After taking a shower, Jun-Yu sat on the sofa in his bathrobe, drinking from a can. His thirsty body finally began to feel refreshed.
At the table beside the kitchen, next to the living room, Wan-Qing was sitting and arranging the food.
Shu-Yang was standing beside Jun-Yu, while Jun-Yu's driver stood in front of them with his head lowered. Both of them were angry with the driver.
Jun-Yu:—"Law enforcer, give me justice. What should I do with this driver now?"
Jun-Yu was mainly saying this to Shu-Yang. They had assumed that the driver had been slacking off and wanted to punish him for it. Shu-Yang found the way Jun-Yu said it so funny that his anger toward the driver disappeared.
Shu-Yang remained silent, trying hard to suppress his laughter so he could maintain his seriousness.
Jun-Yu:—"How about this punishment, Uncle Driver? Tomorrow, cover your body in mud, walk all the way to Chingshan Village, and then walk all the way back."
Hearing Jun-Yu's words, Shu-Yang could no longer hold back his laughter. Jun-Yu's mud-covered face flashed through his mind. If Jun-Yu caught Shu-Yang laughing even once, who knew what kind of punishment he might give him?
Shu-Yang covered his laughter with a dry cough. The driver said to Jun-Yu—
Driver:—"Prince Jun, actually, I searched for you for a long time, but I couldn't find you. The entire road from Guolu Town to Chingshan Village was empty. There was only someone lying beside the road with a mud-covered coat pulled over his face. I thought maybe he was crazy, or..."
Before the driver could finish, Jun-Yu threw the can in his hand toward him, but the driver quickly dodged it.
Jun-Yu:—"What did you say, Uncle? I was crazy? That person was me!"
Driver:—"Prince Jun, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that it was you."
Jun-Yu:—"Actually, I sat down in a few shaded places to rest because of the heat. But I didn't realize when I fell asleep. Uncle, you can go. Your punishment will be decided in the morning."
As Jun-Yu said those words, he thought about how his entire day had gone. He realized that no matter how the day had passed, he had gained a new experience and felt a sense of adventure within himself.
As soon as Jun-Yu told the driver to leave, the driver left.
Shu-Yang:—"You let him go just like that. I'm sure you won't give him any punishment tomorrow either. And your anger disappeared so easily."
Jun-Yu lay down on the sofa, hugged a pillow, and closed his eyes before saying—
Jun-Yu:—"What's the point of staying angry about something that has already happened? Besides, Uncle Driver isn't someone I can simply see as just a driver. What would I gain by punishing him?"
Hearing Jun-Yu's words, Shu-Yang completely forgot about the whole matter. That was just how Jun-Yu was. He respected, cared for, and loved every person he knew. But Shu-Yang noticed that Jun-Yu was gradually falling into a deep sleep.
Shu-Yang:—"I understand all that, but why are you going to sleep without eating? Get up and eat before you sleep. Who knows whether you've eaten anything all day or not."
Jun-Yu comfortably buried his head into the sofa and said—
Jun-Yu:—"I'm extremely tired, brother, and my head is aching too. I don't want to eat. You eat and take your medicine, and tell Senior to sleep wherever she wants—in my room, Mom's room, or the guest room."
As soon as Jun-Yu said that, Shu-Yang picked up a pillow from the sofa and threw it at him. Jun-Yu looked at Shu-Yang irritably and sat up.
Shu-Yang:—"I've been sitting here without eating because of you. And because you don't eat properly, your immune system is weak. You get dizzy and collapse at the slightest thing. Come and eat quietly, or I'll annoy you so much that you won't be able to sleep peacefully."
From Shu-Yang's words, Jun-Yu clearly understood that there was no way he could sleep peacefully against Shu-Yang's stubbornness. Besides, Shu-Yang was also staying hungry because of him.
Jun-Yu felt happy thinking to himself, "How many people are lucky enough to have a friend who would sit there without eating just for their sake?"
Hugging the pillow and keeping his eyes half-open, Jun-Yu said—
Jun-Yu:—"I'm very hungry too, but I don't feel like eating by myself. It would be so nice if Mom were here to feed me. Shu-Yang, I'm willing to eat, but you have to feed me. Say you agree, otherwise I'm going to sleep."
Shu-Yang:—"Fine. I'll be right back."
Shu-Yang brought some food from the table and began feeding Jun-Yu.
Wan-Qing, while sitting at the table and eating, said—
Wan-Qing:—"Shu-Yang, you've found yourself a really good friend. Actually, Jun-Yu is still very childish. He suddenly gets angry like a child, and then sometimes his anger disappears just as quickly. Besides, his little demands are so simple, and his heart is as innocent and pure as a child's."
Shu-Yang listened to Wan-Qing's words while looking at her. But as soon as Wan-Qing finished speaking, Shu-Yang noticed that Jun-Yu had completely fallen asleep.
Shu-Yang:—"Jun-Yu! Hey, Jun-Yu. Just how exhausted must someone be to fall asleep while eating like this? But he hasn't even finished half of his food yet."
Wan-Qing:—"Leave him. Don't wake him anymore. Sleep helps the body recover from exhaustion and regain its strength. You should eat too."
Following Wan-Qing's words, Shu-Yang came over and sat at the dining table. As they ate, the two of them continued talking about their lives and sharing more stories with each other.
—
Meanwhile, downstairs in the apartment, Xiao-Tong was sitting in Shi-Han's gaming chair and playing a game. When Shi-Han returned from Jun-Yu's apartment and saw Xiao-Tong gaming, she was surprised.
Shi-Han:—What's going on? You're playing a game? And on my computer?
Xiao-Tong:—Yes, I'm playing! So... what's there to be surprised about? Oh, are you worried that I'm playing with your Gaming Queen account, meaning your ID? Actually, this is my own account. I played a little bit on my phone using this account. I just logged it in here.
Shi-Han:—Actually, that's not why I'm surprised. Not everyone sees gaming as a career. Most people see it as a hobby and entertainment. So, of course, you can play games, but I don't understand why you're playing now.
Xiao-Tong turned around in the gaming chair and looked at Shi-Han before saying—
Xiao-Tong:—Actually, I want to build my own career. But I don't know where to start. So I thought I'd see whether I'm capable of gaming like the Gaming Queen.
Shi-Han took her words as a joke, but Xiao-Tong was not joking at all. After saying it with a serious expression, Shi-Han smiled slightly and said—
Shi-Han:—Oh, I see. That's actually a very good decision. You start, and I'll help you. But why did you rush out earlier? I called you, but you didn't hear me even once. Where did you go?
Xiao-Tong:—To look for a part-time job.
Shi-Han:—Why? Why do you need a part-time job?
Shi-Han frowned after hearing Xiao-Tong's words.
Xiao-Tong:—Look, everyone is trying to put their lives back together in a new way. But what about me? Have you ever thought about what I'm supposed to do? What is the purpose of my life? I'm an orphan. I have neither a job nor anyone of my own. So I want to keep myself busy with work and forget everything.
Shi-Han understood Xiao-Tong's emotions and frustration. In a gentle voice, she said—
Shi-Han:—Xiao-Tong, don't make everything so complicated. Am I not someone to you?
Xiao-Tong:—Yes, you're everything to me. Anyway, forget all this. And yes, I'm going back to the dormitory.
Xiao-Tong's words made Shi-Han thoughtful. She remembered what had happened after they returned from the university.
Even though Shi-Han had laughed at the time, she had still been able to sense what was going on to some extent.
Shi-Han:—Why this sudden decision? I don't understand what you're actually trying to move on from. Is it your breakup with Kai-Wen, or something else?
Xiao-Tong:—Shi-Han, I don't know whether true love can ever really be forgotten. But Kai-Wen is my past now. However, I'm also beginning to understand that love isn't meant for me. I'll probably get hurt again.
Xiao-Tong's last words made Shi-Han suspicious.
Shi-Han:—Have you ever even tried a second time that you're already making this decision?
Xiao-Tong stood up from the gaming chair and went to stand beside the window before saying—
Xiao-Tong:—There's no need for that. I understand everything now.
As Xiao-Tong said that, she remembered the moment she had seen Shu-Yang happily spending time with Wan-Qing that afternoon.
Shi-Han:—Is this decision because you saw Brother Shu-Yang and Senior together?
Xiao-Tong:—What are you talking about? That's not true. Besides, Shu-Yang probably already has a girlfriend.
Shi-Han:—You've started falling in love with Brother Shu-Yang, haven't you? That's why you're saying all this, right? And when you saw him happily spending time with Senior, you felt hurt.
Xiao-Tong tried to avoid Shi-Han's words. She turned toward Shi-Han and said—
Xiao-Tong:—You're talking nonsense. Why would I hurt myself by watching someone else be happy?
To find out whether Xiao-Tong had really started liking Shu-Yang, Shi-Han said—
Shi-Han:—You always say that time heals every wound. So why aren't you giving yourself time? Why are you giving up without even trying?
Xiao-Tong:—What are you trying to say?
Shi-Han placed a hand on Xiao-Tong's shoulder and said—
Shi-Han:—No matter how hard you try to hide your feelings from me, I can clearly understand that you've started liking Brother Shu-Yang. And what I mean is, give yourself some time and try to win him over.
Xiao-Tong became emotional at Shi-Han's words.
Xiao-Tong:—Aren't you thinking too much? And that girl might actually be Shu-Yang's girlfriend.
Xiao-Tong's words made Shi-Han smile slightly. From those words, she clearly understood that her suspicion was not wrong. Shi-Han smiled and said—
Shi-Han:—Fool! You're not even sure, so why are you giving up without trying? Listen, don't doubt your own feelings. Give yourself some time, and everything will work out.
Xiao-Tong:—I'll keep what you said in mind, but I want to do something on my own. I want to prove that even though I'm an orphan, I'm not worthless. I don't want to keep living off your money anymore.
Shi-Han:—Do you want to leave Lang-Ying-Ting because of this? It's a good decision. But you can do all of this while staying here too.
Xiao-Tong:—You'll see what I want to do in the morninag. Now play the game. I'm going to my room. And yes, I'm definitely going back to the dormitory tomorrow.
Shi-Han:—Okay, go ahead and start. I'm with you.