Four-Faced Buddha [To My Shore] - Chap 98
Chapter 98 Pan-fried Buns
2024-10-13 07:37 Category: Four-Faced BuddhaTurn off the lights
Fan Xiao finally appeared to apologize on behalf of Shi Lihua.
A black motorcycle-style cotton jacket, matching basic jeans, and a dark gray scarf wrapped twice around the neck and tucked under the chin. Due to the angle, the jawline and Adam’s apple are particularly prominent, exuding a sharp yet undeniably striking presence.
He straddled the motorcycle, one long leg on the ground, exuding a relaxed air, yet his eyes were deep and piercing. Occasionally glancing at the passing crowd, his languid demeanor paired with his face was captivating.
After smoking a cigarette, You Shulang rounded the corner and walked up to Fan Xiao.
“haven’t seen you for a long time.”
Fan Xiao’s heart skipped a beat, and he tightened his grip on the handlebars. After a moment, he dared to look at You Shulang’s face.
He replied with a smile, “Long time no see, Shulang.”
No matter how fiery it once was, now all that’s left is a simple “long time no see”.
Sure enough, those words were light and weightless; they dissipated with a gust of cold wind.
You Shulang’s gaze swept lightly across Fan Xiao’s face, pausing for a moment on a scar near his ear, before meeting his eyes: “What do you want from me?”
“I apologize to you on behalf of Shi Lihua. He was talking nonsense yesterday.”
“I know, I won’t believe it.”
There was a three-second pause before Fan Xiao continued, “No matter what, I still have to apologize, and I’m also afraid you’ll think I instructed them to do it.”
“You wouldn’t do something so low-level.”
Fan Xiao chuckled, his eyes lowered: “Don’t think I’m so clever. How do you know I haven’t considered tearing him apart with my bare hands in the most direct way?”
He raised his smiling eyes, only to see a look of utter desolation: “Shulang, are you still afraid of me?”
You Shulang hesitated for a moment: “Are you scared?”
Fan Xiao nodded: “Then I’ll continue to disappear.”
He took a paper bag off the handlebars and handed it to You Shulang: “The pan-fried buns from your favorite place are cold. Heat them up when you get home.”
You Shulang looked at the logo on the packaging bag: “From a neighboring city?”
“Going to run errands, just passing by.” Fan Xiao stuffed the paper bag into You Shulang’s hand. As he withdrew his hand, his icy fingertips brushed against his warm palm. The familiar temperature evoked a trembling feeling in his heart, but as the warmth and coldness gradually separated, it could only turn into a sense of melancholy.
Suppressing his emotions, Fan Xiao rubbed his fingertips and said lazily, “Let’s go back, it’s too cold.”
Fan Xiao started the motorcycle, put on his helmet, and twisted the throttle half a turn, but then he heard You Shulang call his name.
“Fan Xiao,” You Shulang hesitated again, glancing at the injury on Fan Xiao’s face, “a few days ago, Tian Tian was almost hit by a motorcycle.”
Fan Xiao frowned as he turned off the fire.
“The roads are slippery in winter, so you’d better not ride a motorcycle. Be careful not to hit someone.”
After saying that, You Shulang picked up his bag and turned back to the research and development base.
When You Shulang returned to the lab, he was told that guests were waiting. He handed the bag in his hand to Tian Xiaotian: “Heat this up for everyone at noon as an extra meal.” He took a couple of steps and then came back, where he was stared at by Tian Xiaotian’s big eyes for several seconds before saying, “Save one box for me.”
The reception room had glass doors, and you could see Shi Lihua’s mixed Chinese and Thai face even before you got close.
You Shulang leaned against the doorway and said coldly, “Are you and Fan Xiao working together, one on the outside and one on the inside, putting on a show?”
“You can only sing if someone wants to listen.” The old-style school building still uses radiator heating. Shi Lihua placed his hands on the long iron pipes, turning his palms and backs over to heat them. “What did he just say to you?”
“I apologize on your behalf.”
“Damn.” Shi Lihua withdrew his hand and rolled up his sleeves. “You Shulang, sometimes I have to admire you. Even someone like Fan Xiao has fallen into your hands.”
“Should I be honored?” You Shulang rolled his eyes. “What business does Young Master Shi have with me?”
“I just wanted to tell you something you don’t know,” Shi Lihua said, sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed. “It’s about Fan Xiao.”
You Shulang glanced at his watch: “I don’t have time to waste on such meaningless things.”
“You Shulang, what is meaningful?” Shi Lihua shifted his leg and asked, “What do you spend your time doing? Flirting with your new boyfriend?”
You Shulang finally entered the reception room, closed the door behind him, and turned the blinds, darkening the room.
“What are you doing?” Shi Lihua put his leg down and moved his buttocks back. “Why are you closing the door?”
You Shulang slowly rolled up the sleeves of his white coat: “Didn’t you want to tell me something? Let’s settle some accounts before we do.”
“…What debt?”
“You know perfectly well what the issues are. Shouldn’t you share both the good times and the bad with Bai Yupeng?”
“I…he…you’re going to beat me up?”
“I was going to let it go and not want to waste my energy on you anymore, but Young Master Shi just keeps coming up in front of me.”
You Shulang stepped closer, looking down at Shi Lihua: “Should I do it, or will you do it yourself?”
Shi Lihua swallowed hard and glanced at the door to the reception room: “How did I get here by myself?”
You Shulang gave the ashtray on the coffee table a look: “Blood.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. Shi Lihua steeled himself, grabbed the ashtray, and said, “Fine, I don’t owe you anything.”
Despite the strong stance, the force was weak; the hand fell, yet Shi Lihua was unharmed, only suffering a red mark on his forehead.
You Shulang leaned down and met Shi Lihua’s eyes: “Don’t look away.” He straightened the man’s chin and pressed the red mark with his hand. “If one time isn’t enough, then do it a few more times. Young Master Shi is delicate and draws blood quickly.”
Shi Lihua was instantly enraged. He grabbed an ashtray and struck himself hard. Before he could even feel the pain, blood started flowing.
You Shulang pushed him away, straightened up, and said coldly, “Do you feel wronged? Otherwise, hit me and I’ll send you to someone else’s bed.”
Shi Lihua pulled out a few tissues to cover his wound: “I’m not wronged, I deserved it, okay?” He muttered, “The last time I was beaten was when I was eight years old when my grandfather kicked my butt.”
You Shulang took a cigarette and put it in his mouth, then walked over to the sofa and sat down: “Say what you want to say. I have five minutes before lunch.”
Shi Lihua scoffed: “You Shulang, can’t you live without showing off?”
You Shulang chuckled: “Five minutes isn’t enough for you to get your buddy all emotional? Should I play you ‘Blue and White Porcelain’?”
Shi Lihua paused for a moment, then became furious and embarrassed: “One of you doesn’t want to talk, and the other doesn’t want to listen, so I’m just superfluous.”
He stood up, clutching his head: “You Shulang, I understand you hate Fan Xiao, but he really did suffer a lot for you. He could have gotten away unscathed from that incident with his family, but to appease you, he was willing to put himself in the line of duty. To protect you, the whistleblower, Fan Xiao publicly admitted that he was the one who reported you, and sure enough, after going to jail, he was hunted down for three whole months!”
The cigarette between You Shulang’s fingers suddenly broke in two: “Fan Xiao is being chased?”
Shi Lihua snorted through his nose: “What did he tell you? That he served six months in jail? Actually, he only served three months. After he came out, he was doused with gasoline in the street and chased with a knife. Later, the police intervened and provided him with protective housing. Fortunately, three months later, the big boss involved in the case died of old age, and the power changed hands, so Fan Xiao regained his freedom.”
“He didn’t contact you after he came back. On the one hand, he was keeping his promise, and on the other hand, he was afraid that those people hadn’t given up and might implicate you.”
Shi Lihua took a few steps and put her hand on the doorknob: “Also, it was Fan Xiao who asked Tian Tian’s mother to call you. He knew you were lonely and would like this child. At the time, I didn’t believe you would adopt Tian Tian. Fan Xiao said that if you didn’t want to adopt him, he would, because he was the child you both saved.”
The blinds were suddenly opened, and rays of light sliced through Shi Lihua’s face. You Shulang, holding the remote control, raised his eyes, which had been lowered, and looked at the man standing by the door: “Is there anything else? It’s already past the time limit.”
Shi Lihua was taken aback, then scoffed angrily: “Bodhisattva? This is the Bodhisattva that Fan Xiao was talking about!”
As if enraged, he covered his head, slammed the door, and stormed out, the enormous sound echoing throughout the entire building.
“Brother You?” Tian Xiaotian peeked at the departing figure, then cautiously poked her head in, her cheeks puffed out. “The pan-fried buns are heated up, they’re delicious.”
The man on the sofa seemed frozen, his long, slender fingers still clutching a broken cigarette. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting a shadow over his eyes. Aside from his indistinct eyes, his expression was utterly calm, yet…
Tian Xiaotian thought of an adjective, but since she had always been at the bottom of the list in humanities, she could only mutter between her teeth, “She looks… very sad.”
“What’s wrong, Brother You?” Tian Xiaotian walked in carrying a box of pan-fried buns and squatted down in front of You Shulang. Looking at this usually calm and composed man, she asked softly, “Are you unhappy? Did that person offend you?”
“No.” You Shulang smiled. “I’m not unhappy, and it has nothing to do with him.”
He took the pan-fried bun and let the warm, fragrant aroma envelop him.
