Yang Lei and Fang Yu became closer and closer.

Yang Lei was very brave and fierce, rarely accepting anyone. However, if someone really caught his eye, he would be good to them from the bottom of his heart. This was also the reason he had many brothers under his leadership, all willing to follow him. As long as he had decided to regard the other as his own people, he would be as warm to the person as a spring day, even warmer than a spring day.

So now, he was also like this towards Fang Yu. He hadn’t expected this either. Altogether, they hadn’t actually known each other for long. Most of the time before, they were still enemies, but after just a few days of interacting, how could he feel that he and Fang Yu were rather compatible, and even becoming increasingly compatible? Before, when he found Fang Yu unpleasant to the eye, Yang Lei also knew that it was because he couldn’t concede. As to when he conceded to Fang Yu, he himself also didn’t know. In any case, by the time he became aware of it, not only did he find Fang Yu pleasant to the eye, but also increasingly pleasant to the eye.

This wasn’t just because Fang Yu saved him that day. Yang Lei couldn’t really explain it.

The feeling between two people was very marvelous. Some people who have known each other all their lives, may feel as if they had just met each other; some people who have only known each other for a few days, may feel as if they had already known each other for a lifetime.

Yang Lei later knew that the phrase for this was “Of old age, yet as though new friends. Passing by on different cars, yet as though old friends.”

At that time, Yang Lei didn’t at all admit that something attracted him to Fang Yu. This was a kind of attraction for heartfelt admirers, from acknowledgment and longing to become closer, and even mild idolization.

That was the attraction of the powerful towards men. It was innate.

Ever since he knew only Fang Yu lived in that house, and that he rented it, Yang Lei would go to Fang Yu’s house almost every day. He frequently stayed at Fang Yu’s house and didn’t return home at night.

Fang Yu’s place was a small gathering point for his brothers. They all liked how comfortable his place was. Often, several of Fang Yu’s brothers for life would gather there to play cards, play games, and watch videos. After several of these gatherings, Yang Lei also became familiar with them. Frequently, those who drank alcohol would drink, those who played cards would play cards. When they were tired, they would spread out and lie down to sleep. There was a bed and sofa in each of Fang Yu’s two bedrooms for them to sleep on.

But most of the time, they wouldn’t stay overnight, still returning to their own homes. Only Yang Lei liked to remain. He was sick of getting nagged at home. He really liked the freedom at Fang Yu’s place.

Even Fang Yu’s brothers laughed at Fang Yu: “Fang Yu, you’ve grown a tail!”

They were all a few years older than Yang Lei, and they regarded Yang Lei as a little brother.

For Yang Lei to suddenly stick to him everywhere like this, Fang Yu also found it a little too much.

“Why do you never go home?”

“If I go back, I’ll have to listen to my mom’s nagging. It’s so comfortable at your place!”

“You think my place is a hotel?”

“How big am I? I don’t take up space. Having one more of me isn’t much!”

Yang Lei joked with Fang Yu.

“Hurry and go away tomorrow!”

Fang Yu threw over a set of blankets. Yang Lei caught it, laughing.

He already knew well that Fang Yu was ruthless on the surface, but that his heart was actually soft. How many times had he told him to go away, only to give him blankets every time?!

That night, when Yang Lei was looking all over Fang Yu’s room, he saw a photo.

In that photo were three boys in their youth, with their arms around each other’s shoulders and bright smiles on their faces. Fang Yu was in the middle. The boy on the left wore glasses and looked refined. The tough one on the right looked very straightforward and honest. They were all sixteen or seventeen years old, with sunshine all over their faces.

“Your friends?” Yang Lei asked Fang Yu.

“Yeah, my classmates. We played together growing up.”

“You still hadn’t matured yet back then!” Yang Lei teased. Actually, Fang Yu in the picture was very elegant and handsome. He just felt much less ruthless compared to now.

Fang Yu didn’t answer. Yang Lei perceived that his mood wasn’t great.

“Where are they now? Are they still with you?”

“The one on the left is good at studying. He got into college, now he’s gone abroad.”

Fang Yu looked at the boy wearing glasses in the picture, a smile on his face.

“The boy… is successful. He’s aiming at American imperialism.”

“Oh, then what about the one on the right?”

Yang Lei didn’t hear Fang Yu’s answer for a long time.

He found it a little strange, turning his head to glance at Fang Yu.

“Executed by shooting.”

Fang Yu said, his face expressionless.

“…” Yang Lei didn’t know what to say.

“Sorry.” He didn’t want to bring up Fang Yu’s sad memories.

“It’s nothing. Three years have passed.”

Yang Lei was silent for a while.

“…Is he Da Hu?”

Fang Yu suddenly looked up.

“How did you know?”

Yang Lei told him that he had seen Fang Yu and the old lady selling melon seeds that night.

“I unintentionally heard it.”

“…”

Fang Yu was silent.

“Come on. Let’s go drink.”

Yang Lei dragged Fang Yu to the spacious terrace on the second floor. The two of them sat on the edge of the tall terrace, a row of beer bottles lined up by their hands.

Translator’s note: This chapter was short, so an additional chapter will be posted early next week.