Yun Buji was about to leave when Zhao Mai and two other girls walked in. Zhao Mai's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she immediately ran over to him, asking, "Brother Yun, want to have dinner together tonight? We're planning to go for barbecue."
"Zhao Mai, do you like me?" Yun Buji asked, biting on his cigarette and staring at the girl in front of him.
Zhao Mai was the same age as Yun Buji. She had dropped out of school, finding it hard to study and only working sporadically. She preferred to hang around with them.
Her parents had given up on her, as long as she didn't cause trouble or commit crimes.
Zhao Mai was suddenly asked this question by Yun Buji in front of so many people, and her heart suddenly became excited. Had Brother Yun finally seen her true feelings and been moved by her sincerity, intending to accept her?
Everyone else was listening, and the place fell silent. Everyone who knew them knew that Zhao Mai liked Yun Buji. The crowd started to egg them on.
Zhao Mai felt shy but slightly lifted her chin and bravely admitted, "Yes, I like you. So, do you want to be my boyfriend?"
"Ooh ooh ooh... Say yes, say yes..."
Everyone started to cheer.
Yun Buji slowly took a puff of his cigarette. Only when everyone quieted down did he take the cigarette out of his mouth and extinguish it in the ashtray. He said, "I don't like you! I have no feelings for you! I will never accept you as my girlfriend! So, give up on that idea!"
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Everyone was shocked by Yun Buji's firm rejection. They hadn't expected him to not like Zhao Mai at all, and his rejection was so clean and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
Yun Buji then strode out. Zhao Mai was stunned. By the time he reached the door, she reacted and immediately yelled, "Wait! Yun Buji, stop right there!"
Yun Buji didn't stop. Zhao Mai then knocked over the ashtray and, crying, yelled, "You don't like me, do you like that young lady? But can you afford to like her!"
The girl was becoming hysterical. The ashtray shattered on the floor with a clear sound. The entire billiard hall fell into a silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard.
Yun Buji finally stopped. He seemed to be listening to her outburst.
Zhou Hao quickly came over to pull Zhao Mai away, but she pushed him aside. She continued to yell, "Do you know that a single dress for a young lady like that costs over ten thousand, a bag costs tens of thousands, and a small toy costs five figures? Do you think you can support a girl like that! Yun Buji, be realistic. You and I are the perfect match! You can't afford someone like that, and you can't support her!"
Everyone thought Zhao Mai had gone mad, daring to speak to Yun Buji like that. He didn't care about gender when he got angry.
Zhou Hao also knew that Zhao Mai was telling the truth, but it was better to keep these things to oneself. Why would she have to say them out loud and embarrass everyone?
Just as everyone thought Zhao Mai was going to get beaten, Yun Buji continued walking.
Zhao Mai suddenly squatted on the ground and burst into tears.
Zhou Hao quickly chased after him. Zhou Hao only had his grandfather to rely on, and his grandfather was blind. It was as if he didn't have a grandfather at all, as Zhou Hao had to take care of him. He and Yun Buji had known each other since they were very young, and their friendship could be described as life-and-death, having fought wild dogs together at least once.
Only he dared to speak to Yun Buji when he was enraged.
"Brother Yun, don't be angry. She's a girl, rejected by the one she likes. Of course, she's upset. Don't take her words to heart," Zhou Hao advised Yun Buji.