Volume One: High School Days Chapter Six: Pretending to Be Xiaoya’s Boyfriend
The next day, Sunday, at seven in the morning.
“Beep beep.” The sound of a text message.
Liu Sheng was roused from his dreams by the noise, his mood soured by the disturbance. He didn’t open his eyes, but his hand fumbled around the pillow, searching for his phone. After a while without success, he sighed, opened his eyes, and tossed the pillow aside, yet still couldn’t find the device. As he rummaged through the sheets, the phone sounded again—“beep beep”—this time from beneath the bed.
He managed to retrieve it and saw two messages:
1. “Remember to come to my place today. My mom has already gone to the morning market. Our address is Sifang Residential Complex, x-x-xxx. Arrive before noon. Call me when you get here, and I’ll meet you at the entrance.”
2. “You’re not still asleep, are you?”
After reading them, Liu Sheng lay back down and closed his eyes, only to open them suddenly, tapping at his phone for a while before replying, “I got it.”
He barely closed his eyes again before the phone chimed once more. Annoyed, he sat up and read: “Dress up a bit, look handsome.”
Setting the phone aside, he glanced at his pillow and then at the school uniform nearby, thinking, “I really don’t have a decent outfit.”
He hurriedly got up, freshened himself, grabbed a quick bite, and headed out.
“Welcome to Nike Specialty Store,” a saleswoman greeted him as he walked inside.
Liu Sheng browsed for a while before buying a pair of black joggers, black-and-white sneakers, and a gray jacket. He stood before the mirror, satisfied with his new look.
Stepping out, he checked the time—still before nine—so he went to get a haircut. Now, Liu Sheng looked like a different person, far more pleasing to the eye than before.
He then bought some gifts to bring along. After all, Liu Sheng was a twenty-six-year-old newly returned; he’d had girlfriends before and understood proper etiquette. Even if he was only pretending to be Xiaoya’s boyfriend, he was determined to play the part well.
After all this, Liu Sheng checked his phone again; it was already eleven o’clock. Today, he hadn’t ridden his scooter, thinking it inappropriate for the occasion. He hailed a taxi on the roadside and made his way to Sifang Residential Complex.
“Hey, I’m at your neighborhood entrance,” Liu Sheng said into the phone. Five minutes later, Xiaoya rushed out in slippers. Spotting Liu Sheng’s outfit, her gaze grew momentarily dazed.
“What’s wrong?” Liu Sheng asked, noticing her stunned expression.
Recovering, Xiaoya replied, “Nothing, let’s go. Oh, by the way, my name is Wang Ya, twenty-three years old… Just in case my family asks, don’t slip up. Don’t let them catch on.”
“Why are you deceiving your family?” Liu Sheng asked, puzzled.
“I told my dad I got money for his treatment from my boyfriend, and I want him to be happy—it’ll help with his illness,” Xiaoya said, tugging at Liu Sheng’s sleeve.
The truth was, Liu Sheng’s character made Xiaoya deeply admire him, and she still held a glimmer of hope that they might truly be together. Though she claimed her family wanted to meet Liu Sheng, it was really Xiaoya herself who wished for it most.
At Xiaoya’s home, not only her parents were present, but also a host of aunts, uncles, and her elder brother. Liu Sheng was led by Xiaoya to greet everyone in turn.
“You didn’t have to bring anything! Future brother-in-law, you’re so polite,” Xiaoya’s brother said, accepting the gifts.
During lunch, Liu Sheng claimed to be twenty-three, just graduated from university, and planning to open a hotpot restaurant with his father. Xiaoya listened nervously, afraid her family would see through the deception, but everyone believed Liu Sheng’s story, leaving him himself astonished.
As Liu Sheng and Xiaoya were enjoying the lively family gathering, a furious knocking and shouting erupted at the door. “Open up! I know you’re in there! Wang Yu, you’d better pay up now!”
Wang Yu was Xiaoya’s elder brother, twenty-five years old, two years her senior.
“Brother, are they here for you? What do you owe them money for?” Xiaoya asked. Wang Yu didn’t respond, sitting there in a stupor. Xiaoya stood to open the door; Wang Yu tried to call out, but it was too late.
Six tall, burly men entered. Their leader eyed the crowd and said, “Well, looks like a party. We’re here for one thing—our money.” He turned to Wang Yu, “So, young master, are you paying up or coming with us?”
As he finished, the six men produced weapons—batons, knives, and more. The assembled aunts and uncles made quick excuses and left, until only the debt collectors, Wang Yu, Xiaoya, their parents, and Liu Sheng remained.
Terrified, Xiaoya hid behind her parents, then pushed Liu Sheng, urging him to leave, fearing for his safety. Liu Sheng waved her off, indicating he’d stay. Seeing this, Xiaoya clung tightly to his arm, hiding behind him.
The leader spoke, “You’ve owed us a hundred thousand for over a month! If you don’t pay now, we won’t be polite!”
Xiaoya’s father, who should have been in the hospital that day, had begged the doctor for a half-day leave just to meet Xiaoya’s boyfriend. Now he anxiously demanded, “What’s going on?!”
Wang Yu stayed silent. The leader explained, “He owes us a hundred thousand from gambling at our arcade. We’ve been searching for him for a month, and now we’ve found him! If he doesn’t pay today…” He glanced around for valuables, found none, and then pointed at Xiaoya. “How about her? If you don’t pay, we’ll take her and sell her until the debt’s cleared! Let me take her today, and I’ll never trouble Wang Yu again. Too bad such a pretty girl will have her reputation ruined.”
Xiaoya trembled, unable to cry aloud in her terror. Her father, enraged, slapped Wang Yu twice, then sat breathing heavily.
“Boss, this girl’s quite something. Why not let the brothers try her out first? If she doesn’t fetch money, what then?” one of the men said, advancing on Xiaoya.
He seized her, dragging her toward him. Xiaoya cried out in panic, grasping Liu Sheng’s arm with all her strength.
Without hesitation, Liu Sheng grabbed a nearby stool and smashed it onto the man’s head. Blood gushed instantly. The others surged forward, nearly reaching Liu Sheng when he declared, “I’ll pay your medical bills! I hit you because you tried to hurt my woman!”
Xiaoya wailed louder, wrapping her arms around Liu Sheng’s waist from behind. The injured man yelled, “Ten thousand! Not a penny less, or nobody leaves!”
“Ten thousand? A hospital visit wouldn’t cost that much, don’t try to cheat us,” Xiaoya’s mother protested. All their savings had gone to the father’s illness, and they’d borrowed plenty from relatives. It was Wang Yu’s fault, and Liu Sheng had caused the injury, but they couldn’t afford ten thousand, let alone the hundred thousand owed.
Xiaoya’s mother knelt before the men, pleading, “Please, don’t take my daughter. We’ll repay Wang Yu’s debt slowly.”
Seeing his mother kneel, Wang Yu lunged to fight the men, but they pinned him down, beating him mercilessly. The leader struck him with a baton.
“Stop!” Liu Sheng shouted. The men turned toward him.
“One hit, ten thousand, right?” Liu Sheng asked, then swung the stool at the man again. With each blow, he called out, “Twenty thousand, thirty thousand, forty thousand… one hundred thousand!”
After ten strikes, the man lay unconscious. Liu Sheng addressed the stunned crowd, “Account number! With Wang Yu’s debt, that’s two hundred thousand. I’ll transfer it right now!”
The leader, grinning, approached. “A friend made through fists! Whose son are you? Such generosity! Here’s my account number.”
Liu Sheng transferred two hundred thousand and said, “Don’t ask who I am. I only know that anything solved with money isn’t a real problem—and I have plenty of it!” He glared fiercely at the man.
The leader, intimidated, thought, “Who is this young master? Didn’t even blink at two hundred thousand—he must have serious backing. Best not to provoke him, take what’s offered and leave.”
Everyone knew Liu Sheng’s family circumstances, but he possessed a bank card with an unlimited balance. It proved the old adage: money really can make the impossible possible.
Seeing the funds arrive, the man called to his group, “Let’s go!”
“Where do you think you’re going?” Liu Sheng said, his tone menacing.
The leader began sweating, realizing wealth implied power. He turned back, “What would you have us do?”
Liu Sheng pointed at the battered Wang Yu, “Medical expenses!”
“How much do you think is fair?” the leader asked, already cowed. Liu Sheng, sensing victory, replied without hesitation, “Two hundred thousand!”
“Wait, you see, he owes us a hundred thousand—we need that for our boss. My brother’s medical bills, that’s another hundred thousand, but I have to give him something. Or else, what would my men think of me? How about twenty thousand from my brother’s expenses for him—is that alright?”
“One hundred thousand!” Liu Sheng’s expression remained unmoved.
The leader grimaced, “Fifty thousand! Just fifty—give me some face in front of my men.”
Liu Sheng simply nodded.
“To whom?” the leader asked.
“To Uncle and Aunt,” Liu Sheng said coldly.
After the transfer, the injured man stirred, blood streaming from his head, barely able to stand. “Ten thousand per hit! How many times did he strike?”
“Five times! Money’s in hand—let’s go!” said the leader.
As they neared the door, Liu Sheng added, “If anything happens to this family, I’ll come for you first!”
The men, terrified, fled from Xiaoya’s home.
“Liu Sheng, I’ll withdraw those fifty thousand for you later—I’m too old to do bank transfers,” Xiaoya’s mother said.
Liu Sheng’s stern face softened into a sunny smile. “Auntie, no need. Keep it for Uncle, he’s not well. Think of it as my respect for you both.”
Xiaoya’s mother hurried to say, “Good, good. Xiaoya didn’t choose wrong. With you caring for her, we can rest easy.”
“Future brother-in-law, I’ll work hard from now on and repay you every cent,” Wang Yu said.
Liu Sheng shook his head. “I don’t need repayment. Just promise never to gamble again.”
Wang Yu, delighted, agreed at once.
With everything settled, Xiaoya’s mother took her father and Wang Yu to the hospital, also to treat Wang Yu’s wounds.
Once they left, only Liu Sheng and Xiaoya remained in the house.