A CERTAIN SOMEONE ( THE ON1Y ONE )

Chapter 095 - Reunion

Long Time No See.

The world is truly a magical place. Those words about fondness and love, he only dared to secretly say them to Jiang Tian in the past, not daring to let anyone know. Now, he could tell them to many people peacefully, but Jiang Tian was the only one who couldn’t hear this time.

Technology is so advanced, but they managed to lose contact in the sea of people.

At the start, Sheng Mingyang kept an eye on him like he was guarding against a thief. For that period of time, Sheng Wang had sort of the mindset of completely shattering the broken bottle, thinking that either way he wouldn’t be able to catch him, so he might as well give up — you’re spending so much effort just to keep an eye on me, right? So I’ll format myself just for you.

Back then he was young with a defiant spirit in him. It was rare that he was being rebellious for once. Due to his reluctance to just stab other people directly, he always had the attitude of hurting others at great expense to himself. He emptied his account right in front of Sheng Mingyang, uninstalled WeChat, and locked his old phone as well as the “Ok” and “Encyclopedia for Healthy Living” inside the drawer.
Sheng Wang could still remember the instant he shut the drawer — Sheng Mingyang stood by the table, not saying anything. He looked a little disappointed. As for him, his eyes ached, and he felt pleased at the same time — like he had used his sharpest tooth to gnaw at the most painful ulcer.

After that, people had to contact him through either phone call or text messages. Any news of Jiang Tian had to be conveyed to him through Sheng Mingyang. He said to Sheng Mingyang, “Dad, can you relax yet?”
Sheng Mingyang did not speak.

There was an alumni club for Fuzhong in Beijing. Every time new students entered school, they would hold a gathering and invite everyone for a meal. Batches of seniors would show up if they are free, welcoming their juniors into Beijing.
Sheng Wang had politely declined the invitation the first time. When he was young, he was like a fish in water in this sort of social scenario, he could get along with anyone. He would drink until he turn stupid with a mug in his hands despite being a lightweight. Later on, all he felt was irritation — the endless small talk, the formalities, trying to act close while they were all strangers — he didn’t have the energy to deal with that.

He was dragged into participating by Chili and Gao Tianyang when he was invited for the second time.
Perhaps he was born that way; upon truly being in that environment, he had automatically switched into a “fish in water” state...until Zhao Xi arrived late into the event, and he quieted like someone pressed the mute button.
Zhao Xi spotted him immediately, and switched his seats as he quibbled with people. He sat next to him. While nobody else was watching, he clapped his shoulder, saying, “You’re doing rather fine, student Sheng Wang. I see you’ve learnt to lose contact.”

Zhao Xi poured him a glass of beer to the brim, and clinked it against his glass. The milky white foam splashed out. He took a giant gulp, and heard Zhao Xi say, “Wasn’t it tough?”
He couldn’t swallow anymore.

Zhao Xi said he had always felt a little abstruse guilt, saying that he was afraid that Sheng Wang only ended up on this path due to some unconscious nudging from him and Lin Beiting. Then he had truly committed a heinous crime, for he had caused people to suffer for no reason.
Sheng Wang said no.
Because Zhao Xi and Lin Beiting were just there, and if it wasn’t Jiang Tian that he met, then he wouldn’t end up on this path either — at least, he couldn’t imagine a scenario like that.

He then asked Zhao Xi how he managed to win over his family.
Zhao Xi stilled, saying, “Lin-zi didn’t have this kind of pressure. As for me…...Old Zhao was the uncompromising sort in the past too, my bad temper probably came from him. Back then, I argued with Lin-zi and that did not end well, same goes for Old Zhao, so I went straight overseas. My mom would take it out on my father when she couldn’t find me, so he softened up with that whittling. And then Old Zhao fell sick, and suddenly got over it. He nagged at Lin-zi as much as he nagged at me, he probably treats him as his own son now.”