Bright-Eyed and Clear-Browed Gao Quan

As they stepped out of the taxi, Xu Shuai remarked, "Long Aotian really knows how to pick a spot. Look, the subway entrance is right nearby."

Huang Fei glanced at the navigation on his phone.

When they reached the alley, the app announced they had arrived near their destination.

"This should be it. Let’s call Long Aotian and have him come out to meet us."

"Um, are you all friends of Long Aotian?" A voice sounded from behind them.

Turning around, Huang Fei and the others saw a girl in a white down jacket with a neat bob haircut.

Her eyes were striking, occasionally flickering with warmth and curiosity for life, especially when she smiled—her youthful energy radiating playfully. She held two bottles of juice in her hands.

Huang Fei and his friends recognized her; she had once come to campus with another girl to visit Long Aotian.

They grinned. "We’re here to hang out with Long Aotian."

"I’ll take you to him. He’s at home setting up the grill," Li Qingxue said, leading them toward the house.

Pushing open the gate, she called out, "Long Aotian, look who I brought!"

Hearing her, Long Aotian turned and saw Huang Fei and the others carrying bags.

He walked over with a laugh. "You didn’t have to bring anything!"

Taking the items from their hands, he set them aside.

"Damn, this is where you’re renting? Nice!" Huang Fei and the others looked around, impressed.

When they spotted the vegetable garden, their eyes lit up. "No way, you guys grow your own food?"

"What’s this?" Li Longlong pointed at the simmering pot of soup. "Smells amazing."

"Lamb stew."

Hearing the commotion, Hu Yuying and Lin Wanning stepped out of the sunroom. Seeing so many guests, they happily invited everyone inside for hot tea.

Wang Lijuan and her senior Su Ting followed them in.

Huang Fei and the others sat on the steps with disposable cups, watching Long Aotian adjust the grill.

"Man, you’re living the good life. No wonder you don’t want to go back to the dorm. I wouldn’t either," Xu Shuai chuckled after sipping his tea.

"Stop yapping and finish that. Then come help—we’re grilling tonight." Long Aotian, wearing gloves, tossed a piece of charcoal near Xu Shuai’s feet.

"Got it. Let me see what I can do."

Long Aotian glanced at Huang Fei. "Why’d you come alone today?"

"Ugh, don’t even ask. You owe Shen Mengjie a huge favor."

"What? How do I owe her?"

"Do you remember how you got to the hotel last night?" Huang Fei asked.

Long Aotian’s memory was hazy after beating up Ye Liangchen and Xue Shaohua and stumbling out of the restroom.

"Don’t bother trying. Shen Mengjie took you there. We totally forgot about you. If she hadn’t stepped in, you’d have slept in the bathroom."

"Where is she?" The mention sparked a faint recollection—he might have seen Shen Mengjie when he left the restroom.

"She caught a cold. Didn’t feel well, so she stayed in."

"Guess I really do owe her one. Saved me from a night on the bathroom floor." He looked at the others. "Don’t tell me you all blacked out too?"

"That free booze was definitely spiked. I was fine, then one sip and I was gone!" Li Longlong insisted.

"Whatever, forget it. Let’s focus on the food. I’m starving."

"Just a sec, almost ready." Long Aotian used tongs to add a piece of charcoal to the lamb stew pot.

Soon, the grill was lit.

"Ugh, it’s snowing again. Beijing really loves its snow."

"Grilling in the snow? Kinda poetic."

The first rack of lamb ribs was brought inside, and Hu Yuying ladled out bowls of stew.

The small sunroom quickly buzzed with lively chatter.

Between the steaming lamb stew and the warmth of the stove, the room soon grew cozy.

"There’s beer outside. Want some?"

"Just a little?" Xu Shuai glanced at Wang Lijuan—he’d just promised her he wouldn’t drink again, and here he was, already breaking it.

"Go ahead, why’re you looking at me?" Her response made everyone burst into laughter.

"This beats eating out any day." Huang Fei sighed contentedly, munching on grilled meat and sipping ice-cold beer.

The girls—Wang Lijuan, Su Ting, and the trio—chatted over juice, their laughter never fading.

......

After last night’s drunken mess, everyone kept it moderate this time, wrapping up once they’d had their fill.

"No need, we’ve got this," Hu Yuying said, stopping Wang Lijuan and Su Ting as they moved to help clean.

"It’s fine. It’s still early, and many hands make light work."

"Exactly! We had fun meeting you. Let’s do this again."

"Anytime."

Meanwhile...

"Welcome?" Ye Liangchen sneered at the waiter’s greeting, his face still slightly swollen though the slap marks had faded.

He slumped into a private room.

Soon, the door opened, revealing an equally bruised Xue Shaohua and the perpetually chubby Gao Quan.

The room fell into heavy silence.

Gao Quan, especially, had no idea how to console Ye Liangchen.

The original plan was for them to beat up Long Aotian, but when Gao Quan found them, they were sprawled on the ground, faces swollen, with no sign of Long Aotian.

"Maybe... let it go?" Xue Shaohua whispered.

"Let it go? After that humiliation?" Ye Liangchen clenched his fists, the memory of those slaps burning fresh.

He’d been so close—so close to getting Long Aotian, and through him, Hu Yuying and the others. It was his ticket to the top!

Now? Nothing. Just a beating. How could he swallow that?

"But..." Gao Quan tried to reason with him.

Ye Liangchen cut him off. "No buts. Remember what I always say? Time will tell..."

"If you’re my brothers, drop it. Just drink with me."

Later, the three stumbled out of the restaurant, drunk. Back at the hotel, Xue Shaohua squinted at the passed-out Gao Quan.

"Hey... does Gao Quan look kinda... cute to you?"

Ye Liangchen, equally wasted, leaned in. "Lemme see..."

(Note: If you can’t find the book by title, try searching the author—it might’ve been renamed!)