116 Then continue to be unhappy.

That evening, Zhang Pa was once again mooching a meal at Liu Xiaomei's home. Liu's mother was delighted, telling him how nice it was to have him there, suggesting he move in soon, and promising to treat him just like her own son.

Zhang Pa broke into a cold sweat. He endured until the meal was finished and the table cleared, then immediately bid his farewells.

Liu Xiaomei walked him to the door. "My mom really likes you. Why don't you just move in?"

"The two of you are being a bit too forward," Zhang Pa remarked. "It's terrifying. I feel like you're going to devour me."

Liu Xiaomei laughed. "That's right, we're monsters! You should hurry up and move in so we can eat you."

Zhang Pa put on a pitiful expression. "I don't taste very good."

After a few more exchanges, Zhang Pa headed downstairs.

On his way back, he received a call from Long Xiaole: "Where are you? Come keep me company for a drink."

"My friend," Zhang Pa replied, "are you really still obsessing over that ABC situation? It's been ages."

"I'm depressed! I'm even more depressed than you realize! Yesterday... where are you right now? I need a drink."

Zhang Pa checked the time. "Just name the place, I'll come to you."

Long Xiaole gave him the address of a hot pot restaurant near Kowloon Garden and urged him to hurry.

Kowloon Garden was an upscale residential complex, among the most expensive properties in the provincial capital. Long Xiaole lived in the very first building directly across from the main entrance.

Entering the complex, there was a plaza. The ground floors of the residential buildings on either side had been converted into shops—mahjong parlors, barbershops, convenience stores—but the ground floor of his building remained residential.

The building stood eight stories high, and the entire space from the first to the third floor had been opened up to serve as the home of Long Jianjun, the chairman of Kowloon Real Estate. Oh, and there was also a basement, which served as the Long family’s private garage.

The hot pot restaurant was across from the complex. Zhang Pa pedaled over on his bicycle, locked it up, and went inside.

The restaurant had a unique vibe, featuring hanging chairs similar to those in a tea bar, which created a very intimate atmosphere. However, for two men sitting across from each other, it was a bit awkward.

Zhang Pa glanced at the hanging chairs. "Are these sturdy?"

"Beer or liquor?" Long Xiaole asked.

"Beer," Zhang Pa said, signaling the waiter to bring over a stool instead.

Long Xiaole looked even more depressed. "Hey, you aren't here just to be difficult, are you?"

"I'm heavy," Zhang Pa replied solemnly.

Long Xiaole pointed across the room. "See? A man and a woman are sitting there, and they haven't fallen off."

Zhang Pa turned to look. Just then, the man at that table noticed Long Xiaole pointing at him. Being a hot-headed fellow, he stood up abruptly, strode over, and demanded, "What's your problem?"

Zhang Pa looked back at him. "Oh! Are you Huang Xiaoming? My god, a big star! Wow, you're so handsome. How are you this handsome?"

Zhang Pa’s expression was a masterclass in sincerity and astonishment—an Oscar-worthy performance. The man stared at him, unsure if he had been mistaken for someone else or if he was being teased.

Zhang Pa shouted to the waiter, "Get me some paper and a pen!" He then pulled out his phone. "Star, can we take a selfie?"

The man was completely bewildered. He stood there dazed for a long moment before whispering, "I'm not Huang Xiaoming."

"So modest," Zhang Pa said. "Stars always say they aren't stars when they're out." He pointed at Long Xiaole. "He recognized you as Huang Xiaoming, and I did too. Why won't you admit it?"

"Was he pointing at me just now because he thought I was Huang Xiaoming?" the man asked.

"What else?" Zhang Pa replied, feigning shock. "Wait... you're really not him?"

"No, no, I'm really not." The man’s anger had vanished.

Zhang Pa wore an expression of disbelief. After a moment, he said, "Fine, if you say you aren't him, we absolutely won't tell any reporters that you're out on a date with another woman. Your wife definitely won't find out." He then added, "You should go back quickly. If you get recognized and someone takes a picture to put online, you'll be in trouble."

Seeing as these two seemed to truly believe he was a star, the man hesitated. Not knowing what else to say, he waved his hand and turned toward the restroom. He wanted to look in the mirror to see just how much he resembled that star.

Once he was gone, Long Xiaole shook his head at Zhang Pa. "You are truly wicked."

"Am I more wicked than you?" Zhang Pa asked.

"Why are you comparing yourself to me? When it comes to wickedness, I have a real talent for it." Long Xiaole asked, "What do you want to eat?"

"Whatever is already on the table is fine. I'm not hungry at all."

"You already ate?" Long Xiaole asked.

"Obviously. What time do you think it is?"

Long Xiaole sighed. "I haven't eaten anything yet. There's no one at home."

"Your family is so rich, don't you have a nanny?"

"No. We have a cleaning service that comes once a week; we do our own cooking." Long Xiaole gestured to the chair. "Sit."

Zhang Pa settled into the hanging chair. "What about your ABC friend? You still haven't resolved that?"

"Yesterday, I finally decided to tell him after thinking it over for a long time. I called him, but the guy's birthday was yesterday! Damn it, he said he was just about to call me to tell me where the party was. I was so frustrated." Long Xiaole picked up his glass. "Let's drink."

Zhang Pa joined him for a glass and asked, "And then?"

"And then I went to his birthday party. But, damn it, all three of them were there. How was I supposed to say anything?" Long Xiaole continued. "Do you know what it felt like? It felt like two smart people were playing a fool. The guy and the woman had clearly been involved, yet they were acting like my friend’s best friends, giving gifts, offering blessings, even singing the birthday song. You have no idea—the woman even kissed him in front of everyone. I couldn't take it anymore, made an excuse, and left. My friend ended up giving me a hard time for it."

"In that situation, it wasn't the right time to say anything," Zhang Pa noted.

"It wasn't just inconvenient," Long Xiaole said. "Look at my hair—it's falling out in clumps. I haven't slept well in days."

Zhang Pa took a look and laughed. "Don't exaggerate. Your hair is thick and black; you aren't losing anything."

"Can't I exaggerate a little?"

Zhang Pa thought for a moment. "What kind of personality does your friend have? Is he very proud?"

"A bit, maybe? Everyone in our circle is pretty much the same—we have a bit of spare cash, so we tend to look down on others." Long Xiaole asked, "Why do you ask?"

"If he's arrogant, flamboyant, and cares a lot about his face, you should just forget about the whole thing. If you tell him, your friendship will likely be over."

"So, what? I'm just supposed to keep it bottled up until I burst?"

Zhang Pa looked at him. "Haven't you ever had a secret in your life?"

Long Xiaole thought for a second. "No."

"You tell people when you masturbate too?"

"Is that even considered a secret?" Long Xiaole retorted.

"Fine, not a secret," Zhang Pa said. "Go abroad. Tell foreigners about it. Tell every foreigner you meet. Do that for a year or two, and I suspect you'll be fine."

"Going abroad is too much trouble. I've decided—I'll just come to you. Every time I get depressed, I'll come tell you." Long Xiaole smirked. "You should feel lucky to have a tall, rich, and handsome friend like me treating you to drinks so often."

Zhang Pa pondered this. "You're actually pretty decent to your friend."

"Decent, my foot! I have to watch him get played and can't say a word? Like you said, if I tell him, he’s too proud to keep the friendship going. Honestly, I don't really have many friends, though there are plenty of people who ask me out for drinks."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know, I don't know." He sang the words in the style of a traditional opera. "Let's drink."

"Is this your way of avoiding the problem?"

Long Xiaole thought about it. "What are you busy with lately?"

Zhang Pa laughed. "Changing the subject already?"

Long Xiaole smiled. "What else can I do? Keep agonizing over it?" He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I never thought in my life I'd be driven to such a state over such a trivial matter."

"When you care, that's just how it goes," Zhang Pa said.

"Never mind me. What are you up to these days?" Long Xiaole asked again.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm a middle school teacher now. I teach Chinese and I'm a homeroom teacher."

Long Xiaole was skeptical. "Which school is so blind?"

"Didn't I mention it?"

Long Xiaole said he didn't know; he probably hadn't.

Zhang Pa gave a noncommittal "Oh" and asked, "What are you busy with?"

"I want to get a job. My dad’s idea is for me to get as far away as possible. I suspect the old man is going through a mid-life crisis." Long Xiaole remembered something. "By the way, are you still living in Xingfuli?"

"Yeah," Zhang Pa replied.

"Is it a rental?"

Zhang Pa confirmed it was.

"That's good," Long Xiaole said. "I asked around. This time, the demolition is being handled by Guo Gang and a bunch of people from the county. They play dirty."

"A bunch of people from the county?" Zhang Pa asked, suspicious.

"Something like that. Anyway, it's just like that," Long Xiaole said. "My dad said that no matter how much money they offer, he wouldn't touch that place."

"Could something happen?"

"Something is definitely going to happen," Long Xiaole warned. "You'd better stay out of it and move out early. I think you're alright, so don't get yourself screwed over. Tell you what, why don't you be my friend?"

Zhang Pa jumped in surprise. "Do all you students who studied abroad talk like that?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"What do you mean, 'be my friend'? Are you confessing to me?" Zhang Pa pointed at his face. "Have I turned pale? I have, haven't I? Let me tell you, you scared the life out of me."

Long Xiaole laughed. "Pale? You're as pale as they come—you're an idiot."

"Daring to mock me?" Zhang Pa pulled out his trump card. "What about your ABC friend?"

With just that one sentence, Long Xiaole’s smile vanished. He tilted his head, watching the hot pot bubble, and sighed. "If it comes to it, I'll just tell him straight. If the friendship ends, it ends. It's better than being miserable holding it in every day."

Zhang Pa was curious. "Didn't you say you had a plan? To wait until those two got together and tip off your friend to catch them in the act?"

Long Xiaole shook his head. "I thought about it, but I don't want to deceive my friend. If I play games, I'll feel like I'm betraying him. It's better to just say it."

Zhang Pa clapped his hands. "That’s a cool personality you've got there."

"Why don't you go tell him for me?"

"You have so many thugs under your dad's command and so many people kissing up to you. Why on earth are you asking me to do it?"

"I don't want too many people to know."

"My friend, were you sent by the heavens to torment me?" Zhang Pa said. "I'm full. Goodbye."

"Don't go," Long Xiaole said. "Let's chat a bit more."

"Fifty yuan an hour."

Long Xiaole laughed. "Are you a gigolo?"

Zhang Pa was furious. "You have a twisted way of thinking! Manners! Do you know what manners are? I'm a teacher. I'm tutoring you. Fifty yuan an hour is the absolute lowest rate."