Gu Lizhou couldn’t remember when he had fallen asleep, but before he even opened his eyes the next morning, he could already feel the blazing heat from outside the window.
Hot.
His entire body was sticky and uncomfortable to the point of misery, and even his breathing felt labored.
He looked up to find the air conditioner turned off.
Heartless little beast!
He even covered him with a blanket last night!
“Zhong Weishi!—” he shouted, only to find that no one was in the room.
Gu Lizhou fumbled for the remote control and pressed the switch button.
It didn’t start.
It was only after pressing the overhead light switch again that he was sure it that the power was out.
Didn’t pay the utility bill?
That was the first thought that popped into his head.
It was only seven o’clock.
Gu Lizhou sighed, shaking the tattered blanket dr4p3d over him. Zhong Weishi’s sleeping habits were terrible.
Last night, he had one leg thrown over Gu Lizhou’s waist, then rolled over to straddle him, and later, he just sprawled out completely, draping his legs over Gu Lizhou’s chest.
Utterly shameless.
At that time he was only one solid iron kitchen knife away from becoming a murderer.
In short, the night had left him with an aching waist and an utterly exhausted body, filled with regret.
The room was hot and stuffy. Gu Lizhou stretched lazily and planned to head back to Room 303 to catch up on sleep. That’s when he noticed a sticky note stuck to the front door.
“I’m off to the film crew. The key is on the table. If you go out, help me lock the door with a couple of extra turns. I’ll grab it from you later.”
Muttering “Even a thief wouldn’t bother coming here,” Gu Lizhou chuckled as he locked the door for him.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw the dirty clothes he had changed out of last night fluttering on the balcony in the breeze.
Including. His. Underwear.
If he remembered correctly, there was no such thing as a washing machine in that apartment…
The little beast washed it by hand?
So filial?
When Gu Lizhou returned to Room 303, he found out that the power outage was caused by an issue with the community’s circuit breaker. The electricity had been cut off for the entire complex around six in the morning, and workers were urgently repairing it.
“Have you eaten breakfast?” Cao Zhiheng asked, waving a large palm-leaf fan.
Meng Jingshi was sitting at the dining table, sipping soybean milk. When she saw Gu Lizhou sit down, she gave a shy smile and lowered her head.
Meeting her boyfriend’s friend for the first time, only to make him sleep in the next room, made her feel quite embarrassed.
Gu Lizhou yawned, poured himself half a glass of cold water, and asked, “Not yet. Got any more?”
“Nope. I thought you ate with your little brother, so I didn’t buy anything,” Cao Zhiheng said.
“Then why the hell did you asked, my ass.”
After finding his power bank, Gu Lizhou sent a message to Zhong Weishi.
-Did you wash my clothes?
-Probably that female ghost washed them for you last night.
Gu Lizhou chuckled to himself as he stared at his phone.
-Thanks.
-Kowtow to the female ghost.
“Staring at your pants. What are you looking at your crotch for?” Cao Zhiheng rapped the table, interrupting him. “I’m going to Jing Jing’s place for dinner tonight. I probably won’t be back until late. You’re on your own for dinner.”
“Yo,” Gu Lizhou raised an eyebrow. “Planning to meet the in-laws ah?”
“Yes ah,” Cao Zhiheng said, crossing his legs. “What kind of gift do you think I should bring for a first meeting with the in-laws ah…”
Gu Lizhou gave mocking laugh. “How would I know? I don’t have in-laws.”
Cao Zhiheng waved dismissively. “Forget it. Asking you is pointless. A solo since birth like you has no right to join this discussion.”
“He’s never been in a relationship ah?” Meng Jingshi’s eyes widened. She had always assumed that someone like Gu Lizhou, with his school-heartthrob-level looks, must be a seasoned player in the dating scene, only choosing to enjoy single life after growing tired of romance.
“Yes ah, we’ve all suspected he’s gay,” Cao Zhiheng joked with a grin.
Gu Lizhou raised his glass, pretending to throw it at him, and Cao Zhiheng quickly ducked behind his girlfriend, his smile mischievous.
“With your looks, finding a partner should be easy ah. Do you have an ideal type? Or any specific requirements for a girl?” Meng Jingshi asked.
Gu Li Zhou had no concept of the word “ideal type”.
Back in high school, some classmates had invited him out for a group meal and subtly hinted that a girl liked him. But at the time, he wasn’t interested in the slightest and responded bluntly with, “You’d better focus on your studies.” Unexpectedly, the girl burst into tears on the spot.
Gu Lizhou was confused.
It was only later that he learned the girl thought he was mocking her for having poor grades, which had made her cry in anger.
The next evening during self-study, the girl’s best friend cornered him in the classroom and, in front of the entire class, furiously scolded him: “Do you think you’re so great just because your grades are good? What’s so amazing about you? Do you even know she folded 999 paper cranes for you ah!…”
From that moment on, Gu Lizhou felt that girls were an incomprehensible species, and he never entertained the idea of dating throughout his three years in high school.
When he got to university, he became obsessed with writing, leaving him even less time to think about romance.
By the time he realized it, he had already missed the ambiguity crushes of adolescence and skipped straight to the restrained and rational approach adults have toward love.
And this was a kind of loss that lasted a lifetime.
He no longer had the desire to fall in love.
Maybe, just like the lyrics in that Eason Chan song, the person meant for him had been born in a different country, in a different year, before he was even born.
Maybe they had missed each other by a hundred years—a whole century.
Maybe that person was living on the same land as him, but due to various circumstances, they would never meet in this lifetime.
He believed in true love, but also knew that not everyone was lucky.
It’s possible to meet the right person at the right time.
Blind dates, marriage, children…
He knew that this was something he would inevitably have to face and experience, but there was an inexplicable resistance in him.
It was probably because he had been single for so long that he didn’t want to change his current, free lifestyle.
Meng Jingshi glanced up and continued, “I have a younger cousin who’s two years younger than me. She’s never been in a relationship either. Do you want me to introduce you two?”
Before Gu Lizhou could open his mouth to decline, Cao Zhiheng had already made the decision for him. “Sure ah, sure ah. What does she look like ah? Let me see.”
“What are you getting all worked up about?” Meng Jingshi shot him a look.
Cao Zhiheng: “I’m just helping him out… It’s his first time, so he’s inexperienced. Look at me—my judgment is top-notch.”
Meng Jingshi opened her friend’s social media and handed her phone to him. “Here, isn’t she pretty? She works for a state-owned enterprise now. Her dad’s a university professor, and her mom’s a bank client manager. Their family’s well-off, and she’s quiet, well-mannered, and cultured.”
“Yo, what a coincidence? Old Gu’s dad is a university professor too. This girl seems like a good match ah…” Cao Zhiheng glanced at his girlfriend and quickly added, “But no one’s better than you.”
At first glance, Gu Lizhou knew the girl wasn’t his type, but since she was Meng Jingshi’s cousin, he couldn’t reject her outright. Instead, he asked tactfully, “Where’s she from ah?”
“She’s from Yucheng ya. Lives in the city center—only half an hour by subway,” Meng Jingshi enthusiastically pitched.
Gu Lizhou put on a regretful expression. “What a pity. I live in City B and am just here for a trip.”
Cao Zhiheng, catching Gu Lizhou’s subtle signal, quickly chimed in, “Long-distance relationships are tough. Even figuring out where to spend New Year’s becomes a hassle. We can’t let your cousin go through that.”
Meng Jingshi pouted. “Aiya, travel is so convenient nowadays. Flying back and forth is quick ah. Besides, after getting married, you can just move over—what’s the big deal?”
Gu Lizhou: “I prefer someone a bit livelier since I have a pretty dull personality. If I end up with someone who doesn’t like to talk, we won’t have much to chat about ah.”
“Livelier? We’ve got that ah! Otherwise, look at this one… a kindergarten teacher and super outgoing.”
“…”
“Not satisfied ah? Okay, so she’s a bit on the heavier side, but she’s really popular, easygoing, and great to be around.”
Gu Lizhou thought to himself: A bit on the heavier side? This girl looks like she weighs more than he does.
Would he even be able to carry her on their wedding day?
Meng Jingshi caught on to what he was implying. “Otherwise, why don’t you tell me your type, and I’ll check with my girl friends for you?”
“I don’t really have any concept of this stuff. When you truly like someone, all those rules and conditions don’t matter. Even if it’s a guy, I’d chase him down.”
Cao Zhiheng choked on his soy milk, coughing for a long while.
Gu Lizhou fiddled with the keychain on the table. “I was just giving an example. Don’t overthink it. Besides, you’re not my type.”
Cao Zhiheng squinted and slowed his speech. “Wait a second… First, you say you don’t have a type, and then you say someone’s not your type. That’s contradictory ah, Old Gu.”
Gu Lizhou froze.
“Tsk tsk tsk,” Cao Zhiheng wagged his index finger, “Something’s off. You definitely have a type.”
Irritated by his persistence, Gu Lizhou said, “I like myself. Every time I look in the mirror, I wish I could marry myself. Okay?”
“…”
After breakfast, Cao Zhiheng dropped his girlfriend off at work. When he got home, the power was back on.
Gu Lizhou was sprawled on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.
“When are you going to roll back ah?” Cao Zhiheng asked.
“Why? You called me over when you were lonely and bored. Now that things are steady with your girlfriend, I’m suddenly in the way?” Gu Lizhou raised an eyebrow.
“No.” Cao Zhiheng laughed and slapped his leg. “Do I seem like that kind of person?”
Gu Lizhou: “I think so.”
Cao Zhiheng’s smile vanished. “So, when are you rolling?”
“I’ll pack up right now.”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Cao Zhiheng grabbed him. “I’m joking. Stay as long as you want. It’s fine. Worst case, when my girlfriend comes over, you can squeeze in with the kid again.”
“Forget it.” Gu Lizhou said, letting out another yawn. “I barely got three or four hours of sleep last night. I’m so sleepy. He’s like a tiny, immovable tractor, puttering away. I flipped him over multiple times, and he still didn’t wake up. Honestly, it’s unbelievable. I don’t even know what he was born as, but he sure knows how to sleep. Even when I was a student, I couldn’t sleep as much as he does.”
Despite his complaints, the smile in Gu Lizhou’s eyes was impossible to hide.
Cao Zhiheng threw his head back and laughed. “Really? Does he snore too?”
Gu Lizhou: “He’s better than you. You’re not snoring; you’re setting off fireworks.”
The two almost fought on the sofa.
Jokes and banter aside, Gu Lizhou knew he couldn’t keep crashing at someone else’s place forever. It was disrupting their relationship too much.
Just a couple of days ago, his college roommate Cheng Hang had reached out, asking when he’d return to B City—there was something he needed help with.
Gu Lizhou had majored in computer science in college, initially aiming to join a software company as an engineer after graduation. Unexpectedly, during those four years, he developed a writing software equipped with mind-mapping features.
Cheng Hang, on the other hand, was exceptionally talented and his family has a mine. After graduation, he went straight into starting his own gaming company. Several of the games developed by his team consistently ranked on the popular charts of app stores.
This time, they were preparing to develop an adventure-puzzle mobile game where players could explore dozens of unique storylines.
The planning team would travel the world to conduct on-site research, recreating authentic scenes to give players a magical experience of adventuring amidst breathtaking landscapes.
The task Cheng Hang wanted to assign to Gu Lizhou was to write the main storylines for the various scenarios.
Although the workload would be massive, it was one of the few jobs that truly interested him.
Just as he was booking his flight online, a message from Zhong Weishi popped up.
-It’s my birthday tomorrow. Want to grab barbecue in the evening?
Before Gu Lizhou could finish reading, Zhong Weishi’s typing indicator appeared again.
-If you’re not into barbecue, we can eat something else. I love everything anyway [showing teeth] [showing teeth].
Zhong Weishi’s WeChat profile picture was a Q1Chibi. version of Luffy munching on a drumstick. Every time Gu Lizhou saw that avatar, he couldn’t help but picture Zhong Weishi’s cheerful smile.
A smiling face that was hard to refuse.
The unpaid flight ticket order was set to cancel automatically in 19 minutes.
Gu Lizhou’s fingers hovered indecisively over the input box for a long time.
Friendship between adults is peculiar. Despite having phones and WeChat, despite occasionally thinking of one another, they rarely take the initiative to reach out.
It’s the fear of disturbing the other person’s life, the dread of awkward silences in a conversation.
He knew his relationship with Zhong Weishi fell into that category—if they parted ways, they’d likely lose touch entirely.
Once he left, who knew when he’d return to Yucheng again? And who knew where that cheerful fountain of joy would end up?
Shooting, becoming famous, moving away…?
Gu Lizhou thought the phrase “parting never to meet again” could easily rank among the most heart-wrenching idioms ever.
[Useless Yet Awake]: Ok
[Lunatic]: Will there be a gift?
[Useless Yet Awake]: You’re so shameless. Who just outright asks for a gift like that?
[Lunatic]: Why do you think I told you a day in advance? I was afraid you’d show up empty-handed and feel embarrassed. Qiangzi and the others already have their gifts ready.
Gu Lizhou chuckled at his phone.
-What do you want? I’ll buy it for you.
-How boring is that, I like the feeling of surprise when I open the gifts!!! You mustn’t tell me!
-Dream on. I’m coming empty-handed for a free meal.
-Then I’ll rip your face off and use it as a rag.
A dialog box popped up on the web page.
Payment timeout. Your flight ticket order has been automatically canceled.