Chapter 144: An Epic Encounter

Everything went smoothly; Xiao Hei successfully underwent surgery at the city hospital.

Many strangers came to visit him, bringing fruits and flowers.

Xiao Hei looked at the older brothers and sisters he had never met before, who cared for him warmly. His small heart was filled with kindness and warmth toward this world.

“Han Ge, the outside world is really so wonderful!”

Ming Han nodded silently. He didn’t tell Xiao Hei that this was only the bright side he saw. In truth, this world also held many horrifying dark sides.

He thought to himself, children should be full of great expectations for the world, for only then would they have the drive to travel farther.

Of course, for Ming Han, what he looked forward to most now was the epic meeting of two giants.

Ming Han had always felt that Xiao Hei was like a miniature version of Da Xu.

So when Da Xu called to say he wanted to visit Xiao Hei, Ming Han was filled with anticipation.

What kind of sparks would fly between them?

Half an hour later, Da Xu arrived.

He didn’t bring a fruit basket or flowers. Instead, he brought his old game console.

The kind of game console that only played simple games like Tetris or pushing blocks…

Ming Han waited for Da Xu outside the hospital.

As soon as Da Xu saw Ming Han, he rushed over, “Ming Han, Xiao Hei really moved me… this kid, so young!”

Seeing Da Xu tearful and sniffly, Ming Han felt awkward. “Uh… Xiao Hei’s not dead. What are you doing?”

Especially seeing Da Xu dressed in a white tracksuit, white hat, and white shoes, Ming Han instinctively rubbed his forehead. Could he possibly get this guy to leave?

Da Xu shot Ming Han a glare. “I’m deeply moved by Xiao Hei’s heroic ordeal.”

Heroic my ass!

They entered the ward just as Xiao Hei woke up.

“Hey! Xiao Hei,” Da Xu greeted warmly.

Xiao Hei glanced at Da Xu and said to Ming Han, “Han Ge, this must be the good brother you always talk about.”

Ming Han nodded.

Da Xu was deeply touched. “Ming Han, I didn’t expect you to hold such deep affection for me, spreading my good name even while volunteering to teach.”

Ming Han coughed awkwardly…

“Han Ge said he has a weirdo friend who, regardless of societal judgment, always shows his most innocent and goofy side to the world…” Xiao Hei narrated on the side.

“Oh!” Da Xu’s face darkened, “We’re done!”

Afterward, Da Xu showed Xiao Hei the game console he had brought.

“This was my birthday gift from my father when I turned fourteen. It means a lot to me; it’s my most precious possession. I originally planned to keep it forever and even bury it with me someday. Now I give it to you, hoping you will carry on this love,” Da Xu said, his voice full of emotion.

Tears gleamed in Xiao Hei’s eyes. “Brother Da Xu…” He was deeply moved!

Ming Han turned away, silently cursing Da Xu’s shamelessness. He still remembered when Da Xu was short on internet fees and tried to sell this very console for just ten yuan.

Precious? Treasured?

“Xiao Hei, once you’re better, Brother Da Xu will take you to the internet cafe!”

Xiao Hei looked puzzled. “What’s an internet cafe?”

Da Xu looked out the window with a melancholy expression. “It’s the harbor of dreams, the true home for us men.”

Xiao Hei was inspired. He resolved, “I will study hard and strive to get into a good university. One day, I want to be as excellent as Brother Da Xu and treat the internet cafe like my home.”

Ming Han was helpless. In less than half an hour, Xiao Hei had been completely brainwashed by Da Xu.

Is this what they call a deep mutual understanding—though they had never met, sharing the same dream and personality, their minds and souls were deeply bound in this moment?

Ah! Bah!

When it was time to part, the two were reluctant to say goodbye.

Da Xu looked at Xiao Hei with deep affection. “Hei, wait for your full recovery.”

Heh! Hei? That nickname…

Ming Han and Da Xu walked out of the hospital together. Da Xu stretched lazily. “Ming Han, I feel like I’ve found a soulmate.”

“Oh!”

“Ming Han, you don’t understand the loneliness of someone high up, where coldness reigns,” Da Xu began to lament himself.

Heh! Ming Han had no desire to continue the conversation.

“Last thing!”

“What?” Ming Han was tired of Da Xu’s boasting.

“You know my technical school, right?”

Ming Han nodded. The City Vocational Technical College, after all, was the birthplace of the city’s excavator tycoons.

“My school is right across from City High School. Haha… now we can hang out together again,” Da Xu said happily.

“Oh!”

“Friendship over…”

…

August 30th!

Two days before school started.

Xiao Hei was discharged on August 29th and went home. Ming Han, Chen Li, and Da Xu went to see him off.

Xiao Hei’s father borrowed a tractor to pick up his son.

When Xiao Hei saw Chen Li, his eyes lit up. “Such a beautiful big sister!”

Chen Li gave Xiao Hei a stylish hat.

Xiao Hei looked meaningfully at Ming Han. “Han Ge, is this why you never pursued Teacher Su?”

Ming Han was embarrassed. “Kids shouldn’t ask so many questions.”

“Heh! Han Ge, I didn’t expect you to be so shallow, always focused on which girl is prettier,” Xiao Hei shook his head sadly. “Isn’t that setting a bad example for me?”

Xiao Hei looked so heartbroken that Ming Han suddenly felt somewhat beastly.

“In the future, I want to be like Han Ge too…”

That sentence nearly made Ming Han fall over.

“Sis, I’m leaving Han Ge to you,” Xiao Hei said solemnly. “Although Han Ge is a bit clumsy, not very emotional, and not as funny as me, he’s still a good person.”

Ming Han was speechless. Who’s the older brother here?

Xiao Hei got into the car and waved his little hand vigorously. “Han Ge, thank you!”

Ming Han felt a bit down. Little brat, will we meet again?

Memories played through Ming Han’s mind like a movie—their first meeting, Xiao Hei playing matchmaker for him and Su Lei…

Life is like a train journey; many people are just passing through. Where there is gathering, there will be parting.

This scene was over.

“Sigh! Looks like I’ll have to stay up all night at the internet cafe to drown my sorrows,” Da Xu, hands behind his back, walked toward the internet cafe in solitude.

Ming Han asked Chen Li, “What should we do to hide our sadness?”

“Shopping?”

“No,” Ming Han replied almost reflexively, “I’d rather study.”

Chen Li looked unhappy. “Ming Han, you’ve changed. You weren’t like this before…”

Chen Li’s aggrieved expression was utterly adorable. Ming Han raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, just this once. I hope after entering high school, you’ll focus all your energy on studying.”

Ming Han spoke earnestly!

They were still going to the same high school, though likely not in the same class.

Suddenly, Ming Han thought: might there be a new boy who will tutor her?

Maybe there would be! Ming Han felt a bit down. If such a person really appeared, then I would go to your class and politely give him a good beating…