Yu Hao thought, how does this kid know so much? But after considering it, he understood how; Stranded deferred his studies for a year and was now in third year. This meant that his classmates in high school were now in their first year of college, so he might have some acquaintances in Yu Hao’s college.
Stranded:【Do you have an umbrella? I’ll pick you up ba, you’re in the same dormitory as Zhou Sheng right?】
Yu Hao:【You know him???!!!】
Stranded:【I don’t, I just know that name.】
Yu Hao:【Don’t come over, all the buses have stopped. Let’s meet at some cafe for coffee?】
Stranded replied frankly:【Ok.】Then he sent Yu Hao a location, which just so happened to be the flower cafe.
Yu Hao left the college and waited for a bus. The public buses didn’t stop running because of the storm, they just ran more infrequently. He went to the flower cafe in the afternoon. After entering the mall, he put away his umbrella and suddenly saw Zhou Sheng’s back.
Zhou Sheng was wearing Yu Hao’s jeans and a white T-shirt. He had just gotten a haircut, and was standing on the escalator with a girl who had long hair as they headed for the second floor. He was even holding the girl’s bag for her. Yu Hao had seen Cen Shan carry that bag before, so he thought it was Cen Shan at first. But the way that girl dressed was very different from Cen Shan’s style.
The girl was wearing a white dress and sneakers and looked very young from the back with a clean atmosphere around her. They looked just like a young couple, and seemed to be a match made in heaven.
Yu Hao watched them for awhile, all the way until Zhou Sheng reached the second floor and took the elevator to the third floor. Only then did Yu Hao walk towards the other side to go to the flower cafe.
At a table by the window sat a boy in a blue-and-white school uniform with fair skin, big eyes, and thick eyebrows. Just as Yu Hao entered and wanted to observe for a moment, the boy looked up from his phone and whistled at Yu Hao.
Even if Yu Hao wanted to hide now, he couldn’t. He smiled helplessly and sat opposite the boy.
I didn’t lie to you, see?
The boy showed Yu Hao the result sheet of the simulation exam he took in his cram school. He was ranked first in his cram school.
133 for Chinese! Full marks for mathematics! 141 for English! 129 for the Liberal Arts!
My God!
Yu Hao wanted to flip the table,
With your results, you can probably get into Beijing or Tsinghua University ba!
He also noticed that the name on the boy’s paper was ‘Ou Qihang’, and his school was the top high school in Ying city. He really was a third year in high school, he didn’t lie.
What do you want to drink? I’ll buy it.
Ou Qihang said,
To thank you for teaching me how to write my English compositions during this period.
Yu Hao scrutinised him as he leaned on his chair and thought about it for a moment.
Sea salt coffee.
Ou Qihang bought two cups of coffee and added five or six packets of sugar to his cup. Yu Hao thought that just like Zhou Sheng, this guy was another sugar monster. However, it was understandable. Those who use their brains a lot need to replenish their sugar levels, since sugar is consumed at an astonishingly fast rate when one uses their brain.
Ou Qihang was almost as tall as Zhou Sheng. He wore sportswear and a pair of basketball shoes — which also happened to be from Fu Liqun’s favourite series. Yu Hao thought, kids nowadays develop really well……wait, no. This guy was a third year senior and even seemed to be a few months older than himself.
Isn’t it a little surprising?
Ou Qihang asked.
What’s surprising?
Yu Hao really was a little surprised, but he didn’t intend to go along with the flow.
Me ah.
Ou Qihang said.
You’re so young.
Yu Hao said,
Really different from us who’re in college.
But aren’t we the same age?
Ou Qihang said,
Forget it, it’s probably better if I treat you as a Gege.
Yu Hao laughed.
Ou Qihang said,
Yu Hao, which number are you?
Yu Hao said,
As a third year in senior high, don’t you know a bit too much?! Focus on your studies, don’t worry about such unimportant things.
From his interactions with Ou Qihang on WeChat during this period, Yu Hao could sense that this guy had obviously come prepared. He especially came out today to refuse him and decided that he wouldn’t add any more strangers on WeChat in the future.
Do you want to watch a movie?
Ou Qihang asked.
Nope.
Yu Hao said.
Ou Qihang,
What about an art exhibition then? I have tickets.
The art gallery was nearby. Ou Qihang pulled out two tickets for the Dunhuang Special Exhibition — today was the final day for the exhibition. Yu Hao really couldn’t resist the temptation, and Ou Qihang said,
Let’s go! Don’t be so boring.
It’s not about being boring……ok then.
Yu Hao really wasn’t in a good mood today. For the past week, Zhou Sheng had hardly paid any attention to him and it seemed obvious that he was preoccupied with something that he was hiding from Yu Hao. However, they didn’t argue, so it was like a cold war, but also not a cold war. It was hiding under the surface, so there was no chance of a quick resolution. In addition to that, It had also been raining for three days in a row, which made Yu Hao feel extremely depressed.
Let’s go.
Yu Hao said,
For a change of mood.
Are you in a bad mood?
Ou Qihang slung his bag over one shoulder and was a little taller than Yu Hao. He held his coffee in one hand and opened up a black umbrella, then tilted it slightly towards Yu Hao’s side. They crossed the road together and headed for the art gallery to see the special exhibition. The power of art could make people forget their worries for a while, especially when they stood in front of all the exceptionally beautiful paintings. Yu Hao felt like his dream could be decorated with all the beautiful flying Apsara and Buddha statues he was viewing.
Just like a dream.
Ou Qihang asked Yu Hao,
Have you ever been to Dunhuang?
No.
Yu Hao said,
I’ve always wanted to go, but I don’t have the money.
Yu Hao realised that for some reason, he always acted a bit more reserved in front of Ou Qihang, as if he was subconsciously imitating Chen Yekai. Perhaps in his mind, he had taken on the role of a ‘teacher’, and the best interpretation for acting out the role of a ‘teacher’ would be Chen Yekai’s demeanour ba.
This line is too beautiful.
Yu Hao lightly traced the murals in the special exhibition with his fingers.
Ou Qihang said,
Yes. The power of Buddha can make people forget their sorrows.
Yu Hao laughed,
Why would you have so many sorrows?
Ou Qihang sighed and smiled at Yu Hao. Yu hao thought, this kid should be the male god in his high school right? Excellent results, tall, handsome, and his living standards seem to be pretty high too.
After they finished viewing the exhibition, Yu Hao and Ou Qihang ate some oden and boxed meals in a convenience store. Yu Hao began taking a liking to this kid. It didn’t appear that he had rushed over for a hook-up or a date. He was extremely pure and clean, and might really just be here to chat with Yu Hao and make friends with him.
Work hard for your third year.
Yu Hao said,
You won’t regret it.
Un……
Ou Qihang said,
I just think it’s a pity that the time spent is so short.
Yu Hao said,
It’s a whole year! And you still think it’s too short?
Ou Qihang,
I meant that there isn’t enough time now for us to develop our feelings, hahahaha
Ou Qihang burst out laughing, and Yu Hao immediately felt embarrassed,
Knock it off!
Then……I’ll be going home.
Ou Qihang said,
I’ll need to live at school and when school reopens my mobile will be handed over to my Mum, so I won’t be able to keep in contact.
I’ll send you back?
Ou Qihang asked.
Yu Hao quickly refused, why does everyone want to send me back? Am I that shou?
I should be the one sending you back, let’s go?
Yu Hao finally turned a little more gong.
Before the end of summer vacation, many students gradually began to return to school. The subway line was full of high school and vocational high school students who were dragging their suitcases to and fro.
Yu Hao.
Ou Qihang leaned back against the handrail of the mostly empty carriage, and asked Yu Hao,
What are you exactly?
Yu Hao saw his monkey-like look and thought his temperament seemed to slightly resemble Fu Liqun’s,
I’m human!
Ou Qihang unconsciously licked his lower lip and said,
Are you a 1 or a 0? Tell this Didi in secret bei……
Yu Hao was about to tease him when he suddenly took his phone out and turned on the video recording function before turning it towards one end of the carriage. It wasn’t the peak period right now, but there was an old man sticking onto a girl in shorts from behind. Yu Hao said,
Hold the phone.
And as he spoke, he walked over and forcibly pulled the old man away.
Ou Qihang also noticed it and immediately stood upright as he shouted angrily,
Hey!
Ou Qihang moved even faster. He stuffed the phone into Yu Hao’s hands, walked over in big strides, and stood right in front of Yu Hao. He lifted the back of the old man’s collar with one hand and forcibly dragged him away. He roared angrily,
What are you doing?! Do you have a fucking death wish?!
Then he slapped him, and the entire subway station erupted in an uproar. The girl quickly hid to one side.
Yu Hao didn’t expect Ou Qihang to be so aggressive. After the old man was slapped by Ou Qihang, he immediately withered. There were still some people on the subway who didn’t know what was going on, so they berated Ou Qihang,
What are you doing?
Ou Qihang,
What are you doing?
What are you doing! Hitting an old man?
Fights in Ying city always begin with
what are you doing
spoken in the local dialect and end with
you’re courting your own death
. Every time a cycle of
what are you doing
starts, Yu Hao knew that this matter wouldn’t be resolved quickly. Indeed, everyone began reciting it over and over again as they replayed the words
what are you doing
on a loop. No one dared to pick a fight with Ou Qihang for now, and the old man realised that the situation was in his favour so he started wailing and laid on the floor to extort medical expenses from him.
Yu Hao said to the girl,
Hurry and leave, it’s okay now, take the chance now to go.
In any case, he had already recorded the incident, so even if this was reported to the police, they had nothing to fear. When the subway arrived at its stop, the girl whispered,
Thank you.
She then passed two pieces of chocolate to Yu Hao, wiped her face, and took off.
Yu Hao was really afraid that Ou Qihang’s slap had turned the old man deaf, but looking at him throwing a tantrum on the ground so energetically now, nothing should’ve happened to him.
I have a black belt in Taekwondo.
Ou Qihang said to Yu Hao,
Don’t need to be afraid of them.
Yu Hao,
……
Everyone in the carriage keenly caught the key words and began to shut up one after the other. Only the old man’s wails remained as he begged everyone to call the police for him. He was sitting on the ground and was about to crawl over when Ou Qihang assumed a domineering attitude and kicked him again,
Get lost!
That old man was frightened and didn’t say anything for a moment. When the subway arrived at a station, the two of them alighted to transfer to another line as if nothing had happened.
Yu Hao,
They actually let us off without any trouble or extortion, I even thought that we would have to make a trip to the police station.
Ou Qihang,
What’s there to be afraid of? My Dad said that you just have to beat the crap out of people like that, and you have to be even more overbearing than them.
Yu Hao,
Yes. In the past I could never bring myself to do it, but I’ve been slowly learning how to.
After following Zhou Sheng for such a long time, Yu Hao only felt like he now had learned to be fearless. I have no money anyway, what can you even do to me?
Then……
Ou Qihang stuffed both his hands into his pockets and gazed at Yu Hao earnestly.
You’re going?
Yu Hao smiled,
Study hard, I’ll give this to you.
As he spoke, he handed the two pieces of chocolates that the girl gave him to Ou Qihang. Ou Qihang took one piece, leaving the other for Yu Hao. He retrieved something from his pocket and said,
This is for you.
It was a small box. Ou Qihang said,
It’s a Rubik’s cube, not expensive, I made it myself. Accept it ba.
Yu Hao saw that it wasn’t expensive, so he accepted it. Ou Qihang said,
Yu Hao, see you next year.
Yu Hao smiled,
See you next year!
Yu Hao parted from Ou Qihang. He put on his earphones to listen to music as he switched to another line and looked down at the small Rubik’s cube Ou Qihang gave him on the subway. He turned it over a few times; this high schooler was quite skilful with his hands.
The Colosseum of Ancient Rome.
Medusa quickly vanished as she transformed into a black vapour. The fire spewed out by the black dragon only hit empty space where she had been just moments earlier. Zhou Sheng held up his shield and looked upwards. Medusa brandished her sharp claws and rushed down towards them from the air above!
Medusa’s snake tail coiled around Zhou Sheng, and brutally flung his badly battered body to the edge of the arena. In the next moment, when the black dragon turned, Medusa’s eyes flashed with a blinding light!
The entire arena was swathed in this light, accompanied by the black dragon’s mad roar. It whirled around in the air, its wings on one side cracking and disintegrating into rubble and smoke. Medusa then pressed down on the black dragon’s head and cleanly slit its throat.
Blood gushed from the black dragon and it fell down, colliding brutally with the ground.
Zhou Sheng shivered and struggled to stand up in the rainstorm. His armour was almost torn into pieces; his chest and back were all covered in Medusa’s scratches. His wounds wouldn’t heal, and blood continued to seep from them.
He lowered his head, and saw his face covered in mud reflected in a puddle in the arena.
Admit defeat!’ Satan’s voice rang out,
Admitting your failure can also be considered to be a kind of courage.
Zhou Sheng gasped for breath as he looked up. Medusa retracted her claws, her pupils rotating and dilating as they began to shine.
No.
Zhou Sheng said coldly.
Before anyone could register it, the fox plushie on Zhou Sheng’s shoulder turned into a silver ray of light that shot into the sky.
After leaving the subway station, only one bus remained that departs at 9pm. Yu Hao waited for 45 minutes and sent a message to Zhou Sheng, but received no reply. By the time he got back to the dormitory, it was already 9.40pm.
Their summer vacation was ending soon, and more and more students were returning to school. Yu Hao looked at the pedestrians that walked to and fro and felt a slight pang of loss. He had obviously done a lot of things this summer vacation and earned quite a bit of money as well, yet it seemed like he had wasted time on a lot of worthless pursuits which made him feel an indescribable sense of emptiness.
Zhou Sheng went to meet the blind date partner that his father had arranged for him, they should date for quite some time ba? This would be good for both of us……Yu Hao walked back to the dormitory under the street lamps and opened the door. Fu Liqun would only return the next day. The dormitory appeared to have been cleaned up, and Zhou Sheng was sitting on the balcony.
Yu Hao didn’t say anything. He went to the balcony and wanted to pat his shoulder, but he saw that the Golden Crow Wheel was shining again. It flashed intermittently like that time he entered the subconscious; it was summoning him.
Yu Hao,
……
Zhou Sheng was sitting on the reclining chair on the balcony and was in a deep slumber. His head tilted slightly sideways.
Yu Hao sat on the other reclining chair and frowned as he gently pulled up Zhou Sheng’s wrist. He placed it on his leg, pressed against the Golden Crow Wheel with his hand, and pressed against Zhou Sheng’s head with his own.
—
