205 So-called Flames (2/2)

”It was really popular back then. Some people even thought that the world we live in is just some bored guy’s dream. When he wakes up, we disappear. Ha, but we’re getting off topic.

”Anyway, the sages compared our emotions and the elements. This created the foundation of the four elements theory. It was overturned by the elemental cycle theory later, but there’s still some logic to it.” Here, Charles finished his glass and set it down. ”Do you know what fire represents?”

”What?”

”Pain.” Charles’s smile became mocking. ”It’s ironic, isn’t it? Fire make you think of life, ascension and creation, but it’s actually the physical embodiment of pain. Fire and pain. It is this pain that brought about light and illuminated the world, allowing life to exist.” He poured himself liquor. Looking at the liquid toss inside his glass, he studied his reflection. He murmured drunkenly, ”So if the sun disappears one day, then there wouldn’t be any pain in the world, right? Maybe it’ll be a good world. Yeah, maybe.” He paused and nodded. ”At least there’ll be a peace of mind.”

Ye Qingxuan fell silent.

After Charles finished speaking, he seemed to have become drunk. He gulped down the liquor and hummed a strange song. After a while, he suddenly asked, ”Yezi, why are you asking? Is it related to your dreams?”

”Dreams?” Ye Qingxuan glanced at him.

”Did you think that I couldn’t tell?” Charles chuckled. ”Bai Xi was panicking so much she almost strangled you, but you still didn’t wake up. I thought you’d died and I even took you to the emergency room. But in the end, you woke up.”

Ye Qingxuan did not reply for a long time. Then he said in a muffled voice, ”I’m just a heavy sleeper.”

”Do your eyes have to be so frightened when you wake up?”

Ye Qingxuan scratched his head. After a pregnant pause, he replied quietly, ”I just dreamed of some things.”

”Unhappy things?”

The youth shook his head. ”No.”

”Terrifying things?” The youth still did not reply. It suddenly dawned on Charles. ”Oh, so it must be sad things, right?”

Ye Qingxuan did not reply. He just drank and did not set down his glass until his eyelids felt heavy. ”It’s just some…some things from the past. That’s all.” He rose with difficulty and stumbled to the stairs. ”Senior, don’t care about me. I just drank too much and I’m going to sleep now.”

Charles watched him go upstairs and disappear. Charles pursed his lips. ”Psh, he just drank a little…” He picked up the bottle of liquor on the table, but it was not as heavy as he had expected—it was empty. Charles ended up picking it up with too much force and almost fell over. After a stumble, Charles regained his balance. His expression grew slightly bitter. ”Huh, he drank an entire week’s worth of my supply without even letting me know. What’s he trying to do?”

With a sigh, he flipped the bottle over and shook forcefully. Two, three drops fell into his mouth. Charles tossed the bottle, closed his eyes and fell into deep sleep. He probably would not dream this time…

-

On the field, the game was still going on intensely. Off the field, at the music history department’s seat, Ye Qingxuan was still sleeping calmly. He did not seem to care how horribly he would be defeated soon.

”Is he okay?” Bench Guy looked at him in concern. ”I feel like he’s not being normal.”

”He’s been staying up a lot lately and he’s just catching up on his sleep.” Charles patted his shoulder and dragged him aside. ”It’s just sleeping during class. Don’t tell me you’ve never done it before.”

”Uh…” Bench Guy instantly grew troubled. ”Sleeping in class isn’t good.”

Stunned, Charles stared at Bench Guy as if looking at a strange creature. ”You don’t sleep during class?! What do you do usually?”

”…” Bench Guy could not reply. He realized that he thought differently from these weirdos. Many times, he could not even converse with common sense.

Helpless, he could only change the topic and ask straightforwardly, ”I heard that the other teams have all prepared secretly to divide us…We’re the public enemy now. Tomorrow, it’s eight to four. Shouldn’t there be a strategy or game plan for the next round?”

”There’s no point in thinking so much. We’ll die no matter what…” Under the sun, Charles yawned. ”Just relax. I looked at the stars and they say we have good luck these two days! And anyway, we’ve gotten lucky these past two days. Maybe we’ll draw empty for the next round too.”

”Friend, you look pretty and you have such pretty fantasies too,” Bench Guy thought. His shoulders trembled. If not for the mask on his face, he probably would have spat out blood.