Chapter 56: An Unexpected Visitor (1) The youthful nobles of Wuling, in the eastern markets of gold, ride white horses with silver saddles through the spring breeze.

Just as Fang Yu was at a loss for how to answer, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw an unfamiliar number.

“Is it a sales call already? Hello, who is this?” he answered, puzzled.

On the other end, Baozi’s loud, boisterous voice came through.

“Fang Yu, why haven’t you come home during the holidays? I was hoping to catch up with you and brag a little.”

For once, the fat guy was actually doing him a favor, so Fang Yu patiently refrained from hanging up.

“It’s only a few days. Besides, there’s nothing going on since the semester just started. Is this your new number?”

“Yeah! When are you free to visit my school? Listen, things are going great for me now. I’ve got the whole freshman class under my wing...” Predictably, Baozi launched into his usual routine of boasting.

“I’m busy. Anything else? If not, I’m hanging up.” Fang Yu’s expression darkened as he endured two or three minutes of this, unable to take it any longer.

“Hold on, hear me out. If you won’t come, then I’ll come to your school for a few days.”

“What for? What’s so fun about my school?”

“It’s boring here, I’ve already mastered the place. Don’t tell me you’re not doing well in Xianjiang? Need your big brother to help you out?”

“Get lost. I don’t have time to play host.”

But Baozi clearly wasn’t ready to give up.

“I already talked to Cheng Chen. We’re heading over the morning after tomorrow. Didn’t he tell you?”

That caught Fang Yu off guard.

“Cheng Chen? He never mentioned it to me. Whatever, do as you please. Anything else? If not, I’m hanging up.”

“Just remember, you’re treating me to a meal the day after tomorrow.” With that, the fat guy hung up, clearly pleased with himself.

Fang Yu, simmering with frustration, dialed Cheng Chen’s number.

“What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell me Baozi was coming?”

Cheng Chen sounded a little confused himself.

“I forgot. Baozi called a couple of days ago asking to borrow some money. I said I didn’t have any, so he said he’d come mooch meals for a few days.”

“You’re going to get me killed one of these days. Fine, I got it.”

He hung up, and Xia Churan, who had been nearby, curiously leaned in.

“What’s up, Fang Yu? You look furious.”

“Nothing. A high school classmate is coming the day after tomorrow.”

“Oh, is it a boy or a girl?” The girl was especially sensitive to the words ‘high school classmate.’

“A guy. The fat one. Why, do you like him?” Fang Yu shot her a sideways glance.

“Sounds like you’re not too happy about it. Why let him come, then?”

“Blame Cheng Chen—he’s not too bright. Never mind, it’s nothing to do with you. By the way, what time the day after tomorrow?” He remembered the important matter.

“Hmm, then how about 3 pm? I’ll meet you at the milk tea shop. I have to go—the dorm’s closing soon.” The girl gave him a playful wink, flicked her long hair, and walked away with a light step, leaving the snack street behind.

The next day at noon, Fang Yu had just gotten out of bed and washed up, not even wearing pants yet, when Baozi called.

“Fang Yu, I’m here. Your school is so shabby—not nearly as nice as mine.”

“Huh? Where are you?” Since he was already here, Fang Yu couldn’t just ignore him.

“Right at the main gate. Which dorm do you live in? I’ll ask around and come over.”

“No need. Look across the street—there’s a small path. Wait for me at the entrance.”

Baozi assumed Fang Yu was having lunch.

“Oh, you’re having lunch, right? Okay, I’ll be right over.”

Ten minutes later, Fang Yu spotted Baozi’s large, lumbering figure at the entrance to the snack street, swinging his greasy, messy hair and eyeing the passing girls with a lecherous gaze, spinning a cheap Nokia 1110 in his hand.

Baozi had good eyesight and spotted him from afar. Shaking his bulk, he swaggered into the street, carrying a huge backpack.

“Time for lunch! I just got off the bus and haven’t eaten all morning,” Baozi shamelessly declared.

A guest is a guest, and Fang Yu didn’t care about the few bucks. He pointed to a small shop by the roadside.

“Whatever you want. Pick something yourself.”

Unexpectedly, the fat guy tossed his hair and protested.

“I came all this way and you’re treating me at a little food stall? At least take me out for hot pot or barbecue!”

“With that face? You look like a hot pot yourself. Get lost—eat if you want, or don’t.” Fang Yu waved him off impatiently and turned to leave.

Baozi wasn’t offended, grinning as he blocked Fang Yu’s path.

“Fine, fine, this place isn’t so bad. Hurry up, I’m starving.”

Fang Yu rolled his eyes and found a greasy little restaurant he frequented, ordered a few dishes, and was just about to drink some water when Baozi pulled out his backpack.

“Hey, Fang Yu, you probably know lots of girls here, right? Help me with some marketing.”

With that, the fat guy dumped out a pile of cheap cosmetics. Fang Yu didn’t even have to look to know they cost less than five yuan a piece.

“What’s this, Boss Bao? Running a little business now—going for direct sales?” He sipped his water with a half-smile.

“My family’s in business, you know that. After graduation I’ll inherit the factory, so I’m getting some practice.” Baozi couldn’t detect the sarcasm and waved his hand proudly.

“Forget it. I’m afraid this stuff is toxic—no one’ll use it.”

“Who says? Look, this moisturizing spray works wonders.” Baozi grabbed a can, opened it, and sprayed his big face until mysterious liquid dripped down his neck.

“That’s enough. With the way you’re spraying, even tap water wouldn’t dry out.”

Luckily, the restaurant’s service was decent, and before Baozi could continue demonstrating his fake products, two meat dishes arrived.

“Ooh, I love chicken. Fang Yu, order some bullfrog too—I saw it on the menu.” Baozi mumbled as he gnawed on a piece of chicken.

“No money. Pay for it yourself if you want.” Fang Yu rejected the suggestion without hesitation.

Soon, Cheng Chen arrived as well. He nodded at Baozi.

“Here so early? I haven’t eaten either. Let’s eat together.”

Baozi wiped his mouth and started showing off again.

“You guys don’t live very well, huh? At my school, I have underclassmen bringing me meals every day.”

Fang Yu ignored the fat guy and turned to Cheng Chen.

“Why didn’t Lu Zhen and Zhao Bin come?”

“They went to the shop. I’ll pack something for them later.” Cheng Chen was busy separating chicken meat from bones.

Baozi paused, then got noisy again.

“The shop? Fang Yu, you guys work part-time?”

“It’s mine. When you’re done eating, pack up your fake products and stop embarrassing yourself.”

“Yours? You run a stall? Oh, where am I sleeping tonight, your dorm?”

Fang Yu thought for a moment. Cheng Chen probably hadn’t mentioned that he rented a place off campus. He pulled out a set of keys.

“Here—Building 6, Room 630, bed number three.”