Chapter 36
Not long after, Zhan Mu and An Jing stood in front of a farmhouse called "Master Runtu". Zhan Mu found the name oddly amusing and laughed, "This reminds me of that article by Mr. Lu Xun."
"I never thought that your little place has such a rich history." An Jing mentioned it casually, patted Zhan Mu's shoulder, and walked away with his colleagues with a smile.
Although Zhan Mu followed, he felt that he could not get a word in. An Jing and his colleagues were dressed very respectably and only regarded Zhan Mu as a guide rather than a fellow traveler.
"This is..." asked the dwarf who was traveling with An Jing.
"I'm just a friend." An Jing didn't say much. But Zhan Mu saw the dwarf looking him up and down. That look was very special and cruel. It seemed to be a smile, but it also seemed to be extremely mocking and dismissive.
Zhan Mu had just taken a shower and came out dressed simply in a plain T-shirt and shorts, a stark contrast to the two of them, who were dressed neatly in executive jackets.
Maybe, it looks like a country bumpkin.
Zhan Mu was familiar with this look, because he had been a fat and ugly guy for many years. The deeper meaning of this look was the belittlement of the weak.
He pretended not to notice and remained silent. Then he heard An Jing discussing with the dwarf, "I know the owner of a local vineyard, Gao Qiang. He's been running it with his wife for three to five years. I heard he used to make documentaries. I don't know what got him into agriculture here."
"If they were making money, you wouldn't say that." An Jing laughed strangely, waved to a waiter and said, "Let's sit here. Where's the menu? For three people, please bring us some bowls and chopsticks. Thank you."
The waiter agreed, and Zhan Mu sat down with them. Unlike the business secrets they were discussing, Zhan Mu felt pity for the waitress as he looked at her smiling apologetically while serving the bowl.
These girls look younger than himself and have already entered the society to work hard. Zhan Mu thinks of himself and feels complicated.
"Brother, which university did you graduate from?" After the tea was served, the dwarf raised the glass and toasted him from a distance and asked in a friendly voice.
"I don't have a high level of education." Zhan Mu didn't like him and didn't want to answer. He hated strangers testing his strength right away.
The dwarf guessed that he probably didn't get into university. Then he looked at Zhan Mu and saw that he was quite good-looking and a little handsome, so he immediately thought that he was probably a duck, and his face showed more and more disgust.
"Education is still very important in today's society." The dwarf narrowed his eyes and said, "Otherwise, you can't find a good job and can only do hard labor. Hey, what do you plan to do in the future?"
"What's it got to do with you?" An Jing mocked him, but his eyes stole a glance at Zhan Mu, hiding a hidden sense of satisfaction.
Zhan Mu noticed that An Jing did it on purpose.
Of course, how could a true friend embarrass someone? An Jing was obviously forcing people to do this on purpose. In today's society, you can't kill people, but you can destroy their hearts.
The dishes came, and An Jing continued to chat with his colleagues. Zhan Mu smiled. He was used to it and already knew what was going on. He buried his head and continued to eat, devouring the food and turning a deaf ear to them.
Zhan Mu, holding the mentality of "if you don't eat it, it's a waste", was swept into the storm. Then he made an excuse to go to the toilet, but ran to the cashier to pay for his own meal and then left.
On this side, Zhan Mu looked calm, but he was holding his breath and set An Jing's messages to do not disturb.
Don't delete it, it's still useful.
-
When he returned to his grandparents' rural cottage, Zhan Mu saw Sister Hong again, and a bald, big-bellied man with her. He watched the two of them working hard under the scorching sun, sweating profusely, their skin tanned, and he felt very uncomfortable.
He hasn't even made any money, but he's already working so hard. Zhan Mu knows he's being sentimental, but he still can't help but think, how come he hasn't received any blessing from God after working so hard?
It was getting dark. Before he even walked back to his hometown, Zhan Mu saw his father's car. His mood immediately turned cold and his steps back became heavy. As expected, his parents were there too.
Zhan's parents are very busy and are reluctant to put down their work, so it is perfectly reasonable for them to show up at this time.
Before Zhan Mu even stepped inside, he could hear Zhan's mother's hysteria and Zhan's father's impatient tone and irritability.
Zhan's father: "What the hell is it to you? I don't care if they want you to care! They are very capable, and they will fly when their wings are strong enough! They want to start a business, become a big boss, and become a successful person!"
Grandma: "How come you were so well-behaved when you were little, but now you're so naughty... You too, just give him some ground. Whatever you say, it's your mother."
Zhan's mother: "I'm his mother? Does he feel that way? You don't know what he said when his sister became a vegetable! Really, Mom, people like Zhan Mu can't be taught. He even bought an electronic nanny, which is very expensive. I returned it once, but he still wanted to buy it. I can't do anything about it, really."
After hearing this, Zhan Mu sneered twice and didn't want to go back.
However, Zhan Mu still went back. Grandpa Zhan had poor hearing and was watching TV in the living room. Grandma Zhan liked to chat about family matters, so she joined the ranks of Zhan's father and mother who hated their son.
"What are you doing here?" Zhan Mu felt a chill running down his spine. He said, "You want me to take care of Zhan Miao? Impossible. I told you, her misfortune is her own fault. It's none of my business. I can go back every few days to visit her. I can't waste all my time on her."
"You're really nothing!" Zhan's mother breathed heavily and said, "Raising you? Why would I raise you?! Do you consider us family? You've made such a great contribution to this family?!"
"How else can I contribute?! I've already told you I'm working hard to make money! I'm doing my own media and being a game streamer, all for the money!" Zhan Mu practically yelled, "What are you still dissatisfied with? Am I not working hard enough? How much more can I contribute?"
Zhan's father said, "Then take out the money! Then you will pay for your sister's medical expenses! Do you have any money?"
Why? How much money do I have?
Zhan Mu thought with a chilling heart.
He suddenly felt a lump in his throat and wanted to cry, but then he realized there was no need to. He wanted to feel wronged, but then he realized this wasn't the first time. He and his parents had always gotten along in this way.
In fact, his family was definitely not poor, but he just had a hard time getting along with his parents. They were always arguing, blaming each other, and engaging in endless verbal abuse and disgust.
Zhan Mu thought that they were indeed incompatible.
This is no longer a material hardship, but a spiritual poverty and alienation from each other's personality and soul.
"Maybe our whole family is so selfish." Zhan Mu suddenly smiled, picked up his suitcase and walked out, leaving behind a sentence: "I won't go back. Goodbye, Mom and Dad, and take care of yourself. I will go out and find a job."
The stars appeared and the neighbors next door lit up their lamps warmly, but Zhan Mu no longer wanted to stay and left them without looking back.
For Zhan Mu, home is not a safe haven.
-
That night, Zhan Mu stayed in an old B&B. It was very cheap, but the conditions were not very good. It did have all the necessary bathing facilities. He was just about to finish packing and lie on the bed to cry secretly.
The phone vibrated, and Bian Lu sent several messages.
Bian Lu: Are you there? Want to play a game on Desperate Situation?
When Zhan Mu saw him, he thought of that idiot An Jing and felt a little annoyed. He was about to refuse, but then he felt that he was a very nice person, so he agreed and immediately rummaged through his suitcase to find the computer number.
So, the two frustrated men sat in a bar in the main city, sighing sadly.
Zhan Mu: What are you worried about?
Bian Lu: You don’t know how hard it is to fall in love with someone who is of a very different class from you. You are just a complete scapegoat.
Zhan Mu: Are you talking about Teacher An?
Bian Lu nodded gravely, shook the wine glass in his hand, and took a sip. The game tasted bland. He replied, "Although I'm also from Lanzhou, there's a big gap between our family and his. Besides, he was a very extravagant playboy before me. I don't know why he fell for me in the first place."
"No way..." Zhan Mu widened his eyes. It seemed like they had a good relationship, so how could they have such a connection?
"I'm not afraid of you laughing, seriously." Bian Lu was quite honest with him, and he didn't have the airs of someone who had just landed a rich husband. He told him, "At that time, the surface of Earth was almost covered with chrysanthemums, and there was a lot of miasma. Conspiracy theories said that humans were going to become extinct, so why not build a base on the seabed to survive? Don't you know that?"
"Oh, that's true." Zhan Mu nodded.
"Those who entered the Blue Continent Base at that time were either rich or noble, or they were working on the project and were willing to be cornerstones. My family was one of them." Bian Lu's eyes were dark as he recalled that past. He smiled bitterly, "What the hell, we were the cannon fodder of our time..."
"Do you like An Jing?" Zhan Mu asked curiously.
"Back then, Blue Island declared itself king and established a government called White Whale. That was over thirty years ago. I grew up in Blue Island and didn't know much about the outside world. Aside from encountering a few armed riots as a child, I thought Blue Island was pretty good because it was really high-tech, with an underwater base after all."
Bian Lu changed the subject and said, "I should be. I think An Jing's family is rich and powerful, he's handsome, and we can get along. Even though he skipped my job, I think he must have had his reasons. I forgive him."
Zhan Mu clicked his tongue and shook his head, thinking to himself, buddy, you love it so much.
"His family was involved in politics, and something happened later that got him banned. Then I accompanied him to Xia Country, and alas... things have changed."
The change in the sentence made Zhan Mu see Bian Lu's dilemma. He brainstormed and leaned in to whisper, "He cheated on you?"
Bian Lu suddenly got angry and glared at Zhan Mu, this handsome boy who appeared in An Jing's circle of friends eating hot pot, had red lips and white teeth, and was decent in appearance. There was a bit of innocence between his eyebrows and eyes, which made him look very romantic.
Teacher An is also a talented person. With a hotpot meal, he offended two people, angered Zhan Mu and irritated Bian Lu. He is indeed a scumbag.
Bian Lu tried to hold back the words stuck in his throat, but couldn't help saying, "You went to dinner with An Jing today?"
"Yes, we split the bill." Zhan Mu seemed to understand what he was angry about and immediately distanced himself from the matter, saying, "What's wrong? He hasn't come home yet?"
Bian Lu's anger immediately deflated, but within half a second, his anger strangely rose again - in other words, after Teacher Ren An had a big fight with you, he would rather stay out all night than go home to see you!
"Wait, I think I saw Teacher An." Zhan Mu glanced and saw An Jing, who was walking away angrily.
"Really?" Bian Lu saw it even though he was covering his face with his hands. Then, he smiled evilly and suddenly wanted to do something bad. He called out "Zhan Mu" and when the person turned around, he was about to move forward and get face to face with him.
Zhan Mu froze, unable to react, his scalp numbed and his brain froze. Just when he thought Bian Lu was going to kiss him, someone suddenly grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back, avoiding him.
Zhan Mu turned around and saw the person he hadn't seen for a long time. He looked different again, with short hair, bright eyes, a small black mole on the bridge of his nose, and a cold and distant look in his eyes.
"Homosexuality is prohibited, thank you." Lu Chao said, holding up the wine glass.
Zhan Mu was horrified. Could it be that Lu Chao’s memory had been rewritten by the game system again like last time?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
