

"Screw you!" Jiang Cheng lashed out like he had been whipped, flailing his arms and legs. He flung Wang Xu to the side.

\n\n

Wang Xu didn't mind at all. In his ecstasy, he hugged and kissed every team member one by one.

\n\n

The whole class went crazy, swarming onto the court. They hugged each other in groups while yelling. This kind of feeling could only be experienced by a super weak class that had never won any school matches before.

\n\n

"Hey," Gu Fei walked up to him and opened his arms, "haven't had such a satisfying game in a long time."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked at him and hesitated for a moment before going over to hug him back: "Me too."

\n\n

"Is your foot okay?" Gu Fei patted him on the back.

\n\n

"It's fine." Jiang Cheng smiled.

\n\n

The feeling of this hug was...comfortable.

\n\n

Filled with tacit understanding and appreciation, and also a "closeness" different from everyone else. Although when Jiang Cheng touched Gu Fei's body, he flashed back to that night when Gu Fei's face was almost pressed against his, and flashed back to Gu Fei's face haloed in sunlight...he still felt at ease.

\n\n

He didn't know why he would use "at ease" to describe a hug, but this was truly the first time, other than Pan Zhi, he had such close contact with someone in a long time.

\n\n

He could even feel the tips of his hair brushing Gu Fei's face.

\n\n

Yet there was no awkwardness or resistance.

\n\n

"Come on, come on," Old Xu waved his arms excitedly after the class scattered, "I'll treat you guys to something nice with Old Lu!"

\n\n

"I want hot pot," Wang Xu said, "No, I want barbecue...hmm...mutton hot pot also sounds good..."

\n\n

Everyone followed Old Xu and Old Lu out, the hot-blooded excitement still lingering as they discussed what to eat.

\n\n

"Hey, there's something I wanted to ask you," Gu Fei said as he walked alongside Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Oh, what is it?" Jiang Cheng replied.

\n\n

"Do you want to earn some money?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng was startled and glanced at Gu Fei.

\n\n

Gu Fei blurting out something so out of the blue like "Do you want to earn money?" made him suddenly feel like a criminal talking to an ignorant girl.

\n\n

He almost wanted to say, no I'm still young.

\n","published_time":"2024-02-08T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2024-01-11T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-02-08T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":491,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":30,"chapter_title":"Chapter 30","content":"

“I’m saying, you...” Gu Fei seemed confused by his “ah”, not knowing what to say, “Do you want to earn some pocket money?”

\n\n

“Huh?” Jiang Cheng looked at him, pocket money? For some reason it sounded strange.

\n\n

“Just...take some photos or something...” Gu Fei explained.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng knew Gu Fei wouldn’t really have anything weird to introduce him to do, but having just played a crazy game of basketball, his brain was a little hypoxic and he fell into the quagmire of “this is a malicious trap” and couldn’t get out. After a long time he finally blurted out, “I’m a decent person.”

\n\n

“With your IQ like this, you’re still the top student?” Gu Fei really couldn’t stand it anymore, “You must have gone to a remedial school before right?”

\n\n

“Oh!” Jiang Cheng finally came back to his senses, “Take photos? Take photos of what?”

\n\n

“Product photos,” Gu Fei said impatiently, waving his hand as he took out and lit a cigarette, “Get sober first then we’ll talk.”

\n\n

“I’m sober now...” Jiang Cheng glanced at the cigarette in his mouth and was stunned. He knew Gu Fei often went to the bathroom between classes to smoke, but didn’t expect him to just light up like this on the open field under the sun.

\n\n

“Want one?” Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

“No thanks.” Jiang Cheng decisively refused. Although he and Pan Zhi sometimes hid in the bathroom to smoke, overall they were decent people.

\n\n

“What photos?” Wang Xu, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around, “Did someone take photos of us...Of course there would be people taking photos! We were so handsome today! Check the forums when we get back, I’m sure there will be all kinds of poses...”

\n\n

“I’ll get someone to come specifically to take photos of you next game.” Gu Fei said.

\n\n

“Really?” Wang Xu laughed, “Yeah right, stop kidding me...”

\n\n

“Gu Fei—” someone called from behind.

\n\n

“Oh,” Wang Xu looked up, “Class president.”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng turned around and saw Yi Jing running over holding a small bag.

\n\n

“Calling me?” Gu Fei also turned around.

\n\n

“This...” Yi Jing handed the bag in her hand to Jiang Cheng, “I just got it from the infirmary, alcohol and stuff. You fell during the game right, check it later.”

\n\n

“Oh,” Jiang Cheng was a little surprised. His elbow was stinging but they had all worn t-shirts under their jerseys today. When he scraped his elbow on the ground it was through his sleeve so it shouldn’t be serious. He took the bag, “Thanks.”

\n\n

“You’re welcome.” Yi Jing smiled.

\n\n

“You got stuff for Jiang Cheng, what did you need Gu Fei for?” Wang Xu had a meaningful smile.

\n\n

“I couldn’t remember Jiang Cheng’s name for a moment.” Yi Jing was a little embarrassed as she brushed her hair back and walked away.

\n\n

Wang Xu tutted at her back: “Only remembers Gu Fei’s name huh?”

\n\n

“Just can’t remember Jiang Cheng’s name.” Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Old Xu and Old Lu were quite generous. Since today’s game was so unexpected they called several cars to take everyone out for all you can eat BBQ.

\n\n

“Head Teacher Xu,” Gu Fei stopped Old Xu before going in, “This is too expensive. Any normal, casual place is fine. The main thing is to get together, it's nothing special.”

\n\n

“Get together, what get together,” Old Lu said. “This is a celebration. Go in Gu Fei, don’t worry about it. Head Teacher Xu and I can afford this bit.”

\n\n

“Good kid,” Old Xu said emotionally, grabbing Gu Fei’s arm. “Such a good kid! Knows to think of the teachers! I knew you...”

\n\n

“Still had hope.” Gu Fei finished for him and went inside.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng followed, trying not to laugh.

\n\n

There was an extra large private room in the restaurant, it probably didn’t get much use normally but fit their group perfectly.

\n\n

“Get some food first,” Old Xu leaned on the table like during class. “Eat your fill today, enjoy it. You can take alcohol too, but how much you drink needs my approval!”

\n\n

Everyone crowded out again to get dishes.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took off his coat, about to check his elbow, when his phone dinged.

\n\n

He took it out and glanced at the notification for 100 yuan deducted for the monthly bill.

\n\n

He didn’t usually feel like it was much, but looking at the text now he suddenly felt a bit pained. Should he switch to a cheaper plan? But then he'd lack data. Li Baoguo's place had no wifi...so should he run an internet cable? That was another expense.

\n\n

He frowned. His card had money but with no income he felt uneasy. All Li Baoguo provided was a room, nothing else. Now he had to grocery shop weekly, cooking simple meals from the fridge.

\n\n

He sighed and went to get food.

\n\n

Gu Fei was ahead of him, holding a plate staring blankly at the meat in the freezer counters.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng went over and grabbed a plate. He used tongs to pile it high with pork belly, fatty beef, lamb...stacked it atop Gu Fei's and grabbed another to continue loading up.

\n\n

"How do you stay in shape eating like this?" Gu Fei looked at him.

\n\n

"I run when it gets warm," Jiang Cheng said. "I don't eat like this normally."

\n\n

"Oh," Gu Fei grunted.

\n\n

"What you said earlier..." Jiang Cheng glanced around, no other students, "about that photo...what was that about?"

\n\n

"It's Sis Xin," Gu Fei held the tongs, debating for ages before putting some shrimp on his plate. "She has a menswear shop, wants someone to model some shots."

\n\n

"Ah," Jiang Cheng considered. "Don't shops like that have regular models?"

\n\n

"Just one, the rest are temporary. He's unavailable," Gu Fei said. "New inventory came in the past two days with no one to shoot it. She asked me to help find someone suitable."

\n\n

"I see," Jiang Cheng hesitated. "I have no experience, is that okay?"

\n\n

"No problem, you've got the looks and build. And you're photogenic," Gu Fei said. "In the past Liu Fan's helped shoot too, if he can do it you definitely can."

\n\n

"What kind of clothes?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"I'll show you later," Gu Fei nodded towards the food counters. "Help grab some greens, all meat is too heavy."

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng took a basket and filled it with greens.

\n\n

When they returned to the room, most who'd gone for food were back. Steam rose inside.

\n\n

As soon as they entered, Old Xu stood with a glass of alcohol, "Quick, heroes take your seats. I have something to say."

\n\n

After Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei sat down Old Xu raised his glass: “Thanks to everyone today. I’ve been with you since your first year, though some only since this year...Our class 8 couldn’t even place in the morning exercises but today we finally got some payback! It wasn't easy! I believe with your current level you’ll have no problem making the finals! Cheers! Drink up!”

\n\n

Everyone clinked glasses and drank. Just as they took a sip Old Xu spoke again: “Also need to thank Gu Fei and Jiang Cheng for their hard work today...”

\n\n

“Old Xu, Old Xu,” Old Lu called him twice, “That’s enough, let them eat first, they’re hungry. If you keep going on you’ll make yourself cry.”

\n\n

“Cheers!” Wang Xu tipped his head back and downed his glass.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced at the glasses, all beer except Old Xu and Old Lu’s white liquor.

\n\n

He drank along with them.

\n\n

“The girls play tomorrow,” Wang Xu said. “Wonder how that’ll go.”

\n\n

“No chance. Our girls always just go to lose a match to complete the task. The ball gets passed and no one wants to play basketball.” Guo Xu said.

\n\n

They lamented the girls' team for a bit before discussing the upcoming matches.

\n\n

“Take a look,” Gu Fei looked through his phone for a while then passed it to Jiang Cheng, “More or less this style. Pretty niche.”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took his phone and flipped through several of Liu Fan’s photos which looked quite stylish. He flipped further and there were different people - probably the regular model Ding Zhuxin normally used. Comparing them, the difference was clear.

\n\n

“Steam punk?” Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

“Other styles too, all kinds of vintage retro,” Gu Fei said. “What do you think? Can pay by piece or day, professional model rates. She’s in a hurry to shoot so can pay more than usual.”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng barely hesitated. Money was money after all. He nodded, “Okay.”

\n\n

“I’ll let her know we’re free the next couple afternoons and evenings since there's no games,” Gu Fei said. “We can go shoot.”

\n\n

“Mm,” Jiang Cheng looked at the photos again. “Do people actually buy these clothes? You’d get surrounded if you wore them out right, might even get beaten up trying to show off...”

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed: “Why are you worried about that?”

\n\n

“I’m pretty kind-hearted.” Jiang Chen said.

\n\n

Management at No. 4 High was pretty loose. No afternoon classes if there were games, people who wanted to watch went to the field while people who didn’t just left without issue.

\n\n

But Jiang Cheng still called Old Xu saying he hurt himself a bit yesterday and wanted to get it checked at the hospital. Old Xu approved and lamented again what a good student he was.

\n\n

Actually Jiang Cheng never asked for leave when skipping class before. Just that Old Xu, as a mother hen class teacher, made him feel a bit bad not saying anything.

\n\n

“It's a bit far but it works out getting there by bus,” Gu Fei took Jiang Cheng to the station. “She has a small studio slash warehouse slash bedroom slash studio there.”

\n\n

“Oh.” Jiang Cheng nodded.

\n\n

A bit nervous. He wouldn’t be if it was just helping someone cheat for money. But modeling for photoshoots...it was too out there for him, he’d never considered it before.

\n\n

Boarding the bus he noticed Gu Fei had a backpack instead of his schoolbag, looked pretty heavy. He asked, “What are you carrying?”

\n\n

“Camera, lenses.” Gu Fei went to the last row and sat.

\n\n

“You...photograph?” Jiang Cheng was surprised.

\n\n

“Mm.” Gu Fei tugged his sleeve to get him to sit next to him instead of the uncle squeezing in.

\n\n

“You photograph?” Jiang Cheng asked again.

\n\n

“Yes, why’s that surprising? It’s not like you haven’t been photographed by me before.” Gu Fei looked at him.

\n\n

“I didn’t mean it that way, I thought there would be a photographer.” Jiang Cheng explained. Gu Fei did photograph after all. He had seen his photos and Gu Fei often posted photos on his feed, all very professional quality.

\n\n

“Ding Zhuxin has her own photographer. When they’re too busy I help out,” Gu Fei said. “I’ve always helped people with photos.”

\n\n

“...Oh.” Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Fei.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn’t speak again after the bus started moving. The heated bus ambled along, murmuring voices and laughter in his ears while the scenery outside constantly shifted even as the people inside remained still.

\n\n

Times like these made him feel hazy and sleepy, especially in the afternoon. Just looking at the warm sun made his eyelids droop.

\n\n

Gu Fei also stayed silent. Jiang Cheng glanced over and saw he had his arms crossed and eyes closed.

\n\n

Sleepy.

\n\n

He had been holding out but seeing Gu Fei already asleep made him feel like he couldn’t keep his eyes open. He pulled his jacket hood up and lowered his head, closing his eyes too.

\n\n

Not real sleep of course, just drifting in and out. Blurred sounds and shadows passing by.

\n\n

He didn’t know how long he dozed before feeling a weight on his shoulder. Pushing the hood back he saw Gu Fei’s head had somehow ended up leaning against him.

\n\n

Gu Fei had quite long lashes, though not as thick as Gu Miao’s.

\n\n

Though he felt nothing in particular for Gu Fei, especially with the possibility of his suspected girlfriend Ding Zhuxin...at this moment his heart still inexplicably felt itchy.

\n\n

This itch slowly crept from his shoulder like a fluff of fur warmed by the sun, spreading through his body.

\n\n

He closed his eyes again.

\n\n

The feeling of loneliness, he had always been able to sense it. Since the day he realized his attraction to men exceeded that to women, and he had to strictly keep this secret to himself.

\n\n

The feeling of loneliness came and went.

\n\n

Pan Zhi knew his secret but it didn’t reduce the pressure he felt because of it.

\n\n

When he had family, parents and brothers, classmates and friends, this loneliness existed but he was unaware of its depth.

\n\n

It gradually pressed down on him after coming here.

\n\n

He didn’t need those like him, didn’t need the kind who casually leaned together for warmth. But the attraction was real, to Gu Fei and his current unconscious position.

\n\n

It made him vaguely feel the warmth of “two people”.

\n\n

Hard to describe the feeling.

\n\n

“We’re here,” Gu Fei lifted his head after the bus announcement, “Next stop.”

\n\n

Seeing Jiang Cheng’s shoulder he paused two seconds before saying: “Sorry, too sleepy.”

\n\n

“It’s fine,” Jiang Cheng rotated his shoulder. “Showing off yesterday must have been tiring.”

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled and stood up, “Let’s go.”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng followed him, just that short doze made his legs feel weak...probably from pushing himself too hard with the game yesterday. He hadn’t had that much exercise since winter started.

\n\n

The wind outside the bus invigorated him as the weakness slowly faded.

\n\n

Ding Zhuxin’s studio slash warehouse slash bedroom slash studio was on an artsy street, with graffiti, painted manholes and phone booths and utility boxes everywhere. The shops on both sides were pretentiously decorated.

\n\n

It wasn’t a long or large street but Jiang Cheng was surprised a rundown dingy town like this had a place like it.

\n\n

Gu Fei took him into a building like a normal small office building, though the exterior was quite old. But looking at the floor indicator the company names were all deliberately obscure.

\n\n

Waiting for the elevator Jiang Cheng glanced over them. He couldn’t read a single one, letters from who knows what country, even the Chinese ones were still incomprehensible at a glance.

\n\n

“What is this place, everyone’s reaching for the heavens, the cables can’t even hold them up.” Just the two of them in the elevator he couldn’t help but say.

\n\n

“This area’s called ‘90s Hub’,” Gu Fei leaned against the lift laughing. “Wanted a place for young people to gather, really hip and trendy. Missed the mark, no one comes except to show off, but rent is cheap.”

\n\n

Ding Zhuxin was waiting at her studio. As soon as they walked in she smiled, “Knew you would ask him to come.”

\n\n

“Oh really,” Gu Fei dumped his bag on the floor. “You’re acquainted, no need for introductions.”

\n\n

“Have some of this,” Ding Zhuxin brought over a pot of fruit tea, pouring Jiang Cheng a cup. “I brewed it myself, threw in all sorts of stuff, pretty tasty.”

\n\n

“Thanks.” Jiang Cheng accepted the tea and looked around the studio.

\n\n

Messy, fabric and posters everywhere, lots of unopened boxes probably clothes. But through the mess the industrial minimalist base was visible - cement walls, cement lights, cement worktops, exposed bricks and criss-crossing pipes.

\n\n

“Hurry it up,” Gu Fei sprawled on the sofa. “Let him see the clothes first.”

\n\n

“Here,” Ding Zhuxin led Jiang Cheng to some clothes racks, pointing at the clothes hanging there. “This collection’s theme is back to basics, all knitwear...”

\n\n

“Knitwear?” Gu Fei interrupted. “You got me to find a ‘bad boy’ for this style?”

\n\n

"Knitted material," Ding Zhuxin leaned against the rack, "the design is going for a bad boy look which will be a bit difficult for the model..."

\n\n

Ding Zhuxin looked Jiang Cheng up and down: "But he can do it."

\n\n

"You're the boss," Gu Fei sat up and opened his bag, starting to get the camera ready.

\n\n

"Let's aim to shoot 30 outfits today," Ding Zhuxin said, "what do you think?"

\n\n

"...Okay," Jiang Cheng looked at the clothes hanging on the rack, just hanging there in a row. Other than the so-called knitted material, he couldn't make out anything about the design Ding Zhuxin mentioned, they just looked like a lot of long coats to him.

\n\n

Besides, he had never worn this kind of thing that he always thought was just for old men and middle-aged artists with long hair.

\n\n

"Get changed," Gu Fei walked over and said, "the underlayers are all matched up already, just put them all on directly."

\n\n

"You..." Jiang Cheng turned his head, before he could get the words out, Gu Fei raised the camera towards him and started clicking away. "Spare me."

\n\n

"Go change," Gu Fei pointed to a room off to the side, "we'll shoot in there later, she'll tell you what kind of feeling and poses she wants, I guarantee I'll make you look...very handsome."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng responded, looking at the clothes on the rack, "any of them is fine?"

\n\n

"Any of them," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng responded again. He took off his jacket and threw it on a chair to the side. When he was about to take off more, he felt a little awkward again. Gu Fei standing there with a camera was one thing, but Ding Zhuxin was also standing to the side, holding her elbow and sipping tea while staring at him.

\n\n

If it was just changing jackets, he wouldn't feel anything, but looking at the racks, he would basically have to strip down to his underwear.

\n\n

Gu Fei glanced back at Ding Zhuxin and waved his hand at her.

\n\n

Ding Zhuxin smiled and turned around, walking into the small inner room. "Come in when you're changed. You have a good foundation, just simple makeup, and Da Fei can touch it up later."

\n\n

"There's makeup too?" Jiang Cheng asked, taking off his shirt.

\n\n

"Yep," Gu Fei raised his camera towards him. Looking at Jiang Cheng's fit, well-exercised upper body through the lens, it was indeed the result of consistently working out, very toned. "Or it would look flat under the lights."

\n\n

"Can you not point that thing at me?" Jiang Cheng said, as he undid his belt.

\n\n

"From now until tonight," Gu Fei still held up the camera, "this thing will be pointed at you the whole time."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng resignedly took off his pants and put on the clothes. "I'm telling you, the only reason I'm not punching you is because of the money."

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had straight legs, just as toned as his upper body. Gu Fei looked at him through the lens after he had put on the top: "You actually suit this style pretty well."

\n\n

"No way," Jiang Cheng looked down doubtfully at himself, "I've lived nearly 18 years and never worn anything like this."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't respond. He took a few steps back with the camera, looking through it at Jiang Cheng. Ding Zhuxin really had a good eye, as soon as Jiang Cheng put on these clothes, his whole vibe changed.

\n\n

He had always felt long knitted coats made anyone, man or woman, look like they could go out on the streets banging a bowl asking for change. But when Jiang Cheng put on the coat and turned to look at him, he froze for a moment, his breathing halted.

\n\n

This temperament really wasn't something you could find among the people around him every day.

\n","published_time":"2024-02-15T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2024-01-18T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-02-15T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":498,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":31,"chapter_title":"Chapter 31","content":"

Jiang Cheng felt that he had randomly grabbed such an inexplicably weird outfit, which was a skill in itself.

\n\n

This outfit didn't look too bad without the coat. The fitted pants, a loose black t-shirt, although also knitted, at least it's not the kind that would make people stare if he went out wearing it.

\n\n

However, as soon as he put on the coat, he was stunned. He looked back at Gu Fei: "Hey, are you sure I didn't grab the wrong clothes?"

\n\n

"No," Gu Fei was still looking at him from behind the camera, "What's wrong?"

\n\n

"It's just that, don't you think these clothes look like a knitted version of The Matrix? No no, with a rope around the waist it's just a missionary?" Jiang Cheng tugged at his clothes and said in a low voice, "Is there a mirror? I feel like a mage again..."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't say anything, just smiled and pointed to the wall behind.

\n\n

These clothes were quite long, reaching to his calves. The fabric was relatively thin and soft, and hanging loosely on the body, just the so-called lazy and casual style. But if a thinner and shorter person wore it and went out, people would probably drag him back to Qingshan.

\n\n

"These clothes require facial features, figure, height and temperament," Ding Zhuxin leaned against the door and said, "You wearing it looks cooler than Da Fei, he wears it and it's just a gangster style."

\n\n

"Oh, with or without these clothes he's almost a gangster anyway," Jiang Cheng stood in front of the mirror and looked, actually... still decent, although he would definitely not buy such clothes himself, but he's not here to pick clothes anyway, "I don't know who the designer of these clothes is, but he deserves a smiley face."

\n\n

"It's me," Ding Zhuxin said.

\n\n

"...Ah?" Jiang Cheng was stunned. Looking at Ding Zhuxin's "I know what you're thinking" expression, the familiar feeling of embarrassment rose up instantly, and he even started walking with a slight stagger as he followed her into the room.

\n\n

As Ding Zhuxin smeared stuff on his face, Gu Fei turned on all the lighting equipment for the shoot.

\n\n

"Don't be nervous, just move around casually," Ding Zhuxin brushed Jiang Cheng's face a few more times with the brush, "Okay."

\n\n

Following her instructions, Jiang Cheng stood in the designated spot for the shoot. The scene was quite cool, but after he stood there he didn't know what to do.

\n\n

"Walk back and forth a few steps," Gu Fei said, holding up the camera at him, "From left to right and then from right to left."

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng nodded and turned to walk to the side. As soon as he moved, there was a 'click' from Gu Fei's camera. He couldn't help turning his head, "That's it? I feel like I just walked staggeringly."

\n\n

"Go on, don't worry if I did or didn't take a photo," Gu Fei clicked the shutter again.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took a breath and walked from left to right.

\n\n

The set-up scene was only a few square meters in total, and it only took a few steps to get to the other end. Then he turned around and walked back from right to left.

\n\n

"Walk with your head down," Gu Fei said while shooting, "Faster, take bigger steps."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng lowered his head slightly and walked over again.

\n\n

Gu Fei stared at him through the lens and pressed continuous shooting.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's figure was frozen in the picture, head lowered, legs striding out, the coat tail fluttering slightly behind him... Cool and full of dynamism.

\n\n

"Put on the hood," Ding Zhuxin said, "The hood is also an outstanding design."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng put on the hoo from the back of the clothes and walked forward while tidying it, "Now I feel like the Grim Reaper has arrived..."

\n\n

"Jiang Cheng," Gu Fei called his name.

\n\n

"Hmm?" Jiang Cheng turned his head.

\n\n

Gu Fei clicked the shutter.

\n\n

Still in the posture of striding forward, the raised hand and hat edge obscured half of his face, leaving only the eyes hidden in the shadows and the straight nose visible.

\n\n

"This shot is so great," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Front view," Ding Zhuxin said after taking a sip of tea.

\n\n

"No need to smile, no expressions needed," Gu Fei glanced at Jiang Cheng, "No actions either."

\n\n

For ordinary people, it was very difficult to stand still like this without any expression or action, arms hanging down. Gu Fei didn't even know why he would ask someone like Jiang Cheng, who was clearly an amateur when it came to modeling, to use this posture.

\n\n

"Won't it look silly?" Jiang Cheng sighed and stood as he was told.

\n\n

"No," Gu Fei answered simply and clicked the shutter.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng must have been vain as hell since he was a child, to be able to maintain this big silly stance perfectly.

\n\n

There was no rigid uprightness like standing at attention, nor was there any deliberate relaxation out of unease.

\n\n

His center of gravity was slightly shifted onto his right leg, and his shoulders were also naturally relaxed. This was very important - people who don't know how to stand would either have their shoulders pulled back or hunched forward...

\n\n

This guy must have practiced standing in front of a mirror. This kind of upright yet casual...long-limbed and leisurely look.

\n\n

"Lift your chin a bit," Ding Zhuxin said, "Be more arrogant."

\n\n

"How to be...arrogant?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Like when you first walked into Class 8," Gu Fei said. "Just like that."

\n\n

"I was annoyed then," Jiang Cheng thought back to when he stood there like an idiot being reviewed by the whole class, and felt a little irritated.

\n\n

Gu Fei clicked the shutter, and after a few "click"'s, he put the camera down: "If you can't make it one day, you can consider this profession."

\n\n

"You make it sound like he'd have to be desperate to do this," Ding Zhuxin said with a laugh.

\n\n

"He's a top student," Gu Fei said, "Unlike you school dropouts."

\n\n

"Oh stop," Ding Zhuxin waved her hand and punched his arm, "Jiang Cheng, change your clothes, shoot the single piece."

\n\n

"Which one?" Jiang Cheng took off his coat and asked as he walked outside.

\n\n

"The one piece, the long pull-over," Ding Zhuxin said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng went out. Gu Fei stood in place, looking down at the photos he just took one by one.

\n\n

If there was one thing in particular that attracted him about Jiang Cheng... Aside from being a top student or playing the flute and slingshot, it was this kind of casual flair no matter what he did that impressed people the most - you can call it a bad boy, or irritable, or disdainful, but the innate confidence was the most convincing.

\n\n

The kind of direct and straightforward attraction didn't require you to discover or notice it, you just had to look at it.

\n\n

Just look at it.

\n\n

Visual creatures are so superficial.

\n\n

Gu Fei sighed softly, he could only look.

\n\n

He couldn't remember how long it had been since he stopped paying attention to the people around him, those who came and went, stayed or left.

\n\n

Absolutely no puppy love.

\n\n

No mood to, no guts to either. Everything he protected could not withstand any fluctuations.

\n\n

"Sorry," Jiang Cheng came in holding a linen colored piece of clothing, "Is this it?"

\n\n

"Yes," Ding Zhuxin nodded.

\n\n

"I'd like to ask, how do you wear this?" Jiang Cheng held up the clothes and shook it by the shoulders, "What goes inside?"

\n\n

"Underwear," Ding Zhuxin said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng shook the clothes in his hand again, his face full of big and small question marks.

\n\n

Gu Fei turned his head away, using the camera to hide his face as he struggled not to laugh. He could nearly hear Jiang Cheng screaming internally.

\n\n

It was a loosely knit sleeveless sweater, pretty long, probably reaching Jiang Cheng's knees. The neckline was also big. Gu Fei had seen the design before and once thought Ding Zhuxin made it for herself, he hadn't expected it was menswear.

\n\n

"Try it on," Ding Zhuxin said. "It should look great on you."

\n\n

"Wear it...bare underneath?" Jiang Cheng asked again, not giving up.

\n\n

"Yeah," Ding Zhuxin said. "You've got abs right? If not I can draw them on."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng still had an indescribable expression.

\n\n

"Does he have them?" Ding Zhuxin turned to ask Gu Fei.

\n\n

"Huh?" Gu Fei turned his face, unable to hold back his smile, "Seems like he does."

\n\n

"Change then, I thought you didn't have abs and was shy," Ding Zhuxin said to Jiang Cheng again.

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng nodded resolutely and went out. Then he stuck his head back in, "Sis Xin, I just want to ask, do people actually buy these clothes?"

\n\n

"Yes," Ding Zhuxin drank some tea, "My designs always sell well."

\n\n

"So amazing, what kind of people buy them?" Jiang Cheng whispered.

\n\n

"Probably psychos," Ding Zhuxin said.

\n\n

Stripped down to just his underwear, Jiang Cheng put on the clothes that looked like a broken fishing net. He felt that there was no difference between this and going topless. He quickly went to the mirror and glanced over.

\n\n

Damn.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng firmly believed that if this outfit could sell, it could only be attributed to his body being so fucking perfect...

\n\n

He gritted his teeth and walked in.

\n\n

Gu Fei was fiddling with the camera with his head down. When he looked up and saw him, he immediately whistled.

\n\n

"Shut up," Jiang Cheng pointed at him.

\n\n

"The black underwear matches perfectly," Ding Zhuxin looked him up and down, very satisfied, "I was thinking that if it wasn't black I'd find a pair to change you into...Let's start."

\n\n

"Okay," Jiang Cheng walked towards the set. Some of the setup had been changed and looked much fresher than before.

\n\n

"Shoes off, barefoot," Ding Zhuxin said again.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was already powerless to resist wearing these clothes. He silently took off his shoes and socks and stood barefoot in the middle.

\n\n

"Not too much action with this set," Ding Zhuxin said, "The name of this outfit is 'Muted', try to get a feel for it."

\n\n

Mute.

\n\n

This was the only content Jiang Cheng could come up with based on that one word at this moment.

\n\n

As for the feeling...

\n\n

He felt a little cold, after all the clothes he had on were mostly holes. Not only could Ding Zhuxin see that his underwear was black, she could probably see what brand it was too.

\n\n

But he had to find this so-called feeling anyway. Ding Zhuxin paid him to come and take photos, she was his employer, he had to find this so-called feeling. And Gu Fei was still standing there with the camera waiting for him.

\n\n

Mute.

\n\n

Okay, not mute, but muted.

\n\n

No sound.

\n\n

Very quiet.

\n\n

He suddenly thought of a Russian song he used to really like.

\n\n

вhoчn...

\n\n

The whole song was calming.

\n\n

He often listened to it with earphones after arguing with his family.

\n\n

Closing his eyes, listening to lyrics he didn't understand, he could hear the voice in his heart.

\n\n

Thinking too damn far, this feeling went all the way to Siberia...

\n\n

Jiang Cheng closed his eyes in front of the camera lens, and lightly placed his right hand on the left side of his chest.

\n\n

Gu Fei clicked the shutter.

\n\n

At that moment, Jiang Cheng gave a feeling of being very distant, shrouded in a strong sense of detachment.

\n\n

Lost and stubborn, written silently in the atmosphere around him.

\n\n

After clicking the shutter, he held up the camera for a long time without moving, just staring fixedly at Jiang Cheng's face in the lens.

\n\n

Until Ding Zhuxin softly cleared her throat.

\n\n

Only then did Jiang Cheng open his eyes as if waking up from a dream. As he lowered his hand, his fingers hooked onto the neckline and gave it a slight tug. The collar opened and snapped back.

\n\n

A series of rapid shutter sounds came from Gu Fei's camera.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's somewhat lost eyes, slightly parted lips, the collar hooked by his fingers, the fingertips gliding over his body...

\n\n

"I think it's very good," Ding Zhuxin said, "Very sexy, and very emotional too."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't speak. He held the camera and looked down for a long time, then took a deep breath, sighing as he slowly breathed out.

\n\n

"I'm going..." Gu Fei put down the camera, "Going to the bathroom."

\n\n

Sitting on the toilet seat, Gu Fei lit a cigarette and held it in his mouth.

\n\n

Watching the smoke drifting out the window.

\n\n

Life is always full of surprises.

\n\n

Like Gu Miao being unexpectedly picked up by Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng unexpectedly kissing the ground at his shop entrance, and unexpectedly becoming his deskmate...

\n\n

These surprises weren't too surprising. What really surprised Gu Fei was that he always thought he had good control over everything, yet he got aroused while taking photos.

\n\n

This was truly unexpected.

\n\n

Too unexpected.

\n\n

Even someone as carefree as him had to hide in the bathroom to calm down.

\n\n

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think again, if this happened to Jiang Cheng... He'd probably disown himself in the toilet.

\n\n

When Gu Fei came out of the bathroom with a cigarette in his mouth, Jiang Cheng was standing in front of a rack of clothes locked in a life or death struggle.

\n\n

The battle was quite tense. He tore at the clothes while the clothes choked his throat.

\n\n

Hearing the door sound behind him, he raised his arms and peeked out from the slit of the clothes. Seeing it was Gu Fei, he couldn't care less about embarrassment. In a suppressed voice: "Fuck, come help me out."

\n\n

"...What's going on here?" Gu Fei quickly pinched out the cigarette and walked over, reaching out several times but not knowing which part to grab to free him.

\n\n

"This clothes aren't made to be worn!" Jiang Cheng still had his arms raised, half his face peeking out from between his arm and the collar. "This neckline, only a baby can fit through!"

\n\n

"Wait," Gu Fei circled around him, "Let me see first."

\n\n

"If you came out a bit later I'd have torn this apart, I'd even pay for it," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"I think..." Gu Fei lifted up the left side of his clothes and looked, "Did you crawl into the sleeve?"

\n\n

"...Now that you mention it," Jiang Cheng froze in place, "That makes perfect sense."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't say anything. Neither did he.

\n\n

After two seconds, he knew their silly laughing loop was about to start again.

\n\n

When Ding Zhuxin came out, they were laughing uncontrollably. Gu Fei laughed so hard that his hands went soft several times when trying to tear the clothes off him.

\n\n

And Jiang Cheng was laughing so hard that he felt like he was about to be strangled by the sleeve but couldn't stop.

\n\n

"Sorry," Ding Zhuxin took out her phone and snapped a photo of them, "I'm posting this on Moments."

\n\n

"What?" Gu Fei asked laughing, leaning on the shelf.

\n\n

"My part-time photographer, and my part-time model," Ding Zhuxin said, "Have gone mad."

\n\n

"Almost done, he crawled into the sleeve," Gu Fei finally pulled himself together and tugged at the clothes. Jiang Cheng stepped back, trying hard to make his arms and head become one, and finally got the clothes off.

\n\n

"Ah!" He squatted on the ground, "Tired to death."

\n\n

"Hurry up, dinner's on me with takeout," Ding Zhuxin turned and went back inside.

\n\n

At first, Jiang Cheng didn't feel that 30 outfits was a lot. After all, sometimes just going out he had to try two or three combinations.

\n\n

Only today did he realize how annoying it was to keep putting on and taking off clothes.

\n\n

Constant wearing, constant taking off, standing under the lights trying to get a feel, his legs were already sore after playing ball, every time he wore something he just wanted to tear the clothes off.

\n\n

The key was, Ding Zhuxin's outfits were all matching sets. Not 30 pieces of clothing, just change the pants two or three times and mix and match. But each change was a complete outfit from top to bottom.

\n\n

When it got dark, Ding Zhuxin said to eat first. Jiang Cheng declined. He felt that if he stopped and rested, ate dinner, even beating him to death wouldn't motivate him to continue, not even for more money.

\n\n

So the three of them didn't eat at all, and kept at it until after 9pm before finally completing today's task.

\n\n

"Hungry?" Ding Zhuxin transferred the money to Jiang Cheng, "Go downstairs and eat something, what do you want?"

\n\n

"I...won't eat," Jiang Cheng changed back into his own clothes and felt extremely intimate with them. His whole body relaxed, and then he felt sleepy, "I'm going back to sleep, dead tired."

\n\n

"Not hungry?" Ding Zhuxin said, "At least eat a little, what if you get hungry at night?"

\n\n

"Thank you, Sis Xin," Jiang Cheng yawned, "I'm really so tired I'm not even hungry, I probably won't even know if I get hungry at night."

\n\n

Ding Zhuxin laughed: "Alright then, you'll still have energy to come over tomorrow?"

\n\n

"I'll be fine after some sleep," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Then take a cab home," Ding Zhuxin said, "I'll reimburse the fare."

\n\n

"No need, really no need," Jiang Cheng quickly declined, "It's not much money, I can manage myself."

\n\n

Ding Zhuxin was about to say something else when Gu Fei stopped her: "I'll take the money, we can share a cab back."

\n\n

“You're not eating either?” Ding Zhuxin looked at him in slight surprise.

\n\n

“Yeah,” Gu Fei took out a cigarette and lit it, “My mom cooked at home today and left some for me. I have to go back and eat it, or else she'll cry again.”

\n\n

“Alright then.” Ding Zhuxin nodded.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng went to the roadside to hail a cab, while Gu Fei stood there with Ding Zhuxin in silence.

\n\n

“Da Fei,” When Ding Zhuxin saw a taxi pull over, she spoke up.

\n\n

“Hmm,” Gu Fei responded.

\n\n

“This is the first time I've seen you laugh like that,” Ding Zhuxin looked at Jiang Cheng's back, “I've seen you grow up, and this is the first time.”

\n\n

“What do you mean you've seen me grow up,” Gu Fei laughed, avoiding Ding Zhuxin's words, “You're just a few years older than me. Don't talk like my mom. I've seen you grow up too.”

\n\n

“Get in the car,” Ding Zhuxin said, “I have something going on tomorrow and won't be here. I'll get the clothes ready for the shoot, my assistant will come to do makeup, you can handle the rest.”

\n\n

“Okay,” Gu Fei tossed away his cigarette and got in the car.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng fell asleep as soon as he got in the car. He felt like he had slept like a pig. Gu Fei had to push him several times before he finally realised that it wasn't the car shaking, and opened his eyes.

\n\n

“We're here?” Jiang Cheng rubbed his face and opened the door to get out. “I was almost dreaming.”

\n\n

“Um...” Gu Fei pulled his arm.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was about to ask what was going on, when he heard shouting and a woman crying coming from the front.

\n\n

Looking over to where the sounds were coming from, his entire being sank into endless irritation. The exhaustion from half a day and half an evening seemed about to blow the top of his head off in that instant.

\n\n

Li Baoguo, Li Hui, and even Li Qian. His own dad, brother, and sister. He recognized them with one glance. There was also a woman with a limp leg that he didn't know.

\n\n

The woman was limping as she pulled and yelled at Li Baoguo, crying as she cursed, but she seemed to be speaking in dialect that was too heavy to understand.

\n\n

Li Baoguo had completely changed from the cowardly manner of lying on the ground and letting people kick him the other day. He was fighting fiercely with the woman, while Li Hui and Li Qian on the side couldn't pull them apart no matter how they tried.

\n\n

“Do you believe I'll beat you to death!” Li Baoguo's words were clear and forceful. “You haven't had enough from me yet! Today I'll decide if I'm letting you live or not!”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt he couldn't breathe. He hastily retreated back into the car, pushing Gu Fei who was about to get out back in, and shut the door.

\n\n

“What, not getting out?” The driver asked.

\n\n

“Take you back first,” Jiang Cheng said in a tight voice to Gu Fei.

\n\n

“Alright,” Gu Fei didn't ask further, “Driver, please turn into North Lane.”

\n\n

“Okay.” The driver made a turn and drove into the side street.

\n\n

After passing Gu Fei's shop, they drove further in for a bit before Gu Fei told the driver to stop in front of a few residential buildings.

\n\n

“Where to now?” The driver asked.

\n\n

“Here is good,” Gu Fei took out money and paid the driver, pushing Jiang Cheng, “Get out.”

\n\n

Jiang Cheng got out, his mind somewhat muddled as he looked at the building in front: “Your place?”

\n\n

“Yeah,” Gu Fei said, walking to the building entrance, “Come see me work on the pictures.”

\n\n

“What pictures?” Jiang Cheng hesitated for a moment before following him.

\n\n

“Your photos, don't you want to see how handsome they turned out?” Gu Fei said.

\n\n

“Okay,” Jiang Cheng smiled.

\n","published_time":"2024-02-22T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2024-01-25T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-02-22T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":506,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":32,"chapter_title":"Chapter 32","content":"

Gu Fei's building was newer than Li Baoguo's. Although it was also built along the street with no enclosing walls or property management, and should also be a unit building, it looked much more pleasing to the eye.

\n\n

It didn't have that particularly strong mundane atmosphere. The walls in the corridor were still white, without any cobwebs.

\n\n

But it was similarly not very tall, without an elevator. Once inside, you had to climb the stairs, all the way up. By the fifth floor, Jiang Cheng couldn't help asking, "Which floor is your home on?"

\n\n

"Seventh floor, the top," Gu Fei turned his head and glanced at him, the corners of his lips curved up in an indistinct smile, "What's wrong, can't climb anymore? Or do you want me to give you a piggyback ride?"

\n\n

"Forget it, you're not much stronger than me. When you pee it takes you three minutes to get anything out," Jiang Cheng said. "Probably kidney deficiency, right?"

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him for a while longer without speaking, then turned and continued climbing upstairs.

\n\n

There were four households on the seventh floor, Gu Fei's home was the one furthest inside. When he opened the door, Jiang Cheng steadied his mind. He still remembered the way Gu Fei's mother had erupted at the shop that day.

\n\n

As soon as he entered, he saw Gu Fei's mother standing in the living room. She was making a phone call with a cell phone in hand, a cigarette pinched between her fingers. Seeing the two of them come in, a somewhat surprised expression flashed across her face over Gu Fei's shoulder as her gaze fell on Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Hello, auntie," Jiang Cheng hurriedly greeted her.

\n\n

"Put out the cigarette," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"You're back so late," Gu Fei's mother pinched out the cigarette and hung up the call to size the two of them up. She looked at them for a while before focusing on Jiang Cheng's face again. "You were the one at the shop last time, right?"

\n\n

"Yes," Jiang Cheng nodded. He hesitated over whether to take his shoes off or not. "My name is Jiang Cheng."

\n\n

Gu Fei took out a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and tossed them by Jiang Cheng's feet, then turned to look at her again, "Is there still food left?"

\n\n

"There is. I kept quite a lot, enough for both of you to eat," Gu Fei's mother replied.

\n\n

"Sit for a bit," Gu Fei said to Jiang Cheng before walking to a door next to the living room and pushing it open a crack to peer inside.

\n\n

"Looking in on Er Miao," Gu Fei's mother explained to Jiang Cheng, "Our Er Miao... he fusses over as a brother more than a dad would."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng smiled but didn't say anything.

\n\n

“Not asleep yet?” Gu Fei leaned in the doorway, speaking through the crack. “Brother Cheng's here, want to get up and say hi?”

\n\n

The sound of slippers shuffling came from inside the room after a few seconds. Then Gu Miao poked her head out from the door in her fall clothes.

\n\n

"Good evening," Jiang Cheng said with a smile.

\n\n

Gu Miao was expressionless. She hurriedly ran over to sit down next to him on the sofa.

\n\n

"It's almost 10 pm and you still haven't slept yet?" Jiang Cheng looked at her and smoothed down her messy hair. "You'll have dark eye circles tomorrow."

\n\n

Gu Miao rubbed her eyes and smiled.

\n\n

The little girl's hair had grown much longer now. Although it was still a mess with strands sticking out every which way, compared to when she had a shaved head and looked like a little boy, she was so much prettier.

\n\n

The siblings resembled their mother. Gu Miao especially would become a classic beauty when she grew up a bit more and dressed herself up.

\n\n

"Eating now?" Gu Fei's mother said to Gu Fei as they walked to the kitchen together. "I'll heat up the dishes for you."

\n\n

"Okay," Gu Fei responded. "Is there rice?"

\n\n

"There is," Gu Fei's mother said, then looked back at Jiang Cheng again. "Is this child Li Yan's boyfriend?"

\n\n

Her voice wasn't loud, but Jiang Cheng still heard it. He jerked his head up in shock. What? The wind is too loud, I didn't hear clearly. Can you repeat that?

\n\n

"...He's not," Gu Fei said. "What are you thinking?"

\n\n

"Then why is he wearing makeup?" Gu Fei's mother said.

\n\n

"What does wearing makeup have to do with Li Yan? Li Yan doesn't wear makeup either..." Gu Fei poked his head out from the kitchen. "Jiang Cheng, use my mom's makeup remover and stuff to wash up."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng stood up.

\n\n

Gu Fei's mother brought him to the bathroom and handed him makeup remover. "Use this, it removes cleanly. Use the face wash on the top shelf, that's Da Fei's."

\n\n

"Thanks, auntie," Jiang Cheng looked at the makeup remover.

\n\n

"The makeup removal pads are in that pink case..." Gu Fei's mother looked at him. "Do you know how?"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng really wanted to say he knew how, so she could leave more quickly and stop staring at him. But if he answered "yes", it might lead to more "Li Yan's boyfriend" speculations, although he didn't know what Li Yan had to do with makeup... In the end, he could only honestly say, "No."

\n\n

"Er Miao," Gu Fei called from the kitchen, "go help your brother Cheng remove his makeup."

\n\n

Gu Miao quickly ran in. After Gu Fei's mother left, she tiptoed to take down the pink case holding makeup removal pads, took out two pads, poured some makeup remover on them, and waved Jiang Cheng over, indicating for him to squat down.

\n\n

"Then what?" Jiang Cheng squatted.

\n\n

Gu Miao looked at him and deliberately blinked her eyes rapidly before staring fixedly at him.

\n\n

"Close my eyes, right? Okay." Jiang Cheng closed his eyes.

\n\n

Gu Miao began dabbing at his face with the pads.

\n\n

Gu Fei and his mother didn't say anything more in the kitchen.

\n\n

But "Li Yan's boyfriend" still echoed in Jiang Cheng's ears. The way Gu Fei's mother had said it so ordinarily, as if saying Li Yan's girlfriend... Li Yan is...? And it seems quite open too?

\n\n

If that's the case, Gu Fei who spends time with Li Yan every day should know very well about this. So! Damn! Jiang Cheng suddenly opened his eyes wide.

\n\n

Gu Miao frowned, pinching the pad in her hand, and shook her head.

\n\n

He hurriedly closed his eyes again.

\n\n

If Gu Fei interacts with this kind of person, is exposed to these kinds of things... then that peck he had given Gu Fei the other day would have an additional explanation!

\n\n

It probably wouldn't be understood simply as him being drunk and acting out.

\n\n

Damn!

\n\n

If that's the case, things would become very awkward!

\n\n

Gu Miao helped him remove his makeup then left. He picked up Gu Fei's face wash and looked at it - Refreshing, not tightening... bullshit, he's used this before, still tightening. If it's refreshing then it must be tightening.

\n\n

After washing his face and coming out, his skin did feel quite tight. Seeing Gu Fei again, he could barely even open his eyes, he was so tense.

\n\n

"Do you have any creams, emulsions, toners, stuff like that?" Jiang Cheng asked. "My skin is going to crack."

\n\n

Before Gu Fei could respond, Gu Miao swiftly ran back to her room and brought out a bottle of children's cream for him.

\n\n

"Oh ho," Jiang Cheng took it. "You're quite vain, to have something like this."

\n\n

"Li Yan bought it for her. She recommends it to everyone all the time but never uses it herself, finds it too troublesome," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Do you know Li Yan?" Gu Fei's mother asked Jiang Cheng again.

\n\n

"...Not very well," Jiang Cheng replied as he applied cream to his face. He was starting to feel a bit helpless.

\n\n

"They've only met two or three times. Li Yan doesn't have a boyfriend either," Gu Fei was probably also quite speechless. "Go to sleep... Er Miao, go back to your room to sleep too."

\n\n

Gu Miao obediently went back to her room to sleep. Gu Fei's mother kept glancing at Jiang Cheng several more times as she dialed on her phone before returning to her own room and closing the door.

\n\n

The dishes Gu Fei's mother had cooked were unexpectedly delicious, even though they were leftovers that had been reheated. The ribs in particular were amazing - Jiang Cheng ate four or five pieces in a row before finally stopping because he was too embarrassed to continue.

\n\n

"Eat up," Gu Fei said. "I was too hungry and can't eat anymore."

\n\n

"I'm also..." Jiang Cheng hesitated, then put another piece in his mouth.

\n\n

"My mom's cooking is pretty good, right?" Gu Fei smiled.

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng nodded. He thought for a moment then sighed again, looking at the food left in his bowl. "It's been a long time... since I've eaten a homemade meal."

\n\n

Gu Fei didn't say anything.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak anymore either, just kept eating with his head lowered.

\n\n

Ever since coming here, he had basically been eating takeout or random street food. Now to save money he cooked for himself, usually just boiling noodles.

\n\n

Wolfing down such delicious "home cooking" made his heart suddenly sour. He tried hard not to be so sentimental, but still couldn't control it as his nose also started to sting.

\n\n

Luckily Gu Fei got up then to take his bowl to the kitchen to wash it. Jiang Cheng quickly raised his hand to wipe his eyes, and took several deep breaths to slowly tamp down his emotions again.

\n\n

After eating, he didn't fight Gu Fei to wash the dishes either. He didn't want to move.

\n\n

"If you're tired just sleep in my bed," Gu Fei opened the door to another room. "I'll sleep on the couch."

\n\n

"No need," Jiang Cheng stood up and followed him into the room. "I'll take the couch, I can sleep anywhere... Your room is really... not bad."

\n\n

One look at the decor of Gu Fei's living room showed it was in a style from 10, 20 years ago that hadn't been renovated or updated since. Although much better than Li Baoguo's home that would be considered outdated even 50 years ago, it was still just extremely ordinary and couldn't be considered a wealthy family's home.

\n\n

But Gu Fei's bedroom surprised him a little.

\n\n

The room wasn't big and had no renovations, just a coat of white paint on the walls. But every piece of furniture looked carefully chosen.

\n\n

The bed, bookcase, desk, chair, lazy boy sofa, small carpet, the hammock by the window - there were a lot of things, but it didn't feel cluttered. Instead, there was a warm, comfortable vibe.

\n\n

"Want tea?" Gu Fei picked up a small electric kettle on the desk and put in some tea leaves. "Or just boiled water?"

\n\n

"Boiled water," Jiang Cheng sat on the small sofa. "Drinking tea will keep me awake."

\n\n

Gu Fei put a lemon slice in the cup and poured in some hot water for him.

\n\n

The steaming lemon water, soft sofa, and the comfort and warmth of the room that he hadn't experienced for a long time - Jiang Cheng hugged the cup and didn't even want to talk.

\n\n

"My mom has low EQ and doesn't think before she speaks," Gu Fei sat at the computer to connect the camera memory card. "Just listen to her, don't take it seriously."

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng made a sound of acknowledgement, then still couldn't help asking after a pause, "Li Yan..."

\n\n

"Li Yan really doesn't have a boyfriend," Gu Fei said, glancing at him and then laughing. "But it's true that Li Yan... likes men."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng held the cup to block his face with the rising steam. "Does everyone know that he..."

\n\n

"His friends know. My mom somehow found out too, but won't talk about it to others," Gu Fei said as he transferred photos. "No one wants everyone to know something like this."

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

He had just sighed when he abruptly realized it and quickly cleared his throat, trying to gloss over that sigh.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him but didn't say anything.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng truly couldn't control his urge to overanalyze that look, the awkwardness that hadn't appeared between him and Gu Fei for a long time now strongly wrapped around him again.

\n\n

He had to hug the cup and stand up to pace around the room.

\n\n

But the room wasn't big, and he could only take three steps before hitting a wall, making him feel he looked foolish flailing around. It was even more awkward than just sitting.

\n\n

Finally he stopped in front of the bookshelf.

\n\n

"Can I look at the bookshelf?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"...I don't even know how to respond now," Gu Fei turned to look at him. "Why do you need to ask to look at a bookshelf?"

\n\n

"Ah," Jiang Cheng smiled. "Habit."

\n\n

"Your family's teachings were a bit too strict, huh," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Maybe. My whole family was very strict about rules, etiquette, manners, education," Jiang Cheng looked at the books on the shelf. "I was obtuse too. I should have realized long ago I'm not one of them - a whole family of five, and I'm the only one without any class..."

\n\n

"You're fine as you are," Gu Fei watched the progress bar of the photo transfer.

\n\n

"Here, I'm probably fine," Jiang Cheng thought about Li Baoguo's family and the crippled woman he saw. That's right, in an environment full of this kind of life, this kind of living, someone like him could be considered "good", huh.

\n\n

"Some things can be seen clearly without needing to compare," Gu Fei smiled and took a sip of tea. "Whether someone is truly 'good' or not, just look at that person. Don't need to consider where he is or who he's with."

\n\n

"...You," Jiang Cheng looked at him in surprise. "You don't seem like someone who turns in blank test sheets right now."

\n\n

"Nonsense, when have I ever turned in a blank sheet? I've always filled them completely before handing them in," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng couldn't help laughing.

\n\n

Gu Fei picked up the camera with the lens aimed at him.

\n\n

"Haven't you gotten tired of shooting so much?" Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Won't get tired of shooting you," Gu Fei said. "When you smile you look...good."

\n\n

The smile froze on Jiang Cheng's face. Gu Fei cursed himself in his head.

\n\n

When he had said the first half of that sentence, he already felt it wasn't quite appropriate, especially after Li Yan's sexuality had been "exposed". Saying something like that was too ambiguous.

\n\n

But just to smooth things over, he went and said more. Before he even finished speaking, he was regretting it already. Each sentence was more inappropriate than the last, but he had to persist in finishing it or it would seem even faker.

\n\n

After saying it all, he and Jiang Cheng both froze up.

\n\n

He held up the camera to block his own face, not knowing what else he could say to dispel the awkward atmosphere.

\n\n

For someone who was never awkward or cared what others thought, being in such a dilemma itself was enough to render him speechless.

\n\n

"After this shoot, Ding Zhuxin will probably ask you to model for other things," Gu Fei still held up the camera, staring at Jiang Cheng's face in the frame. "If the pay is agreeable, you can continue working with her long term. She's always unsatisfied with the models in some way, but today she liked you a lot."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng looked left and right, then at the camera lens. "So, um, can I ask, that... what... I mean, she and you... uh, is she your..."

\n\n

"Girlfriend?" Gu Fei interrupted him. "No, like I said, we grew up together, I call her older sister."

\n\n

"Oh!" Jiang Cheng responded loudly, as if trying to break free of the awkwardness.

\n\n

"So difficult," Gu Fei sighed for him. "I thought you were going to ask about me and Li Yan."

\n\n

"Huh?" Jiang Cheng was startled, looking quite shocked at him. "You and Li Yan? Are..."

\n\n

"No!" Gu Fei put the camera down. "Hey, Li Yan and I are just friends. Do we look like a couple?"

\n\n

"Don't know," Jiang Cheng leaned against the bookshelf, seeming a bit helpless about this line of conversation now. "Doesn't seem like it. I feel he looks more like a couple with Liu Fan."

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed for a long time leaning in the chair. "Liu Fan would be upset hearing you say that."

\n\n

"...Is that so," Jiang Cheng glanced at him and smiled, but didn't say anything more.

\n\n

The no-good birds and Li Yan and Gu Fei, the few of them often hung out together and also had a shared hangout spot at the steel factory.

\n\n

But from Gu Fei's words...even good friends like them, some still wouldn't accept it right?

\n\n

Yeah, Pan Zhi was right.

\n\n

Open-mindedness and tolerance only existed in fantasy. Reality was ruthless.

\n\n

Then what about Gu Fei?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng leaned his head back against the glass cabinet door, looking at Gu Fei playing with a camera in the chair.

\n\n

His attitude was clear, he didn't mind, he could accept it.

\n\n

What about beyond that?

\n\n

That day when Jiang Cheng kissed Gu Fei's face, he didn't react at all. At least Pan Zhi would have paused, then mocked him for it.

\n\n

Although Gu Fei wasn't expressive with joy or anger, that calmness between two people not close enough to get so drunk was still somewhat abnormal.

\n\n

And thinking back now, his reaction the next day was also too natural.

\n\n

Too natural.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng sipped his lemon water.

\n\n

Gu Fei was a bad student, but a smart bad student.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt a weary sense that everything had already been seen through.

\n\n

Gu Fei possibly knew everything already. This newest bit of information left him unable to cope, unable to even continue chatting calmly.

\n\n

The photos finished uploading, Gu Fei made a folder, marked the date, then started editing.

\n\n

The mouse slowly moved over the dense thumbnails, he didn't like editing in order, he liked to pick and choose.

\n\n

The mouse finally clicked on the one where Jiang Cheng had his finger hooked in his collar.

\n\n

When the photo opened, he leaned back a bit. Compared to the fleeting moment in the original shot, this kind of sudden clarity blown up was more impactful.

\n\n

He rested his elbow on the arm of the chair, fingers pressed to his temple, and let out a soft whistle.

\n\n

"What about you?" Jiang Cheng suddenly asked at this time.

\n\n

Gu Fei reflexively thought he would say "Shut up", when he realized Jiang Cheng didn't say that line, he didn't even dare turn his head to look at Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Hm?" He minimized the photo to full screen, adjusted the curves a bit, "I... what?"

\n\n

"Are you?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

To be honest, Gu Fei was completely surprised that Jiang Cheng who was usually awkwardly evasive would suddenly be so direct, his tone already completely undisguised.

\n\n

"Are you?" Gu Fei turned his head.

\n\n

"Whether I am or not, you know," Jiang Cheng looked at him, "Now I'm asking you."

\n\n

Gu Fei was unwilling to answer this question.

\n\n

Whether Jiang Cheng was or wasn't, he hadn't actually thought about it carefully himself, it didn't make any difference to him, even if he had any ideas he would always keep it to himself.

\n\n

But Jiang Cheng wanted to know, which made him a bit afraid to give an answer.

\n\n

Not knowing about each other, or knowing but pretending not to know, this kind of relationship would be relatively easier to maintain. If everything was suddenly laid bare, with all the attraction and attention clearly directed, it would contrarily make one flustered instead.

\n\n

At least that's how he would feel, he didn't have any intentions to do anything, but once these matters became transparent, every word, every look of his, might become intentions to do something.

\n\n

"Forget it," Jiang Cheng sat on the sofa holding his cup, head tilted back as he let out a long breath, "Don't say it, I know now."

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him.

\n\n

"Da Fei," Jiang Cheng turned his head to look at him too, "I actually don't mean anything else, I just want to tell you, if you know, keep it secret for me, I don't want...anyone to know."

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei nodded, it was seemingly the first time Jiang Cheng didn't call him Gu Fei.

\n\n

"Just like you also don't want anyone to know," Jiang Cheng drank some water.

\n\n

"Threatening me?" Gu Fei laughed.

\n\n

"Yes," Jiang Cheng smiled with a nod, "I have something against you in my hands."

\n\n

"I'll keep it secret," Gu Fei said.

\n","published_time":"2024-02-29T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2024-02-01T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-02-29T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":513,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":33,"chapter_title":"Chapter 33","content":"

After signing the verbal confidentiality agreement, the two fell silent.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's question, Gu Fei neither admitted nor denied. After Jiang Cheng "concluded", he still neither admitted nor denied.

\n\n

His attitude was a bit ambiguous, but Jiang Cheng felt it was enough. His question was just a bold attempt to protect his own secret, like an attack.

\n\n

There are so many people in this world who want to hide themselves, and so many things that need to be hidden.

\n\n

Gu Fei opened the window a crack, lit a cigarette, and got ready to continue retouching the photos.

\n\n

After a couple puffs, Jiang Cheng reached over, "Give me one."

\n\n

"You usually smoke, right?" Gu Fei put the cigarette box in his hand, "How come you keep asking me? What about when I'm not around?"

\n\n

"I'm out," Jiang Cheng lit the cigarette, "I just don't when you're not around."

\n\n

Gu Fei opened the window crack a bit more.

\n\n

"It's cold," Jiang Cheng shrank back into the sofa.

\n\n

"Then go to the kitchen, turn on the vent and smoke there," Gu Fei clicked the mouse, enlarging Jiang Cheng's face on the screen.

\n\n

In fact, for clothing photos, he was too lazy to process the model's face, or he'd just casually touch it up at the end. For many photos, if he felt the face didn't turn out well, he'd just crop it out completely.

\n\n

But Jiang Cheng's face was really good, it kept him from fixing the clothing details and made him fix the face first instead.

\n\n

The small sofa was next to the desk, with Jiang Cheng basically facing him. He couldn't see the computer screen, so Gu Fei didn't need to worry that Jiang Cheng would feel awkward seeing him meticulously retouch the model's face before the clothes.

\n\n

"Gu Fei," Jiang Cheng flicked some ash into the small ashtray on the desk.

\n\n

"Hmm," Gu Fei pushed the ashtray closer to him, "Full name again, huh?"

\n\n

"Well, I was begging for help earlier, so I had to butter you up," Jiang Cheng smiled, cigarette dangling, "I have a question for you."

\n\n

"Ask away," Gu Fei stared at the computer screen. Actually, there wasn't much on Jiang Cheng's face that needed altering. His facial features were beautiful and his skin was in great condition.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng glanced over at the bookshelf, "That score I saw last time, you wrote it, right?"

\n\n

"Hmm?" Gu Fei was taken aback and also looked over at the bookshelf.

\n\n

"So many composition books, music theory books, if you say again that it wasn't you," Jiang Cheng said, "that would be too dishonest."

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed. After a while he leaned back in his chair, "Yes, I wrote it."

\n\n

"That's so unexpected," Jiang Cheng swirled his cup, "An illiterate who can write music..."

\n\n

"I'm not illiterate," Gu Fei corrected him.

\n\n

"A bad student who can write music," Jiang Cheng glanced at him, "Got any recordings?"

\n\n

"No," Gu Fei answered decisively.

\n\n

In fact he had quite a few, saved on his computer. But he basically didn't listen to them. Saying he didn't have any wasn't really a lie. The only one he occasionally listened to was the one Ding Zhuxin sang.

\n\n

If it was anyone else asking about these things, he wouldn't have cared. Listen if you want. But with Jiang Cheng, he was reluctant to show them.

\n\n

Just because Jiang Cheng could hum it out after a glance at the score, he didn't want to lose face.

\n\n

"Come on, bro," Jiang Cheng was probably quite bored, he looked eager with the cigarette dangling as he said, "I'll keep it secret."

\n\n

"Keep your ass secret," Gu Fei laughed. He hesitated briefly before opening the media player and looking through it. He found it and hit play.

\n\n

When the guitar sounded, Jiang Cheng leaned back into the sofa. He didn't know how to play guitar, but he'd always liked the sound. Though the things he liked, guitar, flute, whistle, his mom thought them beneath notice.

\n\n

Next came the piano coming in.

\n\n

Nothing.

\n\n

He'd heard and played too much. After passing level 8 in middle school he couldn't stand laying a finger on the piano again.

\n\n

His rotten behavior should have greatly disappointed his mom...Shen Yiqing. Later when relatives and friends came over hoping to hear him play, Shen Yiqing would turn them down, disappointment written all over her face.

\n\n

Let her be disappointed then. Anyway he didn't want to play.

\n\n

The prelude was great, conveying the feeling of confusion it aimed to express.

\n\n

He couldn't help glancing over at Gu Fei. A person like Gu Fei didn't seem like someone who would have such moods.

\n\n

The low, husky, lazy humming of a woman rose up. Jiang Cheng immediately recognized the voice.

\n\n

"Ding Zhuxin?" He looked at Gu Fei in surprise.

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei gave a single nod, still retouching the photo, eyes glued to the screen.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng couldn't resist peeking over. He saw half his own face and chest, the pulled open collar.

\n\n

"F*ck," he quickly sat back on the sofa. Watching someone else edit his own photos felt too weird. Though it was the face he'd seen in the mirror for over ten years, it felt awkward like peeping on a stranger.

\n\n

"This one came out especially good," Gu Fei looked at him.

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng nodded, sipping his lemon water to Ding Zhuxin's husky, languid singing.

\n\n

"When I miss a step I'll start to fly
\nLost while rising, hear you say this world is empty
\nYou count one two three, shatter the past, vanish
\nThere's wind blowing, broken journey back, do you see me singing... You say one two three turn around, listen to the erased panic..."

\n\n

The song was confused, the lyrics too. But at "do you see me singing" Jiang Cheng glanced up at Gu Fei.

\n\n

That word "see" suddenly gave him the feeling Ding Zhuxin had wanted earlier about "mute".

\n\n

A silent oppression.

\n\n

"Who wrote the lyrics?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"Guess," Gu Fei had one leg bent, foot on the chair, chin on his knee as he clicked the mouse. "Guess right and you get candy."

\n\n

"You," Jiang Cheng said. "Lyrics and composition were you right?"

\n\n

Gu Fei grabbed his discarded coat and took out a handful of candy, setting it on the table before Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

"Are you in a band with Ding Zhuxin?" Jiang Cheng was a bit surprised, unwrapping a caramel to eat.

\n\n

With lyrics like these, even without analyzing them deeply, he could still grasp the subtle and sensitive feelings conveyed. Content like this was hard to associate with Gu Fei.

\n\n

He stared at Gu Fei. What was in this outwardly calm person's heart?

\n\n

"No, she just brought me along to play around before." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Pretty interesting," Jiang Cheng said. "Wouldn't have guessed you were into this stuff. No surprise you can play guitar, most juvenile delinquents can strum a few chords to show off... "

\n\n

"I can't play guitar," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Yo, a juvenile delinquent who can't play guitar," Jiang Cheng said. "That's like having a bum leg when chasing girls."

\n\n

Gu Fei just looked at him without responding.

\n\n

"...Oh," Jiang Cheng raised his glass to him.

\n\n

"Are you not in a good mood?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Hmm?" Jiang Cheng took a sip of water.

\n\n

"You're really chatty." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was silent for a while before putting his glass down on the table, "The one who just had a fight with Li Baoguo, you know that woman?"

\n\n

"I know her," Gu Fei answered.

\n\n

"Li Baoguo's ex-wife?" Jiang Cheng asked. "The one he beat away."

\n\n

"The one he beat away, but not his ex-wife," Gu Fei lit another cigarette, "Still his current wife. They're not divorced."

\n\n

"Oh..." Jiang Cheng was taken aback, leaning back into the sofa and closing his eyes, "Fuck, what a mess of trash."

\n\n

"She hasn't been back for a long time, haven't seen her once in years." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Gu Fei was probably trying to comfort him, saying this woman generally wouldn't show up, not even once in years.

\n\n

But Jiang Cheng felt like nothing could salvage his mood now. No matter how many years she showed up, even if she never appeared again his whole life, she was still his own mother.

\n\n

Unbelievable like Li Baoguo, yet genuine flesh and blood.

\n\n

He really wanted to call Shen Yiqing and ask what on earth made her decide to adopt a child from a family like this.

\n\n

"Brother Cheng," Gu Fei called him. "Come here, I'll tell you something."

\n\n

"What?" Jiang Cheng stood up and walked over to him.

\n\n

"For tomorrow's shoot," Gu Fei pointed at the screen, "pay attention to your arms, keep them in a bit more..."

\n\n

"Fuck," only now did Jiang Cheng see clearly what he looked like in that bare-all outfit. He really couldn't take it. Pointing at the photo he said, "At your retouch speed, how dare you take jobs?"

\n\n

Gu Fei smiled, "No, my retouch is very fast, it's as fast as flowing water..."

\n\n

"And this is your assembly line? It's been going on so long and it's still this picture. Where did the water flow to?" Jiang Cheng really couldn't comprehend it. "This picture's a reservoir!"

\n\n

"I've already fixed up a bunch of others. I'm just bringing this one back out to tell you about it." Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Why must it be this one? Don't I have arms in the other shots?" Jiang Cheng sighed.

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed for a while before also sighing, "This one is really good. I think Boss Ding will use it as the main promo, might even send you one as a gift."

\n\n

"Piss off." Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"Did you get what I just told you?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Got it," Jiang Cheng grabbed a chair and sat behind him, "Keep my arms in more."

\n\n

"Then I'll keep going," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng watched as his mouse clicked around the various options next to the photo, the picture lightening and darkening, zooming in and out. He couldn't tell the difference from before even after Gu Fei was done. He only knew Gu Fei was indeed in "flowing water" mode.

\n\n

Seeing himself posing and expressing in various ways under Gu Fei's adjustments, it felt a little unbearable. He kept worrying those crystal clear photos might expose some eye gunk or nose hair he wasn't aware of...

\n\n

He got up and returned to the sofa, pulling out his notebook from his backpack.

\n\n

"Not watching anymore?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Not watching," Jiang Cheng said. "Got another table?"

\n\n

"Doing homework?" Gu Fei turned to look at him.

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng nodded, "Got exams coming up, need to review."

\n\n

Gu Fei kept looking at him. His hands stopped moving too. After quite a while he finally asked, "You still need to review?"

\n\n

"Of course," Jiang Cheng looked at him puzzled, "There's exams coming up, why wouldn't I review?"

\n\n

"Oh," Gu Fei tossed the mouse aside and stood up. He shoved the monitor and keyboard aside to one end of the desk, unplugged the speakers from under the desk and put them on top of the computer case, clearing half the desk for him.

\n\n

"Don't you usually have a desk to do homework at?" Jiang Cheng put his books and notebook on the table.

\n\n

"If I have time at the shop I'll copy then. No time then I don't do it." Gu Fei replied.

\n\n

"Oh..." Jiang Cheng was reminded that Gu Fei was a complete failure at school.

\n\n

For Jiang Cheng, homework wasn't something he particularly hated. He could do it decently after all. And every time he put decent effort into it.

\n\n

In elementary school he didn't like doing homework much, but discipline at home was very strict. Not doing homework had severe consequences, so he gradually developed the habit of diligently finishing it so he could go play wildly afterwards.

\n\n

On the other hand, his twin younger brothers never gave anyone headaches over homework.

\n\n

So genes are different. Genes are genes after all.

\n\n

If he hadn't been adopted, if he grew up under Li Baoguo, then he would be like Li Baoguo and Li Hui.

\n\n

He sighed softly and brought his thoughts back to continue doing homework.

\n\n

In the intervals of scribbling away, he could see Gu Fei's hands on the mouse. They really looked nice.

\n\n

Gu Fei couldn't play guitar, but he probably could play piano, though Jiang Cheng didn't know his skill level.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng liked watching fingers dance across the keys. That had been his only enjoyment back when he practiced piano. The only motivation to play a piece well was wanting his fingers to dance more beautifully.

\n\n

When he was close to finishing the homework, Gu Fei's hands left the mouse. He'd probably finished processing the photos.

\n\n

"Done writing?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Almost," Jiang Cheng kept writing as he asked, "Want to copy?"

\n\n

"Help me copy?" Gu Fei asked back.

\n\n

"At least save some face once in a while, yeah?" Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

\n\n

"Then I won't copy," Gu Fei stretched leisurely. "I'm tired. You keep writing, I'll go shower."

\n\n

"Oh," Jiang Cheng acknowledged.

\n\n

Despite homework being a big buzzkill, after Gu Fei left the room, he still couldn't help having some shameless thoughts.

\n\n

And it wasn't only about Gu Fei. Just that word "shower" from Gu Fei...After all, he had watched his share of videos. In the atmosphere between them after sharing secrets, that word packed quite the punch.

\n\n

What's more, he couldn't stand that when Gu Fei came back into the room after showering, wearing pajamas, he immediately sprang up again.

\n\n

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuuuuck.

\n\n

"You showering?" Gu Fei opened the closet and took out a box. "I've got old pajamas, and underwear still in the package..."

\n\n

"Great." Jiang Cheng quickly grabbed the box and turned to leave.

\n\n

"There's three in there," Gu Fei said behind him.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng flashed open the box, took one out, then tossed the box back to him before leaving the room.

\n\n

If this wasn't at Gu Fei's home, with his mom and sister in the house, he really wanted to take care of business in the bathroom. He hadn't done much of that activity since coming here, with Li Baoguo liable to push the door open anytime, and roaches and spiders passing through the toilet...

\n\n

Thoughts swirling, after showering he suddenly realized Gu Fei hadn't brought him a towel. He hesitated briefly before using his damp clothes to hurriedly wipe himself down.

\n\n

After putting on the underwear he painfully realized again he had rushed off without taking pajamas.

\n\n

"Fuck me," he picked up the clothes he'd changed out of, already wet and now more damp from wiping.

\n\n

After an intense mental battle he steeled his resolve. Biting his teeth he opened the bathroom door. Was it that big a deal to come out in underwear after a shower to get back to the room? What was there to feel guilty about?

\n\n

Even if he was, and Gu Fei was, it wasn't like they had to fuck just because they both were.

\n\n

But before he could walk out brimming with confidence, he saw a set of folded pajamas on the chair by the bathroom door.

\n\n

Gu Fei's care for others really was angelic at times...He grabbed the clothes and swiftly put them on, instantly relieved.

\n\n

Pushing open Gu Fei's door, the computer on the desk had been turned off. Gu Fei sat cross-legged on the bed playing on his phone.

\n\n

"I..." Jiang Cheng rather awkwardly walked over to the sofa.

\n\n

"You sleep inside," Gu Fei spoke without looking up. "Don't sleep on the sofa."

\n\n

"Why?" Jiang Cheng thought it quite odd.

\n\n

"Gu Miao sleepwalks sometimes and comes in to sleep on the sofa," Gu Fei said. "You're in her spot, she'll be scared if she sees you."

\n\n

"She still sleepwalks?" Jiang Cheng was surprised.

\n\n

"Not often, but she was excited you came today," Gu Fei put his phone down to look at him. "I'm a little worried."

\n\n

"Alright," Jiang Cheng was about to say he'd sleep in the living room, but felt that was too obvious. So he nodded, "You sleep inside."

\n\n

"Hmm?" Gu Fei didn't understand.

\n\n

"This bed," Jiang Cheng pointed to his bed. Gu Fei's bedroom bed had a frame, with the headboard and foot sealed shut, like old Chinese beds, though the design was very stylish and modern. But it still gave a strong sense of privacy. "I'll sleep outside."

\n\n

"Okay," Gu Fei moved inside, switching the pillows and blankets out for him.

\n\n

"Why'd you buy a bed like this?" Jiang Cheng sat on the bed edge. "Makes you feel safe?"

\n\n

"To block Gu Miao," Gu Fei pointed to the foot of the bed. "Sometimes she comes in without knocking and can see the bed right away. I can't cover anything up if I'm doing something on the bed. If I lock the door she'll get angry when she can't open it."

\n\n

"...Oh." Jiang Cheng couldn't help glancing back at him.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked back seriously.

\n\n

"Damn," Jiang Cheng laughed. Although the topic was a bit inappropriate, he still found it really funny when he thought about it.

\n\n

"Having a little sister like this is so tiring," Gu Fei also laughed for a while, "I must have done something wrong to her in my previous life."

\n\n

"No way," Jiang Cheng leaned against the headboard and pulled the quilt over him, "it's just because you're a good brother."

\n\n

"Is that so," Gu Fei lowered his head and continued playing with his phone.

\n\n

"Yeah, although you always play stupid games..." Jiang Cheng glanced at his phone screen and saw that today Gu Fei was not playing his usual dumb match-3 game, probably because he was in a bad mood, "I used to have two younger brothers."

\n\n

"Two?" Gu Fei turned his head in surprise.

\n\n

"Yeah, twins, two years younger than me," Jiang Cheng propped a pillow against his back, "I find them annoying whenever I see them, and they find me annoying too. I haven't said a word to them for a long time before coming here..."

\n\n

"Probably just different personalities," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Yeah, my whole family has different personalities from me," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

The two fell silent and stopped talking.

\n\n

But this time the silence in the room didn't make Jiang Cheng feel awkward again. After spacing out for a while, he took out his phone and started chatting with Pan Zhi.

\n\n

-Grandpa, do you still remember Huang Hui from Class 117?

\n\n

-Are you finally ready to make your move?

\n\n

-No, I just wanted to say she's dating that asshole Liang Zhiyong now, I'm heartbroken.

\n\n

-They just got together, you still have a chance, go get in the middle of them.

\n\n

-That's what I thought too, I'm considering which one would be easier to hook up with.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng laughed at his phone for a long time. Gu Fei glanced over at him.

\n\n

"My buddy," Jiang Cheng said while laughing, "got his heart broken early."

\n\n

"The one who went to the gym with you during the winter break?" Gu Fei asked.

\n\n

"Yeah," Jiang Cheng nodded and laughed again, "that dumbass."

\n\n

After the laugh there was silence again. The two continued playing on their phones. Although Jiang Cheng thought being in this position leaning against the headboard would make him extremely awkward and anxious, surprisingly this was the most comfortable "before bedtime" he's had in a long while.

\n\n

After a while, Gu Fei chuckled lightly on his side.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked over at him, and he passed his phone over: "Did you check the forum recently?"

\n\n

"No time," Jiang Cheng took his phone, "is it about the competition?"

\n\n

"Yeah," Gu Fei nodded with a smile.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took a look at the screen. The school forum was quite lively, with many clicks and replies on the posts. He skimmed the titles.

\n\n

- OMG my crush Da Fei is so hot I'm dyingggg

\n\n

- Who's this cutie! Details please!

\n\n

- Who said Class 8 are weaklings come out and I'll beat you up!!!

\n\n

- Hotties pantsing, lots of pics, click at your own risk

\n\n

- Can we please discuss tactics...

\n\n

He smiled. Judging by the title styles, his schoolmates seemed much more adorable than he thought: "Did you reply?"

\n\n

"Of course I did," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"What's your id?" Jiang Cheng asked while scrolling down.

\n\n

"Fancy Handsome," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng choked and turned his head away coughing for a while before turning back: "The fuck?"

\n\n

"It's a secret," Gu Fei said, "nobody knows it's me."

\n\n

"It better stay secret. Your 'Cute Little Bunny' can probably be blamed on Gu Miao if exposed," Jiang Cheng tsked, "If people find out about this id, your cool image will instantly crumble."

\n\n

Gu Fei just smiled without responding.

\n\n

- I'm not seeing things, but those two really seem to have some...chemistry! Like-minded please chime in

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng got to this post with the small attached pics, he could tell with one glance that it was about him and Gu Fei.

\n\n

...Forums are too scary.
\n

\n","published_time":"2024-03-07T00:00:00.000Z","paid":false,"show_flag":true,"show_scheduled_time":"2024-02-08T00:00:00.000Z","unpaid_scheduled_time":"2024-03-07T00:00:00.000Z"},{"content_id":520,"novel_id":10,"chapter_no":34,"chapter_title":"Chapter 34","content":"

His old school also had a forum, but it was very quiet. After all, it was a key high school where teachers would check students' phones with mine detectors when they entered the school gates, so phones could be confiscated at any time. Generally no one used these forums, at most gossiping within WeChat groups on a small scale.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng had never experienced the kind of open discussion on forums like this before.

\n\n

The fujoshi thread claiming that they had good chemistry was started on the day of the competition, and now after just one day, the number of clicks and replies was already astounding.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng hesitated for a good while, but in the end did not open the thread to read it.

\n\n

Although this kind of random gossip among young girls was very common, even if they were pairing him up with Wang Xu, he would not have any feelings about it. But being associated with Gu Fei made him uncomfortable.

\n\n

In the end, he opened the thread discussing the popular Gu Fei.

\n\n

There were quite a few photos of Gu Fei during the competition, from various angles. That girl must have walked around the court many circles to take these photos. There were also some pictures taken from below of Gu Fei dunking, not sure how she managed to take those.

\n\n

The first few posts were just photos and the original poster's crazy squealing, as well as rows of exclamation marks. Further down were more echoes of agreement and shrieking.

\n\n

It wasn't until around post 30 that a different voice appeared.

\n\n

-He's just so-so, a dime a dozen on the streets.

\n\n

This reply stirred up a storm, with 7-8 pages of angry replies just on this post, all scolding the commenter.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng took a look at the ID of the replier and couldn't help saying: "F*ck!"

\n\n

Fancy Handsome.

\n\n

"You're really bored huh," Jiang Cheng looked at Gu Fei.

\n\n

"If I wasn't bored who'd come up here to see this," Gu Fei took his phone back, smiling as he glanced at it, "See, you model students are too dignified to look at this kind of thing."

\n\n

"I was...looking too," Jiang Cheng said, "But our high school forum was like a ghost town, nobody went on it."

\n\n

"What's your ID?" Gu Fei turned his head.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng hesitated for a moment: "Some Cheng."

\n\n

"What?" Gu Fei didn't hear clearly.

\n\n

"Main ID is Some Cheng, side ID is Some Other Cheng," Jiang Cheng said.

\n\n

"What kind of name is that, and you're laughing at me," Gu Fei said, "Your WeChat name is Jiang, why don't you call yourself Jiang So-and-so."

\n\n

"Mainly too lazy to think of names," Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

"I don't even need a note for yours," Gu Fei glanced at him, "Was going to note you as Brother Cheng."

\n\n

"I feel like Cute Little Bunny would be a good note for you," Jiang Cheng smiled.

\n\n

After that neither of them spoke again. Jiang Cheng took out his own phone and continued chatting nonsense with Pan Zhi, originally wanted to go back to the No. 4 High forum to take another look, but with Gu Fei next to him, he felt he shouldn't.

\n\n

Pan Zhi was quite envious that the No. 4 High forum was so lively, said he wanted to go in there to pick up girls. Jiang Cheng laughed for a long time. Looking at the time, it was almost midnight, so he prepared to sleep.

\n\n

He glanced at Gu Fei's side, and at some point Gu Fei had already fallen asleep, curled on his side with half his head covered by the blanket.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng looked towards the headboard, there was a switch. He pressed it and the lights went out, the room instantly pitch black. It took several seconds before he could make out the faint light coming in through the curtains again.

\n\n

After lying down on the pillow, Jiang Cheng turned on his right side. He always slept facing right, but turning that way he was looking right at Gu Fei's back.

\n\n

So he had to flip over facing left and closed his eyes.

\n\n

He remembered there was a small survey before on couple's sleeping positions, things like side by side, facing each other, etc. The most popular was spooning with both facing the same direction...

\n\n

F*ck, what did it mean that he suddenly thought of this.

\n\n

Gu Fei slept very quietly, breathing evenly, and it had a hypnotic effect. Following his breaths, Jiang Cheng soon became drowsy.

\n\n

But maybe because of the different bed or having someone next to him, he slept very lightly the whole time, never fully falling asleep. He could feel it whenever Gu Fei moved next to him, half dreaming and half aware that he was dreaming.

\n\n

And the dreams were all disjointed, changing one after another.

\n\n

In the end he dreamed that he and Gu Fei were standing in the middle of the basketball court, naked and surrounded by a group of people with paper bags over their heads, taking pictures of them while hurling all kinds of insults and jeers.

\n\n

This is a dream.

\n\n

And it was quite strange, he didn't know why he would suddenly dream this kind of content.

\n\n

He reminded himself, this isn't real.

\n\n

But this dream didn't go forward and back randomly like the previous dreams. It steadily pushed forward step by step.

\n\n

His perspective kept changing, sometimes it was himself facing the onlookers and taunts, sometimes it would switch to an outsider's view, rotating around the two people in the court like a spinning camera.

\n\n

In the midst of chaos and panic he turned to look at Gu Fei.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at him expressionlessly, saying something he couldn't hear at all.

\n\n

Do you see me seeing.

\n\n

Listen, to the erased panic.

\n\n

Gu Fei heard the door and opened his eyes. It was almost dawn, a faint warm yellow light coming in through the curtains. Gu Miao walked in barefoot without glancing around and sat on the sofa, arranging the small cushion before lying down.

\n\n

He let out a soft sigh and slowly sat up.

\n\n

Gu Miao used to share this room with him. After starting elementary school Gu Fei had her sleep alone, but every time Gu Miao sleepwalked she would still come back, and could remember Gu Fei's education that "Brother is a boy now, you can't just sleep in the same bed as boys." She went straight to the sofa.

\n\n

Gu Fei looked at Jiang Cheng's face for a moment. Jiang Cheng seemed to be sleeping deeply but his breathing was a little uneven, probably dreaming.

\n\n

Supporting himself with one hand on the bed, he knelt by Jiang Cheng's side, and put his other leg over Jiang Cheng's body. The guy took up quite a bit of space when sleeping, so as not to step on him, Gu Fei almost pulled a muscle stretching his leg over.

\n\n

Next he pushed himself up, preparing to climb over Jiang Cheng.

\n\n

But just as he passed over Jiang Cheng's body, Jiang Cheng suddenly frowned and flipped over. The two instantly ended up face to face.

\n\n

Gu Fei felt Jiang Cheng was not sleeping soundly, with the furrowed brows and uneven breathing...He hurriedly pushed himself up some more, wanting to get over quicker.

\n\n

Just as he was about to use the leg inside to push off the bed and directly jump down, Jiang Cheng opened his eyes.

\n\n

Gu Fei wanted to speak but was afraid of waking up Gu Miao who had just lain down. He didn't know if she was out of her sleepwalking state yet, so he could only glare silently at Jiang Cheng, waiting for him to become fully aware.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's eyes snapped open from a slit to saucers in an instant, staring at him for several seconds in confusion, shock, and a bit of horror, before hoarsely saying in a muted voice: "F*ck..."

\n\n

Not quietly at all. Gu Fei was startled and hurriedly covered his mouth.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng's eyes widened even more, and immediately started struggling as if stabbed, flailing his arms and kicking out. Gu Fei didn't dare let go of his mouth, but in this position he was completely exposed. He was also afraid Jiang Cheng would knee him in the crotch...

\n\n

After much effort he finally grabbed one of Jiang Cheng's hands, then sat heavily on him, lowering his voice to say: "Gu Miao!"

\n\n

Jiang Cheng froze for a moment, then fiercely rolled his eyes towards the sofa.

\n\n

Gu Fei let go of his mouth: "She just came in, don't know if she fell back asleep yet. I need to go check."

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng responded, lying there motionless.

\n\n

Gu Fei got off the bed and went to squat in front of the sofa, looking for a while before taking a small blanket from the cabinet and covering Gu Miao with it.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng also sat up, glaring at Gu Fei, now completely awake and clear-headed as if he'd downed two bottles of health tonic.

\n\n

Opening his eyes to Gu Fei on top of him was really too shocking for someone used to sleeping alone.

\n\n

In that moment he couldn't even distinguish if he was dreaming or had woken up. The frightening scene from the dream mixed with Gu Fei's position, until he saw Gu Miao on the sofa did he suddenly come to his senses.

\n\n

Only then did he realize he was drenched in sweat at some point.

\n\n

Cold sweat.

\n\n

The scene in the dream had already overwhelmed him. Abruptly imagining what it would look like if Gu Miao woke up and saw this misleading position...

\n\n

Jiang Cheng closed his eyes for a moment.

\n\n

He suddenly understood why he didn't open that thread.

\n\n

He was afraid.

\n\n

For the first time, he felt deeply afraid.

\n\n

Even just a little girl sleepwalking on the sofa could blend together so vividly with the dreamscape.

\n\n

"That's why I told you to sleep inside," Gu Fei said softly after covering Gu Miao with the blanket, "With you on the outside I have to climb over you when I get up at night."

\n\n

"What time is it?" Jiang Cheng also asked softly.

\n\n

"Just turned 6," Gu Fei looked at the small alarm clock on the nightstand.

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng sat there holding the blanket, not moving.

\n\n

"What's wrong?" Gu Fei got back in bed behind him, also sitting up after getting under the covers. He reached out and felt Jiang Cheng's pajamas, "You're..."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng slapped his arm backhanded.

\n\n

"Do you have a fever?" Gu Fei pulled his hand back and finished his sentence.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng tugged at his clothes a bit embarrassed, "I just..."

\n\n

"Did I scare you just now?" Gu Fei lay back down with a soft sigh, "In all my years you're the most easily scared study god I've ever seen."

\n\n

"F*ck off," Jiang Cheng turned to look at him, gesturing with one hand, "With you in that position, it's already proof of great mental fortitude that I wasn't scared to death, okay?"

\n\n

"Sorry about that," Gu Fei smiled.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng didn't speak, continuing to sit there. After sitting for a few minutes he sneezed helplessly and lay back down, pulling up the blanket.

\n\n

He really couldn't fall back asleep now. Jiang Cheng stared blankly without knowing where.

\n\n

He felt his psychological resilience was probably lacking. Even with small things, he couldn't help overthinking and turning over endlessly, affecting his mood and often stressing him greatly.

\n\n

He understood the logic, but just had trouble controlling it.

\n\n

Sometimes he rather envied Pan Zhi, with a heart big enough to hold three and a half universes. No matter failing an exam, getting punished, or premature heartbreak, one night's sleep then yelling "F*ck your mom" to vent and he could get over it.

\n\n

While he...maybe due to his childhood family environment, could never manage the same.

\n\n

6 AM wasn't too far from when he should wake up. Unable to sleep, Jiang Cheng could only rest with eyes closed, struggling between aimless overthinking and stopping the overthinking.

\n\n

Gu Fei next to him had fallen back asleep after lying down, probably sleeping quite soundly making up for lost sleep.

\n\n

He was wide awake listening to Gu Fei's breathing slowly become steady, then after some unknown amount of time, it gradually quickened again. Then he turned over, probably awake now. Jiang Cheng could feel Gu Fei reach for his phone from the pillow to check the time.

\n\n

When he should have been sleeping he couldn't fall asleep. Now knowing it was time to get up, Jiang Cheng suddenly felt drowsy and didn't want to open his eyes.

\n\n

Gu Fei moved, and as Jiang Cheng was debating whether to open his eyes now or wait until Gu Fei climbed over him to get up, Gu Fei's fingertips gently tapped his forehead.

\n\n

He suppressed the urge to immediately flip over and kick out. Gritting his teeth he didn't move.

\n\n

"No fever," Gu Fei said softly, then sat up.

\n\n

Fever?

\n\n

Jiang Cheng was confused for a moment, then remembered Gu Fei had asked before if he had a fever.

\n\n

He persisted in keeping his eyes closed without moving, but suddenly felt his nose turn sour.

\n\n

This damned nose, getting all sensitive like a delicate lady at the slightest thing.

\n\n

He rarely received such attentive care. Even in the past at home when he was the "favorite son", if he felt unwell he still had to tell his parents himself.

\n\n

After telling them he would receive very good care of course, but if he didn't say anything, as long as he didn't faint on the spot, no one at home would notice if he was sick.

\n\n

And after coming here it was even more unbelievable. If he really had a fever now, he wouldn't even know who to tell. Li Baoguo?

\n\n

Even if he did tell, then what.

\n\n

The more he thought about it, the only thing he could do was call Old Xu to ask for sick leave, then sleep half a day or whole day in that room devoid of any sense of belonging...

\n\n

"Brother Cheng," Gu Fei's voice interrupted his thoughts. At some point Gu Fei had gotten up and lightly kicked his leg, "Time to get up."

\n\n

"Mm," Jiang Cheng opened his eyes.

\n\n

Gu Fei had put on a jacket over his pajamas, and was about to get off the bed from the foot.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng felt it was definitely unintentional, but still his eyes went straight to the bulge in Gu Fei's loose pajama pants.

\n\n

He couldn't even think of how to react anymore, just sighed and blurted out: "Don't you wait for your little brother to settle down before getting up every day?"

\n\n

"...I need to pee," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Not afraid that your pee will fly too far?" Jiang Cheng didn't understand why he was going along with this topic as if he hadn't woken up fully, when he was clearly wide awake.

\n\n

"Yours will? I'll teach you..." Gu Fei said as he walked out, "Just stand further back and walk forward as you pee."

\n\n

"F*ck off!" Jiang Cheng shut his mouth.

\n\n

Psycho.

\n\n

After Gu Fei went out, he got out of bed. Gu Miao was still sleeping face down on the small sofa, probably about to wake up too. He stood up and took yesterday's pants to change into.

\n\n

Picking them up, he found that in his hurry yesterday he hadn't shaken the clothes out. The wet clothes were all bunched together so now everything was damp.

\n\n

Even though it was wearable, and it would dry after warming up for half an hour on his body...it was still pretty gross.

\n\n

He was worrying over this when Gu Fei came in brushing his teeth and handed him a new toothbrush. He took it, "Thanks."

\n\n

Still brushing, Gu Fei opened the wardrobe and pointed.

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng took one look at the row of Gu Fei's clothes and immediately shook his head. "No, not wearing yours."

\n\n

"Hm?" Gu Fei looked at him, not really understanding.

\n\n

"You're stylishly handsome, the whole school watches you. I suspect even your underwear style is public knowledge," Jiang Cheng said. "Last time I wore your clothes even Old Xu recognized it. I'm in awe."

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed, still chuckling as he brushed his teeth and headed back out.

\n\n

Jiang Cheng decided to suffer wearing his own damp clothes.

\n\n

With the bathroom occupied, he could only change in the room. He glanced back at Gu Miao who was still unmoving, and quickly stripped off his pajama pants to pull on his jeans.

\n\n

He was a bit vain about his looks, and even bought skinny jeans. But when the legs were a little wet the pants were hard to pull on. He got them halfway up when Gu Miao turned over, and before he could react Gu Miao was suddenly sitting up.

\n\n

F*ck!

\n\n

Gu Miao's smooth and practiced motions made him so shocked he almost fell over. Holding up his pants he rushed out before Gu Miao could turn her head.

\n\n

Pulling up the zipper while running, he dashed into the bathroom.

\n\n

Gu Fei was brushing his teeth and glanced at him, "That urgent?"

\n\n

"Urgent my ass," Jiang Cheng buckled his belt, "I was halfway into changing my pants and Gu Miao suddenly got up...she has no buffer when waking up!"

\n\n

"Always been like that," Gu Fei smiled, "Sits right up then blankly zones out for five minutes before becoming fully aware."

\n\n

"Oh." Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.

\n\n

Gu Fei finished washing up and went out, carrying Gu Miao back to her own room. He put a set of clothes on the bed and closed the door before coming back to the living room.

\n\n

Normally he wouldn't get up this early. Usually Gu Miao would wake up by herself and go out for breakfast, then he would get up after she left. With no school for Gu Miao to go to right now, she was still strictly keeping to her former schedule and routine without any changes.

\n\n

With the never-late top student at his house today, he couldn't just sleep in and get up at class time.

\n\n

When Jiang Cheng came out after washing up, Gu Fei asked: "What do you want for breakfast? I'll have Er Miao buy some back in a bit."

\n\n

"No need," Jiang Cheng said, "I...don't want to eat anything. I'll go to school first."

\n\n

"Oh?" Gu Fei was puzzled for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."

\n\n

Jiang Cheng quickly packed up his things. After chatting with Gu Miao for a couple sentences as she rubbed her eyes walking out from the room, he picked up his schoolbag and walked out of Gu Fei's home.

\n\n

Running down seven flights of stairs, the wind blew through his still damp clothes before he suddenly came to his senses. He felt that leaving in such a hurried and unsteady manner this morning seemed a little... not so good.

\n\n

When Gu Fei heard that he didn't want breakfast and insisted on leaving first, the expression on his face was clearly one of surprise.

\n\n

Not to mention that Gu Fei had sheltered him last night and let him eat a pretty tasty meal, or that Gu Fei was concerned about whether he had a fever, or that Gu Miao's face was full of anticipation, but just the fact that he had run out like this without even the most basic courtesy.

\n\n

He took out his phone and leaned against the wall by the street to block the wind, then called Gu Fei's number.

\n\n

"Did you forget to take something?" Gu Fei answered the phone.

\n\n

"Bring Gu Miao downstairs," Jiang Cheng looked at the time on his phone, "Let's go eat stuffed pancakes at Wang Xu's shop, there's still enough time."

\n\n

"Alright." Gu Fei didn't ask why he suddenly suggested this and directly agreed.

\n\n

When he saw Gu Fei bringing Gu Miao out from the stairwell, Jiang Cheng suddenly felt somewhat regretful that he had told Gu Fei about his own matters.

\n\n

He didn't know when he would be able to be as frank as Gu Fei, without deliberately approaching or keeping his distance, without thorns ready to stick out at any time.

\n\n

"We're going over now, we'll arrive in a bit," Gu Fei called Wang Xu while saying, "Don't need to specifically prepare anything, just eating a simple breakfast."

\n\n

"Is there a bus we can take over there?" Jiang Cheng asked.

\n\n

It was fine to walk over to school from here, but it was a bit far to walk over to Wang Xu's shop.

\n\n

"Let's drive over," Gu Fei said.

\n\n

"Drive what?" Jiang Cheng was confused, "The little mantou car?"

\n\n

"Mm," Gu Fei nodded, "What, you look down on little mantou cars?"

\n\n

"No," Jiang Cheng sighed, "Fine, the little mantou car it is."

\n\n

Gu Miao seemed to really like the little mantou car. As soon as Gu Fei drove the car out, she ran over holding her skateboard and very adeptly climbed into the back seat.

\n\n

"You two squeeze together a bit," Gu Fei said, "Gu Miao put your skateboard to the side."

\n\n

This time Jiang Cheng remembered to put the driver's seat down first before crawling in, squeezing in side by side with Gu Miao in the back seat.

\n\n

Gu Miao smiled at him, looking quite happy.

\n\n

After the little mantou car's door closed, Jiang Cheng felt much warmer. He pulled at his clothes and conscientiously held them close, hoping they would be dry after getting out of the car later.

\n\n

"Those clothes I lent you last time," Gu Fei said while driving, "I thought about it, and they were probably what I wore when I went on stage to read a self-criticism during morning assembly last semester."

\n\n

"That definitely wasn't the reason," Jiang Cheng said, "If it was Zhou Jing up there, no one would know what he was wearing even if he read an entire little yellow book* aloud."

\n\n

*T/N: Porn material.

\n\n

Gu Fei laughed. "Thanks for the compliment."

\n\n

"When did I compliment you?" Jiang Cheng looked at the back of his head, "I think you shouldn't be called Fancy Handsome anymore, Fancy Shameless fits you better."

\n\n

"Okay, I'll make a small account with that name." Gu Fei nodded.

\n\n

"What kind of self-criticism did you read?" Jiang Cheng wondered and asked after a moment.

\n\n

"I was late and was trying to scale

SAYE

SAYE

Chapter 61 - Chapter 61

Fishsticks