There was a team dinner after the football match. Xu Tingsheng got intoxicated, this being the second time he had gotten drunk since his rebirth. The first time it had happened, he had forgotten his fears somehow or other due to having been by Mr Xuās side, in the end drinking muddledly along and getting drunk.
After that had happened, Xu Tingsheng had actually been worried for a few days, only calming down after not having noticed any abnormalities in Mr Xu, having been no different from his usual self.
This time round, his drunken state had nothing at all to do with the people around him. Or to put it another way, these people were not able to give him that sense of security. Yet, he had still gotten drunk. He had been exchanging cups with his own youth, toasting to its honour.
This game of football had kicked his soul back to its younger days.
While he had recovered his teenage body earlier, Xu Tingsheng had still been living with the mentality of a 31-year-old, harbouring fear. Even despite his having been reborn, the feeling of fear had still permeated his mind. This was the mentality of a failure, for such was what he had originally been-a complete, utter failure. It was to the extent that he had even fallen to being a coward who could only let go of love, helplessly watching it go.
The arch of his right foot propelling the ball lightly had allowed his youthful energy from long ago to reunite with his reborn body.
At the very least, sometimes, he would want to immerse himself completely into the identity of a teenager living amidst his youth.
In the rebirth stories that he had read in his previous life, the protagonists were always full of caution, always pushing desirously ahead at all costs, even resorting to unscrupulous means as they just desired to have everything within their grasp. Whether or not these things really belonged to them, they wished for it all.
As for Xu Tingsheng, he did not wish for much. Just family, Xiang Ning, friends, and himself. He wanted to live a hearty, carefree life, for such was a life that he felt would not be a wasted one.
Fu Cheng fell into a drunken state as well. He staggered off by himself, saying that he wanted to look for Fang Yunyao to finish yelling the rest of the words that he hadnāt finished conveying earlier.
Xu Tingsheng shook his head and remarked that he didnāt believe Fu Cheng would dare to go.
Fu Cheng replied, āThen I will find a corner to yell through the phone.ā
Fu Cheng had not been gone for long when Xu Tingsheng also took his leave. He staggered a full round about the school, humming a short āgangsterās lullabyā he had created back in his previous life when he had still been young and messing about:
āLady, you are so effing beautiful, setting my heart aflutterā¦ā
Female juniors walking past waved energetically at him, and Xu Tingsheng reciprocated with even greater energy until the little ladies were scared away.
Exiting the school gates, Xu Tingsheng very unexpectedly crossed paths with someone ā Apple.
To be honest, amongst the girls whom Xu Tingsheng had crossed paths with ever since his rebirth, Apple was the one he had the least respect for. Xu Tingsheng had very carefully looked after the feelings and emotions of many people, but he had not done so for her.
To raise a most straightforward example, while Apple had given Xu Tingsheng her number quite some time ago, when Xu Tingsheng had sent out messages to inform his acquaintances of his new phone number upon purchasing a new mobile phone, she was one of the rare few who had excluded from this.
Truth be told, she hadnāt actually done anything wrong.
She had come to watch his football match today. He had seen her there.
āXu Tingsheng, youā¦are you drunk?ā Apple asked..
āYes, a little. What are you still doing here so late?ā Xu Tingsheng responded as tried his hardest to keep his mind sober.
āIāve been waiting for you, actually. I wanted to tell you that Iāll be returning to Shenghai City tomorrow. My momās over there,ā Apple said.
āYou come from Shenghai? Thatās quite a nice place.ā
āNo, I donāt come from there; itās just that my momās there. Itās not a nice place at all.ā
Appleās parents had divorced, and her mother had gone off to work in one of the two most prosperous metropolises in the country, also renowned as the two municipalities which were like heaven to those taking their university entrance examinations. While Apple had followed her mother there to live and study, she had not been qualified to sit for her university entrance examinations there.
She had lived there for close to ten years, but had still remained an outsider. Her classmates had seen her as a mere village girl. The teachers had seen her as an inconsequential student who had nothing to do with the passing rate of the cohort. Her studies were not good, and her family was not well-to-doā¦She yearned for respect, even simply for a friend, but for her, this could only be achieved through certain methods and schemes.
This was, perhaps, the reason for her current personality. She had been forced to maintain rational thought at all times, calculating benefits and detriments, using those as the benchmark for all of her actions.
Xu Tingsheng had yet to answer her when Apple continued, āWalk with me?ā
She was different from usual today, without the bewitching gaze, the rough manner of breathing, the blatant or covert teasing. As Xu Tingsheng looked at her, she appeared just like a most ordinary girl.
Therefore, Xu Tingsheng said, āOkay.ā
The two of them walked along the street, somehow ending up at Jiangbin Road. This place was a very suitable location for a date. There was the sound of water and the wind, and also the dim yellow street lamps and silhouettes outlining those blissful couples everywhere.
The two of them sat down on a stone bench by the river.
As her long hair was blown messily by the wind, Apple tucked away the loose strands of hair on her forehead.
She said, āIām so hungry. I actually havenāt had dinner; I was waiting there for you all this while.ā
She went on, āXu Tingsheng, even though I know that nothing will come out of this, even though I know that you may look down on me, I still want to tell you that I seem toā¦no, not just seem to. Really, I like you. When you held up a heart and ran along the stands today, I coaxed myself, telling myself that it was meant for meā¦did you know? I am especially good at deceiving myself; itās been like this ever since I was a child.ā
Xu Tingsheng stood up, saying, āActually, it may not be love. It may be that you simply yearn too deeply for protection. Maybe you just wish that there can be someone whom you can rely on, such that you will no longer have to face as well as fight for everything on your own, having to remain cautious at all times in all that you doā¦.ā
Having said a few āmaybesā in succession, Xu Tingsheng then continued, āIt just happened that in this time that you saw me, I appeared very awesome and capable in some matters, therefore causing such a feeling to well up within you..Actually, were it sometime else and faced with some other matters, I might be an incompetent, spineless coward, a complete and utter failureā¦can you believe that?ā
Having finished, Xu Tingsheng strode away.
Apple called after him, āYouāre leaving?ā
Xu Tingsheng laughed, āIām off to get you something to eat. Just consider itā¦my gratitude and reciprocation to a beautiful ladyās love and admiration.ā
Xu Tingsheng returned with some food which Apple promptly ravenously devoured, wolfing it down with a total lack of concern for her image. This Apple was truly not the least bit like Apple.
There were also a few cans of beer in the bag that Xu Tingsheng had brought back. Apple opened a can and handed it over to Xu Tingsheng.
Then, she opened one for herself and raised it up, clinking cans with Xu Tingsheng, āCheers, thank you.ā
The two drank and chatted. Apple soon became tipsy, even more quickly than Xu Tingsheng who had already been drunk beforehand.
She leaned on Xu Tingshengās shoulder, saying, āIt seems very worth it.ā
āWhat?ā
āMy seduction was not in vain. Such treatment from you-even Yao Jing didnāt have it, right? Your junior didnāt receive it either, it seems. So, it seems to have been very worth it.ā
Xu Tingsheng abruptly became aware that this was indeed true. He had not been with this way with Yao Jing or Wu Yuewei. So, why was he now suddenly treating Apple, whom he had originally least respected, this way? Why had he, out of the blue, suddenly thought to show Apple some care and warmth, some respect and concern?
Perhaps it was because she was just like how he once had been, living under a state of constant struggle and fear.
Xu Tingsheng said, āIt isnāt like thisā¦do you have any other requests? Say it now; you should really be going home soon. Thereās still that bus to Shenghai City tomorrow to catch.ā
Apple pursed her lips and thought for a while before standing, swaying as she climbed onto the stone bench, her arms spread wide in greeting of the incoming winds, āCarry me someplace bright.ā
Carry me someplace bright. Everyone has had their dark times, has experienced times alone with no one to reach out to. At such times, you would wish that there could be someone, carrying you someplace bright.
Xu Tingsheng carried Apple on his back and walked back to the main street. After that, Apple got off and walked by herself. She hopped and skipped along like an extremely foolish yet merry little girl, one who knew not any worry or fear.
Apple turned some additional bends, walked them around in circlesā¦She wished that this stretch of road could be a little longer, yet even longer, for there were very few occasions when she could be so happy and at ease.
Yet, the two still eventually reached the alleyway beside Appleās house.
āIām not going home,ā Apple said in a shameless tone, turning as if to walk back to the street.
Xu Tingsheng grabbed hold of her, saying, āIāll watch you go up.ā
āHuh, bad guy,ā Apple sighed, furrowing her brows as she said, āI really want to seduce you a little this once moreā¦this oneās house is really empty, this one is really scared, this one is reallyā¦leaving tomorrow.ā
It turned out that having changed āIā to āthis oneā, a completely different feeling was given off.
Xu Tingsheng smiled bitterly as he took out his handphone and dialled Appleās number, trying his utmost to remain composed as he said, āSave my number, letās be friends from now on. If thereās anything I can help with, tell me about it.ā
āYou have to mean what you say.ā
āI mean it.ā
As Xu Tingsheng was on the road home, his phone began to vibrate.
Apple said: I just remembered something. Thereās actually really something I need your help with.
Xu Tingsheng replied: Say it.
Apple said: Help me solve a physiological problemā¦awwwā¦this one here is all alone at home, and also just drankā¦so lonely, how i wishā¦.
Apple said: My houseās number plate is 402. Iāll be waiting.
Apple said: Hurry upā¦. ohhhā¦. this is so excruciatingā¦
ā¦ā¦
Xu Tingsheng was in great pain. Demonessā¦at the end of the day, she was still a demoness that he could not afford to provokeā¦