Chapter 48.1
“Hey, don’t talk about it anymore.”
During dinner, Shen Yu was stuffing food into his mouth while awkwardly and humorously reminiscing about his teenage years from a decade ago.
“Back then, I didn’t understand anything, just a fool who thought men should be good at fighting, especially in group fights. It was so cool, okay? I didn’t think of anything else; I just wondered which girl wouldn’t like a tough guy who could fight?”
“I envied those guys on the streets who didn’t study or work, just wandering around with a cigarette and buddying up with various troublemakers. I looked down on the diligent students in classrooms, thinking they were bookworms who didn’t understand the real world.”
“Looking back now, I feel like my head was caught in a door, so silly and clueless, almost unbearable to watch. Fortunately, I met Brother Lu later.”
Yu Le found it interesting and supported his chin, listening like it was a story, “But didn’t you once block Lu Yao in an alley and beat him up?”
“Ha! Beat him up?”
Shen Yu waved his hand dismissively, “We were the ones who got beaten up, okay? You don’t know, at that time, the four of us were known as the ‘Four Kings of the First High School,’ invincible and unbeatable. We didn’t expect to get completely defeated by Brother Lu.”
“I still remember that small alley near the tailor’s shop. We had been waiting there for a long time, initially thinking we’d teach Brother Lu a lesson. But before we knew it, we were all knocked to the ground and couldn’t get up.”
“I took a punch to my stomach, lying on the ground with my head tilted up, and I saw Brother Lu standing there like a god, looking so cool and aloof. It was incredibly impressive!”
Yu Le was thoroughly entertained, “You’re quite something. Not only did you get beaten, but you also had time to admire how cool the person who beat you up looked.”
He was so engrossed in listening to Shen Yu talk about Lu Yao’s heroic deeds that he hadn’t touched his food. Lu Yao put some vegetables into his bowl and lightly tapped the edge of the bowl to remind him to eat.
“Yeah, I also think I’m pretty odd.”
Shen Yu laughed, “But back then, I didn’t think much about it. I was just completely awed and submissive to Brother Lu’s power! The other three brothers were the same. After we discussed it, we decided to recognize Brother Lu as our leader and wanted to follow him.”
Yu Le ate the food Lu Yao had served him and looked at Lu Yao, “Boss Lu, since you knew there were people blocking you in the alley, why did you still go? Was it because you wanted to recruit followers?”
Lu Yao calmly replied, “No.”
Yu Le asked, “Then why?”
Lu Yao: “Simply didn’t like them, wanted to beat them up.”
Yu Le: “… Can you really say that?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I asked Brother Lu about this before, and he answered me like that too, hahaha.”
Shen Yu, being carefree, was indifferent, “And I can testify that Brother Lu really didn’t go there to recruit followers. At first, when we said we wanted to follow him, he didn’t even bother with us. In the end, we had to persist and pester him before he reluctantly agreed.”
Yu Le: “What did you want to do by following him? Fight?”
Shen Yu: “At first, yes. And Brother Lu was really fierce in fights. In less than half a semester, he had beaten up all the local troublemakers who liked to bother students. You don’t know how satisfying that period was for me.”
Yu Le clapped in support, “And then?”
“Later? Later it was quite disappointing.”
Shen Yu sighed dramatically, “We knew Brother Lu was strong in fights and had a cold temper, but we didn’t know he was also so good academically. His mid-term grades were miles ahead of second place in the grade. When the results came out, I was dumbfounded.”
“Couldn’t beat him in fights, couldn’t match him in looks, and not even in grades. I thought we were on the same level, only to find out I was riding a wooden horse while he was in a manned rocket. The gap was just too discouraging.”
Yu Le: “You were discouraged?”
Shen Yu: “Of course! So the biggest pleasure I had back then was bragging about how amazing my leader was. Seeing others’ envious looks, I felt so proud!”
Yu Le: “…”
“Hehe, just kidding.”
Shen Yu chuckled, “Bragging aside, what’s more important is that Brother Lu gave me a whole new perspective on academic excellence. It turns out that high-achieving students aren’t necessarily the bookish types with thick glasses; they can also be school bullies who fight and skip classes.”
“Seriously, a high-achieving student who’s also fierce in fights is incredibly cool. To be honest, my enthusiasm for studying peaked back then. Fighting became secondary. When I took my homework home to do it seriously, my parents were shocked.”
“Well, if I managed to get into college, it’s all thanks to Brother Lu. If I hadn’t followed him, I might not have even shown up for the college entrance exams, and I’d probably still be wasting time somewhere.”
Feeling emotional, he poured himself a full glass of wine and said boldly, “Brother Lu, you’re like my second parents! I toast to you!”
Lu Yao raised his glass, “Toasting is fine, but no need to call me ‘Dad.’”
Shen Yu laughed heartily, “Alright, I won’t call you that. Oh right, Brother Lu, I’ve been talking about the past. I haven’t asked yet—have you settled down and found a wife?”
Lu Yao: “No.”
“Hey, hey, hey, now we’re on the same starting line,” Shen Yu said smugly. “Next time an old classmate mocks me for being single, I’ll bring you out to block the attacks, haha.”
Lu Yao smiled without commenting and put another piece of tender beef into Yu Le’s bowl.
Shen Yu continued, “But seriously, I’m so pressed for time by the capitalist grind and no girl is interested in me. But Brother Lu, you’re not that young anymore. Back when you were in the army, it was one thing, but now that you’re out and have so much time and good conditions, why haven’t you found a partner? Are you planning to stay single like you said in high school?”
Yu Le: “What did he say in high school?”
“He said he didn’t plan to have a girlfriend.”
Shen Yu exaggeratedly told Yu Le, “You know, back in high school, Brother Lu was a real superstar. He was good-looking, had a good family background, and many girls sent him love letters. His drawer was so stuffed with letters that it could hardly close. But he didn’t look at any of them or accept any.”
Yu Le nodded. He had also received love letters, but nothing as exaggerated as filling a drawer. It was clear that Lu Yao was very popular back then.
Shen Yu: “Brother Lu, can I ask what was going through your mind back then? At seventeen or eighteen, when hormones are all about early love, you didn’t want to date?”
Lu Yao: “Didn’t like it, no need to accept.”
Shen Yu: “So many girls sent you love letters, and you didn’t like any of them? I think you didn’t want a girlfriend; you were just too picky and had too high standards.”
Shen Yu thought Lu Yao would just brush it off, but to his surprise, Lu Yao actually nodded, “You’re right about that.”
Shen Yu: “?”
Shen Yu was intrigued, “If you say it like that, I’m not sleepy anymore. How about this: tell me what kind of person you like. I’ve met many people over the years, and many are still single. I’ll see if I can introduce you to someone suitable.”
Yu Le also turned to him with interest, curious about the requirements of someone who planned to stay single for life.
Lu Yao: “Someone good-looking.”
Shen Yu nodded in agreement, “Of course, appearance is important.”
Lu Yao: “Someone younger than me.”
Shen Yu’s eyebrows shot up, “Didn’t see you liked younger ones, but it’s fine. Younger people are endearing, as long as they’re not underage. Anything else?”
Lu Yao: “Someone with artistic talent.”
Yu Le raised his eyebrows slightly.
Shen Yu: “?”
Lu Yao: “Someone who can make clothes.”
Shen Yu was baffled: “… Huh?”
What a peculiar preference!
Lu Yao continued slowly, “Smart, kind, a little shy, occasionally bold, delicate, precious, and a bit spoiled is fine too. I’d take care of her, and she should like eating the food I cook, especially sweet and sour fish.”
“That’s quite a list of requirements,” Shen Yu said, scrunching his nose. “Individual requirements aren’t a problem, but combining them all is really tough. Where would I find someone like that? Brother Lu, you’re too picky.”
“Picky?”
Lu Yao slightly tilted his chin towards Yu, who was quietly smiling beside him, his eyes glimmering with a soft, gentle light. “Isn’t there one right in front of you?”
