Chapter 3

Proofreader: Akimi

He was a bit frightened in his heart. Shi Bufan loved saying “scram”, “I will make you cry”, “this boss” etc. He had lost his memory but he still remembered his catchphrases?

But no matter what, Zhen Yuanbai didn’t dare to bring him back to his house. Because the electric bicycle was too slow, it started to wobble back and forth on the road. Zhen Yuanbai felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. Shi Bufan leaned his chin on his shoulders and breathed in his ears. His back suddenly stiffened. “How about…I book a room for you in a hotel…so you can sleep there tonight?”

Shi Bufan suddenly chuckled. Zhen Yuanbai felt the hair on his body stand up and he almost lost balance of the bicycle. Shi Bufan lazily said, “Sure.”

Zhen Yuanbai was about to sigh when he realized that he had forgotten his ID. He asked Shi Bufan, “Did you bring your ID?”

Shi Bufan said slowly, “Nope.”

Zhen Yuanbai went over the possibilities in his mind and really couldn’t find a place to take him to. He dejectedly brought him back to his house. On the way, he intentionally went the long way around, a bit worried that Shi Bufan might keep track of the way to his house and then come over to find him if he remembered everything one day.

When they arrived at the neighborhood, he placed one foot on the ground to balance the bicycle. He softly shrugged his shoulders and Shi Bufan who was laying on him, scrunched his eyebrows and opened his eyes. “We’re here?”

“Mhm…” Zhen Yuanbai said, “Get off. I’m going to bring the electric bicycle into the elevator.”

Shi Bufan got off the bicycle and he looked to the side. Zhen Yuanbai was afraid that he might figure out where his neighborhood was, so he hurriedly tugged on him. “Come this way. We’re going in.”

Shi Bufan was tall and built. When he crossed his arms over his chest, it made Zhen Yuanbai feel pressured in the elevator. He held the electric bicycle and secretly glanced at him. He noticed that there seemed to be allergy symptoms on his face and neck. He became more and more curious.

But since Shi Bufan hadn’t said anything, he didn’t dare ask either. Under the silence, the two arrived at their designated floor. Zhen Yuanbai immediately pushed the electric bicycle out while he covered the house number. At the same time, he unlocked the door and scurried to the side, gesturing for him to enter.

Shi Bufan saw his little movements and lazily tugged the corner of his lip. He walked in casually.

Zhen Youxiu’s middle school and Zhen Yuanbai’s high school were not far from each other. If he was out of class early, he would go ahead and wait for Zhen Yuanbai sometimes. Although he never talked to Shi Bufan before, he had seen him before. He heard some movements so he walked out the room. They made eye contact. Zhen Youxiu scrunched his eyebrows and before he could say something, he saw Zhen Yuanbai rushing over after parking the electric bicycle. He pushed him into the room and said, “I brought my friend over to play. Stay in your room to do homework.”

“I finished my homework.”

“Then play your games.” The two kids of the Zhen Family had great grades. Zhen Pingjin was a part of a gaming company, so he rarely restricted the kids to go online or play games.

Zhen Youxiu tilted his head to the side and looked behind him. Zhen Yuanbai pushed his head back. “Don’t come out.”

Not only was he scared of being beaten up, he was also a bit worried that Shi Bufan might recognize Zhen Youxiu and find someone to beat him up.

He walked out and closed the door for Zhen Youxiu. Who knew that during this time Shi Bufan was strolling around the house as if it was his. He was already laying down on his bed, clearly not taking himself to be a stranger.

When he saw him coming out, Shi Bufan said, “Go pour me a glass of warm water.”

Zhen Yuanbai was unwilling but slowly walked over and poured a glass water for him. Shi Bufan sat up all of a sudden and this scared Zhen Yuanbai, causing him to step back.

“Why are you so scared?” Shi Bufan took out his allergy pills from his pocket and raised his eyebrows. “Was this how we got along with each other in the past?”

“Of course not.” Zhen Yuanbai said, “You were really nice to me in the past.”

“Then what are you scared of?”

“Don’t you have a problem with your brain right now?”

He was a scaredy cat but wasn’t afraid to express his opinions. Shi Bufan shoved the pill in his mouth and gulped it down with water. He lazily glanced at Zhen Yuanbai who pursed his lips. He believed that he should do something. He reached over to pick up the glass but Shi Bufan was quicker. “Why are you so nervous? I’m not done drinking it yet.”

Zhen Yuanbai moved back a step and then another one. His back leaned against the desk. His fingers dug against the drawer.

Shi Bufan finished drinking the water in the glass and said carelessly, “Go and pour me another glass.”

Zhen Yuanbai took the glass from him and poured another glass. When he returned, his phone rang. Ji Yanping had called, asking if Shi Bufan had left with him. He said, “He’s at my house.”

Ji Yanping sighed and said, “As long as he didn’t run off. His parents had been looking for him. How about this? I’ll give you his parents’ phone numbers. When he wants to leave, give them a call so they can come and pick him up, ok?”

It didn’t seem like a great option.

Zhen Yuanbai looked at Shi Bufan who was drinking water hesitatingly. Finally, he said, “Ok.”

After he hung up, Shi Bufan suddenly motioned him to come over. Zhen Yuanbai placed his guards up and subconsciously looked around.

Shi Bufan asked, “Don’t you see the devil on your shoulder?”

“…” Zhen Yuanbai felt goosebumps all over his body from his words. His instant pale face made Shi Bufan burst into laughter. His curled his lips and said, “I’m just joking. Come over and give me my phone.”

Zhen Yuanbai was still shaking. He was a bit angry and asked, “Why?”

Shi Bufan’s smile was still there but it was evident that he was impatient. “Just do as I asked of you, otherwise I’ll beat you up.”

Zhen Yuanbai walked over and gave him his phone. Shi Bufan took it and found his phone number. When his gaze landed on the empty contact, he looked meaningfully at Zhen Yuanbai. “We’re best friends but somehow I didn’t even list you as a contact. Isn’t that strange?”

Zhen Yuanbai snatched his phone back and rambled some nonsense, “Good friends don’t need to rely on their phones. They can just remember each other’s phone numbers off the top of their minds. That’s how you know we placed each other in our hearts…Look, what are you looking at? You told me this.”

Since Shi Bufan lost his memory, he decided to place the blame on him.

Shi Bufan touched his chin and turned off both of their screens. “Fine, tell me what my phone number is.”

“…” Zhen Yuanbai was silent for two seconds before he glared at him. “Are you doubting me? You think that I’m not your best friend?”

“…” His expression was quite convincing. Shi Bufan was dazed for a few seconds by his glare. He originally had doubted him but his suspicion had faded a bit now. “You’re really my best friend?”

Zhen Yuanbai suddenly raised his fist and softly punched Shi Bufan’s chest under his gaze. “Do you recall this action?”

Shi Bufan’s eyelashes flickered. He tried his best to recall this memory and he subconsciously made a fist with his hands. He also punched his chest. Although there wasn’t much memory of this, it felt like his body knew this action. Therefore, he hesitatingly nodded.

Zhen Yuanbai felt more confident now. He took his phone and turned the screen on, scanning through the list of phone numbers. “See, who else besides me had visited you in the hospital before? If I’m not your best friend, who is?”

Shi Bufan licked his lips. He was already a bit doubtful because of his memory loss and now that Zhen Yuanbai had said this, he was scared this was a trick. When he persisted, however, he believed he had over thought it. Zhen Yuanbai continued, “What benefits would I get from pretending to be your best friend? Since the morning, I have been taking care of you. Why would I find work for myself and babysit a stranger?”

He noticed that his attitude determined Shi Bufan’s attitude towards him. Hearing his explanation, Shi Bufan felt a bit guilty. He touched his chin and said, “How come you don’t know I’m allergic to soybean then?”

Zhen Yuanbai was speechless.

His mind went blank for a second before placing the blame on Shi Bufan again. “You are normally an arrogant and fearless person. Who knew that you had an allergy to soybean? We’re best friends but you won’t even tell me you are allergic to soybean. You don’t view me as your true friend, do you?”

“…” Shi Bufan knitted his eyebrows again. There was something wrong with this but he couldn’t explain it.

Zhen Yuanbai acted calm on the surface but his heart was beating rapidly. He rubbed his fingers against his pants and suddenly snatched Shi Bufan’s phone. He quickly entered his phone number and said, “I added my phone number now. Just what exactly were you thinking? You insisted on memorizing my phone number, claiming that’s the way to show our friendship. You also have a lot of weird habits. Only I can stand you and not abandon you after such a long time.”

“We have known each other for a long time?”

Zhen Yuanbai glanced at him and returned his phone. He was becoming slicker with his lies. “Of course we’ve known each other for a very long time. Ever since we were in freshman year, we’ve known each other.”

This was the truth.

Shi Bufan took his phone and tapped on an icon. “How come you’re not on my social media either?”

Zhen Yuanbai looked around and came up with an idea. “Because you deleted me.”

“?”

“Why do you think you lost your memory?” Zhen Yuanbai attempted to form an explanation. “It’s because you fought with me and then you left with your skateboard. It might be because you were too angry so you were going full speed on the skateboard, so you accidentally fell and bumped your head.”

“…” Shi Bufan gradually believed his words. “Why did we fight?”

“Because, because you didn’t know how to do a question. When you asked me, I was teaching someone else. And then you got angry.” Zhen Yuanbai raised his chin, almost believing his own made-up story. After he finished, he purposefully shamed him. “Stingy.”

Shi Bufan was confused.

He glanced at Zhen Yuanbai and felt a headache rising again. “Really?”

“Look at you. You don’t believe me again.” Zhen Yuanbai said, “What would I get from lying to you?”

“…” Shi Bufan squinted his eyes and asked his last question. “How come you didn’t want me to come to your house originally?”

“Because you said I have a tiny house so I was upset with you.”

He reacted quickly and it seemed like the truth. The most important thing was that Shi Bufan believed it was something he would really say.

He finally believed Zhen Yuanbai and laid on the bed. He said, “I’m going to nap for a while. Go buy lunch for me.”

Zhen Yuanbai took out his phone and prepared to order takeout for him. But he didn’t forget to remind him, “I’m your best friend and not your babysitter.”

“Oh.” Shi Bufan rolled over and tugged his blanket along, closing his eyes.

Zhen Yuanbai had become more and more brave with each of his lies. He walked over and pushed Shi Bufan. “What do you want to eat?”

Shi Bufan was irritated. “Anything.”

“There’s no anything. But there’s poop.”

Shi Bufan suddenly turned around and looked at him.

Zhen Yuanbai jumped and trembled. He moved his phone away from him and said weakly, “Then I’ll order spicy hotpot and a bowl of rice. Is that enough?”