Playing a Part

Gao Teng was such a jerk!

Zhang Meizhu was at her wit's end. She had never met anyone so infuriating.

All she'd done was say what was on her mind. Did he really have to keep bringing it up over and over?

She was completely fed up. "You've had your fun mocking me, haven't you? Think you're just so good with that mouth of yours? Are you ever going to stop?"

Gao Teng grinned and rocked his head from side to side. "I loved what you said so much, I'm going to repeat it in front of you for the rest of my life."

"You!!!"

Zhang Meizhu instantly bristled, her gaze turning vicious. "Gao Teng, quit being such a jerk!"

"Nyah, nyah, nyah..."

"I..."

Zhang Meizhu's chest heaved. Just as she was about to punch Gao Teng a few times, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

They exchanged a glance.

Confused, Zhang Meizhu walked over to the security door and checked the video screen.

On the monitor, Ma Wei waved and greeted them with a smile.

Zhang Meizhu furrowed her brows and turned to Gao Teng. "It's that captain from the Public Security Bureau."

Gao Teng put a hand to his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

Ma Wei's way of speaking was so outrageous that Gao Teng had no idea how to talk to him.

"Should I open it?"

Zhang Meizhu hesitated. She was a little afraid of Ma Wei now, worried he'd say something outrageous again.

Gao Teng scratched his head. "He probably has something to tell us, right?"

Zhang Meizhu closed her eyes. After several seconds of inner struggle, she opened the security door like someone marching to their death.

"Why'd you take so long to open the door? Were you busy?"

Ma Wei said with a genial smile, quickly looking the two of them over.

"Oh!"

"Role-playing, huh? You two sure know how to have fun."

He stroked his beard and looked Gao Teng up and down. "Let me guess. Are you playing a pervert who steals women's underwear?"

Gao Teng: "..."

Ma Wei snapped his fingers. "No answer means I'm right."

Then he shifted his gaze to Zhang Meizhu. "And you're playing an unsatisfied security officer, right?

"You caught a pervert but didn't send him to prison. Instead, you're abusing your authority and torturing him. If he meets your demands, you'll consider letting him off the hook."

Zhang Meizhu: "..."

"Oh, this is too good."

Ma Wei wiped the drool from his mouth, countless steamy scenes playing through his mind.

Zhang Meizhu's face darkened. She forced the words out through clenched teeth. "Do you want me to file a complaint against you?"

Ma Wei cleared his throat and straightened his collar. "I'm the deputy director of the Linshan City Public Security Bureau. Your complaint won't take effect unless I approve it."

Zhang Meizhu was stunned, utterly flabbergasted.

Ma Wei was the deputy director?

Was there no justice in the world?

Ma Wei smiled faintly. "I was just joking with you. Why take it so seriously?

"I know you're just ordinary friends. It's obvious that you two..."

"Captain Ma, what exactly do you want?"

Gao Teng walked over and stepped in front of Zhang Meizhu.

He could tell Ma Wei didn't mean any harm; he just liked making inappropriate jokes. But Zhang Meizhu was a girl, after all, and it was strange to make her listen to all that nonsense.

Ma Wei pursed his lips, ending the joke.

"I'm about to head back with my team. I came to let you know that the reward for killing the monster will be deposited into your bank accounts.

"That Green Snake had a level-three physique, so you'll each get eight thousand yuan. You should receive the money in about two or three business days."

"..."

Silence filled the air.

Ma Wei spread his hands. "Aren't you going to thank me?"

"...Thanks."

Ma Wei's lips curled up. "All right, then. You two carry on."

He grabbed the doorknob and said as he closed the door, "Keep role-playing, but don't take it too far."

Gao Teng: "..."

Zhang Meizhu: "..."

The door slammed shut with a bang. Zhang Meizhu ground her teeth and spat out three words. "What a psycho!"

"Why is someone like him a deputy director? The Public Security Bureau in our city is a complete joke!"

Gao Teng didn't see it that way. Ma Wei liked saying strange things, but he was responsible at work and didn't act like he was above everyone else.

"Forget about him."

Gao Teng said, "I need to go home and change, then find my bike.

"Your clothes smell intoxicating, but they're too small. They're really uncomfortable to wear."

Zhang Meizhu put on a stern face and gave Gao Teng a long look. "Did Ma Wei rub off on you? Why's your mind full of dirty thoughts too?"

Gao Teng laughed. "Meet you in the sewers? Or..."

"Let's not make things so complicated. I'll go with you and check out where you live while I'm at it."

"Sure."

"But..." Gao Teng scratched his head. "The place I live is really, really run-down. Are you sure you want to go?"

Zhang Meizhu raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "The more you say that, the more I want to see your place."

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

Gao Teng didn't say anything more. He opened the door and went out.

They took the elevator down together and found the bicycle.

Gao Teng didn't hesitate at all. He swung a leg over and sat on the back seat, then patted the seat in front of him. "You ride. I'll give you directions."

"?"

A question mark appeared over Zhang Meizhu's head.

"Is this right?"

"You're making a girl ride you around?"

"Don't you feel bad?"

Gao Teng replied as if it were only natural, "You're already at level four. You're bursting with energy, while I'm weak and helpless. Isn't it only right that you take care of me?"

"Heh."

Zhang Meizhu sneered.

Gao Teng tilted his head. "What are you smirking at? Get on."

They stared at each other for a while. In the end, Zhang Meizhu gave in.

She got on the bike and asked irritably, "Which way?"

"Go..."

Gao Teng gave her detailed directions.

Zhang Meizhu snorted and pedaled the bicycle with her long, shapely legs.

Nearly half an hour later, they reached their destination.

As they rode into a narrow alley, Zhang Meizhu's expression changed completely at the sight of the old, leaning high-rises, the filthy road awash with sewage, and the wires crisscrossing overhead like a spiderweb.

She hadn't imagined Gao Teng's living conditions could be this bad.

It was so depressing!

"Why do you live somewhere like this?"

"I like it."

Gao Teng said, "I just love the feeling of living in hardship with no hope for the future."

Zhang Meizhu couldn't help looking back.

"How hilarious." Gao Teng rolled his eyes. "I live in a place like this because I'm poor. How could you even ask that?"

Zhang Meizhu was immediately at a loss for words.

"Stop at that building up ahead. That's where I live."

At his words, Zhang Meizhu looked in the direction Gao Teng pointed. The building was about ten stories tall, badly tilted, with large patches of cement fallen from the walls, exposing rust-covered rebar.

Even so, people lived on every floor. Clothes hung from the rusty security windows, and the place was so cramped and cluttered it was hard to breathe.