Chapter 415 - 265: Commotion

Chapter 415: Chapter 265: Commotion

Lin Chu carried his dog, scrolling through his phone as he wandered through the large open-air market.

At that moment, in the group chat with his core group of bros, messages started popping up one after another.

Lu Ming: "Damn, you really went on a road trip? I thought you were going back home."

Lin Chu’s lone-wolf act was seriously rubbing them the wrong way.

After all, the guys had talked about taking a trip together many times.

And now, here was Lin Chu, taking off all by himself.

What’s so great about some stupid MBA program, anyway? It’s boring as hell.

Lin Chu replied with a grin, "You’re a big boy now. Take care of yourself while Daddy’s away."

’It wouldn’t have been a problem to bring them along,’ he thought. ’It’d definitely be more fun than traveling alone.’

’But if the whole crew got together, it’d just be feasting and messing around all day, then karaoke, clubbing, and poker all night. How would that be any different from being back in Peng City?’

’He’d come on this trip wanting some peace and quiet, to breathe some fresh air for a change.’

"Just ignore him. He’s probably on his man-period. Bet he went home and got into another fight with his dad. What a drama queen."

Wang Zhefei commented.

He knew Lin Chu inside and out.

Back in their school days, Lin Chu never wanted to go home for the holidays. Even when he did, he was constantly on edge. Wang Zhefei’s analysis was simple—Lin Chu came from a family that lacked love and money. Nowadays, he wasn’t short on money anymore, but he was definitely still short on love.

It was obvious.

What player *wasn’t* starved for love?

It was that lack of love that made them so greedy, so pathologically driven to chase every fleeting pleasure. They searched for a trace of love in a quagmire of desire, but it was like drinking saltwater to quench thirst—the more they drank, the thirstier they became.

Of course, these words would hit way too close to home, so Wang Zhefei had never said them to Lin Chu directly, only hinted at them.

The reason was simple enough.

When a man is young, he can admit to being poor, he can admit to being a bad person, but he will never, ever admit to being vulnerable.

Neither societal expectations nor his own pride would allow for it.

But that was something he had to figure out on his own, to spend a lifetime healing from a broken home.

Fortunately, Lin Chu had money now.

So no major disasters were likely to happen.

Lin Chu saw his message: "Screw you!"

Just then, Lin Chu suddenly got a voice call from Li Kai. It wasn’t in the group chat, but a private call.

’What does he want?’

He answered with a smile.

"What’s up?"

Li Kai chuckled. "Nothing much. Just finished eating and thought I’d see how you’re doing. You out on a trip?"

"Yeah."

Lin Chu nodded. ’The timing of this call feels a little strange,’ he thought. ’Seems like he has something he wants to tell me.’

Li Kai: "So where are you now?"

"In the mountains. About to cross from Guangxi into Yunnan. I’m following the highway that runs along the national border."

"Damn, you’re making good time. That’s cool, good for you. Clearing your head is a good idea. You doing okay?"

"What could possibly be wrong with me?"

"Heh heh, I just feel like you haven’t been your usual wild self lately. Seemed like things weren’t going so smoothly in the love department, so I figured you went out to sow some wild oats."

Li Kai’s tone was sly and teasing.

The mood of the conversation was light.

Lin Chu kept walking as they spoke. He spotted a large tree up ahead with a stone stool beneath it, so he casually sat down and placed the puppy at his feet. He replied with a laugh, "Where the hell am I gonna find any ’wild-oats’ to sow? All the pretty girls are in the cities. I’m really just out here for a walk."

"Not necessarily. I was a hardcore backpacker for ten years, you think I don’t know? Our country is full of beautiful women. You can find them anywhere."

"Back in my day, I was the same. A new place, a new girl every time. Man, that was the life. Once, in the Tibetan Area, I almost got fucking married. Her family practically held me hostage. Luckily, I managed to run for it and got away."

He recounted his past exploits with a tone that was part pride, part wistful sigh.

Lin Chu: "Uh..."

He shook his head and laughed. "You’re an idiot."

"You can say that again. I am an idiot. After all that messing around, I came back only to realize I wanted to go back for someone."

Li Kai said wistfully.

’Those words made Lin Chu’s heart sink. The subject of Teacher Meng... they hadn’t spoken about her since that incident. The two of them had a tacit agreement to avoid the topic, even avoiding seeing each other. Lin Chu never expected him to suddenly bring her up now.’

"Hey, let me ask you something. You know what kind of woman is the most unforgettable?"

Li Kai asked with a casual laugh.

"What kind?"

’Lin Chu had a feeling he knew where this was going. Li Kai wanted to share something with him.’

"The one you could never have. The one who made you feel inferior."

"I guarantee you’ll never forget a girl like that for the rest of your life. It doesn’t matter how many others you meet or date afterward, or how beautiful they are. None of them can ever take her place."

"The mark your ’white moonlight’ leaves on your heart... even years later, the person herself can’t replace it. The magic is gone. Haha."

Hearing this, Lin Chu couldn’t help but laugh.

’Damn!’

’That hits a little too close to home.’

"Alright, alright, you’ve got a point. Is your wife not around?"

"She is. She’s right here listening. Of course she knows. But hey, I’m a lucky man. I may have been with countless women, but I was her first love. I’m the old bull, she’s the tender grass. I’m experienced, and she’s... juicy and full of nutrients. A perfect match!"

"Get outta here, you old bull! That’s all? I’m hanging up. Bye."

"Alright, bye. Stay safe out there."

After hanging up, Lin Chu shook his head with a smile.

’Interesting. Very interesting.’

’What was that he said? "The mark your ’white moonlight’ leaves on your heart, even the person herself can’t replace it years later?"’

’Damn it.’

’Why the hell did you have to tell me that!’

’I never had a ’white moonlight’ when I was a kid. I fell for every girl I met.’

’It’s just... they were all secret crushes.’

At that moment, Lin Chu felt like Li Kai’s words had come back like a boomerang and hit him square in the heart, and right between the eyes.