Chapter 151: Cuihua, Serve the Pickled Cabbage

Zhao Fusheng had also wondered: if Fan Baobao changed her temper, failed to become famous after graduation, settled down to marry him, stopped swearing and acting crazy, lived a shy and peaceful life—would he then like her?

Even Zhao Fusheng himself didn't know the answer, because he couldn't imagine whether such a Fan Baobao would still be the Fan Baobao he knew.

"Alright, I'm going upstairs." Seeing that they had reached the dormitory, Fan Baobao stopped and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Go on up. I have things to do tomorrow, so I won't come to see you."

"I know. When you're done and heading back, I'll see you off." Fan Baobao tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said softly.

Zhao Fusheng smiled, waved his hand, and watched Fan Baobao go upstairs.

Turning around, he walked toward the school gate. After a few steps, he stopped and looked back, only to find a boy standing behind him—not tall, but looking quite spirited. Most importantly, Zhao Fusheng recognized him.

Or rather, Zhao Fusheng knew who he was, but the boy didn't know Zhao Fusheng.

Smirking, Zhao Fusheng said nothing and continued walking forward.

The boy was startled and hurried after him: "Stop right there!"

Zhao Fusheng, about to leave, stopped at the shout. He turned around, looked at the boy approaching him, glanced around in confusion, then pointed at himself as if to say, "You're talking to me?"

"Yeah, you! Stop!" The boy quickly came up to Zhao Fusheng, pointed at him, and asked, "I'm asking you, what are you looking at?"

Huh?

Zhao Fusheng couldn't help but laugh at that.

In Ninghai, and indeed throughout the three northeastern provinces, this was probably the most common phrase.

"What are you looking at?"

"What's it to you?"

"Try looking again?"

"I looked, so what?"

"Bang! Crackle!"

Basically, many fights in the Northeast started because someone glanced at someone else once or twice too many.

But Zhao Fusheng never expected someone to pick a fight with him, and of all people, it was Deng Chao.

That's right, the same Deng Chao who would later be known as the King of Goofiness, the one who married the Empress.

At this time, Deng Chao, like Fan Baobao, was a sophomore. He grew up in a blended family, had strong self-esteem, and was the type of young person eager for success.

If Zhao Fusheng remembered correctly, starting next year, Deng Chao would land roles in some TV dramas, and later seemed to join Huayi Brothers, becoming a top star.

What left the deepest impression was that in his junior year, this guy cross-dressed, wrote and starred in a play called "Cuihua, Serve the Pickled Cabbage"—he was quite a creative person.

Zhao Fusheng also knew that out of the 1998 undergraduate acting class at the Central Academy of Drama, only this one became a star.

"What's your relationship with Fan Baobao?"

Deng Chao's first words made Zhao Fusheng laugh.

So it turned out this was another suitor of Fan Baobao.

Seeing him laugh so heartily, Deng Chao, for some reason, mustered the courage to push Zhao Fusheng's shoulder: "What are you laughing at..."

"Thump!"

"Ouch!"

The first sound was Deng Chao hitting the ground; the second came from Deng Chao himself.

The moment Deng Chao's hand reached for him, Zhao Fusheng, without a word, threw him to the ground with a shoulder throw.

After all, there was too much difference in height and weight between them. Though Zhao Fusheng wasn't as handsome as Deng Chao, he was sturdy—over 1.8 meters tall, and though he'd recently lost some weight, he still weighed over 160 jin.

Plus, having exercised since childhood, Zhao Fusheng could take on three pretty boys like Deng Chao.

"Look at you, why can't you be more careful when walking?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Deng Chao with concern, his face warm and kind, as if he hadn't just thrown the guy to the ground.

Deng Chao was genuinely scared. Where did this guy come from? The moment his hand touched the other's shoulder, before he could do anything, he felt himself flying through the air.

Then came the pain of hitting the ground.

"I..."

Before Deng Chao could speak, Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Don't get me wrong. Fan Baobao and I grew up together. Her family and mine are like one family. You understand?"

Deng Chao was stunned: "Really?"

Zhao Fusheng shrugged: "Believe it or not. Besides, do you think I need to lie to you?"

Hearing this, Deng Chao was skeptical, but then realized that if Zhao Fusheng was telling the truth, he'd taken that shoulder throw for nothing.

Simple: if Zhao Fusheng really was Fan Baobao's childhood friend, as her suitor, he couldn't exactly pick a fight with him. Not to mention whether he could win, but if they did fight, how would Fan Baobao see him?

If it was a lie and Zhao Fusheng was actually her boyfriend, fighting him would probably ruin any chance he had with Fan Baobao.

Thinking this, Deng Chao's face was a picture of despair.

As if reading his mind, Zhao Fusheng smiled and said: "You're an interesting guy. My name is Zhao Fusheng. What's yours?"

"Deng Chao."

"Mm, got time for a drink?"

Zhao Fusheng extended an invitation to Deng Chao.

Deng Chao wanted to refuse, but thought that if he did, he'd either be admitting defeat to a rival or turning down an invitation from a potential future brother-in-law. Gritting his teeth, he nodded: "Let's go get some skewers."

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily and took the lead.

Every university has a snack street nearby—it's an unwritten rule. Or rather, the most common things near a university are restaurants and hotels.

Deng Chao led the way, and they sat down at a barbecue joint.

"Boss, thirty skewers and a case of beer!" Deng Chao sat down boldly and ordered loudly.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and shook his head: "I don't drink much. You drink alone?"

"You really won't drink?" Deng Chao was taken aback, not expecting Zhao Fusheng to say that.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "I study advertising planning. Drinking leads to mistakes, so I rarely drink."

"Alright, I'll drink by myself then." Deng Chao paused, then nodded: "But you can have a little."

Though unwilling to admit it, Deng Chao had to say that this guy named Zhao Fusheng had a strange charm—he could always lead others by the nose without making them resent him.

More importantly, facing him, Deng Chao felt like he was facing an elder in the family. The guy was just too calm, as if nothing could rattle him.

The skewers and beer soon arrived. Zhao Fusheng opened a bottle for himself and another for Deng Chao, smiling: "We're friends after a fight, right? Cheers?"

Deng Chao was startled. Since Zhao Fusheng had said he didn't drink, his initiative to drink with him now made Deng Chao feel flattered and honored.

Little did he know, this was just a little trick to bring them closer.

The older, the wiser; no matter how cunning the fox, it can't escape the good hunter's gun.