Lunchtime Diversions

During lunchtime, some people were playing poker by the roadside or placing bets on whether it would rain today. Others were in the cafeteria, enjoying sausage sandwiches while attempting to flirt. Some were at the shooting range, showing off their marksmanship to avoid taxes or arguing about whose wife was the most beautiful or whose child was the cutest.

Meanwhile, Ming Fa and Christine were in the library, searching for a book that could captivate them. Last time, Christine had recommended "The Lord of the Rings," but it was too thick for Ming Fa's liking, so he returned it.

"You should have more imagination; being immersed in the real world all the time will drive you crazy," Christine had said at the time. While it was good to have some imagination, there were still things in the real world that pulled them back.

In the end, he chose a magazine about racing cars, which earned him a disapproving look from Christine. This guy couldn't even handle an off-road vehicle, and he wanted to drive a racing car?

"What book did you pick?" Ming Fa asked as he walked towards a chair.

"I'm still deciding... this one looks alright," Christine pulled out a book thinner than "The Lord of the Rings," but it was still thick as a dictionary in Ming Fa's eyes.

"What's the book about?"

"I'll take a quick look..." Christine flipped to the back cover and scanned it briefly. "It's about a boy named Melic who gets transported to a magical world."

"Another fantasy novel?"

"As I always say, people need a little imagination, or they'll go crazy," Christine flashed a "I'm so gentle" smile that sent shivers down Ming Fa's spine.

So, he decided to take a seat and read his book. Christine sat across from him.

He was about to suggest that she go elsewhere to read when he saw her engrossed in her book, and he hesitated. Then he decided to let that idea go and continued to watch the Bugatti.

If he had the money right now, he'd actually consider buying one. Even though it might turn him into the second Paul Walker, he'd convert to Catholicism immediately if he could drive this car once in his life. Although he saw Christianity and Catholicism as the same, Christine disagreed. She always said that Catholicism was the original, and Christianity was the knockoff, which annoyed Ming Fa.

"You always read those history books; don't you ever get sleepy?" A grating voice made Ming Fa's veins pop, and the owner of the voice was none other than Peter!

"History helps people avoid making mistakes," standing next to Peter was Huang Kai, who was holding three books and accompanying Peter to a long table. There were three chairs on each side of the table.

"Ah, isn't this our 'Gunslinger'?" Peter suddenly put on a playful face. "You missed me, didn't you? Why else would you be here?"

"Hmph, if I wanted to see you, I wouldn't come to this dump," Ming Fa stood up and walked towards Peter. "You're all grown up, and you're still reading comics? Batman, no less. Do you think you're forever young?"

"Well, the reason why teenagers are teenagers is that they never forget their youngest desires, like candy, comics, amusement parks..." Peter switched to his talkative mode, and it seemed like he was about to vomit out the entire encyclopedia of knowledge. Ming Fa successfully prevented this impending disaster.

"Enough already," Ming Fa extended his hand, signaling Peter to shut up. He was worried that Peter's non-stop talking would make him miss his sleep time.

"So, you're giving up? Ok, he loses." Peter propped his chin on his hand, a mocking look in his eyes, and boundless excitement.

"...," Ming Fa fell silent. Although he didn't feel like he was competing with Peter, there was a sense of defeat creeping into his heart.

"Alright, enough. I want to read now; you go back to your racing car magazine," Peter opened the comic book again. "Oh, by the way, we have a tactical meeting later. We need to decide who's going on guard duty. Don't forget to attend."

Suddenly, Peter seemed to remember something. What if he got chosen for guard duty?

So, he opened Huang Kai's history book, flipped through three pages, and fell asleep.

Huang Kai, Ming Fa, and Christine looked at him disdainfully and then continued reading their books.