This World Has Gone Crazy

Father Qi stared at his son, his eyes a little red. After rubbing his head for some time, he turned off the lights and went to sleep. The next day was Sunday, so Father Qi wasn’t busy. He attentively spent time with his son and even got the feeling of being a new father again. Driven by this feeling, he got up early in the morning on the third day to prepare breakfast for his son and Gu Bai, but the latter was also awake. They both went into the kitchen together. Father Qi looked at his skilful movements and felt that Gu Bai was a good man like himself. He praised, “Whichever girl marries you has blessings for generations to come.”

Then, marry your son to me. I’ll make him fair and chubby... Gu Bai gave a modest smile and continued to work.

Thus, Qi Le got up on this day and found that breakfast was rather sumptuous. Father Qi looked at him lovingly, “Eat. After breakfast, Dad will take you to school.”

Qi Le almost choked on his food and asked suspiciously, “What are you thinking of again? The tone of your voice is exactly the same as the time when I was ten. You said the same thing that day, ‘After breakfast, Dad will take you fishing.’ In the end, you threw me aside and caused me to fall into the river...”

“Shut up.” Father Qi coughed and tried to save his image. “I used to be busy with my business. I haven’t sent you since you were in the fourth grade. You’ve always gone with Gu Bai. Now, I want to send you to school. What’s wrong?”

Qi Le said, “...Nothing.”

“Uncle, you’re so busy with your business. It’s better if I take him.” Gu Bai urged.

“I’m not that busy. I’ll see him off then go to my meeting.”

Gu Bai bowed his head and ate. After breakfast, he watched the two men leave and immediately fell silent. Since he got together with his wife, this was the first time that he hadn’t held his wife to sleep in two consecutive days and hadn’t "taken advantage" of his wife for a whole day. He thought that they could make out when he sent his wife to school, but now his plan fell through.

Qi Le’s older brother was now in his final year and didn’t have many classes. His brother-in-law would send him and pick him up when he worked at the bar at night. The off-road vehicle had been returned to Qi Le awhile ago and had been left downstairs. Right now, it just so happened that it would make it convenient for his father. Qi Le handed him the car keys, sat on the front passenger seat obediently and was soon sent to school by him. Father Qi also had some complaints about this second-rate school but it wasn’t worth mentioning with his son’s resurrection. He opened the door, got down from the car and rubbed his son’s head. “I’ll pick you up for hairy crabs at noon.”

Qi Le’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Really?”

“Mmm, invite Xiao Bai as well.”

Qi Le happily nodded, waved and turned away.

Father Qi watched him go in before he left.

After arriving in the main building, Wan Lei found a familiar off-road vehicle. He thought that the personality of Xiaoyuan was back. He looked at him excitedly only to see a handsome middle-aged man come down and rub the man’s head. They looked very intimate. He froze at once.

At this moment, Ning Xiao had just driven into the school. When he saw the off-road vehicle, he subconsciously frowned. Then, he saw that scene and almost forgot to step on the brakes, nearly crashing into them. He quickly found a place to park. When he got down, the car had already left. He closed the door and strode towards the main building, ready to ask the man what was going on.

Wan Lei had been standing at the pillar in front of the main building, watching Xiaoyuan enter. He could clearly see the cheerful expression on the man’s face. His eyes suddenly deepened. He wanted to follow but he saw Ning Xiao approaching. He waited for a few seconds and asked, “Are you going to look for him?”

“Mmm.”

“Do you know that man?”

“No.” Ning Xiao looked at him. He knew that this person had always been displeased with himself. Unless something happened, he would never talk to him. He held back his temper and asked patiently, “Why?”

“It’s better to observe the situation first. I think Xiaoyuan probably doesn’t know you,” sighed Wan Lei. “He didn’t come with Gu Bai today but with a strange man. It seems that they have a good relationship, so... This is probably another personality.”

Ning Xiao was shocked. It was unbelievable. The man... disappeared just like that?

The two hurried into the classroom and saw a certain someone happily reading a book. They couldn’t see a trace of the tense state from before. Ning Xiao’s eyes sank in that instant. The man had been so strange the week before. Was it because that personality was going to sleep?

Wan Lei hesitantly stepped forward and said tentatively, “Hi.”

Qi Le was in a good mood today and smiled brightly. “Hey.”

This wasn’t the usual expression this person had when facing Wan Lei. Ning Xiao’s eyes turned cold. He turned around to leave. Only one thought remained in his mind – the person he wanted... was gone.

Qi Le looked at him strangely and then looked at Wan Lei. God knows what was wrong with these two.

Wan Lei continued to ask tentatively, “Can I sit next to you?”

Qi Le thought that it was better to have one less problem. He laughed and said, “No.”

Wan Lei was silent for a moment but didn’t force him. He turned to leave.

Without the two men disturbing him, Qi Le had a good time during these two classes. When class ended at noon, he quickly ran out to wait for his dad to pick him up to eat hairy crabs. Ning Xiao saw the man again when he went to his car, but he simply glanced at them and didn’t show any expression.

Qi Le had to work this week. However, his father wasn’t aware of this for the time being. He was just thinking about how to hide it from him only to hear the man say that he had a social event at night and couldn’t pick him up. He was happy at once, mumbled an "ok" and gladly went to work.

Ning Xiao’s mood was at its lowest point today. He was uncomfortable all over and felt that his chest was empty. He even regretted not talking to the man a few days ago, which would’ve saved him from such misery. He entered the bar and planned to have a few drinks, but as soon as he got there, he saw Qi Le playing the piano and was shocked.

Qi Le had just reached the end of his performance. He happily went to the bar to take a seat and wait for Gu Bai to pick him up. He casually chatted with the bartender while waiting.

Ning Xiao stared at him in a daze, then went up to him. “Is it you?”

Qi Le asked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Ning Xiao was silent for a moment. “Do you know me?”

“Of course, I know you.” Qi Le felt even more strange. “Are you crazy? Was your brain kicked by a donkey...” Before he was done speaking, his body was suddenly pulled forcefully.

Ning Xiao couldn’t even think at this moment, as if his body had made the decision before his brain. After hearing this person say that he knew himself, he immediately pulled him over and held him tightly in his arms.

“...” Qi Le was furious and began to struggle. “Fuck you! Get your hands off of me...” As he spoke, he suddenly felt himself being pulled into a familiar embrace.

Gu Bai held his wife firmly in his arms, looked up and asked, “Ning Xiao, what are you trying to do?”

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