Volume One: High School Days Chapter Three: A Pleasant Weekend

The next day was Saturday. It rained all day, so Liu Sheng stayed home, spending the day playing video games. Another day passed, and by Sunday, the sky was cloudless. After tidying himself up, Liu threw on some casual clothes and went out.

Once outside, Liu first headed to a nearby shop that sold electric scooters. After browsing for a while, he spent two thousand yuan on a black-and-white Zoulang electric scooter. At that time, students with little money rode regular bicycles, the wealthier ones had mountain bikes, and almost no one commuted to school by electric scooter—it was something of a novelty.

Having bought the scooter, it was still only ten in the morning. Liu hopped on his new Zoulang and rode straight to the city center.

During his high school years, apart from sleeping through classes and training for track and field, all Liu’s other time was spent at home gaming. Now that he had a chance to live again, he was determined to make his days meaningful and avoid a life of hardship in the future.

He arrived at Century Mall, the largest and most expensive shopping complex in Xinghai City. A single pair of rain boots cost a thousand yuan—this was not a place for ordinary people to shop. But Liu was different now, with money to spend as he pleased.

“Liu Sheng! Well, well, is this really a place you can afford?” Four boys and four girls approached from the opposite direction. The one speaking was Liu Po, the child of a friend of Liu Sheng’s mother and also Liu Sheng’s schoolmate. Liu Sheng was in his first year of high school, while Liu Po was a year ahead. Liu Po, emboldened by his family’s wealth, had gathered a group of hangers-on—fair-weather friends drawn to his money.

Trailing behind Liu Po were seven others, none of whom looked like students. The four girls were all dressed in flashy, provocative outfits. Liu Sheng replied, “I’m just here to see what the world is like.”

Liu Po eyed Liu Sheng’s shabby clothes and teased, “You can only look here—I bet you can’t even afford a pair of socks. Don’t bother going in. Instead, why don’t you honor us by joining us for a meal? I’ll show you something new!”

Liu Po wanted Liu Sheng along just to make fun of him, to use him for entertainment. But he had no idea that the Liu Sheng before him was no longer the one he knew, but someone who had experienced much and traveled back from 2019.

After lingering at the doors of Century Mall, Liu Po asked, “How did you get here?” Liu Sheng replied, “By electric scooter.” Liu Po burst out laughing. “I only use my scooter for school to keep a low profile; otherwise, I drive! Tell you what, I’ll give you an address—get there as soon as you can. Don’t keep me waiting.”

In 2010, Liu Sheng and Liu Po were both a year older than their classmates, because they’d started school late. Liu Sheng was seventeen, turning eighteen later that year; Liu Po was a year older, just eighteen, and had just gotten his driver’s license.

Liu Sheng rode his scooter to Jinluan Restaurant, one of the most upscale places in Xinghai City, where a meal cost at least two thousand yuan. As soon as he walked in, he heard Liu Po shout, “What took you so long? Hurry up! Everyone’s been waiting!”

Inside the private room, the table was laden with food. In 2019, Liu Sheng had little money, but work functions and gatherings with friends had made him familiar with every kind of dinner, so the spread before him didn’t surprise him in the least.

Liu Po pulled out a bottle of white liquor. “My dad brought this from abroad—fifty degrees. No one leaves until we finish it.” He produced another bottle from under the table.

After the first glass, Liu Sheng felt the alcohol burning in his stomach. Glancing around, he saw that the others weren’t faring much better.

“Xiaoya, how’s the wine?” Liu Po leered at the girl beside him—the most demure of the four, dressed in tight blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and a black jacket. Her slender frame looked even more stylish in this outfit. She was about 165 centimeters tall, with fair skin, delicate features, and a ponytail.

“It’s not good. I don’t want to drink,” Xiaoya said timidly. One of the boys chimed in, “Your girlfriend’s quite something—petite and gentle. Come on, sis, have a drink with me.”

Liu Po, initially pleased, scowled at Xiaoya’s anxious expression. “Didn’t you hear Jian-ge wants a drink? Come on, hurry up!” Xiaoya dared not refuse. She picked up her glass and took a small sip, nearly gagging but forcing it down.

Liu Sheng watched all of this, thinking, “How could such a good girl end up with a scumbag like Liu Po? He’s the classic player. He’s not too bad now, but in a few years, he’ll change girlfriends constantly.”

“Liu Sheng, money is what brings friends. Without it, none of this matters. I know your family’s not well off—you barely have any pocket money. Here’s the deal: drink a glass, and I’ll give you five hundred yuan. Take it as a gift to improve your life,” Liu Po said, intent on humiliating Liu Sheng with his wealth.

The others, hearing this, stood up and placed their full glasses in front of Liu Sheng. “Brother, know your limits. Don’t ruin your health for money—it’s not worth it,” they said, sounding concerned but clearly waiting to watch him make a fool of himself.

Liu Sheng smiled. “It’s rare for everyone to be so happy. In front of your girlfriend and so many friends, how could I take your money? Let’s do this: for every glass I drink, you drink one too. If I can’t keep up, for every glass you drink more than me, I’ll pay you a thousand yuan. Two glasses, two thousand. How about it? Anyone here can join—whoever drinks more than me, I’ll pay.”

Liu Po thought, “Who does he think he is? Dressed like a pauper, trying to show off. Let’s see if he has the money to pay up!” He forced a smile. “Generous, aren’t you? Let’s all have some fun.”

Hearing that each glass was worth a thousand, the group brightened and stood, glasses in hand. Xiaoya hesitated but finally joined in. Liu Sheng watched the group, amused, thinking, “I’ve been through way more drinking sessions by 2019 than you lot. Money aside, today I’m going to outdrink all of you.”

Liu Sheng could handle his liquor—over a jin of white spirits—but these were all under-twenty-year-olds in 2010, so he had no worries.

After two glasses of fifty-degree liquor, a few people were already vomiting. Liu Sheng felt dizzy but was still fine. Liu Po, unwilling to lose, raised his glass again. Xiaoya also picked up her glass, but her face was flushed and she could barely stand.

The three of them drank another glass. Liu Po barely swallowed his before he staggered off to throw up. Xiaoya downed another glass but was clearly about to pass out.

“Good for you, sis-in-law! Teach him a lesson—there’s always someone better,” someone said as Xiaoya poured yet another glass, her eyes barely open, swaying unsteadily.

Liu Sheng intervened. “Alright, I give up. Here’s a thousand yuan.”

“I... I can still... drink...” Xiaoya slurred, still trying to force the liquor down.

Liu Sheng quickly stopped her. “Two thousand!” He knew she couldn’t drink anymore—any more and something would go wrong.

By then, Liu Po was already passed out on the floor, and most of the group had left, tipsy and unsteady. Liu Sheng looked at the unconscious Liu Po and the dazed Xiaoya. “Let’s get him home first, then I’ll take you back,” he said.

Before leaving, Liu Sheng glanced at the untouched dishes and called out, “Waiter, bill please! And pack everything edible for me.”

The meal cost two thousand yuan, but Liu Sheng didn’t mind. He called a cab to take Liu Po home. Xiaoya didn’t go upstairs; after Liu Sheng came back down, he found her asleep on the steps outside the building.

What should I do now? Liu Sheng wondered. Just moments ago, she could walk, and now she’s asleep. He tried to wake her, but she didn’t respond. “Where do you live? How can I take you home?” Still no answer.

Not knowing her address and worried about her safety, Liu Sheng carried her to a nearby hotel.

When checking in, both the receptionist and the security guard eyed him suspiciously, thinking, “What a scumbag, taking advantage of someone in need.”

Still, after a moment, the receptionist put on a smile and said, “Sir, your room is on the twelfth floor, 1208. Enjoy your stay.” As Liu Sheng carried Xiaoya into the elevator, the staff gossiped, “What a player!”

Inside the room, Liu Sheng laid Xiaoya on the bed, took off her jacket and shoes, covered her with a blanket, and gazed at her sleeping face. “What a pity,” he thought, “she’s wasted on that bastard Liu Po.”

Afraid he might lose control if he stayed longer, Liu Sheng was about to leave when Xiaoya’s phone rang from her jacket. Worried it was her family, he checked the phone.

There was a message from her mother: “Yaya, your father’s surgery is the day after tomorrow. I’ve scraped together almost enough, but we’re still short five thousand. Didn’t you say your new boyfriend was willing to lend us the money? See if you can get it from him first. We’ll pay him back after your father recovers.”

Liu Sheng looked at the sleeping Xiaoya and smiled wryly. “So you’re with Liu Po for money, but it’s for your father’s operation. Still, Liu Po’s not a good person—if you take his money, who knows what he’ll put you through. Maybe I should help you instead.”

Leaving the hotel, Liu Sheng went to a bank intending to withdraw five thousand yuan, but then remembered he didn’t have a phone. He withdrew ten thousand, bought a slider phone for three thousand, got a new SIM card, and returned to the hotel.

He left the money on the table with a note: “Liu Po is not a good person. Here’s the money you need for your father’s surgery. If you ever need anything, call me. 137xxxxxxx.”

Just as he was about to leave, Liu Sheng remembered something, turned back, and took another two thousand out of his pocket. Speaking softly to the sleeping Xiaoya, he said, “This is for the drinking bet you won at lunch.”

He then left the hotel and returned to Jinluan Restaurant to retrieve his electric scooter, carrying home a large plastic bag full of packed food.