After staying at my Uncle’s for one night, I returned to A University because my thesis was falling behind schedule. My graduation thesis topic was “Analysis of Oligopolistic Monopolies in the Network Economy.” Basically, um, I still had no idea what this title meant. I’d been coasting at the accounting firm until March, hadn’t even started writing, and only now realized how urgent it was. After getting thoroughly intimidated during a call with my thesis advisor, I’d been frantically camping out in the library for several days.
When Xiao Feng’s message came, I was in the library researching, but seeing “Xi Mo Pavilion, need one more player” in the text, I hurriedly borrowed some reference books and rushed off enthusiastically to join them.
Among seniors about to graduate, playing Shengji was one of the most popular activities. Of our six dormmates, only Rong Rong didn’t know how to play. Xiao Feng and I had just learned, while the other three were certified card addicts.
When I eagerly ran to Xi Mo Pavilion, the first thing I saw was Zhuang Xu’s back, with Rong Rong sitting beside him watching the game. Hearing my footsteps, she turned around.
“Xiguang, you’re here.”
“Mm.” I nodded, slowing my pace.
They’d already started playing, so why did they call me?
Xiao Feng looked up and saw me, shouting: “Watermelon, Watermelon, come help me see how to play these cards!”
I walked behind her and glanced at her hand. A terrible set of cards, the hopeless kind. I said, “Just play whatever.”
It was unsalvageable anyway.
Sure enough, Xiao Feng and Si Liang got crushed that round. Zhuang Xu seemed unbothered, while Big Sis, his partner, was overjoyed, cheerfully shuffling the cards and asking me: “Why are you here?”
I was annoyed. “You guys called me, remember?”
Xiao Feng said apologetically, “Sorry, Watermelon. Right after I texted you, we saw Rong Rong and Zhuang Xu coming, so we started playing with them.”
“No problem, treat me to spicy soup tonight. I’ll head back to the dorm to drop off these books.”
As Xiao Feng was protesting loudly, I turned to leave, but Big Sis got a phone call and exclaimed, “That old baldy! Calling me to his office now when I’m on a winning streak!”
“Who is it?” Si Liang asked.
“Mediterranean.” Mediterranean was everyone’s nickname for the department head with his bald spot in the middle.
Big Sis threw down her cards, looked at me, then at Rong Rong, hesitated, and said: “Rong Rong, want to take over?”
Rong Rong shook her head, smiling: “You know I can’t play.”
Big Sis chuckled, then turned to me with a completely different expression, barking orders: “Watermelon, take over, and you better win!”
…Partner up with Zhuang Xu?
I froze, but before I could speak, Si Liang immediately scoffed: “Come on, with her card skills?”
I only learned to play Eighty Points in the first semester of senior year after moving back to the dorm. My skill level matched Xiao Feng’s—rock bottom. Anyone partnered with me suffered, and the short-tempered ones like Big Sis would endlessly complain when I played the wrong cards.
Surely Zhuang Xu’s temper wasn’t that bad?
Pulled down to sit by Big Sis, I shuffled and dealt.
First hand, I was the dealer.
I dreaded being a dealer—afraid of getting caught if I didn’t bury points, afraid of getting flipped if I did. Fortunately, I had great cards: lots of kings, high-value cards, and even consecutive pairs. I confidently buried my cards, hiding all the points at the bottom.
My cards were so good, and Zhuang Xu’s coordination was decent. Xiao Feng and Si Liang could barely defend. Xiao Feng wailed as she got crushed, while Si Liang grumbled.
The cards moved quickly. I had three left, basically a clean sweep. I sighed in relief—finally wouldn’t embarrass myself in front of Zhuang Xu, thank heaven.
Then Si Liang suddenly called out, “Wait, how many cards do you have left?”
“Three.”
“Why do we all have four?”
…
Zhuang Xu reached over to count the buried cards, then looked up: “You buried nine cards.”
Xiao Feng and Si Liang burst out laughing, throwing down their cards. “Automatic forfeit, automatic forfeit!”
Zhuang Xu smiled slightly, skillfully arranging the cards. “Be more careful next time.”
I’d expected at least a cold look if not a scolding. But he seemed in a good mood—was my mistake really that amusing?
On the other hand, everyone had average cards. I carefully watched Zhuang Xu’s plays and barely managed to win.
For each subsequent hand, I was extra cautious, watching what Xiao Feng and Si Liang played, trying to understand Zhuang Xu’s playing style… I’d never concentrated so hard playing cards before. Usually, I just blamed bad cards when I lost, rarely calculating so carefully.
Just as we were about to win hand A, Xiao Feng sighed in resignation, “Hey! You two are too in sync!”
It was a completely innocent comment, but my heart skipped a beat. I instinctively looked up at Zhuang Xu, who was focused on arranging his cards, a faint smile flickering across his lips for an instant.
After smoothly winning hand A, Si Liang threw down her cards. “I’m done. You two treat us to dinner!”
“Huh? Why are we treating?” Shouldn’t the losers be treated?
“We agreed before playing, remember? Winners buy rice bowls.” Si Liang giggled, “Ask Big Sis if you don’t believe me. Zhuang Xu knows too.”
I was floored. I couldn’t help saying to Zhuang Xu: “Then why did you play so seriously? You could have told me—I can’t guarantee winning, but losing I can manage.”
Zhuang Xu smiled slightly and said: “Cheating isn’t good.”
…Was he joking? I skeptically glanced at Rong Rong, who was also smiling. Seems they were both in good moods today—must have had fun yesterday.
This was fine too. I thought, being like this, just casual friends laughing and playing cards together, it’s not bad…
Even if we couldn’t be a couple, it was okay…
“Hey, why so dejected? What’s with that expression?” Xiao Feng mocked me. “Miss Rich Girl, don’t be so stingy. Besides, you got spiritual satisfaction from winning, losing a bit materially brings balance.”
But I was spiritually crushed AND about to be financially robbed!
Grumbling to Old Lin’s Rice Bowls, I ordered pork with dried tofu. Xiao Feng said: “Watermelon, you always eat meat, your meat desire is too strong!”
Meat desire…
*Splutter!*
I was drinking water and choked, coughing non-stop. Sis, there are guys present!
Xiao Feng looked completely innocent. Si Liang smacked her and asked me: “Xiguang, you’ve secured a job, right?”
“Mm.” I nodded, “At the accounting firm where I interned.”
“Family connection?”
“Yeah.”
“In Wuxi?” This question surprisingly came from Zhuang Xu.
I kept nodding.
“So lucky!” Xiao Feng sighed deeply.
“You’re the lucky one, barely scraping into Huazheng Law School.” I glared at her, “Besides, accounting firms are exhausting. They say during busy times you work until 3 AM, and the starting salary is tiny.”
The restaurant was filled with food aromas, making my mouth water. I turned to check if my twice-cooked pork was ready, only to hear Zhuang Xu’s cold voice:
“If you’re not satisfied, find something yourself. What right do you have to be picky about a job handed to you?”