When we got to the cashier, Ai Mi insisted on paying for my dinner and onions.
I told her that we should just pay for our own stuff, but she said: “Everyone around me was already bribed by my mom, all the students at school also became her spy. So I have to move first and bribe a strange fellow like you first. It doesn’t seem like someone like you can be bribed, so I’m going to start small then slowly develop you into my loyal manservant!”
Hey, is it okay to reveal your true intentions? Also, who’s your manservant? I don’t want to be placed on equal terms with Shu Sha’s number one loyal dog gla.s.ses bro!
Ai Mi sneakily laughed while paying.
“Hehehe, don’t you guys have a saying: If you accept someone’s kindness, you must pay them back in full?”
As expected of level 10 Chinese, she used the proverb perfectly.
I separated our stuff into two different plastic bags and walked out of the supermarket with one in each hand.
Ai Mi’s bag is pretty heavy due to her two 2.5L bottles of c.o.ke. Although it’s not much for me, if I let Ai Mi carry it herself, I’m afraid it will be very difficult.
“Where are you going? Are you returning to QingZi Academy’s dormitory? I can send you to the main entrance.”
QingZi academy’s security is very overbearing, any students from a different school are suspected, it’s even more difficult to get inside.
“Hehehe, you’re evolving into a manservant as expected.” Ai Mi thought aloud.
“Ah?”
“It’s nothing, follow me and stroll for a bit, I still haven’t thought about where I should go yet.”
“I’ll look like an idiot taking a stroll with 2 shopping bags.”
“Nonsense, protect my chips and I’ll give you even more benefits in the future.” Ai Mi said that as if I was yearning for those future benefits.
Night enveloped the city overhead, the streetlights also started to light up. Ai Mi took tiny steps while humming an English song. It sounded quite nice, even if I couldn’t understand anything. As expected of someone who’s released an alb.u.m before.
“Ah—-!” Ai Mi suddenly realized as she pounded her right fist into her left hand.
“—-We might as well go to a hotel!”
Her voice was very loud and made everyone surrounding us to turn and look at her.
People started to discuss quietly.
“Hey, hey, is that girl’s hair dyed?”
“Learning bad things at such a young age, is that man standing next to her… a high school student?”
“Compensated dating between an elementary school girl and a high school student, what has our society become…”
Because I had a large stature and a solemn face, I’m often mistaken for a high school student. As for Ai Mi, first year of middle school is not far off from elementary school. She’s also skipped grades since she’s only 12, normally she would be in grade 6.
I don’t know whether Ai Mi heard the conversations of the pa.s.ser-bys, but she had an expression of excited to do bad things.
“Quiet down! If you’re not returning to your dorm, why are you going to a hotel?”
“But I can’t do something like that in a dormitory!”
“What kind of thing! Speak clearly!”
“Although I can do it right now on the streets, it’s still my first time, I want to be more serious…”
“What can you do on the streets but not in your dormitory? Doesn’t that sound strange?”
“It’s obviously eating chips.” Ai Mi looked at my nervous face and thought I was making a fuss over nothing.
“Everyone at school has already been bribed so I can’t bring my chips back to school.”
Although other than chips, Ai Mi also bought c.o.ke from the supermarket. Maybe it’s because she’s already tried c.o.ke before, but she was placing heavy emphasis on the chips.
“Chips seem to be something you have to enjoy while laying on the couch and watching TV. I plan to find a hotel with a TV and large sofa and enjoy it to the fullest extent! Accompany me! If you’re good, I can even share some of my chips!”
Who wants your chips! Why’d your face look like it was in pain when you said you’ll share the chips! Where’s the person who was tossing 1000 dollars around generously?
“Next up is to find a 5-star hotel. I heard that the hygiene and star standards here are very inflated…would a 5-star hotel have a TV and sofa?”
You don’t even need a 5-star hotel! If you just want a TV and sofa any small roadside hotel would do! Do you think this is Beijing or Shanghai? Why in the world would we have that many 5-star hotels! We only have 2 or 3 of those downtown.
“That’s right, let’s make a phone call and ask the hotel to pick us up!” Ai Mi said as she retrieved a pink cell phone from her bag.
“Manservant, is the phone number for inquiring 114?” Ai Mi turned to ask me.
If you already understand so much why are you asking me? Also, it’s not 114, it’s 110! Who’s your manservant? I was kind enough to help you carry the bag since it looked heavy. Do you think you can treat me like a manservant just over something as insignificant as you helping me pay earlier? I’ll return your money. I won’t sell my pride for so little money!
Suddenly, Ai Mi’s cell phone started ringing a pleasant tune.
Before Ai Mi could even respond, a black car stopped under the streetlight across the street. It stopped 6 cm away from the sidewalk. Based on the exterior and horsepower, it might even contain the blood of a racecar. It kind of looks like Batman’s Batmobile. I don’t know much about cars so I don’t know what kind of luxury car this is, I can only see the silver shield-like logo on the hood of the car.
It’s not the 5-star hotel, right? Can they guess a client’s intentions even without calling? What kind of nature-defying technology is that!
No! Someone got off…King Kong?
His complexion was darker than the car, he wore a tie and a bodyguard’s suit. When he stood up straight he was almost as tall as half the streetlight. He had an unsightly scar on his face, his eyes were small, and his pupils were small making his sclera more p.r.o.nounced. He was currently scanning his surroundings with a serious expression.
Ai Mi yelped, turned and ran after seeing him but she was caught like an eagle catching a chick.
“Peng TouSi, let me go! I order you to let me go!” Ai Mi punched and kicked him relentlessly.
“Miss Ai Mi’er please forgive me!”
Peng TouSi singlehandedly raised her up and tossed her into the back of the car, closed the door then locked it with his electronic keys.
Ai Mi stuck her small head out of the window urgently pointed at the shopping bag in my hand.
“That shopping bag has something that belongs to me! I have to take it back!”
Peng TouSi looked at me up and down.
What an oppressing feeling.
Yet, unexpectedly it wasn’t as I imagined of someone who mixed with death wrestling for many years. It wasn’t a violent and ruthless pressure developed after years of getting your hand soaked in blood.
It was somewhat serene.
Is it because he was gunned down once and after coming back from the gates of h.e.l.l he achieved inner peace? Although he had an unsightly scar on his face, you could feel his loyalty to Ai Mi’s mom as well as his love and concern for Ai Mi.
I guess it’s good that he came to pick up Ai Mi.
“Young man, what’s inside the plastic bag?”
When he first opened his mouth to speak, it wasn’t very good Chinese, but it was enough to understand. Did he self-study because Ai Mi can speak Chinese? What a responsible and diligent bodyguard.
“It’s some snacks Ai Mi bought, why don’t you let her take it home?”
Peng TouSi stopped for a bit when he heard me call Miss Ai Mi’er as Ai Mi, but he didn’t dig any deeper.
“Does the bag…contain junk food?”
I laughed bitterly unable to respond.
“Miss Ai Mi’er’s mom prohibits her from eating junk food!” Peng TouSi said as she turned to look at Ai Mi who currently had a face of despair.
“I definitely wont let you touch unhealthy foods! As for that bag—-”
Peng TouSi pointed in my direction.
“—-I’ll just let this strong young man take it away!”
Eh? I understand you not allowing Ai Mi to take the chips, but why did you have to add ‘strong’ when referring to me? It feels uncomfortable! It’s like you picked up a rose in the wild, handed it to the girl next to you and said, “Please accept this beautiful lady!”
Peng TouSi you just blushed didn’t you! Even though you have a dark complexion, even at night, I slightly saw your face turning red!
What the h.e.l.l do you want to do to me! I feel very unsafe after being complimented by a 2m tall muscle man! You’ve achieved inner peace after encountering a life and death situation but who said you can blush at me! d.a.m.n h.o.m.o, go find your true love somewhere else!
After securing Ai Mi in the back seat, Peng TouSi got onto the front pa.s.senger’s seat and ordered the driver to drive.
The engine rumbled, the black car did a beautiful turn and sped away from me in a blink of an eye.
Peng TouSi also left a warm smile while bidding farewell.
I trembled.
“My chips~~~~~~”
Ai Mi’s hands and face were pressing on the rear window while making a sorrowful cry.
“Give it back, chips ~~~~! Chips~~~~! Also, my c.o.ke!”
Tears were gushing out, it was like she was separated in life and death, to part forever with her lover.
Though, the one she couldn’t give up on wasn’t me, but the bag of snacks in my hand.
In the end, Ai Mi was still driven away while bawling.
What’s so good about chips anyways? Is something better when you can never have it?
Since chips and c.o.ke takes a while before they expire, I’ll leave them at home for now and if I get the chance I’ll ask Ai Mi to come and eat it.