Chapter 3 – That was my 20s I could never return to

(18)

Back to the day we ate that $200 steak.

After dinner, Liu Leyao and I volunteered to do the dishes.

“No need, there’s a dishwasher,” Yan Han politely declined.

“Leave it to us!”

“We got this!”

The two of us raised our hands insistently.

Yan Han helped carry the plates and forks to the kitchen, then crouched down to show me how to use the buttons on the dishwasher.

He was really tall. Even squatting there, he looked like a big, handsome shepherd dog.

“Got it?”

“Huh?”

It’s over. I was too busy staring at him and forgot to turn on my ears.

“Got it, leave it to us.”

Liu Leyao waved him away. Once Yan Han went back to the living room, she turned around, gritting her teeth, looking at me like I was hopeless.

“Please, can you wipe that lovestruck look off your face?”

I was horrified. “Was it that obvious?”

“It was.” Liu Leyao sighed. “Calm down!”

Right, I forgot to mention that Liu Leyao is the only person on this continent who knows about my sexual orientation.

She can’t be kept around.

Hehe, just kidding. (smile.jpg)

(19)

I was lazily washing a wine glass while Liu Leyao stood beside me playing on her phone. But in reality, we were whispering to each other.

“How did you two meet?”

“We took the same class before. He was my thigh.”

Alright, that’s the second person to call Yan Han a thigh.

Which proves—

First, he studies well. Second, he’s genuinely nice. And finally, what’s with all my friends being total scum students ah? Unbelievable.

“Aren’t you both from the same city? Did you know each other before?”

Liu Leyao looked speechless. “Bro, Z City has over ten million people.”

I kept asking.

“Are all the guys from your city this handsome?”

“That can’t be.” Liu Leyao turned to look at Yan Han on the balcony. “He’s at least school grass¹Handsome boy in school. level.”

Well, in that case, your city’s school grass standards are pretty high, I’d say.

“What? Like him ah?”

Liu Leyao leaned in closer, whispering.

“En.”

I admitted softly.

“Help me.”

Liu Leyao nodded without hesitation. “Got it.”

(20)

My friends may be scum students, but they’re all very nice people. Wuwuwu.

When they’re job-hunting, I’ll gladly write them recommendation letters as their best friend.

I love them.

(21)

I washed my hands, shaking off the water droplets as I walked out of the kitchen—only to find the living room empty. The other three were out on the balcony.

I slid open the balcony door and saw them leaning against the railing, smoking.

A pack of cigarettes was casually placed on the outdoor coffee table.

Australian cigarette packs have terrifying designs, covered in graphic images of smoking-related diseases. This one had something that looked like oral cancer—red sores and rotting teeth. The sight made me shudder, and I instinctively frowned.

When I looked up, I met Yan Han’s gaze.

He froze for a moment, then almost immediately put out his cigarette.

He looked at me as if he had done something wrong.

The other two were still smoking. My knitted sweater would definitely absorb the smell, so I didn’t want to go over.

Thankfully, Yan Han walked over instead. He smelled faintly of tobacco, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

“I washed the glasses and left them on the counter.”

“You didn’t have to,” Yan Han frowned, his sharp features looking even more striking. “Just leave them, I’ll clean up.”

I nodded, and he pushed me back inside, shutting the two smokers out on the balcony.

(22)

We met a few more times after that—sometimes Liu Leyao would gather everyone for hotpot, and other times Xu Pengpeng would call us to play mahjong.

The exchange student’s holy trinity—

Hotpot, sleep, and mahjong.

The hotpot was boiled. The mahjong was played. So, when are we sleeping together?

I thought to myself as I hugged my long pillow.

My friends were gathered around the small dining table, the overhead light was dim, and their hands were shuffling the mahjong tiles with loud cackling sounds, while Xue Zhiqian’s songs played from the JBL speaker.

I thought it was just another ordinary night.

But when I thought about it later, that was my 20s I could never return to.