CH 3

Chapter 3: Little Fool

Mentally Zhou Mushi was sober, but he felt like his life was being depleted and it made him anxious all over.

He was only twenty years old, but he could clearly feel his life slipping away bit by bit, as if someone had cut off the veins in his body and the fresh blood spurting out of his blood vessels was being drawn away from his body little by little.

His phone flashed dimly as he switched from one app to another, browsing through WeChat, Weibo, QQ, video apps, and everything else, but ultimately he found nothing.

Zhou Mushi didn’t have the habit of smoking, but on this unbearable night, he suddenly wanted to smoke a cigarette.

It was bitterly cold outside, and if he went out now to freeze for a while, buy a pack of cigarettes, and come back, he wouldn’t have to sleep at all tonight.

At three in the morning, there was a sound from the door lock in the house, and Jing Yang came back, reeking of smoke and alcohol, and the scent of perfume from some girl he had been with.

He wasn’t drunk, still sober enough, took off his coat and threw it on the sofa, changed his shoes, and went to the bathroom with a towel to take a shower.

Zhou Mushi huddled under the covers and played a single-player game, propping his ears to listen to the sound of water coming from the bathroom, absentmindedly tapping the phone screen.

He wasn’t particularly good at the game, and accumulating these points was not easy, but losing them all was very quick, and in just half an hour, during the time Jing Yang took a shower, he lost everything, even the money for another round.

Jin Yang blew his hair dry and got out of bed, lifting the covers and sinking into the soft mattress. He put down his phone and could still hear the sound of water dripping.

“Did you forget to turn off the faucet? I can hear water.”

Jin Yang wrapped his arms around Zhou Mushi’s waist from behind, his chin resting on his shoulder. He leaned in close, and his breath smelled of fresh mint toothpaste. He was a little tired and his voice was low and husky.

“It’s raining outside, silly.”

Zhou Mushi’s heart softened, and he turned around to kiss Jin Yang on the lips, snuggling into his warm embrace and sleeping soundly.

…

Zhou Mushi never used to believe in love at first sight. He was handsome and drew a lot of attention, and too many people claimed to have fallen in love with him just from his looks. He had become numb to it and felt that it was a shallow excuse for judging someone based on their appearance.

But everything changed when he saw Jin Yang give a speech as an outstanding graduate at the freshman orientation ceremony. Suddenly, it seemed like everything was different. His understanding of the world, his values, and his principles were all slowly being broken down, like an angel falling from the clouds to earth.

He fell from his ivory tower and landed beside Jin Yang, and they began a simple and occasionally bourgeois life together.

Zhou Mushi came from a wealthy family, a secret known only to his dormitory roommate Lin Shucheng. Lin was a sharp and observant person who could guess his family’s social status from a single accessory. But to others, Zhou Mushi was just a pretty face, a duck being kept by a rich person.

At first, it was hard for Zhou Mushi to be called a duck. But after punching a few people who spoke ill of him with Lin Shucheng’s help, he felt much better. How could those shallow people understand the love between him and Jin Yang?

Money is dirty, and it should never be linked to pure love and affection. Even though Jin Yang was regarded as outstanding by others, his assets were not worth as much as the sports car he used to own. Even though Jin Yang thought he was a poor boy.

…

End of Chapter 3

TL/note: In Chinese slang, “duck” (鸭子) can be used as a euphemism for a prostitute or someone who engages in sexual services in exchange for money, that’s why Zhou Mushi angry.