Which way to go is the road?

One evening, Xiang Fei was practicing typing when Wang Haoming ran down from the second floor, excitedly calling to Dong Lu and Lao You, "Lulu, Lao You, we got paid! Hurry up and go to the attic!"

Upon hearing the news, Lao You and Dong Lu immediately perked up and headed for the stairs. Dong Lu glanced back at Xiang Fei. Xiang Fei quickly looked away, lowered his head, and continued typing. Dong Lu then rushed back like a gust of wind.

"I'll go upstairs later and ask the boss about your salary, don't worry!" Dong Lu patted Xiang Fei's shoulder, and before Xiang Fei could speak, she ran upstairs like a gust of wind.

Xiang Fei was also very uneasy. He had only been there for half a month and shouldn't be receiving a salary yet. However, when he finished working for a month, it would be the end of the month, and salaries were usually paid in the middle of the month. Would he have to wait until the middle of next month? Would he receive a month's salary then, or a month and a half's salary? Although he still had more than half of the money that Lao You and Dong Lu had lent him, he couldn't possibly make it to the middle of next month.

His mother offered to send him money several times, but now that he's out here, he doesn't want to rely on his family. He's also afraid that this experience will make him develop a dependency habit.

Xiang Fei was carefully planning how to allocate the 300-odd yuan he had to get through the next month when Dong Lu ran up to him, panting, and slapped him hard, saying breathlessly, "Hurry...hurry up and go...the boss is calling...calling you to collect your wages!"

Xiang Fei quickly got up and ran out. After a few steps, he turned back to hug Dong Lu to express his gratitude, but Dong Lu quickly stopped him, saying, "Okay, okay, okay, no need to thank me! Go on ahead!"

Xiang Fei knew he had acted rashly, but he didn't mind. He thanked her gratefully and ran back after her.

On the way, they ran into Lao You, Xiangzi, and Wang Haoming, who had just received their wages. Compared to the other two's smiling greetings, Wang Haoming's eyes were full of resentment, as if his money had been used to pay Xiang Fei's wages.

Xiang Fei was in a great mood and didn't bother to pay any attention.

Upon reaching the rooftop, Xiang Fei slowed down, feigning composure as he walked up to the attic. Qian Luomei was still sitting under the parasol, but without sunglasses. Seeing Xiang Fei approach, she picked up the envelope from the table and stood up.

"Xiang Fei, this is your salary. You've done a great job these past two weeks. I originally thought that someone so young like you wouldn't be able to handle a cleaning job well, or that you wouldn't last long. But I didn't expect you to be so diligent, even more meticulous than the previous cleaners. I'm very satisfied! I never skimp on rewarding good employees. Even though you've only worked for half a month, let's just say it's a full month! Here's 1500! Keep up the good work!"

"Thank you, boss! I'll definitely work hard!"

"No need to call me 'boss.' From now on, just call me Sister Mei, like everyone else!"

"Okay, boss!... Sister Mei! I'll head down now!"

When you go down, remember to lift the rooftop door and lock it!

"Hmm!" Xiang Fei said, trying his best to suppress his excitement, and slowly walked towards the stairs.

Once inside the stairwell and after locking the rooftop door, Xiang Fei immediately jumped for joy, kissing the thick envelope. His first paycheck—what could be more gratifying than having his labor recognized and receiving appropriate compensation?

Dong Lu had just finished swiping a customer's card to board when she saw Xiang Fei slowly walking over, looking utterly dejected and lifeless! She quickly went over and asked, "What's wrong? Haven't you received your salary? Why? Sister Luo Mei told me to call you up to collect your salary!..."

"Got it!" Xiang Fei suddenly took the envelope out of his pocket and proudly waved it at Dong Lu.

Dong Lu remained expressionless, glancing at Xiang Fei with disgust before walking back to the front desk and staring intently at the computer. Xiang Fei quickly went over to apologize, but no matter what he said, Dong Lu remained unmoved, fixated on the computer screen filled with forms and member names, as if she could see something amazing in it.

"How about this, my treat tonight, let's go out for barbecue! Let's have a good time!"

"Okay, it's a deal. I'll go tell Lao You!" Dong Lu skipped and hopped off to find Lao You, showing no signs of having just been angry.

Xiang Fei, bewildered, stood on the front desk, watching Dong Lu's bouncing figure, and shouted, "Have I been tricked?"

"We each take one turn, so we're even. That's called strategy and counter-strategy!"

"Trapped or trapped? Yes, this time I'm the one who's trapped!" Xiang Fei smiled helplessly. Actually, Xiang Fei had the same idea in mind: to treat Lao You and Dong Lu to a meal, but he didn't know how to bring it up. Dong Lu's little incident solved his problem. He really didn't know if she did it intentionally or unintentionally. Xiang Fei shook his head helplessly: "That quirky girl!"

Around 7 p.m., the three of them returned to the "Jianghu" barbecue place they had visited before. Unlike last time, Zhang Fang did not arrive first. They glanced around and finally sat down under a tree by the roadside.

Xiang Fei asked Lao You and Dong Lu to order, but they turned around and asked Xiang Fei to order instead, saying it was against the rules for him to be the host and not order! Xiang Fei was in a bind. He had only eaten barbecue twice, including today, so how was he supposed to know what to eat? He flipped through the menu for a long time, then his eyes lit up, and he closed the menu: "A plate of fried peanuts and a keg of draft beer!"

After saying that, he handed the menu to Lao You: "Quickly, you guys order! I really don't know what to order! I've never ordered anything like this before. You guys order first and I'll learn, okay?"

"Then we've ordered too much, and it's too expensive. Don't regret it! I'll make sure you go broke!" Dong Lu snatched the menu from Lao You's hand, gritting her teeth and saying fiercely, looking like a sheep in wolf's clothing!

"It's alright, just count whatever you want. There's only 1500 yuan in this envelope. Count as much as you can. If you count too much, you two can decide who stays to wash dishes to pay off the debt. Also, we can't pay back the money we owe you now, we'll talk about it next month after we get paid!"

"What are you doing, Dong Lu? Take it easy, at least save our money. I've got my eye on a girl, she seems nice, and I'm planning to confess my feelings! I need this money to buy flowers and gifts!"

Hearing this, Dong Lu couldn't help but laugh. "Hey, Lao You, you've finally found the right girl? Has that girl even found you? You should rest now, don't waste your money. Wait for me to introduce you to someone!"

"Wait for your introduction! Have you seen those flowers on our campus? They've bloomed and faded several times already, and you've shown them to me a few times. Yes, there was one time, we had a meal together and chatted quite happily, but when I asked her out again, she absolutely refused. I kept pestering her, and she confessed that it was your idea to trick me into having a meal with her! Lulu, how mean are you?"

"Remember? I was wrong, okay? I was wrong, alright? Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to one of the Seven Fairies!"

"Forget it, I know my place; I don't have the fate of Dong Yong!"

"Then this young lady offers herself to him in marriage; what do you say, my lord?"

Upon hearing this, Lao You stood up tremblingly, picked up a stool, and sat down opposite Dong Lu. Dong Lu immediately bared her teeth and bared her fists: "Lao You, what do you mean? I'm fair-skinned and pretty, not as fat as you. Am I that unattractive? And you're avoiding me!"

"Miss, please spare me! I still want to find a virtuous wife and loving mother type. I can't afford to serve someone like you. I want to live a few more years! Besides, everyone knows you have someone else in your heart! Why are you making fun of me? What will happen later..."

"Shut up, Lao You, or I'll cut your tongue out!"

……

Before Lao You could speak, Zhang Fang walked over and stopped behind Dong Lu. Standing next to him was a curvaceous, tall girl. More importantly, her eyes on her oval face were captivating and mesmerizing. The word "sexy" in Xiang Fei's mind could finally be used to describe one person.

"Whose tongue are you going to cut out? Dong Lu, you're getting more and more audacious. Be careful you don't end up never getting married!"

"If you can't get married, it's none of your business. You said we were late last time, but why are you late this time!" Dong Lu turned around and glanced at Zhang Fang, then noticed the girl next to him, frowned and turned back.

"I brought Jiaojiao with me this time! Girls are a hassle to go out with, so it took a little longer! Oh, Xiang Fei, let me introduce you, this is Tian Jiao, my girlfriend!"

"Who said you're my girlfriend? You're my girlfriend just because we had a meal together? I'm not eating here then, so I don't end up selling myself over a meal!" Before Xiang Fei could even speak, Tian Jiao objected, leaving Xiang Fei in an awkward position, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.

"No, I misspoke..."

"If you're not going to eat, then hurry up and leave. Nobody's keeping you here. What are you pretending for! If you're not someone's girlfriend, what's the point of following them out? You're all looks, yet you're playing games with people! Shameless, scoundrel!" Dong Lu's reaction surprised everyone. Xiang Fei was dumbfounded. Lao You was surprised for a moment, then shook his head and started cracking sunflower seeds. Tian Jiao's face turned red and white in turns, and she was so angry that she couldn't speak.

"Dong Lu, shut up! Don't talk about Jiao Jiao like that! Our relationship isn't official yet! I misspoke just now!" Zhang Fang tried his best to protect his ambiguous girlfriend, holding Tian Jiao's hand with one hand, as if afraid that the beauty would run away.

"Yeah, why should I care so much? It's not like she's flirting with me. I haven't spent money buying bags or cosmetics for anyone else. Do whatever you want!" Xiang Fei noticed that when Dong Lu turned around, there were glistening tears in the corners of her eyes.

"Dong Lu, right? I'll let it slide today since we're from the same school. Women like each other, that's normal. What's pitiful is when you're delusional, liking someone but they don't like you back! All you can do is be jealous!" Seeing Dong Lu's morale plummet, Tian Jiao recovered and intensified her sarcasm and ridicule!

"Jiaojiao, don't say such hurtful things..." Zhang Fang couldn't bear to see Tian Jiao making such sarcastic remarks about the girl who had a crush on him, so he reluctantly tried to persuade her.

"Shut up, Zhang Fang. Let me tell you, you don't have to be ambiguous with me. I didn't ask you to give me this or that. You can choose to leave me." After saying that, Tian Jiao shook off Zhang Fang's hand and walked out of the barbecue stall with a flirtatious gait.

"I didn't eat well today, I'll treat you another day, let's get together again!" Zhang Fang looked at the three silent people, then glanced at Tian Jiao's graceful departing figure, and resolutely chased after her.

"If they're not eating, we'll eat! Waiter, let's order!" Dong Lu broke the silence of the three people by ordering a lot of barbecue, just like a girl having a normal meal together. But the tears in the corners of her eyes showed the storm raging inside her.

Despite Zhang Fang's departure, the barbecue didn't feel lonely. The three of them ate a lot and chatted a lot, sharing all sorts of interesting stories they had experienced. The temporary laughter made them forget their sadness, their disappointment, the hardships they had endured in life, and what kind of sorrow might come in the future.

Alcohol limits consciousness to the most basic level and thought to what is seen and heard, but it allows emotions to be expressed freely and feelings to be released without restraint.

Lao You is from Shaanxi. His family are fruit farmers, living amidst the fragrance of ripe fruits year-round, yet they are not wealthy. Getting into university was like a golden phoenix soaring from the mountains, but the vanity he felt upon returning home paled in comparison to the stark reality of university life. Although they weren't starving, their lives were somewhat bleak due to a lack of money.

Two years ago, an elderly person in his family fell ill, incurring significant expenses that made it impossible for Lao You to maintain his basic living standards. He then went out to work to earn living expenses and tuition fees. However, working at an internet cafe, as an experience, enriched his university life, especially with the support and emotional support he received from close friends like Dong Lu and Zhang Fang.

Dong Lu noticed the handsome Zhang Fang in their first class at university.

Gradually, through class activities, Dong Lu became familiar with Zhang Fang and Lao You's dormmates, forming a close friendship. Her feelings for Zhang Fang also slowly grew stronger. As a girl, she even intentionally or unintentionally hinted at her feelings to Zhang Fang, almost confessing her love directly. However, Zhang Fang intentionally or unintentionally avoided these hints, maintaining only a basic relationship between them!

Later, Dong Lu learned about Zhang Fang's family background as a cadre, and she backed down, but couldn't help harboring some lingering feelings. After Tian Jiao, a broadcasting and hosting major, appeared, Dong Lu couldn't help but despise Zhang Fang. In her words, she could tolerate Zhang Fang having girlfriends, but she couldn't stand him being teased by a woman and yet enjoying it, being shameless and brazen.

After finishing their barbecue, the three of them walked side by side on the asphalt road. Their shadows would sometimes appear behind them and sometimes in front of them, changing in length and size.

It was past 1 a.m., and there weren't many cars on the road anymore. It was so quiet that you could hear the "swishing" of their footsteps. All three of them had drunk quite a bit, and now they were playing a game of rock-paper-scissors to carry each other. Whether the two men were letting the girl win or not, Dong Lu didn't lose even once. Xiang Fei and Dong Lu took turns carrying Dong Lu forward, but after a few times, Dong Lu got annoyed.

"You're afraid I can't carry you, so you're deliberately losing to me? No way, I'll carry you all, one time each!"

First, she carried Xiang Fei, who weighed 140 pounds. Dong Lu gritted her teeth and carried him on her back. She walked 20 meters before putting him down, then turned around and looked at the two big men.

"How about it? Your reputation as a tomboy wasn't for nothing, was it? Old You, it's your turn!"

"I can overlook that, but at 190 pounds, miss, you could break your legs!"

"Get up here right now! You look down on me? Let me tell you, if you don't let me carry you, I'm breaking up with you tomorrow!"

Old You had no choice but to let Dong Lu carry him, but he deliberately braced his feet on the ground to relieve the pressure on Dong Lu, who didn't notice due to the effects of alcohol. After walking only 5 meters, Old You told Dong Lu to stop: "Alright, that's 30 meters already. Dong Lu, you're really strong, no wonder you're a tough woman!"

"My tomboy performance is over, now it's your turn to perform?"

What kind of performance is this?

"Xiang Fei, you carry Lao You on your back. Let's see if you can manage it!"

……

Xiang Fei had only taken a few steps with Lao You on his back when Dong Lu suddenly kicked Lao You. Because Xiang Fei had been drinking, he lost his balance and fell down with Lao You on the side of the road. The two looked at each other and then lay down without getting up.

Seeing how comfortable they were, Dong Lu simply lay down between them, forming a large "个" shape.

The three people looked up at the stars, letting the sparse traffic rush by in the middle of the road, and slowly closed their eyes and fell asleep. Nothing at any time can compare to the emptiness of a deep sleep, without thought, without desire, without wants. They may have nothing, but their heads are resting on a peaceful night, and their hearts are pure.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiang Fei suddenly woke up. Looking at the two people lying on the ground, their expressions comfortable and natural, he couldn't bear to wake them. However, the roar of the speeding car was terrifying, so he woke them up anyway.

By this time, Dong Lu had sobered up considerably. Xiang Fei and Lao You escorted her back to her university dormitory, only to find the door closed. Just as the two were about to knock, Dong Lu miraculously pulled out a key from her pocket, opened the door, and went inside, not forgetting to say goodbye to them.

It was almost 3 a.m. when Xiang Fei and Lao You returned to the basement. Too lazy to wash up, they went straight to bed. In the darkness, Xiang Fei suddenly remembered something and asked, "Lao You, you and Dong Lu were college classmates, why don't you live in the dorms?"

"I usually attend classes at school, so I only stay here on weekends and holidays. It's close to the internet cafe, which makes it easy for me to get to work! Besides, Sister Mei reimburses my accommodation fees, so I don't have to pay anything! It's a waste not to stay here!"

"Oh, is that so! I was just saying I'd pay your roommate's rent, but it seems I don't need to, since Sister Mei will reimburse me anyway!"

"Uh... if you want to pay, I can take it. It's fine, I don't mind having too much money. Just pretend I didn't say anything!"

"Get out! Go to sleep!"

……