To tell you the truth, Chu Feng was quite good-looking with fair skin, thick eyebrows, and large eyes.
Walking down the street, he was definitely a man who turned heads.
But here, not even the small receptionist paid him any attention.
Yet he didn't seem the least bit upset, draping an arm over Long Fei's shoulder, grinning slyly, and asked him, "Do you know what those two chicks are named?"
Long Fei only knew Wang Xiaoya; he had no idea who the other one was.
Chu Feng enlightened him, "That icy one is Zhang Li, looks like a gold-digger. I'm planning to make a move!"
Long Fei frowned, "You like gold-diggers?"
Chu Feng laughed, "It's not about liking, it's about the challenge.
That Wang Xiaoya seems like a good girl. I, Chu Feng, have my principles, I don't mess with decent women.
As for Zhang Li, don't let her all high and mighty act fool you. Give me a couple of days and I'll have her kneeling and begging to be with me!"
"Can we not boast?"
Long Fei was skeptical.
Chu Feng challenged him, "Care to bet on it?"
"Bet on what?"
Long Fei frowned, and said honestly, "I don't have money, you know!"
Chu Feng cackled, "Who's talking about betting money! I mean, if I succeed with Zhang Li, then you have to make a move on Wang Xiaoya!"
Long Fei felt like spitting blood, "Didn't you say you wouldn't harm her?"
Chu Feng replied, "I'm not causing harm, so I'm getting you to do it. To be honest, that Wang Xiaoya is really quite something. Brothers should share good fortunes—I'll take one, you take one."
Remembering the smile Wang Xiaoya gave as she looked back, Long Fei unexpectedly nodded in agreement.
Mostly because Long Fei didn't believe he could win over Zhang Li.
That Zhang Li seemed too high-maintenance.
How could she possibly fall for a security guard, especially one who had just started?
Talking of coincidence, Chu Feng also lived in the urban village, having started renting a place there since university.
His home was just across the street from Long Fei's.
The two found a hot pot restaurant to sit down in, and it was clear the owner knew Chu Feng. Seeing him enter, he promptly shouted, "You rascal, when are you going to pay up your tab?"
Chu Feng pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, handed one to him, and chuckled, "Brother Bang, it's only a few hundred bucks. You think I'd stiff you? Don't worry, I just landed a job and I'll pay you back with my next paycheck!"
"You, not a single truthful word ever comes out of your mouth!"
The owner took a cigarette and let him off, for now.
Seeing the situation, Long Fei took the initiative to say to the owner, "I'm paying for this meal, no tab!"
The owner smiled, "Finally, one of this kid's friends is decent for a change!"
He welcomed them to a table by the window, handed them the menu, and had them pick out the broth and the sides.
Chu Feng ordered a dozen Qingdao beers and went to turn the air-conditioning as low as it could go.
The owner glared at him, regretting it as there were only two tables of customers; he couldn't even cover his electricity costs with their business.
In the heat of summer, Long Fei and Chu Feng had arrived by car, both soaked in sweat.
The moment the air conditioner blew over them, they felt much cooler.
Once the server brought up the beers, Chu Feng popped open a bottle and filled up a glass for Long Fei.
He raised his glass towards Long Fei and said, "Come on, Brother Long, here's to kicking off with a bang and smooth sailing all the way!"
Long Fei clinked glasses with him.
This guy's carefree attitude towards everything, his easygoing nature, Long Fei had to admit he admired it.
He asked, "Brother Feng, there's something I still can't figure out. The office tower of Lin's Group is only so big, why do they recruit so many security guards all at once?"
Chu Feng replied offhand, "That's easy. Lin's Group is planning to break into the African market. Of course, they need to send security personnel over.
This batch of recruits all have college diplomas, know a bit of a foreign language—they're just looking for the right people to sweet-talk into going!"
"How do you know?"
Long Fei looked at him with a furrowed brow.
Chu Feng lifted his glass to cover up, "Just heard it somewhere. Drink up, drink up, stop worrying so much!"
Long Fei lifted his glass and drank with him, feeling more and more that there was something extraordinary about this guy.
A normal college graduate wouldn't have the capital to live life so freely.
When the sides for the hot pot arrived, the two dug in heartily.
After a while, all the meat dishes and vegetarian options were finished, and they had drunk a dozen beers.
When leaving, Long Fei wanted to pay the bill.
The total was over three hundred, which he could afford.
Chu Feng firmly pushed him out the door, insisting that the owner put it on his tab.
The owner was so frustrated he wanted to beat him up, but Chu Feng didn't care. He walked away laughing with Long Fei in his arms.
On the road, he took out a cigarette, gave one to Long Fei, and while staggering said, "This owner is known as Xuu Bangzi, from Shu Chuan. He started off carrying loads with a shoulder pole and selling spicy hot skewers. Look at him now, he owns a hotpot restaurant!"
Long Fei smiled, thinking to himself that people have it hard enough as it is, yet you still mooch off them, running up a tab and not paying.
His alcohol tolerance was quite good, six beers in and he didn't feel much.
Chu Feng, however, was all woozy, so Long Fei asked him to point out his home.
He raised his hand and pointed randomly.
With no other choice, Long Fei could only take him back to his own place.
By this time, He Yan had already finished work and come home.
She was wearing a satin slip dress, looking very seductive.
After Long Fei walked in, she stared curiously at the two of them for a moment, then asked Long Fei, "Is this your friend?"
Long Fei said embarrassedly, "He's drunk and will be staying in my room tonight!"
He Yan laughed, "No problem. Whoever stays over is your business, just as long as you don't make a mess!"
Long Fei nodded and helped Chu Feng upstairs.
After finishing the laundry, He Yan returned to her room, where the dinner table was set with food.
He Tiantian watched an animated show and said dissatisfied to her, "Mommy, when are we going to eat?"
He Yan folded the clothes and said somewhat disappointedly, "Let's eat, right now!"
He Tiantian happily picked up her chopsticks, her big eyes sparkling as she asked, "Mommy, aren't you waiting for Uncle Long Fei?"
He Yan tapped her on the head, her face turning red, "Eat your food. Who said we were waiting for him!"
In the room, Long Fei helped Chu Feng onto the bed to lie down.
The bed wasn't big; it was spacious for one but a bit cramped for two.
He took out a bedsheet, spread it on the floor, turned on the electric fan, and prepared to make do for the night.
It was summer now, and the floor felt cooler.
The food he had just eaten, for some reason, seemed to turn into gas that kept moving around in his stomach.
Long Fei sat up straight, took a deep breath, and let it sink into his abdomen.
Otherwise, the gas would rush upward, making him feel the urge to vomit.
After a long time, his stomach finally settled down.
Chu Feng lay on the bed, opened his eyes, and suddenly asked, "Where is this?"
"My place!"
Long Fei turned around and offered him a cigarette.
After lighting up, they each took a drag.
Chu Feng looked around and said in surprise, "You live in a place like this?"
Long Fei replied, "Yeah, this place is cheap. A bigger one would cost over a thousand!"
Chu Feng suggested, "That won't do. Come stay at my place. I rented a three-bedroom apartment over there. It has a shower and its own toilet, much better than here!"
Long Fei shook his head, "Forget it, I'm quite comfortable living here!"
He didn't want to rely on others; he preferred living alone.
Chu Feng grinned mischievously, "You just can't bear to leave that beautiful landlady, can you?"
"Weren't you drunk just a moment ago?" Long Fei's face turned red.
Chu Feng laughed, "I have a special ability. No matter how drunk I am, as long as there's a beauty around, I never forget!"
"Cut it out!"
Long Fei smiled, stubbed out his cigarette, and lay down without another word.
These past few days, he had gotten along very well with He Yan, but he didn't have any ulterior motives.
After all, he had a woman.
Although, he had no idea where that woman was.