Chapter 4

Li Bowen's father and my father are childhood friends, so Li Bowen and I are also childhood friends. The two families have maintained a good relationship for several decades.

As soon as he thought of this, he felt a surge of irritation that he could hardly suppress, especially when he had just sat down and Luo Peng leaned over to him, one arm draped over his shoulder while the other held up his phone in front of his eyes: "Wen Qu, take a look at this set..."

Spending the night in the mountains was nothing new for Fang Chi; it was neither fresh nor exciting, and certainly not frightening. Moreover, this time they did not stay in a tent, as the area typically suitable for camping had not been cleared after a landslide. Instead, they stayed at a defunct farmhouse in a village in the mountains.

Although he had mentioned this feeling to Ma Liang before, Ma Liang attributed it to his lack of ambition

It would not be accurate to say it has closed down; rather, this agritourism business is located in the mountains and is poorly managed. It does not conduct business regularly, and one can only contact the owner to arrange accommodation by calling a guide like Fang Chi.

Once everyone had arrived, the waiter began to serve the dishes in the private room. The restaurant chosen by Li Bowen offered dishes that suited his taste quite well, with several dishes being his usual favorites.

"You are still middle-aged!" Zhang Lin, who had been laughing happily beside him, slapped his arm and said, "How can you speak like that!"

How does one speak! A group of people follows suit, creating a commotion

"Brother Sun," Xiao Ji turned to him again, bending down to stare at him for a while, "Your face shape is quite good, and you look quite fashionable. How about dyeing your hair to try a more stylish and bold look?"

"Ask the waiter, after finishing the meal, let's go for a walk to digest and sober up," someone said from across the table

Sun Wenqu's mind inexplicably conjured up the image of himself wearing a pink shirt and tight pants, and he coughed softly: "Oh"

Sun Wenqu sat in a chair, while Xiao Ji circled around him, scrutinizing him: "Your hair hasn't been properly taken care of for a year, has it? You haven't done any maintenance either? You look a bit like a mushroom right now."

"No, I will go back in a moment." Fang Ying lowered her head and continued eating the noodles

Sun Wenqu recalled Xiao Ji's words, glanced at the dark and gray garments in the wardrobe, clicked his tongue, casually pulled out a black coat, put it on, and stepped out the door

Sun Wenqu's gaze swept over the photographs, coming to rest on one of them

Sun Wenqu looked at the blue firework rocket above his head, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke: "No"

"I have been feeling more confused," Sun Wenqu said. "It is rare to see Li Bowen like this, but I am too lazy to investigate. So I need to go see my biological father. Is your dad at home these days?"

Sun Wenqu stood at the edge of the venue, noticing a photo wall nearby, which he estimated was showcasing the club's various thriving outdoor projects. He slowly walked up to the wall and looked at it.

The main participants in this fitness activity number around six or seven, with several girls wanting to join in. They all went together to change clothes, while Sun Wenqu and a few others who had drunk a bit too much sat on the side watching

Ah, Sun Wenqu feels a bit dizzy; he can go to the gym every day, but he really has little interest in this kind of exercise. Just hanging for five minutes is enough to make him throw up everything he just ate.

Sun Wenqu patted Li Bowen and said, "You are thoughtful"

Before Sun Wenqu could speak, he waved to his assistant and said, "Amy, please bring me that bag."

Ah? Fang Ying glanced up at him and quickly lowered her head to continue eating the noodles, responding vaguely in a way that was difficult to understand.

Sun Wenqu can no longer recall when he began to dislike pottery, it was a long time ago... Perhaps it all started with the pot he made at the age of ten, which led everyone to believe that he was born to create pottery

Sun Wenqu smiled

Is that so

The hairstylist did not call Tony, Kevin, Andy, or Peter... However, the assistant did choose one from Lucy, Selina, Amy, and Hellen.

The club has organized numerous activities, and the photos look quite professional, featuring many images of adventures, mountain climbing, and river tracing.

You still lack perception as usual, don't you? Someone replied with a smile.

This is a silhouette hanging on a cliff whose location is unknown. The face of the subject in the photograph is not visible, but the person's powerful and graceful posture while climbing upwards is striking, with long arms and legs. Sun Wenqu stared at it for a long time.

No. Sun Wenqu looked at Zhao He, who was shouting that she couldn't go on and couldn't find a place to grab while struggling to climb up, while Li Bowen was quite nervously looking up from below, encouraging her.

My relationship with my father also seems to have started to deteriorate from that time

It has been three years since we last met, and Li Bowen has gained quite a bit of weight, changing from a knitting needle to a pair of chopsticks, while everything else has not changed much

Just thinking about the tragic state of the bathing products that did not match her appearance, he felt a somewhat indescribable sensation again

This club is quite large, and this is the headquarters. It is said that there are several branches as well. The headquarters is situated next to the mountain in the park, which allows for rock climbing and outdoor facilities. Compared to those who only have indoor equipment, the number of visitors here is significantly higher

Sun Wenqu looked around for a while and felt it was just so-so, so he got up and started to stroll around

A young woman was sitting in the passenger seat, smiling at him somewhat awkwardly

In the moment when these sounds rushed towards him, Sun Wenqu found a long-lost sense of inexplicable security mixed with boredom and irritation

"Do you want to get a membership?" Li Bowen asked him, having appeared by his side without him noticing.

You should first go and be my father's beloved son for a few days before envying me

How is it? Are you satisfied? asked Xiao Ji

He looked on with a casual glance, estimating that rock climbing was their main focus, with numerous photos and a professional climbing team. Many of the regular coaches are indeed professional climbers from their team.

Once inside the indoor venue, there were quite a few children, all dressed in formal climbing gear, with several of them climbing the wall quite adeptly

"Are you talking to me?" Sun Wenqu asked

Hello. Sun Wenqu greeted her, opened the door to the back seat, and got into the car

Xiao Ji finished tidying up and circled around him twice, then after stepping out, she leaned against the door frame and added, "Remember to call me when your hair gets long; I'll come over to give you a trim." Only then did she go downstairs

Fang Ying quickly dodged and said, "Is there anything to eat?"

"Rock climbing?" As soon as Sun Wenqu heard this, he immediately leaned back in his chair and said, "I won't go."

Hmm? Sun Wenqu was taken aback. According to his previous habits, after finishing a meal, he would change locations to continue drinking, or play cards, usually at Li Bowen's bar. Could these activities still aid in digestion and sober him up?

However, his unpleasant mood was dissipated upon arriving at the restaurant. He and Li Bowen were the last to arrive, and there were already about ten people gathered in the private room, who greeted them as soon as the door was pushed open

Sun Wenqu smiled, as he understood Li Bowen's intention

Xiao Ji was somewhat disappointed with this brief answer, but it did not affect the quality of his service. After confirming that Sun Wenqu only needed a short haircut and that the style could deviate from Master Wang at the village entrance, he began his work earnestly.

Sun Wenqu nodded at the mirror; although this person spoke a lot, their skills were indeed impressive. The reflection in the mirror transformed instantly, transitioning from a rural appearance to that of a fashionable metropolis.

"Who allowed you to play with these?" Li Bowen said from behind him, "It's been three years..."

Li Bowen took the box and placed it on the chair next to Sun Wenqu, saying, "This is for you"

"I truly envy you," Luo Peng sighed, "You live so freely."

"Brother Sun, you should try some brighter colors," Xiao Ji said while tidying up her things. "Don't always wear black; your skin tone can pull off colorful clothes."

"Should we add chili peppers?" Fang Chi asked Fang Ying in the kitchen

While using chopsticks, Fang Chi noticed that she had a bruise on her hand. He frowned and asked, "Did you... go to find Sun Wenqu?"

Today is not the weekend, and it is evening, so the crowd is manageable. As soon as I entered the club's main entrance, I saw a few people hanging by the mountainside. Further inside, there were seven or eight more hanging up and down, along with some children.

"Are you really hitting me?" Fang Chi was somewhat surprised, not expecting that Sun Wenqu, that scoundrel, would actually hit a woman. "I won't say more, should I come back to accompany you?"

Oh, the flower of our corridor, we currently have three households living in our corridor, said Sun Wenqu while counting on his fingers, I, a pair of elderly couple, and an old widower... If you were to come, it would definitely be a delightful addition to the corridor

"Get in the car." Sun Wenqu walked over and opened the passenger door, then he was taken aback.

"Sun Wenqu, you bastard, go squat over there!" Zhang Lin pointed at him and scolded with a laugh

No," Sun Wenqu still refused very decisively, "This is not fitness; after drinking, I fear that I would hang there after just one meter.

Sun Wenqu also smiled and said: "Thank you"

"Zhang Lin must be considered a pre-sale property in my place," Sun Wenqu said after taking a sip of tea, "Where is the middle age in that?"

"Did he hit you?" Fang Chi pressed for an answer

"Has he gone to find him?" Fang Chi asked again

Although it is said that a handsome man who dares to show his forehead is truly handsome, it is also fine for you to reveal your forehead," Xiao Ji said while cutting hair and introducing his design concept to him, "but your face shape would look better with a bit of bangs...

What are you doing?" Sun Wenqu turned his head to glance at him

When I got off the car, I still remembered to buy a cat treat at a pet store at the street corner. I haven't returned for a night, and Mr. Huang might get angry. I need to appease him; otherwise, he won't sleep peacefully

With this relationship in place, even if Sun Wenqu occasionally feels displeased with Li Bowen, he still maintains a relatively pleasant demeanor in front of him. However, he is quite fond of Uncle Li, who is not as formal as his father. Uncle Li is generally very kind to children and especially good to him, which is why he has always enjoyed chatting with Uncle Li

The coach is a middle-aged man with a good physique, and he seems to be quite familiar with them, likely having come here often.

Sister," Fang Chi called out to her, "What are you doing here?

He does not know what it means to be ambitious in his own right; in the minds of his family, his elders, and friends, his ambition is simply to follow his father in making pottery

Indeed, said Xiao Ji

"Hurry up and eat a few bites of the vegetables," Li Bowen said, "or you'll regret it later."

This is my girlfriend, Zhao He," Li Bowen came over to introduce, "This is my best buddy I told you about, Sun Wenqu.

"What happened to you..." Fang Chi was just about to check the time on his phone when he suddenly noticed a bruise at the corner of Fang Ying's eye. "What happened to your face?"

"I do not enjoy playing these games," Sun Wenqu said, as he walked out of the indoor venue

Fortunately, these individuals are all aware of the situation. They know that if Sun Wanqu can get truly angry, he might overturn the table on the spot. After one round, everyone returned to their seats and began to eat and chat.

"I just went up and came down," Luo Peng said, moving his fingers a bit, "This thing is too physically demanding. Why not give it a try? Didn't you used to love working out?"

"Brother Sun," Zhao He called out to him

While Fang Chi was cooking noodles, he took a moment to open a can and served half a bowl to General Huang. After eating, General Huang meowed in satisfaction and then looked up at him.

Fang Chi did not ask again, and served her the cooked noodles: "Are you alright?"

After a long discussion, Sun Wenqu finally understood that these people now regard bars and KTV as ferocious beasts in their pursuit of physical fitness. They have shifted from a lifestyle of indulgence to one focused on exercise. However, since gyms can be quite exhausting, and in order to demonstrate a fundamental distinction from square dancing, they generally prefer to go to clubs

"There is no need to say anything to me, just go ahead and cut it," Sun Wenqu said

I was too lazy to speak the entire way

Sun Wenqu looked at him, and he glanced at the assistant beside him: "I am currently speaking with Amy."

Hmm? Fang Ying sat on the sofa, lost in thought

The physique is quite good

Fang Chi stepped over the bricks that someone had thrown into the water, twisting through the sewage like practicing on plum blossom poles. He bounced to the entrance of the corridor, just about to take out his keys, when he raised his eyes and saw Fang Ying sitting on an electric scooter, lost in thought.

"Ah, don't ask anymore," Fang Ying said, her words still somewhat vague. After a while, she finally lifted her head and clearly uttered, "Xiao Chi..."

He took off his hat and threw it onto the sofa in the living room, and Manager Huang ran over and burrowed into the hat.

"In a little while, at the back gate of the park, there is an outdoor club where we often go rock climbing now," Li Bowen said

Your skin tone would suit colorful clothing well

"Let me cook some noodles for you," Fang Chi said

We have now changed the way we play, " Luo Peng waved his hand and pointed to the people at the table, " all of them are about to enter middle age ... ... "

The next day, upon returning to the city, he did not go to the club to collect the money, but instead took a taxi straight home, as he needed to catch up on sleep

Upon seeing him, she exaggeratedly shouted and ran over to embrace him tightly. Sun Wenqu struggled several times before breaking free. At this rate, if Li Bowen was not pushed away, he would have leaned in for a kiss.

"Why not give it a try?" Li Bowen asked him

"Hmm, thank you," Sun Wenqu took a sip and asked, "Why aren't you climbing anymore?"

Zhao He is of average appearance, but she has a very quiet demeanor, which is the type that Li Bowen likes, resembling a delicate and refined young lady. It is likely that the few pieces of clothing in her wardrobe belong to her.

Mr. Huang still sat solemnly on the cabinet, with cat food scattered all over the floor from the bag it had dug into

I will not go. Sun Wenqu repeated once more, and compared to hanging a rope to climb the wall after finishing the meal, he would rather gather and drink at Li Bowen's bar

I will go find him tonight said Fang Chi with a frown

Fang Chi can fall asleep anywhere, but one night when he went out to the bathroom, he was caught by an uncle who couldn't sleep and was choosing a seat. They chatted until four-thirty, and when he finally returned to his room, he almost entered the wrong door

"Are you an idiot?" Li Bowen came over, took a glance at Luo Peng's phone, and started cursing, "You damn well know he hates this stuff. You just got back and you shove this thing in front of him to look at. Have you lost your mind?"

"You don't understand," Li Bowen said, tugging at the corner of his mouth and glancing at him, "You don't understand this feeling."

It’s nothing, Fang Ying stood up and said, "I have been waiting for you here since early this morning."

The appearance of this little fellow does not quite match his name; he looks quite sunny, sporting a small mustache, with his hair shaved in a circular fashion, leaving a small braid on the top of his head, the ends of which are dyed blue. He has shiny metallic studs in his eyebrows and on his ear cartilage.

How did you do it? Fang Chi wanted to move closer to take another look at her face

Sun Wenqu has an average tolerance for alcohol, and he usually drinks red wine. Today, however, all the glasses are filled with white wine. After he downed them all, he felt a burning sensation in his stomach.

What? Sun Wenqu's finger tapped on the box, and upon looking, he saw that the deep brown wooden box was intricately carved with flowers, showcasing excellent craftsmanship

"Don't thank me, I just mentioned it. My dad went to find it, I don't know where he got it from," Li Bowen sat down beside him, stretched lazily, and said, "You are the real son... I really envy you."

Sun Wenqu felt a bit drowsy, but there was no time to sleep a little longer. Li Bowen's call came in half an hour later: "I have arrived at your doorstep. Should I go in and wait for you or..."

No," Sun Wenqu said firmly, shaking his head, "I just want to take a look.

"Get lost." As Sun Wenqu caught sight of the unremarkable purple clay teapot displayed on the phone screen, he felt a surge of anger and abruptly pushed Luo Peng aside.

I..." Li Bowen glanced at him and said, "I mean nothing else"

If you don't want to think, then don't think

"Hmm, you don't look very energetic." Amy replied weakly from the side

"So..." Zhang Lin said, looking at him again, "What does 'building flower' mean?"

The place he lives in is a rented apartment, the rent is inexpensive, but the environment is not very good, it is an old community, lacking a main entrance and property management. In the past two days, the drainage has been blocked and no one is taking care of it, with water flowing everywhere carrying a foul odor.

Luo Peng sighed and clicked his tongue a few times: "Wen Qu, your bad temper hasn't changed at all."

"I want to show you what it means to be perceptive," Li Bowen said, patting him on the shoulder. He turned around in the private room and asked, "Where are the things?"

Oh," Xiao Ji nodded, "but the bangs cannot be long..."

Sun Wenqu remained silent, returned to the outdoor area, and sat down on the chair next to Luo Peng: "Is there any beverage here?"

"Look, you've lost so much weight," Li Bowen stepped back and patted his shoulder firmly, "You need to eat more tonight to make up for it!"

Luo Peng laughed for a long time and patted him: "Do you have any plans for your return this time?"

Fang Ying paused for a moment, remaining silent

Fang Ying had been staring at the ground, and even the loud noise of him bouncing over did not disturb her. It was only when she heard him speak that Fang Ying suddenly raised her head, her expression appearing somewhat bewildered: "You are back, huh?"

Fang Ying furrowed her brows and turned her head without saying a word

Sun Wenqu suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him. Although there was no mirror, he estimated that the expression on his face was likely not very pleasant.

I will go out now. Sun Wenqu stood up and entered the bedroom, as he currently did not want Li Bowen to enter his room

Indeed, they hardly ate a few bites before coming over with their wine glasses: "It has been three years since we last met, we must drink a few good glasses!"

"Damn." Luo Peng sighed again

However, his resistance had little effect; after finishing the meal, a group of people dragged him directly to the back door of the park without even starting the car

Three years, Sun Wenqu said

"Can't you recognize this?" Li Bowen smiled

Because my father is a master, and the master's son happens to possess an understanding that surpasses that of ordinary people in this regard, it is only natural for him to strive for progress in this area

Here! Someone brought him a long wooden box.

"Don't worry, you'll know once you go. It's quite interesting," Luo Peng said. "I go there whenever I have free time, and sometimes I even go out to play with their outdoor group..."

"Yes," Luo Peng immediately stood up and went to the nearby freezer to get a bottle of iced black tea. "Is this what you want to drink?"

"At home, even if not at home, just a phone call and he will come back home to wait for you." Li Bowen tilted his head, looking at the light on the ceiling of the private room

Come and play, " Li Bowen smiled, leaning against the wall, unintentionally or intentionally tapping on that photo, " If you come to play on the weekend, many of these coaches will be here, and they will also be training

Xiao Ji's styling service is quite valuable, and after more than three hours of rambling and fussing, it was finally completed. Sun Wenqu dozed off several times in between, almost leaning onto his scissors.