Chapter 7 - Spring Outing
The meal did not end well.
After that day, Sun Zinan didn’t touch Fight the Landlord for a while, fearing he would stir up buried feelings. Tang Kai did not send him any new WeChat messages. At the end of May, Xie Zhuo exuberantly organized group plans for a barbecue at a farm resort. He called Sun Zinan, and Tang Kai’s name was mentioned once more.
“Old aunt, are you there?” Xie Zhuo wondered out loud, “I contacted Tang Kai but why didn’t he sound very enthusiastic? What happened between you guys?”
Sun Zinan said, “Nothing much, he’s probably carefully considering it.”
In fact, he hadn’t been too eager to tell the full story to Tang Kai, and was willing to keep avoiding the issue of his inheritance. The reason wasn’t important; the result was. As the saying went, it was easier to just live in mediocrity than to leave a relationship. As long as they ended up together and could share the inheritance between the two of them, how important would his original concealment even be?
But Sun Zinan had the habit of airing the ugly details first. Even if the other party was displeased, it was better than revealing them later on and creating a rift between the two involved.
He was very clear from their first meeting that Tang Kai was not the type of person who liked to be left in the dark. How could a person who was even more orderly and perfectionist than Sun Zinan endure a flawed marriage?
Sun Ying had calculated everything exactly; he was only interested in Tang Kai’s family background, and wanted to use it to climb up the social ladder. But in retrospect, if the old man was currently using his inheritance to force him into a marriage with Tang Kai, if something happened to Tang Kai’s family, would the old man use that as a reason to deny him his share?
If even ‘liking’ someone had to be manipulated, then one might as well be even more heartless, in case others tried to obtain payback.
He himself didn’t have any choice, so he might as well not also drag Tang Kai into the fire.
“If he doesn’t want to then forget it.” Sun Zinan pinched at his nose. “Lately I’ve also…”
He hadn’t finished his excuse before Xie Zhuo cut in on the other end of the line, “No, he’s willing to come. What were you saying?”
“Nothing.” Sun Zinan’s throat caught and he hesitated for a moment. “I got it, I’ll be there on time.”
Xie Zhuo was very eager for action. “Good, I’ve already made all the arrangements. I’ll give you a lifetime of memories.”
Sun Zinan suddenly had a bad feeling.
The bad feeling became reality as he stood beneath the mountain. Director Sun, who had been expecting a pleasant chat and relaxed hangout, stared up at the winding steps that stretched beyond his sight. He cursed inwardly.
Hiking up a mountain. This Xie Zhuo kid could really do a lot!
Xie Zhuo was wearing a light gray tracksuit and a white baseball cap. His long hair was tied into a ponytail behind him and he held a small red flag in his hand, looking exactly like a tour guide. “You can all go by yourselves but let’s try and help each other out. Walk straight along the road. The goal is the top of the mountain. Let’s go!”
Everyone laughed cheerfully as they went through their bags and prepared themselves to climb the mountain.
Sun Zinan coughed and raised his hand. “Where are we eating? Can I drive up?”
Xie Zhuo, “Ge, don’t complain. Did you think we came here for driving school? Be a part of the group. Hurry, Professor Tang is waiting for you.”
Sun Zinan looked back and found Tang Kai standing behind him, wearing a white t-shirt, black track pants, sunglasses, and a waterproof hiking bag. This outfit made him look much younger. The muscles that were usually hidden by a suit jacket were revealed; he looked quite strong.
But the moment he turned his head around, Tang Kai walked off to climb the mountain by himself without giving him a single glance.
This made Sun Zinan foggy with confusion—he thought to himself, was Tang Kai just passing by or did he have something to say to him?
He was unwilling in ten thousand ways, but he was here and had no choice but to sigh and resign himself to his fate.
Although Sun Zinan was quite slim, he had a good figure. He wasn’t particularly fond of exercising and playing tennis or golf was already his limit. This time, he hadn’t known what Xie Zhuo planned. Although he had changed into athletic clothing, he was reluctant to use it for hiking up a mountain. After taking a few steps, he had to stop because he was breathing too heavily.
The May sunlight brought along a scorching heat. A short-haired girl caught up from behind, greeting him with a smile. “Tired?”
Sun Zinan remembered she was a painter or some kind of artist. Either way, she was on good terms with Xie Zhuo, so he nodded leisurely and maintained a friendly, open manner. “I haven’t hiked in a long time. Need to get used to it first.”
Suddenly a shadow fell over his head. Tang Kai’s cold face appeared and he pressed a cap over Sun Zinan’s head, pulling it down without mercy. “Have you rested enough? You haven’t even walked a third of the way.”
Sun Zinan, “…”
The girl laughed and said, “Then I’ll go first. See you at the top.”
Sun Zinan waved his hand. For some reason, Tang Kai seemed a little upset. His tone was awkward. “Was that your new partner?”
Sun Zinan felt like a pufferfish had appeared in front of him. As he walked up the stairs, he asked, “Where did this new partner come from? This isn’t Fight the Landlord.”
Tang Kai heard his denial, but still didn’t seem very happy. Sun Zinan really was a poisonous person; his previous gentle smile and words could make a person dizzy, but his current aloofness and avoidance were abominable.
Sun Zinan forced himself to continue walking for a while. When he saw that Tang Kai was still following by his side without any indication of leaving, he couldn’t help but wonder out loud, “Professor Tang, are you still able to keep climbing?”
Tang Kai looked at him contemptuously.
Sun Zinan, “…”
“There are eight people in total, and six of them are ahead of us, including two women,” Tang Kai said unfeelingly. “I’m afraid you’ll get lost halfway.”
Sun Zinan blanked, then laughed. “Thank you very much.”
He took a few breaths, feeling like this mountain path had already surpassed half a year’s worth of exercise. Hence, he said stingily to Tang Kai, “Don’t wait for me. A grown-up like me won’t get lost. You go first, I’ll walk slowly.”
Tang Kai, “I’ll go up first and you’ll go down the mountain?”
Although he didn’t say it, the two lenses of his glasses reflected ‘you weakling.’
Sun Zinan felt nothing in the face of this directed attack; all he could think about at the moment was finding a place to rest. He elegantly turned around and waved behind him. “Have a nice day…ai, talk about it, don’t get physical!”
Tang Kai stood on a step above him. He reached his hand out and grasped his shoulder, holding Sun Zinan firmly in place.
Sun Zinan inwardly rejoiced at his good fortune, but had to repress his excitement for a while before turning back around. “Professor Tang, if you want to reach the top then just climb by yourself. Don’t drag me along, okay? This is not my hobby.”
“Xie Zhuo rented a place halfway on this mountain. It’s about ten or so minutes away.” Tang Kai sighed in resignation. “You can rest there.”
Sun Zinan, “How did you know?”
Tang Kai, “Didn’t you search this place up online before coming?”
Sun Zinan, “…”
Fuck, I was careless.
Sunlight filtered through the trees, falling in spotlights upon the two men. Although Tang Kai’s eyes were obscured by his sunglasses, Sun Zinan could see the tiny beads of sweat at the corner of his temples. The bare skin of his neck and collarbone glowed under the sun’s rays.
“Okay.” He wasn’t able to resist Tang Kai’s goodwill and accepted his fate of having to continue up the mountain. On the way, he cursed Xie Zhuo in his heart about eight hundred times.
Halfway up the mountain was a supposed farm resort, but it was really just a complex of two-story buildings. This time, Xie Zhuo had brought everyone over for both entertainment and investigative purposes. He was planning on buying the place and remodeling it into a trendy resort.
There were tables and benches in the courtyard and the owner was picking vegetables by the door. When he saw that there were guests, he hurriedly sat them down and offered them water and plenty of fresh fruit.
Sun Zinan had no intentions of getting up again after sitting down, sipping at his water like an old man, and said to Tang Kai, “You can’t lose me here so if you want to continue, you should be able to catch up with the rest of the group.”
Tang Kai took off his sunglasses and set them aside. He clasped his arms. “Did you hear that?”
Sun Zinan, “Hear what?”
Tang Kai, “The sound of you being a flake.”
Sun Zinan did not rise to his provocation. “This is called acting according to one’s own abilities.”
“But I remember last time you said you were a realistic person.” Tang Kai suddenly opened fire without warning. “Hiking up a mountain is nowhere as comfortable as sitting in the shade, that’s reality. Why don’t you want me to accept reality this time?”
“I never…” Sun Zinan spoke halfway then suddenly shut his mouth, realizing he had almost revealed his true thoughts. He looked away, pretending he didn’t understand the question. “Professor Tang looks like the type of person who enjoys scaling heights, so why should I stop you from going? What are you waiting for, please go ahead.”
As he was talking, the phone in his pocket suddenly began vibrating. Sun Zinan answered grumpily, “What’s up?”
Xie Zhuo, “Aunt, where are you? Did you meet Tang Kai?”
Sun Zinan glanced at Tang Kai. “We’re at the courtyard halfway up the mountain. Did you guys reach the top?”
“We did!” Xie Zhuo cried bitterly, “How could the two of you sneak off? Come up here!”
“Not coming.” Sun Zinan refused and pushed the blame onto Tang Kai without any shame. “Professor Tang said he was tired and too old to climb up. The two of us aren’t going up, we’ll wait here for you guys. That’s all, I’m hanging up.”
Xie Zhuo, “…”
Tang Kai, “…”
Tang Kai endured for as long as he could before finally succumbing to his inner desires. He reached his hand out and lightly tapped at the tips of Sun Zinan’s hat. “Why are you so childish?”
Towards noon, Xie Zhuo came down the mountain with the rest of the group, only to witness two people sitting in the best seats under the shade. Each person was holding a phone, the sounds of ‘match’ and ‘don’t want it’ resounding intermittently. Sun Zinan was even playing and trash-talking at the same time. “Where did this pair of eights come from…Professor Tang, can you shut off the sound effects? It’s distracting me.”
Flames began burning under Xie Zhuo’s eyelids. He pointed at Sun Zinan and scolded, “Did I invite the two of you to come play Fight the Landlord? There are so many unwashed vegetables. If you’re not going to hike then go help out! All you do every day is sit there and play games! Can Huanle Dou become food for you!?”
Sun Zinan played the last card in his hand, a colored joker, and said slowly, “Stop nagging. You’re not even thirty, why are you entering menopause so early? You have to be calmer, learn from Professor Tang. This morning he has already lost over a million and has deranked from the top rank to high rank, but he’s still at peace.”
“…”
Xie Zhuo was so angry he couldn’t even speak properly, so he could only turn his glare to Tang Kai, hoping his comrade would use justice to purge the harm.
Unexpectedly, Professor Tang was completely unaffected by the situation. He calmly put his phone back into his pocket and said pleasantly to Sun Zinan, “Let’s go help.”
Xie Zhuo, “En???”
What happened while he was gone this morning? Did Sun Zinan curse him with a voodoo doll? No wonder he had lost more than a million Huanle Dou in Fight the Landlord.