Chapter 5

Edited by: Akane, Fallen, Kazu, Liang Ye

Recently, I won a prize draw. The department store sent me a new style of briefcase made of real leather. Supposedly, it’s very popular in the west.

Zhao Gongzi, however, was being unreasonable and petty about it. “Has Laozi not gifted you things? How come I never see you bringing them with you every day?”

I attempted to reason with him and showed him the watch on my wrist. “I’m wearing this.”

However, Zhao Gongzi didn’t let the matter go. “What about the hat?”

Although I dislike Zhao Gongzi, I think no one would want to to put a green hat on himself.

…….okay, except for Zhao Gongzi, who is unconventional and original.

I had talked to him about the green hat thing in a subtle, roundabout way before, but he turned the conversation around and said that I wasn’t open-minded enough. “You’ve even gone to the European academy, work at the European bank, and wear European suits, so how come when it comes to this you’re like my dad and those other old fogeys?”

But even if he says this so righteously, he’s really just trying to keep his right to wear green hats. Because he knows I’ve disliked his wardrobe for a long time. Why does he like the colour green so much?

I like red.

Red is auspicious.

He and I really are naturally unsuited to each other.

Zhao Gongzi then asked again, “Well I’ve given you so many other things, and yet I don’t see you wearing them every day.”

I asked, “For example?”

“That bicycle I gifted you.”

“As long as I won’t be late to work, I always ride that bike to work.”

“Oh, you get up so early that I don’t know.”

“Uh-huh, that’s right. And, I get back really early too, so Zhao Gongzi is still at the dance halls.”

“Don’t say it like that, that’s for my business meetings.”

Only improper business needs to be discussed at dance halls. Jin Xian’er told me that. He said that the business that Zhao Gongzi manages is all of the improper type, and that he always brings him along, and that Zhao Gongzi isn’t proper.

……in truth, I’m starting to wonder what exactly Jin Xian’er is trying to do.

But I won’t talk out loud about it.

I won’t tell Jin Xian’er either. Ever since I was young, I’ve realized that Zhao Gongzi probably couldn’t be a proper, upright person his entire life. But even so, what is the use of that, the Zhao family has cared for me for so many years, it’s not like I can be ungrateful. It is what it is.

Zhao Gongzi continued with his questions, “Did you take a look at the book I gave you?”

“I did.”

Twelve identical books. And I had already read the book before he gave it to me.

“You’re lying, you didn’t read it at all.”

“I read it.”

Zhao Gongzi, seeing that he couldn’t fool me, said, “There’s also a cup.”

“Why don’t you just say that the whole apartment was gifted by you.”

Zhao Gongzi hollered in fury born of embarrassment, “I didn’t say that!”

Of course he can’t say that, I’m the one paying the rent for the apartment.

Today Zhao Gongzi’s unreasonable tantrum failed once again, so he sat angrily on the sofa and listened to the radio.

I sat at the dining table and wrote the review.

The briefcase wasn’t given to me for free. The department store had purchased a batch of the new styled briefcase, and because it was expensive and the style was still very new, the briefcase that wasn’t very fashionable and popular here became even more unmarketable. And so, the manager came up with this method as a way to advertise the product. As expected, many citizens eagerly participated in the activity after seeing the advertisement in the newspaper. In the end, they picked nine testers to write a review of the bag within a deadline. I thought it was interesting when I saw it, so I participated as well.

The manager is my classmate from the European academy, and our relationship is very good.

Zhao Gongzi might be using this as an excuse to be jealous.

Why? What will he gain from this?

Even if my classmates weren’t there, I’d still dislike him.

Zhao Gongzi listened to the radio for a while, then grumbled at me, “I’m thirsty, go and pour me a glass of milk.”

I replied, “Now that you mention it, I’m thirsty too. How about you go out and buy some milk?”

Zhao Gongzi shouted at me, “What use are you!”

“I suppose I’m useful when you, once again, forget to pay the electric and water bills, since I can pay them instead.”

Zhao Gongzi once again fell into a fury born of embarrassment, so he sat on the sofa and called his assistant. “Fuck, Laozi told you to pay the water and electric bills! You forgot again!”

Always pushing off the responsibility onto others when things go wrong, I hate this kind of person the most.

Zhao Gongzi slammed the phone down and hung up, then started shouting at me again. “Laozi pays his salary!”

“I’m living with you, not him.”

Zhao Gongzi hollered at me, “What do you want then?!”

“Go out and buy milk,” I said.

Zhao Gongzi slammed the door and went out to buy milk.

I hate people that slam my door.

When I finished writing the review, I went out to the department store to give it to the manager.

Zhao Gongzi was at the register, flirting with a young lady. “I haven’t seen you before, what’s your name? When do you get off work?”

The young lady answered in alarm, “Zhao Gongzi, my name is Qiu Yi.”

Zhao Gongzi’s expression immediately changed, and viciously shouted at her, “Fuck! Another Qiu! Where’s the milk?!”

The young lady pointed out the way for him in terror.

Zhao Gongzi glared at her.“Of all the last names, why have Qiu?!”

The young lady was full of confusion.

The manager stealthily asked me, “Isn’t that……”

I was imperturbable and very calmly replied, “No, it’s not. I don’t know him.”

The manager hesitated to speak, then spoke with hesitation. “Help Qiu Yi a little. She just came from the countryside recently. She’s very obedient, and also a bit timid.”

Why do so many people believe that I can help them? Zhao Gongzi lectures and scolds me every day, I can’t even help myself. Every day, I only scrounge up a few moments when I don’t have to talk to him and can be at peace. I don’t want to purposefully go and attract his attention.

The young lady brought Zhao Gongzi over to the milk section. Just as she was about to leave, she was stopped by Zhao Gongzi, who had grabbed onto her back collar. “Which one is good?”

The young lady pitifully looked towards the staff manning the milk counter.

Zhao Gongzi said, “I want you to tell me.”

The young lady replied, “I don’t drink milk.”

Zhao Gongzi criticized, “No wonder you’re so short. And dark too.”

The young lady looked about ready to burst into tears.

I felt a bit unwilling to let this go on. Just as I was going to go out and take her place of being shouted at by Zhao Gongzi, I saw a familiar figure.

If Jin Xian’er was here, then I’m at ease.

Jin Xian’er said to Zhao Gongzi, “Zhao Gongzi doesn’t need to throw such a temper. She’s just a young girl who doesn’t know anything. She’s just a shoe seller.”

Zhao Gongzi glared at him, then glared at the young lady. “Get lost.”

The young lady immediately got lost, and did so at a greater speed than I usually did.

Zhao Gongzi is just so annoying.

Jin Xian’er asked, smilingly, “How come you came to the department store in just slippers?”

Zhao Gongzi smiled in a very indecipherable manner. “We ran out of milk at home, and Yixin got thirsty.”

Jin Xian’er smiled in a very indecipherable manner as well. “Zhao Gongzi, don’t you know which brand of milk Mr. Qiu usually likes to drink?”

Zhao Gongzi immediately stopped smiling and swore at him,“What the hell’s it got to do with you?”

No matter what, Jin Xian’er was someone who always wore a smile on his face, and now he was smiling too. “How come Zhao Gongzi is so angry so suddenly? I’ll bring you over to get the milk, last time Mr. Qiu liked this brand…..”

Zhao Gongzi very angrily said, “I’ve already told you to stop going to see him.”

Jin Xian’er smilingly said, “Mr. Qiu takes great pleasure in chatting with me. What’s more, I can be of help sometimes.”

Zhao Gongzi became even angrier. “Fixing the water pipes and the recorder?”

Jin Xian’er replied, “And also helping to pay the water and electricity bills on the way back.”

In my opinion, Jin Xian’er should shut up.

It must be because he’s been with Zhao Gongzi for too long and has become annoying as well.

Rinrin: Oh my gods pfffftttt

Akane: +1