Chapter 27: The Panda
Wang Ming: “…”
“Don’t underestimate a young man’s potential,” Wang Ming declared grandly.
Let’s set the stage first, Wang Ming thought. I’ll stand tall. If I don’t make it in ten years, then this older brother can continue to mock me. I can use “Don’t underestimate a middle-aged man’s potential” for another ten years, and if I still haven’t made it by the time I die, I can use the ultimate move, “Don’t underestimate an old man’s potential.”
Wang Ming felt confident, believing “the advantage is with me.”
Depressed Uncle: “…”
Why does this stubborn young man seem to be on a moral high ground, even though I’m criticizing him? The depressed uncle, seeing Wang Ming’s smug expression, found humans unpredictable.
After some bustling, Wang Ming, Ao Chen, and the depressed uncle finally sat down to eat.
Looking at the golden bowls and the simple food inside—cold skin noodles, snail noodles, and spicy hot pot—Wang Ming felt a strange kinship with the food.
“Let’s eat,” Ao Chen said, seeing Wang Ming’s existential crisis and the depressed uncle hesitating without his permission.
“Let’s eat,” Wang Ming nodded, and began his first meal in a pure gold bowl.
Wow, Wang Ming thought. This is an emperor’s experience card! I love it!
But soon, he experienced something an emperor probably wouldn’t: someone smacking their lips.
Wang Ming: “…”
I’m not refined, but this eating habit is… Wang Ming thought.
He didn’t look up, but he doubted it was Ao Chen. They’d eaten together before, and he couldn’t imagine a domineering CEO smacking.
There was only one other possibility.
He glanced at the depressed uncle who was, indeed, smacking his lips, eating happily.
Wang Ming: “…”
Depressed Uncle: Smack smack smack smack.
Wang Ming: “…”
Depressed Uncle: Smack smack smack smack…
Does this older brother not know that the sound of his smacking is like nails on a chalkboard?! Wang Ming mentally screamed.
The oblivious depressed uncle continued, but Ao Chen seemed to notice something.
Ao Chen: “…”
Why does this man keep hearing nails on a chalkboard in his head? Ao Chen thought.
“This food is pretty good, aren’t you guys eating?”
Unaffected, the depressed uncle ate happily, looking at the soon-to-be-divorced couple who had stopped eating.
“Little bro, why do you have such a pained expression?” The depressed uncle looked at Wang Ming whose face was contorted with pain. One might think he was eating arsenic, not street food.
Wang Ming: “…”
This depressed older brother is actually quite nice. If I speak directly, will I hurt his feelings? Wang Ming pondered.
While waiting for an answer, the depressed uncle took a few more bites and continued chewing.
Depressed Uncle: Smack smack smack smack.
Wang Ming: “…”
Wang Ming’s pained expression was almost unbearable.
Ao Chen also heard the intensified sound of nails on a chalkboard.
“I think you should just say it directly,” Ao Chen finally spoke, unable to bear Wang Ming’s suffering.
Wang Ming: “…”
Since the master said so, it should be okay, Wang Ming thought, knowing Ao Chen was much closer to the depressed uncle than he was.
“Then, I’ll be blunt,” Wang Ming said, resting his fist under his chin for dramatic effect.
“What are you guys talking about?”
The oblivious depressed uncle, after a series of smacks, looked confused and finally stopped. “What are you two talking about?” he asked.
Wang Ming: “…”
This older brother really doesn’t notice anything?! Wang Ming mentally raged, maintaining his usual social etiquette, and didn’t voice his thoughts.
“It’s just…Older Brother, could you control your jaw muscles a bit when you eat?” Wang Ming said delicately.
Depressed Uncle: “…”
The depressed uncle looked questioningly at Ao Chen.
“He means don’t smack your lips when you eat,” Ao Chen bluntly translated.
Depressed Uncle: “…”
The depressed uncle looked at Wang Ming with incomprehension.
“Why can’t I smack my lips?” The depressed uncle asked, not in a challenging tone, but genuinely confused.
Wang Ming: “…”
Doesn’t he find it unpleasant himself? Wang Ming thought.
“It’s just…a bit uncomfortable to listen to,” Wang Ming explained.
Depressed Uncle: “…”
“How is that possible?” The depressed uncle frowned, still confused.
“When I eat like this…” The depressed uncle started, then continued smacking, looking at Wang Ming and Ao Chen with puzzlement.
“Isn’t it cute?” the depressed uncle asked.
Wang Ming: “…”
Ao Chen: “…”
This is not cute at all! Wang Ming thought.
“It’s not cute,” Wang Ming firmly shook his head.
Depressed Uncle: “…”
“You say my eating is not cute?!” The depressed uncle stared at Wang Ming as if he were a monster.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Even the Emperor himself wouldn’t find it cute today!” Wang Ming insisted.
Depressed Uncle: “…”
The depressed uncle got angry.
Wang Ming’s vision went black again.
The colorful world turned black and white.
My eyes are acting up again? Wang Ming thought, rubbing his eyes.
Looking up, he saw a panda sitting in front of him.
A live one.
Wang Ming: “…”
Panda: Smack smack smack smack.
“Isn’t it cute?” the panda asked.