Aroma was quite satisfied about her cooking skill. In fact, many girls enjoyed cooking for their loved ones.
Su Bai had lived in Chengdu for a long time when he was a kid and came to eastern coast after his parents died. Therefore, he still preferred Sichuan food. So Aroma prepared a special Sichuan dish for him.
However, when Su Bai saw the porcine brain served in front of him, he gasped to suppress an instinctive sickness, walked away and headed to the toilet.
Aroma stood there in amazement. She heard Su Bai throw up in the washroom and was embarrassed and angry. He had mentioned Gu Fan to annoy her, and now reacted like this after she had cooked for him?
The little fellow stared at the washroom and listened to the sound. Then he turned around, lay on his stomach, put his hands by his mouth and started mimicking!
Aroma was amused. She touched the tip of this kid's nose. "You little bastard! Pick up something good, will you? Come on, let's have lunch without him."
She sat by him, took a small bowl, mixed some egg custard and rice in it and fed him with a spoon. The little fellow loved to be fed like this and immediately opened his mouth.
When Su Bai recovered, he went back and apologized. "Sorry, I've been a little allergic to porcine brain lately."
Aroma ignored him, just kept feeding the kid.
Su Bai went back and sat by the table. His appetite after a long sleep was now gone because of a twitch in his stomach caused by that porcine brain.
No one enjoyed the meal except for the little fellow. Aroma left without a word after the kid was full, which made Su Bai quite uneasy. If he hadn't upset her with Gu Fan earlier, she wouldn't have mistaken this.
Su Bai poured himself a glass of wine and sat on the couch.
The little fellow was full and happy and was playing by himself on the carpet.
Honestly, Su Bai was sure he wouldn't have his own kid after bringing up this little fellow. This guy was so smart and so nice, but it wouldn't be so easy if he was just a normal kid.
Besides, he didn't even know how long he could survive, how could he raise a child when he himself was living a borrowed life? As for this little fellow, he was brought out from a story world and they were just doomed to be sticking together. That was an exception.
Su Bai took out his phone and started checking transportation. He ordered an air ticket back to China tonight. Maybe the only thing he actually achieved in London was a "nice" meal of brain.
Edward might have been close to his father in the old days, but he didn't want to linger in London. It was very clear that he used to be free to walk around for fun but could no longer do that because he was an audience now. Especially when Su Bai knew that Litchi was not in the real world and wouldn't return in a short time, which was confirmed by herself. Empty Fort Strategy could work for once, but twice or even more? He would never be that lucky.
He was planning to hire some lawyers or private detectives to look into it after he got back to China; that might be much better than doing it by himself.
SU Bai spent the afternoon in the room watching TV with the little fellow. After a nap, he woke up to find it was almost the time to head to the airport when he noticed a new text on his cellphone from Seven.
It said: "Are you free? Can you come to Qinhuangdao?"
If Su Bai's memory was right, by the time he left West Chuan, Seven and Gyatso were still in the hotel in Jiuzhaigou Valley. Now Seven was in Qinhuangdao? Why waste the precious holiday traveling around the country when he should have some rest?
He texted back while dressing himself. "What's up?"
Honestly, Su Bai wouldn't want to be related to this monk in reality. It was too tiresome because Seven was too tricky. Su Bai was fed up with the feeling of setting each other up. He might just go mad and start another war against Seven, so why bother pretending to be friends?
But it seemed to be quite urgent because Seven immediately sent him a request for a voice call.
"Su Bai, I need a favor."
"Shoot." Su Bai lit up a cigarette and made up his mind that he would turn Seven down no matter what was offered.
"I'm trying to capture something in Qinhuangdao; it's not a reality task, but this target will benefit us a lot."
"Sorry I can't. I broke my leg the other day."
Su Bai said and hung up. He would not travel all the way to Qinhuangdao to help Seven. It might end up with no benefit for him after all since Seven would always try to set him up.
"Come on, let's go home." Su Bai picked the little fellow up and kissed him on the cheek.
...
Shanghai was not as hot as it used to be since it was already autumn and had been cloudy and rainy these days. It had been so hot that many people would rather remain barebacked, but now they were all putting on long-sleeved clothes.
Su Bai had returned to his villa in Shanghai almost a month ago, had sent several batches of people to London to investigate the Edward Institution, and even became one of its sponsors just to help the investigation. A lot of progress was made but detailed reports still needed time.
During the past month, Su Bai had lived a regulated life. Didn't see anyone or go anywhere, just spent the mornings at home enjoying tea or doing some reading, afternoons in the gym working out, and evenings in a shooting club for some practice. Many weapons or games in this club were in fact forbidden, but the owner was very powerful and so were the VIP guests. Therefore, all concerning authorities were turning a blind eye to what was going on here.
However, different from other guests, Su Bai asked for all kinds of shotguns, which caused the owner a lot of trouble. Luckily, Su Bai was generous about money.
He had no choice. The Hellfire Shotguns were all he had got but he couldn't practice with them; they were too expensive and too powerful. He had to find some common shotguns that felt similar to practice. If he could be good with those shotguns, he might be able to master the Hellfire Shotguns as well.
Usually, it would be late in the night when he was back from the shooting club. After a hot shower, he would go to bed shortly.
Such a regulated life gave Su Bai the illusion that he was a student again.
He had missed his cousin's engagement party because he was trapped in London. Perhaps his aunt and cousin might think that he was still unwilling to meet other relatives.
The little fellow had grown a lot in the past month, now he looked around seven or eight month old. Lucky was looking after him, so even though Su Bai was a careless father, the little fellow was still healthy and strong. And he now wore expensive childrens' garments instead of belly wraps. Sometimes, Su Bai would carry him downstairs for a walk, and he would always attract passers-by's attention because he was so cute.
And Su Bai had grown used to being a dad. Perhaps he should be grateful that this little fellow had come to him and made his life less dull or cold. Only when he was with this little fellow could he feel that he was a human being made of flesh and blood and had a home.
Time flew by, until one night, with the kid sleeping beside Su Bai and Lucky at the other end of the bed, the ancient clock which was merely a decoration suddenly tolled.
The little fellow was still sleeping soundly. Lucky suddenly opened his eyes but didn't move, just closed his eyes slowly after a while.
Su Bai sat up in silence.
Three months.
Just in time.
Su Bai's phone started operations by itself. A radio app started up and the familiar husky voice came.
Honestly, Su Bai missed this god-damn voice after three long months.
"Dear friends, welcome to Dreadful Radio, I'm your host. I have no name, for names have no meaning here.
"The three months of reorganization are over. It must have been long and tough for many audiences that are used to our companionship. Did you miss me?
"Don't worry...
"Today, a new horror story begins.
"Twenty young people— ten men and ten women, all in their twenties. That sound fair, doesn't it?
"They had been lying on their beds, ready to sleep. But all of a sudden, they realize that their bedrooms have changed...
"Now, it's a game of order and choices..."
Aroma was quite satisfied about her cooking skill. In fact, many girls enjoyed cooking for their loved ones.
Su Bai had lived in Chengdu for a long time when he was a kid and came to eastern coast after his parents died. Therefore, he still preferred Sichuan food. So Aroma prepared a special Sichuan dish for him.
However, when Su Bai saw the porcine brain served in front of him, he gasped to suppress an instinctive sickness, walked away and headed to the toilet.
Aroma stood there in amazement. She heard Su Bai throw up in the washroom and was embarrassed and angry. He had mentioned Gu Fan to annoy her, and now reacted like this after she had cooked for him?
The little fellow stared at the washroom and listened to the sound. Then he turned around, lay on his stomach, put his hands by his mouth and started mimicking!
Aroma was amused. She touched the tip of this kid's nose. "You little bastard! Pick up something good, will you? Come on, let's have lunch without him."
She sat by him, took a small bowl, mixed some egg custard and rice in it and fed him with a spoon. The little fellow loved to be fed like this and immediately opened his mouth.
When Su Bai recovered, he went back and apologized. "Sorry, I've been a little allergic to porcine brain lately."
Aroma ignored him, just kept feeding the kid.
Su Bai went back and sat by the table. His appetite after a long sleep was now gone because of a twitch in his stomach caused by that porcine brain.
No one enjoyed the meal except for the little fellow. Aroma left without a word after the kid was full, which made Su Bai quite uneasy. If he hadn't upset her with Gu Fan earlier, she wouldn't have mistaken this.
Su Bai poured himself a glass of wine and sat on the couch.
The little fellow was full and happy and was playing by himself on the carpet.
Honestly, Su Bai was sure he wouldn't have his own kid after bringing up this little fellow. This guy was so smart and so nice, but it wouldn't be so easy if he was just a normal kid.
Besides, he didn't even know how long he could survive, how could he raise a child when he himself was living a borrowed life? As for this little fellow, he was brought out from a story world and they were just doomed to be sticking together. That was an exception.
Su Bai took out his phone and started checking transportation. He ordered an air ticket back to China tonight. Maybe the only thing he actually achieved in London was a "nice" meal of brain.
Edward might have been close to his father in the old days, but he didn't want to linger in London. It was very clear that he used to be free to walk around for fun but could no longer do that because he was an audience now. Especially when Su Bai knew that Litchi was not in the real world and wouldn't return in a short time, which was confirmed by herself. Empty Fort Strategy could work for once, but twice or even more? He would never be that lucky.
He was planning to hire some lawyers or private detectives to look into it after he got back to China; that might be much better than doing it by himself.
SU Bai spent the afternoon in the room watching TV with the little fellow. After a nap, he woke up to find it was almost the time to head to the airport when he noticed a new text on his cellphone from Seven.
It said: "Are you free? Can you come to Qinhuangdao?"
If Su Bai's memory was right, by the time he left West Chuan, Seven and Gyatso were still in the hotel in Jiuzhaigou Valley. Now Seven was in Qinhuangdao? Why waste the precious holiday traveling around the country when he should have some rest?
He texted back while dressing himself. "What's up?"
Honestly, Su Bai wouldn't want to be related to this monk in reality. It was too tiresome because Seven was too tricky. Su Bai was fed up with the feeling of setting each other up. He might just go mad and start another war against Seven, so why bother pretending to be friends?
But it seemed to be quite urgent because Seven immediately sent him a request for a voice call.
"Su Bai, I need a favor."
"Shoot." Su Bai lit up a cigarette and made up his mind that he would turn Seven down no matter what was offered.
"I'm trying to capture something in Qinhuangdao; it's not a reality task, but this target will benefit us a lot."
"Sorry I can't. I broke my leg the other day."
Su Bai said and hung up. He would not travel all the way to Qinhuangdao to help Seven. It might end up with no benefit for him after all since Seven would always try to set him up.
"Come on, let's go home." Su Bai picked the little fellow up and kissed him on the cheek.
...
Shanghai was not as hot as it used to be since it was already autumn and had been cloudy and rainy these days. It had been so hot that many people would rather remain barebacked, but now they were all putting on long-sleeved clothes.
Su Bai had returned to his villa in Shanghai almost a month ago, had sent several batches of people to London to investigate the Edward Institution, and even became one of its sponsors just to help the investigation. A lot of progress was made but detailed reports still needed time.
During the past month, Su Bai had lived a regulated life. Didn't see anyone or go anywhere, just spent the mornings at home enjoying tea or doing some reading, afternoons in the gym working out, and evenings in a shooting club for some practice. Many weapons or games in this club were in fact forbidden, but the owner was very powerful and so were the VIP guests. Therefore, all concerning authorities were turning a blind eye to what was going on here.
However, different from other guests, Su Bai asked for all kinds of shotguns, which caused the owner a lot of trouble. Luckily, Su Bai was generous about money.
He had no choice. The Hellfire Shotguns were all he had got but he couldn't practice with them; they were too expensive and too powerful. He had to find some common shotguns that felt similar to practice. If he could be good with those shotguns, he might be able to master the Hellfire Shotguns as well.
Usually, it would be late in the night when he was back from the shooting club. After a hot shower, he would go to bed shortly.
Such a regulated life gave Su Bai the illusion that he was a student again.
He had missed his cousin's engagement party because he was trapped in London. Perhaps his aunt and cousin might think that he was still unwilling to meet other relatives.
The little fellow had grown a lot in the past month, now he looked around seven or eight month old. Lucky was looking after him, so even though Su Bai was a careless father, the little fellow was still healthy and strong. And he now wore expensive childrens' garments instead of belly wraps. Sometimes, Su Bai would carry him downstairs for a walk, and he would always attract passers-by's attention because he was so cute.
And Su Bai had grown used to being a dad. Perhaps he should be grateful that this little fellow had come to him and made his life less dull or cold. Only when he was with this little fellow could he feel that he was a human being made of flesh and blood and had a home.
Time flew by, until one night, with the kid sleeping beside Su Bai and Lucky at the other end of the bed, the ancient clock which was merely a decoration suddenly tolled.
The little fellow was still sleeping soundly. Lucky suddenly opened his eyes but didn't move, just closed his eyes slowly after a while.
Su Bai sat up in silence.
Three months.
Just in time.
Su Bai's phone started operations by itself. A radio app started up and the familiar husky voice came.
Honestly, Su Bai missed this god-damn voice after three long months.
"Dear friends, welcome to Dreadful Radio, I'm your host. I have no name, for names have no meaning here.
"The three months of reorganization are over. It must have been long and tough for many audiences that are used to our companionship. Did you miss me?
"Don't worry...
"Today, a new horror story begins.
"Twenty young people— ten men and ten women, all in their twenties. That sound fair, doesn't it?
"They had been lying on their beds, ready to sleep. But all of a sudden, they realize that their bedrooms have changed...
"Now, it's a game of order and choices..."
