Chapter 25

“Can you really tell people’s fortunes? “Lin Wuyu smiled and leaned back on the reclining chair.

“I can ah,” Ding Ji said with a smile, “But I can also observe, why would I need to calculate what I can already tell by observing, I already had a hunch in mind, so I went in this direction after calculating and solving.”

Lin Wuyu smiled and said nothing.

“Summer is the best season to watch the stars,” Ding Ji said. “There’s a vast expanse.”

“Do you always stargaze?” Lin Wuyu asked.

“Not always. There are a few children who don’t want to play and instead look at the stars,” Ding Ji said, “Sometimes I don’t have anyone to play with, so I just come up and watch… Except for the Big Dipper, what else can you see?”

“Leo, Virgo, Scorpio, Sagittarius,” Lin Wuyu said, “there is also the Southern Dipper…”

“Did you memorise them or can you really see them?” Ding Ji looked incredulous.

“These are the constellations that can be seen in summer,” Lin Wuyu closed his eyes and said happily, “You can see the red constellation Antares in the south, there is a poem…”

“If you don’t meet each other in life, it’s like participating in a business 1 .” Ding Ji said, “Alright fine, if you can see it, you can also recognize it.”

“I’ve taken aerial photos with my drone with other people a few times,” Lin Wuyu rested on his arms, and closed his eyes, “If you spend the night in the mountains, you can see very clearly, the stars are big and bright.”

“Are there any mosquitoes?” Ding Ji asked, “I’ll be bitten to death.”

“You’re concerned about this,” Lin Wuyu laughed, “I will bring you with me next time. Sacrifice you, and the whole team benefits.”

“I’ve been attracting mosquitoes since I was a child,” Ding Ji smiled, “When I was a child, my grandma and I were downstairs chilling, and the mosquito coils were placed next to me. Irritating and biting at the same time… My grandma had to slap me all night, forty or fifty slaps…”

“Then don’t go ah,” Lin Wuyu said, “There won’t be so many mosquitoes if you stay at home.”

“That won’t do, we still have to go,” Ding Ji said, “My grandpa and grandma, they don’t have any culture, they think they can’t teach me anything, so they show me life experiences… Every single person, what they say, the things they do, their actions, their expressions… You can tell a lot of things if you observe it for a night…”

Lin Wuyu didn’t speak. It was no wonder Ding Ji’s observation skills were so strong.

But he couldn’t recall much of his childhood… There was nothing to recall, and he had spent most of the time studying and being in a daze.

When Ding Ji’s chatterbox mode was initiated, it couldn’t be turned off for a long time.

Lin Wuyu couldn’t hear what Ding Ji said after. It just felt as though someone was whispering in his ear, vague yet comfortable.

In the middle of the night, Grandpa’s voice could suddenly be heard very clearly, like a landmine.

“You two come downstairs to sleep!” Grandpa yelled, “Why did you two run to the rooftop to sleep? Can you even sleep in those chairs? Your back will hurt tomorrow!”

“Hm?” Lin Wuyu suddenly sat up.

When he turned his head, he saw Ding Ji huddled on the reclining chair. Grandpa shook him several times yet wasn’t able to wake him up.

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Lin Wuyu rubbed his face, got up and pulled Ding Ji’s arm up from the reclining chair, “Ding Ji.”

“…Fuck.” Ding Ji took a long time to become conscious after sitting up, “I fell asleep?”

“You two have slept here for more than an hour,” said Grandpa. “Your grandma knew you must definitely be here… Hurry back to the house to wash up and go back to bed!”

As Lin Wuyu went downstairs behind Ding Ji, he felt as though his feet were floating.

Another intriguing experience, he actually fell asleep watching stars on the rooftop.

Back in the house, Ding Ji quickly pulled out two new towels and a new toothbrush for him, “Go wash up first.”

“Oh.” Lin Wuyu hesitated for a while, “I don’t have any underwear in my luggage, you give me one.”

“I’ll look for it.” Ding Ji scratched his head and opened the drawer.

After rummaging for a minute, he found a new pair of underwear in the corner of the drawer.

After Lin Wuyu took a shower, he realized that the underwear was an old man-styled loose big underpants. He stood in the bathroom for a while, and finally had to put it on.

When he returned to the room, Ding Ji was playing with his mobile phone. When he looked up and saw his pants, he was shocked for a while before he said, “What are you wearing?”

“You’re asking me?” Lin Wuyu was also shocked, lowered his head and tugged his pants, “Didn’t you get this for me? I can’t even put my pants on with this thing on.”

“I didn’t know ah,” Ding Ji stared at him, and fell onto the bed with a laugh after a few seconds, “That might be my grandpa’s, and my grandma ended up stuffing it here.”

“Are there any other styles?” Lin Wuyu asked expectantly, “Boxer briefs are fine, as long as they’re not long.”

“There aren’t any,” Ding Ji replied ruthlessly, “I found this one after searching for a long time. Would you like to… wear mine?”

Lin Wuyu looked at him for a while, “Forget it.”

“So particular 2 ,” Ding Ji happily took his clothes and walked out, “Then you can wear that. Just wash your underwear and hang them out on the balcony, and they will be dry tomorrow.”

Ding Ji quite liked to chat with Lin Wuyu, it was relaxing. There was no need to find topics, and there would be no embarrassing situation where the two talking parties can’t get on the same wavelength.

But today was a little regretful. They both had drunk wine. If it wasn’t for Grandpa going up and yelling, they probably would have slept until the sun rose.

Although he went back to the house, he still couldn’t freshen up after taking a shower, and was still sleepy.

Meanwhile, Lin Wuyu was already lying on the bed and had fallen asleep.

And he slept in the middle without any courtesy. Probably because the only pillow on the bed was right in the middle.

Ding Ji sighed, pulled out a pillow from the cabinet and threw it on the bed, then pushed Lin Wuyu to the side. He pushed Lin Wuyu twice yet the latter remained unmoving.

“And you still don’t admit that you’re a pig?” Ding Ji clenched his teeth and smacked him again.

He finally turned over and turned to the other side. Ding Ji went over, grabbed his hair and lifted it up, and stuffed the pillow under his head.

Lin Wuyu slept as though he was dead, and even when someone pulled his hair and pushed his head, he didn’t respond, and he actually fell asleep on his side.

“Sleep so well ah.” Ding Ji put another pillow and laid down.

After turning off the lights, drowsiness quickly swept his consciousness away…

Lin Wuyu rolled over, and after lying flat, he stretched out his arm and hit him in the face.

“Do you want to die!” Ding Ji was startled and threw his arm back.

Lin Wuyu was silent.

But on this night, Ding Ji was reflecting on his inaccuracy in judging people. He concluded that Lin Wuyu slept very soundly, while he was actually shoved by his movements over six hundred times in one night.

This person not only slept very well, it was even like fighting. His arms, legs, and hands never stayed in his half of the bed, and he kicked him at least seven or eight times in the middle of the night. If he had been training in martial arts, Lin Wuyu would already be the number one martial arts expert.

Mount Hua 3 ’s practitioners would not dare to compete.

“I have a piece of advice for you.” When he woke up in the morning, Ding Ji stood beside the bed and looked at Lin Wuyu with a grave expression.

“Say it.” Lin Wuyu yawned.

“If you sleep in the same bed with someone in the future,” Ding Ji said, “First tie yourself with a rope.”

“What’s wrong?” Lin Wuyu asked, “Did I sleepwalk and hit you?”

“You hit me without sleepwalking.” Ding Ji said.

“Really?” Lin Wuyu was a little dazed.

“Yes! Absolutely!” Ding Ji came over and smacked him several times, “Fucking just like that, I didn’t sleep well all night even though I had drank!”

“…Am I that scary?” Lin Wuyu was shocked.

“You didn’t know at all?” Ding Ji was also shocked.

“Don’t know.” Lin Wuyu said.

“Then you know now?” Ding Ji asked.

“Know.” Lin Wuyu nodded.

“Treat me to breakfast.” Ding Ji said.

Grandpa and Grandma had gone out for a walk early in the morning. When they got up, Grandma and Grandma still hadn’t come back.

“My grandma usually cooks breakfast,” Ding Ji said. “She doesn’t bother when I’m on vacation. She goes with my grandpa to the lake every day to listen to people playing the erhu, and doesn’t come back until noon.”

“Their relationship is so good.” Lin Wuyu smiled.

“They also quarrel,” Ding Ji said, “and my grandpa still talks back. When he was younger, his physical strength was better, they could even fight, but everything would be fine after two days.”

Lin Wuyu always found it interesting when he hear Ding Ji talk about his family members’ shortcomings. Their dormitory would sometimes talk about family matters, and he liked to hear those too, but these things about Ding Ji’s family were more appealing.

Maybe it was like the kind of fireworks that he never imagined, it was very original, without any embellishment, like leaves that grow directly from the soil, bringing along the soil and full of vitality.

——

Older residential areas have relatively abundant breakfast options.

After drinking the wine, one would always feel very hungry the next day, don’t mention Lin Wuyu, even Ding Ji seemed like a big eater, and the two ordered a table, some stuffed dumplings, dumplings, noodles and pancakes.

“What are your plans for today?” Ding Ji asked while eating.

“My classmate sent a message in the morning,” Lin Wuyu said. “We’re meeting at noon, going out to play in the afternoon, and then taking our homeroom teacher out for dinner.”

“About the same for me,” Ding Ji said. “Let’s revel before the release of the results.”

“I’ll put my things at your place first?” Lin Wuyu asked.

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“Mhm,” Ding Ji nodded, “What valuables do you still have in your dormitory, notebooks, etc., if you don’t need them, bring them here. Since it’s the holidays, everyone in the dorm has left, so no one will know when you go in.”

“Thank you.” Lin Wuyu said.

“Don’t thank me so much,” Ding Ji sighed, “As for the stuff, just put them in a few boxes.”

“Then what if I still want to stay there later?” Lin Wuyu said.

“Then stay,” Ding Ji thought for a while, “You should stay in my aunt’s room. I’m afraid that you will be done for, if I can’t tolerate sleeping in the same bed with you and end up reporting you.”

Lin Wuyu laughed for a long time, “I really didn’t know.”

“Have you been sleeping by yourself all this time? Didn’t your parents…” Ding Ji suddenly reacted halfway through and waved his hand quickly, “Pretend I didn’t ask, I was confused.”

He had to meet Xu Tianbo and Chen Mang and the others at the gate of the school at 11.00 for their appointment. When Lin Wuyu returned to school early after eating, it was just 10.30, and several of them had not yet left home.

Lin Wuyu stood at the entrance for two minutes and returned to the dormitory.

The dormitory that the seniors stayed in was basically empty, and there was still some scattered rubbish on the ground, as well as papers and books, not many, but you could tell the hurry and confusion and excitement when everyone left.

Lin Wuyu walked in the corridor and could only hear his own footsteps.

In the past, no matter how quiet it was, you could hear all kinds of sounds. Even in the middle of the night, there would be a few snoring kings making a sound that made people feel at ease, up till the exams, there would still be lights that were lit until very late.

Now these sounds and scenes only exist in memory.

Lin Wuyu stretched and sighed.

Their dormitory was also deserted. In order to protect the safety of the luggages he didn’t take, Chen Mang and the others piled up tables and chairs outside the cabinet door.

He removed these things and looked at the things in the cabinet. Except for clothes, there was nothing much to prevent theft against. The notebook should have been taken to Ding Ji’s house. It was a gaming book and was more expensive.

After standing dazed in the dormitory for a while, he heard someone approaching towards the door.

He admired his sharp hearing a little bit. He could hear the footsteps of several people in their dormitory, as well as Xu Tianbo from next door.

“I knew you were in the dormitory.” Xu Tianbo pushed open the dormitory door.

“Why did you come so early?” Lin Wuyu asked.

“My dad brought me here,” Xu Tianbo said. “He still has things to do.”

“I thought we’d only go out tomorrow,” Lin Wuyu said, “These people don’t need to rest up for a full day?”

“If it was normal, I would definitely fall asleep,” Xu Tianbo said. “I can’t sleep. This is not an ordinary holiday. It’ll be rare for this group of people to see each other again in the future. Even if they asked me to come out in the middle of the night, I’ll also come out.”

Lin Wuyu laughed, “The two of us can still meet.”

“Have you decided on your major?” Xu Tianbo said, “Mechanical engineering?”

“Mhm,” Lin Wuyu nodded, “Decided.”

“Then we’ll meet at H University soon,” Xu Tianbo smiled, “I don’t know if we’d be far apart, if it’s not far, we can have a barbecue together.”

“Take this moment to eat,” Lin Wuyu thought for a while, “When you get a girlfriend, you’ll probably bring other people to eat.”

“We don’t know who will get a partner first,” Xu Tianbo said with a smile, “Fish ah.”

“Hm?” Lin Wuyu looked at him.

“Just… be careful,” Xu Tianbo said. “Don’t fall in love for the sake of falling in love, or because of loneliness… you know what I mean.”

“I understand.” Lin Wuyu nodded.

Their phones rang at the same time, and Chen Mang sent a message to the group saying that he was at the entrance.

“Let’s go,” Xu Tianbo stood up, “Go and play.”

——

Ding Ji’s classmates actually had no activities today, and they were going out tomorrow.

His holiday activity today was to fight Old Six 4 with Liu Jinpeng.

Liu Jinpeng is full of fighting spirit, “How should we fight! At your word!”

“Just frighten him a few times,” Ding Ji said, “What else do you want to beat him into? The main thing is to force him to pay back the money… Has he written the IOU I told you to ask him to?”

“Left it at home,” Liu Jinpeng said, “But to be honest, if you really sue him, he won’t be able to get up.”

“Then to jail he’ll go!” Ding Ji said.

“I’m going to work next month.” Liu Jinpeng said suddenly.

“Where are you going to work?” Ding Ji was a little surprised, Liu Jinpeng had been helping his cousin before, buying and selling things and running errands.

“My cousin found the job for me, and said it would be better to have a more stable job,” Liu Jinpeng said. “His friend built a pet store, it’s quite high-end.”

“That’s quite suitable for you,” Ding Ji said, “Don’t you really like dogs and cats?”

“Yes, there’s not a lot of work,” Liu Jinpeng was very happy. “Sooner or later, I can even take a bunch of dogs out for a walk…”

Before he finished speaking, he pointed forward, “There!”

Ding Ji didn’t even see where Old Six was, yet he rushed out first, and ran for more than ten meters before seeing Old Six running wildly in front.

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In terms of running, Old Six was not Ding Ji’s opponent, and he couldn’t even be compared to Liu Jinpeng who couldn’t even catch up to Ding Ji pantless.

Ding Ji and Liu Jinpeng caught up with him before he ran far.

“Pay back the money! Pay back the money! Pay back the money! Pay back the money! Money!” Liu Jinpeng followed behind him with a hammer on his shoulder.

“I’ll pay it back ah! I’ll pay it back!” Old Six shouted as he ran, “I’ll pay back the money!”

“Talk less! Give it to Laozi!” Liu Jinpeng continued to hammer him, “Pretend to be cute!”

“What pretending to be cute!” Old Six was a little confused by Liu Jinpeng’s hammering. Liu Jinpeng kept hammering his shoulder. He hugged his head as he ran, “I’ll do what you say!”

“Laozi is talking about paying back! Pay back! Money, money, money, money!” Liu Jinpeng roared.

“I didn’t say I won’t pay it back!” Old Six squatted down with his head in his arms, “You can keep hitting, I won’t have to pay it back if you kill me!”

“You think beautifully!” Ding Ji patted him on the head, “I’ll remind you every day from now on! When you pay back the money I’ll stop!”

“Did you hear that?” Liu Jinpeng kicked his butt.

“Where did you spend the money?” Ding Ji also squatted down and looked at Old Six, “You don’t gamble, you only smoked 5 yuan worth, what happened to the money?”

“This has nothing to do with you.” Old Six said in a muffled voice.

“Nothing to do with me!” Ding Ji jumped up and kicked his ass, “You cheated this grandfather of 28,000 yuan, and you fucking say that it has nothing to do with me!”

“Ji,” Liu Jinpeng said, “Spend less time on Weibo.”

Ding Ji looked at him.

“What he said has nothing to do with you.” Liu Jinpeng said earnestly.

“Really?” Ding Ji stopped.

“Yeah!” Old Six shouted.

“I don’t care if you are,” Ding Ji said. “If you don’t tell me where the money went today, I’ll make your head into a pumpkin!”

“My girlfriend needed it urgently to see a doctor, I gave it to her,” Old Six still held his head in his hands, “I’ll pay you back in a while.”

“Where did this girlfriend come from?” Ding Ji was shocked, “You even have a girlfriend? Do you have any principles?”

“Why would I not!” Old Six took out his mobile phone, “I really do… look.”

Liu Jinpeng grabbed the phone, looked at it a few times and asked Old Six, “Wechat dating?”

“She will come to see me when she is discharged from the hospital!” Old Six said.

Liu Jinpeng raised his head and looked at Ding Ji, “Call the police, Ji.”

“You idiot!” Ding Ji reacted instantly, pointing at Old Six, “Did you have your fucking brain gnawed when you were born!”

When Ding Ji and Liu Jinpeng took Old Six out of the police station, they felt an indescribable feeling.

With the pale expression on Old Six’s face as if he had suffering inhuman torture, Ding Ji didn’t bother to beat him again.

“This money may not be recovered,” Liu Jinpeng pointed at him. “You’d better start digging for the money now, I’ll keep an eye on you, you can’t run away.”

Ding Ji’s cell phone rang.

He quickly took out his phone and glanced at it.

It was Lin Wuyu.

— Little prodigy, are you free tomorrow? Let me introduce you to a job

— ??? What’s the meaning of this

— it’s time to start paying off the debt

Footnotes

this is a poem verse that means people are separated from each other and unable to see each other, just like how the 参 (shen) star 商 (shang) star (two stars, one in the west and one in the east, appearing one after the other, never appearing at the same time) phrase used here means to be fastidious despite being in a difficult situation 华山论剑: this phrase came from the martial arts novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes, it’s a martial arts competition between top martial arts masters on Mount Hua translated by the previous tl as Lao Liu