Chapter 142.2 (1/2)

On the first day of New Year, Fu Liqun sent Cen Shan to the high-speed railway station. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng slept for the entire day. Zhou Sheng’s hair was a mess, and he wore his pajamas and slippers as he did some postgraduate examination questions at the dining table. When Fu Liqun came back, he let out a breath and lay on the sofa, looking at Zhou Sheng’s thick examination book that was just like a heavenly scripture to him.

Meanwhile, Yu Hao was writing and drawing on his manuscripts with a pen. He asked Fu Liqun, “Ready to go abroad?”

“You know?” Fu Liqun was shocked, “Is the soundproofing of this house that bad?”

“Nuo.” Zhou Sheng didn’t even look up as he said, “See? I was right ba? Go wash the dishes.”

Yu Hao felt helpless. He said, “Later. I admit defeat.”

Fu Liqun said, “I’ll go talk to her father on the fifth, bless me ba. I’m still a bit confused, but I think I can do it.”

Zhou Sheng, “What do you plan to do next?”

Fu Liqun, “When I went home a few days ago, I discussed it with my family. My Dad had prepared a sum of money to buy a house for me in Ying City. Now I want to use it to further my studies abroad, but of course, after your affairs settle down over here first.”

Yu Hao, “Where?”

Fu Liqun, “Cologne Institute of Physical Education. I want to study as a postgrad there.”

“Sure.” Zhou Sheng said, “But are you sure furthering your studies is more reliable than buying a house?”

Yu Hao, “……”

Fu Liqun, “……”

Fu Liqun knew that Zhou Sheng was making fun of him, of course, and he said, “I’ll need to get a visa first, then go and study the language for a year. By then, I’ll look for a job as a cycling instructor or something, work part-time. Your sis-in-law said that it’s pretty easy to find part-time work there for sports.”

“Your father’s paying for your tuition and living expenses so there’s no problem ah.” Zhou Sheng said.

Fu Liqun cracked his fingers and said, “I’ll try my best to rely on myself ba. It wasn’t easy for my parents to work their whole lives. Sigh.”

“It’s fine as long as you have a plan.” Zhou Sheng said.

“I’ll have to repay you slowly.” Fu Liqun said.

Zhou Sheng finally looked up from his questions and glanced at Fu Liqun. “There’s no need to rush.”

The two of them then ended the conversation regarding Fu Liqun’s future that simply. Yu Hao got up to wash the dishes. He knew that Fu Liqun had not yet recovered completely from the blow he suffered, but in his dream, the sandstorm might be on the verge of disappearing. In times to come, the sun would rise for him.

Yu Hao began cleaning up the huge pile of dishes from last night. Zhou Sheng said to Yu Hao, “I’ll go over after finishing these last three questions.”

Yu Hao, “Revise first ba, I’ll wash these.”

Then the doorbell rang. Fu Liqun went to open the door. Ou Qihang and Chen Yekai had arrived ahead of time. Yu Hao wasn’t prepared at all and got a fright.

“His mother went to Sanya to play with her friends.” Chen Yekai said.

Ou Qihang took off his shoes at the door. “There’s nothing to do at home anyway, so we came over to see you guys.” Then he arranged his shoes neatly. Zhou Sheng glanced at them casually and said, “Fuck, the two of you even changed to wearing Yin Yang shoes?!”

Ou Qihang said, “Just bought it in passing while we were walking around. Yu Hao, what are you doing?”

Yu Hao, “Guests should take a seat in the living room.”

“It’s okay, I like washing dishes.” Ou Qihang said, “I’m the one who washes all the dishes at home…”

Zhou Sheng saw Ou Qihang enter the kitchen and immediately threw his book away, then went in hurriedly to look after his family’s cabbage, lest it got dug out by another family’s pig.

“Then I’ll go brew some coffee.” Yu Hao didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.

Fu Liqun took out some snacks and nian gaos. Zhou Sheng changed his clothes. He came out with a cigarette in his mouth, then shook his cigarette carton and gave Ou Qihang a stick. All of them sat at the dining table. Ou Qihang said, “I have a lot of things I want to ask. For the past few days, I’ve always felt a bit confused.”

Zhou Sheng thought about it for a bit and said, “Today?”

Chen Yekai said, “Up to you.”

Zhou Sheng pondered for a long time, then said, “Okay, today then.” After he spoke, he flicked his thumb, and the Golden Crow Wheel spun as it flew across the dining table. Ou Qihang raised his hands and clapped his hands together to catch it with a baffled expression. He looked at the Golden Crow Wheel, then at Zhou Sheng, before looking at Chen Yekai again.

Chen Yekai raised his hand. Ou Qihang handed the Golden Crow Wheel to him. Chen Yekai handed it to Fu Liqun, and Fu Liqun rubbed the Golden Crow Wheel with his thumb, then handed it to Yu Hao. Yu Hao could sense that this was the real Golden Crow Wheel. He passed it back to Zhou Sheng, and Zhou Sheng put it in front of him.

Everyone waited for Zhou Sheng to speak. After a long silence, Zhou Sheng was still thinking, so Ou Qihang broke the silence first and said, “Isn’t this Jinsha’s sunbird? There are also some people who call it a sun wheel.”

“Yes.” Zhou Sheng said, “It’s very difficult for me to explain it to ordinary people, but you should be okay…it can allow our thoughts — and even the thoughts of those sitting here right now — converge.”

Ou Qihang said, “And interfere as well, I understand.”

“What did you understand, you understood it just like that?” Zhou Sheng didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.

Ou Qihang said, “I already knew about this once. In order to keep this secret, you guys sealed off this portion of my memories. No wonder I always feel as if there’s something important I could never recall…”

Chen Yekai nodded. “You’re very right.”

Zhou Sheng said, “But it was of no use, wasn’t it?”

Yu Hao observed Ou Qihang’s expression. He didn’t think Ou Qihang and Huang Ting were colluding, but there was always a ‘what if’ for everything. He had to be prudent and check it.

Ou Qihang said, “That matter perplexed me for a rather long time. After enrolling in my college in Beijing, Ting Ge asked me out quite a few times, and I talked about the specific ins and outs…” Then he looked at Chen Yekai.

“Yes.” Chen Yekai said, “I told them as well.”

Fu Liqun could roughly guess from this recounting. When they came back that day, Zhou Sheng had told Fu Liqun the whole story in its entirety.

“Did he get you to undergo hypnotism?” Fu Liqun asked.

“Not just hypnotism.” Ou Qihang said, “We tried almost everything.”