Chapter 3

Li Dan immediately recalled what Zhang Shaoyu often joked about, and interjected: "Shaoyu, didn't you say that after we graduate, we would go to Yunnan to smuggle drugs? This is quite a promising future, and the money comes in quickly"

Hearing him say that, Li Dan suddenly remembered that back when he was hanging out in the county town, every time he got into a fight, it felt exhilarating, as if he and his friends were the biggest and strongest in the entire county. Anyone who dared to show even the slightest disrespect would surely have a hard time. Thinking back to those days, who didn't know that there were four tough characters in the Second High School? Just as Zhang Shaoyu mentioned earlier, they could walk around the county town with swagger. However, looking back now, that was limited to the student circle. This time, coming back to fight, it seems that the excitement of the past is no longer there; in fact, it feels somewhat, somewhat boring.

What I mean is, after graduation, the few of us should go out and find jobs. Let's not be picky; if we can get a position as a junior manager or a supervisor, we should take it. We shouldn't always think of ourselves as university graduates or IT talents; the key is to gain experience. I refuse to believe that with our abilities, we won't succeed. Others say we lack ambition, so let's show them. Five years, yes, five years, we need to make something of ourselves. Zhang Shaoyu spoke with great confidence, and even the other three were inspired, feeling that a bright future was beckoning them. What about white-collar jobs, the petite bourgeoisie, earning ten thousand a month? It's all trivial!

Five years; one might not have many such five-year spans in a lifetime, let alone that these five years represent the most precious youth of one's life. What was once thought to be a rock-solid relationship turned out to be so fragile, so mundane, truly so damn mundane. But isn't this world composed of countless ordinary people? With this thought, Zhang Shaoyu's lips curled into a slight smile, a self-deprecating laugh escaping him. Suddenly, he recalled the box of condoms that Li Dan had given him. He pulled it out to take a look, and to his dismay, they were even fruit-flavored, glowing like a neon stick. Hmph, to hell with it, he tossed the entire box into the nearby toilet.

A moment of silence, and after the silence, boisterous laughter erupted, sounding so unrestrained on this street

I said, brothers. Zhang Shaoyu raised his head and looked at the three brothers in front of him, who had been his classmates in high school and were still together in college. The other three also raised their heads to look at Zhang Shaoyu. Among the four, Zhang Shaoyu was not the oldest, but everyone was accustomed to listening to him. Whenever he spoke seriously to give a lecture, even the most mischievous Li Dan would become serious. After five or six years of brotherhood, they had all gotten used to listening to Zhang Shaoyu. It is said that one should be wary of forming habits; once a habit is formed, it is not so easy to change.

Brothers, let me be straightforward. We are no longer children; we are in our early twenties and about to graduate from university. Today, Zhang Li's words truly resonated with me. She asked me what my plans for the future are. At that moment, although we were chatting casually, we were all thinking, yes, what are our plans for the future? We have only one year left until graduation, and time is flying by. What do you think we should do in the future?

"Shaoyu, just say what you want to say; you know I am not good with words." Although Liang Jin was not eloquent, he understood that Zhang Shaoyu must have something to say.

"Xiao Yu, you rascal, even your heart is black! With what you just did, her boyfriend would think you two are having an affair! And about the restroom, what good could come from there? If it were me, I would immediately think of you two doing something inappropriate in the restroom, rush into the kitchen, grab a kitchen knife, and take you out!" Liu Lei thought more and more that what had just happened was really amusing, and as soon as he left the hot pot restaurant, he started shouting.

Upon hearing this, Li Dan felt somewhat confused. He was a person who dreaded hearing grand theories. However, to be honest, he also believed that what Zhang Shaoyu said made sense; things really were different now compared to the past

This has never been said before, and suddenly bringing it up, I wonder if the brothers can accept it. After all, having been accustomed to laziness for so many years, it has long become a habit. Once a habit is formed, it is difficult to change it.

A woman's heart is always softer. Zhao Jing stood quietly there, not making a sound to disturb him. However, later, when that reckless fellow lifted his head, the little sympathy in Zhao Jing's heart had long vanished without a trace. The person in front of her was actually the same ruffian from a few days ago! What infuriated her the most was that this guy had the audacity to walk up to her with a straight face and extend his hand for a tissue! But what was strange was that upon hearing his words, she actually opened her bag, took out a tissue, and handed it to him. That guy wiped his face, brushed past Zhao Jing, and walked straight outside without even saying a word of thanks.

Upon exiting the private room, there was a long corridor. Only after passing through this corridor could one reach the main hall. Zhang Shaoyu and the other three were somewhat intoxicated; although they walked steadily, their heads felt a bit dizzy.

Thank you. Just as Zhao Jing was feeling frustrated, a faint voice came from behind her, belonging to Zhang Shaoyu, who finally showed some understanding of manners

Youth is indeed wonderful... An elderly man passing by the street looked at the four oblivious young men and sincerely exclaimed

Zhao Jing felt quite depressed. Today, she came here to have a meal with a few friends. In the middle of it, she went to the restroom. Just as she stepped in and was about to turn back to close the door, a clumsy person suddenly barged in, leaned over the sink, and started vomiting non-stop. Not only was she startled, but she also had to wait for him to finish. What made her blush and her heart race was that this rogue actually pulled out a box of something and threw it into the urinal. Although she was a girl, she knew from books that it was a condom. What a nightmare, encountering a pervert in the restroom, something she read about in the newspapers every day, and here she was, experiencing it herself. However, this clumsy person seemed to have something on his mind, Zhao Jing speculated, because after he finished vomiting and lifted his head, she caught a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. It was an unguarded moment, the most genuine and unmasked expression, as eyes cannot lie. However, this clumsy person seemed to have something on his mind, Zhao Jing speculated, because after he finished vomiting and lifted his head, she caught a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. It was an unguarded moment, the most genuine and unmasked expression, as eyes cannot lie.

Zhang Shaoyu raised his head and looked ahead. Wasn't that the girl who had given him tissue paper in the restroom earlier? At this moment, she was walking outside with a few other men and women, just a few steps ahead of Zhang Shaoyu and his friends. A tall and burly guy was walking very close to her, seemingly her boyfriend. Suddenly, a mischievous thought popped into Zhang Shaoyu's mind. He nudged his brother beside him and whispered, "Hurry up!"

If it weren't for her friends being present, Zhao Jing would have loved to scold Zhang Shaoyu a few times, that scoundrel!

Having eaten and drunk to their fill, Zhang Shaoyu took out money to settle the bill. The four brothers linked arms and prepared to head home. This meal was truly enjoyable; it inspired a sense of future and confidence. Everyone looked at me, and in five years, we will return home in glory!

Indeed, after hearing Shaoyu say this, I feel a bit anxious. Graduation is just around the corner, and we haven't even thought about what to do in the future. Shaoyu, what are your thoughts on this? Liu Lei is naturally a carefree person, always thinking about either women or games. Zhang Shaoyu has mentioned this to him several times, but he never took it to heart. Now, hearing Zhang Shaoyu say this, he seems a bit worried.

In an instant, a delightful fragrance wafted through the air, but Zhang Shaoyu had no time to savor it. If he didn't retract his head soon, the burly guy next to him would surely slap him.

Zhang Shaoyu let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, stretched his body, and stared blankly at the ceiling. The entire private room fell silent, with only the old, worn-out air conditioner on the wall emitting a harsh noise. Everyone was now an adult, no longer the aimless young boys from high school; it was time to think about the future, to consider things more long-term.

"Oh, what a coincidence, we meet here again." Zhang Shaoyu suddenly turned around, looking at Zhao Jing with a beaming smile. The group of people opposite paused, gazing curiously at the young man with a beaming face, then glanced at the bewildered Zhao Jing.

Finally feeling a bit more comfortable, Zhang Shaoyu looked at the pool of filth and couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. He never expected that he, Zhang Shaoyu, would also be an ordinary person, that after a heartbreak he would drink, that after drinking he would get drunk, and that even when drunk he would still vomit

The four individuals quickened their pace and overtook Zhao Jing and the others just before reaching the end of the corridor

Sighing, Zhang Shaoyu appeared somewhat helpless: "Things have come to this point, so you all need not worry about me like in a *picture* book; I can handle it. As Liang Ge said well, a true man has no need to worry about having no wife. In any case, I have already invested my heart and soul into this relationship. To put it more elegantly, I have done my best, and there is nothing to regret about the breakup. Let’s put this matter to rest; no one should bring it up again. If anyone does, I will fall out with them." In any case, I have already invested my heart and soul into this relationship. To put it more elegantly, I have done my best, and there is nothing to regret about the breakup. Let’s put this matter to rest; no one should bring it up again. If anyone does, I will fall out with them.

"Do you have something to say?" Zhao Jing asked coldly, her tone sharp. Upon hearing this, Li Dan and a few others couldn't help but laugh; they knew that Shao Yu was bound to face a setback today, and he would certainly lose face. They were just waiting to see the spectacle unfold.

What does winning against others prove? Does it prove that one has more courage than others? Does it prove that one is stronger than others?

Zhang Shaoyu was not angry; he patted Li Dan on the shoulder, signaling them to let go of that young man. Observing the young man's face, which was severely distorted by anger and jealousy, along with his constantly twitching jaw, Zhang Shaoyu, with a pleasant demeanor, straightened the young man's clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles and slightly raising the corners of his mouth to reveal a peculiar smile. He softly said, "Why bother? We are all civilized people; there is no need to be so impulsive." After saying this, he politely nodded at Zhao Jing and smiled, saying, "Goodbye." With that, he led his three brothers away. Behind them, the sound of the young man's furious shout could be heard.

When Zhang Shaoyu returned to the private room, the several brothers who had been whispering immediately fell silent. Zhang Shaoyu certainly knew what they were discussing, and he dragged a chair over and sat down without saying a word. His silence left the other three unsure of what to say, and they all sat there, each with different feelings in their hearts. Li Dan and the others felt pity for Zhang Shaoyu, while also worrying that he might not be able to withstand the blow. They had all seen it; it was clear that it wasn't just drinking, but rather an obvious attempt to get him drunk.

Turning on the faucet to wash away the vomit, Zhang Shaoyu reached out to splash some cold water on his face, feeling refreshed and more awake. He looked up at his reflection in the mirror; although he wouldn't say he was handsome or charming, at least he wouldn't bring shame to our socialist motherland. Alright, buddy, just let it go. Didn't you hear Liang Jin say? A real man has no worries about not having a wife. He splashed more water on his face vigorously, feeling a bit better. When he looked up again, he was stunned. Was it a supernatural event?

This small hot pot restaurant generally has only one restroom. Zhang Shaoyu hurriedly rushed down and ran towards the restroom. He pushed open the door, and right in front of him was a sink. He stood in front of the sink, leaning against the wall, and began to vomit violently. It was as if the tides were turning and the weather was changing. On this day, Zhang Shaoyu finally discovered one of his unique talents: his vomiting sound was louder than that of others

"Shao Yu, if you can say that, then we can rest assured. It's nothing; out with the old, in with the new. When I return to school, I'll introduce you to a beautiful girl, guaranteed to be a hundred times better than Zhang Li from https://m.hetushu.com. " Li Dan said while tapping on the table. Upon hearing this, Zhang Shao Yu smiled but did not respond. Suddenly, his expression turned serious as he spoke: "This time when I came back, did you all feel that something was off?"

One should not strike a smiling face, especially when the person has expressed gratitude. Although Zhao Jing felt that this individual was rather rude, she still politely replied, "No need to thank me, it's just a small matter." This response left Li Dan and the others greatly disappointed, and just as they were about to urge Zhang Shaoyu to leave quickly, the guy next to Zhao Jing, who seemed to be her boyfriend, suddenly erupted.

"Damn it, you lecher! When looking at women, you only focus on their lower parts," Liu Lei said with a chuckle.

It was not until six months later that Zhang Shaoyu realized that the words spoken at that time were, in fact, a product of his own imagination; of course, this is a matter for later discussion

Observing the varied expressions of several individuals, Zhang Shaoyu surmised that their thoughts must be similar to his own.

Seeing that the brothers all wore puzzled expressions, Zhang Shaoyu decided not to keep them in suspense any longer and said: "Before we went on summer vacation, we kept talking about how we would have a fight when we got back, to recapture the feeling of strutting around the city like we did in high school. We had that fight, we made a name for ourselves, so I ask you, how does it feel?"

It is often said that wine does not intoxicate people; rather, people intoxicate themselves. Drowning sorrows in alcohol only deepens the sorrow. My friend, try to let it go a little.

A hand gripped Zhang Shaoyu's collar, teeth chattering in anger, and he furiously asked, "Kid, are you blind or what!" As soon as he finished speaking, he was lifted up by Li Dan and Liang Jin, one on each side. Despite his tall and strong physique, he found that no matter how he struggled, he couldn't move an inch. He realized that these few kids had some training.

Zhang Shaoyu saw another person in the mirror, and it was a beautiful woman who looked somewhat familiar. What the hell, this is a restroom, how could there be someone else? Zhang Shaoyu shook his head vigorously and looked into the mirror again. Indeed, there was a woman! She was standing not far from the door, staring intently at him. Zhang Shaoyu focused his gaze and recognized her; he had seen this girl a few days ago, the same day he had gotten into a fight for her in the square. The world is truly small, running into her here again

Zhang Shaoyu turned around to look at her. Today, she had changed into a new outfit: a snow-white sleeveless T-shirt and a light green short skirt, her well-proportioned figure on full display, fashionable and bold, a genuine beauty. Unfortunately, even if she stood before him completely undressed, Zhang Shaoyu would not have the mood to look at her any longer. Approaching her, Zhang Shaoyu extended his right hand: "Please give me a tissue."

Hearing Zhang Shaoyu say this, Li Dan felt somewhat relieved; after all, it was Zhang Shaoyu, who always had such an open-minded perspective on everything

Let me be straightforward: now that I am in university, I am no longer the petty troublemaker I was in high school. Back then, we were preoccupied with fighting, causing trouble, and showing off. However, after this fight, I did not feel any sense of satisfaction; on the contrary, I found it meaningless. These days are no longer what we once imagined, where we would take down anyone who defied us. Perhaps, as portrayed on television, the environment and identity of a person shape their perspective on things. Zhang Shaoyu did not pretend to be serious, but everything he said stemmed from genuine feelings. Times have changed; we are no longer children. This realization became clearer and more profound for him in the hours following his breakup with Zhang Li.

"Xiao Yu, what happened?" Li Danxin said, "Oh no, this guy has been jumpy all day. The impact of the emotional upheaval is quite significant."

I said to Li Dan, "I just threw all the things you gave me into the toilet. What do you think her boyfriend would think if he went to the toilet and saw those things?"

Zhang Shaoyu suddenly stopped, his expression fluctuating between dark and light, as if something had happened

Zhang Shaoyu smiled and said, "You little rascal, you actually took it seriously. This matter is just talk; can we really do it? Those are all capital offenses. We won't engage in illegal activities. One doesn't necessarily have to follow the rules strictly, but one must be true to their own conscience."

Why should I give him tissue? Zhao Jing asked herself

"What’s wrong? What’s not right?" Liu Lei pondered for a long time but could not figure out what was wrong. The brothers still often gathered together, going to the Hongqiao Hotel with their girlfriends to book a room, at least six times in one night. There was nothing wrong with that.

Zhang Shaoyu pressed his lips together, grinned, and slowly walked up, stopping just a step away from Zhao Jing. He leaned forward and gently said near her ear: "Thank you so much for what happened in the restroom earlier." The two were so close that, from the perspective of Li Dan and the others behind Zhang Shaoyu, it appeared as if they were kissing.

If it were you and you saw a girl in the restroom, especially a very beautiful girl, what would your reaction be? And the most critical part is that she saw you pull out a box of condoms; you would probably either stand there awkwardly not knowing what to do or flee in panic. However, Zhang Shaoyu did not do this; he extended his right hand and said, "Please give me a tissue."

This incident occurred about an hour and a half after the four brothers entered the hot pot restaurant. Zhang Shaoyu could no longer remember how many cups of alcohol he had consumed; in any case, he drank when someone toasted him and drank even when there was no toast. At this point, drinking had ceased to be a process and had become a goal. Finally, he could no longer bear it, slammed the table, and exclaimed, "Pour me another drink, I'll come back to drink it!" After saying this, he hurriedly ran downstairs.

Ah, Shaoyu, why does that girl in the short skirt ahead look so familiar? Have I seen her somewhere before?" Li Dan suddenly exclaimed