Trafford’s Trading Club

Officer Ma, Ma Houde, was an honest man. A mere bottle of ice beer couldn’t satisfy his craving after lying in the hospital for so long. Therefore, he asked for a bottle of spirits from his wife, saying that Ye Yan would pay the bill no matter the price because that guy earns more than him, plus more bonus and better performance.

Ma Houde was not jealous at all; instead, he was happy for his good brother and proud of his achievements, speaking the words from his heart that Ye Yan was the second one he admired in his life. At that dinner, he drank almost 2/3 bottle of the spirits himself.

Luo Qiu couldn’t remember the last time he had been in such a lively atmosphere for more than an hour. He didn’t feel any discomfort even though he used to be alone.

He was like an innocent kid who just discovered how to climb mountains, drinking tea made by Ye Yan, and listening to their bragging. Some which he had heard before, some which were new to him, which slowly deepen their friendship.

Yet, nobody mentioned the taboo words. Luo Qiu knew everybody took his mood into consideration, so they avoid talking about the person whom could touch upon Luo Qiu’s emotion.

Not long after, Ma Houde drank too much. He suddenly knocked the glass with his chopsticks, making belches as he shambled to stand up. “Listen! These days… I really want to thank my wife for the thorough care every day!”

Instead of continuing proposing a toast, unexpectedly he said, “For appreciating her hardworking, I want to sing a song for her!!!”

Ren Ziling said f*ck on the spot, her face reddened after drinking 3 cups of spirits. Then, she hurriedly covered her ears and stayed far away.

Yet, Ma Houde didn’t care at all, merely glaring at her before walking to the TV to choose a song. He picked up the microphone, “I’ve heard my favorite song in the hospital these days! Now I’m singing that song for you brats, don’t laugh!”

He not only had the honor of the top sharpshooter and the heaviest smoker, Officer Ma used to be a karaoke master when he was young.

This restaurant had a long history, its decorations were styled from a dozen years ago and had quite an old TV screen. It definitely couldn’t compare to a professional karaoke room. Yet, perhaps due to it bringing up the old memories of that time, Luo Qiu saw that his wife showed a ridiculing face, yet her look was expectative.

Ye Yan didn’t go to see; instead, he lowered his head, playing around with the glass that there still had liquor in it.

“If I didn’t meet you, where… will I be, how is… my life…”

There might be such time a dozen years ago, probably before Luo Qiu was born… A circle of friends, fighting in jest or for fun.

It said ten years caused a cycle and two decades creates a replacement.

Luo Qiu thought it was still their time now.

…

“I will send Old Ma back. Ye Yan, come to visit when you are free. I’ll cook sweet and sour carp for you!” Ma’s wife said.

With his wife’s support, Ma Houde staggered to walk out. Luo Qiu asked for a blanket from the server, covering it on Ren Ziling, who fell asleep on the sofa due to drinking too much.

“She’s hard to take care of.” Ye Yan remade a pot of tea, asking Luo Qiu to sit by him, “But she’s not bashful and said she’ll take care of you her whole life.”

Luo Qiu didn’t say something. He heard the first half of this sentence several times, yet the second half to him was brand new.

Ye Yan sipped a little of the tea, “You act like your deceased mother, not your father.”

Luo Qiu had absolutely no memory of his biological mother, except a description from his father who was said totally different from Ren Ziling.

He didn’t want this meeting to sink into such a heavy atmosphere, so he laughed, “Seems I should exercise more.”

Ye Yan looked at Luo Qiu’s eyes, which were serious and stuffy, like a stone statue. However, he suddenly laughed and pinched Luo Qiu’s nose, sighing with emotion, “I thought you forgot how to make jokes.”

Luo Qiu gave a start, it was true that the times he made jokes these years could be counted on his fingers.

Ye Yan shook his head, asking suddenly, “Are you still playing with guns? The membership card I send you has a lifetime validity.”

Luo Qiu thought for a second and nodded, because he had touched true guns twice within this period. One was Jin Zifu’s, and the other belonged to that Ms. Nun.

Then Ye Yan asked once more, “What about the saxophone?”

Luo Qiu nodded again.

While Ye Yan touched his hands, saying low, “But I just take guns these years.”

That day, his father was sacrificed in a mission… and in the same team, a female agent passed away due to serious injury after two days.

From Ye Yan’s expression, Luo Qiu knew Ye Yan still loved that sacrificed lady agent though years passed.

“Some day.” Ye Yan looked at Luo Qiu with a soft laugh, “Come with me to shoot when I’m free.”

“No problem.”

…

…

In Tai Yinzi’s perspective, Zhuge was a hopeless man. The old ghost had tried to catch up this century but he couldn’t learn everything of this time.

Tai Yinzi felt the people now, especially men, had no manliness and aspiration as the men 500 years before.

A good man should be brave and ambitious!

Even though he thought so, the bet was still going on.

It was hard to judge who would win until the end. If Zhuge changed slightly, he might lose.

‘Since it was so, then just waking him up from this fond dream might work?’ Tai Yinzi sneakily left Zhuge, with an insidious sneer.

…

Zhuge was strolling in the park, wracking his brains to find some conversation topics.

He had no experience in this aspect…And, there must be a large amount of men like him, who didn’t know what to say when being with girls.

“Well, Nanako, are you tired?” after a while of consideration, a sentence was squeezed out from Zhuge’s mouth.

“Not at all.”

“Yeah… we didn’t walk for too long.” Zhuge touched his head embarrassedly.

What should he say? No matter what the question was, Nanako would reply him at once… However, Zhuge had no idea about how to go on the topic.

Indeed… it was hard to get along with a girl.

“Let’s take a seat over there…”

“OK!”

‘Cheer up!’ Zhuge encouraged himself quietly… yet now, his hair had been wet by the sudden ‘rain’.

Zhuge stared blankly. With disappointment, he looked at the water sprinkler among the plants nearby which was broken at present. It sprayed water crazily on his head, making it seem like it was raining.

“Ah, quickly run!” Zhuge shouted unwittingly.

“I… I’m wet. I’ll go over there to wipe myself.” Nanako suddenly hung her head, running away from Zhuge’s side.

Zhuge was stunned… this was the first time for him to see such a panicked expression from her, “Why is Nanako…”

There was no toilet nearby. He saw Nanako ran and hid herself behind a tree, so he walked towards it without thought.

His curiosity had been aroused by some reason, so he was gingerly peeping at her aside.

Nanako should not find him.

Witnessing Nanako squat on the ground… Zhuge saw everything little by little.

Abruptly, Zhuge felt his heart beat so crazily… the terror almost had him scream loud.

Zhuge covered his mouth tightly by his hands, crouching down at one blow, who dared not to see what he witnessed.

He felt an instinctive fear.

What he observed… was that Nanako squatted on the ground, and removed her head from her body!

She was wiping her face slowly…

She was not… not human…