Chapter 22 (2/2)

Wan Da: ”Not possible No moveqing: ”…Save it”

Eventually the pencil landed on 'No'

He Zhao was internally panicking: ”This thing really moves?!”

”Shh, don't say that It's disrespectful to the pen spirit,”¹ Wan Da said

He Zhao: ”What happens if we don't respect it?”

Wan Da hadn't prepared a canned response but he heard Xie Yu say, tone decisive and brisk: ”It'll coht”

He Zhao didn't have any questions, but Wan Da said it'd be disrespectful to invite the pen spirit then not ask anything He Zhao thought a while then asked: ”Is there anyone in the world : ”Shameless”

Wan Da: ”Really sha bro, your turn” Wan Da winked at Xie Yu

Xie Yu said, ”I don't have any questions, either”

He Zhao: ”No can do It's disrespectful”

Xie Yu: ”……”

Zhou Dalei called Xie Yu They had hardly spoken two sentences to each other but Zhou Dalei could tell that Boss Xie was in a good mood ”What happened to make you so happy?”

Xie Yu didn't respond and asked back: ”What about you? Since you called you've been in a happy daze”

”That idiot, Da Mei, finally called!” Zhou Dalei said ”Relax, I scolded hi for it Can't not yell at him”

Da Mei's phone call had really been unexpected It was an international phone call, but surprisingly no one worried about the cost Lei's mom and Aunt Mei both lined up to talk to Da Mei, but Zhou Dalei hogged the phone and didn't let go even under pain of death In the end, he leaned out the ith his butt sticking out, trying to escape the circling crowd of wolves and tigers looking to snatch away the phone He had even been kicked twice in the butt by his mom and alined the scene: ”That's indeed your realwords”

”Da Mei said he's doing quite well over there and told us not to worry He's still a showoff, and said that although he's not considered that good-looking here, everyone abroad thinks he's drop-dead gorgeous And that pot of flowers—that pot of damn flowers really is his precious treasure He thinks about it all the time”

”I told him that the court where we used to play basketball has been torn down It was just a few scraps of cloth put together and calling it a court was a compliment But there's a new sports center in the area, and a new court! We've lived this long and finally got a new court! The new rubber smell in the hot sun, it ets back, let's play basketball together again”

Zhou Dalei ranted off a long spiel

Xie Yu listened and occasionally put in a word or two

”Boss Xie, are you going to sleep?”

”Nope Keep talking”

Zhou Dalei had called froht, he orried about waking his fa tip glowing in the night He shook the cigarette ash loose and said, ”What a? Actually, I'

”Even though I see so happily…” Zhou Dalei's voice quieted down Whether froot a little hoarse ”Forget it, never ?”

Zhou Dalei stood on the balcony and looked down It was the same scene he had seen for more than a decade: otten to take back in that had blonstairs

Looking further into the distance, there was a muddy basketball field that had once been fenced up with several lengths of torn cloth Now it had become a public toilet The toilet was built better than some of the residences In a European-style, it's several pointed roofs standing starkly against the skyline

He was about to hang up when he heard Xie Yu say, ”I's People callinght in hts in Zhou Dalei's heart were cursed away by Xie Yu, just like that

He put out the cigarette, laughed, and cursed alongside hi master I just like to play basketball with ive me a different court to showcase my talents, the world will be less one NBA basketball star because of it And this toilet It's really fucking ugly One day, I'll blow it up for you to see”

The duo aired all the thoughts they had s back and felt side an idiot today,” Xie Yu said with a smile ”My deskmate You know him”

Zhou Dalei asked, ”Hoould I know your desk?”

Xie Yu said: ”A handsoht about the handsome devils he had seen in his life There weren't thatpeople worthy of this otten about the incident in the police station that su sofor a while when Zhou Dalei suddenly went silent He froze, then asked, ”What's that noise?”

”Boss Xie, what's that noise coe”

Xie Yu heard it too: knocking that came out of nowhere This time, it was especially close to his dorhost”

Zhou Dalei said, ”There are ghosts in your dorm???”

”Pleasant surprise?” Xie Yu said ”Tell you about it later The handsoht now and I' it”

Translation notes:

[1]Bi Xian, or 'Pen spirit:' A spirit-suroup of people (best to have 3) hold a pen perpendicular to a piece of paper on a flat surface You must suspend your hand in the air – you're not allowed to rest your elborist on the table Hold the pen lightly and whisper (or , you can ask questions of the spirit

Everyone has a different nuht over the pen When the handwriting varies within a single game and the state to say so

don't ask how the pen spirit died! Never ask that! Best not to ask about desires and wishes like that Best not to ask the pen spirit to be you friend or protect you

If you can't summon a pen spirit, it y is too strong There are no pen spirits nearby or all of them are sick of you