This World Has Gone Crazy

“Wait.” Qi Le interrupted, “What were you doing standing there?”

“I wasn’t looking at condoms. I just happened to be standing there.”

Qi Le nodded. “So how did you answer him?”

“What could I say ah? I just kept quiet.” Yi Hang paused before he collapsed in defeat. “Then he bought a box of everything!”

“...” Qi Le asked, “And then?”

“I was too scared so I ran away,” Yi Hang tearfully burst out. “We talked about you before and I realized that you were rather well-known so I took a taxi to look for this bar. I actually went to two other bars before I found this gay bar. Please help me! He likes me, doesn’t he?”

Qi Le thought about it. “It’s very possible.”

“Why? He obviously dumped me!”

Qi Le looked him up and down. “The original owner must have been too scheming so he didn’t like that, whereas you’re quite stupid so he likes you.”

Yi Hang went mad. “What do I do now?”

“Where are the original owner’s relatives?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen them since he started taking care of me. I get the feeling that they don’t like me very much. Do you think there was something wrong with his previous character?”

“Maybe...” Qi Le added sympathetically, “You’re all alone now and you don’t have any survival skills. Aside from letting him take care of you, what else can you do? Why don’t you just accept your fate?”

“No!” Yi Hang became angry at once. “I’d rather beg than be fucked!”

Qi Le nodded and teased, “Your games, your cartoons, your potato chips...”

Yi Hang stared in a daze, tears streaming down his face. “I’ll sell my kidney...”

“You should just accept it.” Qi Le said, “He likes you know. If you say no, would he force you?"

Yi Hang thought for a moment and choked out, “Yes.”

“...” Qi Le comforted him, “Don’t be so pessimistic. Try to be more firm. I think he’s a very considerate person and won’t force you.”

Yi Hang doubted his words. “...... Are you sure?”

“I think so.” Qi Le hesitated, “Why don’t you... give it a try?”

Yi Hang shook his head fiercely. “I won’t go back. I’ll stay at your place today. Please help me! The people who know me don’t like me. The people I used to know don’t know me anymore... If I look for the Taoist priest, he’ll probably get me to spend 20 yuan on a protective talisman. I really have no way out ahhh.”

Qi Le pondered. He had already tricked this man last time. If he did it again, this idiot would most likely look for Erquan and tell him the truth. He nodded, “OK, I’ll talk to my older brother.”

“You’re really a good person, mmm!” Yi Hang’s eyes shone like gems. “Let’s go now then. I’m afraid that bastard will come looking soon.”

“I don’t know the way. Let’s wait for my older brother to finish his shift.” Qi Le suggested, “Why don’t you rest in the lounge?”

Yi Hang nodded, “Okay.”

Qi Le took the big dummy to the lounge and talked to him for a while before he came out again. The bar was now open. There was melodious piano music playing in the background. He went to the bar and sat down, looked at the pianist over there and asked, “Why don’t they play something with a faster beat?”

Tranny replied, “From 6:30 to 8, it isn’t as ‘high.’ There are fewer people, so we play the piano and change the music after 8.”

Qi Le pondered, thinking that he still had to earn some money for his living expenses. His older brother worked here and the boss seemed quite nice too. If he worked here, he probably wouldn’t be bullied. He asked Tranny, “Do they need pianists?”

Tranny arched an eyebrow, “You know how to play?”

Qi Le nodded and went up to the boss. The boss looked horrified. “You actually know how to play? Don’t force yourself ah!”

“I can’t sing but that doesn’t mean I don’t have any musical ability.” Qi Le pouted and casually took over the piano, playing a simple tune. Although he didn’t take the examination, he still had more than enough skill to work at a bar.

The boss, Ye Shuichuan and Tranny circled around him curiously. Ye Shuichuan asked in surprise, “When did you learn how to play the piano?”

“Last time,” Qi Le lied and added vaguely, “I sort of remember a little about it. Didn’t I tell you?”

The three shook their heads.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s not too late for you to know now.”

The boss thought for a moment before agreeing, “Okay. Anyways, you used to take turns with the pianist before. Now you can switch from singing to playing the piano. You can start work tomorrow.”

Qi Le was in a very good mood after solving the issue of looking for a job for the time being. After sitting outside for a while, he went to accompany Yi Hang, who was growing more frightened the minute. He looked at Qi Le expectantly. “Can we take a taxi back now?”

“Okay, you pay the fare. I have to save money.”

Yi Hang turned out his pockets and collapsed in defeat again. “I don’t have enough.”

“Then, we’ll wait.”

The two waited until nearly midnight for Ye Shuichuan to finish work. Qi Le spent a long time trying to convince Ye Shuichuan to allow Yi Hang to stay with them. However, the man wasn’t in a good mood for the entire journey home. It wasn’t until he saw a store along the street that he stopped the car and ordered, “You. Go down and buy a box of motherwort.”

Qi Le, “......”

Yi Hang, “=口=”

Yi Hang quickly bought some and the three returned to the apartment soon.

Mr. Elite had searched the man’s previous home, school, internet cafes, and even several McDonald’s and KFC outlets, but he still couldn’t find him. Finally, he had no choice but to search the cemetery. Even then, he was still nowhere to be found. He looked back at the information he had read just awhile back but couldn’t find any clues. Just as he was lost in thought, he recalled Yi Hang’s new acquaintances, which reminded him of Zheng Xiaoyuan. He immediately pulled out his cellphone, dug out the number from a few days ago and called Gu Bai.

Tonight, Gu Bai didn’t have the comfort of hugging Xiao Le to sleep. He was still tossing and turning from the loneliness when he received a phone call. He couldn’t help but feel a little surprised. “He isn’t with me. Why?”

“Do you know where he lives? I think my wife may be at his place. “

“Yes, I’ll take you there. Where are you now? Should I go to you or will you pick me up?"

“I’m at the cemetery. Give me your address and I’ll come get you.”

Gu Bai glanced at the time. “...You’re at the cemetery?”

Mr. Elite sounded especially calm. “Yes.”

Gu Bai, “...”

When Mr. Elite got to Gu Bai’s place, it was just after midnight. Gu Bai got into the car and said, “If your wife isn’t there, then just leave. If he is, just carry him away. Don’t bother about me."

Mr. Elite arched an eyebrow, “It’s not easy to get a taxi now.”

Gu Bai smiled, lifting the corners of his lips, “So when someone sees that you’ve left me behind, he’ll invite me to stay the night.”

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