bookbashuk Page 54
Page 54
Xia Mi was slightly taken aback; Gao Kui's words were completely unexpected. She had thought that Gao Kui would say something like, "Your brother is pitiful," or "You are pitiful," but she never expected Gao Kui to talk about loneliness.
But Gao Kui felt that Xia Mi's brother was very lonely. Not only her brother, but all the mentally challenged people were lonely because they did not "fit in" with anyone.
As social animals, humans naturally reject other humans who have nothing in common with them, and form small groups with those of the same kind who do share commonalities.
The Chinese saying "those who are not of our race will surely have different hearts" and the Japanese saying "cannot read the air" are similar products.
Some say that mixed-race people are the loneliest because neither side treats them as one of their own, and they can't find a sense of belonging in either country.
In fact, the same applies to adults with intellectual disabilities.
They have fully developed bodies, adult appearances, and the mental level of seven or eight-year-olds or ten-year-olds, but whether measured by physical age or mental age, they cannot play with their peers.
Generally speaking, only people of mixed races can resonate with each other, and only young children can resonate with each other.
"To be honest, I've never thought about my brother's mental health issues or whether he's lonely. I've always been concerned about his material life and the hardships he's endured..."
Xia Mi stared blankly at the surface of Zuohai Lake, then quickly recovered and turned to look at Gao Kui: "Hey, speaking of which, you and my brother might have a lot in common and could become good friends."
"Not very likely."
Gao Kui calmly shook his head, pouring cold water on Xia Mi's enthusiasm: "A madman and a fool, I mean a mentally challenged person, are two completely different concepts. Even two mental patients with the same symptoms can hardly have anything in common."
Instead of pinning your hopes on me, why not think about making a lot of money in the future and finding a loving and kind wife for your brother? After all, your brother isn't a bad person, and you're so pretty, your brother can't be ugly either.
With your money, there's bound to be a girl willing to marry your brother and take care of him.
"You're so materialistic," Xia Mi retorted. "You treat love like a business transaction."
"That's just the truth. Haven't you read Guo Jingming's 'Tiny Times'?"
Love without material support is like a pile of loose sand; it doesn't even need the wind to blow it apart, it will scatter after a few steps.
Gao Kui squeezed out a few tears and imitated Gu Li from "Tiny Times": "If I were just a student receiving subsidies today, would you, Gu Yuan, like me?"
Gao Kui is imitating Gu Li from the movie "The Golden Age". The original novel will not be published until 2011.
Xia Mi had also read "Tiny Times," a series of novels that were serialized in a magazine last year. The core of the series was piling up flamboyant and ornate language and luxury product names, with constant sudden conflicts and plot twists.
After a moment's thought, Xia Mi understood how to respond in the style of "Tiny Times".
"Of course I do!"
Xia Mi stared intently at Gao Kui with a determined look in her eyes, and answered without hesitation.
Gao Kui was stunned, just like Gu Li in the movie.
Gu Li was stunned because she couldn't understand why Gu Yuan answered so firmly. Gao Kui was confused as to whether Xia Mi was acting.
You can't hide your feelings for someone.
Xia Mi is, of course, a very quirky and clever girl. She is enthusiastic towards everyone, like a cheerful, silly roe deer that has wandered into the early spring when the snow is just beginning to melt.
But everyone could see it, including Gao Kui. Xia Mi treated him differently from others, trying to get closer to him.
She suddenly bursts into the Psychological Research Center, dramatically entering Gao Kui's world.
It was only because Gao Kui and Chen Motong chatted during their first meeting that she said she resembled Shi Xiangyun from "Dream of the Red Chamber" that she began to use "Brother Ai" as her fixed way of addressing Gao Kui.
Of course, those who understand "Dream of the Red Chamber" will know that the so-called "love for brother" is just Shi Xiangyun's special pronunciation of "second brother" because she can't pronounce it clearly due to her accent.
Xia Mi's special way of addressing Gao Kui was nothing more than a continuation of the antics they had made back then.
But is this really the case?
Which of the twelve beauties in Dream of the Red Chamber is not related to Jia Baoyu, whom Shi Xiangyun calls "Brother Ai"?
Why did Cao Xueqin insist on having Shi Xiangyun pronounce "Second Brother" as "Love Brother" instead of other homophones when writing Dream of the Red Chamber?
Isn't it precisely because the word "love" is more ambiguous?
Xia Mi's ambiguous feelings and affection for Gao Kui are obvious, yet somewhat inexplicable.
In terms of looks, Chu Zihang is no less handsome than Gao Kui, and as Gao Kui's rich second-generation and normal person, he is far superior to Gao Kui in every way.
But Xia Mi just prefers Gao Kui.
So, is this Xia Mi's true feeling, or just a silly act?
Before Gao Kui could react, Xia Mi stepped forward, grabbed Gao Kui's shoulder, and looked down at Gao Kui, who was sitting in the chair, glaring at him.
"If I were a poor girl today, without a credit card with a five million overdraft limit that I could use at will, without the right to inherit a billion-dollar fortune, I wouldn't be able to buy a watch or a bag worth hundreds of thousands just because I like them."
Will you still like me? Will you?
Xia Mi shook Gao Kui vigorously, her eyes wide open.
"Your expression is a bit exaggerated, like Leonardo DiCaprio."
Gao Kui looked at Xia Mi and complained about Leonardo DiCaprio's acting: "There's a reason why Leonardo DiCaprio can't win the Oscar for Best Actor. It's no wonder the Oscar jury targeted him."
His exaggerated expressions, glaring eyes, and angry shouts—it's all the same old routine, and he's lost the original spark he had.
"whispering sound……"
Xia Mi released Gao Kui and curled her lip: "I thought my acting was pretty good."
"Idols like us don't need to delve too deeply into acting. Not everyone is Al Pacino. Being an idol and selling your looks is fine too."
"I still prefer to be a skilled actor. If I can't make it in Kassel College, I can still become an actor..."
Xia Mi sat back down next to Gao Kui, looking through the glass at the lake reflecting the neon lights and stars. She started rambling on about how a director of a youth art film wanted her to have a cameo role in the movie. No one mentioned Xia Mi's brother or the matter of whether she really liked him or not.
At least between the two of them, the topic shifts were that smooth.
Until a reflection appeared on the surface of Zuohai Lake that completely surprised the two of them: it looked like a Bell 429 helicopter weighing more than three tons.
The reflection on the lake was getting bigger and bigger, seemingly about to land inside the park.
Chapter 80 Angers, the King of Pretending
Many large amusement parks in China offer helicopter tours.
Spend a few hundred yuan to take a helicopter ride, hover over scenic spots and amusement parks for a few minutes, take some photos and videos, and then brag to your friends for days.
However, Zuohai Park does not have helicopters like that. It only has a ride that looks like a helicopter, going straight up and down like a drop tower, which costs only six yuan per ride.
Moreover, most of the helicopters in the scenic area are small helicopters weighing no more than 2 tons, or even only a few hundred kilograms. The cabin space is very small, the range is short and the load is low. Apart from being used as a tourist attraction, they can only be used to spray pesticides.
The helicopter hovering overhead at this moment weighs at least three tons, and its range of several hundred kilometers already makes it a valuable transportation vehicle.
"You betrayed my love, you've betrayed me..."
Gao Kui took out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, and saw it was Professor Guderian.
"Hey?"
"Gao Kui, have you arrived at Zuohai Park yet?"
"Xia Mi and I are on the Ferris wheel in Zuohai Park. The other three should have gone to the aquarium," Gao Kui reported.
"You and Xia Mi are on the Ferris wheel, right? Oh, it's definitely a great attraction for you. The Ferris wheel and aquarium at Zuohai Park are very popular."
If I were still young, I would definitely go riding the Ferris wheel with the girl I like.
Even over the phone, Xia Mi could guess that Professor Guderian must be wearing a relieved, aunt-like smile.
Professor Guderian changed the subject: "Alright, enough of the chit-chat, I have some good news for you. Principal Angers just called him, and he has arrived in FZ City."
I didn't mean to urge you to come back quickly. You all have a rare opportunity for team building, so of course you should have a good time and enjoy yourself to the fullest. Besides, Principal Angers' schedule isn't in a rush.
I just wanted to let you know that if you were planning to stay somewhere else tonight with Xia Mi... or some other girl, I'm afraid you'll have to cancel your plans.
"Wow, so that's how you see my relationship with Ai-gege, Professor?"
Xia Mi's eyes flickered as she leaned close to Gao Kui's face and loudly complained into the phone, "But we're just very good friends right now. If we're going to book a hotel room, we first need to be a couple, right? To confirm a relationship, one of us needs to confess, right?"
And what's with the "other girls" stuff? Why don't you just say "Sister Nuonuo"?
Xia Mi was not unaware of Chen Motong's change in attitude towards Gao Kui; she wasn't the kind of stupid girl who couldn't understand this kind of information.
She simply didn't care whether Gao Kui ignored Chen Motong or not.
"Uh……"
Professor Guderian quickly changed the subject: "Anyway, try to come back as soon as possible after your trip. Principal Angers has been wanting to see you for a long time and has brought you a special gift."
"Doesn't the principal want to see us? He didn't even bring us any gifts?" Xia Mi pouted and questioned Guderian on the other end of the phone.
“Uh, Xia Mi, you need to know that among you, only Gao Kui possesses a bloodline that is clearly above Grade A, and he is also the principal’s designated Messiah…”
Guderian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, not explaining himself too clearly.
When Angers contacted him, he only said that he had brought a gift for Gao Kui, without mentioning anyone else. Guderian couldn't guarantee that Angers had brought gifts for anyone else, or that he hadn't.
"hateful."
Xia Mi clenched her fists and gritted her teeth: "Kassel's class system is as rotten as an old lady's foot binding cloth. Bloodline discrimination and special treatment are everywhere. Sooner or later I will overthrow this rotten old system."
"You'll be a beneficiary in the future, won't you?" Guderian had to remind Xia Mi, "Don't forget you also seem to have A-grade bloodline."
"Oh, then it's nothing." Xia Mi quickly regained her composure, acting as if nothing had happened.
Gao Kui looked up at the sky outside the glass window and asked, "Did Principal Angers come by helicopter?"
Guderian was taken aback. He never expected that Gao Kui, who always managed to steer the conversation off course without anyone noticing, would actually bring the topic back on track.
"Yes."
Professor Guderian complained: "The base had already sent a van to pick them up from the airport, but they insisted on taking a helicopter, saying that it would be more impressive to arrive by helicopter than by van."
What a shameless old slut.
"I think I've met the old slut you were talking about."
Gao Kui looked up, and Xia Mi also looked up at the window.
"what?"
A black Bell 429 helicopter hovered in the sky, its high-speed rotors creating a violent gust of air and noise, as if trying to tear the sky apart.
The helicopter door was opened, and Angers, with his white hair and beard, stood in front of the door, waving to the boys and girls on the Ferris wheel while wearing brown Prada sunglasses.
His graying, shoulder-length hair and impeccably tailored suit were billowing in the airflow, yet his torso and spine remained ramrod straight. He held nothing in his hands, simply standing upright before the open helicopter door, unwavering as if nailed to the spot, exuding an aura of domineering arrogance.
"I think we don't need to rush back to base," Xia Mi said into the phone.