Holding the pair of shoes I couldn't give away, I stood at the entrance of the bustling mall, not wanting to go anywhere. I just sat on a bench, smoking and watching all sorts of people walking in the light rain.

As far as I can remember, it hasn't rained in Dali for quite some time, but this is definitely not a timely rain, because rain will make the city of Dali very cold, and you will unconsciously want to tuck in your clothes to resist this desolate feeling, and then you will feel as if you have lost contact with the world; even if there are innocent children, beautiful girls, and fragrant roasted sweet potatoes in the world outside your clothes, you will feel that they have nothing to do with you.

This is probably the highest level of loneliness... living in a lonely world, yet being more lonely than the world itself.

After finishing a cigarette, the rain intensified. It seems Yang Sisi was quite prescient; if she had actually asked me to take her on my motorcycle, we would both be soaked to the bone by now.

I stared blankly at the world in the rain, lit another cigarette, and waited for the rain to stop, my mind completely blank.

...

At 11:30, I finally returned to "Jiulongju"; unable to sleep, I called up Brother Ping, and the two of us walked to Yeyu Road, then, as if to vent, we ordered two cases of beer and started drinking with a plate of peanuts.

Brother Ping said to me, "You must have made a lot of money during the Chinese New Year period, right?"

I replied with feeling, "I did earn a lot, but it was hard-earned money... If I'm going to run this temporary inn again next year, I'll have to prepare the staff in advance."

"You've really found a way to make money, kid... Come on, let's drink."

"Let me toast you... to thank you for adding to my path to wealth."

"I don't want verbal thanks. If you really want to thank me, then drink with me tonight and have a good time."

I laughed and said, "I'm fine... I'm just worried you won't be able to handle it. After all, you're at the age where you're holding a thermos and focusing on health. If this drinking session is too good, you won't be able to make up for it even if you drink goji berries for a month, right?"

"You have such a sharp tongue!"

I laughed loudly: "Let's drink first, let's drink first!"

Bottle Bro tilted his head back and drank a whole glass of beer with me... I wanted to tease him, so I looked at a woman passing by outside the awning and said, "Boy, Bottle Bro... look at that girl in the red high heels, her butt is swaying so nicely... oh my god... she's got big breasts, at least a C!"

Like a dog that has caught a scent, Bottle Bro stared straight at the girl, then stroked his chin and said, "Hey, wanna make a bet?"

"Whoever loses treats."

"No problem... Go ask."

"Can I touch it?"

"You really have the guts?"

"You have the guts to think about it, but the guts to actually 'touch' it are up to you."

Brother Ping laughed loudly, and I laughed loudly too, but I had no idea where the joke came from... Anyway, after a few bottles of wine, I really did become more wicked and dared to talk about anything, and that's probably the 'flirtatious' nature in a man's bones.

But if we're talking about being "flirtatious," Ping Ge is the number one guy in "Jiulongju." I've been to his room, and it's covered in posters of girls with their big white butts showing. That's what makes him so awesome, because he never tries to hide his flirtatious nature. He's turned himself into a creepy old man, but he also runs a pretty stylish coffee shop downstairs. I don't know if he's just trying to be artistic.

Anyway, this guy is quite a closet pervert and a bit frivolous... Of course, this only applies to his relationships with women. He's actually a very humane older brother. Without his support and help, I might not have been able to get things going at the temporary inn in Jiulongju.

In this vulgar atmosphere, we quickly finished a case of beer; suddenly, he said to me seriously, "Michael, you've made this money, haven't you thought about finding a girl to settle down with?... Let me tell you, whether in Dali or anywhere else, people need a companion, otherwise it's really lonely!"

I smiled and replied, "Isn't it good that we're like this now? We can drink when we want, play until we want..." After a slight pause, I continued, "Let's not talk about me, let's talk about you. If you really had a proper girlfriend, would you still be able to act like a hooligan in front of girls on the street? You'd probably get a beating if you even glanced at her."

"If you really think that way, then you're way too naive!"

After finishing speaking, Brother Ping gave me a meaningful look, then picked up his glass and took a sip of beer.

I sighed softly, and after a long while I said, "If you meet someone you're compatible with, there won't be so many troubles between you... Who wouldn't want to live a good life together... Sigh!... Some people seem so distant, let alone living together."

"So you have a goal now?"

I nodded, but didn't want to say more, and the reason I didn't say more was because I lacked confidence in myself.

I've truly experienced Ye Zhi's temper firsthand. Although it's true that in a relationship, it's not about who controls whom, I genuinely felt powerless when facing Ye Zhi... because she's so outstanding, I care about her even more, which makes me cautious... and this cautiousness, once it appears in a relationship, actually diminishes its quality.

While thinking about all this, I poured myself another large glass of beer and drank it all in one gulp.

When I stopped, I looked at the neon lights across from the barbecue stall and couldn't help but feel a little surreal... It was as if I saw Ye Zhi standing on the viewing platform again that day. It would not be an exaggeration to say that she was stunningly beautiful. And after getting to know her better, I found that the real Ye Zhi was even more outstanding than when I first met her.

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