Chapter 36: A Person's Three Deaths

After they finished running,

Lin Wan enjoyed Zhuo Feng's massage while watching videos and laughing out loud.

"Feeling better now?" Zhuo Feng asked as he gently massaged his slim calves.

"Huh?"

Because of what happened to him last night, he had indeed been feeling down today. But how did his best buddy notice?

"I could tell during practice. You kept losing focus, and later you looked as gloomy as a donkey."

Lin Wan: "......"

Was it really that obvious?

"Come on, tell your best buddy what's wrong."

He put down his phone, looked up at the dark night sky, then lowered his head to look at Zhuo Feng's face.

"What do you think the world is like after a person dies?"

"When you're dead, there's no 'after.' Just live in the present and enjoy life while you can."

"I heard that people die three times.

The first time is when their heart stops beating. That's physical death.

The second time is at their funeral, when the eulogy is read to everyone who knew them, and society is told that they have died.

The third time is when the last person who remembers them dies. At that moment, the whole world forgets them, and they disappear completely.

When I die... how long will the traces I leave behind remain?"

Lin Wan's eyes slowly lost focus, as if he were thinking back on the marks he had left in the world.

"You really should stop reading those sad little stories every day!" Zhuo Feng said as he put one of his legs onto Lin Wan's lap. "Your turn to massage me!"

He took his phone back from Lin Wan, thought quietly for a moment, then started tapping on it.

………………………

Meanwhile,

The two members of the "shipping duo" quietly came to the bench under the streetlight where Lin Wan and Zhuo Feng usually rested after their run.

Liu Yiyi had received insider information that the two of them were running again tonight. And today just happened to be Valentine's Day.

With such a romantic atmosphere, maybe something exciting would happen.

She could hardly wait!

"Mengmeng, don't just watch later. Make sure you remember all the details!" Liu Yiyi whispered as they carefully sneaked closer.

Hao Meng gave a thumbs-up with a confident smile.

"Don't worry, Senior!"

The two of them reached their usual hiding place behind a banyan tree. Each of them peeked out from one side and looked toward the bench.

Liu Yiyi: ???

Hao Meng: ???

The two looked at each other.

Where were they?

Had they already gone back? Or were they still running?

Liu Yiyi took out her phone and tactfully asked Han Jinsong, who had already completely fallen for her charm.

After hearing that Zhuo Feng had not returned to the dorm yet, she guessed the two of them probably hadn't finished their run.

So the two girls quietly waited in the cold wind.

Ten minutes passed.

"Senior... I'm getting cold!" The wind by the river was strong, and Hao Meng curled her hands against her chest.

"Hang in there a little longer, Mengmeng!" Liu Yiyi hugged Hao Meng, whose chubby cheeks and soft figure still had a baby-like look.

"I can do it!"

Hao Meng rested her head against Liu Yiyi's full chest, using the soft warmth as a pillow while enjoying her senior's body heat.

Another ten minutes passed.

"Mengmeng, let's go," Liu Yiyi said. She was starting to feel cold too.

"Mmm... okay."

Hao Meng slowly shook her head from side to side, rubbing her face playfully against the soft pillow before finally leaving with great reluctance.

"Wait! Do you think they went to a small hotel?" Liu Yiyi said, tapping her chin with one finger. "If that's the case, it would make sense that they aren't here."

"A hotel? Umm... hehe..." Hao Meng didn't know what she was imagining, but she wore a silly lovestruck grin.

Liu Yiyi sighed and shook her head.

"What a shame. No new material today."

Hao Meng's eyes darted around. Remembering the soft feeling from a moment ago, she showed a mischievous grin.

"Hehe, I already got some material just now!"

"Huh?"

Seeing the naughty look on Hao Meng's face, Liu Yiyi suddenly felt a chill run down her back. She clenched both fists and squished Hao Meng's chubby cheeks.

"Behave yourself! No funny ideas!"

"I... mmph... won't!"

………………………

On Saturday, Lin Wan spent the whole day doing paid rank boosting and team practice.

His rank had now reached Master. Although he had less time to earn money from boosting, he could now take much higher-ranked orders. One job was worth as much as five ordinary ones. Even if he completed fewer orders, the higher pay made up for it. After paying for food, he could still save a few hundred yuan every month.

On Sunday, Lin Wan originally wanted to ask Zhuo Feng to play ranked games together again to make some money, but Zhuo Feng called him and got him out of the dorm.

After meeting up with Zhuo Feng near the supermarket, Lin Wan complained a little.

"Why did you call me out?"

You'd better have a good reason. Otherwise, you're seriously getting in the way of me making money!

Zhuo Feng didn't explain. He simply turned his head.

"Come with me."

"What are we doing?"

"I've got something good."

"What is it?"

"Do you want it?"

"Does it cost money?"

"It's free."

"Then I want it."

"If you want it, just follow me."

"Oh."

Lin Wan followed Zhuo Feng as they took several turns and left the campus.

He looked at Zhuo Feng.

"So where's this thing?"

"It's a little far."

"Then I don't want to go anymore."

"We're not walking. I'll call a million-yuan luxury car to pick you up in a minute."

"A million-yuan luxury car? Seriously?"

"If I'm lying, I'm a dog."

"You already are a dog."

When they reached the bus stop and saw the bus slowly pulling in, Lin Wan was stunned.

"This is the million-yuan luxury car you were talking about?"

"Well, isn't it?"

"......"

Fine. That actually made sense. He couldn't argue with it.

After getting on the bus, they found it already packed with standing passengers.

Even though it was Sunday, there were so many people.

Maybe... this was just the sad life of working people.

Using his larger build, Zhuo Feng squeezed through the crowd, grabbed a handrail, and motioned to Lin Wan.

"Over here."

Lin Wan stood beside him, pulled the brim of his baseball cap down to cover his eyes and avoid other people's attention, then lowered his head and quietly stared at his feet.

The bus kept stopping and starting, rocking from side to side.

"Next stop: West Jianshe Road Station..."

Lin Wan absentmindedly tapped his toes while wondering where Zhuo Feng was taking him. They had already reached the old part of the city.

He's not secretly taking me somewhere to sell me, is he? But... I don't think I'm worth much anyway.

"We're here," Zhuo Feng called out.

Seeing that Lin Wan was standing there like an ostrich with his head down and hadn't heard him at all, Zhuo Feng grabbed his arm and pulled him along.

"We're here!"

"Huh?" Lin Wan snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh, okay."

West Jianshe Road Station was surrounded by old streets that had never been rebuilt. There were none of the tall buildings or busy atmosphere of the newer districts. Instead, the area was filled with short, aging buildings, along with many old restaurants and snack shops.

The relaxed crowds and the delicious smell of food drifting through the air made time seem to slow down. This lively feeling of everyday life always had a way of calming people.

By the time they had walked halfway down the street, Lin Wan was already carrying several kinds of fried skewers in his right hand. In the plastic bag in his left hand were a Chinese meat sandwich and a box of spicy potato slices.

He never stopped eating. He was enjoying every bite, and his eyes were sparkling with happiness.

What he couldn't understand was why Zhuo Feng would buy something, take just one bite, and then hand the rest to him. It was such a waste!

His appetite is so small. How did he grow to be so big?

After leaving the snack street, they arrived at a much quieter road lined with small handicraft workshops.

Zhuo Feng led Lin Wan into a shop called "Zhen Handicraft Jewelry." As soon as they entered, Zhuo Feng began talking with the shop owner.

Meanwhile, Lin Wan wandered around while eating and looking at the displays.

The shop had many wooden shelves filled with all kinds of unusual artwork.

There were smooth stones carved with flying immortals wearing flowing robes, palm-sized jade puppies sticking out their tongues, amber spheres with dragons trapped inside, and a three-foot-long green bamboo staff displayed on a wooden stand.

The moment Lin Wan saw the bamboo staff, it reminded him of the dog-beating staff often seen in TV dramas. For some reason, he suddenly wanted to pick it up and smack Zhuo Feng with it.

He carefully reached out with one finger and gently touched it.

It felt like jade.

He immediately pulled his hand back in shock.

If I accidentally broke this thing, there's no way I could afford to pay for it.

"Alright, let's go."

A short while later, Zhuo Feng finished talking with the owner and called out to Lin Wan while carrying a box.

"Okay."

Lin Wan stuffed the last bite of his meat sandwich into his mouth, making his cheeks puff up like a hamster's.

As the two of them were leaving, the owner smiled.

"Handsome, if you're happy with it, remember to come back with your girlfriend!"

"Sure."

"Huh?"