Chapter 4: Fourth Dimension 2/2

The mischievous bear cubs from their youth had grown into a quiet and gentle professor, making people hesitant to smoke in front of him as they didn’t want to upset him with the smell.

As people age, they tend to reminisce. Zhong Ziyan exhaled a puff of smoke, half-closed her eyes, and looked at Zhang, saying, “Zhang has changed a lot; you can’t see the way he used to be.”

“Nonsense,” Zhang retorted.

Ouyang pointed at Zhong Ziyan across the space and said slowly, “Among the three of us, the one who has changed the least is Old Shi.”

Zhong Ziyan squinted and smiled, saying, “True.”

“Enough.” Zhang waved his hand, dispersing the smoke in front of him.

The meal was almost finished, and Zhong Ziyan tapped her empty wine glass against the rim of Zhang’s glass, making a clinking sound, urging him, “Comic expo, what’s your answer? Don’t drag it out.”

Zhang, calmly using a towel to wipe his fingers, replied with a nonchalant remark, “There’s an arcade nearby.”

“Oh,” Ouyang exclaimed, and Zhong Ziyan raised an eyebrow, his lips slightly curling.

“What’s the comparison?” Zhong Ziyan asked.

“No comparison,” Zhang replied.

The arcade was crowded; children gathered around claw machines, and young people enjoyed VR shooting games and rhythm games.

“The arcade has changed a lot; it’s quite luxurious now,” Ouyang sighed.

Zhang chuckled. “Maybe our old place was just too shabby.”

“Look what I found!”

In high heels, Zhong Ziyan, holding onto the two, headed straight to a machine and declared, “Let’s compete on this one.”

It was a bulky arcade machine, with two pixelated muscular men facing off on the screen.

This could be considered their youth. Such retro machines are rare nowadays, and young people don’t play them much.

A professor and a CEO each took a small stool. Their attire and demeanor were out of place in this setting, but as soon as the game started, the operation of the joystick and buttons seemed to be ingrained in them. The two adults felt like they were back in their youth, controlling low-resolution characters in an intense brawl and pressing buttons that made the whole machine shake.

Originally set for three rounds with two wins needed, Zhong Ziyan directly won three consecutive rounds, and Zhang’s coins ran out.

“Hahaha, Professor, you are not doing well!” Zhong Ziyan triumphantly exclaimed. “Little Zhang, you never won against me back then.”

Zhang raised two fingers, signaling surrender. “Comic expo, I’ll go.”

Whether Zhang won the game or not, he would attend the comic expo. From the beginning, he wouldn’t refuse, and Zhong Ziyan knew he would definitely go. They just wanted an opportunity to play games, something they hadn’t done in a long time.

They were friends for too long.

Back when Zhang and Ouyang Xi were in high school, cutting classes, Zhong Ziyan attended a vocational school, also skipping classes. With her cheap pink hair and chewing bubblegum, she sat next to Zhang and challenged him to a one-on-one in King of Fighters, and they became friends.

Almost twenty years ago, the three of them cosplayed together in simple costumes, did their own makeup, and sometimes had to make their own clothes. They nervously went to smoke-filled internet cafes to watch anime and fought fiercely in the run-down arcade hall with King of Fighters ’97.

At that time, the arcade still had cathode-ray tube screens and dirty buttons, and the frame was covered in small ads and graffiti. Blond troublemakers with disheveled hair would try to steal their game coins, and Zhang would get into fights with them, even getting a nosebleed, but he, Zhang, never lost.

Back then, the culture of two-dimensional animation was booming in China. Zhong Ziyan had a sharp vision and thought that this field was not simple. She didn’t settle for being just a hobbyist.

She dropped out of college, started an animation company, and then encountered the government’s policy to support original manga. With the rapid development of the internet, from video sites to self-media and then to live-streaming platforms, she seized every trend, and her industrial empire quickly expanded. Now, Zhong’s total net worth was considerable.

Organizing a comic expo was a routine activity for her, something she didn’t need to worry about at all. There was no need for Zhong Ziyan to personally invite a cosplayer.

Mainly, Shi Zhang loves these activities. It’s quite rare for an old cosplayer like him, who has been active on the cosplay front for over a decade, to be so passionate. He doesn’t need anyone to invite him; every time Zhong Boss organizes an event, Shi Zhang will definitely be there.

Ouyang Xi disagreed, drove Shi Zhang away, and challenged Zhong Ziyan himself.

The three of them played for a long time; their throats were hoarse, and after playing a hundred game coins, they finally had their fill of fun.

“Such a great time; I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”

Zhong Ziyan hugged Shi Zhang tightly in a rough embrace and exhaled a long breath.

Shi Zhang silently patted her shoulder. He couldn’t imagine how much effort Zhong Ziyan’s current achievements had required. She was indeed a formidable person.

Ouyang Xi, dissatisfied, pulled both of them into his arms, his arms strong. “What’s this? Leaving me out, forming a small group.”

Shi Zhang was even stronger, spreading his arms effortlessly and separating the two. He made them sit down. “It’s time to go home and sleep.”

Zhong Boss had a luxury car and a driver waiting.

Reluctant to part, Zhong Ziyan, just before leaving, transformed back into a decisive businesswoman as soon as she got into the car. Even when taking a brief rest, she didn’t show any signs of fatigue.

Ouyang Xi, being Shi Zhang’s wife, came to pick him up. Before getting into the car, Ouyang Xi patted his head, held onto Shi Zhang, and said, “I almost forgot something.”

“What is it?”

“The class monitor from high school contacted me a few days ago—we haven’t been in touch for so many years. The class monitor said our class teacher, Teacher Wang, is retiring this year. The class monitor asked if our class wants to go back together to see her and have a reunion.”

Shi Zhang paused for a moment, somewhat mechanically repeating, “Our high school class teacher, Teacher Wang?”

“Yeah, Wang Huiling, Teacher Wang.” Ouyang Xi sighed, her tone lightening a bit. “I remember Teacher Wang used to be strict with you, but she really was a good teacher.”

“Do you want to come?”

“Yes,” Shi Zhang quickly answered, adding, “She was good to me.”

“Okay,” Ouyang acknowledged, “me too. Only when you grow up do you realize how good Teacher Wang was.”

“The class monitor created a group; I’ll add you later. It’s not easy for the class monitor to individually invite everyone.” Ouyang took a few steps back. “Well, I’m leaving.”

“Wait,” Shi Zhang called out, stopping Ouyang.

“What?”

Shi Zhang, speaking slowly, asked, “Do you remember that Teacher Wang has a son, surnamed Song?”

“Huh?” Ouyang was puzzled by why he suddenly brought up the teacher’s son, trying hard to recall. “It seems so; I’m not sure. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing.” Shi Zhang waved his hand for him to go home. “Your wife is probably waiting anxiously in the car.”

Ouyang Xi taunted him, “It’s great to have a wife taking care of you, coming to pick you up. Unlike you, an old bachelor, having to wait for a designated driver so late.”

Shi Zhang ignored him and walked away.