A Heartwarming Lunch and a Terrifying Interrogation

The third and fourth periods were Politics and Geography. Because of the heavy volume of material, the teachers barely paused to breathe, so naturally they didn’t call on any students. I passed those two classes in a state of pure ease and bliss.

And then…

As the bell rang for dismissal and the teacher stepped out of the classroom, the room erupted into chaos. Students formed cliques and groups, heading off to the school cafeteria or outside to forage for food.

Of course, worrying about what to eat or debating the options was a luxury for the rich. For a broke soul like me, no such deliberation was needed.

I walked out of school and arrived at a shop called Old Man’s Bun House.

It was a breakfast stall located not far from the school gate, run by a white-haired old man. Mornings were always packed, but by noon, the crowd thinned out, so the wait was never long.

When my turn came, I fished a fifty-cent coin out of my uniform pocket and handed it to the old man.

“Old man! One steamed bun, please.”

“Here you go, young man.”

I took the bun and headed back into school, climbing up to the rooftop. I pulled out my thermos—filled with hot water from home—and settled in. Hot water with a plain bun—such a cozy lifestyle that young people today could hardly appreciate!

Look at this bun! So white and soft, like a maiden’s skin. Delicious-looking, I almost couldn’t bear to eat it! And this hot water from our water dispenser at home—crystal clear. Not only does it warm the stomach, it also refreshes the mind. And… okay, I can’t keep this up. Am I really the only one living such a pitiful high school life?

Suddenly, the rooftop door swung open. I turned to look and saw a slightly chubby guy with black-rimmed glasses walking in. Without a doubt, it was my best buddy—Zhang Zhibo.

Tears nearly welled up in my eyes. ‘Old driver, you finally escaped from that place called the Office of Hell!’ I waved at him and shouted, “Brother Zhibo!”

Zhibo looked around for a moment, spotted me, and a grin spread across his face. He ran over, yelling back, “Brother Huaimo!”

Then we embraced like long-lost brothers finally reunited.

“Brother, you—sob—finally got released.”

“No, brother, I have to keep copying this afternoon…”

“…”

Awkward.

“Well, good luck then, buddy.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

After that emotional moment, Zhibo and I sat near the railing, staring straight at the sky in silence.

And I take back what I said. There’s actually someone else living this broke high school life—and he’s even worse off than me!

I turned and looked at the half a bun in his hand and the thermos on the ground. It was solid proof that being an old driver these days was tough.

“What’s with the half a bun?” I asked. Just to clarify, neither of us had taken a bite yet; Zhibo had brought it out already half-eaten.

“Ah, leftover from breakfast for lunch. You’re out of money too, right? Also, Christmas is only a week away. Aren’t you going to buy a gift for your little sister?”

“Buy what? I wanted to go begging, but my sister stopped me.” I recalled the morning incident. ‘Your big brother was trying to get money to buy you a little skirt, you know! Why did you stop me?’ I just couldn’t understand it.

“Haha, we really are destined to be together—driving together, eating buns together, being broke together.” Zhibo looked somewhat comforted, but the sadness still hung on his face.

“Yeah…” I lowered my head in sadness too. Maybe this was what they meant by ‘an unbreakable bond, inseparable companions.’

“Why don’t you ask your sister to make you a bento?”

“Ah, I can’t bear to make her cook two meals in the morning. Besides, this way she can hang out with her friends during lunch and enjoy her own break.”

“I see. Then let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

Just as we started eating, the rooftop door opened again. Two petite figures stepped out, and the sunlight shone upon them, dazzling me for a moment. I thought it was a celestial being descending to bestow gifts upon this destitute student. As it turned out, that was exactly what happened!

“Big brother, open up, aaah~”

“Aaah~”

My sister—like a goddess—took a steaming hot dog out of a plastic bag, unwrapped it, and brought it to my mouth. I took a big bite. Mm—the soft bread, the perfectly grilled sausage, the fresh lettuce, all coated in rich sauce, exploded in my mouth. Irresistible.

“Thanks, little sis.”

“Hehe~ big brother~”

Suddenly, Zhibo beside me shot up, gulped down a mouthful of water, and thumped his chest.

“Brother Zhibo, ahem, are you leaving?” Right, I had to keep up the act—pretending to have a sore throat with a couple of coughs, so Nie Xiaohai beside my sister wouldn’t get suspicious.

“We’re not the same, not the same!!!”

“Huh?” We were both old drivers stranded in the same boat—how were we different? It was just a matter of having a sister or not.

“I’m going back to keep copying!”

“Alright, alright, good luck.”

“Wuwuwu…”

With a sob, Zhibo grabbed his plastic bag and thermos from the ground and rushed out the door.

How pitiful! It’s true, we were different. Thanks to my sister’s all-out support, I escaped death. But Zhibo had to fight alone, and there was nothing I could do to help. When the teacher made him copy textbooks, I couldn’t do a thing—I just watched him walk away. We were inseparable old drivers, yet I…!

Sigh. May you successfully overcome the tribulation of the teacher’s office!

I clasped my hands together in prayer. It was all I could do before he entered the gates of hell once more.

“What’s wrong, Huaimo?” Xiaohai tilted her head, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

Because of my agreement with my sister, I couldn’t tell her, so I just silently shook my head and looked at the sky.

“I don’t get it, but this feeling—so profound! Kind of mature.”

I nodded and clenched my fists.

“Hey, Xiaohai, I need to talk to my brother about something. You go back to the classroom first.”

“Okay~”

Nie Xiaohai walked out of the rooftop door, and the door clicked shut. I turned back with a hint of suspicion. My sister slid a small stun gun out of her sleeve, gripped it in her hand, and looked at me with a ‘smiling’ face.

“Explain, big brother~ What are those ‘secrets that can’t be told’ between you and Miss Qian Tangjin?”

‘I take it back. This isn’t a celestial being—it’s a demon!!!’

“Better confess quickly. This thing won’t knock someone out, but… there are other effects~ Want to try, big brother?”

She stepped closer, cornering me against the rooftop door with her left hand, occasionally flicking the stun gun on—blue sparks crackling with a sizzle.

“I really didn’t! I’m not…”

“Oh?”

“It’s true!!!”

I already told her everything last time! There are no secrets! I’m innocent!!!

Forced by circumstance, I gave a little push against my sister as she leaned in…

And then…

This thing, soft and smooth like pudding… Could it be…

My sister’s chest. (stunned)