Chapter 0131: The Hunter and the Hunted

When he was young, Zhao Fusheng always felt that his words failed to convey his meaning, unable to express what he wanted to say. But as he grew up, he gradually discovered that he had become insincere, that what came out of his mouth was often not what was in his heart.

Perhaps this was the price of growing up.

But no matter what, on this occasion today, it seemed he had no choice but to be with Fan Baobao.

“Why aren’t you going to play?”

Fan Baobao’s voice rang out as she glanced at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head, too lazy to call out the little scheme in her mind. He figured that if he had gone, she would have been unhappy.

Soon, as the music started, the bar grew more crowded. Watching the crowd gathering on the stage, Fan Baobao couldn’t help blurting out, “So this is what a bar is like.”

Her words could not hide the surprise and excitement.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Fusheng couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What are you laughing at?” Miss Fan raised an eyebrow and shot him a sideways glance.

“Nothing.” Zhao Fusheng shook his head repeatedly.

“Hmph, don’t think I don’t know.” Fan Baobao gave Zhao Fusheng a look that said “I’ve seen through the truth,” then added, “Come to think of it, I’ve never heard of you going to places like internet cafes or bars.”

The two were high school classmates. In her memory, Zhao Fusheng had indeed never been to those places.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like going, but that he wasn’t old enough, and there were some things he hadn’t been exposed to.

As for college, because his parents required him to come home every weekend, he had never been to bars or similar places in Ninghai.

“I prefer peace and quiet now.” Zhao Fusheng shrugged, his face calm.

Fan Baobao shot him a glare, not agreeing with that.

But regardless, outside was not like home; she had to give him enough face.

This was a basic principle of dealing with people, just like knowing how to speak. Some people have a bad temper and a sharp tongue, but they always know how to read the situation and speak at the right time, making everyone feel at ease and even finding them amusing. Others speak without regard for the occasion or place, acting entirely on impulse.

Such people may seem straightforward, but in reality, they are selfish at heart.

Those who only care about their own pleasure and ignore others’ feelings will eventually suffer the same pain.

Soon, Fan Baobao was pulled away by her roommate. She had wanted to drag Zhao Fusheng along, but he shook his head. As people age, their interest in nightlife gradually declines. Like Zhao Fusheng now, he would rather sit and drink than go down to dance.

In a place like a bar, unless you are in the midst of it, it’s hard to imagine the splendor of nightlife. It’s not just about heavily made-up seductive women, but also young and beautiful girls. In any nightclub, beautiful women are the most sought-after resource. As the night wore on, more and more men came over to their table, trying to strike up conversations.

For Li Jian, this was a perfectly normal mutual attraction, but for Zhao Fusheng, every time a man in strange clothes came to chat up Fan Baobao, he got irritated. Not just because these people blatantly ignored him, a grown man, but also because the way they looked at Fan Baobao carried an unusual flavor.

“What do you think men or women come here for?” Li Jian looked at the simmering Zhao Fusheng and said with a smile, “This place is like a hunting ground. Men are hunters, women are prey. The hunting methods may differ, but the basic principle is the same. Of course, there are also female hunters.”

Female hunters?

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then recalled certain things he had seen in his past life. He shrugged and smiled. “Female hunters, they all like pretty boys like you, don’t they?”

Li Jian was momentarily speechless, feeling as if he had accidentally dug a pit for himself.

He studied Zhao Fusheng carefully. No matter how he looked at him, Zhao Fusheng seemed like a novice. Yet his words just now were clearly those of a seasoned player, which made Li Jian a bit puzzled.

So-called fair-weather friends are those you think will push you when you’re standing at the edge of a pit. In Li Jian’s view, Zhao Fusheng was a greenhorn, and his relationship with Fan Baobao was that of childhood sweethearts. Li Jian had originally planned to use today’s opportunity to advance their relationship, but it was clear that Zhao Fusheng had no such intention.

The dance floor gradually heated up, and the music made one want to sway along. The table full of non-alcoholic drinks seemed unable to draw Zhao Fusheng into the increasingly frenzied atmosphere, and his eyes were not as sparkling as Fan Baobao’s beside him.

She widened her beautiful eyes, watching the twisting men and women on the dance floor with great interest, her little head nodding slightly to the rhythm. Clearly, she liked this kind of stage.

“Do you like the stage?” Zhao Fusheng asked cautiously.

“No.” Fan Baobao gave him a strange look. “Why would I like this kind of stage? I just think the song sounds good.”

Zhao Fusheng was stunned, quite surprised. He had thought Fan Baobao would really like it here.

“This table costs a few hundred yuan. With that money, I could live on campus for half a month.” Fan Baobao blinked and whispered to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then laughed. This was the Fan Baobao he knew.

After all, they were still students. Having fun was one thing, but by around ten o’clock, although everyone’s spirits were still high, they realized it was time to head back to the dorm.

“I’ll see you off,” Li Jian said to Zhao Fusheng and the girls.

“No need, you go ahead and enjoy yourself. We’ll head out first.” Seeing that Li Jian seemed to have run into some friends, Zhao Fusheng declined his offer and called a taxi with Fan Baobao and the others.

Li Jian didn’t say anything more, knowing the occasion wasn’t right for certain words.

In the taxi, only Fan Baobao and Zhou Yun remained; the other four girls took another car.

“Does he have a favor to ask of you?”

Fan Baobao asked Zhao Fusheng curiously.

She wasn’t stupid. Li Jian’s attitude toward Zhao Fusheng today was strange through and through. Fan Baobao didn’t think that she or her roommates were worth such polite treatment from Li Jian.

So the reason must lie with Zhao Fusheng.

Based on her years of understanding of Zhao Fusheng, Fan Baobao could tell that the relationship between Zhao Fusheng and Li Jian wasn’t as close as they appeared.

Or rather, Li Jian might be very enthusiastic, but Zhao Fusheng, deep down, hadn’t truly considered him a friend yet.

Fan Baobao was one hundred percent sure of this. Although to outsiders, Zhao Fusheng seemed to hide it well, she could clearly sense it.

“It’s not really a favor. I think he wants me to write a song.” Zhao Fusheng smiled faintly.

He saw it more clearly than Fan Baobao. The reason Li Jian was so eager to befriend him was largely due to the song “A Prose Poem Written by Father.” On one hand, he hoped Zhao Fusheng could do a good job with the arrangement; on the other, he looked forward to collaborating with him again if the opportunity arose.

Every singer longs for good songs that suit them. Li Jian was no exception.

“You?” Fan Baobao looked at Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

“What, you don’t believe me?” Seeing Fan Baobao’s expression as if she’d seen a ghost, Zhao Fusheng couldn’t help teasing.

In response, Fan Baobao gave him a half-smiling face.

Clearly, it wasn’t that she didn’t believe him—she simply didn’t believe him at all.