Chapter 1: Rebirth

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 ~ M1ZUSHI

It must be a dream.

Wu Rong, who was sitting in the bar seat, thought expressionlessly.

Otherwise, how could he see Xun An, a scum man, sitting opposite himself with his stupid pot head combed from the university.

——

Wu Rong died on the highway on a rainy night when he heard that Xun An was going to marry the leader’s daughter.
At that time, Wu Rong had just finished his job and rushed back overnight without taking a break.
There was a cake for Xun An in the back seat.
He went to Yangjiaping to buy it by detour.
Xun An said that he missed the taste of the past.

Xun An’s birthday was about to pass in the morning, so he drove so fast and so quickly that after the accident, his flesh and blood were rotten together with the cake.

However, Wu Rong didn’t go to hell after his death.
Instead, his soul drifted home all the way.
Watching Xun An drop a few drops of cat urine at his funeral, turned around and bought a diamond ring with his money, smiling at the wedding.
Holding the hand of the leader’s daughter, they announced the success of the five-year long-distance love run between the two.
When Wu Rong saw this, he suddenly realized that the co-author Xun An, the scumbag, and the leader’s daughter didn’t just have sex, but they had a good relationship for five or six years.

It’s ridiculous that Wu Rong was blind, and believed that the two would grow old together.
He was afraid that, in Xun An’s eyes, he was just an ATM master.

“A-Rong, how many times have I said not to smoke? Didn’t you promise to learn well? What’s the difference between you and those gangsters if you go on like this?”

Hearing the familiar sound of teaching, Wu Rong tried to choke off the cigarette.
Xun An couldn’t bear the smell of smoke.
Every time Wu Rong wanted to smoke, he sneaked downstairs to smoke.
He only dared to go home when the smoke was gone.

Wu Rong paused when he just took the cigarette.
He raised his head and looked slowly from Xun An’s eyes to his chin.
The same face as in his memory was full of caring and sincere eyes.
While he was meditating, the ash fell on the table, causing Xun An to frown and open his mouth:

“You smell of smoke.
Did you sleep in a bar again these days? A-Rong, you haven’t been home for a long time.
What if Auntie beat you hard, she still wants you to learn well —”

No mistake, it’s this person.

Before Xun An finished speaking, Wu Rong pressed the cigarette butt on his hand.

Dream or illusion.

Don’t wake up from this dream until he’s finished venting his anger out.

“Ah— it’s so hot!”

Xun An’s screams drew the few people in the bar to look their way frequently, and they were stopped by other waiters with a smile.
Wu Rong was not sensible when he was young.
He followed an elder brother.
He was silent and could fight well.
He was as cruel as a wolf cub.
He was very popular with the elder brother.
He became ‘Rong’ when he was only 16 years old.
Up to now, at 18 years old, the whole bar street was his territory.

Nobody dared to stand out to Xun An here.

“Wu Rong, what are you doing? Are you crazy?”

Xun An covered his hands and questioned, his face more confused than angry.
He didn’t react at the moment, and his face, which was always mild and disguised, showed a trace of impatience and suspicion, which made Wu Rong even more bored.
He was just about to take a chair and be cruel again, but he looked up and saw a pile of money in front of Xun An’s desk.

There were dozens of red old man tickets, all of which were brand new. (red notes: 100 yuan)

Wu Rong vaguely remembered this.
When Xun An was just in college, his family was poor and he went to work part-time after class.
He once said that his sister in his hometown was really short of money, so he borrowed some money from Wu Rong.
Many times later, he said he had  borrowed money but never paid it back.

Wu Rong didn’t care before, but now Wu Rong was different.

Wu Rong took the money back directly.
He saw Xun An standing in the same place.
He seemed to understand, and said in a tone that seemed helpless, but in fact stood on the commanding height:

“You don’t need to be so arrogant if you don’t want to lend me money.
My sister is only here to stay for a few days.
The youth hostel is fine.
It’s only because the little girl loves to be petulant that I told you.
Don’t make a commotion outside, so many people are watching, too ignorant—”

Xun An suddenly couldn’t go on.
Wu Rong looked at him as if he had changed his mind and felt speechless.
He was no longer a boy who was cold and easy to fool.

Now Wu Rong’s eyes swept over, making him feel suffocated.

“The youth hostel, I’m afraid that one is not used to living there.”

Wu Rong slapped his face with the money, thin lips hooked up a touch of sarcasm: “This money is enough to entertain my hometown sister, entertaining the Lin family sister this is not enough ah.”

“What Lin’s sister, Wu Rong what the hell is wrong with you today?”

Xun An’s eyes flashed a flash of panic, and he calmed down.
Regardless of his hand injury, he comforted Wu Rong first: “I know that you have quarreled with Auntie after your failure to raise a ghost recently.
I’m angry, but don’t joke about this shadowy affair.”

“Lin Wenwen and I are just classmates.
Don’t you know who I really like?”

Xun An’s voice became lower and lower, and finally turned into a gentle smile.
He even wanted to pull Wu Rong’s hand: “Don’t be angry, it’s bad for your health…”

“Shit, Rong, I can’t stand it!”

Without waiting for Wu Rong to get angry, the younger brothers who were watching could not help themselves.
One of them opened Xun An’s hand, took out a stack of photos and threw them on his face.
He frowned and said, “Brother Rong! You used to protect this guy, and the brothers gave him some face.
But this thing dare steal people behind your back! Even if you teach me a lesson today, I will tell you!”

“Fuck you! You’re almost touching someone’s chest.
What a big tail wolf!”

The photos were so numerous that they just blew to the place where the smoke was burning.
Xun An’s face was very white.
Xun An’s face was pale, whether it was because of the pain or panic when he saw the couple snuggling together in the photos.
He was completely flustered until he was violently picked up by the younger brothers and thrown to the ground, punching and kicking.

At this time, Xun An was still under illusion.
He looked at Wu Rong for help and said in a low voice, “Wu Rong, listen to me.”

This has happened before, but Wu Rong would always believe him from the end.
Xun An knew that this man seemed to be stubborn, but in fact, he was easily coaxed.

As long as this thing was over, the people who beat him today will have bad luck in the future.

Wu Rong will listen to his explanation.
Xun An firmly believed that, and felt ruthless in his heart.

Younger brothers were also guilty because of the beating.
One or two of them secretly watched Wu Rong.
Usually, he would protect Xun An under his own wings, so he wouldn’t let them beat him really hard.
He would always listen to Xun An’s explanations, but in the end he was too lazy to care.

Until they noticed Wu Rong’s gaze at Xun An from above.

So strange, so cold, like looking at a mess of garbage.

“Continue.”

With Wu Rong’s words, the younger brothers couldn’t believe it enough that they were stunned, and immediately hit harder as if they were laughing.
Wu Rong did not look at Xun An’s lost face.
Instead, he stared thoughtfully at his long, bony hands.

Since he was 18 again, she should still be alive.

Wu Rong’s father died early and his mother did not.
Not a day went by that they didn’t fight during their lifetime.
Wu Rong spent more time in bars than at home.
However, after watching the black and white portrait for several years, the complex emotion finally precipitated into nostalgia.

I don’t know how long this dream will last. Was it enough for him to go home and have a look?

Wu Rong finally had no heart for Xun An.
The young brothers were happy enough to celebrate the festival.
The two of them winked at each other and pushed someone out from behind.

“Bah, what a dog! Not even worthy enough to sacrilege our brother Rong’s shoes!”

One of the younger brothers kicked Xun An severely, while the other pushed a man to Wu Rong excitedly and winked at him: “Brother Rong, we shouldn’t eat good apples instead of rotten peaches.
Here, the little singer likes you very much and is very happy to have a chance to talk to you.”

Then he turned to look at Xun An, rolled his eyes and sneered, “Brother Rong was really obsessed with you.
You dogshit still wanted to eat inside and eat outside.
You really think others are blind!”

Thinking about going home, Wu Rong casually glanced at the ‘good apple’ pushed out, and suddenly froze.
At the same time, Xun An was writhing on the ground in pain.
The embarrassed Xun An didn’t want to resent, but he was also stunned for a moment.

The voice of whispering came from the bar.
The man who was pushed out was really good-looking.
His eyebrows and eyes were like ice and snow carvings.
He was cool and handsome, and his body was handsome and elegant.
Standing there was incompatible with the atmosphere of the bar, just like a crane coming to a pheasant nest.

Others were stunned because of his appearance, but Wu Rong was stunned because of the robe he wore.

This man was a Taoist.

How could a Taoist sing in a bar?

Noticing the undifferentiated eyes of the other and thinking of the fact that