Chapter 1: Wish God Above

[Wanna fight? Old place.]

A text message flashed on his phone. Who the fuck still used text messages to communicate these days? Ran Ting could figure out who it was with his toes.

He blew out a puff of smoke, pinched the end of the cigarette between his fingers, and replied: [Nope. It’s my birthday today, don’t fuck with me.]

The other side didn’t reply. Ran Ting waited a moment, then scrolled up through their text history.

Jie Zhishen: [Wanna fight? Old place.]
Ran Ting: [Yeah.]

Ran Ting: [Wanna fight? Old place.]
Jie Zhishen: [Yeah.]

Ran Ting: [Wanna fight? Old place.]
Jie Zhishen: [Yeah.]

Ran Ting: [Wanna fight? Old place.]
Jie Zhishen: [Ten minutes.]
Ran Ting: [Hurry the fuck up.]

Jie Zhishen: [Wanna fight? Old place.]
Ran Ting: [Yeah.]
–
As far as the eye could see, it was all about scheduling fights. The screen was filled with the same six-character phrase and replies that were concise to the extreme, like spies exchanging code words.

It wasn’t that the two of them held some deep-seated grudge. It was just that they’d taken an instant dislike to each other on the first day of high school, bumped into each other in the hallway, and after three seconds of eye contact, simultaneously cursed, Dumbass. After that, they were constantly competing, both openly and secretly. Over time, the feud was cemented.

Ran Ting still remembered the reason for their first scheduled fight. The goddess he had been chasing for a year actually went and confessed to Jie Zhishen. As a result, that dog Jie Zhishen rejected her without even batting an eyelid, causing the goddess to fall into a slump and promptly arrange to study abroad, never to be heard from again.

To avenge his goddess, Ran Ting had taken the initiative to schedule a fight with Jie Zhishen.

And that dog had actually agreed readily.

That time, they fought to a draw.

After that came the second time, the third time…

On the day of their high school graduation, Ran Ting couldn’t have been more thrilled at the thought of never seeing Jie Zhishen again. He was so thrilled he jerked off that night. However, when university started, he was dumbfounded.

That dog had gotten into the same university, the same major, and the same class as him. Even their student ID numbers were next to each other.

Fuck, he still couldn’t shake him.

So they scheduled another fight.

However, the two of them had a tacit understanding when they fought: no hitting the face, no touching vital spots, and no weapons. To call it fighting was a stretch; it was more like they were just making life difficult for each other.

Whenever Ran Ting felt that Jie Zhishen was having it too good, he would always schedule a meet-up.

His phone vibrated. Jie Zhishen had replied with two words: [Not good.]

Ran Ting let out a cryptic snort, stuffed his phone into his pants pocket, and stuck the cigarette back in his mouth.

Not good? He could suck it up. If he wanted a fight, he’d have to find him first.

Ting-ge— Ting-ge—!

Just as he finished his cigarette, Li Zheng and a few friends finally arrived. They were all wearing matching white short-sleeved shirts and carrying gifts and a cake, waving from a distance.

Ran Ting, who had already been waiting for ten minutes, said unhappily, What took you so long? Is it reasonable to make the birthday boy wait for you?

Aiya, there was traffic on the way.

Calm down, Ting-ge. We have a little surprise for you!

Ran Ting said casually, What surprise?

Li Zheng led the others to stand in a row, counted to three, and they all turned around in unison.

A large character was printed on the back of each person’s T-shirt. Read together, they spelled out ‘Happy Birthday Ran Ting’.

Fuck, Ran Ting cursed with a laugh. Aren’t you guys cheesy.

The group entered the hotel together, laughing and joking all the way. When they reached the door of the private room they had booked long ago, their steps halted, and their smiles vanished.

Jie Zhishen, dressed in a black T-shirt and black pants, was leaning against the door of the private room, a kraft paper bag dangling from the hand in his pocket.

His eyelids were lowered. Hearing the commotion, he slowly raised them and shot Ran Ting a glance.

Although Ran Ting was very reluctant to admit it, he had to: that dog Jie was handsome as fuck. So handsome that Ran Ting even wanted to borrow that face from him for a few days.

Holy shit. Li Zheng was completely shocked by Jie Zhishen’s arrival. Ting-ge, don’t you and Jie Zhishen have a blood feud, like he killed your father and stole your wife?! Why’d you invite him to your birthday?

Who the fuck invited him.

Ran Ting pushed Li Zheng aside and stepped up to Jie Zhishen. What are you doing standing here like a statue? Door god?

What do you think. Jie Zhishen’s gaze was like he was looking at an idiot.

Was I not clear enough in the text? Ran Ting sneered and said, enunciating each word, Today, no fight.

We’ve been doing this for three years. Have I ever stood you up? Jie Zhishen straightened up. He had very faint double eyelids, visible only upon close inspection, so when he looked down, his eyes would tighten into a pair of aloof single eyelids, making him look hard to mess with.

I said, it’s my birthday today. Seeing you puts me in a bad mood.

Who cares if you’re in a good mood or not.

Jie Zhishen placed the paper bag in his hand on the floor and said, Let’s make it quick.

Oh, I’m about to lose my temper. Li Zheng flared up. He rolled up his non-existent sleeves and said into Ran Ting’s ear, Ting-ge, Jie Zhishen is clearly here to cause trouble, picking your birthday of all days. Don’t be afraid, he’s alone, and there are a lot of us! If we have to fight, we’ll fight!

Would I be afraid?

Ran Ting pushed away Li Zheng’s approaching head and looked straight into Jie Zhishen’s eyes. Your call. Let’s make it quick.

Ten minutes later, the intense battle ended with Jie Zhishen pinning Ran Ting against the wall.

Ran Ting had lost.

Fuck your dad, Jie Zhishen! I wasn’t in top form today! Ran Ting said, panting heavily and fuming. It’s my birthday, and you couldn’t even let me win!?

Why should I?

Jie Zhishen casually picked up the paper bag from the floor and tossed it at Ran Ting. To the loser. A reward for you.

Ran Ting caught it instinctively. It was only after Jie Zhishen had turned to leave with his hands in his pockets that he reacted. He slammed the thing onto the ground and gave it a kick, sending it flying several meters away. What is this piece of junk!

The contents of the bag fell out from Ran Ting’s kick. When Li Zheng and the others saw the high-end shoebox, their eyes widened. Holy shit, Ting-ge! Those look like the limited-edition custom sneakers.

…What?

The group scrambled to pick up the shoebox. It really was the recently popular and hard-to-buy sneakers.

Everyone except Ran Ting was so excited they were about to jump up and down. Losing a fight to Jie Zhishen gets you a pair of sneakers with a market price of two hundred thousand! This is so fucking worth it!

All of you, get lost!

The only words Ran Ting could hear were ‘losing a fight to Jie Zhishen’. This was an utter disgrace—

He snatched the shoes, threw them into the trash can along with the paper bag, and shoved open the door to the private room. All of you, get in here and eat!

Li Zheng and the others exchanged glances, then, as if by telepathy, reached their devilish claws toward the trash can.

Without turning his head, Ran Ting shouted, I dare any of you to pick it up—

How could a pair of sneakers be more important than their brother? They reluctantly gave up. Once the door to the private room was closed, the earlier incident vanished like smoke. They were all grinning again, celebrating Ran Ting’s birthday.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Zheng placed the cake on the table and stuck nine candles in it.

Ting-ge! It’s almost midnight. Quick, make a wish, make a wish.

Ran Ting had lived for nineteen years and had never believed in this stuff.

He stopped Li Zheng’s hand as he was about to light the candles. Alright, the cake is sickly sweet, I don’t like it. You all should head back. I’ll call you guys a car. It’s getting late, and you have class tomorrow.

The group was quite full and sleepy from the drinks. Since the birthday boy had said so, they bid each other farewell and left one after another.

Soon, only Ran Ting was left in the private room. He stared at the cake in front of him and muttered, What birthday wish, that’s just to fool kids… I don’t, don’t believe in it.

Ran Ting had drunk a bit too much, and his head was so heavy he almost face-planted on the floor. Why isn’t the car here yet!

He opened his phone and saw that he had only been focused on calling cars for others and hadn’t called one for himself.

He called one now. While waiting for the car, Ran Ting looked at the pile of birthday gifts in the corner. Remembering something, he bolted towards the trash can outside the private room.

It was empty. A new trash bag had been put in at some point.

Fuck.

Ran Ting gritted his teeth. Such expensive shoes, why did he have to throw them away? He could have sold them even if he didn’t wear them.

But then he thought again, this was a trophy of shame! It was better to throw it away.

The two little voices in his head fought for a while. The phone in his pocket rang; the car he called had arrived at the hotel entrance.

I’ll be right out.

Just as Ran Ting hung up, he turned around and happened to see a janitor pushing a trash cart towards the elevator.

Without a second thought, Ran Ting chased after them. He finally dug the shoes out from several large bags of trash.

Protected by the paper bag and shoebox, the shoes were clean and undamaged.

Ran Ting canceled the ride-share, tipped the driver double, and, carrying the shoes, returned to the private room once more.

That bastard Jie Zhishen. It was bad enough that he loved to find trouble with him on a normal day, but he wouldn’t even let him off on his birthday, making him lose face in front of his brothers.

Ran Ting silently picked up the lighter on the table and lit all nine candles that Li Zheng had placed.

If making a wish really worked, then he—

Ran Ting closed his eyes, piously clasping his hands together.

‘Wish God above, this is the first time I’m making a birthday wish. If it can really come true, then I hope that starting tomorrow, Jie Zhishen will be captivated by my charm.’

The hands on the wall clock pointed to twelve. Ran Ting’s eyes were still closed as he continued his wish: ‘It would be best if he knelt at my feet and called me Big Brother! Worshipped me! Admired me!’

Opening his eyes, Ran Ting blew out all the candles in one breath.

💝 Support the Team

soowe05

✍️ Translator

💙 PayPal