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墨書 Inktalez
A tavern by the roadside, though simple, was kept relatively clean, and the surrounding environment was quite pleasant. Fei Hu and Bald Zhang sat at a table towards the back, with a few small dishes and a pot of homemade liquor on the table. At that moment, the small shop had few patrons, and the owner was leisurely watching the English Premier League.
"Come on, brother, let's have a drink," Bald Zhang raised his glass. Fei Hu felt embarrassed to refuse and downed it in one go. Wow! This homemade liquor was indeed potent; after one cup, Fei Hu felt a warm sensation in his stomach.
"Brother, no matter how you see me, I feel a special connection with you from the moment I laid eyes on you. You're righteous, which is rare in today's society. From now on, I consider you my own brother. I'm not looking for anything from you; I just want two words: friendship. In this life, encountering someone who shares your temperament depends on fate. If you think highly of me and recognize me as your brother, then let's drink again," Bald Zhang looked like a rogue but had a style of doing things that made Fei Hu appreciate him a bit.
Fei Hu chuckled and raised his glass, saying, "You're getting ahead of yourself. Since you consider me your brother, let's not be so formal. Let's drink! Everything is understood without saying."
"Good! That's the spirit!" Bald Zhang raised his glass and downed it.
After two cups of liquor, the conversation flowed more freely. That's how men are; alcohol can bridge distances and allow people to speak without reservations. This is likely why Chinese people prefer to discuss matters over drinks.
Bald Zhang shook his glass of liquor and asked with a grin, "Brother, does Miss Zhang want to hire you as her bodyguard?"
Fei Hu was taken aback and quickly asked back, "How did you know?"
"Hehe, I guessed it long ago. She's like that; she likes capable people but has a narrow mind. Over time, she won't treat people well anymore. I've heard of several bodyguards who have left her service," Bald Zhang seemed to know Miss Zhang quite well.
Fei Hu felt uneasy; he thought this was a good opportunity, but why did Bald Zhang say that? Was he afraid that Fei Hu would take away his business? But that didn't seem to concern him much. Fei Hu's mind was in turmoil for a moment. After pondering for a while, he suddenly asked Bald Zhang, "Is there something wrong with her character or…"
"Her character isn't really an issue; after all, that's just how this circle is—either it's scandalous events or endless rumors. If you become her bodyguard, it's not so much about people wanting to harm her or take her money; rather, you'll have to deal with all sorts of messy situations every day—like when someone's wife comes looking for trouble or when a group of women fights over a man. Just think about it: having to handle these matters as a big man will make you feel like your role as a bodyguard has been distorted. How can you continue doing that?" Bald Zhang spoke with conviction, earning Fei Hu's respect.
Fei Hu couldn't help but nod; perhaps he really shouldn't take this job.
Bald Zhang took a big gulp of liquor and said, "This circle is too chaotic; it's not suitable for someone like you to get involved. So listen to me: don't go there. Just focus on doing your own job well and live your life honestly without drifting around like I do every day."
Everyone has their own helplessness and disappointments. Fei Hu never expected that someone like Bald Zhang, who mingles in society, actually harbors unknown sorrows.
The two of them drank cup after cup, and when they finally stopped talking, their tongues were starting to slur. They exchanged phone numbers before parting ways.
As Fei Hu walked along, he sang Zhou Huajian's "Heartbreaker," “The heart of the flower is hidden within the petals, missing the blooming season.” The song and its melody were filled with infinite sadness, attracting the attention of several late-night passersby.
At that moment, Fei Hu's phone rang at an inopportune time. He angrily pulled it out and pressed a button, shouting, “What’s up? What do you want?”
There was a brief pause on the other end before the voice asked, “You’re not in any trouble, are you? Why are you still drunk?”
Hearing Yingzi's voice made Fei Hu sober up a bit. He hurriedly sat down by the roadside and laughed, “What trouble could I be in? Why aren’t you asleep at this hour?”
“It's good if you're fine. I wanted to call you as soon as I got back, but my phone died. I fell asleep while charging it. I'm really sorry. Where are you now? Are you on the street?” Yingzi's tone was filled with concern and sincerity.
Fei Hu shook his head, trying to clear his mind, then joked, “No! I'm in bed.”
“In bed my foot! I can clearly hear cars passing by. Are you drunk and can't get home?” Yingzi raised her voice on the phone as if she were afraid Fei Hu might fall asleep.
The aftereffects of the alcohol were too strong; with the wind blowing by the roadside, Fei Hu could barely keep his eyelids open. He wished he could lie down here and sleep away all his worries, then meet his grandfather in his dreams.
“Hey! Talk to me! Where are you? Hurry up and tell me!” Yingzi urged anxiously over the phone.
Fei Hu forced himself to lift his eyelids and glanced at a nearby house number. He chuckled and said, “I’m sleeping at 58 Chuanbei Road. Bye-bye.” Finally, Fei Hu collapsed and fell asleep by the roadside while Yingzi's voice continued to call out on the phone.
Half an hour later, Fei Hu was snoring loudly. A stray dog passed by him, sniffed him briefly, then ran off. He had become someone even dogs ignored. Everyone knows that a person who drinks like this will surely get into trouble if they keep sleeping outside. But in the dead of night, no one passed by; even if they did, few dared to intervene because he was just a drunkard.
At that moment, a BMW X1 slowly drove up to the roadside, its headlights on as if searching for something. Suddenly, the BMW stopped beside Fei Hu. Yingzi got out of the car, looked around, and confirmed that the person lying by the roadside was indeed Fei Hu. She rushed over, bent down, and checked his breathing with her hand, finding everything normal. She then lowered her head, grabbed Fei Hu's hand, and lifted him up. The man weighed over 150 pounds, but it seemed that Yingzi had no trouble carrying him.
Inside the hotel, Fei Hu lay on the bed, repeatedly calling out for his grandfather. Yingzi sat in a chair beside him, using a wet towel to wipe away the tears on his face. Why was this seven-foot-tall man so heartbroken? Yingzi felt a mix of emotions; she didn't know what had happened after she left or why Fei Hu had gotten so drunk.
The clock at the bus station struck six times. When Yingzi looked up, a faint light filtered through the curtains; dawn had arrived. Suddenly, Fei Hu rolled over in bed, calling out, "Grandpa, don't go!"
Fei Hu's sudden movement startled Yingzi, but when she looked closely, she saw that his eyes were still tightly shut. It seemed he was having a nightmare. Yingzi stood up and gently pushed his shoulder twice while smiling, saying, "Wake up! Where's your grandpa? It's just your sister here."
Only then did Fei Hu rub his eyes. When he saw Yingzi sitting beside him, he looked as if he had seen an alien: "What’s going on? How are you here? Why am I in a hotel?" A series of questions filled his face with astonishment; he couldn't figure out what was happening.
Yingzi couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Look at you! You've gotten yourself into quite a state—sleeping on the street without even realizing it! I brought you back. You called for your grandpa all night and cried so much. I didn't know you had so many sorrows."
Fei Hu knocked his fist against his head and realized he still felt a bit dizzy and nauseous. Slowly, memories from last night began to surface: the tavern, Bald Zhang, answering the phone—but he couldn't recall what happened afterward.
"Alright, wash your face and wake up a bit. If you can't manage it, just lie here and rest for the morning. I'll call your boss," Yingzi said as she took out her phone.
Fei Hu stood up and was about to say not to call when suddenly a sharp pain shot through his head; he felt faint all over. It seemed he really couldn't go to work today, so he lay back down.
After making the call, Yingzi smiled and said, "I got you a leave of absence. You rest for a bit while I go get some breakfast." With that, she turned and left.
Watching Yingzi's departing figure, Fei Hu silently said in his heart, "Thank you for being such a good person; I won't forget your kindness." He couldn't help but recall all the little moments he had shared with Yingzi.
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