Chapter 139: Chapter 139: I Thought You Were Going to Take Her Pants Off (3 updates, 13000 for full subscription)
Even though Qiao Xing said that Lu Luo had become lax, Lu Luo did not run back to practice his swordsmanship. He had experienced a lot this evening and really needed to digest it and rest. A person can’t be too tense, or they’ll break.
Fang Gancai had given Circle Studio 100,000 yuan. Lu Luo realized the studio had been open for a while, and he had never treated everyone. So, he decided tonight would be the Circle Studio Shareholders’ Meeting. Lu Luo had Zhou Kai withdraw 50,000 yuan and distributed the money as bonuses according to their shareholding ratios. Because of Bai Yuetong’s technical contribution earning her shares, Lu Luo felt he couldn’t treat a founder like Zhou Kai unfairly. Therefore, he took out the legendary 10% of shares that had belonged to Ludie, raising Zhou Kai’s stake to 10% and setting Bai Yuetong’s at 5%.
With that, Zhou Kai received a 5,000-yuan bonus. This was not an insignificant amount; one couldn’t earn that much in a year working on an assembly line. Gu Fangyi received 7,500 yuan and was naturally all smiles. He would likely spend all this money on cultivation. Although the company also provided Gu Fangyi with certain cultivation resources and a share of commissions, he wasn’t easily satisfied. He wanted to chase the peaks, but his foundation was too weak, so he had to compensate with money.
Bai Yuetong was elated to receive a bonus just after joining. Although 2,500 yuan was very little for someone like her, who spent money lavishly, it was still worth commemorating as the first real money she had ever earned.
Among the group of five, only Qi Xinzhu watched Lu Luo with eager eyes. After holding back for a long time, she finally spoke.
"Bai Yuetong has one, don’t I get anything?"
Lu Luo originally wanted to say, Don’t you have a basic salary of 200 yuan? But seeing Qi Xinzhu’s pitiful look, he just couldn’t bring himself to say it.
"Xinzhu, on the path of pursuing Li Ming, money is useless; it is heavy, dirty, and cannot measure your faith in Li Ming.
"For a noble believer like yourself, money has no use. Today, I’ll leave this 5,000 yuan here. Would you take it?"
Qi Xinzhu unobtrusively stuffed the 5,000 yuan into her pocket, leaving Lu Luo dumbfounded.
"Qi Xinzhu, you..."
Yes, she has already mastered this trick of yours. Better switch it up next time.
"What about me? You said earlier today that young people should think for themselves and have their own ideas.
"Is there a problem with me taking the money? I’ve also contributed a lot to Circle Studio!"
"All right then!"
As a future financial stream for Circle Studio, Qi Xinzhu taking Lu Luo’s money was something Lu Luo really couldn’t refuse.
After the money was distributed, of course, it needed to be spent.
"Tonight is on me! Entertainment Strip, let’s live it up!"
"I have no objections." Zhou Kai hadn’t been out for a long time and indeed needed to relax.
"I’m not going to New Hope."
Gu Fangyi was brief and to the point. It seemed he still remembered that bowl of noodles from his ex-girlfriend; New Hope was indeed a forbidden land for him.
"I’m not going to Little Swan."
Lu Luo didn’t want Qi Xinzhu and Bai Yuetong to find out about his 200-yuan tricycle.
Bai Yuetong just shrugged, indicating she didn’t mind, while Qi Xinzhu looked a bit puzzled.
"What’s the Entertainment Strip?"
"Hmm, a nice place for eating, sleeping, and entertainment."
That evening, perhaps moved by the impression Wu En had left him, or perhaps because his own speech had stirred some genuine feelings, Lu Luo really splurged on treating everyone. They arrived at a club called Light of Tomorrow, where the group ordered a BBQ feast rarely seen in the Wasteland. There were all sorts of alcoholic drinks and soft drinks; Lu Luo was spending money like it was water today.
"Tonight, let’s feast to our heart’s content!"
After several rounds of drinks, even Qi Xinzhu and Bai Yuetong had had quite a bit. As everyone was around the same age, conversations started flowing. Gu Fangyi was drunk. Contrary to his usual silence, he became rather talkative, and what he spoke about was somewhat odd.
"Suddenly, I really miss my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" The other four were taken aback. Since when?
Gu Fangyi simply nodded.
"Yeah, I really do. I don’t even know if she’s eaten, if she went to work today, where she lives, how old she is, or what her name is!"
"Damn it!"
The other four gave Gu Fangyi a look of disdain.
Zhou Kai picked up his glass, his eyes already very hazy.
"I remember back in the orphanage, Lu Luo had autism, Gu Fangyi was the leader, and we were all very happy then."
Lu Luo wasn’t happy when Zhou Kai mentioned his supposed autism.
"That’s right. After all, back then, your ugliness and poverty weren’t so obvious, so you were happy.
"I’m particularly envious of you people who have stories. Unlike me, I’ve lived all these years, and ’handsome’ is the only word that has defined my entire life."
Zhou Kai rolled his eyes. When it comes to boasting, no one beats you, Lu Luo.
Lu Luo looked toward Bai Yuetong. This woman’s identity was too prickly, and he hadn’t figured out how to deal with her yet. Since they were all drinking, and it’s said that wine loosens the tongue, he thought, I’ll try to understand her a bit.
"Bai Yuetong, what about you? You could have enjoyed your life as a young lady of the Inner Ring, yet you came to suffer in the Fourth Ring. Was it worth it? Isn’t your boyfriend angry?"
Bai Yuetong downed her drink in one gulp and quite inelegantly propped a leg up on the chair.
"I don’t have a partner, and regarding the fact that I don’t, no man is innocent.
"Why is it that all the men I meet are losers who can’t impress me? If one could, wouldn’t I have pledged myself to him already?"
She’s crazy, Lu Luo thought.
She doesn’t have a boyfriend... why not introduce Gu Fangyi to her? Lu Luo glanced at Gu Fangyi, who was standing by the window looking towards New Hope, and felt a bit gloomy.
Forget it. It seems Gu Fangyi still can’t forget his sweetheart from New Hope, he mused.
The group had a lively conversation, but Qi Xinzhu seemed somewhat silent. The alcohol made her repeatedly recall what Lu Luo had said during his speech. Lu Luo didn’t disturb her. After all, some things you just have to figure out on your own, he thought.
After dinner, Lu Luo arranged for everyone to have massages, acupressure, foot soaks, and baths—almost the full spa package.
"That was quite comfortable."
This was Qi Xinzhu’s genuine assessment. Although she came from a very privileged background, she had undergone rigorous training in the Church since she was young and had never experienced such things.
Bai Yuetong’s assessment, however, sounded like that of an old pro.
"The technique was mediocre."
After enjoying the massages and baths, the group went to sing karaoke and drink some more. However, the two microphones were monopolized the entire time by Lu Luo and Bai Yuetong, the resident microphone hogs. Qi Xinzhu only sang a hymn midway and then continued to drink quietly.
After their group activities ended, the normal procedure would have been for the men to proceed to a men-only segment while the ladies headed home. But with Bai Yuetong and Qi Xinzhu present, it was clear they couldn’t move on to any men-only activities.
"Lu Luo, I’m taking Gu Fangyi to the place he needs to go now—a place where one can forget the sadness of New Hope. You should take the girls home; it’s not safe for two young women to walk alone at night."
After saying their goodbyes, the two men left, leaving a somewhat flustered Lu Luo with the two women.
"What are they going to do?" Bai Yuetong asked, puzzled.
"Pedal a tricycle, I guess!"
"Can pedaling a tricycle really make you forget sadness?"
"It can," Lu Luo affirmed with certainty.
Lu Luo watched Gu Fangyi and Zhou Kai walk off with their arms around each other’s shoulders, feeling a trace of envy. Their brazenness about going to ’pedal tricycles’ made him feel a bit left out; he wanted to go too.
"Forget it," Lu Luo said. "I’ll just take you two back to the Church district."
「...」
After escorting Qi Xinzhu and Bai Yuetong back to Qiao Xing’s house in the Church district, Lu Luo used the key Qiao Xing had given him to let them in. He helped both women to the bed, dropping Bai Yuetong further in and then carefully placing Qi Xinzhu on the outer side. Looking at the blush on Qi Xinzhu’s cheeks and her occasionally fluttering eyelids, Lu Luo unconsciously smoothed her hair. Then he took off her shoes and tucked her long legs under the blanket.
At this moment, Bai Yuetong suddenly opened her eyes and said, "I thought you were going to take her pants off. How boring."
Damn, what a scandalous thing to say!
Lu Luo was also dumbfounded. Truly a crazy woman, he thought.
"Go to sleep!"
"HMPH."
Bai Yuetong turned her head away. Lu Luo’s actions that day had not only shaken Qi Xinzhu but had also profoundly affected her. After the evening’s events, her opinion of Lu Luo had also changed somewhat.
「...」
After going downstairs, Lu Luo sat somewhat lonely at the doorstep of Qiao Xing’s home. He took out the pack of cigarettes he had bought from A-Qiang some time ago—still not finished—and lit one for himself.
"Damn, these cigarettes have gotten damp," he muttered.
"Why are you sitting here like an orphan, and smoking too? If you burn my floor, you’ll have to pay for it," a voice commented.
No one but Qiao Xing would say such a thing. What made it unusual was that today, Lu Luo didn’t respond to him. Qiao Xing seemed to sense that Lu Luo wasn’t in a good mood and didn’t bother him further.
"Is Wu En dead?" Qiao Xing asked.
"Yes," Lu Luo replied.
"Feeling so deeply for a man you’ve only met once? When did you become so sentimental?" Qiao Xing inquired.
"I just feel that Priest Wu En’s life was somewhat tragic, indeed very tragic," Lu Luo reflected.
The smoke wafted around him, surprisingly not dispersing but hovering by his side like a layer of fog. His Qi He connected with these wisps of smoke, making them appear like an extension of his own limbs. At that moment, Lu Luo’s expression was somewhat inscrutable, neither smiling nor not smiling.
Qiao Xing, seeing the smoke emanating from Lu Luo, naturally recognized the finesse involved.
"Very precise energy control. You can improve like this? Could it be the legendary sudden enlightenment, a moment of realization?"
"Probably," Lu Luo admitted generously.
"Lu Luo, let me tell you what’s the most tragic thing," Qiao Xing proposed.
"Is there a standard answer to that question?" Lu Luo asked.
"Are you going to listen or not?" Qiao Xing pressed.
"Alright, tell me what the most tragic thing is," Lu Luo consented.
"The most tragic thing," Qiao Xing said, his gaze deepening as he smiled, "is when you meet someone, make a mistake, and want to make amends, to clear your debt.
"But in the end, you realize you’re powerless to change the past. The sin you committed can never be rectified, and the mistake will forever remain a mistake."
"Has Archbishop Qiao Xing ever made a mistake?" Lu Luo questioned.
"Of course. And it was a grave mistake," Qiao Xing replied. "But you see, one has to continue to live, to live with one’s own pain.
"If I died, many, many people would suffer. So, to prevent them from suffering, I must live well."
Lu Luo nodded, seemingly understanding, though all he really felt was that Qiao Xing seemed unusually talkative tonight.
"Lu Luo, did you see the tree by my house? I can’t force it to bloom or bear fruit before its time.
"No matter what you do, a tree’s seed will still grow into a towering tree. That’s destiny, just like you."
Lu Luo didn’t know what had caused Qiao Xing to become so reflective, or what he meant by destiny, but he didn’t quite believe in such a concept. He looked at Qiao Xing. Although Qiao Xing had been very nice to him, there were some things he still wanted to ask.
"Archbishop of the East Ring, do you know about the Fruit of Life?"
"The Fruit of Life? Of course, I know about it."
"Then, that thing..."
Qiao Xing cut Lu Luo off.
"Lu Luo, that thing is a top secret of the Church.
"Although a secret known by many is arguably no longer a secret, by the Church’s principles, it remains top secret.
"I am the Archbishop of the East Ring. I am obliged to protect this secret for the Church. So, let’s change the subject, shall we?"
Seeing that Qiao Xing was unwilling to discuss it, Lu Luo didn’t press further.
"Then, what would you like to talk about, Archbishop?"
"Why aren’t you practicing your swordsmanship? Have you learned the Sword Heart Four Styles? No? If not, then why are you still sitting around? Are you trying to look pretty?!"
Only Qiao Xing could say something so outrageous. Lu Luo even wanted to argue a bit.
"But I’ve been busy for two days, I’m tired. I wanted to give myself the night off to rest."
"A day off? What day off? Only those who are useless to the Alliance get days off. How could a pillar of the Alliance like you take a day off?
"Instead of spending your limited time on practice, you actually want to sleep? Go practice your swordsmanship! Now!"
Fine then. Lu Luo swore that, in all his past and present lives combined, he had never met anyone as infuriatingly persistent as Qiao Xing.
"Then I’ll go practice swordsmanship."
Lu Luo had really wanted to get a good night’s sleep, but the matters concerning Wu En and the Fruit of Life kept him awake. So, practicing his swordsmanship was indeed a good way to clear his mind.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
「...」
In the second week of swordsmanship class, Qiao Xing was as punctual as ever. Qi Xinzhu woke up Lu Luo, who had been sleeping on his desk. Perhaps it was because she had received a 5,000-yuan bonus the day before, but today the girl seemed much more sensible and brought two food wraps. Although two wraps still weren’t enough for Lu Luo, it was certainly better than one.
"Starting from today, our lessons will be practical swordsmanship classes. I’ll arrange for you to pair up and compete using your sword skills.
"Each person will have three bouts a day. Every evening, you’ll write a summary of your swordsmanship practice and discuss it with your partner.
"Let’s start drawing lots now. Four people with the same number will form a group."
After Qiao Xing finished speaking, he put a draw box on the table, and the members of the swordsmanship class started to draw lots in an orderly fashion.
I’ve already dealt with Qi Gefei’s problem, Lu Luo figured. Qiao Xing hadn’t mentioned anything more about accepting bribes to manipulate the drawing results, so Lu Luo thought, The issue should be over. After all, I only lost 200 yuan.
But to his surprise, Qiao Xing turned out to be quite professional. Having accepted the money, he naturally had to do the job well. So, his lot draw result was number 7, and so was Qi Gefei’s. What was even more outrageous, Qi Xinzhu’s lot draw result was also number 7, putting her in the same group as Lu Luo.