"Damn, what the heck? Weren't you half a head shorter than me before? How come now you're actually half a head taller? That's just not scientific!"
Is there some secret to getting taller? Tell me, so I can grow a few more centimeters too.
Ken grabbed Evan Lin's arm, looking excited.
"You still want to get taller? Aren't you always saying if you're not tall enough, you just make up for it with your looks?" Evan Lin glanced at Ken and couldn't help teasing him.
The three of them had grown up together since childhood, but unlike Hank Chu, Ken was much more outgoing and played around a lot more.
Especially after Ken's dad made some money, bought a new apartment, and moved the family out of that slum area, Ken's social circle got a lot bigger.
Evan Lin remembered that after eighth grade, the three of them didn't hang out together as much. On regular days, they rarely kept in touch. But whenever they met up, there was always a ton to talk about, and if anyone needed help, one phone call was all it took.
That kind of bond, where you don't need to force anything but always feel a burst of joy every time you reunite after a while—that's what real brotherhood is.
"Listen to yourself! I know I'm handsome, but if I could get a bit taller, I'd be even more attractive, right? Then your big bro could meet a few more pretty girls and introduce them to you and Hank, help you guys get out of singlehood. Wouldn't that be awesome?"
Ken put on a smug look, earning an eye-roll from Hank Chu: "Oh, please. You call that handsome? You look just like a movie villain if you ask me."
"Come on, you're just jealous!" Ken shot back at Hank Chu, looking indignant.
"Alright, let's go get online. It's not every day Evan comes back—let's play a few rounds of Warcraft III!"
Hank Chu laughed, and a few of the other boys looked like they wanted to join in, but after thinking it over, they just greeted Hank and left on their own.
Leisure Internet Café.
When Evan Lin stood in front of the internet café and looked up at the old, faded sign, he couldn't help but grin.
Back then, going online was seen as a huge taboo by all parents and teachers. They said students should focus on studying, not get distracted, and that games were just mental poison. Play too much, and it's basically slow suicide.
Back then, whenever Evan Lin, Hank Chu, and Ken came to play online, they were like mice hiding from a cat—always nervous. A few times, the homeroom teacher came by to catch people. Evan got lucky once, ducked into the bathroom with a sudden stomachache, and barely escaped. But Hank Chu got caught red-handed and ended up having to write a ten-thousand-word self-reflection. Total tragedy.
"Damn, I kept losing to Hank before. Today I'm here for revenge!" Ken rubbed his hands together, itching to play.
Hank Chu tossed his head, unimpressed: "You? Same rules as always—loser pays!"
"Deal!"
The three of them walked into the internet café.
Inside, a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses was dozing at the front desk. Hearing the door open, he glanced sideways at Hank Chu and the others, then immediately put on a fake smile: "Here to get online? How many of you?"
"Three. Ten bucks each, and grab three bottles of Coke too."
Ken pulled out a fifty and slapped it on the counter, then shot a look at Hank Chu: "If you lose, you pay me back."
"No problem."
The first floor of the café was filled with smoke, so the three headed upstairs to the second floor.
They picked three computers in a row and booted them up.
Warcraft III was a real-time strategy game. Back then, Evan Lin wasn't very good at games, so it was usually Hank Chu and Ken playing intense matches while Evan just cheered them on.
Sometimes Hank Chu and Ken would team up with Evan Lin for a three-on-three, just to let him taste a win for once. But most of the time, Evan played solo and got wrecked.
Evan Lin turned on his computer but didn't bother playing any games. He just sat there and watched Hank Chu and Ken go at it.
In the first match, Ken used a turtling strategy, barely leaving his base. He built up a whole army of Gryphon Riders and wiped out Hank Chu, leaving Hank so frustrated he almost smashed his keyboard.
"Man, your skills are seriously trash."
Just as Hank Chu and Ken were locked in a fierce battle, a few mocking voices sounded from behind them.
Hank Chu turned around, saw who it was, and frowned. "Why are you guys still here? What, looking for a fight?"
"Jason Jiang, are you even a man? Can't handle losing?"
The ones standing behind them were the same group who'd just lost to Evan Lin on the basketball court.
Jason Jiang stood at the back, and when Hank Chu spoke, he didn't say a word or even look at him. Instead, he turned to Allen Ju and the other two: "Want me to grab a computer for you?"
"Yeah."
Allen Ju nodded, and Jason Jiang headed downstairs.
"Hey, Hank Chu, you know them?" Ken was a bit annoyed at the interruption, but when he turned and saw Selina Shi behind him, his eyes lit up. He flashed what he thought was a charming smile: "Hey, beautiful, you look kinda familiar. Maybe we've met somewhere around school?"
"Oldest trick in the book." Selina Shi didn't even look at Ken. Instead, her gaze landed on Evan Lin, who was just staring at a blank computer screen. She asked curiously, "You don't play games?"
"I'm terrible at games, so I just don't bother." Evan Lin replied bluntly, though Selina Shi and her friends clearly didn't believe him.
After all, this plain-looking guy had just acted the same way on the basketball court—calm and quiet—then absolutely dominated everyone.
"I've played this game for years. Let's have a match—best two out of three?" Allen Ju suggested coolly.
"Sorry, not interested." Hank Chu replied, clearly annoyed.
Allen Ju turned to Ken, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "If you win, I'll have Selina Shi go to dinner with you."
"For real?" Ken's eyes lit up at the offer, a goofy grin spreading across his face.
To Ken, Selina Shi was way prettier than any other girl he knew, and her cool, distant vibe just made him want to get closer.
Right now, after hearing Allen Ju's offer, Ken was instantly fired up.
Seriously, what guy wouldn't want to show off his skills—whether it's basketball or gaming—in front of the girl he likes?