The Game of Life

“I… I…” San was also very conflicted, “Let me think about it for another two days, just give me that much time.”

What is there to think about, just call her now, how long do you plan to think? Till graduation next year? By then the daylilies will have withered!”

“No, no, I need to think it over, calling her suddenly now would be too hasty.” San insisted it was not okay.

“Oh, come on, enough talk, let’s get two bottles of beer and pour them down San’s throat. Alcohol emboldens the cowardly, after two bottles San will have the guts.”

“No, no, I won’t drink; you guys drink.” San kept refusing.

A table of three people was urging him to seize the moment to confess, warning that there would be no second chance after missing out this time, but San was still hesitating.

Just as they were strongly persuading him, Xue Hua came over with a plate of chopped chili fish head and cabbage-stuffed chicken.

“I’m sorry, it’s just my brother, he must really like you guys, insisting I bring these two dishes over to you.” Xue Hua said apologetically.

“We haven’t touched these dishes at all, they were just served; ah, I really am sorry, sometimes when my brother makes a fuss, I can’t calm him down.” Xue Hua didn’t know how to explain this situation to them, she found it quite unbelievable herself.

Although Xue Shaoheng could be stubborn about doing certain things, he never did anything this unreasonable.

“It’s alright, just leave them here.” the eldest said, “No trouble at all.”

^Thankyou so much, I truly am sorry for the bother.” Xue Hua kept thanking

Having a brother like that can be worrisome.” San sighed.

“San, don’t change the subject, we’re talking about you. Really, today is a good opportunity, it’s her birthday, what a great surprise for her, right?” the eldest encouraged.

“I’m just afraid it won’t turn out to be a birthday surprise, more like a birthday scare.” San looked downcast.

“Oh, my temper, I really want to push you to confess face to face. Hey, I remember, I think there’s a ‘fated couple’ set meal or something on the menu, let s order that for San!” the eldest slammed the table.

“Wait, isn’t this that ‘fated couple’ set meal?”

“Yeah, it seems so, quick, Si, check the tablet, is the ‘fated couple’ set meal the chopped chili fish head and cabbage-stuffed chicken?” the eldest’s eyes sparkled.

“Hold on, let me check, where’s that ‘fated couple’ set meal? It seems to be in the specials section.” Si was scrolling furiously through the tablet and finally found the set meal and showed it to the other three.

“It’s this cabbage-stuffed chicken and chopped chili fish head! Look, limited to

5 portions, one less must be this one!” the eldest became excited, “San this is the ‘fated couple’ set meal that fell from the sky, come on, take a bite, finish it and go confess to your Nuannuan!”

San was a bit stunned, never having expected the world to be filled with such coincidences.

“Yes, yes, San, this is fate, this is destiny. It is decided by heaven that you confess today!” Si was extremely excited too.

“This is someone else’s dish, what does it mean if I eat it?” San was still reluctant.

“Didn’t you hear what that lady said? Her brother insisted on sending it over to us, maybe her brother is your Cupid, and these two dishes are the arrows he shot for you. The arrow has been shot over to you, now hurry and catch it!” the eldest started blurting fiction like truth, quite convincingly.

“I, I…”

Right, San, have a taste, and then go make the call.”

“Yes, have a bite of each, then make the call!”

Influenced by his friends, San hesitated for a moment, picked up some chopped chili fish head with his chopsticks, and took a bite of the cabbage-stuffed chicken.

Suddenly, a desire arose within him; he wanted to confess his love for Su Nuan, whom he had secretly loved for two years.

In fact, he had always wanted to, but never had he felt such a strong urge as he did at this moment.

Today was Su Nuan’s birthday, and last year on her birthday, he had wanted to confess his love to her, but missed the chance. If he missed it again this year, he wouldn’t be able to wait till her next birthday, as Su Nuan would be graduating next year.???? °

The four roommates had stayed in Beiping for their internships over the summer break and had gathered together for a meal today just to encourage San to confess to Su Nuan.

“I… I want to confess to Su Nuan!” San finally mustered the courage.

“Holy crap, does this dish really work?” the eldest was shocked.

“It must be a psychological effect.”

With newfound bravery, San took out his phone and called Su Nuan. As soon as he dialed, the call connected within two seconds.

Hello?” Su Nuan’s voice came from the phone, “Hello?”

“Duan Xuanan? Duan Xuanan? Duan Xuanan, are you there? Can you hear me speaking?”

“I can, I can hear you.” Duan Xuanan’s face was tense, and his hand holding the phone was shaking.

“Is something the matter? I’m outside eating with my friends, and it’s a bit noisy here,” Su Nuan said.

“Yes.”

“What’s going on with you today? If you have something to say, just say it,” came the loud voice from the other end of Su Nuan’s phone.

“It’s just that, just that there’s something I want to tell you,” Duan Xuanan swallowed hard.

“What is it? You’re making it all so mysterious.”

It s just, just, just that I wanted to say, happy birthday to you.”

The elder diner at the same table looked at Duan Xuanan with a you-could-be- better expression, wishing he could pour the chopped pepper fish head onto his head to wake him up a bit.

“Ah, oh, thanks, I didn’t expect you to call just for that,” Su Nuan said somewhat surprised. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to hang up.” ’

No, I have something else, I have one more thing,” Duan Xuanan said, his face tense.

“What is it? You’re really acting strangely today, why are you hesitating so much?”

“It’s… I want to ask if you would be my girlfriend?”

“It’s done!” The biggest guy across the table from Duan Xuanan was even more excited, hugging his roommate beside him, happier than when he himself had successfully confessed.

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Duan Xuanan felt a bit disappointed; as expected, it was just his own wishful thinking, a momentary impulse.

“Okay then,” Su Nuan said.

“What?”

“I was just wondering if it was only me having one-sided feelings, getting carried away.”

“Duan Xuanan, I’ve been waiting for this question for a year now.”

Only then did Duan Xuanan start to taste the chopped pepper fish head he had eaten earlier.

Fresh, spicy, tingly.

It was the taste of love.

The call ended.

He was no longer single.

“How did it go, San? What did Su Nuan say?” Si pressed eagerly, seeing Duan Xuanan looking spaced out and thinking he had been rejected and was devastated, he quickly tried to comfort him.

“It’s not a big deal if you got rejected; Su Nuan doesn’t have a boyfriend, right?

That means there’s still a chance!”

“She agreed,” Duan Xuanan said, finally feeling a sense of reality.

“She agreed!” Duan Xuanan was ecstatic.

Involuntarily, Duan Xuanan looked towards Xue Shaoheng; sensing his gaze, Xue Shaoheng turned and gave him a smile.

Suddenly, Duan Xuanan felt that maybe Si was right after all, this man who seemed a bit brain-challenged and acted like a child could really be Cupid, bringing the arrow of love.

“San, this ‘predestined relationship’ meal is amazing! Quick quick quick, Si you should take a few bites too, who knows, after eating you might become single no more!”

“Bullshit, I don’t even have someone I like, what’s there to become single from.”

Right now, Duan Xuanan found everything beautiful, even the way Si swore just now sounded so pleasant.

This restaurant was simply too great, absolutely the best in the world.

“Ding, gained the recognition of a customer, mission progress (2/10).”

Jiang Feng: ???

What was Xue Shaoheng doing outside?

Wait, why did he feel like it was ‘again’?