It’s better to sell to me ah! (Inverted V)

To put it accurately, they didn’t actually fight.

Xu Yanhuan stood still after kicking, while Xie Fei tried to grab his pants with his left hand and swing a punch with his right hand, but he couldn’t even hit him, and almost stumbled himself.

With his pants in hand, Xie Fei still couldn’t reach Xu Yanhuan with both hands raised. Frustrated, Xie Fei said angrily, “If you have the guts, don’t dodge!”

Xu Yanhuan stopped evading and raised his hand, accurately catching the punch swung by Xie Fei. He forcefully twisted and squeezed, easily putting his arm in a lock behind his back.

When the headmaster arrived, Xie Fei was howling in pain, tears streaming down his face from the excruciating muscle strain.

Both of them were called into the office.

Principal Zhu had already finished work but had to pour himself another cup of hot tea and sit at his desk. He said, “Tell me, what happened between the two of you.”

Xie Fei held his head and hugged his arm, feeling wronged. He said, “He was the one who made the first move. He kicked me without a word from behind and almost crippled me.”

Xu Yanhuan said, “I already apologized.”

Principal Zhu took a sip of tea and asked, “How did you apologize?”

“I said I mistook the person and apologized. I’m sorry,” Xu Yanhuan said.

Xie Fei refused to accept it and said, “Can I kick you and then say sorry?”

“It’s okay.”

“…”

Principal Zhu laughed and asked Xu Yanhuan, “So, who were you originally trying to kick?”

“A hooligan.”

“What hooligan?”

“One who sneaked into our school restroom and insulted our students,” Xu Yanhuan said.

Xie Fei thought, “Could he be talking about me?”

“Did you hear it with your own ears?” Principal Zhu asked.

“Yes,” Xu Yanhuan said, “I heard voices in the restroom and thought he had come back, so I…”

“Wait a minute,” Xie Fei interrupted, “What does this have to do with you kicking me?”

“It does,” Xu Yanhuan said, “After I kicked you, I informed you that I kicked the wrong person.”

“…”

It circled back.

Principal Zhu was in a hurry to leave and didn’t want to waste time here. He asked Xie Fei, “Did he say he mistook someone?”

“…Yes.”

“After that, did you hit him and he didn’t fight back?”

“…”

“Is that true?”

Xie Fei was choked and couldn’t catch his breath. He angrily said to Xu Yanhuan beside him, “You fucking did it on purpose!”

“I think it’s just a misunderstanding. Since neither of you is injured, write a 3,000-word reflection and submit it. Also, run a lap around the playground,” Principal Zhu concluded the case and said decisively, “Let’s settle it this way. If there’s another incident, the punishment will be doubled.”

“Who said I wasn’t injured?” Xie Fei struggled and lifted his school uniform, revealing his back. “It hurts like hell when he kicked me.”

Xie Fei had dark skin, and Director Zhu approached and examined him closely but couldn’t see any signs of injury.

Instead, Xu Yanhuan had a patch of deep red oozing from his right shoulder. Director Zhu, who always favored academically strong students, widened his eyes and angrily scolded Xie Fei, “Look, it’s clearly you who made him bleed!”

Xie Fei replied, “…damn.”

Director Zhu asked Xu Yanhuan to go to the infirmary immediately, and before leaving, he added, “Xie Fei, Class 4 of the second year, you used profanity on school grounds. You’re to copy the school rules fifty times as a punishment.”

Xie Fei rolled his eyes and was completely defeated.

After escaping from the office, Xu Yanhuan didn’t go to the school infirmary. He went straight back to the classroom to get his backpack. On the way, he ran into Wang Kun, who informed him that the classroom door was already locked and his backpack was placed on the windowsill in the corridor.

When asked how the fight with Xie Fei started, Xu Yanhuan didn’t tell the truth and said, “I just didn’t like him.”

Wang Kun vaguely remembered the previous incident when Yu Xinqiao threw a basketball at Xie Fei, and she also gave the same reason.

Glancing at Yu Xinqiao walking behind them, Wang Kun leaned closer and whispered in a volume only audible to the two of them, “It was Xiaoyu who helped you with your backpack. Well, even if you don’t accept his pursuit, don’t be too harsh. After all, we’re all classmates.”

Xu Yanhuan’s gaze went past Wang Kun and looked back. Three classmates from the same class were standing not far away, but only Yu Xinqiao turned his face away and didn’t look at him.

When they brushed past each other, Yu Xinqiao suddenly stopped abruptly, as if stepping on the brakes.

He hesitantly asked, “Your shoulder…”

Xu Yanhuan’s footsteps also paused.

It was an extremely brief pause.

“It’s nothing,” he said. “Thank you.”

His voice was very low, and just like before, it was impossible to discern his emotions.

After speaking, he continued walking towards the classroom without stopping for even a second.

For a considerable period of time afterwards, Yu Xinqiao thought that their interaction would end with that “thank you” and wouldn’t have any follow-up.

Although they were classmates, there was no necessary obligation for them to communicate. It wouldn’t be surprising if they didn’t exchange a single word throughout the semester, especially considering deliberate avoidance.

Time flew by, and it was the end of the term. The exam schedule at Xuncheng No. 2 High School was packed tightly, with two exams in the morning and two in the afternoon, completing all exams in one and a half days.

Approaching their final year, both students and parents attached great importance to the exam results. On the day the results were released, a crowd gathered at the school gate. Even the art student Yu Xinqiao, who joined in just for the sake of participation, struggled to squeeze in. In the end, it was Wang Kun, who had a good height and vision, who stood on a small stool to see afar and turned around to “share the good news,” saying, “Xiaoyu, you ranked 217th in the science class!”

Yu Xinqiao replied, “…You don’t have to shout so loud.”

Moreover, it’s not a good ranking. There are over 300 students in our second-year science class.

Liang Yi made progress again this time, and his mother was very happy. Upon learning that Yu Xinqiao had helped him with English tutoring, she warmly invited Yu Xinqiao to visit their small convenience store. Yu Xinqiao indulged in eating and taking things, feeling like he had enough provisions for the entire summer.

Upon hearing that the top student in the whole school was also in their class, Liang’s mother said, “He’s a boy too. Why don’t we invite him to our house?”

Wang Kun, who was accompanying them, almost choked on a sausage, while Shen Da stole a glance at Yu Xinqiao but dared not speak. Liang Yi had to step up and say, “Xu is more…uh, independent. He doesn’t like to hang out with us.”

Wang Kun chimed in, “Yes, yes, he doesn’t pay much attention to us even in the basketball team.”

“He can play basketball too?” Liang’s mother glared at Liang Yi, frustrated. “Look at others with their comprehensive development in morality, intelligence, and physical fitness. And then look at you, always looking gloomy during exams. Have some ambition!”

Liang Yi received inexplicable scolding and felt quite wronged. “His moral character isn’t that great either. He got into a fight with a student from the neighboring class last month.”

“What’s wrong with having good grades and getting into fights?” Liang’s mother said. “If you were ranked first in your grade, I wouldn’t even say a word if you skipped classes every day.”

“…”

During the last vacation before entering the final year of high school, Xu Yanhuan became the common enemy of Liang Yi’s small group. All members of the group adhered to the principle and never mentioned Xu Yanhuan’s name. Anyone who violated this rule would face severe consequences.

As a result, Yu Xinqiao began a peaceful vacation. He woke up naturally every day, practiced the piano after meals, grabbed some snacks when he was hungry, and played games with friends when they came over. It was a quite pleasant time.

July in Xuncheng entered the hottest period of the summer, and people were even lazier to go out. One day, Liang Yi invited Yu Xinqiao to go to a bar together. At first, Yu Xinqiao wasn’t enthusiastic.

“What’s so fun about a bar? We can drink and chat at my place, can’t we?”

Liang Yi said, “It’s different. It’s Shen Da’s 18th birthday today. Let’s do something special and celebrate his adulthood.”

Upon hearing that it was Shen Da’s birthday, Yu Xinqiao wavered. “But I’m not yet an adult.”

Liang Yi waved his hand. “It’s just a difference of two or three months. We’re not doing anything illegal. Can’t we experience it?”

Of course, they could.

Yu Xinqiao, who had never been to a bar before, was actually curious.

As the lights came on, the four of them got off at the farthest restaurant and bar street from the school. Led by Wang Kun, they entered a bar with a name that was even difficult to understand. At the entrance, someone checked their IDs. Wang Kun handed over his ID along with a pack of cigarettes. The person pretended to take a glance and then pretended to be deaf and dumb, allowing them to enter.

First time in a unfamiliar place, there’s always some restraint.

The group settled in a booth by the side of the main hall. Prior to coming, Liang Yi had looked up some “strategies” online and was now flipping through the menu, telling Yu Xinqiao, “These seats have a minimum spending requirement, so let’s start with ordering drinks.”

Yu Xinqiao first surveyed the surroundings. This bar seemed to lean more towards being a music bar, without the noisy disco and men and women dancing wildly. There was only one musician on stage playing the saxophone, and a few people in the dance floor lazily swaying their bodies to the music. Most of the others were sitting on high stools scattered around small tables, casually drinking and chatting.

The lighting was relatively soft as well, occasionally a warm beam of light passed by, without causing any discomfort. The overall decoration style of the bar was also quite tasteful, with wooden wall panels, tables, and chairs complemented by brass accents, giving the entire space a retro and elegant atmosphere.

In such a fresh environment, Yu Xinqiao conservatively said, “I’ll have an apple juice.”

The other three: “…”

Liang Yi had just ordered a strong cocktail for Shen Da, and he urged Yu Xinqiao, “Since we’re here, why pretend to be so well-behaved?”

So, Yu Xinqiao made up his mind and said, “Then, give me a beer.”

Liang Yi was about to persuade further, but Wang Kun preempted, “That’s fine too. In case we all end up getting drunk later, at least little Yu can call a taxi for everyone.”

Shen Da also nodded vigorously, “Yeah, yeah, I don’t want to pass out in a bar on my eighteenth birthday.”

After ordering their drinks, they also ordered a fruit platter.

Yu Xinqiao’s beer arrived first, and he quickly gulped down half a glass, saying cheerfully, “Cheers to your birthday, buddy, and to adulthood!”

Shen Da was indeed very happy at the moment. The bar was filled with hot and spicy beauties, and his eyes went wide as he looked around, snapping pictures with the Polaroid camera he brought. Most of the female customers were accommodating and would smile, wave, and strike a pose when they noticed the camera. Shen Da had taken several shots with their permission, and his teenage heart was pounding wildly. His face was already red even before he started drinking.

When he aimed the camera at a booth on the other side of the main hall, Shen Da suddenly put down his camera and looked closely, “What the hell! Isn’t that Xu, Xu…?”

“Why are you shushing?” Liang Yi asked.

As they followed his gaze, they all stared wide-eyed.

“Oh my god, Wang Kun, help me confirm, isn’t that waiter over there our class’s top student?”

With his keen eyes, Wang Kun confirmed after a few glances, “Indeed.”

“Why did he come here to work?” Shen Da questioned, “Is he already an adult?”

Wang Kun, being the most knowledgeable among them, quickly figured it out, “Whether he’s an adult or not doesn’t matter, what’s important is that he’s handsome enough.”

Shen Da looked puzzled, “What does his appearance have to do with it?”

Liang Yi understood and tilted his chin, gesturing for him to look in that direction, “I heard that bar servers get commissions, judging from the situation, our top student from our grade should be earning quite a bit.”

Yu Xinqiao had been silent during the discussion.

But his gaze had honestly glued itself onto Xu Yanhuan, who was holding a tray and

 serving customers across from them.

This was the first time he saw Xu Yanhuan wearing something other than the school uniform T-shirt. The bar’s work uniform consisted of a suit vest over a white shirt, with well-pressed trousers. The uniform’s unified attire made Xu Yanhuan’s tall and long-legged figure stand out from the other servers.

At the moment, he was bending down to open a bottle of wine for a customer, his thin lips slightly pursed. The ambient lighting cast a skillfully crafted shadow on his facial contours, and Yu Xinqiao watched as the several female customers at that table showed intoxicated expressions.

Furthermore, the middle-aged female customer who was dressed in luxurious attire and seated close to Xu Yanhuan, was getting closer and closer to him while talking, her hand resting on his lower back, just an inch away from his buttocks.

Yu Xinqiao clenched his teeth in anger and grabbed the beer glass on the table, tilting his head back and finishing it in one gulp.

Looking across the table, my oh my, not only did Xu Yanhuan not avoid it, he even leaned towards the customers, tilting his head as if listening to them.

The empty glass slammed on the table, and Yu Xinqiao boldly said, “Another glass!”

Another server delivered the food to their table.

The second glass of beer arrived along with other drinks, and Yu Xinqiao couldn’t help but inquire, “Do you provide one-on-one services here?”

The server hesitated for a moment and said, “Please wait a moment,” then walked away. In just two minutes, a graceful woman arrived.

“We are a legitimate bar here.” The female owner, who looked to be around thirty years old, had a friendly smile, but her words sent a chill down the spine. “May I ask who needs special services?”

Liang Yi hurriedly explained, “It’s a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. My friend was asking if we could request a specific server—”

Perhaps due to the effect of the alcohol consumed, Yu Xinqiao was feeling dizzy, and without waiting for Liang Yi to finish, he pointed his finger and said, “They are harassing your servers, sexually, sexually harassing them.”

The female owner followed his pointing direction and showed a knowing expression.

“This is not called sexual harassment, little boy.” The female owner said with a hint of amusement, “Getting closer to the customers, facilitating orders, it’s part of his job.”

“Is it part of his job to be, to be touched as well?”

The female owner shrugged, “That falls under the personal actions between the server and the customer, as long as it doesn’t involve illegal activities in my establishment, I have no control over it.”

“Well, how much are the customers at that table spending?” Yu Xinqiao’s chest was filled with anger. “I’ll pay double, can I have him come to our table?”

This bar was very efficient, especially when faced with generous customers. In less than five minutes, Xu Yanhuan stood in front of their booth.

None of the three could stop Yu Xinqiao. The atmosphere now became eerie. Liang Yi awkwardly propped his head up, pretending to be lost in thought. Shen Da moved to the farthest position, looking around. Only Wang Kun reluctantly tried to mediate, “I didn’t expect it to really be you. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, hahaha.”

No one responded, and there was a cawing sound as if a crow flew overhead.

And Yu Xinqiao, the instigator of this situation, felt a jolt in his chest and burped from the alcohol.

He wanted to drink more. Yu Xinqiao took a sip of beer, glanced at Xu Yanhuan, took another sip, then looked at him again. His neck felt sore, so he called out to him, “Come sit here.”

This time, even Wang Kun used the excuse of going to the restroom and ran away. Before running off, he pushed Xu Yanhuan into the seat and said, “We’re all classmates, let’s hang out together and have fun.”

Yu Xinqiao couldn’t feel happy at the moment.

His consciousness was not completely swallowed by alcohol, so he felt that the current situation resembled a scene from a brothel.

Xu Yanhuan, who was forced to sit beside him, was the courtesan he had spent a fortune snatching away from other customers.

Yu Xinqiao also felt ridiculous himself. He thought that he could suppress his desires by staying calm for a month, but he didn’t expect the withdrawal symptoms to hit him so fiercely.

He even seriously considered suggesting that “pursuing Xu Yanhuan” be listed as a potentially addictive behavior, warning all of humanity to be cautious.

And his serious expression, in Xu Yanhuan’s eyes, had an indescribable… foolishness.

Yu Xinqiao, unable to handle the alcohol, had a rosy flush on his cheeks after just one glass of beer. His large and round eyes now seemed misty, as if covered in a fine haze.

Therefore, when he got closer, Xu Yanhuan, who was accustomed to surviving in darkness, instinctively had the urge to escape.

His thoughts became dull under the influence of alcohol, and the oblivious Yu Xinqiao, who was no longer sensitive, didn’t notice Xu Yanhuan’s avoidance. He stuck to him like a dog finding a bone.

Fearful that the music would drown out his voice, Yu Xinqiao turned his head to the side, his chin almost touching Xu Yanhuan’s shoulder. “Is your shoulder better now?”

Xu Yanhuan let out a soft “Mmm.”

The sound was very low, and Yu Xinqiao couldn’t hear it clearly. He leaned in closer to him and his mouth almost touched his ear. “So, answering questions is also part of your job?”

The temperature inside the bar wasn’t low, yet Xu Yanhuan still felt the warmth of Yu Xinqiao’s breath mixed with a slight scent of alcohol against his ear.

His mind went blank for a moment, and when he snapped out of it, his neck had already turned uncontrollably towards the source of the warm breath.

There, he saw a pair of clear eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything. Xu Yanhuan saw his own reflection in those eyes, a reflection of someone who clearly desired but had to escape from himself.

“So, how much would it cost to touch you?”

Yu Xinqiao spoke slowly, his voice becoming soft. Therefore, even though he was saying something innocent yet cruel, it sounded like he was being spoiled.

He looked at Xu Yanhuan and smiled, “Instead of selling yourself to others, why don’t you sell yourself to me?”

Author’s Note:

I would like to clarify that the entire passage consists of five memory segments. This is the third segment, and the frequency and length of the memories will gradually decrease, while the present timeline will increase. This was intentionally designed in the original text, with each switch in the timeline carefully planned to be interconnected and responsive to each other. It was also deliberate to end each segment at the emotional peak (personally, I find this arrangement more interesting). If you find it difficult to adapt to this narrative style, you can follow the instructions in the title to read the same timeline continuously.