Chapter 10

Forget it, hanging out with Monkey always costs money. We know him well, don't we? Liu Yina stuffed the money into my hand.

Monkey was still unconscious when he came out, and after being settled into the ward, he received an anti-inflammatory infusion.

The doctor said he needed to be observed for a few more days. I went to get some living supplies, and by the time I finished, it was almost 11 o'clock. Monkey was still unconscious, and the oxygen tank on the wall was bubbling. The food I brought for Monkey had all gone cold; it looked like he wouldn't be able to eat it tonight.

I was a bit hungry, so I took a small steamed bun to eat.

Suddenly, Monkey mumbled intermittently: "Don't eat my food."

I jumped up: "You're awake?!"

But Monkey didn't respond, his eyes still tightly closed. Only the oxygen tank on the wall continued to bubble.

I sighed, thinking it must be a dream. I continued eating my steamed bun.

"Don't eat," Monkey said again, spitting out three more words.

"What the hell?!" I stared at Monkey, holding the steamed bun in one hand and slapping his face with the other.

He still didn't respond.

I was shocked, never expecting Monkey to protect his food even in a coma.

I had no choice but to stop eating, hoping he would rest well and not worry about the food. Monkey didn't say anything else, so I rented a simple single bed and slept next to him. The night passed in a daze.

The next morning, Monkey finally woke up and wolfed down the food. When I mentioned what happened last night, he completely denied it, saying I was just talking nonsense.

I didn't bother to argue with him.

After eating, Monkey started demanding to be discharged. He was scolded by the doctor and finally gave up. I told him to stay and not rush to take revenge on the Ninth Prince, saying there was plenty of time. Monkey said, "Nonsense, I haven't finished my game tasks today." I asked if he didn't want to take revenge. Monkey said, "Of course I do, I have to. I'll tell you about someone; go find him and tell him I was stabbed by Big Cat."

I asked who, and Monkey said, "Huang Jie from Class 2. Go find him; he should be sleeping in the dorm. Then he gave me the dorm number. I realized Monkey had friends, and he must have wanted me to find this person to help take revenge on the Ninth Prince.

After settling Monkey, I returned to school and entered the dorm he mentioned. Sure enough, someone was sleeping. I woke him up, and he groggily asked who I was. I said I was Monkey's friend and that Monkey had sent me to find him.

Huang Jie immediately lay back down.

"Hey," I patted him.

"I don't have money, go find someone else!" Huang Jie was very impatient.

"No, Monkey told me to tell you he was stabbed by Big Cat."

"What?" Huang Jie sat up: "Who was stabbed?"

"Monkey was stabbed."

Huang Jie became even more anxious: "Who stabbed him?"

"Big Cat."

"Which Big Cat?"

"The Big Cat from the Ninth Prince."

"Really?"

"Really."

Huang Jie was stunned, looking incredulous. I thought, "Sure enough, he's a brother; he went crazy when he heard Monkey was stabbed."

Before I could finish, Huang Jie suddenly started laughing, a silly grin on his face. At first, he chuckled, then giggled, and finally burst out laughing, as if he had encountered the happiest thing in the world.

Now it was my turn to be stunned. He was actually so happy to hear that Monkey was stabbed. Clearly, they were enemies. Why did Monkey send me to tell him?

Not satisfied with just laughing, Huang Jie jumped out of bed, put on his slippers, and started dancing around the dorm, singing, "The vast horizon is my love, the endless green mountains are in full bloom, what kind of rhythm is the most swinging?"

I watched him go crazy in the dorm and finally couldn't take it anymore: "Cut it out, even if you have a grudge with Monkey, there's no need to be like this!"

Huang Jie stopped and looked at me in surprise. I huffed and stood up to leave.

Huang Jie said, "What's your relationship with Monkey?"

"Brothers!"

"He has brothers?"

"That's right, I am!"

"Good." Huang Jie said, "Go tell Monkey I know, and I'll wait for him to take revenge together."

I was stunned: "You said you'll take revenge with Monkey?"

"Of course, we're brothers, so we should take revenge together."

"But you were so happy just now."

"Right, I was happy because I knew Monkey took the stab on purpose."

I looked at Huang Jie in shock, completely unable to understand. My mind was in a daze.

"Why?"

"Isn't it obvious? Unless Monkey did it on purpose, how could that waste of a Big Cat stab him?"

"I mean, why did Monkey take the stab on purpose?"

"Didn't Monkey tell you?"

"No."

Huang Jie thought for a moment: "You'd better ask him yourself."

"Alright." I knew I wouldn't get an answer from him, so I turned to leave.

"Hey, wait."

"Hmm?" I turned around.

"Can you lend me five yuan? I haven't had breakfast yet."

"What kind of person are you?!"

I threw him five yuan and left the dorm in a huff. Now I believed Monkey and Huang Jie were brothers and understood why they weren't together. Two poor guys couldn't survive together!

Because I had visited Huang Jie, I became even more interested in why Monkey had taken the stab on purpose. I rushed to the hospital but found the ward empty. Monkey was gone, and the IV bottle still had half the liquid left.

I asked the nurse, who was surprised: "Where did he go? He was just here!"

"If anything happens to him, I'll find the hospital!" I pushed past the nurse and went outside to look for him.

I didn't find him in the hallway, the toilet, or anywhere else. His phone wasn't answered. I was getting worried, thinking the Ninth Prince might have come to finish him off. I even considered calling the police! As I searched, I slapped my head. Why didn't I think of that place?!

I rushed to the internet cafe and saw Monkey wearing a big headset, cursing at someone.

"Are all you Shanghai people idiots? Giving away kills right from the start? Oh, you're from Northeast China! Northeast people are even more idiotic! In winter, your pee freezes into icicles outside! Can't you hang a hand warmer on your balls?!"

I rushed over and yanked off his headset.

Monkey was stunned: "Oh, Zuo Fei, you're here. Sit down, sit down."

"Sit down? Why aren't you in the hospital getting your IV?"

"I'll go back after I finish my task."

"Is the task more important than your health? I'm about to suffocate from anger."

"Both are important."

"Monkey, you need to change this unhealthy lifestyle. You just got stabbed yesterday and are still under observation. Please take care of yourself. You want to take revenge, right? How can you do that in this state?"

Monkey lowered his head, covering his face with his hands, looking very distressed.

I sighed, finally getting through to him. It seemed Monkey wasn't beyond saving.

I patted his shoulder, about to speak.

"I messed up my teammates badly. Now everyone in the game is cursing me, and our province is being called idiots," Monkey said, looking infinitely distressed.

I had given up on trying to change him.

Five minutes later, I was sitting in front of a computer.

If you can't change the world, you have to adapt to it. Who said this profound truth?

But I really didn't like playing games. After a while, I felt itchy all over and went outside to smoke. I had only taken a few steps when I saw Huang Jie at the counter, handing over five yuan.

"Add it to my membership."

I rushed over, angrily grabbing the five yuan: "You said you needed it for breakfast!"

I recognized the five yuan; it was the change from buying century eggs and lean meat porridge, with a corner folded.

Huang Jie looked at me blankly.

Five minutes later, the three of us were sitting in front of computers.

If you can't change the world, you have to adapt to it.

Monkey and Huang Jie didn't say a word, acting like strangers. But once they started playing, they were eerily similar, cursing people all over the country in no time.

I added them both on QQ and created a discussion group, asking how they planned to take revenge.

No response. Both were busy playing and cursing.

Finally, at noon, I said, "Let's go eat?"

Monkey said, "I'm not hungry."

Huang Jie said, "I'm not hungry."

I took out money.

Both stood up: "Oh, suddenly feeling a bit hungry."

We entered a noodle shop, and both wolfed down their food as if they hadn't eaten for three days or wouldn't eat for three days after this meal. I tapped the table: "Can you tell me why Monkey took the stab on purpose now?"

"Why talk about useless things while eating?" Monkey said, his mouth full of noodles.

"Fine, let's talk after eating."

Both finished almost simultaneously and stood up to leave, as if the nearby internet cafe was their mother.

"Boss, I don't have money." I said calmly.

"Hey," the boss in an apron blocked their path.

They had to come back: "Zuo Fei, you can't go back on your word."

"I'll pay if you explain first."

Monkey and Huang Jie looked at each other.

Monkey said, "Six months ago, I stabbed Big Cat. You know that, right?"

"Yes, after that, they never dared to bother you again and treated you with respect."

"That stab was on my orders," Huang Jie said. "We were roommates, but I moved out because I couldn't stand him always borrowing money from me."

"Ha, you never borrowed from me?"

"Did you ever lend me a cent? You're so stingy."

"Did you ever lend me a cent? You're a miser."

Both glared at each other, their tone getting more aggressive, ready to fight.