Chapter 104

“Where did your skills come from, that you’ve improved so much?”

Sitting on the hillside outside in the sun, Yang Lei gave Fang Yu a can of beer.

Fang Yu had really surprised Yang Lei. He had thought about the two veterans in the south, but he thought that this wasn’t similar. Fang Yu’s moves had traces of the military, but there were also many that were obviously not military moves.

Fang Yu opened the beer, took a drink, and looked at the mountains in the distance.

“When I was in prison, I knew someone. He was quite amazing.”

Yang Lei looked at Fang Yu. This was Fang Yu’s first time mentioning what happened in prison.

“He was over 50 years old, but four or five of them couldn’t beat him. When he was young, he had been on the battlefield. He used to be a provincial martial arts coach. Later, he helped his friend fight and accidentally killed someone. He was imprisoned and sentenced to more than ten years.”

Fang Yu got to know a lot of people in prison, with all kinds of experiences. These people had also suffered through hardships together, and some had indeed accumulated deep friendships.

“He said that his apprentices had won country championships, and some also went abroad to box and got some distinctions. The old guy talked about it all day long, and I didn’t know if it was true or not.”

Fang Yu looked at the distance and smiled.

“He was in the same cell as me, and we got along. When we were inside and had nothing to do, we would refine them all day, practicing for fun and to pass the time. He taught me a lot, and it seems like he wasn’t boasting. It was really eye opening.”

Fang Yu thought of this man with a look of admiration on his face.

“The old man is really amazing. I probably can’t even beat him now.”

Fang Yu had never spoken about what happened in prison. Yang Lei listened and didn’t speak. Fang Yu noticed his silence and glanced at Yang Lei.

“Actually, being inside is no big deal. It’s fine if you’re used to it. Find something to do, and time passes quickly.”

“What’s the matter with your left arm?”

Yang Lei suddenly asked.

“Nothing.”

“Is it from that time?”

Yang Lei didn’t beat around the bush.

“No.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

When Yang Lei noticed that something was wrong with Fang Yu’s left arm, Yang Lei’s heart sank to the bottom.

Yang Lei would never forget the scene when he walked into the private room that day and saw Fang Yu covered in blood.

The knife was inserted into Fang Yu’s left arm, penetrating it. This scene seemed to be seared into the bottom of his heart and had never faded. Every time he thought of it, Yang Lei clearly remembered every feeling and every pain he had felt at the moment.

In order to save him back then, Fang Yu had stabbed himself twice. Before he had healed completely, he encountered a series of fights with Qiao Xin’s gang. Every fight was a battle of life and death. At that time, the doctor had said that the arm must rest to heal. If he fought again, he shouldn’t think about keeping the arm. After all these years, there were still long-term effects!

“It’s really nothing. Sometimes it hurts a little on rainy days, but nothing else. I was injured in prison later. I’ve recovered long ago, and I could continue until now.”

Fang Yu’s tone was casual. But Yang Lei knew that these were all excuses to comfort him.

Yang Lei didn’t say any more. He held the can tightly…

It was already noon. Before Fang Yu went back, Yang Lei asked him to eat in the canteen before leaving.

While the two were eating, someone sat opposite them. It was Officer Qin.

Yang Lei had always been annoyed by this Officer Qin.

As mentioned before, in the four years at the military academy, a place full of men, Yang Lei had met many of the same sex who made advances towards him. This Officer Qin was one of them. This person loved causing trouble. He was good looking, and his family background was good. At the military academy, he had hinted to Yang Lei, and Yang Lei blocked him discreetly. But he was certain that Yang Lei was the same kind of person, because Yang Lei never had a girlfriend. So he never gave up. Although he didn’t express it openly, how could Yang Lei not discern his intentions? He would come to tease whether he was busy or free, annoying Yang Lei. But they were in the same unit and met frequently, and it was inconvenient to lose his temper, so he kept avoiding him.

Yang Lei suddenly was about to get married without any indications. This made Officer Qin feel that Yang Lei was just answering to his family. He believed even more that Yang Lei was also gay. In the army barracks, he didn’t dare to do anything, but his unusual enthusiasm towards Yang Lei still made Yang Lei very uncomfortable.

As soon as Officer Qin sat down, he glanced at Fang Yu.

Ever since this Officer Qin came across that scene in Yang Lei’s dormitory in the morning, he had a feeling. People like them were indeed naturally sensitive. When he saw Fang Yu and Yang Lei together, he was acutely aware of the subtlety. He felt that this person was not Yang Lei’s ordinary friend, but Yang Lei’s “special” friend.

Now, as soon as he sat down, he didn’t care whether Yang Lei wanted to listen or not, nor did he pay Fang Yu any attention. He talked continuously.

“When you get to the regiment level and transfer to civilian work, you will be a division level cadre in provincial agencies. With your background and ability, you will soon be able to take over your father’s job! Lei-zi, at that time, don’t forget me, the old comrade, you hear?”

Officer Qin liked to tease. He intentionally did it in front of Fang Yu. He couldn’t stand to see Yang Lei always being cold towards him, yet being so intimate with this person.

“Fang Yu, please bring me a bowl of soup.”

Yang Lei was impatient.

“…Your friend is quite handsome!”

Officer Qin’s eyes followed Fang Yu’s back, and he spoke sourly.

“He was a gangster, right? He has that air!”

“I was also a gangster. How’s my air?”

Yang Lei stared at him.

“Just joking.”

Officer Qin forced a smile.

Yang Lei ignored him and lowered his head to eat. He choked on a mouthful of pepper in his throat, coughing violently.

“Slow down, don’t choke!” Officer Qin hurriedly got up and came over to put his arm around Yang Lei’s shoulder, taking the opportunity to encircle him. Just as his hand went from Yang Lei’s back, either patting or touching, he felt someone behind him. Fang Yu had come over. Officer Qin didn’t make way, but he didn’t feel any strength. However, he was involuntarily blocked and made way.

Fang Yu went over and brought the soup to Yang Lei’s mouth. Yang Lei was seriously choking, and he drank a few mouthfuls of the soup from Fang Yu. Fang Yu patted his back. Yang Lei shook his head to indicate that he was fine.

Seeing it left a bad taste in Officer Qin’s mouth.

“What soup is it today?” As Officer Qin asked, he offhandedly took Yang Lei’s spoon and drank a mouthful, then returned it to Yang Lei.

“…” Yang Lei held the spoon, and he was really annoyed. Just as he was about to lose his temper, Fang Yu held him back and handed him his own spoon. Yang Lei took Fang Yu’s spoon, endured his unhappiness, and downed his meal in a few bites, then prepared to pull Fang Yu away.

“Lei-zi, let’s talk a little more.” Officer Qin tossed a cigarette at Yang Lei and tossed another to Fang Yu. He took out a lighter and leaned forward to light the cigarette for Yang Lei. He drew back his hand and put the lighter back into his pocket, as if he had forgotten about Fang Yu.

Officer Qin did it deliberately. He acted like a spoiled boy, childish. He just wanted to embarrass Fang Yu.

The fire in Yang Lei’s heart flared up. In the canteen, a public place, he kept enduring to save face for this person. Now, having been given an inch, he was taking a mile and giving Fang Yu a hard time. Could Yang Lei bear it??

Just as Yang Lei was about to lose his temper, Fang Yu grabbed him.

Fang Yu put the cigarette in his mouth, but he didn’t reach for his lighter. Yang Lei was about to take out the lighter from his own pocket. Fang Yu pressed down on his hand, motioned for Yang Lei to turn his face to him, and leaned his body towards Yang Lei.

Yang Lei watched Fang Yu approach him. Fang Yu’s face gradually enlarged before his eyes. Yang Lei was stunned.

Fang Yu directly held the end of the cigarette in his mouth against the burning cigarette in Yang Lei’s mouth. The spark ignited, until it lit…

Yang Lei felt the touch spread from the smoke to his lips. Yang Lei didn’t move at all…

“…”

Officer Qin stared blankly at the scene before his eyes.

Fang Yu took a slow puff of the cigarette in his mouth, then raised his eyes and looked down at Officer Qin, as though he were looking straight at him for the first time.

In the smoke, his face was expressionless. The gaze that swept downwards rendered Officer Qin speechless…