Advice to Myself: The Cobbler and Zhuge Liang

When we returned to our residence, just as we had expected, the fourth group of "us" had arrived as well.

I looked at the other three "mes" and said, "You three, come with me. I think we should have a small meeting. There are some things we need to reach a consensus on first."

Hearing that, the three "mes" exchanged glances. One of them smiled. "Are we discussing which one of us gets to be the boss and who gets to take the lead on this?"

I looked at him without the slightest irritation. I would have asked the same question in his place. Besides, wasn't he me?

After he said that, another one spoke up. "There's really nothing to discuss. Everything goes by first come, first served. You got here first, so you should be the leader. Besides, we're all brothers—no, even calling us brothers doesn't quite cover it. We are each other. Even saying there's me in you and you in me isn't accurate enough. We're one whole. Since that's the case, it doesn't matter who leads. Our goal is to solve the problem and get out of this game as soon as possible."

But the last "me" said nothing, merely lowering his head and smoking.

I looked at the other Ying Gous and Ye Jinghongs, then said to these versions of myself, "Come on. Let's go upstairs."

After saying that, I went upstairs first. The others followed, including the me who had remained silent.

"What's the meaning of this? What important things do you need to discuss without us?" One of the Ye Jinghongs, from who knew which group, suddenly asked.

The Ye Jinghong beside me pointed at that "her" and shouted, "Shut up! It's not your turn to speak here."

That "her" refused to back down.