Chapter 48 (2/2)
Over the last few days, Liu Cunhao had been hinting right and left about the things he liked, as if worried others wanted to buy hiet ”There's nothing I really like lately, but if I had to naht”
Wan Da was close to him and didn't require such roundabout hints—Liu Cunhao had just sent him a Taobao¹ link—but no one else in the class escaped Liu Cunhao's attentions
Now that He Zhao had reminded hiht he'd gone ainst the back of his chair and laughed ”It was very obvious Couldn't you tell? Hao-zi ht about the few conversations he had had with Liu Cunhao over the past few days and suddenly wanted to laugh ”He didn't speak plainly Hoas I to know?”
It was rare for the two of the about their classmates, and now the conversation suddenly cut off For a while, neither of them spoke Xie Yu felt uneasy for no real reason, and after he cale than just siot up ”I'll… go then”
Before he finished, He Zhao had already caught the he a button-down and the overall i: a little languid, a ss in the world to be happy about
He Zhao sed, then said—both to himself and to Xie Yu—”It'll pass”
It'll pass
Even if it feels like being i as you put in a little effort, and if that doesn't work, a little more… and walk forward, the life you want and all the answers you were looking for… will be there
”Go” He Zhao let go and sht, little friend”
Xie Yu stood, stunned, then after a ht, too
The next day
The wily guy who had been labeled ' everyone to attend his birthday gathering that weekend He had even written invitations
Xie Yu received one, too Inside ritten the time and place: next Sunday, 9 am at Central Avenue
He Zhao pretended to be put on the spot ”Hao-zi, about a gift…”
Liu Cunhao waved a hand disnani hints wildly just a few days ago ”Gifts aren't iood wishes s are unimportant”
Xie Yu said, ”…You really want to save face thatand threriting iood wishesthat!”
Wan Da said, ”Shall I help you remember that Taobao link you sent me? Hao-zi, think about that link, then talk”
Liu Cunhao put his head in his hands, hiding ”So rough Especially you, Qing-ge You won't be able to get married like that”
He Zhao stirred the pot ”Hao-zi, how can you say that to Qing-ge?”
Xu Qingqing was about to go to the faculty office to get the English ho up her sleeves She gritted out, ”Come on Come over here, if you dare”
Liu Cunhao dashed outside ”I'd be stupid if I went”
Liu Cunhao had invited everyone out for an outing and then a meal for his birthday
Xie Yu had intended to skip, but seeing how excited Liu Cunhao was, he couldn't think of how to refuse He Zhao patted his head and said, as if he'd anticipated everything, ”Yes, he's going”
Xie Yu thought, Going, your ass
Madam Gu was even athering
Xie Yu's previous friends were all froin with Zhou Dalei and the others had taken Xie Yu a long ti, people had beat them while they were down Friends and faht about it, during those years when she had taken Xie Yu here and there and suffered the judght Xie Yu wasn't old enough to understand, but he had seen and understood it all
So Xie Yu had gradually grown quieter and subconsciously defensive whenpeople for the first time He was very wary
”Your classan with a sht him a present? You must be polite and wish him a happy birthday Be sweeter Isn't this nice? Go out with your classha lecture before he went out He changed his shoes and walked outside ”All right, talk to you later Mo out”
In school, everyone wore the school uniforulated They only chatted about hoo out, everyone went a littlehair loose, a s over her shoulder When she appeared, everyone was surprised ”Wah, who is this? Are you froe”
He Zhao arrived early He squatted by the side of the street, looking down at his phone
Liu Cunhao and the others quickly found that with this person in their group, they turned irl that passed by would secretly take a second look When Xie Yu arrived later… it would be unies before he had even left the train
Are you here?
At the train station entrance The north one
Where are you?
Xie Yu glanced down and walked as he replied, Ask again and I'll block you
He Zhao didn't reply
Several steps later, Xie Yu received a e: I'm especially handsome today You'll seeone in the group
Wan Da had changed his hairstyle and was skipping about on the platfore! Wah, Zhao-ge, today you two, black and white, a perfect lanced in the direction of the train station
He Zhao earing a black jacket; Xie Yu earing a white one and glancing down at soer was currently on the block button He hadn't yet pressed it when he heard cheering in front of hi at hiht in front, s as he yelled, ”Old Xie!” He really was theof the lot
Not all of Class 3 was here—there were twelve people The others were attending re karaoke after lunch?” Liu Cunhao said as he collected his presents, ar up so quickly he couldn't take any ive them to me yet Give them to me e eat cake later, so it feels more cere this ht over Luo Wenqiang was upfront about the fact that he hadn't eaten dinner last night just so he could eat this meal
Xie Yu frowned as he watched He didn't participate in the battle but he did open his camera app to take a photo
”…Bros, you're too ht for food, al his whole sleeve soaked in oil as he snatched a piece of fish belly and put it in Xie Yu's bowl ”Are you trying to starve my deskmate to death?”
Xie Yu's hand trembled and the viewfinder listed to one side
The resulting photo contained no people, just six or seven pairs of entangled chopsticks and the steamed fish in a sorry state in the middle of the table ”……”
He Zhao was just like a stray dog who had picked up so it in its nest, only the nest was Xie Yu's bowl
He Zhao snatched a piece of sweet and sour ribs fro, ”Old Xie, don't be so ie conscious² Children who care so et food”
He emphasized, ”My chopsticks are clean… quick, eat Do you see how the gy it?”
Xie Yu opened his mouth, unsure what to say, and eventually called out, ”He Zhao”
He Zhao was still fighting Luo Wenqiang for the last piece of corn pie and wasn't paying attention He said distractedly, ”Me”
Translation notes:
[1] Chinese online shopping website, like Ae'