Xiang Yu glared at me and said, "Is that how you understand it?"
"Don't be so serious. How are you going to pick up girls with that long face?"
Finally, I found a row of well-lit, legitimate beauty salons. I wasn't fooled by signs for "Hair Styling Studio" or "Image Design Studio," and slowly searched the area with the car in semi-clutch mode before stopping in front of a bustling hair salon. Xiang Yu asked, "Why did you choose this crowded one? Wouldn't it have been better to go somewhere else?"
"You don't understand, you have to find a place where people gather to get a haircut."
After we went in, the receptionist, dressed like a nurse, politely said, "Hello sir, hairdresser number 8 is at your service."
Hairdresser number 8 was a somewhat rugged beauty. She led Xiang Yu to the adjustable chair, and as soon as he plopped down, the chair's lifting lever snapped open with a "click." From now on, this chair could only be used as a stool.
I sat among a group of women waiting. They were all wrapped up under an octopus-like machine, getting their hair permed, each with a beauty magazine in hand. Bored, I decided to observe the rugged beauty. But when she bent over, I realized she wasn't a rugged beauty at all, but a delicate-looking man. I was even more pleased; usually, hairdressers like that are top-notch.
I told the fake man number 8 to make sure he looked presentable. He certainly didn't disappoint. He wielded the scissors like a street performer, transforming Xiang Yu's medium-length hair in his hands—sometimes styled like a major from an arcade game, sometimes flattened like a bald man. After styling it and applying gel, Xiang Yu's gloomy air vanished. The fake man asked, "Should you shave your beard or trim it?"
I asked, "What do you think?"
The fake man said softly, "Men look better with a beard." He then touched his smooth chin.
"...Then let's trim it."
I noticed that while the fake man was trimming Xiang Yu's beard, goosebumps appeared on his neck like waves of wheat in autumn.
The final bill came to 240 yuan: 40 yuan for the haircut and 200 yuan for the chair. I tossed 250 yuan onto the counter and told them to keep the change.
Looking at Xiang Yu again, he did indeed look much more energetic. His eyebrows, which were like watermelon knives, had been carefully trimmed, his thick black hair pointed to the sky, and his messy beard had been trimmed into a mature and steady mustache. Paired with his passionate yet somewhat melancholy eyes, he looked like a remarkable man who had experienced many vicissitudes.
"Being a duck is absolutely amazing!" I thought with a touch of envy.
Where are we going now?
"Zhongda International".
On the carriage, Xiang Yu kept running his fingers through his hair, saying, "Why are they putting paste on my hair?"
When we arrived, we encountered the same awkward situation as last time at Caesar's. In the luxurious parking lot of Zhongda International, our car was not even worth a single wheel of someone else's car, or even a piece of clothing belonging to the people coming and going.
Luckily, my wallet was full, so I decided to spare no expense in dressing up Xiang Yu. Once inside, we discovered the first floor was a perfume shop. Designer perfumes sold by the ounce lay quietly in the counters, while the more expensive ones were encased in something resembling a crystal coffin in the center of the hall, illuminated by a warm-toned light. The colors alone were incredibly aphrodisiac; one could imagine them slowly evaporating on a woman's veins, making even a male skunk fall head over heels for her.
This is actually my first time here. I've mentioned the 300 yuan socks several times because that's the only socks I could afford before.
The second floor is a suit boutique, where I saw familiar brands like Shanshan, Romon, and Baoxiniao, as well as the legendary Zegna and BOSS. There were many I didn't recognize, but those displayed here were certainly not ordinary brands. These clothes seemed alive, observing with aloof indifference. While it's impossible for a man to go through life without owning a suit, most men can't afford the ones here—I never could before.
The sales assistant asked me, "Sir, do you have a favorite brand?"
I said, "No matter what brand it is, I hope that when my friend wears it, you'll want to marry him at first sight."
The sales assistant smiled broadly, glanced at Xiang Yu, and then said with a hint of worry, "I'm afraid we won't have any clothes that fit this gentleman's size here."
"What's the meaning?"
The young lady picked up a red bean-shaped garment and held it up to Xiang Yu's body; it was just about right for him. She then picked up a Chinese-style garment and said, "This is probably the largest one." I glanced at the size label on the collar—XL! It would look like a diving suit on Xiang Yu; the garment was even bigger than it appeared after he stretched it out like that.
The sales assistant said with difficulty, "We've served customers of your height before, and this one fits you perfectly. Perhaps your shoulders are too broad."
I said with dissatisfaction, "What do you mean by this? Are you forbidding magnanimous men from getting rich?"
The sales assistant put the clothes away and waved her hand, saying, "I'm sorry, we can't help you. As an extra suggestion, the clothing store across from the stadium might have something suitable for your friend, and even if they don't have it right now, they can have it custom-made."
As soon as I heard that, I grabbed Xiang Yu and we left, because I immediately thought that going to the stadium would not only allow us to buy clothes, but also let us see Zhang Shun and the others.
I had Xiang Yu drive while I called Ni Siyu. Ni Siyu said she was on her way to training with Zhang Shun and the others. I checked my watch; it was 8:50. She told me to go directly to the gymnasium to find the swimming team, and she would let the security guard know.
We then entered the stadium without any problems, and the security guard immediately let us in when he heard we were looking for the swimming team. Xiang Yu, running alongside me, asked, "Where are we going?"
"I'll take you to see a pretty girl, she's not wearing any clothes."
Xiang Yu hesitated for a moment, then, realizing that my words were meaningless, he continued running after me.
Following the security guard's directions, I found the swimming pool. Pushing open the door, I saw Ni Siyu with her hands tied behind her back, but her face was full of smiles. She was still wearing her black swimsuit—the Ruan brothers were probably used to it. She stood by the pool, talking intimately to Zhang Shun, probably being affectionate with her master. Zhang Shun first gave her a light slap on the back of the head, then pushed her into the water.
This is probably a little game between the master and his apprentice.
However, Xiang Yu, who came in later, only saw Zhang Shun pushing a girl with her hands tied behind her back into the water. He shouted angrily, "Stop!" and rushed over, but Ni Siyu had already disappeared into the water.
Xiang Yu pointed at Zhang Shun and cursed, "You scoundrel, how dare you!" He then slapped Zhang Shun with his large palm-leaf fan.
Zhang Shun stepped back to avoid him and cursed, "Who the hell are you?"
Ruan Xiaoer, standing beside Zhang Shun, had already lunged forward. Xiang Yu dodged his punch and swept his elbow across Ruan Xiaoer's shoulder. Ruan Xiaoer cried out "Ouch!" and stumbled backward. Zhang Shun then threw a punch at Xiang Yu's face, followed by a sweeping kick to his lower body. Xiang Yu grabbed his fist, letting the kick hit his lower body without flinching, while Zhang Shun jumped up and down, crying in pain. Xiang Yu hoisted him up and shouted, "I'll chop you down!"
I shouted, "No, we're friends!"
Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu shrugged and pushed Zhang Shun into the water. Ruan Xiao Wu, without a second thought, launched a flying kick at him, but Xiang Yu laughed, grabbed his foot, and swung it towards the ground. I shouted again, "Brother Yu, have mercy!"
Xiang Yu then threw Ruan Xiaowu into the water as well, and then squatted down to look for Ni Siyu with concern, ignoring Ruan Xiaoer who was eyeing him menacingly.
Their fight lasted only a blink of an eye, and it was then that I ran over and grabbed Ruan Xiao'er, who was about to step forward. Zhang Shun bobbed up and down in the water, saying, "Big guy, come down here if you dare." It was the same tactic he used to provoke Li Kui back then. Xiang Yu ignored his shouts, looked into the pool for a while, then stood up and sighed, saying, "That girl is probably doomed." He glared at Ruan Xiao'er and said, "Why did you harm her?"
Ruan Xiaoer wasn't going to back down either, yelling, "None of your business!" Xiang Yu strode forward, arms crossed, ready to fight. Just then, Ni Siyu popped her head out of the water with a splash, giggling. The ropes on her hands had been untied. She asked curiously, "Master, why did you come down here too?" Then she saw me and chuckled, "Xiao Qiang."
I yelled, "You brat, have no manners! Get up here right now!"
Xiang Yu was stunned and asked, "She's not dead?"
I shouted to the people in the water, "It's a misunderstanding. Everyone, come up!"
...