Tomb raiding: following the plot while tearing up the script

"Hello... Wang Meng... has something happened at the store?"

A weak, feeble voice came through the receiver. Wang Meng hesitated for a moment, then swallowed hard and continued talking to his long-lost boss.

"Boss, what happened? Are you hurt? Is Ali alright?"

Wuxie: ...

You suspect the boss is injured, but you're concerned about someone else instead?

"It's okay, I'm fine, and Ali is fine too. Just say what's wrong, your boss is busy." Wu Xie said irritably, looking at the gym equipment in front of him.

"No, it's alright. Um, um... Boss, where are you? When are you coming back? Someone said he's your brother and wants to talk to you about something."

Wang Meng emphasized the word "brothers" very clearly, making the reminder very obvious.

The strange man in front of him really didn't look like a good person. He had a buzz cut, triangular eyes, a face full of fat, and a fierce look in his eyes. He was also wearing an oddly matched earring. He was afraid that he might say something wrong and be taught a lesson by the other party.

"I'm in the capital. What brothers? All my brothers are here."

Wu Xie's mind was currently filled with all sorts of training, and he couldn't process much else. He replied, puzzled.

Wang Meng looked at the person in front of him awkwardly.

"Um, um... sir... what do you think of this..."

“You, you, you… tell Old Wu, Old Wu, I am, I am Old Yang…”

"Hey? Why are you mimicking other people's speech? I..."

"Wang Meng, he said his name is Lao Yang?" Wu Xie had clearly heard their conversation and hurriedly interrupted Wang Meng.

That familiar stuttering rhythm could only belong to Lao Yang.

He's been training and doing the vest drills lately, and he's almost gone crazy from all the studying. He's completely forgotten that there's someone waiting to trick him.

"Give him the phone."

"But boss... oh..." Wang Meng was a little reluctant, but he still obediently handed over his phone.

"My boss is talking to you."

There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the phone before it was handed to another person.

"Hey, Old, Old, Old Wu... I, I, am, I am Old, Old Yang..."

The familiar yet unfamiliar voice on the phone made Wu Xie pause for a moment. He had been so busy lately that he hadn't had time to look at the stack of notes that were supposedly written by his future self.

But he already knew...

Old Yang, who grew up wearing the same pair of pants as me and did everything with me, is... dead...

Abandoned by everyone, he died helplessly in that cave. This "Old Yang" has inherited all his memories and emotions, but he is not him.

"Hey Lao Yang, when the hell did you get out? Why didn't you call me? I could have come pick you up!" Wu Xie said with a forced smile, feigning surprise.

"You, you, you motherfucker, you motherfucker, you changed your hands, your phone number, your number... and you still have the nerve to say it..."

Wang Meng found the way this guy was talking incredibly unbearable to listen to. Seeing that this strange man actually knew his boss and seemed to have a pretty good relationship with him, he pursed his lips and went back to his computer to play games.

"It was beyond my control, you know. I was so unlucky to get robbed by a petty thief. I'm furious. By the way, what are you doing in the store? Is something wrong? Let me tell you, if you have something to say, just say so."

Even though he knew the person on the other end of the phone wasn't really Lao Yang, he couldn't help but chatter on and on as soon as he heard the other person's voice.

That's how it was back then. Lao Yang stuttered when he spoke, and no one wanted to talk to him. Only Wu Xie kept talking non-stop, and Lao Yang only needed to occasionally chime in with a few words.

Back then, Wu Xie was a sly little devil. Sometimes he would come up with some really bad ideas that would make even Old Master Wu's dog shake its head.

That's really mean, so mean.

Only Lao Yang, who not only shows support, is truly going to carry it out!

The two of them were truly birds of a feather when they got together. Even Wu Sansheng, whom Wu Xie always called an old fox, had been tricked by these two. Although in the end, Wu Xie received an upgraded version of Wu Sansheng's trickery of his nephew.

but……

It was a success, wasn't it?

Later, due to family reasons, Lao Yang only completed a vocational high school before giving up his studies. In addition, he had a stutter and couldn't find a job, so he ended up working at Wu Xie's shop.

Don't let Lao Yang's stuttering fool you; he's a smooth talker. Back when he worked in the shop, business was surprisingly good.

But just three years ago, he was tricked by a fellow Jiangxi native into going to the Qinling Mountains to raid tombs, and to make matters worse, he was caught by Uncle Hat as soon as he came out.

He always thought Lao Yang was just unlucky enough to be in jail, and he wanted to go see him, but the guy was too proud to see him.

Unexpectedly, the real Lao Yang had already died in the Qinling Mountains, and was now a 'copy' being reformed in prison?

What should I say...

After the initial sadness subsided, a more complex feeling emerged.

Knowing that your old friend is dead, someone who is exactly the same as him in voice, appearance, personality, and memories is talking to you...

"You, you're really, really unlucky." Old Yang across from me gave a stiff laugh. "Old, Old Wu, you, you're not in Hangzhou right now?"

"Yes, I'm in Beijing right now, dealing with some personal matters. Lao Yang, if there's anything you can do for me, just say so, don't beat around the bush."

"No, it's nothing, just a small matter. When are you coming back?" Lao Yang didn't intend to talk about anything on the phone, but kept asking Wu Xie when he would be back.

"It might take another three to five days. When I get back, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Okay, say it, it's settled, you must treat me to a good meal, okay, don't, don't even think about taking that instant noodles to appease me."

"No way, Lou Wai Lou, order whatever you like, how about it, isn't it grand?"

"Grand, magnificent!!!"

"Then it's settled. Don't stand me up, or I'll beat you to death. Let me tell you, I'm not what I used to be. I really will punch your dog head off."

"You, you're just bragging, bragging all you want, with your small, tiny body, you might as well just let out a dog..."

……

After hanging up the phone, Wu Xie sat in the corner, unable to calm down for a long time. He stared blankly at the phone in his hand, lost in thought.

Wang Pangzi, who was waiting for him to train, didn't disturb him when he saw how listless he looked. He continued training on his own while thinking about what delicious food he would make for Xiao Tianzhen later.

When people are in a bad mood, they need to eat something good. If their mouths are happy, they will be happy too.

(Yes, that's right, I'm talking about the silly author himself. Only one chapter today, three more tomorrow to make up for it, my darlings, love you all!!!)