Zou Yang rode the bike carrying Fan Jun, heading over towards the school’s direction to eat mashed potatoes.

Actually, the dishes at that place were all quite delicious, but for some unknown reason, Zou Yang only remembered the mashed potatoes.

But the mashed potatoes were really especially delicious.

Although it was already afternoon, the sunlight today was exceptionally good. Along the way riding over, there were no shaded places, and the road surface was sunbaked to the point of gleaming with a dazzling white light.

Fan Jun hugged his waist from behind, tilting his head and resting it on his shoulder.

While waiting for the red light, an uncle next to them kept looking at the two of them. Zou Yang swept a glance at him, and the uncle even frowned.

The look in his eyes was full of “what kind of proper behavior is this” disgust, making him think of his old dad.

His old dad was still lying in the intensive care unit right now, not yet out of danger, and could no longer look at him like this.

Listening to what Second Uncle-in-law meant, the situation was very bad. Large areas of severe burns from head to toe. Even if he was saved now, the follow-up treatment would still be very long, and complete recovery was almost impossible, while the pain brought by burns was even less comparable to ordinary injuries.

Zou Yang propped his legs on the ground, staring blankly at the dazzlingly, somewhat pale-white ground ahead.

His old dad would go to the company very early to handle matters two days every week, this Liu Qiao should know very clearly.

So early in the morning when Liu Qiao walked into the office carrying gasoline, besides his old dad and his assistant who was suspected to be a new lover, there were only two employees in the company.

The process of the event that Second Uncle-in-law heard from the employees present was also only a rough outline. Liu Qiao walked into the office, locked the door, and amidst her husband’s shock, poured gasoline over his head and set it on fire.

When the assistant ran over from next door, she splashed the rest onto the assistant’s body, followed by lighting the fire, opening the door and walking out of the office.

In the midst of the chaos, she sat at the front desk, waiting all the way until the police came.

Zou Yang could not imagine what kind of scene that was, only feeling his back go cold.

There were horns sounding beside him, and also the raised voices of people complaining.

Zou Yang suddenly snapped back to his senses, discovering the green light ahead had already been on for quite a while; his bike stopped in place affected the traffic…

“Fuck, I zoned out,” he tilted his head and said a sentence, hurriedly twisting the handlebar to drive forward, “Why didn’t you remind me.”

“Turn right ahead,” Fan Jun’s voice came from behind his ear. The hand hugging his waist patted lightly on his leg, “There is a fork in the road, turn into it.”

Zou Yang’s mind was very messy, and he also didn’t ask why, turning into the fork in the road ahead.

“Stop by the roadside for a bit,” Fan Jun said.

“Mm,” Zou Yang responded, slowing down the vehicle speed, and parked the bike on the roadside.

Fan Jun got off the bike, stood by the roadside, and held the handlebar: “I will drive, you rest a while.”

“Why would I…” Zou Yang felt a bit baffled, but before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a burst of discomfort in his stomach, as if someone used a blunt knife to scrape against his stomach wall.

He hurriedly got off the bike, rushed to the roadside, didn’t even have time to walk to the trash can two steps away, and holding onto a tree next to him, he dry heaved once.

“Fuck?” He was stunned.

Fan Jun behind him parked the electric bike by the side of the sidewalk, went to a small supermarket and bought a bottle of water, then returned to his side and stood there.

“Didn’t throw anything up, dry heaving, just… suddenly felt nauseous,” Zou Yang took the water from his hand, tilted his head back and gulped a mouthful, twisting his eyebrows, “Also don’t know what happened.”

“Were you just thinking about your dad’s matter?” Fan Jun patted gently on his back.

“…Mm.” Zou Yang paused, not speaking again.

But this kind of strong physical reaction was actually not just brought by his dad’s matter; when Fan Jun didn’t ask him, he didn’t even notice it.

Perhaps because Fan Gang’s matter had also passed for quite a while, most of the time as long as he didn’t have nightmares, he seemed to no longer recall those terrifying scenes.

He leaned against the tree to recover for a while, looked at Fan Jun, and hesitated for a few seconds before saying a sentence: “I might have also thought of the previous matter. I didn’t feel it myself, but maybe…”

“Mm,” Fan Jun touched his face, “Guessed so.”

“Do you…” Zou Yang looked at him, “Still think about these? That is… are you affected?”

“I guess so, not many times,” Fan Jun said softly, “Sometimes I will suddenly be a little, how to say, like returning to the previous state, but… I can get better very quickly.”

“Do you have nightmares?” Zou Yang asked.

“Not really,” Fan Jun said.

“Don’t lie to me, if you wake up at night I also wouldn’t know.” Zou Yang said.

Fan Jun smiled.

“You basically don’t sleep soundly,” Zou Yang said, “With a little noise you wake up.”

“Not necessarily,” Fan Jun said, “My biological clock is just relatively accurate.”

“Let’s go, go eat.” Zou Yang drank another mouthful of water, “That wave has passed for me.”

This mashed potato shop was a hotpot shop that specialized in eating clear-water fish. Business was quite good, but the customers who came specifically for the mashed potatoes were probably just the two of them.

“Let’s first have a few catties of fish slices,” Zou Yang looked at the menu, “Their fish is all very fresh.”

“Mm.” Fan Jun nodded.

“There are a few kinds of fish,” Zou Yang said while ordering on his phone, “Let’s taste them all, they all have no bones.”

“Okay.” Fan Jun nodded.

“As for vegetable dishes, I’ll just order casually?” Zou Yang asked again.

“Mm.” Fan Jun nodded.

“Do you have anything you want to eat?” Zou Yang gave him a look.

“Mashed potatoes.” Fan Jun said.

Zou Yang was stunned for a moment, and started laughing: “I truly concede, mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, I’ll order them first.”

“I want to eat a portion individually.” Fan Jun smiled.

“Sure.” Zou Yang said.

This clear-water fish hotpot indeed looked very clear-water. The soup base looked about the same as plain water. Floating in the soup were some scallion sections and ginger shreds to remove the fishy smell. It didn’t look very appetizing, but smelled very fragrant.

However, it was indeed very delicious. Fan Jun swished a slice of fish meat, didn’t dip it in the sauce dish and tasted a bite first. It was very fresh and fragrant; the soup base had flavor, it was not plain water.

“How is it?” Zou Yang looked at him.

“Delicious.” Fan Jun said, grabbing another slice with chopsticks.

“Liu Wenrui discovered this shop,” Zou Yang said, “He is just like a hound. Once he discovered it, he made me treat.”

Fan Jun smiled: “You have a small secret treasury (slush fund) after all.”

“In the future I also don’t know how it will be,” Zou Yang sighed, “As for money and all that, I definitely won’t ask my dad for it again. The way he is now…”

Might not even be able to survive.

Fan Jun quickly turned his head to look at the direction the waiters served dishes from, and changed the subject: “Why haven’t the mashed potatoes come yet?”

“Waiter!” Zou Yang raised a hand and shouted out.

“No need…” Fan Jun was startled by this shout of his.

“Hey.” The waiter ran over.

“Push for our mashed potatoes, we came just for this,” Zou Yang said, “We’re almost done eating and they still haven’t been served.”

“…Oh,” The waiter looked at the several plates full of fish on their table, and nodded, “I’ll go push for it right away.”

Opening eyes and speaking blind words (lying through one’s teeth) was also quite useful; two portions of mashed potatoes were quickly brought up.

It looked like an ordinary, unremarkable bowl of mush. Smelling it also couldn’t yield any special scent; upon inhaling, it was entirely the fragrance of the hotpot fish in front of them.

Fan Jun took the small spoon, scooped a spoonful and put it into his mouth.

“How is it!” Zou Yang propped his elbows on the table and leaned over towards his side.

Very fragrant, couldn’t say clearly what exactly the fragrance was. It had a slight milky taste, but more of the fragrance seemed to have already melted into the mashed potatoes themselves. One could taste that it was potato, but it was far more than just the taste of mashed potatoes.

“Really very delicious.” Fan Jun scooped another spoonful, and looked at that bowl in front of him.

“All for you.” Zou Yang pushed the bowl over.

“Can’t eat it down.” Fan Jun smiled.

“Don’t be modest over this kind of meaningless matter.” Zou Yang said.

Then he wouldn’t be modest.

Fan Jun finished the two portions of mashed potatoes. If it weren’t for the fact that Zou Yang had also ordered a lot of fish meat, he would have wanted to ask for another portion.

“I’m a little stuffed.” Zou Yang said.

“I haven’t even said anything yet.” Fan Jun touched his belly.

Zou Yang smiled, reached a hand over and touched his belly: “Hey, this absolutely can’t let Lü Guanjun see. This won’t go down without you running ten kilometers.”

“I’ll run tomorrow morning.” Fan Jun said.

“Tomorrow I’ll accompany you to the hospital,” Zou Yang said, “Tomorrow we don’t need to go to No. 7 High School, there are classes in the afternoon.”

“Okay.” Fan Jun didn’t dare hesitate in the slightest.

Zou Yang’s phone placed on the table rang.

He picked it up and took a look: “My mom… I forgot to tell my mom a word.”

“Don’t speak too specifically.” Fan Jun said.

“Mm,” Zou Yang picked up the phone call, “Mom?”

“You went to the hospital in the afternoon?” Mom’s somewhat exhausted voice came out from the phone, also a bit hoarse.

“Mm,” Zou Yang responded, “Didn’t see the person, still in the intensive care unit. What’s wrong with you?”

“Sigh, your Eldest Aunt gave me a phone call, long-windedly talking for over an hour…” Mom sighed.

“Is she sick!” Zou Yang’s fire suddenly flared up, not even controlling his voice, “Already divorced, whether he’s dead or alive, does it have anything to say with his ex-wife!”

The customers at a few tables nearby all turned their heads.

Fan Jun reached out and squeezed his hand.

“Xiao Yang ah, don’t be angry, don’t be angry, guess she also has no one else to talk to,” Mom said, “You say, Liu Qiao is arrested now, and that assistant again…”

“Then what does that have to do with you? Their family has a pile of brothers and sisters to talk amongst themselves. Looking for you, what is the meaning of this!” Zou Yang’s fire couldn’t quite go down, “Are you in Nanzhouping now?”

“At home,” Mom said, “I came back to see, back then that… divorce agreement… did it mention these… his matter better not affect you ah…”

“Affect a fart,” Zou Yang said, “His brothers and sisters going to take care of him is enough, his company also hasn’t collapsed. I, a person with no income… I’ll go home in a bit.”

“No need, no need,” Mom hurriedly said, “You are so busy this period, no need to come back.”

“You just leave it alone.” Zou Yang hung up the phone.

“Going home now?” Fan Jun looked at him.

“Mm,” Zou Yang dialed the phone while getting up and walking outside, “You pay the bill.”

“Mm.” Fan Jun hurriedly scanned the QR code, settled the bill, and followed him out of the restaurant.

“Eldest Aunt, I have no other matter,” Zou Yang was making a phone call at the door, “Just wanted to tell you a word, and trouble you to also pass the message to the others, my mom and my dad are already divorced, with no relationship and obligations whatsoever…”

Fan Jun walked over, bringing his right ear close to the side of the phone, listening.

“Xiao Yang, don’t speak so unpleasantly. He is your father after all ah, now suffering such heavy injuries…”

“Therefore he only has a relationship with me, no relationship with my mom,” Zou Yang reached out to hug his waist, leaning against his body a bit, “In the future if there’s any matter, just tell me and it’ll be fine. Don’t call my mom.”

“You are still a child, still going to school, if there’s any matter looking for you is also not appropriate ah.”

“I’m twenty-one this year, an adult,” Zou Yang’s voice was very cold, “There is nothing inappropriate. If you have no one who can watch over in the hospital, then hire someone to take care of him. My dad has such a big company there, it’s not like he has no income and can’t afford to hire escorting personnel. Looking for my mom, what is the meaning of this?”

“Sigh, you this child, I certainly didn’t mean this…”

“Then what did you mean?” Zou Yang gave absolutely no face to the Eldest Aunt on the phone, “She has no job and no income. You looking for her, if it wasn’t to let her go take care of him, could it be you want her to put up money?”

“…Sigh, forget it. I won’t say so much to you. This child, why is his speech so aggressive now…”

“Don’t contact us and no one will be aggressive to you.” Zou Yang finished speaking and hung up the phone.

“Eliminate the anger (calm down).” Fan Jun pinched his chin.

“I’m not angry!” Zou Yang said.

“…Oh.” Fan Jun gave a sound of response.

Zou Yang gave him a look: “Am I very aggressive?”

“Mm,” Fan Jun nodded, “And very fierce.”

Zou Yang fell silent for a while and suddenly laughed: “Fuck.”

“It’s fine,” Fan Jun hugged his shoulder, “Don’t care so much, guess they won’t easily call over again… scolding also can’t out-scold you.”

Zou Yang sighed: “I’ll take a taxi back, you go directly back to the Trade City.”

“I’ll take you.” Fan Jun said.

“No need,” Zou Yang said, “It’s too roundabout.”

“No/I won’t.” Fan Jun suddenly said a phrase whiningly.

Zou Yang violently turned his head to stare at him: “Fan Jun?”

“Mm?” Fan Jun made a sound.

“What was that movement/noise you just made?” Zou Yang asked halfway and couldn’t help laughing, “You say it one more time?”

“…No/I won’t.” Fan Jun also couldn’t hold it back and broke into laughter.

“Your granddad,” Zou Yang rubbed his elbows, “Almost gave me death by meat-numbness (goosebumps).”

“Still angry?” Fan Jun rubbed on his back.

“Originally I also wasn’t too angry…” Zou Yang smiled and sighed, “I just have a quick temper.”

“Mm.” Fan Jun nodded, “I’ll take you back.”

“What?” Zou Yang swept him a glance, “Can’t bear to part with me ah?”

“Mm.” Fan Jun continued nodding, “After all, the relationship is different now…”

“Stop.” Zou Yang looked to the side, turned around and walked towards the bike, “Let’s go, you take me.”

Fan Jun smiled and followed over.

All the way, Zou Yang didn’t speak, just pressed against behind him. Didn’t know if he was pondering matters or got sleepy from eating, maybe both.

However, when Fan Jun reached a hand back wanting to touch his leg, his wrist was grabbed by Zou Yang in one grip: “You are already practically riding single-handed, and now you still want to ride without holding the handlebars?”

Fan Jun smiled: “You weren’t making a sound the whole time, I thought you had fallen asleep.”

“How could I have such good sleep.” Zou Yang said.

“Hoh.” Fan Jun couldn’t hold back.

“Roll (Get lost).” Zou Yang laughed.

After taking Zou Yang downstairs, and watching Zou Yang walk backwards into the elevator, Fan Jun then rode the bike and left, returning directly to He Chuan’s shop.

“Didn’t you say you had matters tonight?” He Chuan was currently sitting by the table drinking tea.

“Finished handling them. If you have no other matters, you just close the door tonight. I’ll continue my leave to finish out the night.” Fan Jun sat by the table, and took a cup placing it by He Chuan’s hand.

“Tonight won’t be counted as you taking leave, there’s also no other matters.” He Chuan gave him a look, and poured tea for him.

“Not being a capitalist anymore?” Fan Jun drank a mouthful of tea.

“With this little business of mine, how would I dare rub against a capitalist’s body,” He Chuan clicked his tongue, “Right, this time going to Linjiadu you did quite well. Boss Ding is suddenly more enthusiastic towards us than before, what drug did you give him?”

“Nothing,” Fan Jun said, “I learned it all from you.”

“Keep pretending,” He Chuan pointed at him, “Still pretending with me?”

“That big piece of lightning-struck wood that was transported over this morning,” Fan Jun didn’t pick up his conversational thread, “Can you leave a small piece for me?”

“How small?” He Chuan asked.

“Just an amulet,” Fan Jun pinched with his thumb and index finger, “This big.”

“Your fingers are this long.” He Chuan looked at him.

“You are this stingy?” Fan Jun said.

He Chuan started laughing: “Fine, that big piece can earn quite a lot, giving you a few more pieces is also fine.”

“One piece of raw material will do,” Fan Jun said, “I’ll work on it myself.”

“Mm.” He Chuan agreed.

After drinking two cups of tea, Fan Jun brought Xiao Bai and went out the shop door, heading towards the old blacksmith shop, walking the dog while walking.

At night usually only Xiao Long was at the old shop side forging things; the shop in the Trade City hired someone to watch it.

When Fan Jun entered the shop, she was just taking off her protective suit, her face covered in sweat.

“Yo?” Seeing him come in, Xiao Long was a bit surprised, “I thought you would only be free tomorrow?”

“Happened to have time so I came over,” Fan Jun looked at her, “Are you busy?”

“Just finished a big one,” Xiao Long wiped her sweat, “Wait for me over by the operation workbench, I’ll wash a face.”

“Mm.” Fan Jun walked to the edge of the operation workbench.

Because of works like blacksmithing at the old shop side, the ground was a messy jumble with quite a lot of debris and ash. However, he searched for a round and didn’t find things like cardboard boxes to let Xiao Bai sit on, therefore he pointed at a lounge chair to the side: “Quietly, you go sit over there.”

Xiao Bai walked to the side of the chair, very carefully jumped up and laid down.

“I’m telling you ah, Fan Jun,” Xiao Long came out holding two pieces of paper, and put them on the operation workbench, “The difficulty of this, is actually not big, but in the case of your hands…”

“Might be a little slower?” Fan Jun picked up a chisel with his left hand, “As long as it’s done before the end of June it’s fine.”

“Then there is definitely enough time, if I came to do it it would only be a week.” Xiao Long said.

“Mm.” Fan Jun took those two pieces of paper and looked.

On one piece of paper was the pattern printed out after enlarging, the Yazi avatar that Zou Yang helped him draw.

After enlarging, it looked both cute and fierce.

There was also another piece of paper that was the line draft Xiao Long modified based on this avatar.

Xiao Long picked up the paper, and compared it against his face: “About right. If this mask is given to someone, it’s really quite cool.”

“Mm.” Fan Jun smiled.

“Who drew this avatar ah?” Xiao Long asked, “Don’t say it, although simple, it’s drawn really quite with spirit.”

“My friend, just… the one you saw in the shop that day.” Fan Jun said.

“Oh…” Xiao Long nodded thoughtfully, “Then this of yours… who are you going to give it to?”

“Just giving it to him.” Fan Jun said.