Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Wu Hao opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Lu Bancheng leaned back in his chair and sat there for a while. Eventually, he got up and stumbled to the restroom.
The room became deadly quiet. Wu Hao finally broke the silence, asking in a low voice, âBro Sheng, do you think Iâm a jerk and not manly?â
Before Gu Yusheng could answer, Wu Hao continued talking. âYou must look down on me. Iâm not stupid. I can tell. Since youâve learned about me and Jiang Qianqian, you havenât wanted to hang out with me anymore. You donât want to sit on the chair I pull out for you. You donât want to drink the wine I pour for you either.â
Wu Hao sighed in confusion and sadness. After a while, he said, âBro Sheng, Iâm glad that you came tonight. I appreciate it that you still care about me.â
Gu Yusheng had been quiet since he had walked into the room. He put down the wine bottle and looked seriously at Wu Hao. âI didnât come here for you.â
What Lu Bancheng had said to Wu Hao was hurtful, but what Gu Yusheng just said hurt even more. Wu Hao was upset. He took a few sips of wine before asking, âBro Sheng, then what are you here for?â
Gu Yusheng went straight to the point. âWas I friends with Qin Zhiâai in high school? Were we close?â
âWhy did you suddenly come to see me to ask me about Xiaoâai? Bro Sheng, are you interested in Xiaoâai?â
His wedding was called off. His fiance has left him. How can he possibly have any interest in gossiping?
Gu Yusheng looked up and glanced at Wu Hao but didnât answer him.
They had been friends for years. Wu Hao knew what Gu Yusheng was thinking just by looking at his face. He lost his curiosity and tilted his head in contemplation before speaking. âYou werenât a friend of Xiaoâai in high school. I never saw you hanging out with her. Back then, you only wanted to join the military. You werenât interested in girls.â
âHow close could you possibly be with Xiaoâai? If there had been any connection between the two of you back then, it might have been when you fought for her once in high school. Hmm... but it was not exactly for her. It was for Nuannuan or maybe Jiang Qianqian.â
Wu Hao was extremely uncomfortable thinking about the past, so he didnât go into details. âIf greetings and small chats are considered âclose,â then I guess you were âcloseâ to her.â
Wu Hao saw Gu Yusheng staring at him without talking. He thought Gu Yusheng was not believing him, so he raised his hand up to gesture as he exclaimed, âBro Sheng, what I just told you is the absolute truth. My fiance and Xiaoâai are best friends. If you had something with Xiaoâai, my fiance would have known about it, and so would I.â
Gu Yusheng looked away from Wu Hao. He leaned back in his chair for a while before getting up. As he walked away, he suddenly remembered something. He looked down at Wu Hao, still with a bottle in hand, and said, âXu Wennuan is not your fiance anymore.â
What Gu Yusheng said was right. Wu Hao suddenly choked on his wine and had to bend over and cough strenuously.
Gu Yusheng took a step forward, and then remembered the bottle of wine heâd ordered. Knowing the price was beyond Wu Haoâs means, he took out his cell phone and transferred the money to Wu Hao, whose face turned pale upon seeing the transaction on the screen. Finally ready to go, Gu Yusheng strode away.
...
If Wu Hao says Qin Zhiâai and I were not close in high school, it must be true that we werenât friends.
But why did I give her a nickname? Why did I write her anonymous letters?
Was I attracted to her but not interested in a relationship back then? Had I wanted to not lose touch with her?
Gu Yusheng was bothered by what had become an unexpectedly complex question. He stood on the curb for some time thinking about it without resolution. He reached for his cigarettes but, fumbling through his pockets, realized he hadnât brought his wallet or cigarettes with him.
He exhaled a long breath out of frustration and saw a bank when he looked up. He walked to it to withdraw some cash and then walked to a nearby supermarket. He grabbed two packs of his favorite brand of cigarettes and tossed them on the cashierâs desk.
Before the cashier could tell him what he owed, Gu Yusheng put $300 on the desk. âReceiving 300, and $28 is your change,â the cashier said. As she reached her hand out to take the money Gu Yusheng had left on the desk, he suddenly saw a line of writing on the note in the middle; the handwriting looked familiar. He frowned and suddenly grabbed the money before the cashier could take it