AAWOMAHI Chapter8

In October, although the days were still warm, the nights were a bit chilly. Lu Xingmian, wearing a jacket, leaned against the balcony railing and called Lu Ge on WeChat. He was actually a little worried that calling Lu Ge so early might mean he was busy or wouldn’t answer.

 

He could have just sent a message, but Lu Xingmian felt like making a call because Lu Ge’s voice was really nice.

 

After a few rings, Lu Shiran answered.

 

“What’s up?” The moment he connected, Lu Xingmian’s ears suddenly tingled. That voice was truly too pleasant.

 

Lu Xingmian heard some noise on the other end of the phone. He thought he heard someone calling Lu Ge’s name, asking where he was going, and then he heard Lu Ge say he was stepping out to take a call.

 

Evidently, Lu Shiran was a little surprised that Lu Xingmian was contacting him so early today.

 

Lu Xingmian said, “Lu Ge, I wanted to tell you that you don’t need to tell me a story tonight.”

 

Lu Shiran responded, “Hmm?” Had Lu Xingmian found a better person to lull him to sleep? Was he about to be “unemployed”?

 

Lu Xingmian explained, “My friends are here to visit me, and we’re sleeping in the same room. I’m afraid I’ll disturb them tonight.”

 

Lu Shiran reiterated, “Hmm?”

 

Lu Xingmian told Lu Shiran that it was the holiday, and his friends from Sucheng had come to visit him. The three of them had a very good relationship and used to do almost everything together. Today, they spent the whole day playing in Yancheng. After dinner, both of his friends were so tired they fell asleep, but even though Lu Xingmian was tired, he couldn’t sleep, not even after drinking some beer.

 

In a quiet corner, Lu Shiran pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and listened as Lu Xingmian described all the places he and his friends visited that day. When he heard Lu Xingmian mention drinking, Lu Shiran frowned, “You drank alcohol?”

 

Lu Xingmian chuckled, “Not much, just two cans of beer, the 250 ml kind.”

 

Lu Shiran, feeling much older than Lu Xingmian, said earnestly, “Kids shouldn’t drink.”

 

Lu Xingmian laughed, “Got it.” Unconsciously, he seemed to have come to regard Lu Ge as a friend, someone he could tell many things to.

 

The person on the other end was quite well-behaved.

 

“So you’re worried about disturbing your friends, and that’s why you don’t need a story tonight? Your friends are asleep, but what about you?” Lu Shiran asked.

 

This was the first time anyone had expressed concern about his sleep. Lu Xingmian felt a touch of emotion. “It’s okay, I’m used to it.”

 

Before meeting Lu Ge, he’d spent countless nights wide awake. No one ever thought he might have insomnia, let alone cared about it. Today, he felt that familiar sense of being cared for again, coming from a complete stranger he’d never met.

 

A moment of silence passed on the other end. “If you’re worried about disturbing your friends, I’ll send you a voice message later. You don’t need to speak; just listen.”

 

Lu Xingmian’s spirits lifted. “En, Lu Ge, you’re so kind.”

 

Lu Shiran calmly said, “Well, you did buy my time at double the price.”

 

“I think it’s totally worth it,” Lu Xingmian said, then remembered something. “So, I’m your only client now, right?”

 

Lu Shiran confirmed, “Yes, just you.”

 

Lu Xingmian suddenly felt happy.

 

Lu Shiran then asked him, “Where are you planning to go tomorrow?”

 

Lu Xingmian and his friends planned to visit the film and television city tomorrow. However, that place was usually crowded, and with it being a holiday, it would be even more packed, meaning they might spend a lot of time just waiting in lines. Still, all three of them really wanted to go, as none of them had ever been there before. Even if it meant queuing, it would be worth it to at least try one or two attractions or watch a show or two.

 

A film and television city, with everything requiring queues, especially during the National Day holiday, would mean they might not get to experience anything.

 

Lu Shiran thought for a moment, “Well, I… I have a friend. He has an Ultimate VIP pass, which grants access via a special state guest fast lane, bypassing all queues and so on.”

 

Lu Xingmian’s face lit up with envy. “That’s great! Your friend is amazing!”

 

He vaguely knew about that VIP service; it allowed one to enjoy the film and television city freely, but such a VIP pass was very difficult to obtain.

 

Lu Ge’s friend must be incredibly influential.

 

Lu Shiran coughed. “Actually, that friend I mentioned is me.”

 

Lu Xingmian exclaimed, “Ah, Lu Ge, you’re amazing!”

 

Seeing that Lu Xingmian hadn’t quite grasped his meaning, Lu Shiran explained a bit stiffly, “It’s just that… my boss gave it to me.”

 

Lu Xingmian: “……” And then?

 

Lu Shiran continued to fabricate, “At the time, I closed a huge project, and my boss just gave me a VIP pass. I’ll give it to you. You and your friends can go have fun.”

 

Lu Xingmian quickly said, “No, no, no need.”

 

He, of course, knew how precious that VIP pass was.

 

Lu Xingmian said, “Lu Ge, we don’t need it. We can get in by queuing. You should keep it.”

 

Lu Shiran, through a puff of smoke, continued his tale, “I’m so old now; I don’t have much interest in playing.”

 

So old? From his voice, Lu Xingmian felt Lu Ge sounded quite young. He asked curiously, “Lu Ge, how old are you?”

 

“Twenty-eight.”

 

Lu Xingmian: “That’s very young ah!” Hearing him say “so old” just now, he thought Lu Ge must be forty or older. Turns out he’s only twenty-eight, very young.

 

Lu Shiran chuckled. Lu Xingmian thought he was very young, but his family always felt he was getting old and kept urging him to get married. However, Lu Shiran was unwilling. Unless it was someone he truly liked and felt a connection with, Lu Shiran would never settle, which is why he had been single for many years.

 

Lu Xingmian offered a suggestion. “You could take your partner with you!”

 

Lu Shiran replied, “I don’t have a partner.”

 

Lu Xingmian said, “You don’t have one now, but you definitely will in the future. Keep it to take your future partner with.”

 

Lu Shiran: “It has a time limit. If I don’t use it this year, it’ll expire. I’m very busy with work and basically have no time. It would be a waste not to use it.”

 

Lu Xingmian was silent for a moment. “Then I’ll transfer the money to you.” He still felt a bit awkward accepting Lu Ge’s VIP ticket for free.

 

“Lu Xingmian,” Lu Shiran said, “If you transfer me money, I’ll transfer all your money back, and then I won’t tell you stories anymore.”

 

Lu Xingmian quickly said, “No, don’t. I won’t transfer it, I won’t transfer it.”

 

If he couldn’t listen to Lu Ge’s stories, he really couldn’t fall asleep.

 

Lu Xingmian added, “Thank you, Lu Ge.”

 

Lu Shiran heard the wind whistling outside. “Are you outside right now?”

 

Lu Xingmian said he was on the balcony, not outside, so Lu Shiran told him to go back to his room. In an hour and a half, he would send him a voice message, telling Lu Xingmian not to say anything, he can just listen to him speak.

 

After hanging up, Song Yihan came out of the bathroom and saw Lu Xingmian on the balcony. He walked over. “Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

 

Lu Xingmian replied, “I’m about to sleep.”

 

Song Yihan hummed, lay back on the bed, and quickly fell asleep.

 

Lu Xingmian finished his nightly routine and lay in bed. Song Yihan and Liu Yichen were snoring beside him. He didn’t find it noisy; lately, it had been too quiet for him alone, and sometimes excessive quietness could make a person uneasy.

 

At the agreed-upon time, Lu Shiran sent a voice call promptly.

 

“Lu Ge.” Lu Xingmian whispered.

 

Then, for the rest of the time, Lu Xingmian wore his headphones, and Lu Shiran began his “part-time job” over the phone.

 

The next day, when Lu Shiran woke up, he found a red envelope from Lu Xingmian.

 

[Lu Ge, Happy National Day.]

 

He rarely received red envelopes anymore. Lu Shiran probably guessed why Lu Xingmian sent it; if he didn’t accept it, Lu Xingmian would likely feel guilty.

 

Lu Shiran tapped it open, it was a big red envelope of two hundred yuan.

 

He reluctantly accepted it and sent a message back to Lu Xingmian:

 

[Have fun, and don’t send red envelopes again next time.]

 

The red envelope was sent at 5 AM. Did Lu Xingmian wake up that early? Lu Shiran wondered if Lu Xingmian woke up so early every day, which would mean he only slept four or five hours a night.

 

Thanks to the VIP package Lu Shiran gave them, Lu Xingmian and his two friends had a fantastic time at the bustling film and television city. They didn’t have to queue for anything, allowing them to enjoy many attractions in just one morning. Even for performances, they could sit in prime locations. Not only that, but they could also eat for free at high-end restaurants, enjoying whatever they pleased.

 

Song Yihan and Liu Yimin looked at Lu Xingmian in astonishment: “How did you do that?”

 

Lu Xingmian explained that a friend had given him the VIP package, and both friends praised Lu Xingmian’s friend for being so impressive.

 

After lunch, the three continued to play until evening, having an extremely satisfying time. They basically got to experience every attraction they wanted.

 

On their fourth day in Yancheng, Song Yihan and Liu Yichen had to return home because school was starting tomorrow. The same applied to Lu Xingmian; after all, they were third-year high school students with a heavy study load.

 

Lu Xingmian saw them off at the high-speed rail station. They made a pact to meet again in Yancheng next year.

 

Watching them leave, Lu Xingmian felt a bit down, returning to his solitary state. However, facing loneliness alone is a common part of life.

 

While waiting for his ride, Lu Xingmian messaged Lu Shiran, thanking him again for the VIP tickets. He and his friends had an incredibly fun time.

 

After sending the message, Lu Xingmian checked his phone. His ride-sharing app showed his car was nearby on the map, but where was the car itself?

 

As he searched, a car slowly pulled up to the side of the road. Lu Xingmian saw it was a black car, so he took a few steps forward, opened the door, and got in.

 

The driver in the front seat was clearly stunned, with his eyes wide. What was happening? How did a stranger suddenly get in? Fortunately, he had seen many big situations with President Lu and quickly composed himself.

 

Lu Xingmian was also startled when he realized there was another person in the car. He hadn’t called for a carpool, but if there were other people, then so be it.

 

Lu Shiran was reading the message Lu Xingmian sent him when suddenly the car door opened, and a boy got in. The boy even casually sat down.

 

Lu Shiran: “……??”

 

Facing the bewildered gaze of the man beside him, Lu Xingmian politely smiled. The driver in front looked at President Lu, unsure of the situation. Should he keep driving or remain stopped? He genuinely didn’t know.