novelraw Chapter 597 : A Burglar_
Chapter 597 : A Burglar_
Chapter 597: A Burglar?
At the reunion after graduation, the former classmates' topics were no longer about youth, beautiful girls, and love, but shifted to more practical matters like work, life, and marriage.
Although they said the drinking would be casual this time, in the end, everyone had at least 1 liter of baijiu.
Chen Fan, because of his injury, wasn't pressured to drink, but still had three full glasses.
Wu Di had the highest alcohol tolerance and drank the most, downing 1 liter of baijiu like it was nothing, and was still clamoring to go sing at KTV afterwards.
Seeing that Guo Shuai and Brother Jie were already quite drunk, Chen Fan suggested:
"Let's call it a night. We'll have plenty of chances to get together in the future."
With Chen Fan speaking up, Wu Di didn't push further.
They quickly cleared the vegetables from the table, then Chen Fan called the waiter to settle the bill.
Luo Wenjie proposed that everyone go to the club they visited last time, reasoning that he was about to open a bathhouse and needed to get hands-on experience, to learn from peers in the industry.
Ma Xiaoshuai, feeling a bit unwell from the drinking, quickly waved his hand upon hearing this.
"Forget it, you guys go ahead. I need to head back, otherwise I might end up kneeling on the washboard tonight."
"What kind of man are you? So embarrassing."
"Just don't go back, see what she can do about it."
"Big brother, don't be a killjoy. It's better if we all go together, right?"
No matter how they tried to provoke him, Ma Xiaoshuai wouldn't budge.
Seeing the atmosphere getting a bit awkward, Chen Fan stepped in to smooth things over.
"Alright, let's end it here for tonight. If you guys want to go, go ahead. Xiaoshuai and I won't join. My leg injury makes it inconvenient anyway."
"Fine then."
Seeing that Chen Fan had put it this way, everyone stopped insisting.
In the end, Luo Wenjie, Guo Shuai, and Wu Di decided to go for massages.
Ever since his girlfriend wasn't around, Wu Di seemed to have let loose a bit.
The group went downstairs together, and just happened to see a drunk male student relieving himself behind Wu Di's old Suzuki Alto.
"Damn it! My car!"
Wu Di shouted, rushing over and grabbing the other's collar, about to throw a punch.
Just as the two were about to start fighting, a group of students suddenly rushed out from a nearby barbecue stall, and both sides pulled their own companions apart.
"Fuck, are you blind? Pissing on someone else's car?"
Wu Di, full of anger, pointed at the other's nose and cursed loudly.
These students were probably from Yunhai University. Faced with Wu Di's scolding, they didn't argue. Instead, two of them stepped forward and apologized.
"We're so sorry, my roommate is drunk. The restroom inside was full earlier, he absolutely didn't mean to do it."
"How about this, we'll pay for your car wash?"
Wu Di was furious, "Pay for a car wash? What do you mean? You think I'm short on cash?"
Although it was a second-hand car, he had only been driving it for less than 10 days and cherished it dearly.
Chen Fan signaled Ma Xiaoshuai to hold Wu Di back, then went over to take a look.
He came back and said quietly to Wu Di: "Let it go. They're probably new students at Yunhai University. I just checked, he didn't do it on purpose, he was aiming at the corner and it splashed onto the tire."
Seeing Wu Di about to say something, Chen Fan patted his shoulder.
"Think about when we first started college. There's no need to cause trouble over something so small."
"If you're really upset, I'll pay for the car wash."
Wu Di looked up at the group of freshmen across from them, their faces still bearing naive and panicked expressions.
Just like the six of them when they first stepped onto the university campus four years ago.
"Sigh. Forget it. I'll just count it as bad luck. You guys can go. No need for compensation."
"Thank you, uncle..."
Watching the group of boys leave, Wu Di shook his head with a bitter smile.
"It's been less than 3 months since graduation, but why does it feel like so much time has passed?"
Luo Wenjie beside him let out a drunken burp, "Who would have thought that one day we'd be called 'uncle' by our juniors?"
Ma Xiaoshuai laughed and said: "Remember when we first enrolled? We had a conflict with some seniors right here, and almost got into a fight."
At the mention of this, everyone laughed.
Wu Di sighed: "Damn, that was what you call young and reckless."
"Now that I think about it, society is really fucking rough, it's beaten all the youthful spirit out of us."
Chen Fan, looking at the group of boys from that dorm laughing and chatting as they left, suddenly felt a strong urge.
He wanted to go back to the campus and take a look.
"Alright. You guys go ahead. Remember not to stay out too late."
Watching the three of them leave, Ma Xiaoshuai asked Chen Fan: "Want me to drive you back?"
Chen Fan waved his hand: "It's not on your way. You go home first, I want to take a stroll by myself, then I'll take a taxi back."
Ma Xiaoshuai looked at Chen Fan's leg in a cast with suspicion.
"Big brother, you're in this state and still want to take a stroll? Tell the truth, you're planning to pick up young college girls here, aren't you?"
"Get lost! You think I'm Brother Jie?"
Ma Xiaoshuai laughed: "You really don't need me to drive you?"
"No need. Go on, hurry up."
Ma Xiaoshuai took out his keys to open the car door, but suddenly thought of something before getting in.
"Oh right, you have to come for the grand opening on National Day. Everyone else can be absent, but you must be there."
Chen Fan smiled wryly: "We'll see."
He was planning to go to Beijing to see his wife during the National Day holiday.
"No 'we'll see', you must be there."
"Alright, alright. I'll skip being with my wife and attend to you for a day, okay?"
Ma Xiaoshuai was satisfied.
"That's more like it."
"Don't wander around alone for too long, remember to text me when you get home."
"Of course, if you happen to meet a young and beautiful college girl, you don't need to let me know."
"Get out of here already!"
Watching Ma Xiaoshuai drive away laughing heartily, Chen Fan then slowly hobbled along the road with his crutch.
To be honest, his mood had improved a bit during the dinner gathering, but after it ended, why did he feel even lonelier?
He wanted to call Su Ruochu, but at this hour, she was probably already asleep.
Chen Fan helplessly patted his pocket, only to realize he hadn't been in the habit of carrying cigarettes for a long time.
So he casually bought a pack of cigarettes and a lighter at a small convenience store by the roadside, then limped into Yunhai University.
Entering the campus again after more than two months, Chen Fan began to understand Wu Di's earlier comment.
It did feel like a lifetime ago.
Everything seemed like it was just yesterday, yet it also felt so distant from him now.
He wandered aimlessly around the campus alone.
Chen Fan suddenly remembered that he still had an apartment here.
It had been a while since he'd been back, and he wondered what condition the place was in now, if it was still livable.
Looking at the couples strolling hand in hand along the path, Chen Fan thought about all the moments he and his girlfriend had shared on campus.
He was feeling tired from walking anyway, so why not just spend the night in the apartment?
He'd be alone wherever he slept anyway.
Having made up his mind, Chen Fan limped towards the faculty apartments.
When he left school, Chen Fan had cleaned the place thoroughly, but after more than two months of being unoccupied, it probably had gathered quite a bit of dust.
Passing by a supermarket, Chen Fan went in to buy some cleaning supplies, then also bought a bag of beer and snacks.
With one hand carrying the full shopping bags and the other holding his crutch, he made his way to the faculty apartment with great effort.
Climbing up the stairs, Chen Fan let out a long sigh, fished out his keys from his pocket, and found the apartment key.
He opened the door.
But as soon as he did, Chen Fan was stunned.
The lights inside were on!
Had a burglar broken in?