Chapter 11

After Zhou Qingluo transmigrated into a substitute, he specially went to read a few books of this genre. He didn’t quite remember the content, but he did remember a few sentences.

Especially “Don’t laugh, you don’t look like him when you smile. He doesn’t like to laugh.” This sentence was simply golden, the essence of substitute novels. The key was that it could be used interchangeably.

The utilization just now was perfect. Song Ling abruptly stopped in the middle of his humming.

According to the normal trend, Song Ling should feel that his self-esteem was greatly hurt and very actively and consciously get off the scooter.

However, Song Ling didn’t, continuing to sit in the back steady as Mount Tai. Zhou Qingluo had no choice but to throw out his trump card—

Charge money.

But Song Ling still remained motionless.

Seeing that the red light was about to end, Zhou Qingluo looked back at Song Ling: “The fare’s a bit expensive, you should take a taxi instead.”

Song Ling expressionlessly said, “Zhou Qingluo, you only charged 50 yuan last time.”

Zhou Qingluo: “?”

As expected, Song Ling’s brain was wired differently from that of normal people.

Song Ling: “Last time when you delivered snail noodles. Think carefully.”

“Last time was a delivery plus one, this time it’s taking passengers.”

“Then I’ll go wherever you go, take me as an extra.”

“Sorry, small business, no counter-offers accepted.”

Song Ling was silent for a few seconds, then nodded: “Okay, let’s go.”

“To where?”

“You guess. If you’re right, I’ll give you 500.”

Zhou Qingluo understood. Song Ling was teasing him.

A wave of energy spurted out in his heart, as if whoever ended this meaningless conversation first would lose.

Zhou Qingluo took out his phone and turned on tracking, “Sure, I’ll start counting now. Then I’ll drive as I like?”

“You drive.”

Zhou Qingluo gritted his teeth, starting the scooter and wandering through the streets and alleys.

He had delivered takeout for two months and knew all the best places in the city by heart. Since there was a fool paying for a whole-day tour, why not treat it as a paid vacation?

Zhou Qingluo thought, with a pampered person like Song Ling that probably ate many delicacies, perhaps he would be interested in small snacks.

He drove past CBD, the food city, an old street that had existed for a thousand years, a university snack street.

Zhou Qingluo slightly turned his head to say, “Look carefully at the side of the road. Stop me when you see what you want to eat.”

Song Ling: “Okay.”

As soon as the scooter started, Song Ling had been seriously staring at the sides of the road. He didn’t have time to look at the street signs. It turned out that watching the crowds and streets zoom by on a 15 mph scooter was not just a series of illusory phantoms but lively, and full of fireworks.

He had actually never been to these places before. It turned out that this city wasn’t as cold as the needles jabbed into his vein countless times.

Before he knew it, Zhou Qingluo drove for a long time, stopping when the battery was running low.

He turned around and asked Song Ling, “We passed by so many places but you didn’t see anything you want to eat?”

Song Ling, “No, go to a few more places.”

Zhou Qingluo looked at the sky and then at him speechlessly, “The scooter’s about to run out of battery. It’s going to rain soon and I have to go home later.”

Song Ling, “Then go to your house.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going too.”

“???”

Zhou Qingluo really wanted to climb into Song Ling’s brain. He seemed pretty smart, so why did he always say such stupid things?

“The lunch you bought looked pretty good. I want to eat it too.”

“…”

“I’ll pay.”

Zhou Qingluo thought that his brain was fried from the heat.

Seeing that it was almost two in the afternoon, Zhou Qingluo didn’t want to bicker with him and called Zhou Shoulin, “Dad, don’t put the leftover ribs in the fridge yet and warm them up. Yeah, I have someone here that wants to eat. We’ll be there in 20 minutes.”

Zhou Qingluo hung up and glanced at Song Ling, “It’s all leftovers, no need for money. Let’s go.”

Song Ling’s mouth twitched, “There’s times when you’re generous?”

Zhou Qingluo felt that his brain was broken. On his rare day off, he fought with someone and drove a man that would highly likely kill him in the future on this hot day around town.

His brain was really growing mold.

He angrily asked, “You eating or not?”

“Eating.”

The 60 square meters house Zhou Qingluo lived in was Zhou Shoulin’s former unit. On the first floor, there was also a 20 square meters small yard.

It was only ten minutes away but the weather wasn’t good. When they were five minutes away, it started to rain heavily.

Zhou Qingluo turned around and asked, “Do you want to put your computer bag inside the delivery box?”

“This bag is more waterproof than your delivery box.”

“…” If you don’t need it, then don’t use it. Why belittle his delivery box? “Forget it then.”

While Zhou Qingluo was grumbling, the rain pattering on his helmet grew lighter. He looked up and saw Song Ling holding his computer bag over his head.

Zhou Qingluo was stunned for a moment, wondering if he was seeing an illusion. Song Ling was actually so considerate.

Could it be that his identity as a substitute had officially started?

Song Ling already prepared to take what they each needed, and the two were going to live their lives being each other’s substitute?

Zhou Qingluo was thinking wildly when he heard Song Ling slowly say, “It really is waterproof.”

Zhou Qingluo, “…” He seemed to have discovered the reason why the white moonlight left Song Ling. Probably because of his stinky mouth.

Zhou Qingluo touched the leather bag covering his head and said, “Pretty good material, how much was it?”

“…”

Zhou Qingluo’s white t-shirt was already soaked, clinging tightly to his body. Song Ling looked at his spine, twitched the corners of his mouth, and thought that he was really strange. Why should he use his computer bag to block the rain for this person who mentioned money every three lines?

Perhaps it was because of the sunflower that always faced towards the sun. He just couldn’t bear for it to be battered by the wind and rain.

The rain stopped as soon as the two entered the house.

Zhou Shoulin looked at the drenched people and took out two towels, “Dry off quickly.”

Song Ling’s eyes darkened. The towel was soft and fluffy, still some heat left over from drying in the sun.

He mechanically wiped his face.

Zhou Shoulin: “Qingluo is really too much. This kid, why didn’t you take cover when it’s raining? Now your friend is drenched like this.”

Song Ling heard the word ‘friend’ and paused briefly before continuing to wipe his hair like nothing happened.

Zhou Qingluo raised his chin towards the bathroom, “You go take a shower first.”

Zhou Shoulin: “Yes, go wash first. Qingluo will bring you some clothes later.”

Zhou Qingluo: “Mine?”

Zhou Shoulin: “Otherwise?”

Song Ling glanced at Zhou Qingluo, then turned and walked into the bathroom.

Zhou Qingluo: “…”

He glared aggrievedly at Song Ling’s back, complaining in a low voice: “Dad, why are you being so good to him?”

Zhou Qingluo’s track record was never great. Several times, he would say that he was going drinking with friends, but no one would help him back in his drunken state. The bar manager called him to come pick him up, but when he arrived, the building was already empty.

Zhou Shoulin pondered for a moment, smiling, “It’s the first time you brought your friends back. In life, the more friends you have, the more paths you have.”

Zhou Qingluo: “The first time?”

What a coincidence.

Zhou Qingluo rolled his eyes. He originally thought that he could lie in bed and draw after delivering Zhou Qingmu’s meal, but instead, he had to drive through the streets in the scorching heat, get drenched, and now he even had to sacrifice a pair of underwear he just bought. Really didn’t know what to do.

Zhou Shoulin, “Oh yes, what’s your friend’s name?”

“Surname Song. Just call him Xiao (Lil’) Song.”

Zhou Shoulin: “…Is there anyone that introduces someone like you?”

The person in the bathroom finished his shower and came out wearing slightly short clothes.

He glanced at Zhou Qingluo lightly, saying to Zhou Shoulin: “Hello, my name is Song Ling.”

Zhou Shoulin: “Oh oh oh, which ‘Ling’?”

(TN: The specific Chinese character. You can think of it as the meaning of his name.)

Song Ling: “Ling as in high aspirations.”

Zhou Qingluo: “…” High ambitions?

Zhou Shoulin laughed cheerfully, “Okay, Xiao Song, come and eat.”

Song Ling: “…”

Zhou Qingluo almost couldn’t hold back from laughing.

Looking at the full table of food, Zhou Qingluo deeply experienced Zhou Shoulin’s devout belief in ‘many friends, many paths.’

Zhou Qingluo was thinking about how to tell his father about Zhou Qingmu’s colleagues wanting to order food from him.

Zhou Qingmu mentioned it before but Zhou Shoulin didn’t agree.

Zhou Shoulin was laid off in his middle age, making him overly conservative and introverted. As time went by, he grew less and less confident. When Zhou Qingluo praised him, he just thought he was trying to please him.

He had to sell hard labor and work himself to the bone before feeling at ease.

These days, his body was getting better and he wanted to deliver food again.

Zhou Qingluo couldn’t find a breakthrough and directly said, “Dad, Sister’s colleagues said that your food was delicious and want to order from you.”

Zhou Shoulin waved his hands, “How can I ask for money for my level of craftmanship? If any of Qingmu’s colleagues want to eat, just tell me and I’ll make some more.”

After speaking, he enthusiastically urged Song Ling, “Xiao Song, eat slowly and eat more. I’m going out to buy some fruit.”

Once Zhou Shoulin left, only two people were left in the small dining room.

Zhou Qingluo looked at his father’s back and sighed.

Song Ling was wearing Zhou Qingluo’s white roundneck t-shirt, frowning and studying himself.

The shirt was a bit short, washed white with a slight scent of washing detergent. Though it was old, it was very clean. There was a small hole under the hem.

It seemed that Zhou Qingluo gave him the oldest one to wear.

Song Ling had never worn such shabby clothes.

Song Ling pointed at the hole, “Zhou Qingluo, the clothes are too shabby.”

Zhou Qingluo snorted, “You’ve wasted my new pair of underwear and I haven’t even charged you for it yet. You dare be picky?”

“…”