When Chen Yansen got home, he crashed into bed and slept until his alarm blared. He reluctantly dragged himself up and rode his bike to the county hospital.
The process went smoothly. His vision, hearing, and motor skills were all excellent. All he had to do was hand the physical exam report to the driving school and wait for his test to be scheduled.
"Want to hit up the internet cafe for a round of Pyramid?"
Wang Zihao wiped the sweat from his forehead, panting.
It was late July, during the dog days of summer. The afternoon sun blazed high in the sky, filling the air with a scorching heat. The asphalt had been baked soft, and with every step, you could feel the soles of your shoes sticking to the pavement.
Going to an internet cafe to play some games and mooch off the air conditioning was the number one choice for any teenager.
"Nah, not interested."
Chen Yansen waved his hand, let out a long sigh, and plopped down on the marble slab at the driving school's entrance, looking a bit listless.
"How about I treat you to some pool, then? A new pool hall just opened by the south gate, and they keep the AC on all day."
Wang Zihao had a pained look on his face, a clear sign that this pool hall wasn't cheap.
"Fine."
Chen Yansen heard him and reluctantly agreed.
Even though the samples from Yangcheng were being sent by express air freight, it would still take two or three days for them to arrive. This meant his operation reselling MP3 and MP4 players wouldn't be able to start for another three to five days.
So for now, he only had two choices:
Either go home and cram for the driver's license exam, or go to the pool hall and chill in the AC.
The two hopped on their bikes, laughing and chatting all the way. Before long, they passed through Tongfei Gate and turned left into a small alley.
"BANG!"
Just as they reached the entrance, a black 8-ball came flying right at them.
"Holy shit!"
Chen Yansen instinctively ducked to dodge it. Hearing a loud CLANG, he turned and saw the ball had smashed into the ground, shattering one of the bluestone paving slabs.
Standing beside him, Wang Zihao's face darkened. He yanked open the door curtain and roared at the people inside, "Are you playing pool or trying to kill someone?!"
"We're so sorry, so sorry!"
"Huh? It's you!"
Two girls, about seventeen or eighteen, ran over clutching their pool cues, apologizing profusely to Wang Zihao.
"Zhou Xue, Li Maimei, was that you two?"
Seeing they were his classmates, Wang Zihao's anger subsided a bit, but his tone remained aggressive.
"Haozi, are you okay?"
Another girl walked out. She was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and light-blue jeans with her hands in her pockets. She looked cool and a little cocky, but there was a hint of concern in her eyes.
"Big Sis, you're here too."
Wang Zihao scratched his head and chuckled, acknowledging Meng Jie. His attitude finally softened. "I'm fine," he added, "but Chen Yansen almost got hit."
"Chen Yansen, we're so sorry!"
"It's all Maimei's fault for being so strong. She scared us half to death just now!"
Zhou Xue and Li Maimei looked apologetic. As they apologized, they looked Chen Yansen up and down, only relaxing when they saw he wasn't hurt.
"Li Maimei, pool isn't shot put. Luckily, I dodged fast enough."
Chen Yansen walked forward, teasing her with a smile.
He had a vague memory of the plump girl before him. After all, she had won first place in shot put for Class 8 at the autumn sports meet last year.
"I'll definitely be more careful next time,"
Li Maimei said, her face flushed and her heart still pounding from the scare.
"As long as no one's hurt, it's fine. Since we're all here, why don't we play together?"
Meng Jie beckoned for them to join her, and they all headed back into the pool hall.
A blast of refreshingly cold air hit them as they entered. Chen Yansen wasn't particularly interested in pool, so after taking the orange drink with pulp that Meng Jie handed him, he took small sips and scanned the room.
He was surprised to discover that girls from over a decade ago seemed to have a bolder sense of style.
He counted seven or eight girls just in camisoles and hot pants!
"Pale enough for you?"
Meng Jie looked up and saw Chen Yansen's eyes glued to several pairs of pale legs. She quietly sat down beside him and asked, her expression dark.
"Not just pale, but long, too."
Chen Yansen admitted it openly, without the slightest hint of embarrassment. He didn't even turn his head as he spoke, his gaze still fixed on the other girls' legs.
"Chen Yansen, you have such thick skin."
Meng Jie was visibly stunned. She hadn't expected him to be so frank.
"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment."
Chen Yansen picked up his drink and took a light sip. 'I'm eighteen years old and I like looking at nice legs. Is that a crime?'
"Last time at the karaoke bar, you used me as a shield. Zhou Keyuan must hate my guts by now. How are you planning to compensate me?"
Meng Jie lifted her foot and gave Chen Yansen a light kick on the calf.
"I wasn't planning on using you as a shield."
Chen Yansen turned his head and looked down at her.
'This girl's skin is so fair,' he thought. 'Maybe it's because of the heat, but there's a faint blush on her cheeks. She has a high-bridged nose, rosy lips, and long eyelashes hidden behind her black-framed glasses. Her eyes are so bright and lively.'
'Her delicate, petite figure is a rare bonus, too.'
"But... they are a little on the small side,"
Chen Yansen commented in a low voice, completely unabashed.
Meng Jie followed his gaze, and when she saw it finally rest on her own chest, she understood the true meaning of "a little on the small side."
"Chen Yansen, you bastard! I thought we were bros!"
Even with her bold and straightforward personality, Meng Jie couldn't handle Chen Yansen's direct advances. She shook her fists, protesting loudly.
"Is that so? Dare to play a game?"
Chen Yansen replied noncommittally, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.
"Who's afraid of who? Bring it on!"
Not to be outdone, Meng Jie puffed out her chest.
"Give me your hand."
Chen Yansen held out his left hand, palm up, and beckoned with his fingers for Meng Jie to place her hand in his.
"You already used this trick last time."
Meng Jie glanced at his palm. His fingers were long and slender, yet strong. For some reason, she found herself unconsciously swallowing, though her tone was full of scorn.
"The game is simple. We just stare into each other's eyes. The first one to look away loses."
Chen Yansen took Meng Jie's small hand in his as he explained the rules.
"In that case, you're definitely going to lose."
Meng Jie snorted, quickly composed herself, and glared at him as if he were her mortal enemy.
Chen Yansen said nothing, simply staring straight at her.
The warmth spreading from her hand gradually began to fluster Meng Jie. As time passed, Chen Yansen's smiling face seemed to etch itself firmly into her mind.
His sharp brows, his star-like eyes, so deep and profound. His lips, perfectly shaped. That faint, barely-there smile.
'So this is how handsome Chen Yansen really is!'
'His eyebrows are nice, his eyes too. His nose is high and straight, and the line of his lips is so smooth... he's practically perfect...'
As Meng Jie stared at his face, she couldn't help but critique it in her mind. Her fierce gaze gradually softened.
"What are those two doing?"
"Haozi, Chen Yansen's your best friend. Spill it, is he really trying to get with Meng Jie?"
"I have no idea."
The trio of Wang Zihao, Zhou Xue, and Li Maimei stood a short distance away, huddled together and whispering. The flames of gossip burned brightly in their eyes.
After watching for a moment and seeing that the two were still locked in their staring contest, the trio decided to ignore them and went back to their game of pool.
"This game is boring. I could stare at you all day,"
Meng Jie said with a pout ten minutes later.
"Oh? Then why is your heart beating so fast?"
Chen Yansen smiled faintly and tapped her wrist. His fingers had been resting on her pulse point the entire time.
'In just a few short minutes, her heart started beating like a drum.'
"No, it's not! You must've heard wrong."
Meng Jie struggled, pulling her hand back from his grasp as she repeatedly denied it.
"Alright then. 'Bros' it is."
Chen Yansen shrugged and let out a long sigh, putting on a look of helpless disappointment.
Seeing his expression, Meng Jie felt a strange pang in her heart and was suddenly filled with regret.
"But, bro... you smell so good. What brand of soap do you use?"
Seeing her silence, Chen Yansen leaned in close to her ear and whispered.
The warm air tickled its way into Meng Jie's ear, and the tingling sensation that shot straight to her heart made her jump to her feet.
"Chen Yansen, you really are a pervert!"
The girl's face was scarlet, the blush spreading rapidly behind her ears as she ground out the words through her teeth.