In the afternoon, as He Li was about to leave, Bai Fei, sitting at the bar, asked, "Leaving already? Let's have dinner together tonight."
He Li touched his hair and said, "My hair's gotten a bit long. I'm going to get a haircut."
"Oh, come back soon then. We're having a big barbecue feast tonight."
"Will do."
At the barbershop.
"Just cut it short, make it look refreshing," He Li told the barber, then took out his phone to reply to Kuer's WeChat message.
The barber stood behind He Li, working on his freshly washed hair, and said, "The sides are a bit too frizzy. I suggest we straighten them. For the top, we can do a popular textured perm. With your looks, you can definitely pull it off."
He Li: "..."
"And coincidentally, we're having a promotion right now. For members, haircuts are half price, coloring is 30% off, perms are free once, and then 20% off with three complimentary hair treatments."
He Li: "..."
"Our current membership cards are available for 200, 500, 800, 1200, 2000, 3000, 5000..."
He Li silently exited the WeChat interface and opened his camera to take a selfie.
"Sir, are you taking a selfie?"
He Li nodded. "Yes, I'm documenting my current appearance."
"Hmm, after the perm, you'll be even more handsome and dashing."
He Li pursed his lips tightly, his expression dejected, his gaze lowered yet trying to lift. He looked at the barber and, feigning strength, said with a hint of bitterness, "No need for that. I'm starting chemotherapy next week."
The barber: "..."
After the haircut, He Li, pulling the guilt-ridden young barber along, cheerfully signed up for a 200 yuan membership card, which included two haircuts, one hair treatment, and one free perm.
Back at the Spirit Management Association, as soon as He Li sat down, Tao Xue walked over. Seeing He Li, she smiled and said, "Your hairstyle looks great."
"Doesn't it?" He Li was also very pleased with his new look, especially since the barber had performed exceptionally well out of sheer guilt.
Tao Xue smoothed her hair and pouted, "I want to get my hair permed too."
"Hmm?"
He Li immediately took out his membership card and handed it to Tao Xue. "The treatment and perm are free, and you get two more free haircuts."
...
After a barbecue feast that evening, He Li drove home. He had a new hairstyle, and the bonuses from his two business trips had been disbursed. It was a... substantial amount of money!
He Li was thrilled. He pulled over to the side of the road, intending to buy an "ice cream assassin" from a convenience store to flaunt his newfound wealth. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure and shouted, "Hey, kid! Stop right there!"
Zhang Boyu had just come out of the arcade. It was almost time for school to end, and he was heading home. Suddenly, he heard a loud shout from behind him, very fierce, and very familiar.
Zhang Boyu wasn't sure if he was being called, so he stopped and walked a couple more steps forward.
"Hey! Stop!"
He was sure now. It was him.
Zhang Boyu cautiously turned around and saw He Li standing by the entrance of a small shop, right next to the arcade. His heart skipped a beat.
He Li beckoned Zhang Boyu over with a finger. Zhang Boyu reluctantly walked towards him.
"It's Wednesday today. Why aren't you in school? Why are you here?"
He Li scrutinized Zhang Boyu.
"S-school's out."
Zhang Boyu dared not look at He Li, lowering his head and replying in a muffled voice.
He Li snorted coldly and patted Zhang Boyu's shoulder, scoffing, "Kid, you're lying without even checking the time."
"Uncle, don't tell my dad."
"Hmm?"
"Brother, don't tell my dad."
"Hmm..."
Zhang Boyu was the son of Zhang Fucheng, the unfortunate child who made his migrant worker father do his math homework.
He Li turned to look at the arcade, then back at Zhang Boyu, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Kid, you wouldn't want your dad to know you've been at the arcade, would you?"
"Huh?"
Zhang Boyu nervously raised his head...
"You cover me, I'll reload."
"Got it! Zombies coming from the left again, I can't hold on!"
"I'll do it, I'll do it!"
"Brother Li, your aim is too poor. If you can't do it, switch to the big shotgun."
"Shut up!"
On the seats by the shop entrance, the two, one big and one small, were eating ice cream assassins. He Li asked Zhang Boyu, "Why aren't you going to school?"
Zhang Boyu ate his ice cream, watching the people passing by on the street, and replied, "It's boring. I don't want to study."
He Li said, quite perplexed, "How old are you already, and you're in your rebellious phase?"
Zhang Boyu shook his head. "I'm not old enough yet. I'm at that age where I want to resist but dare not."
Hearing Zhang Boyu's words, He Li clicked his tongue. "You really have a very clear self-awareness."
"Of course," Zhang Boyu grinned at He Li.
He Li blinked. "I feel like you're not like a child. At least, the way you talk doesn't fit your age at all."
Zhang Boyu pursed his lips and shook his head, saying to He Li, "Brother Li, have you watched 'Sherlock'?"
He Li nodded. "Yes."
Zhang Boyu said, "There's a classic line in it. Do you know what it is?"
He Li didn't think much of it and replied directly, "Emotional involvement is a physiological defect of the loser."
"Exactly."
Zhang Boyu said with a playful smile, "That line is classic, but being too rational makes one a lunatic, and a cold-blooded one at that. If you don't want to go crazy, you have to do things that are age-appropriate to hide the fact that you're already insane."
He Li frowned and was silent for a moment before saying, "Like... skipping class?"
Zhang Boyu licked the ice cream stick, then casually threw it into the trash can. "Something like that."
"Actually, skipping class isn't entirely because of that. The main reason is that what the teachers teach is too simple for me."
"I've already studied it many times."
"I'll go home with you. It's too early, my dad will find out. I'm leaving now, Brother Li. Goodbye."
He Li bit on the ice cream stick, lost in thought for a moment. This kid is really mature. What was he doing at this age?
Damn it! Liu Yuguang still owes me 19 marbles!
Can't dwell on the past, or my mind will be filled with those 19 marbles. What a loss...
I wonder if Liu Yuguang, that scoundrel, is doing well after being adopted.
After returning home, He Li took a shower. He played checkers with He Xi and lost badly; he played army chess with Yan Ping and lost badly; he played three games of Chinese chess with Xiao Yue and lost badly.
After vowing never to play chess with them again, He Li dragged his tired body to bed to sleep.
You guys are too disrespectful. What, you really won't take back a single move, huh?
Boring!
...