Zhang Lisheng picked George up at Gezeah Street and sent him to Lina's house. He contacted the date he hired through the post and video call online.
"Ms. Maddie, I'm Zhang Lisheng. Are you ready?"
"Oh, I'm ready, I can go anytime.
Mr. Zhang, let me confirm with you again. You're hiring me for 300 tonight just to be your date in name. I don't have to do anything else and I can go home after the prom, am I right? "
"Of course."
"You're indeed a student from Lowbige Junior High. The prom that we're going to isn't some weird prom but Lowbige's senior prom, am I right?"
"Of course."
"You'll pay me as soon as we meet, am I right?"
"Of course."
"Okay, pick me up at Madison Fat Chicken Burger, it's at the north end of Conan Street."
"Sure, I'll be there right away."
Zhang Lisheng was only two blocks away from Conan Street. After turning on the satellite navigation, he arrived at a fast-food restaurant that had a long-haired cartoon chicken on the signboard that could be seen everywhere on the streets of New York.
After parking his car, Zhang Lisheng walked into the fast-food restaurant that was affected by the snowstorm and had a depressed business. He saw two girls wearing ridiculous cockscombs standing behind the cashier's counter in boredom. They were chatting with a person wearing a long-haired chicken doll costume outside the counter.
The three of them greeted loudly when they heard the doorbell ring, "Welcome to Madison Fat Chicken Burger."
Zhang Lisheng was slightly stunned and said while smiling, "I'm Zhang Lisheng, I'm here to see Ms. Maddie."
"You're Mr. Zhang? Oh, I couldn't tell from the video call and your voice that you're so skinny, no, so young.
Hi, I'm Maddie, "The long-haired chicken costume stared at Zhang Lisheng for a while and said in a relieved tone.
"You look different from the video too," Zhang Lisheng said with a bitter expression while looking at the chicken costume that was two heads taller than him.
"Maddie, no matter how skinny a boy is, he's still a man. I think you're taking too much risk," A girl behind the cashier said softly while hiding behind the fat chicken costume.
"Sandy, that boy is so skinny that I can lift him up with one hand. Don't worry, he'll be fine.
This is 300 dollars, I can pay for my dad's dental treatment with this, "The chicken doll extended its claw and turned around to make an 'OK' gesture to its friend strenuously. It then looked at Zhang Lisheng and said apologetically," Mr. Zhang, I didn't expect you to be here so soon.
I'm sorry, I won't get off work for another ten minutes. "
"It's alright," Zhang Lisheng nodded in understanding and sat down at a table next to the window of the fast food restaurant.
Not long after, a steaming cup of fruit soup was served. "This cup is on me."
"Thank you."
She sipped her orange juice and looked out the window at the falling snow and the hurried footsteps of the pedestrians. Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
Inadvertently, a tall girl with long blonde hair, delicate brows, and a high nose wearing a blue dress walked up to Zhang Lisheng and said with a smile, "Mr. Zhang, I'm off work now. We can go now."
Zhang Lisheng turned his head and looked at the beautiful girl who was even more beautiful than the one in the video call two days ago. "You've changed so much just by changing your clothes."
Maddie rolled her eyes hearing his teasing and said nothing. Both of them walked out of the fast food restaurant.
Before they left, Maddie's two friends with cockscombs were shouting behind the counter, "Maddie, remember to call us when you get home tonight.
We'll call the police if our phones don't ring at midnight. "
"Your friends seem to care about you," Zhang Lisheng said casually as he walked to the Explorer with Maddie after they got out of the door.
"Yes," Maddie smiled awkwardly, "How are we going to Lowbige? Are we taking the subway or a cab?"
"I'm driving," Zhang Lisheng opened the Explorer's door and got into the car.
Maddie sat on the passenger seat in shock. "I thought you skipped a grade to get into high school. I can't believe you're the same as me, 16 years old and got your driver's license."
Zhang Lisheng said nothing. He took out 300 dollars from his pocket and passed it to Maddie, "You promised to pay me in advance."
"Thanks.
I have to say that 300 dollars is the easiest money I've earned this year from my job.
This is considered as a 'job'. There's nothing immoral about it, am I right? Because we won't do anything else apart from going to parties. "
"Of course," Zhang Lisheng replied casually and started the SUV to drive to Lowbige Junior High.
At the same time when the Explorer slowly merged into the traffic, an ancient black Ford car followed closely behind and drove into the crowded streets of New York.
In the car, a young man wearing black and gray old denim suspenders stared at the SUV in front of him. He had a strange smile on his face as he mumbled to himself, "I've finally caught you, kid.
Tonight, I will break your bones one by one and put them together into a perfect Christmas present. "
Lowbige Junior High's campus was brightly lit that night. A Walk of Fame that led from the street to the school hall ran through half of the campus.
The boorish, unkempt boys of the past strolled down the red-carpeted Walk of Fame in their prim suits, holding hands with their youthful girlfriends. They looked like the models of future gentlemen and ladies.
Zhang Lisheng arrived at the street outside of Lowbige Junior High after picking George and Lina up.
Zhang Lisheng stopped the car and looked at George who was wearing a suit and a bow tie at the back seat when he saw the pairs of handsome men and beautiful ladies being reflected by the lights far away. "George, must I wear a suit to the prom?"
"Of course buddy, don't tell me you didn't bring a suit.
Sh * t, I thought you didn't wear it because you're worried that the wool suit will wrinkle. "
"Oh, no wonder my mom reminded me to wear formal clothes today. Luckily I'm wearing a shirt," Zhang Lisheng opened the car door and walked out.
The snow that had been falling for two days had stopped. However, the air seemed colder now. A small white mist would come out when one exhaled softly.
"Buddy, listen to me. The store is still open. Maybe you should go buy a ready-made suit and wear it.
It's not like you're short of money.
Also, as long as you're not an idiot, nobody would bring a canvas bag to the prom.
I'm afraid you'll have to say goodbye to your toad baby for a while. " George said with a pout while looking at Zhang Lisheng who was carrying a backpack and wearing a black velvet jacket after getting off the car.
"I can put my backpack in the storage, there's no need for me to buy a suit. Look, isn't there a classmate who's not wearing a suit over there?"
"That guy's a nerd.
Oh sorry, I forgot that you're a nerd too, "George said helplessly," Maddie, hold your employer's arm. Let's go.
He never listens to advice, you'll have to make do with this rude slaughterhouse owner later. "
Maddie, George, and Lina had built a preliminary friendship from the conversation along the way. It also made the girl understand that the skinny boy who spent 300 dollars to hire her to the prom did not have any ulterior motives. It was all because of his weird personality that he could not find a dance partner.
She held Zhang Lisheng's arm while smiling and said teasingly, "George, perhaps the moment I dance with Lisheng will be the most memorable moment in my life.
Your friend's' Frankenstein '-like personality may allow him to achieve unimaginable achievements one day. "
"I have no doubt about that." George held Lina's hand politely and said without thinking, "This guy will definitely become Manhattan's new favorite over ten years later.
I wonder if he'll be the Slaughterhouse King or a biological scientist or, erm … Let's go.
The prom is starting soon. "
The four of them walked on the red carpet together and walked to the school's hall with hundreds of elegant couples.
The Lowbige Junior High School's hall was magnificent, the entrance was decorated like a classic Broadway ballroom.
Outside the entrance, the tall, strong black security guard hired by the student council stood expressionlessly at the only entrance that was pulled up by a thick red rope. He shook his torchlight and checked each of the invitation cards carefully. Some of the people who tried to take advantage of the situation did not even have the thought of trying anymore. They ran aside in frustration.
Maddie was stunned for a moment when she saw the grandeur when they arrived at the hall. She said softly, "Oh, this isn't fair.
"I live in the community near Chinese Street and I went to a public school too. But your Lowbige prom is so grandeur, it's even more exaggerated than in the movies.
"When our school held the prom, we only had an old string of lights outside the hall. The drinks and snacks provided were only orange juice and animal biscuits."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
