TSIBAMS Chapter 36

The road was a bit slippery after the rain, and it was night. After finally carrying Qi Guang to the entrance of the building, Ye Xing lost his footing and fell forward. Qi Guang, whose weight was entirely on him, also fell forward. Fortunately, Zhou Tian was not as tall as them, so he was a bit more stable and avoided a mishap.

Ye Xing didn’t care about his muddy pants and clothes, and quickly helped Qi Guang up with Zhou Tian. Although Qi Guang was not very sober, he was still well-behaved when drunk. Even in this state, he didn’t make a fuss and cooperated with those around him.

“Did you fall anywhere?” Ye Xing asked.

Qi Guang barely opened his eyes and shook his head.

It was unclear if he was saying he didn’t fall or that he didn’t know where he fell.

He looked like a pitiful little thing.

Ye Xing turned his head, just about to volunteer to take him home, but Brother Xu spoke first. He tossed the car keys to Bai Shu, “You take him home first, I’ll stay. Someone needs to watch 1984.”

Bai Shu held the keys without saying a word.

“I’m very sober, that guy wouldn’t dare get me drunk,” Brother Xu knew Bai Shu was worried about him, so he patiently explained.

“Okay,” Bai Shu put the keys in his pocket. “Send me his home address.”

Ye Xing watched them arrange everything for Qi Guang, and was about to interject to say he would also go with Qi Guang, but someone beat him to it again.

Bai Shu said, “Forget it, I’ll take him to my place. It’s easier to take care of him.”

Was Qi Guang very familiar with this Bai Shu? He was inexplicably being taken home for the night? Ye Xing felt a bit uncomfortable, after all, it didn’t seem like he was as familiar with Qi Guang as he was.

Right, he didn’t even know Qi Guang’s home address!

Ye Xing glanced at the head leaning on his shoulder. How did this guy get so drunk! Do you know you’re being taken home?!

Even though he was a hundred times unwilling, he didn’t want to show his concern for Qi Guang. Bai Shu had already opened the car door, signaling them to put Qi Guang in the car. Ye Xing cooperated with Zhou Tian, stuffing the long-limbed teenager into the back seat of the car.

Even after the car had driven away, Ye Xing was still standing there, feeling displeased while wondering why he was feeling displeased. What was he worried about? Was it because of Bai Shu’s sexual orientation?

Annoying!

But what if Qi Guang didn’t mind? After all… after all, he didn’t know if Qi Guang was…

If he was, no one would let go.

The scene of Qi Guang’s hazy eyes in the bathroom of the private room suddenly flashed in Ye Xing’s mind, the first time he had ever thought of the word “sexy” in real life.

Yeah, he was an actor who was suitable for playing a demon.

“Brother Ye…” Zhou Tian’s voice pulled him back to reality.

Ye Xing regained his senses, his expression a bit calmer than before, “I’m fine, you go up.”

“Is Brother Qi alright?” Zhou Tian asked teasingly.

Did he even need to ask?

How could that guy be alright in that state?

“He’s fine, it won’t affect class tomorrow,” Ye Xing said.

“Hey, why is it that every time you come to KTV, something bad happens? Is it just not your place?” Zhou Tian sighed.

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Ye Xing glanced at him. “I believe in science.”

“Okay, I won’t keep you,” Zhou Tian looked Ye Xing up and down at his pants and clothes which had fallen on the wet road. “You should go back and take a shower.”

Rarely seeing Zhou Tian so sensible, Ye Xing was relieved like an old mother, and very moved to send him away. After Zhou Tian left, Ye Xing realized there was still someone nearby. Because they were standing in a place not lit by the streetlights, he hadn’t noticed them earlier.

It was Brother Xu.

He hadn’t gone back in yet?

He smiled at Ye Xing and walked over, “It seems you and Qi Guang are very good friends.”

“Normal friends,” Ye Xing also smiled politely.

“Although Qi Guang is loyal, he wouldn’t fight for just anyone,” Brother Xu walked closer and sat sideways on the motorcycle beside him.

Ye Xing didn’t speak, his eyes lowered, not sure what he was thinking.

Brother Xu didn’t press him. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, opened it, and offered it to him.

“I don’t smoke, thank you,” Ye Xing waved his hand.

Brother Xu took one out, lit it, held the cigarette in his mouth and turned his face away.

“Thank you for defusing the situation at the KTV just now,” Ye Xing said.

“Thank Qi Guang if you want to thank anyone,” Brother Xu held the cigarette in his hand, turned his head back to him, and said, “After all, he’s the one who charged into battle. I’m just a boss handling things within my responsibilities.”

So he just didn’t feel bad about giving out freebies and free drinks.

Ye Xing thought this but didn’t say it. He looked at the motorcycle under Brother Xu and felt it was familiar, only then realizing it was Qi Guang’s bike.

He wondered how that guy was doing.

“Qi Guang’s friends are my friends,” Brother Xu stood up, using his thumb to point over his shoulder at the door of 1984 behind him. “Want to have a couple of drinks?”

“Thanks, but I don’t think so,” Ye Xing really didn’t want to drink. Although his alcohol tolerance wasn’t as bad as Qi Guang said, and his behavior wasn’t as terrible, he had just sent someone away who had gotten drunk for him. He couldn’t possibly drink peacefully now.

“Not drinks, something else,” Brother Xu seemed to understand what he was thinking. Seeing his expression relax a bit, he added, “I want to know how you offended Li Zhendong and his gang.”

“Okay,” Ye Xing patted the dust off his clothes and pants and followed him towards 1984.

Contrary to Ye Xing’s expectations, Qi Guang did not come to class the next day.

He looked at the empty seat next to him and got distracted for the 108th time.

Wasn’t his alcohol tolerance supposed to be good!

Suddenly, a piece of chalk flew over and accurately hit his forehead. Before he could react to what had happened, he couldn’t help but curse quietly, “Damn.”

The math teacher was less than two meters away from him, hands on her hips. Her dark shirt and red leather pencil skirt made her look more like an unapproachable female teacher. Everyone secretly called her the Red Wolf, and today she looked even more the part.

The Red Wolf adjusted her black-framed glasses, her bright red lips opened and closed, “Is there such a nice view next to you? Can’t you look at the teacher for half a class?”

After she finished speaking, everyone lowered their heads and chuckled, some even whispering about the teacher not being pretty enough.

“Quiet!” The Red Wolf slammed a hand on the desk next to her, scaring the owner of the desk – a boy who looked like a bookworm – almost jumping.

Ye Xing looked at him, feeling sorry for the unprovoked disaster he suffered. He reached for the other hand’s wrist, and only then did he realize that his wrist was empty.

Where was the Buddhist beads?

He rolled up his sleeves again and confirmed that the beads were not on his wrist, instantly feeling uneasy.

Although he wasn’t the type of girl who had to hug a doll to sleep, and the beads weren’t valuable, he had been wearing them for so many years and had long gotten used to them. The feeling of not finding them was worse than losing money.

The Red Wolf had returned to the platform to continue the class. He couldn’t focus on her, trying to remember the last time he had touched the beads.

When Qi Guang was throwing up in the bathroom at the KTV last night, he had taken off the beads and put them in his coat pocket.

He had checked when he took the coat to wash it last night, and the pocket was empty.

He had felt them in his bag when he was arguing with Chen Hui in the private room… then what?

After that, there was no memory of them.

Ye Xing focused on the private room at the KTV and 1984. Having a clear goal, Ye Xing relaxed a lot, but was still a little worried. What if someone else had taken them?

Ye Xing didn’t pay attention to any of the classes all morning. The first half he spent “thinking about someone while looking at something” at Qi Guang’s seat, the second half he was worried about his Buddhist beads possibly falling into someone else’s hands. Finally, the last class of the morning ended, the bell rang on schedule, the teacher hadn’t finished the last problem, but he had already slipped out the back door. Passing class 18, he also casually said goodbye to Zhou Tian.

The school gate was already crowded with tricycles. These drivers had figured out the school’s dismissal time, and could even distinguish between winter and summer hours. Every time school ended, the gate was surrounded by them.

Ye Xing chose the nearest one and jumped on, “To 1984!”

As soon as he got on, he regretted it. He was blocked at the school gate by a bunch of tricycles parked haphazardly. It was harder to navigate out than it was to go through a maze, and looking at the distance between the tricycles, they had no intention of letting anyone pass.

He was wondering if he should first walk out of the maze himself before stopping a tricycle, when the driver already started moving. He skillfully turned his head around and, not only that, also squeezed through two tricycles that looked like they were connected. The two had no choice but to curse and make way. Then he faced another tricycle across the front of him, and the driver again turned skillfully and took another road. Before long, they had circled onto the main road.

You had to admit, this driver’s skills were of an old pro.

Ye Xing felt sincere admiration.

Usually, students wouldn’t go far for lunch after school, so one trip only cost seven or eight yuan. If they were lucky, they could even make another trip back. If they were even luckier, they would encounter someone like Ye Xing, who directly gave an address a bit far from the school. The tricycle driver was in a good mood, humming a tune all the way, and even tried to chat with the passenger, “The bar probably isn’t open at this time.”

“I’m looking for someone,” Ye Xing replied.

“Oh! Then you should contact them beforehand, don’t go there if they’re not there!”

The driver was worrying about too many things, but it did remind Ye Xing. What if Bai Shu or Brother Xu weren’t at 1984 or the KTV? He didn’t know any of the employees, would they help?

Ye Xing felt a bit worried. Furthermore, it was lunchtime, so there was a high probability that even the KTV wouldn’t be open.

What should he do?

The only thing to do was probably to call Qi Guang.

He opened his phone’s contacts list, seeing Qi Guang’s name but hesitating to press it. Since their fight, it didn’t seem like they had properly made up. How to greet him became the biggest problem for Ye Xing, a terminal case of awkwardness.

Clinging to a sliver of unrealistic hope, he did not dial the number the entire way, until he got out of the tricycle and confirmed that neither upstairs nor downstairs was open, only then did he feel truly helpless.