[At Yu Han and Yang Zi's home]
Yang Zi was waiting for Yu Han to come, his gaze was fixed on the door as he was roaming back and forth with tensed face.
And then, the door swung open with the soft sigh,
Yu Han walked through the door, a bright smile still plastered on his face,
"I'm back."
Yang Zi's worried expression deepened. "What's gotten into you?" Yang Zi asked, confusion etched on his features.
Just moments before, Yu Han had stormed out of the hospital, his face dark with anger and frustration. But now, he seemed like a different person altogether.
" What happened to me?? I'm fine. Why are you asking me this...?
Yang Zi's curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but ask, "Did the store manager decide not to fire you? Or is there something else going on?"
He studied Yu Han's face, trying to read between the lines.
Yu Han's smile only grew wider, and Yang Zi's bewilderment turned to amusement.
"Tell me, what happened?" Yang Zi pressed, his voice laced with laughter.
"I resigned from my job." Yu Han said in calm voice.
Yang Zi's expression transformed from amusement to concern as he processed the news.
"You resigned?" he asked, his tone measured.
Not because he disagreed with Yu Han's decision, but because he couldn't understand why his friend seemed so... elated.
"You're happy about this?" Yang Zi probed gently, curiosity getting the better of him.
Despite his own reservations, he wanted to support Yu Han's choice. "What happened at the store?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of interest and encouragement.
Yang Zi's face showed a deepening understanding as he listened to Yu Han's explanation, his support and solidarity evident in his posture and gaze.
"I'm here for you, no matter what," he said, his words a testament to their friendship.
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[At Li Hao's home]
Li Hao was sleeping in his room, until his sleep got distorted by ringing of his phone which was kept on bedside table. He streched his hand.
He groggily picked up the phone, his voice husky from sleep. "Hello?" he mumbled.
The sound of his father's voice on the other end jolted him awake. "I've arranged a meeting with Mr. Korn," his father said,
His tone firm and expectant. "This time, I'd appreciate it if you didn't disappoint me."
Li Hao's response was silence, followed by the sound of the call being abruptly disconnected.
He lay back in bed, the phone still clutched in his hand, his mind slowly processing the weight of his father's words.
In a while, Gang Zi knocked on his door,
"Mr.Li, your father have arranged the meeting with Mr. Korn."
Li Hao stoop up with messy hair and walked towards bathroom and said with deep voice,"Don't call that bastard my father."
Gang Zi stood there bewildered.
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[At college]
Yu Han and Yang Zi was on their way to classroom, until they felt a heavy hand clap down on their shoulders, making them both jolt slightly.
Jiang Shao grinned mischievously, his eyes sparkling with amusement, as he leaned his entire weight onto them.
"You lovebirds are always glued to each other," he teased, his voice dripping with playfulness. "You ghosted me for two whole days, and I've been dying over here! What's with the PDA, guys?"
Jiang Shao's grip on their shoulders tightened, and he pulled them closer, his voice taking on a mock-accusatory tone.
"I thought we were a package deal – the Three Musketeers, remember? You two can't ditch me like that!"
Yu Han and Yang Zi: "...."
Yu Han and Yang Zi quickly shook Jiang Shao off their shoulders, laughing as they did so.
"We're not lovebirds, okay?" they chimed in unison, rolling their eyes good-naturedly.
Jiang Shao chuckled, his mischievous grin still plastered on his face.
But his expression quickly turned serious. "Where have you guys been? I've been trying to reach you for days," he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the bandage on Yu Han's neck. His eyes widened, and he reached out to gently touch the bandage.
"Hey...What happened to you?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. "You're hurt!"
Jiang Shao's tone was no longer playful, but laced with genuine concern for his friend's well-being. Yu Han and Yang Zi exchanged a glance.
"Just got into some accident... nothing serious.... don't worry.." Yu Han said in casual tone.
Jiang shao pressed his bandage. Yu Han winced in pain.
"Ouchh..."
" You said nothing serious". Jiang shao said in playful voice.
"You asshole.....you need a good beating..." Yu Han cursed and started chasing Jiang shao.
From behind Yang Zi shouted,
"Hey Guys, let's go to canteen... I'm hungry".
The three friends arrived at the canteen, and Jiang Shao's eyes widened as he scanned the menu. "Let's order everything!" he exclaimed, laughing.
Yu Han said,"I would like to eat meat".
Yang Zi gave him a sharp look," you can only eat congee (rice porridge)".
Yu Han protested," I'm starving Yang Yang.. please let me eat na".
Yang Zi didn't utter a word.
But when the food arrived, Yang Zi was firm with Yu Han. "Only liquids and semi-liquids for you, no solids," he said, his tone brooking no argument.
Jiang Shao chuckled, his eyes darting between the two friends. "You lovebirds never miss a chance to show your love in public, do you?" he teased, grinning.
Yu Han and Yang Zi exchanged a look, and their faces darkened in unison. They shot Jiang Shao a death glare, but he just laughed louder, clearly enjoying the banter.
"Come on, Yang Zi, you're not his mom," Jiang Shao joked, but Yang Zi just gave him a stern look, unwavering in his determination to take care of Yu Han.
After finishing their meal, they paid the bill, and Yu Han discreetly patted his pockets, realizing he was short on cash.
"Time to find a new job, pronto," he thought to himself, making a mental note to step up his job search.
The trio headed to class and settled into their favorite back bench.
While Yang Zi and Jiang Shao focused on the lesson, Yu Han snuck a peek at his phone, his eyes scanning job listings online.
He discreetly applied to a few positions that caught his eye, his thumbs flying across the screen as he typed out applications.
As the lecture droned on, Yu Han's job search continued, his fingers moving stealthily over the keyboard.
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Days turned into weeks, and Yu Han's job hunt continued without any promising leads. Despite applying to numerous positions, he hadn't received a single response.
The silence was deafening, and worry began to gnaw at him.
"How would he manage his expenses?" Tuition fees were looming, and his savings were dwindling rapidly.
What weighed heavily on his mind was his dependence on Yang Zi, who had been covering most of their living expenses – food, groceries, bills, and more. The fact that Yang Zi hadn't asked for a single penny added to Yu Han's anxiety. He felt guilty, knowing he couldn't pull his weight financially.
The pressure was mounting, and Yu Han's frustration grew with each passing day.
He needed a breakthrough, and fast, or he'd be stuck in this financial quagmire forever.
Yang Zi couldn't take much more of Yu Han's gloomy face. "Enough is enough," he thought, deciding to take matters into his own hands. It was a weekend, and he had the perfect plan to lift Yu Han's mood. He dialed Jiang Shao's number.
"Hey, Shao! I need your help," Yang Zi said, his voice filled with determination.
"What's up? You sound serious," Jiang Shao replied, his tone curious.
"Let's take Yu Han to the club tonight. He's been down lately, and I think a night out will do him some good," Yang Zi suggested.
Jiang Shao's response was immediate. "Count me in! I'll be there in an hour. We'll get him out of that funk!"
When Jiang Shao arrived at their place, Yang Zi greeted him with a nod. "Let's go talk to him," he said, and the two of them headed to Yu Han's room.
"Hey, Yu Han, we're going out tonight," Yang Zi announced, trying to sound casual.
Yu Han looked up from his book, skeptical. "No way. I don't feel like it."
Jiang Shao jumped in, his voice persuasive. "Come on, man! A night out will be good for you. You need a break from all that job hunting stress."
Yu Han shook his head. "I don't know...I'm just not in the mood."
Yang Zi and Jiang Shao exchanged a look, and Yang Zi tried a different approach. "We're not taking no for an answer. You need this, trust us."
Yu Han sighed, his resistance weakening. Jiang Shao pounced on the opportunity. "We'll pick you up at 8. Be ready!"
Finally, Yu Han relented. "Fine...I'll go."
Yang Zi grinned, relieved. "That's the spirit! We'll get you out of this funk in no time."
With Yu Han on board, the three friends made plans for a night out that would hopefully lift Yu Han's spirits and take his mind off his troubles.