Pandora’s Box

Together with Zhuo Wenyang, this thief-like experience was so thrilling.

Zhuo Wenyang also looked at me, smiling, “It’s not easy to eat something alone.”

If we notified Cheng Yichen that we didn’t hurry to bed but rather headed out to grab skewers, we’d end up talking about this.

I laughed, “You’re going to end up spoiled because of me.”

Zhuo Wenyang smiled and said, “That’s also pretty good.”

We both agreed not to drive since we didn’t intend to go very far. We took a long walk together, chatted with each other, and rode down the side of the road on city bicycles, riding side by side through the cool air in the middle of the night.

We saw a food stall that was still open and lively in front of the store with people sitting inside and outside the store. With the smell of the barbecue grill carried by the wind, I turned my head and asked Zhuo Wenyang, “How about trying this restaurant, are you okay with that?”

I was a little worried that he may not be able to accept this humbling street venue. After all, there weren’t any decent chairs, only plastic stools.

He smiled amiably, “If you can, I can too.”

At this time, the daytime heat already dissipated and coolness of the night breeze made sitting in the open air much more enjoyable.

The food stall business was very successful. There were several tables occupied by enthusiastic customers. There were middle-aged men in sleeveless shirts or tanks chatting with their fists, and youths with tattoos on their arms taking their attractive girlfriends out for food. There were a few bottles of beer on everyone’s table, few skewers, pot of red crayfish, or fried 60 year old snails, exuding the unique atmosphere of food stalls.

We found a table and sat down, ordering some dishes. I was fine. Although I had eaten in many expensive restaurants, acting almost constrained, I was still very familiar with and also enjoyed food stalls on the roadside.

At this moment, I blended in with this simple background full of disarrayed cups and dishes with my wrinkled shirt, slippers, and messy hair that hadn’t been combed for several days due to my excessive studying.

However, Zhuo Wenyang was always so neat and tidy, meticulous from head to toe. He even wore a snow-white shirt buttoned to the neck. He looked very dazzling and out of place simply by sitting here quietly.

His eye-catching appearance caught the attention of unpleasant eyes. Youths at the next table gave him a few looks of unfriendliness.

As for the two girlfriends they were spending time with, their eyes were much friendlier. The two females glanced over, whispered, chatted, and laughed, sneakily raising their mobile phones.

We all felt this but we didn’t mind. Irrelevant bystanders could take a second look whenever, demonstrating appreciation or rejection, it wasn’t a big deal.

The boss’s wife quickly brought up the grilled beef and lamb skewers. A large handful of fat and lean meat skewers were grilled golden brown and fragrantly. The oil was still bubbling off the plate.

I was very hungry and directly ate a bunch of them. My mouth was full of oil and I quickly poured a large glass of frothy, cold beer while chewing.

Zhuo Wenyang looked at me and asked, “Is it delicious?”

I gulped it down, put down the cup, and let out a long breath before replying, “This is really good. Damn, it’s so freaking good, 30 points for the test.”

Zhuo Wenyang slightly raised his eyebrows, “What does that mean?”

I slapped my thigh, “Ah, that it’s so delicious!”

Zhuo Wenyang thought for a while and couldn’t resist laughing out loud. He was so cute when a bad joke was made, causing him to laugh so much.

Therefore, I told a lot of terrible jokes on the table. Although well-read, Zhuo Wenyang didn’t know much about bad jokes. Whatever I said was considered new to him and it would cause him to laugh.

It was really fun to get along with scholars who didn’t often entertain on forums.

Also, he looked so beautiful when he smiled!

After eating for some time, there were not enough disposable gloves for peeling crayfish. Zhuo Wenyang said, “I’ll get it.”

He went up to head to the counter. The aisles between tables and chairs in the restaurant were rather cramped. The curvy, boss’s wife was carrying a trashcan and cleaning up the leftovers on the table. The waiter was seen serving food with a plate of hot grilled fish on top of burning charcoal underneath. At the next table, the female with a face shaped like a small apple took a few bottles of drinks and was walking back. While dodging, she bumped into Zhuo Wenyang.

Little Apple let out an “oops” in a panicked manner. As soon as she withdrew from Zhuo Wenyang’s arms, the little brother who served the grilled fish walked past them yelling out, “Be careful.” Zhuo Wenyang apologized, stretching out his arms to protect her politely. Little Apple let out a soft “ah” again, but her face was slightly tinged with pink.

“Excuse me.”

“It’s nothing.”

The young man with a blue dragon tattoo on his arm reactively stood up at this moment. When he got up, he angrily shoved Zhuo Wenyang.

“What are you trying to do? You’re deliberately taking advantage of my wife, right?”

Zhuo Wenyang was taken aback for a moment, frowned, and said, “I have not.”

“What? I wronged you? You mean my wife ended up in your arms by herself?”

Little Apple’s face quickly turned red and she grabbed him to go out, angrily scolding, “What crazy, drunk talk are you spouting? I told you to drink less.”

Brother Blue Dragon shook off her hand and scolded her, “What are you talking about? I’m crazy? I’m helping you out, but you say that I’m crazy? What do you mean huh? Siding with outsiders?”

I hurried over to provide rescue, “I’m sorry. Sorry, buddy. Don’t mind it, it was just an accidental bump. It wasn’t intentional. He won’t take advantage of girls.”

“What do you mean? Hey, you mean my wife isn’t worthy enough for him to make advances? Why are you lying? Do you really think you are a classy person? Are you that great? Let’s compare.”

His companions also stood up one after another, glaring at us.

“…..”

This brother reeked of alcohol. It appeared that he drunk quite a lot. The alcohol was mixed in with jealousy and he was causing trouble.

It wasn’t as if I couldn’t take more than a dozen. It was pretty easy for me with a beer bottle handy. However, Zhuo Wenyang liked to abide by the law. I also didn’t want to affect the boss’s business, let alone ruin this pleasant evening.

I persuaded sincerely, “No, Brother. Your girlfriend is very beautiful and she would definitely tempt ordinary men. I was embarrassed to say this, but…”

I pointed at Zhuo Wenyang, “He’s my partner.”

“…..”

The scene was quiet for a moment and everyone looked at us.

Brother Blue Dragon stared for a while and seemed to sober up from the alcohol. He reached out and patted my shoulder, saying, “Ah, then that’s fine.” Then, he said to Zhuo Wenyang, “I’m very sorry, Brother.”

I smiled and said, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Good for understanding.”

“…..”

Thus, everyone returned to their seats. After a short, awkward silence had passed, the store became lively again and customers continued to eat, drink, and talk loudly as if nothing had happened.

Brother Blue Dragon unexpectedly came over again, carrying two bottles of beer in his hand.

“??”

He said, “Don’t mind me, I’m just narrow-minded but not prejudiced.” Then, he placed the beers onto our table, “Please help yourselves!”

I thanked him with a smile, “Thank you, Bro. You’re so generous!”

I opened the beers, handed Zhuo Wenyang a bottle, and then raised the bottle to the neighboring table as a salute. The two girls immediately started to whisper again with beaming smiles.

After eating, paying the bill, and leaving, Zhuo Wenyang remained silent on the road. His cycling posture was also a little stiff.

I knew he must be uncomfortable because of what happened earlier. I was thick-skinned, careless, and always ran the train with my mouth. However, he was a serious person who always spoke genuinely.

“Don’t mind it,” I said, “I just didn’t want to bother with that guy. He was obviously drunk and didn’t make sense.”

Zhuo Wenyang nodded, “I know.”

I looked at his tall, straight figure, and his delicate yet fair side of his face, glowing in the street lights. Tree shadows swayed over his head, emphasizing his handsome and masculine appearance. I felt my heart beating wildly, and I couldn’t help from feeling bold.

I said, “Fortunately, they didn’t ask us to prove it.”

“Prove what?”

I giggled and said, “Prove that you are my partner.”

“…..” Zhuo Wenyang was silent for a while before he asked, “How do you prove this?”

“It’s quite simple,” I said generously, “just hold hands, kiss, or something.”

“…..”

Zhuo Wenyang stopped talking and I could see him tightening his lips. His surprise, his restraint, his embarrassment, his helplessness, oh God! Without saying anything, how could he be so adorable!?

Such a serious and honest person enticed others to play tricks, tease him, drive him into a corner, and make him at a loss…

I quickly shook my head vigorously. I was done! I seemed to truly drink too much!

Normally, I had such high tolerance and couldn’t be affected by those beers, but alcohol made me feel very restless.

There were two people in my brain, chattering and arguing the entire time. One said, “Be bold, go and get some. You two have such a good friendship that he won’t do anything if you eat a little bit of his tofu! At worst, you can say you’re drunk!”

The other warned me not to do anything extra.

When I returned home, the house was still quiet and there was a peaceful, sleepy ambiance. I fumbled to turn on the living room lights, and as soon as I asked, “Are you thirsty-,” Zhuo Wenyang immediately made a gesture to be quiet.

I realized that I couldn’t control my volume so I quickly shut up. I obediently tiptoed back to the bedroom carefully.

Zhuo Wenyang also came in, closing the door and breathing a sigh of relief. He said with a smile, “I told you not to drink at all.”

“I can’t waste it…” I said smilingly, “I’m not drunk.”

Zhuo Wenyang shook his head, “Ah you, my dad will scold me for spoiling you again. You have to clean up and quickly go to bed, or you won’t be able to get up to review tomorrow.”

I foolishly teased him, “I’m not sleepy, Zhuo Wenyang. I’m thirsty.”

He looked at me, “Then, I’ll get you some water.”

He went out silently and came back with a glass of lemonade.

I tilted my head and asked him, “Zhuo Wenyang, why am I still thirsty after drinking so much beer?”

“…..” He looked at me and explained, “That’s because alcohol destroys the water-salt balance in your body. It would be better if you drink some mineral water.”

“Wow!” I said happily, “Zhuo Wenyang, why do you know everything? You are so impressive!”

“…..”