Chapter 1
- merakinanashi
- Jun 24, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 6, 2021
Translator(s) : Meraki, Moonie
Proofreader : 3sha
7:37 in the afternoon, the phone lying on the bed rang.
Yang Wenli asked me to go out with him again, this time at a bar called Clock.
Before this I had already refused him at least 3 times, but he still didn’t give up on dragging me outside. In his words, if I don’t go out, I’d become a corpse.
“Zhou Yuanmu, staying inside everyday is ridiculous ah! Enrichment of oneself [1] is important, otherwise you’d truly be extremely boring.”
In order to avoid seeming like I’m ignoring, I searched the internet on the other side and looked up what “enrichment of oneself” is.
Primarily I thought “enrichment of oneself” was a new beauty trick, however after inquiring a little, I found it was used a lot on animals’ bodies. But humans call themselves advanced animals, so no difference la[2].
Enriching oneself roughly meant to get rid of the barrenness, restoring the natural look and becoming more healthy and beautiful.[3]
In the summer vacation of my third year as a university student, I was left alone on the eighteenth floor of the building. I really didn’t go down for 2 weeks. Everyday I lay on the bed and stared blankly, with no energy to do anything.
“Come out to have fun. You’ve been single for so long, of course you find your life boring! Hurry up and find a boyfriend for yourself! Then I would feel at ease.”
Contrary to me, Yang Wenli had a lot of friends. He was extraordinarily amazing in social interactions and had an amiable personality. In the span of three days, he can almost make another friend. I always told him that he had too many friends; one’s life was limited to make so many friends, strangers met by chance are foreordained to stay strangers.
But he didn’t accept it, and as before continued enjoying making new friends, never once getting tired of it. But every time he went out of the city, he’d inform me beforehand to ask me go with him.
Looking at the pale face in the mirror, I accepted his request to go out.
Although I’m not fond of going out; but when I do, I certainly dress up decently to keep my dignity. After taking a shower, I picked up a pair of slacks and a new shirt from a well-known brand. Opening the earring drawer, I took out a pair of obsidian stud earrings, and picked a watch from the watch drawer to wear separately.
Exiting the building felt as if it were a lifetime ago that he had left it. At this moment, he felt a profound feeling of how he hadn’t come out for a very long time. Neighborhood originally didn’t have well-developed parks but now, they have already completed them.[4] It was a good choice to walk down after eating cooked rice in the evening before laying down.
Even if I don’t want to go to the bar, I’d have to drive a car to an appointment. So as to avoid the strange smell inside taxis appointed online, we all agreed on getting a taxi in person. When the driver parked the car just across the street on which the bar called “Clock” was on, I instantly got off and stood still for a while. I took out my mobile phone and asked Yang Wenli where he was.
Before I could type everything down, Yang Wenli waved and called me from over the street. I noticed that there was a tall guy by his side, I lightly swept a glance and moved my gaze away一 it really was impossible for me to boldly observe him alone, just like how I’m sick of people openly watching me. It rather makes me feel offended.
Before entering the bar, Yang Wenli introduced us to each other.
“He Tong, we are from the same university, Institute of economics.”
“Zhou Yuanmu, from the International University.”
Before I could greet him, he took the initiative and extended his hand to me, “hello.”
I lifted my gaze up and discovered that his features weren’t particularly remarkable, and yet in the moment, he looked like a handsome guy; at the very least I looked quite comfortable inside those pair of eyes, unambiguous, clean, limpid, as if they have some kind of magical power to attract people and sink into the whirlpool inside his eyes.
“Hello.” I courteously replied while holding his hand. His palm seemed to wrap around mine as if they were a cocoon, and after just a second, we separated.
I took a seat on the booth while they both chatted on the side, I wearily drank wine and scrolled down my phone, feeling regretful about coming here.
After a while, I heard a clear voice resounding in my ears, “Do you want to dance?”
I put aside my phone and shook my head. I turned my head to find Yang Wenli and noticed that he had left, leaving only the two of us together.
For some reason, I was extremely nervous facing He Tong. I hadn’t been this nervous in a long time.
“Are you uncomfortable?” Cold light lit up his face; his deep penetrating gaze was filled with concern, “In case you’re uncomfortable, you can inform me. I can accompany you outside to have a fresh breath.”
“There’s no need to.” I concisely replied.
I’m somewhat afraid that he’s the kind of person who likes to chat. In that case, it would be very uncomfortable and hard for me to bear. No guarantee if I can pull through without appearing fidgety. Fortunately, after I answered, he didn’t say anything, drank his wine and looked away.
Later Yang Wenli came and pulled me to the dance floor to dance, even though I refused, saying I didn’t want to cramp in with other people.
However it was useless to refuse, I had to follow him onto the dance floor, and He Tong walked behind me. Once the music started, I learnt Yang Wenli’s movements and danced awkwardly. After all, standing on the floor was much more embarrassing than blindly hopping around awkwardly.
I was always on guard with the people around me, neither did I want others to touch me, nor did I want to touch them. It was fine at first, but when the music notes hit higher, the movement of the crowd suddenly increased. I was suddenly at a loss on what to do.
The person in front of me jumped behind, and I had to move backwards step by step until I knocked against someone. I wanted to turn around to apologize, but a pair of hands supported me by my shoulder.
It was He Tong.
The music was too noisy, so he leaned closer to my ear and whispered, “You dance freely, I’ll back you up.”
After he finished speaking, he restrained his hands and removed them from my shoulder. [5]
Footnotes:
The character is Feng Rong which would mean enrichment (of oneself/one's life, etc.) Basically enhancing your lifestyle and stuff yk?
I'm not sure if I should keep it as "enrichment of oneself" or "feng ruo" lemme know which one y'all prefer. But the essence of this line is: The MC thought that enrichment of oneself means taking care of his body, etc. yk and went like, "oh, is that a new beauty trick called 'enrichment of oneself/feng ruo'?" *head in hands* I love him but...... orz
this is the closest translation my mind could think of qwq but in editor sama's words: The meaning of Feng Rong is roughly to get rid of/rid oneself of barrenness (Aka, enrichen life), return to nature (like return to natural instincts/primative), becoming more healthy and beautiful.
basically those parks/greeny which didn't exist is now there. maybe there was some project or sumn and they now completed it?? I was a little confused about this line not going to lie.
"He was speaking awfully close, and probably burst the personal bubble (hands were probably wandering who knows where) So after he finished speaking, he removed his hand from his shoulder as if he knew restraint" quote on quote, editor sama's words qwq
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