Chapter 96 (1/2)

Qiu Linsong happily pulled He Nuo towards the restaurant, “Why aren’t you and San Ge happy? Don’t worry, after seeing you here, San Ge won’t be unhappy anymore. In fact, he might just run over to accompany you for lunch later. He didn’t eat much just now cause he kept saying that he had no appetite.”

He Nuo still rejected his lunch invitation because he needed to take the coach back. This reason was too reasonable; Qiu Linsong just remembered that He Nuo had to go back today, and there was only one return coach at 2pm. If they went to eat lunch, their time might be a little tight. But if they didn’t eat, then even if He Nuo had eaten breakfast, he would still have to endure his hunger for an entire day because he would only reach back around 7pm. A bright idea occurred to Qiu Linsong; he insisted on sending He Nuo off in a cab later, so they would have a little more time before he had to get to the station.

He Nuo waited for the cab while Qiu Linsong left for a bit. He came back with bread, sausages, peanuts and fish fillets in hand. He Nuo went to pick up his bag in embarrassment, Qiu Linsong pressed his hand down, “Do you only treat San Ge as your friend, but not the rest of us? If you keep being like this, I’ll get restless.” When they fought over the few dollars of taxi fare just now, the driver also got to watch their brotherly quarrel. He doesn’t believe that He Nuo would draw the line this clearly with his San Ge too.

“You’re leaving before you even got to talk to San Ge, he’ll definitely scold me later.”

“I’m sorry.”

Qiu Linsong was just joking and never had the intention of blaming him, he didn’t want He Nuo’s apology.

“Ai, why are you and San Ge at odds with each other? We all thought that he was fighting with his girlfriend, but we all saw his girlfriend treat him quite well just now. Turns out he’s fighting with you. Say it, why are you guys fighting? I can help you.”

“He’s angry?”

“He didn’t say it, but it’s not like we’re blind. He looked like a corpse the entire week, if you met him in the toilet at night, I guarantee you’ll think that you just saw a ghost. His whole face is all bluish, though it might have been due to constipation. I forgot that he only became like that after he returned home, and only remembered about it when I saw you. Even a fool would know that the two of you are fighting.”

He Nuo laughed softly, “How scary can Shi Yan be? When he gets angry, he’ll at most bare his fangs and brandish his claws; his thunder might be loud, but it’s always just a drizzle.”

“What’s wrong? Say it, I’ll speak up for you in front of San Ge.” Qiu Linsong patted his pocket, “My words are more useful than this.” (the letter was inside)

He Nuo chuckled but didn’t say anything. Qiu Linsong knew that he was a reserved person by nature and probably wouldn’t be willing to tell others about it, but San Ge had been angry for an entire week, so he guessed that He Nuo could be in the wrong this time. He didn’t force him but instead comforted, “It’s fine. You’ve also said that San Ge has a loud thunder when it’s just a drizzle, he’ll be okay in two days. You’ve already come all the way here, how could he still stay angry at you?”

He Nuo thanked him gratefully and seemed to be in a bit of dilemma. Qiu Linsong asked him, “Is there anything else?”

“Oh, not really? Forget it.”

“Don’t say ‘forget it’, if you need something just say it.”

“There’s one more thing I’d like to trouble you with, but I don’t know if you,”

“What is it?”

He Nuo hesitated. Qiu Linsong placed his arm around his shoulders, “We’re friends, just say it.”

It was only when He Nuo got on the coach that Qiu Linsong knew that he had only bought his return ticket after he reached in the morning, so there were only standing tickets left then. As he looked at the coach that looked like a can of packed sardines and He Nuo’s skinny figure that was sandwiched in between the crowd — and especially when He Nuo flashed him a grateful smile that was filled with the most heartfelt of thanks — Qiu Linsong made up his mind: no matter what, he had to help them reconcile. He still remembered what had happened when school reopened during their third year, he didn’t know why but San Ge treated He Nuo like a stranger for a month, but didn’t they still suddenly reconcile in the end? And after that, he became even more concerned for He Nuo than ever.

He Nuo was a clean and pure guy, even if he really did something to offend San Ge, he definitely wouldn’t have done it on purpose. Also, Qiu Linsong could somewhat understand He Nuo’s environment. How difficult must it have been for him to come here just this once? Just from this, he could see how much He Nuo cherishes San Ge. While his San Ge…even if you beat Qiu Linsong to death, he wouldn’t believe that his San Ge really plans on breaking off with He Nuo with a ‘1’1. In fact, throughout all the years that he had known San Ge, He Nuo was the person that San Ge had done the most for. In any case, they would reconcile sooner or later, so why fight at this kind of juncture? He Nuo’s gonna take his college entrance examination soon, so no matter what his San Ge should be the more magnanimous one.

When Qiu Linsong returned, everyone was around. He only said that He Nuo had to rush for the return coach so he had already sent him back, but he didn’t take the letter out immediately. He wasn’t willing to let the rest know that San Ge and He Nuo were fighting. Even if everyone had suspected it, he didn’t want to take out the letter on the spot lest a few assholes snatch it away to look at it — that would make He Nuo feel embarrassed in the future.

After this bunch was almost done with their food, they began to play poker. That was when Qiu Linsong walked over to the Shi Yan who was just spectating and dragged him to sit down on a bed. He took out the letter and passed it to Shi Yan, and without saying anything, the latter knew who the letter was from. Shi Yan took the letter and flipped through the empty letter without any expression on his face, then casually stuffed it underneath his pillow.