“You bought a round of drinks for everyone, is there something to celebrate?” the short-haired lady asked.
Lu Hui shook his glass, “My home-raised pig finally rooted the cabbage. Can I not be happy?”
The lady couldn’t help but smile, “You’re quite interesting.”
“I think so too,” Lu Hui put down his glass, leaned on his hand, and looked at the lady with a bit of naive and genuine childlike innocence. “What does the word ‘friend’ mean to you?”
“It’s a broad term,” the lady said. “I have many friends, but how many are true friends?”
“I have one friend,” Lu Hui said with surprisingly firm conviction in his tone. “He’s willing to die for me.”
The lady’s expression showed a mix of confusion and shock. “Are you that certain?”
“Yes,” Lu Hui ordered a glass of brandy, mixing the two types of alcohol. He seemed a bit tipsy. “Shouldn’t we move on to the next step?”
“Go to my place?” the lady put her hand on Lu Hui’s shoulder. “This situation feels like I’m taking advantage of you.”
“It’s about the same,” Lu Hui didn’t mind, swaying as he stood up. “If you feel guilty, you can buy everyone another round.”
“I can’t afford that,” the lady said. She helped steady Lu Hui to prevent him from falling directly to the floor. “What’s your name?”
“What, you want to stay in touch?” Lu Hui blinked his eyes, his focus scattered and blurry, and he shook off the lady’s support, looking at the familiar figure that hastily arrived. “Ah, you’re here.”
“Does beer get you like this?” Ji Fanyang sighed, laughing and coming over to support Lu Hui. “You have a low alcohol tolerance.”
“I also had brandy,” Lu Hui wiggled his fingers. “Two glasses.”
“Okay, okay, you’re impressive. Let me order another round of low-quality liquor for you,” Ji Fanyang apologized with a smile to the lady. “Sorry for the trouble.”
“No trouble, he’s quite cute,” the lady waved her hand. “Are you his only friend?”
“Did he say that?” Ji Fanyang was somewhat pleased. “Yes.”
“I’d like to take him home,” the lady asked. “Is that okay?”
“…Probably not,” Ji Fanyang said, “We have a business trip tomorrow.”
Lu Hui watched Ji Fanyang’s profile. It looked like a little boy who had found a new and fascinating treasure. The alcohol catalyzed his nerves, making him more excited than usual.
“Alright, then,” the lady patted Lu Hui’s cheek. “Hey, handsome, until next time.”
“Goodbye,” Lu Hui waved. He turned his gaze back to Ji Fanyang. “Why are you here?”
“I was supposed to go to that lady’s place.” Ji Fanyang said, “I took a taxi, dropped her off, and then came back to see how you’re doing.”
“If it weren’t for you, I’d be at the lady’s house, sipping wine right now.” Lu Hui said.
“You can’t do it,” Ji Fanyang’s clear eyes looked at Lu Hui, “You deliberately drank too much, can’t get it up.”
“…” Lu Hui bit his molars, “You’re clever, let’s go back.”
“I thought you’d be happy with a beautiful woman’s invitation,” Ji Fanyang said as she and Lu Hui walked out of the bar.
“I thought so too,” Lu Hui looked at Ji Fanyang resentfully, “I didn’t expect you to let go of the opportunity.”
“Doesn’t feel right,” Ji Fanyang said.
“Feelings?” Lu Hui pretended to be surprised, “Who goes to a bar for feelings?”
“You have the nerve to say that about me, what about you?” Ji Fanyang retorted.
Lu Hui hesitated for a moment and awkwardly said, “I’m thinking about something else.”
“Oh, it seems neither of us is in the mood for a hookup,” Ji Fanyang said, looking at the stars hanging in the sky, “I don’t want you to feel guilty because of me.”
“What are you thinking?” Lu Hui asked.
“Undercover is my choice, just like faking death is yours,” Ji Fanyang said, his brown eyes hiding a starry sky, “We don’t need to be resentful for a friend’s sacrifice.”
Lu Hui closed his mouth; he didn’t know how to respond to that. Yes, he couldn’t escape the cycle of “someone dying for him”; the burden of this emotion was too heavy, like a weight pressing on his heart. Lu Hui had a strong self-destructive tendency; he yearned to die in a gunfight, in an explosion, in the Three Bends River, or somewhere else, but he didn’t dare to involve others. This made him feel that his existence carried a heavy burden.
“You can still be your old self; you don’t have to be cautious because of me,” Ji Fanyang said, his voice gentle as the wind, “Do what you want, no one can stop you.”
“Your sweet words almost make me cry,” Lu Hui laughed and relaxed a bit, “Let’s go, back home.”
“Go to Zhongchuan tomorrow?” Ji Fanyang kept pace with Lu Hui.
“Yeah, let’s check it out first,” Lu Hui said, “You know how slow Wei Congjia is.”
“He’s not that slow, actually…” Ji Fanyang said, “Shouldn’t we ask the higher-ups?”
“They’ll go to Zhongchuan once the appointment letter is out,” Lu Hui said, “I want to visit my sister first.”
“Do I have to go with you?” Ji Fanyang hesitated.
“You must go,” Lu Hui threatened, “If my sister kills me, you won’t see me again.”
Ji Fanyang smiled and shook his head, “You deserve it.”
“Wei Congjia said my sister is waiting for me at Zhongchuan Station,” Lu Hui turned to Ji Fanyang sitting beside him, “You go ahead later; I’ll go to the restroom.”
“Don’t even think about running away,” Ji Fanyang looked at the scenery flashing outside the high-speed train window, “Talk to her nicely; maybe we won’t need to stay in a hotel.”
“I’m almost dead, and you’re still concerned about my house?” Lu Hui pretended to be shocked, “You materialistic person!”
“When I entered your house back then, you didn’t say that,” Ji Fanyang laughed and played along, “Now, tell me your bank card password.”
“You’re dreaming; I’ve left it to my sister,” Lu Hui said, “You won’t get a penny!”
“Alright, Lu the superstar, stop acting; we’ve arrived,” Ji Fanyang stood up, took the luggage from the overhead compartment, and put it on the floor. He looked at Lu Hui, who was still sitting, seemingly genuinely nervous.
Ji Fanyang patted Lu Hui’s shoulder, “Your sister will understand.”
“Maybe,” Lu Hui stood up and pulled the suitcase off the train.
The two walked side by side through the long exit corridor, and from a distance, they could see Lu An and Wei Congjia.
Lu Hui walked over, hanging his head like a big dog that had done something wrong.
Lu An pinched his ear, “Don’t want to see me?”
“No,” Lu Hui shrugged, “Sorry for not telling you about that…”
“I know,” Lu An interrupted him, “Special circumstances, right?”
“Um,” Lu Hui replied.
“The fierce devil looks scared; that’s rare,” Wei Congjia laughed mischievously.
Lu Hui glanced at Wei Congjia, “Where’s my appointment letter?”
“You can sign it at the Zhongchuan City Bureau,” talking about work, Wei Congjia became serious, “The identity of the deceased is confirmed; it’s Wang Jing.”
“Du Chengxian’s wife?” Lu Hui frowned, “What about Du Huan Yue?”
“Missing,” Wei Congjia said.
