Chapter 1, With a Grin and a Smile

Lan Zi was silent for a moment, and then, with a certain reserve, said to me, "No one has sent me flowers today."

I lit the fourth cigarette and held it between my fingers, adopting a posture that appeared quite flamboyant and arrogant. I enjoy this demeanor, and many girls I know also appreciate it.

That day, I happened to be on a break, locking myself in my room watching a pirated DVD of Brad Pitt's "Fight Club." I sat on my favorite oversized, soft sofa, feeling as if I were deeply sunk into a cloud, unable to pull myself out. I love this sofa as much as I love my wife—of course, I do not have a wife at the moment, but I think that if one day I go bankrupt, I could sell my furniture, my bed, my desk, my computer, my DTS system, but I must keep this sofa. I love this sofa as much as I love my wife—of course, I do not have a wife at the moment, but I think that if one day I go bankrupt, I could sell my furniture, my bed, my desk, my computer, my DTS system, but I must keep this sofa. Shishi says this is a typical petty-bourgeois mentality.

I quietly and slowly walked up behind Shishi, who was unaware of my presence and was still persistently flirting with the girl in the red dress

As soon as I stepped out, I saw Lanzi standing in front of me, holding a bouquet of flowers

After hanging up the phone, I lost my train of thought for a while. Considering that it was still early, I ultimately decided to go online and check out Xici.

Thinking about going to the bar with Shi Shi tonight to meet some girls, I began to carefully prepare myself so as not to disappoint the girls we were about to meet. I put on the leather jacket from Jack & Jones that I had just bought for the New Year, along with Marlboro jeans and leather shoes. I thought to myself that this outfit must be worth at least 10,000 yuan, enough to impress people. After making some adjustments in front of the mirror, I was very pleased with the refreshed version of myself reflected back at me, feeling like a real big shot.

Since university, the friends around me have changed like a revolving lantern, but only Shishi and a few others have consistently stayed by my side, bravely taking on the consequences of my mischief.

I am disinclined to engage in anything else, picking up the phone only to put it down again, and then mustering the courage to pick it up once more before setting it down again. For the remainder of the time, I remained restless.

Shishi arrived at the bar a step ahead of me, and the place was already filled with pairs of lovebirds. There were also a few solitary individuals looking around.

Song Wei ran to the side, his mouth twisted as if he were chewing on a bitter melon, and began to shout at the waiter to vent his frustration

A slightly clearer memory begins from that evening in 2003

I happen to be the opposite of Shishi; I am the kind of person who is quite vulgar in speech, to the point that even Shishi would blush when I talk. However, deep down, I am utterly innocent and belong to the typical category of those who bully the weak and fear the strong. Shishi always says that people like me can only deceive those pure and naive girls, and if I were to encounter a thousand-year-old female demon type, I would definitely be finished. Personally, I don't mind; I think it is enough for me to take care of my innocent girls. If I were to meet a girl of that thousand-year-old fairy type, I truly wouldn't be able to serve her. If I can't provoke her, can I not avoid her?

Shishi, dressed in a suit and polished shoes, with oiled hair and a powdered face, sat at the bar chatting with a girl in a red dress who had long hair, appearing serious, humble, and polite, pretending to be an educated young man

The green light in Shishi's eyes was fixed intently on the girl in the red dress with long hair behind the bar, then glanced at me and said with great depth, "It's been advanced."

Shishi is my best friend, whose real name is Shi Lei. His name contains four characters "Shi", so we all like to call him Shishi

I struck him hard on the neck, and he jumped up like a grasshopper, cursing, "I curse your grandfather"

I looked at him with a friendly demeanor, then picked up a Soft Zhonghua cigarette he had placed on the table and lit one for myself

I weakly replied, saying happiness, happiness, everyone together in happiness

I pulled Shishi to the seat that Song Wei had forcefully reclaimed for us. Shishi's eyes sparkled with excitement as he surveyed the couples who had come out for Valentine's Day. Then, with a particularly amiable tone, he remarked, "Not bad, it's quite warm and lively here today"

As for whether foreigners also have a concept of the Five Elements, or whether there are stones included in the Five Elements of foreigners, I do not know. Considering that the ancestors of the Shishi family are all pure-blooded Chinese, I have also given up on the attempt to verify this abroad

I glared and said, "Dare! If you don't find a place for me and Shishi within a minute, I'll tear this place down! And also! Just now when I came in, that fool at the library entrance still wanted to charge me for a ticket. Is that person new? I've seen him eight times this week and he still doesn't recognize me?

At that time, I had just gained a small reputation on Xici, as my audacious and morally corrupt behavior online attracted the attention of many young women. This led many righteous individuals to view me differently, and every day they would harshly admonish and educate me. Thus, amidst a barrage of insults and bricks, I thrived while engaging in light-hearted conversations with the young women.

So Shishi said that I am the kind of person who wants to be a bad person but hasn't fully crossed over to the dark side, with my conscience being half-eaten by dogs, and there is still a large portion left. After hearing this, I asked Shishi, where is your conscience?

The phone suddenly rang again

I knew you were there! Come down and meet me, I'm right at the door. After saying this, Lanzi hung up the phone

Shishi straightforwardly told me that five hundred years ago, it was already fed clean to the dogs

I said no, it is just Shishi and I enjoying ourselves as two single men

Lanzi asked on the phone, where are you playing?

I picked up the phone and called the flower shop I used to frequent.

As soon as I went online, I saw the messages flashing continuously, and without reading any of them, I deleted them all. Then I looked at the posts left by those who insulted me after my posts, and I couldn't help but chuckle as I read through them.

The two fell into an awkward silence once again. Finally, Lanzi said, "Have a good time tonight." Then she said goodbye and hung up the phone

I wondered what this had to do with me? Since the beginning of last month, you are no longer my honey.

I greeted Song Wei, who was recently full of youthful energy and visibly agitated, as I entered. Song Wei, looking anxious, said that there were no seats available tonight

I casually stuffed a pack of Zhongnanhai into my pocket and walked out the door with my head held high

This fellow, as soon as night falls, resembles a restless beast, his heart agitated like a young wolf howling under the moonlight, with his face almost emblazoned with a large character: "Spring." Not the spring of the season, but the spring of desire.

Grazing cattle in the city

In this extremely aggressive and dangerous posture, I silently exhale smoke, quietly watching the handsome madman at the end of the film destroy the capitalist world with bombs and violence alongside a group of revolutionary youth, feeling particularly pleased in my heart

I was still immersed in the joy brought to me by the movie, so I told him that I wanted to go out for drinks in the evening. Thus, the two of us agreed to meet at the Urban Pasture Bar.

It seems like it is still winter now, and spring has not yet arrived, I said

I have forgotten who said to me—life is all about smiling and joking

Shishi is the kind of person who is exceptionally good at pretending; when he puts on the act of a big shot, he does it convincingly. He belongs to the category of those who appear splendid on the outside but are rotten to the core. The number of virtuous women ruined under his influence far exceeds the acne on Song Wei's face. Moreover, he is truly a villain who devours people without leaving a bone. On the surface, he presents himself as a gentleman, but inside, he is filled with thieves and prostitutes.

I was momentarily stunned, took out my wallet, and counted every single bill, not even overlooking the coins. In total, I had just over 190 yuan left.

The phone suddenly rang without any warning, and I looked at the number before answering.

A thick scarf covered a small part of her face, but her eyes were still visible, exuding a charming and tender gaze. She wore a particularly pure pink jacket reminiscent of a little lily, paired with a light brown leather skirt and small leather boots.

I watched with great interest the bizarre insults and those self-styled righteous figures who made their appearances in disguise, when suddenly I noticed Lanzi's ID also brazenly following behind.

Lan Zi cheerfully wished me a Happy Valentine's Day over the phone

I originally thought that his family gave him such a name because he lacked the element of stone in his fortune-telling when he was young. However, I later learned that in our country, the five elements include metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, but there is no stone.

After hanging up the phone, I reluctantly glanced at the cash in my hand, thinking to myself, now you are already someone else's

Lan Zi asked, what program do you have planned for the evening

Then I received a call from Shi Shi

In the cold wind, her face appears and disappears behind the flowers, her graceful figure exuding an array of charm, evoking boundless imagination

My previous life was like a tangled mess, with countless fragments of memories swirling in my mind like the chaotic fluff of willow catkins in summer

She did not leave any words, only followed with a post. I suddenly felt all the hairs on my body stand on end, as if I were being watched by a pair of eyes hidden in the darkness

In the evening, we will go there to indulge in corruption. Shi Shi passionately exclaimed on the other end of the phone.