The 99th Divorce

The people in the circle were in the midst of an animated discussion. Lu Yihan was shocked with worry. He pushed past the crowd to get to the center.

Luo Zhan’s head was hanging limply. He was being held up by a man on each side. There were many people looking on, but no one stepped forward.

“F*ck!” Lu Yihan felt the blood rushing to his head “Luo Zhan!”

Luo Zhan raised his head in confusion. His lips were swollen and bruised, but when he saw Lu Yihan’s ashen face, he felt a moment of silent satisfaction.

Enduring the pain on his face, Luo Zhan pulled his lips up into a smile. With a sardonic expression, he asked, “What? Have you never seen a guy beaten up before?”

This scenario was very much like when they were still living together. Every time he cooked, he’d vow solemnly, “Today, you’re going to enjoy the taste of a feast!”

But, it was a disappointment every single time without fail. And, each time, with an expression that was clearly unapologetic, he’d declare, “What? Have you never seen a chef make a mistake?”

The memories came flooding back. They had been good friends for many years. Lu Yihan felt his chest tighten. He clenched his jaw, sprung himself forward, and tackled one of the men that was holding Luo Zhan.

A roar went up through the crowd. Everyone was there for the excitement, consequences be damned. There were even those to the side who started wolf-whistling. Yet, no one had any intention of stepping in.

Lu Yihan wasn’t too bad of a fighter, but he was, at the end of the day, just an IT guy. In terms of strength and skill, how could he ever defeat the thugs for whom fighting was a way of life?

In a moment, he found himself outmatched. He hadn’t landed more than a few punches before the match was practically over.

Idiot!

Luo Zhan couldn’t wait to show him what a pig’s brain looked like!

All he had to do was call the cops and wait at the sidelines! What the hell is he doing getting into the thick of the fight? How are his scrawny arms and legs supposed to go up against those bodybuilders?

Just as Luo Zhan thought he was about to become permanently maimed, silence suddenly descended over the crowd.

“Freeze! Police!”

Although Luo Zhan had been the initial one left behind by group and the original target of the thugs, by the end of the night, it was Lu Yihan who suffered the most damage.

After the both of them were sent by the colleagues to get their wounds treated at the hospital, the group dispersed. The colleagues went home, but Lu Yihan and Luo Zhan stayed behind, squatting by the entrance of the hospital. For a long while, neither of them made any move to leave.

The moon was especially round and bright. Luo Zhan stared up at the sky. It was a blanket of black. The stars twinkled away from afar, teasing viewers with barely a glimpse of its light.

Summer was just beginning, and the temperature was neither warm nor cold. The two of them sat on the steps, listening to the sound of the crickets. Neither or them moved for a long time.

“I’m sorry for implicating you.” Luo Zhan didn’t turn his head. He continued casually, “That woman was my brother’s conquest. She mistook me for my brother. F*ck, I was almost dragged by her to the hotel. It’s fortunate that I was quick-witted. Otherwise, my future wife wouldn’t get the chance to enjoy my virgin experience. Oh man, what a close shave it was today.”

Luo Zhan looked as if he was still shaken by the prior events. With a deep breath, he asked, “But, why did you come back? They would have released me after a few punches. After all, given how good-looking I am, they wouldn’t have been willing to mess me up too much. You, on the other hand, look so ugly. Naturally, they all went for you.”

Lu Yihan turned to look at Luo Zhan and burst out in sudden laughter. “How are you so shameless?”

His tone was relaxed. Everything was back to how it had been before.

Luo Zhan was taken aback. He turned to look at Lu Yihan. He gazed at his eyes, which were twinkling like the stars in the night sky, and tried to smile. The pain made him suck his breath in, “Damn it. I’m going home. I’m not going to stay here with you to feed the mosquitoes any longer!”

“You drove, didn’t you? Give me a lift home.”