5
My cold war with Hongmao continued into the afternoon. Starving, I couldn't find a single thing to eat at Xia Yu's place. Seeing Hongmao calmly sitting cross-legged on the sofa watching TV, I couldn't help but ask him, "Aren't you hungry?"
Red Hair gave a light snort and casually grabbed the cushion and stuffed it into his arms.
"Camel? Immortal?"
"Ma'am, are you from the multiple management bureau?"
Wow! That one sentence almost choked me to death! I was just asking casually, do you think I'm that gossipy?
"Hey, I was just kidding, why are you making such a fuss? Don't be so petty!"
Red Hair glanced at me, then simply turned his head away.
I was just about to say something sarcastic when there was a loud knocking on the door.
"Who is it? I've been knocking on the door so hard it's practically broken! Coming, coming!"
As I opened the door, Zhang Peng's handsome face appeared before me.
How could it be him?
When our eyes met, I inexplicably felt a little awkward, and my heart started racing.
What's he doing here? Is he here to break up with me?
Thinking of this, I subconsciously took a step back.
Zhang Peng raised his chin, looking at me with a hint of provocation in his eyes. He didn't say anything, just stood there. He looked pretty arrogant.
Who is it?
Red Hair was standing behind me at some point, staring at Zhang Peng with probing eyes.
Zhang Peng was clearly surprised to see the red-haired man, but he immediately smiled and turned his sharp gaze to my face, saying, "I'm Xia Xiang's buddy. Who are you? I've never seen you before."
"Me?...I'm also his buddy, but we've only known each other for a short time."
"I see." Zhang Peng glanced at me, took a step forward with his left foot, and said, "Xia Xiang, why don't you invite me in for a seat?"
"Oh, yes, yes, I'm so sorry, come in, come in and have a seat." I gestured for Zhang Peng to come inside, my mind racing with anxiety as I wondered what his purpose was in coming here. Where was that adulterer? I couldn't see him.
I walked into the living room with practiced ease. Zhang Peng casually took off his suit jacket and tossed it to me, which I instinctively caught. Looking up, I saw Red Hair staring at me with wide, surprised eyes. I smiled awkwardly and said to Zhang Peng, "Have a seat, I'll make some tea."
"Xia Yu, do you have that thing here?" Zhang Peng reminded me.
"Oh, right, right, how could I forget? This place is a notorious refugee area where you can't find anything you need." I scratched my head and smiled again, putting on an act. "Then I'll go downstairs to the convenience store to buy you a drink."
"No need, I'm not thirsty. Come, sit down." Zhang Peng waved to me and pointed to the seat next to him.
I sat down next to Zhang Peng, my muscles tense, sensing he was about to say something I couldn't let anyone else hear. I quickly said to the red-haired guy standing to the side watching us, "You go inside first, I have something to talk to him about."
Red Hair nodded and turned to walk towards the small room. His obedience surprised me.
Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I asked myself, "Why the hell am I so nervous?"
Turning around, Zhang Peng looked at me with a half-smile, a look that sent chills down my spine.
When did you get on board?
"Huh?" I opened my mouth wide, not understanding what he meant.
"He looks good, quite handsome. But don't tell him he's Xia Yu's boyfriend."
"No, he and Xia Yu have only known each other for a short time."
"Oh, so that has something to do with you?" Zhang Peng leaned closer to me and raised his eyebrows as he spoke.
"No, no, he has nothing to do with me." I quickly waved my hand.
"Hehe, you think I believe that? Xia Xiang, you're something else. You have no job and no money, but you still have a lot of time to play around! What were you doing running around so fast yesterday? You weren't looking for him, were you?" Zhang Peng still had a smile on his face, and his crossed legs occasionally nudged me.
Huh? What's he thinking? Does he think I've hooked up with that red guy?
This is a huge injustice!
"No, you've misunderstood. It's not what you think about him and me."
"Oh? So what's your relationship with him? I know almost all of your buddies."
"He... I picked him up from the roadside last night." I lowered my voice and briefly told Zhang Peng how I met Red Hair last night. As I spoke, I glanced at the small room to make sure the door was closed tightly enough so that Red Hair couldn't hear us.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Peng immediately stood up, staring directly at me.
"Found it? You actually came up with this lie? Xia Xiang, I'm speechless! Do you think I'm an idiot, or are you the idiot yourself? Found it? Hah—who are you trying to fool?"
When I heard Zhang Peng's loud voice, which could be heard throughout the entire floor, I immediately broke out in a cold sweat. I quickly waved my hand at him and said, "Keep it down, keep it down. It would be so embarrassing if he heard us. He really is someone I picked up."
"Bullshit! Go pick another one for me! Xia Xiang, are you even a man? If you're going to sleep with a man, just say so, why are you lying!"
"I didn't lie, everything I said is true!" I said anxiously, standing up. How could I admit to something that didn't happen?
"Heh..." Zhang Peng looked at me and let out a cold laugh. "What's his name?"
"Hua, Hua Hong."
Where are you staying?
"I have no idea."
"Is he mentally sound?" I was a little puzzled. Why was he asking that?
"It should be quite normal."
"Normal? Then why doesn't he go home!" Zhang Peng's voice suddenly rose several decibels. "He's drunk and has slept well; he should know the way home by now, right? What's he doing staying here?"
Zhang Peng's words made sense. I thought about it and really couldn't figure out why Hongmao was staying with me. Right, why didn't he go home or get his car?
"Yes, why did he stay with me?"
"You're still asking me? Damn it!" Zhang Peng had barely finished speaking when he kicked me hard in the shin.
I yelled "Ouch!" and collapsed onto the sofa. Seriously? He kicked me like I was his enemy? Did he have to kick me so hard?
"What are you doing! Why are you touching me like that?"
Red Hair's voice suddenly pierced my ears. I opened my eyes with a grimacing look and saw—oh my god! Red Hair had lifted Zhang Peng by the collar high, his right fist clenched, ready to strike at any moment.
What... what's going on?
"I can do whatever I want, it's none of your business!" Zhang Peng slapped the red-haired man's hand off his collar. Zhang Peng turned and glared at me fiercely. "Look, someone's already standing up for you. Xia Xiang, you're something else!"
"No, no..." I was utterly speechless. Looking at the righteous-looking red-haired man, I inwardly cried out, "What are you doing out here? Now I'm in a mess I can't clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River!" I know Zhang Peng's personality too well; offending him is a recipe for disaster. I remember once I forgot to wash the dishes and was subjected to a week of instant noodles. Now that he's so deeply misunderstanding me, how can I possibly recover? Thinking about the adulterer I saw last night, I almost cried.
Oh no, oh no, this time no matter where I run, I can't escape the fate of being dumped.
"So what if I stood up for him? Can't we sit down and talk things out instead of resorting to violence?" Red Hair said to Zhang Peng.
Zhang Peng stared at the red-haired man for a long time, then turned his head and suddenly smiled at me.
I had a feeling a storm was coming.
Summer Echoes
Hearing Zhang Peng utter my name through gritted teeth, I quickly interjected, "Zhang Peng, listen to me first. Although our relationship has come to an end, you can't wrong me like this! Before we broke up, how could I possibly have anything to do with other men?" My fingers were tightly clasped together, and it took a lot of courage for me to say these words.
Zhang Peng froze for a moment. The angry expression vanished from his face instantly, his dark eyes remained fixed in their sockets, and his slightly open mouth moved, but no sound came out.
Seeing his shocked expression, I felt terrible, but I couldn't let myself be wronged!
"You came to see me for this, right? Don't worry, I know what to do."
"What...did you say?" Zhang Peng stared at me blankly, his lips, perfectly suited for a kiss, trembling slightly.
“I said, things aren’t what you think between us.”
"That's not it. What else did you say?"
"I'll talk, I'll talk, I..." He bit his lip awkwardly, unable to say the words of breaking up a second time.
After waiting for a while without receiving my reply, Zhang Peng nodded, as if he understood something. He took out a piece of paper from his pocket, pointed at it, and casually tossed it aside. The paper floated lightly to my face.
"I've been running around all day for your sake, haha, now that I think about it, it was totally not worth it."
After saying that, Zhang Peng looked at Hong Mao again, picked up the dark green suit jacket from the sofa, and walked straight toward the door.
I was startled by a loud bang. Picking up the paper from the floor, I saw it was a "Personnel Recommendation Form for XX Company"...
Red Hair leaned closer, looked at him, and said, "Is he here to introduce you to a job?"
I looked at the red-haired man blankly and said, "He...he doesn't care about my affairs, how could he..."
"Is he his boyfriend?" the red-haired man asked.
I nodded, wondering if Zhang Peng and I were still in that kind of relationship. The affair, what just happened—it was all a complete mess!
Red Hair exclaimed "Oh dear!" and grabbed my arm, saying, "He's misunderstood us. Why don't you go and explain to him?"
Seeing Red Hair's anxious look, I quickly stood up and said, "You stay here and watch the house. I'll be right back."
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