Rebirth in a Shura Field, but in an Abstract Version

An encounter at 008's doorstep

"Match ends, Putteya defeats Czech Republic 1-0..."

The commentator's voice came through the headphones.

Wang Zhe wasn't wearing headphones, but Jiang Di held them to her ears and heard him.

Of course, there's no need to listen to the commentary or have anyone explain it to her. Even someone who doesn't understand football can at least see the score clearly on the screen.

Jiang Di looked around. It was 4:30 in the morning, and only a few screens in the internet cafe were lit up. The nearest people were several meters away.

Nobody will pay attention to this.

But the girl still instinctively lowered her voice and asked, "How much money did you invest? How much can you expect to make this round?"

Wang Zhe smiled and said, "One thousand becomes one thousand eight hundred."

Jiang Di stared at him intently.

Wang Zhe asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

Jiang Di: "What do you plan to do with this nearly two thousand yuan?"

Wang Zhe said without hesitation, "I'll bet on the next match. Tomorrow at the same time, Germany vs. Italy will be played against Hilla."

Jiang Di quickly asked, "Are you confident about the next match?"

Wang Zhe: "Yes, Germany and Italy will win. Sierra Leone's strength is far inferior, and they simply cannot stop them."

Jiang Di muttered, "But aren't there many upsets in football matches..."

Wang Zhe: "There have indeed been many upsets, but I'm almost certain the next one won't be. So, you got the answer from me? Are you going to tell your dad?"

Jiang Di thought for less than two seconds before decisively saying, "There's no point in telling him. He won't believe me. He might even deliberately buy the opposite of what I said just to show off his fatherly status."

Wang Zhe yawned and said, "Okay then, go to sleep quickly, we still need to collect the money when we wake up."

Jiang Di then asked, "Where do I collect the money?"

Wang Zhe: "You can collect your lottery ticket at the lottery shop where you bought it. Prizes under 10,000 yuan are cash prizes. Want to come with me?"

Jiang Di was stunned as soon as he finished speaking.

The girl had been trying to find excuses and reasons to spend more time with Wang Zhe, even just a little more. At least she didn't want to wake up in an internet cafe and have to say goodbye. Now, look what happened—he actually brought it up himself!

After a brief moment of surprise, Jiang Di couldn't help but laugh: "Since you've put me in such a difficult position, wouldn't it be disrespectful of you if I didn't go?"

Wang Zhe smiled, leaned on the table in the internet cafe, and closed his eyes.

Jiang Di also lay down like him.

However, she moved slightly closer to Wang Zhe.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

When Jiang Di woke up, it was already noon.

She felt a little flustered realizing that Wang Zhe was not around. Fortunately, he soon returned and sat down next to her.

"There's no toothbrush or toothpaste, so make do with this for now." Wang Zhe brought over a small bottle of mouthwash and placed it in front of her.

Jiang Di nodded without saying a word, and simply picked up the bottle of mouthwash.

When you first wake up, your mouth always smells. So Jiang Di didn't want to talk to Wang Zhe before rinsing her mouth. Besides, she hadn't washed her face yet, and she must look terrible.

Jiang Di ran to the bathroom, first rinsed her mouth with mouthwash, then washed her face and dried it with tissues from her pocket.

The girl looked at herself in the mirror.

Perhaps because she spent the night sleeping on the internet cafe table, she looked a little haggard, but she was still considered youthful and beautiful... right?

She rarely felt so insecure about her appearance.

She tidied her hair in front of the mirror, checked her face, and made sure she was clean before leaving the bathroom.

Then, as the two walked out of the internet cafe, their stomachs started growling at the same time.

Wang Zhe felt his pocket. Besides his ID card, he only had ten yuan left. That was enough for him to buy himself a bowl of noodles, but not enough for two people.

So he said, "Let's go to the lottery shop first, then come to my house for dinner."

Jiang Di naturally asked, "Do your parents cook at home?"

Wang Zhe shook his head: "No, they're at work today, but I can do it."

Jiang Di was immediately surprised: "You can actually cook?"

Wang Zhe: "I know a little bit."

Jiang Di couldn't help but wonder, "It's not just instant noodles with an egg, is it?"

Wang Zhe scoffed, "You call that a meal? Alright, you'll find out soon enough. The lottery shop is that way, follow me."

Jiang Di was quite curious about his cooking skills, but didn't ask too many questions, so she followed him to the lottery shop.

Wang Zhe took out the lottery ticket. He didn't take it from his pants pocket, but from inside his shoe, and he didn't let Jiang Di or anyone else in the lottery shop see him.

He was well aware of the significance of this thin ticket, and since it wasn't registered in his name, anyone who found it could claim the prize. Therefore, he naturally had to be cautious.

The shop owner took the lottery ticket and, as usual, scanned it with the ticket scanner, which beeped.

"Genuine ticket, please wait a moment."

The shopkeeper turned around, counted out 18 hundred-yuan bills from the tin box, handed them to him, and said, "Count them, I won't accept any less."

Wang Zhe counted the money on the spot without hesitation, confirmed it was 1,800 yuan, and then handed the money back.

The shop owner was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Wang Zhe said, "I'm betting everything on tonight's match; Germany and Italy will win."

The shop owner couldn't help but laugh: "You lad, you've got a real gambling streak! Have you ever thought that if there's an upset, all the money you just got your hands on will go down the drain?"

Wang Zhe smiled and said, "I understand. Please help me issue the tickets."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

With a new lottery ticket in his pocket, Wang Zhe put his hands in his pockets and returned to his residential compound.

Jiang Di followed beside him.

Just as Wang Zhe stepped into the residential area, he encountered an unexpected figure.

Jiang Di's mother.

The woman spotted her daughter immediately. At first, she didn't realize that the young man next to her daughter was with her, and she rushed over angrily.

"Where the hell have you been! You actually know how to come back? Who are you trying to drive me crazy?!"

Seeing her mother rushing over aggressively, Jiang Di instinctively hid behind Wang Zhe.

Then her mother froze. After recognizing Wang Zhe, her mother hesitated and said, "You're that...?"

"Hello Auntie, I'm Wang Zhe. My mom seems to have talked to you before. I don't know if you know me."

"I know, but you..."

The aunt hesitated for a moment. The custom of not airing family dirty laundry in public temporarily suppressed her anger, preventing it from being unleashed immediately.

Wang Zhe turned his head and glanced at the girl behind him, then said in a low voice, "Just listen to me from now on, and cooperate."

Then, without waiting for Jiang Di's reply, he took two steps forward to meet her.

Actually, Wang Zhe had considered how to help Jiang Di solve her family problems last night and had even come up with some initial ideas. Although he hadn't fully figured it out yet, since it was an unexpected battle, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.