Ch76.2 – Meeting

This was the first time Yu Hao had ever met an online friend in real life. He didn’t know why the people around him kept urging him to do it. He always felt it strange and inexplicable,, as if Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng were up to something. However, Zhou Sheng seemed to be more or less back to normal and no longer got jealous. Yu Hao felt a little unresigned in his heart. His emotions were in turmoil, and it made him feel incomparably conflicted for a moment. Still, he was gradually beginning to accept the fact that it was unlikely for him to get together with Zhou Sheng. He kept hypnotising himself over and over: try it like this first ba, the restaurant that he is meeting Vico at has pretty good sweet and sour ribs; he and Zhou Sheng had eaten them the last time they went there. It was a must-have every time they went, and making a trip down there for the sweet and sour ribs……wasn’t unacceptable to him.

The next morning, Zhou Sheng had gone off somewhere again. Yu Hao sat in the dormitory, feeling extremely irritated. He felt like he was falling apart a little and began to regret his decision the moment he woke up. He shouldn’t have agreed to meet, nor should he have even done this kind of thing in the first place.

What the hell is wrong with me? Yu Hao sat alone in the dormitory and suddenly felt very upset.

I don’t like him, why should I go see him?

Yu Hao felt like he had unconsciously lost something. His annoyance made his negative emotions accumulate to their peak.

On that day, ever since he came back after their meal and decided to give up on his unrealistic fantasies toward Zhou Sheng, that frustration had always persisted in his heart. It constantly urged him to do things that he didn’t want to do.

He heard someone knock on the door. Chen Yekai said, “Yu Hao? Are you up?”

Yu Hao rushed to the balcony, turned on the tap and doused his head in cold water. Then he grabbed a towel and wiped his hair as he opened the door for Chen Yekai. Chen Yekai was dressed in sports attire today, and looked like he was about to go walk his dog any minute. He was only lacking a dog now.

“It’s so hot.” Chen Yekai said, “Let’s go and eat lunch. I asked Zhou Sheng, he said that he was already out.”

Yu Hao said, “Give me a minute……I’ll change.”

Chen Yekai was very self-aware now. Every time he wanted to ask Yu Hao out somewhere, he would always add ‘I’ve already asked Zhou Sheng, but Zhou Sheng’s not going, so he asked me to find you’. Yu Hao had already discerned his methods, but when he asked Zhou Sheng, Zhou Sheng would also ask him to go. Fortunately, it was a lot more relaxing to be with Chen Yekai. It seems that as long as he appears, his conflicting feelings of indecisiveness would gradually calm down.

“What are you doing here?” Yu Hao asked.

“Buying clothes.” Chen Yekai said, “Aren’t you meeting your friend tonight? How about tidying yourself up a little from time to time?”

Yu Hao said, “It doesn’t need to be that formal ba.”

Chen Yekai said, “It’s necessary to make a good impression, that’s basic courtesy.”

Yu Hao, “Then I’ll pay for it myself. I got a new job.”

Chen Yekai said, “Okay, I have coupons, I got them for free when I was buying furniture. Take it and use them ba, buy a loose pair of jeans and a T-shirt from Evisu, their brand is decent.”

Chen Yekai gave Yu Hao a stack of vouchers that would discount 300 for every 500 spent and could even be stacked together for use. Yu Hao said, “How much furniture did you buy?! Keep it for yourself ba.”

Chen Yekai said, “Ever since their stores began having discounts, I stopped wearing their clothes. Too many people buy the same kind so it’s too easy to run into someone wearing the same clothes. It makes it embarrassing to go out.”

Yu Hao thought so as well. Every word of Chen Yekai’s was true, yet every word also stabbed his heart. Shopping at that store was probably like shopping at a wholesale market for Chen Yekai, but for students and those in the working class, it was already a very, very good brand. Then Chen Yekai took him to get his hair cut and quite a bit of his hair was trimmed.

“Do you skateboard?” Tony Laoshi asked, “Do you have abs?”

Yu Hao, “I don’t skateboard. I have a bit of abs ba, what does it have to do with abs?” But he thought that it would be good to learn skateboarding.

Chen Yekai said, “When college reopens, you can sign up for the club. Your figure’s pretty suitable for it.”

“It’s pretty good to change your style once in awhile.” Chen Yekai said in the evening.

Yu Hao said, “This is too deceptive, it does seem like I skateboard. I just lack a cap.”

“Want to get one now?” Chen Yekai asked.

Yu Hao quickly said ‘never mind’. He had already spent over 1000 yuan today on impulse. This won’t do, he can’t play with Chen Yekai all day, whose expenditures would make other people end up eating dirt. He definitely couldn’t go shopping for clothes with Chen Yekai next time. As soon as the staff became enthusiastic, Yu Hao will try on the clothes, and Chen Yekai at the side would keep offering to pay, so Yu Hao couldn’t get out of buying them.

Fortunately, he had sufficient living expenses, and he still had his scholarship next semester.

Yu Hao waited for awhile in the restaurant they were supposed to meet at. Vico came and actually seemed a little nervous when he saw Yu Hao.

“Hello.” Yu Hao smiled. Vico didn’t look like how he had imagined him to be — he wasn’t as good-looking compared to his photos and looked slightly greasy. But he had worked for a whole day after all, so it was quite normal for his face to be oily.

“I almost didn’t dare to approach.” Vico seemed overwhelmed by pleasant surprise, “You’re so handsome! Why did you come up with such a funny WeChat name?”

Yu Hao laughed and said, “Un……I run a laundry, forget it, let’s not talk about that. What do you want to eat? I’ll treat you?”

“No no, I will. Wei! Pour some tea ah! Why isn’t there anyone?” Vico immediately snapped his fingers to call a waiter over. Yu Hao inadvertently glanced over and suddenly saw Zhou Sheng holding a numbered ticket and following behind a waiter as he walked in. He just so happened to sit in the neighbouring seat with his back facing Vico.

Yu Hao, “………………”

Vico began chatting idly with Yu Hao and inquired about what his family does. He said, “Your family should be pretty well off ba? Wei! Pour some tea! How many times do you want me to repeat myself?!”

“They really aren’t.” Yu Hao said, “I have to work to earn my own tuition fees.”

Vico said, “I work in the financial management field.”

“Oh——” Yu Hao kept looking behind him. Zhou Sheng started ordering while Vico began to chatter on and introduce his financial products.

“You can open an account with us.” Vico said, “The tuition fees your family provides you and your pocket money can all appreciate in value. If you don’t manage your money, your money won’t care about you……Wei! Pour us tea! What the hell are they all doing?”

Yu Hao thought, but I really don’t have money, I want to manage my money as well, okay? He maintained a smile on his face as he listened to Vico’s introduction, but Zhou Sheng uttered a “pfft” behind him and almost spat his tea out.

“When I was your age, I was very confused too.” Vico began inquiring about Yu Hao’s relationship experience again.

Yu Hao thought that this wasn’t the right person. At the very least, for the person he was now, he wasn’t.

“Can I order? This family’s sweet and sour……” Yu Hao was a bit hungry, and that was when Vico finally thought of ordering.

He quickly said, “Order. Wei! We want to order!” Then he ordered one soup and one vegetable, “I’ve been working out recently, and I have to control my diet.”

Yu Hao thought, but I’m not controlling my diet, Dage! Can’t I treat you? I want to eat sweet and sour ribs! Every time he went out with Zhou Sheng, Zhou Sheng would always order enough dishes to make Yu Hao feel like he was on the verge of exploding, yet it was still at the exact threshold where they could finish everything without needing to bring any leftovers back. However, this one vegetable and one soup would definitely be far from enough ba! Wei!

Forget it, I’ll order extra food later.

“You’re so skinny, you don’t usually eat much, do you?” Vico asked out of concern.

Yu Hao, “Y……yes.” And thought, shouldn’t you be saying ‘you’re so skinny, please eat more’?

“Skinny people all have abs.” Vico smiled, “Do you have any?”

“A little.” Yu Hao said.

“Let me see?” Vico reached out to lift Yu Hao’s T-shirt. Yu Hao immediately raised his hand, chopped at Vico’s wrist, and restrained it. The other party didn’t expect for Yu Hao to have trained before, so he was a bit baffled.

“I won’t show you.” Yu Hao’s face was expressionless.

At this moment, Zhou Sheng turned around and scrutinised Vico. Yu Hao suddenly felt a terrifying murderous intent, but Zhou Sheng remained silent and continued to eat his own dinner.

“I have to go back now.” Yu Hao thought, just end this and forget it, I don’t want to eat anymore. What a failure of an experience. If Zhou Sheng ends up hitting him, he would still need to compensate Vico for his medical expenses.

Vico said, “I’ll do it, wei! The bill!”

Wei! Wei! Wei! That ‘wei’ was used so often by Vico that it had reached the acme of perfection. Yu Hao felt like his mind was full of his ‘wei!’s, and his demonic voice filled his ears.

“Let me……”

“I’ll do it, I want to take away one sweet……”

“Ai I’m coming I’m coming!”

“A gentleman has already settled your bill for you just now.” The staff said.

Yu Hao, “……”

Vico, “Who? Someone I know? That’s strange, which one of my friends is here? Why didn’t I notice anyone?” Then he smiled at Yu Hao, “Our bank’s right behind this place, so I often bump into people I know here. But to not even come over to say hi, they really……”

Yu Hao thought, forget it as long as you’re happy, anyway this meal only costs 55 including the tea we drank.

“I have a car, I’ll send you back to your college.” Vico said.

“No need no need!” Yu Hao immediately said.

Vico, “Aiya, why are you being so polite? My car’s right across! I just bought a new car, let’s go!”

The two of them had just gone downstairs when they saw a Benz parked at the entrance — it was Chen Yekai’s new car.

“Wei!” Zhou Sheng’s voice travelled over from beside the car, “Ai! Wei! Wei! The two of you!”

Yu Hao, “……”

“Finished your talk?” Chen Yekai was chatting idly with Zhou Sheng beside the car and smiled when he saw Yu Hao.

The smile on Vico’s face instantly disappeared. “Director Chen, the two of you know each other?”

Yu Hao was stunned. He saw that Zhou Sheng was carrying a packaged lunch box.

Sweet and Sour Ribs!

“My younger brother.” Chen Yekai said to Vico, “And I was wondering why the person in the photo looked so familiar. I couldn’t recall it for a moment, but it really was you.”

“Hello hello!” Vico quickly shook hands with Chen Yekai.

Yu Hao snapped out of his daze and asked, “The two of you know each other?”

“He’s the financial manager of my bank account in a private bank.” Chen Yekai said.

“No no!” Vico quickly said, “I’m only in charge of receiving customers at the front desk. You can just call me Xiao Tang.”

Chen Yekai nodded and said to Yu Hao, “Let’s go back? Or do you still want to walk around?”

Yu Hao hurriedly escaped. He said goodbye to Xiao Tang, while Xiao Tang smiled as he watched them leave.

In the car.

Zhou Sheng, “……”

Yu Hao, “……”

Chen Yekai, “……”

Chen Yekai, “Was he okay to talk to?”

Yu Hao’s gaze shifted from the packed box to Zhou Sheng’s face. Zhou Sheng said, “I think you can blacklist him now ba?”

“I think……keep it ba.” Yu Hao said, “Blacklisting him straight away doesn’t seem too good.”

Chen Yekai said, “It doesn’t matter. If you think he’s not suitable, then just give him the cold shoulder. I opened a private bank account in that bank, and he’s in charge of entertaining guests in the VIP room. He might have been able to discern my sexual orientation, and he’s pretty polite. He’s a good guy, he should act appropriately.”

“Oh?” Zhou Sheng said, “Why do I think that he’s not the type to know what appropriate means?”

Chen Yekai smiled, “Is that so? What did he do that made him seem like that?”

Yu Hao threw Zhou Sheng a meaningful glance. He didn’t want to speak badly of Vico behind his back and answered, “He didn’t do anything.”

“If you don’t manage your money, your money won’t care about you.” Chen Yekai sighed, “Managers in banks who work with private clients are all earning money the hard way, it’s not easy. He should have more tact now.”

“That’s true that’s true.” Zhou Sheng answered.

After they returned to their dormitory, Yu Hao ate the sweet and sour pork ribs that Zhou Sheng brought back while Zhou Sheng continued watching his shows with earphones on. After Yu Hao finished eating, Zhou Sheng asked, “Are you still going on blind dates?”

Yu Hao didn’t answer. He got up and threw the box away, then laid on his bed. Meeting an online friend had been turned into a farce by Zhou Sheng and Chen Yekai, which effectively diluted the gloominess he had felt. When he remembered how he had even cried in the dormitory this afternoon, Yu Hao thought it seemed way too embarrassing. Fortunately, no one saw him.

But when he thought of Zhou Sheng, Yu Hao began feeling upset again.

He climbed onto his bed to lay down and pondered over it for awhile, “I’ll try again.”

“Jiayou.” Zhou Sheng encouraged.

Ancient Roman Colosseum, the entire arena was silent.

Along with the clanking sounds made by the iron bars grating against one another as they opened, Medusa slowly slithered out of the cage. Zhou Sheng unconsciously took a step back, until his back was against the black dragon’s head.

The black dragon nudged him forward a little. Zhou Sheng took a deep breath and raised his shield up. A light rotated once around the surface of his shield, and the surface transformed into a mirror-like smoothness.

“I remember the guy that chopped your head off used this shield.” Zhou Sheng said to Medusa, “What’s his name again?”

All the miniature snakes that made up Medusa’s hair opened their mouths at the same time and spit their tongues out as they hissed at Zhou Sheng.

“You’re so foolish.” Medusa sneered, “Your attempts to challenge me are futile.”

A red glint then flashed through Medusa’s eyes. Zhou Sheng immediately raised his shield to block, while the black dragon took the initiative in rushing forward!

The bell rang, and the audience erupted into an uproar!

Zhou Sheng’s eyes reflected Medusa’s ferocious appearance. The deafening cheers in the arena and the lightning flashing in the horizon seemed to weave into an impossible to dispel nightmare.

Daybreak.

Zhou Sheng violently bolted upright from his dreams and struggled to catch his breath. Terror flooded his eyes. He gradually calmed down, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.

—