âWhere did your skills come from, that youâve improved so much?â
Sitting on the hillside outside in the sun, Yang Lei gave Fang Yu a can of beer.
Fang Yu had really surprised Yang Lei. He had thought about the two veterans in the south, but he thought that this wasnât similar. Fang Yuâs moves had traces of the military, but there were also many that were obviously not military moves.
Fang Yu opened the beer, took a drink, and looked at the mountains in the distance.
âWhen I was in prison, I knew someone. He was quite amazing.â
Yang Lei looked at Fang Yu. This was Fang Yuâs first time mentioning what happened in prison.
âHe was over 50 years old, but four or five of them couldnât beat him. When he was young, he had been on the battlefield. He used to be a provincial martial arts coach. Later, he helped his friend fight and accidentally killed someone. He was imprisoned and sentenced to more than ten years.â
Fang Yu got to know a lot of people in prison, with all kinds of experiences. These people had also suffered through hardships together, and some had indeed accumulated deep friendships.
âHe said that his apprentices had won country championships, and some also went abroad to box and got some distinctions. The old guy talked about it all day long, and I didnât know if it was true or not.â
Fang Yu looked at the distance and smiled.
âHe was in the same cell as me, and we got along. When we were inside and had nothing to do, we would refine them all day, practicing for fun and to pass the time. He taught me a lot, and it seems like he wasnât boasting. It was really eye opening.â
Fang Yu thought of this man with a look of admiration on his face.
âThe old man is really amazing. I probably canât even beat him now.â
Fang Yu had never spoken about what happened in prison. Yang Lei listened and didnât speak. Fang Yu noticed his silence and glanced at Yang Lei.
âActually, being inside is no big deal. Itâs fine if youâre used to it. Find something to do, and time passes quickly.â
âWhatâs the matter with your left arm?â
Yang Lei suddenly asked.
âNothing.â
âIs it from that time?â
Yang Lei didnât beat around the bush.
âNo.â
âDonât lie to me.â
When Yang Lei noticed that something was wrong with Fang Yuâs left arm, Yang Leiâs heart sank to the bottom.
Yang Lei would never forget the scene when he walked into the private room that day and saw Fang Yu covered in blood.
The knife was inserted into Fang Yuâs left arm, penetrating it. This scene seemed to be seared into the bottom of his heart and had never faded. Every time he thought of it, Yang Lei clearly remembered every feeling and every pain he had felt at the moment.
In order to save him back then, Fang Yu had stabbed himself twice. Before he had healed completely, he encountered a series of fights with Qiao Xinâs gang. Every fight was a battle of life and death. At that time, the doctor had said that the arm must rest to heal. If he fought again, he shouldnât think about keeping the arm. After all these years, there were still long-term effects!
âItâs really nothing. Sometimes it hurts a little on rainy days, but nothing else. I was injured in prison later. Iâve recovered long ago, and I could continue until now.â
Fang Yuâs tone was casual. But Yang Lei knew that these were all excuses to comfort him.
Yang Lei didnât say any more. He held the can tightlyâŠ
It was already noon. Before Fang Yu went back, Yang Lei asked him to eat in the canteen before leaving.
While the two were eating, someone sat opposite them. It was Officer Qin.
Yang Lei had always been annoyed by this Officer Qin.
As mentioned before, in the four years at the military academy, a place full of men, Yang Lei had met many of the same sex who made advances towards him. This Officer Qin was one of them. This person loved causing trouble. He was good looking, and his family background was good. At the military academy, he had hinted to Yang Lei, and Yang Lei blocked him discreetly. But he was certain that Yang Lei was the same kind of person, because Yang Lei never had a girlfriend. So he never gave up. Although he didnât express it openly, how could Yang Lei not discern his intentions? He would come to tease whether he was busy or free, annoying Yang Lei. But they were in the same unit and met frequently, and it was inconvenient to lose his temper, so he kept avoiding him.
Yang Lei suddenly was about to get married without any indications. This made Officer Qin feel that Yang Lei was just answering to his family. He believed even more that Yang Lei was also gay. In the army barracks, he didnât dare to do anything, but his unusual enthusiasm towards Yang Lei still made Yang Lei very uncomfortable.
As soon as Officer Qin sat down, he glanced at Fang Yu.
Ever since this Officer Qin came across that scene in Yang Leiâs dormitory in the morning, he had a feeling. People like them were indeed naturally sensitive. When he saw Fang Yu and Yang Lei together, he was acutely aware of the subtlety. He felt that this person was not Yang Leiâs ordinary friend, but Yang Leiâs âspecialâ friend.
Now, as soon as he sat down, he didnât care whether Yang Lei wanted to listen or not, nor did he pay Fang Yu any attention. He talked continuously.
âWhen you get to the regiment level and transfer to civilian work, you will be a division level cadre in provincial agencies. With your background and ability, you will soon be able to take over your fatherâs job! Lei-zi, at that time, donât forget me, the old comrade, you hear?â
Officer Qin liked to tease. He intentionally did it in front of Fang Yu. He couldnât stand to see Yang Lei always being cold towards him, yet being so intimate with this person.
âFang Yu, please bring me a bowl of soup.â
Yang Lei was impatient.
ââŠYour friend is quite handsome!â
Officer Qinâs eyes followed Fang Yuâs back, and he spoke sourly.
âHe was a gangster, right? He has that air!â
âI was also a gangster. Howâs my air?â
Yang Lei stared at him.
âJust joking.â
Officer Qin forced a smile.
Yang Lei ignored him and lowered his head to eat. He choked on a mouthful of pepper in his throat, coughing violently.
âSlow down, donât choke!â Officer Qin hurriedly got up and came over to put his arm around Yang Leiâs shoulder, taking the opportunity to encircle him. Just as his hand went from Yang Leiâs back, either patting or touching, he felt someone behind him. Fang Yu had come over. Officer Qin didnât make way, but he didnât feel any strength. However, he was involuntarily blocked and made way.
Fang Yu went over and brought the soup to Yang Leiâs mouth. Yang Lei was seriously choking, and he drank a few mouthfuls of the soup from Fang Yu. Fang Yu patted his back. Yang Lei shook his head to indicate that he was fine.
Seeing it left a bad taste in Officer Qinâs mouth.
âWhat soup is it today?â As Officer Qin asked, he offhandedly took Yang Leiâs spoon and drank a mouthful, then returned it to Yang Lei.
ââŠâ Yang Lei held the spoon, and he was really annoyed. Just as he was about to lose his temper, Fang Yu held him back and handed him his own spoon. Yang Lei took Fang Yuâs spoon, endured his unhappiness, and downed his meal in a few bites, then prepared to pull Fang Yu away.
âLei-zi, letâs talk a little more.â Officer Qin tossed a cigarette at Yang Lei and tossed another to Fang Yu. He took out a lighter and leaned forward to light the cigarette for Yang Lei. He drew back his hand and put the lighter back into his pocket, as if he had forgotten about Fang Yu.
Officer Qin did it deliberately. He acted like a spoiled boy, childish. He just wanted to embarrass Fang Yu.
The fire in Yang Leiâs heart flared up. In the canteen, a public place, he kept enduring to save face for this person. Now, having been given an inch, he was taking a mile and giving Fang Yu a hard time. Could Yang Lei bear it??
Just as Yang Lei was about to lose his temper, Fang Yu grabbed him.
Fang Yu put the cigarette in his mouth, but he didnât reach for his lighter. Yang Lei was about to take out the lighter from his own pocket. Fang Yu pressed down on his hand, motioned for Yang Lei to turn his face to him, and leaned his body towards Yang Lei.
Yang Lei watched Fang Yu approach him. Fang Yuâs face gradually enlarged before his eyes. Yang Lei was stunned.
Fang Yu directly held the end of the cigarette in his mouth against the burning cigarette in Yang Leiâs mouth. The spark ignited, until it litâŠ
Yang Lei felt the touch spread from the smoke to his lips. Yang Lei didnât move at allâŠ
ââŠâ
Officer Qin stared blankly at the scene before his eyes.
Fang Yu took a slow puff of the cigarette in his mouth, then raised his eyes and looked down at Officer Qin, as though he were looking straight at him for the first time.
In the smoke, his face was expressionless. The gaze that swept downwards rendered Officer Qin speechlessâŠ