Unbridled 26

Lin Wuyu's message arrived while Ding Ji was dealing with Old Liu, causing him significant embarrassment.

Never had he imagined being entangled in a chain of debts someday.

"Did you hear what your big bro Peng said?" Ding Ji fixed his gaze on Old Liu.

Old Liu glanced at Liu Jinpeng. "He's several years younger than me."

"I don't care if I'm still in my mother's womb; I'm still your big bro Peng!" Liu Jinpeng stared.

"Did you hear us both clearly?" Ding Ji asked Old Liu. "Scrape together the money, and he's your big bro Peng."

Old Liu numbly nodded.

"Get lost," Ding Ji pushed him away.

Once Old Liu departed like a zombie, Liu Jinpeng expressed disgust. "He's truly infatuated, isn't he?"

"Is it genuine?" Ding Ji inquired.

"Can you fake that? Does he have that kind of acting skill?" Liu Jinpeng retorted. "His reaction is akin to believing in everlasting love only to be blindsided by an unforeseen event, as shocking as if the Queen Mother of the West were to conjure a Milky Way with a single strike." [*T/N: Xiwangmu (西王母), or Queen Mother of the West, is one of the most ancient and powerful goddesses in the Chinese pantheon. She has complete control over life, death, creation, and destruction.]

Ding Ji glanced at him. "The Queen Mother of the West uses a golden hairpin."

"A golden hairpin?" Liu Jinpeng raised an eyebrow. "Isn't the galaxy silver? Why a golden hairpin?"

"Then it's a silver hairpin," Ding Ji corrected.

"Regardless of the hairpin!" Liu Jinpeng gestured in Old Liu's direction. "For someone like Old Liu, is he deserving? He's just begging for trouble!"

"I'm quite impressed with him," Ding Ji remarked. "To fall so deeply in love, he must have drowned his common sense. Is his IQ zero?"

"You simply don't get it," Liu Jinpeng waved dismissively. "In the river of love, it's not water, it's all wine. Once you immerse, you're intoxicated."

"Even if I were intoxicated, I wouldn't lose my wits," Ding Ji quipped.

"It's a metaphor!" Liu Jinpeng exclaimed, possibly irked that his profound statement didn't receive due credit. "Your IQ wouldn't even let you fall into the river of love!"

Ding Ji burst into laughter. "Why so philosophical today?"

"When you fall for someone," Liu Jinpeng sighed, "I've been there too! Of course, I'm not like Old Liu! His river of love is mixed with brain-damaged pills."

"I know, I know," Ding Ji draped his arm over Liu Jinpeng's shoulder. "But your love seems more like a lightning strike. One day you're in love, the next day you're over it…"

"Just experiencing it suffices," Liu Jinpeng said. "You, as a youngster, wouldn't understand. That feeling remains beautiful."

"Tell me about it," Ding Ji nudged him.

"What's there to say?" Liu Jinpeng frowned, seemingly reluctant but didn't halt for a moment. "You're consumed by thoughts of her. Everything reminds you of her. If she doesn't contact you, you're restless, glued to your phone. You hope every call is from her. If it isn't, you're disappointed. You'd cancel plans just for her…"

Ding Ji found it entertaining but refrained from laughing aloud.

He didn't entirely believe Liu Jinpeng's words. This guy fell for someone every time he saw a girl. Every few days, he'd hear him praising some girl sincerely, as if ready to dive into the river of love instantly. Over the years, he'd only jumped in once, and the waves promptly pushed him back ashore.

Perhaps it wasn't as authentic as Lin Wuyu's unrequited love.

Though he secretly loved a man, Liu Jinpeng had just poured out his feelings and invited him to dinner. It was a celebration of Liu Jinpeng's job success and smooth college entrance exam. Ding Ji recalled their last dinner after the third mock exam.

"Every mention of food triggers memories of drinking milk tea with her," he sighed to himself.

At the restaurant, as Liu Jinpeng selected a fish, Ding Ji dialed Lin Wuyu. "You didn't respond to my message," Lin Wuyu picked up. "I thought you were bailing on our deal."

"Got tied up," Ding Ji answered, hearing the bustling background, likely with Lin Wuyu's classmates. "Are you all dining too?"

"Yeah," Lin Wuyu confirmed, "then off to karaoke. It's tiring."

"Aren't youngsters supposed to do karaoke? Where's this old-fashioned vibe from?" Ding Ji teased.

"You, who sips chrysanthemum tea from a Coffee Mate bottle…" Lin Wuyu chuckled.

"Haven't had any lately. Grandma didn't brew it," Ding Ji replied.

"Free tomorrow?" Lin Wuyu asked.

"What's this job you're talking about? Sounds shady," Ding Ji inquired.

Lin Wuyu chuckled, delaying his response. Ding Ji recalled Lin Wuyu's "duck" comment, feeling a dark undertone in his laughter. "So, what's the deal?" he pressed again.

"Need to do aerial filming for a documentary tomorrow morning," Lin Wuyu explained, "using a drone. It's work, not fun. But if you're busy, we can reschedule."

"Tomorrow's clear," Ding Ji said. "But what can I do? I'm clueless about it."

At 4 a.m., tears welled in Ding Ji's sleepy eyes under a lone streetlight as he held Lin Wuyu's drone gear in a bag. An SUV approached, and Lin Wuyu hopped out.

Opening the trunk, he handed Ding Ji tasks. Picking up the bag, Ding Ji noticed a similar black bag, probably another drone.

In the trunk, he spotted cables, laptops, and a battery box.

"Let's go, hop in," Lin Wuyu said, shutting the trunk. "You assist me today, carry stuff, and stick with me."

"Okay," Ding Ji replied, sliding into the back seat.

He'd set five alarms at 4 a.m.

For errands?

This debt…

"Big Bro, meet my assistant, Little Ding," Lin Wuyu introduced Ding Ji to the driver, gesturing. "This is Big Bro. We go way back."

"Big Bro," Ding Ji greeted.

"You," Big Bro smiled, eyeing Lin Wuyu, "told me you were friends, now he's your assistant."

Ding Ji stared at Lin Wuyu.

"As per official terms," Lin Wuyu calmly said, "he's sharing this gig. I brought a buddy, how do we split it?"

Big Bro chuckled, steering. "Alright, Assistant Little Ding, take a nap. It's over an hour's drive, and you're half-asleep."

"Ah," Ding Ji rubbed his eyes. "Never woke up this early, even during my college prep."

"Get some shut-eye," Lin Wuyu suggested. "Or eat something before resting?"

"Anything to munch?" Ding Ji asked.

"Fried dumplings," Lin Wuyu offered. "Fresh and crispy."

"I can smell 'em," Ding Ji sniffed. "I'll nibble before a nap."

Big Bro chuckled. "Eating comes first. You're a true friend of Lin Wuyu's."

Lin Wuyu handed Ding Ji a large lunchbox. "Here."

"You've eaten?" Ding Ji took a dumpling.

"Yeah, these are my road snacks," Lin Wuyu confirmed.

Ding Ji observed him and eventually remarked, "You should be grateful for the country's prosperity. With your appetite, you won't even make it to 10 years old."

Lin Wuyu erupted into laughter, reclining in his chair.

Driving and laughing, Big Bro added, "Since meeting this kid, I knew we'd need to pack food for at least two when he's around."

"Enjoy," Lin Wuyu grinned, nodding towards Ding Ji. "They're all yours."

Initially, Ding Ji intended to be courteous and save some for Lin Wuyu, considering it was his snack and they might get hungry during the journey. However, these dumplings were exceptionally well-fried, delightfully crispy, and surprisingly flavorful despite lacking vegetables. It was indeed a snack from Lin Wuyu, who wasn't fond of cucumbers.

In the end, Ding Ji left only four dumplings for Lin Wuyu.

That was his definition of everlasting friendship.

After finishing the dumplings, Ding Ji felt content. He glanced at the back of Big Bro's head for three seconds, then didn't exchange another word with Lin Wuyu. His eyes shut as he dozed off.

During his brief nap, he managed a fleeting dream.

Upon arriving at their destination, Lin Wuyu extracted a drone from the trunk, nearly the size of a helicopter, and asked Ding Ji to sit on it, explaining that his task was to test the flight. As soon as Ding Ji ascended, the illusion shattered, and the helicopter reverted to a drone, barely the size of his posterior. Struggling for balance amid turbulent airflow, he cursed Lin Wuyu with a string of expletives.

"Hey," Ding Ji awoke to a slap on his face, realizing the car was bouncing.

Lin Wuyu held his face with one hand and his arm with the other, looking at him with a disgusted expression. "How could you sleep like this?"

"What's wrong?" Ding Ji quickly sat up, realizing the car had left the city and was now on a rough dirt road.

"You've been bouncing around for ten minutes without waking up," Lin Wuyu said, releasing him. "If I hadn't held you, you'd be kowtowing to me by now."

"Apologies," Ding Ji wiped his mouth.

"No need," Lin Wuyu replied.

"What?" Ding Ji asked.

"No need to drool in your sleep," Lin Wuyu retorted.

"Shut up!" Ding Ji glared at him.

"Hang tight," Big Bro said as he drove. "This part of the road is rough, but we'll reach the provincial road soon. Just another half-hour from here."

"Going back to sleep?" Lin Wuyu queried, offering a small lumbar pillow.

"I won't sleep anymore," Ding Ji replied, taking the pillow, a yellowish starfish-shaped one, feeling quite soft. "Why do you keep this thing in the car?"

"Lin Wuyu's in-car sleeping pillow," Big Bro mentioned.

"Yeah," Lin Wuyu affirmed. "I tested over a dozen before picking this one."

"You've got too much free time," Ding Ji remarked.

"Some shoots can be exhausting," Lin Wuyu explained. "Time in the car outweighs actual work. Without a good pillow, it's unbearable." He affixed the starfish to the car window and leaned on it. "See, perfect size, softness, and firmness. You can nap anywhere with it."

Ding Ji couldn't help but chuckle. Childish.

Big Bro's estimate was accurate. Half an hour later, their car joined two others on the provincial road. A little further, they turned onto a mountain road, reaching a dead end soon after.

"Here we are," Big Bro announced.

"Let's go," Lin Wuyu patted Ding Ji and opened the car door, stepping out.

Ding Ji hopped out and caught a strong whiff of grass mixed with an earthy scent, creating a fresh and slightly damp atmosphere.

"I'll carry the other one, the backup," Lin Wuyu said, shouldering the silver one. "The one you're carrying is my most expensive equipment. Break it, and I'll end you."

The creditor also had to tote something for balance.

"Don't worry," Ding Ji adjusted the backpack straps. "Who am I?"

This shoot didn't involve catching the sunrise; they'd have had to leave last night for that. It struck Ding Ji 20 minutes later that they'd come by car, yet there was another 40 minutes of mountain road ahead. Shooting would commence from the mountaintop, indicating they needed a downward shot from the highest point.

"Feeling hungry?" Ding Ji couldn't resist asking Lin Wuyu beside him, regretting eating all his snacks as he doubted four dumplings would suffice for Big Stomach Lin Wuyu during the 40-minute ascent.

"Not hungry," Lin Wuyu replied, pulling out an energy bar. "Here."

"Huh?" Ding Ji was puzzled.

"Take it if you get hungry," Lin Wuyu clarified.

"Not hungry, and not you!" Ding Ji whispered.

Lin Wuyu laughed, "Enjoying today?"

"What's enjoyable?" Ding Ji asked.

Lin Wuyu grinned wider, "The hike."

"It's fine," Ding Ji sighed.

"Observing," Lin Wuyu said, "trees, grass, those mountains over there make it less dull."

"Got it," Ding Ji nodded.

Lin Wuyu gestured at a bush by the roadside, "This is called 'Bird-Killer.'"

"What?" Ding Ji quickly saw the thorns. "It looks like that?"

"It's the local name," Lin Wuyu explained. Then, pointing at a cluster of small yellow flowers, "And this, locals call it 'Top-Top Grass.'"

"Top-Top Grass," Ding Ji was intrigued. "Why that name?"

"I've heard," Lin Wuyu whispered, "that if you mash these flowers into a paste and use it, you'll last all night."

"What…" Ding Ji was stunned, taking at least ten seconds to react. "Are you serious?"

"It's a joke," Lin Wuyu nodded, pointing at Big Bro ahead, carrying a bag and walking with his head down. "Big Bro tried it."

"What?" Ding Ji gazed at Big Bro up ahead, carrying his bag.

Big Bro turned at that moment. "Lin Wuyu, trying to pull me into this again?"

"No," Lin Wuyu grinned, then stooped to pluck a small, fuzzy grass from the mountain path's edge. "Do you know what this is?"

"What?" Ding Ji examined the grass.

"'Itchy-Itchy Grass,' slightly toxic. Touching it makes you itch," Lin Wuyu explained, then rubbed the grass on Ding Ji's face. "As long as it doesn't break the skin, it'll fade fast."

"Good lord!" Ding Ji exclaimed, suddenly feeling itchy. "Lin Wuyu, you're itching to prank me!"

"It'll pass soon," Lin Wuyu checked his watch. "Last time, it took about a minute to fade."

Ding Ji scratched, feeling mosquito-bitten. He snapped a selfie to check for changes, finding only a few red marks from scratching and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Isn't this interesting? Just looking around makes it less dull," Lin Wuyu remarked.

"Yeah," Ding Ji agreed.

"Truth is, I have no clue," Lin Wuyu admitted.

"Huh?" Ding Ji was puzzled.

"I'm no plant enthusiast. How'd I know these, let alone their nicknames?" Lin Wuyu revealed.

"Goodness!" Ding Ji was surprised. "Are you messing with me?"

"Yeah," Lin Wuyu chuckled, "didn't want you bored."

"What about 'Bird-Killer'? Made up?" Ding Ji inquired.

"Absolutely," Lin Wuyu confirmed.

"And 'Top-Top'… seriously?" Ding Ji eyed him. "I should've recorded this, let the whole school see our academic genius at work!"

Lin Wuyu chuckled and sipped water.

"And that 'Itchy-Itchy Grass'? My face is itching!" Ding Ji protested. "Mind game?"

"That's a trick the little prodigy learned at five," Lin Wuyu patted his shoulder. "How'd you forget?"

"Ah, it's psychological," Ding Ji fist-bumped him. "You're sneaky."

Lin Wuyu was clever. Directly brushing the 'Itchy-Itchy Grass' would've exposed the trick. But with all the setups and even involving Big Bro…

"We're here!" Someone ahead shouted.

"Let's go," Lin Wuyu nudged Ding Ji and proceeded.

Ding Ji followed to the mountaintop's edge, where a once roughly built viewing platform now stood somewhat rundown.

"Look," Lin Wuyu gestured.

"It's stunning," Ding Ji admired the greens.

The previous hill stood behind, while this side showcased waterways among gnarled roots, leading to orderly farmlands in the distance.

"You know why I love drones?" Lin Wuyu asked.

"A change in perspective," Ding Ji said, "transforms the scenery entirely."

"Yeah," Lin Wuyu grinned. "We've got one life; might as well see it all."

"Absolutely," Ding Ji turned to him.

"Or just look at me," Lin Wuyu suggested.

"Fuck off," Ding Ji teased.