Chapter 10: Taller, More Handsome!
Chapter 10: Taller, More Handsome!
Bihu question: What is the experience of completing a life metamorphosis like?
Gao Jing replied: Thank you for asking. I was at the Urban Village, just came out of a small dark room, and was getting ready to go to Tony Barber at the street corner for a haircut. I want to say the experience of completing the life metamorphosis was…
Taller, faster, stronger, more handsome!
He jumped down the over-ten-step-high stairs, and his feet landed firmly on the cement ground in front of the iron gate.
His whole body felt light, as if he could fly.
Using the bounce power, Gao Jing leaped up again.
With a standard standing long jump move, he jumped onto the edge of that flowerbed across the way.
The distance was more than three meters!
“Hah!”
Gao Jing breathed out deeply and shook both arms hard.
Awesome!
He turned his head and saw Uncle Zhang’s little grandson next door, riding on a twisty car, looking up at him with a stunned look.
Mouth open wide.
???
Kid, do you have many question marks?
Gao Jing chuckled and jumped off the flowerbed. He reached out and rubbed the little guy’s head, then walked toward the alley opening.
He felt amazing.
His body had never felt so free and easy, filled with endless life and energy.
The whole world seemed super vivid and bright to Gao Jing, like never before. Even small dust was clear to see.
It was like having bad near-sight for years, and wearing matching glasses for the first time!
Around things hit Gao Jing now in a full, round way.
His senses became sharp and strong.
Even though this brought some trouble, Gao Jing felt sure he could get used to it.
The thing he needed to fix right away was: the T-shirt he wore was too tight, the pants were too short, and the shoe size was too small.
Also, his hair needed tidying up.
With light steps, Gao Jing left the small alley and went out onto the street outside.
Near meal time, the “Red Blue” hair shop at the crossroads had no business. Not a single customer was seen.
Tony Barber with blue hair and Shampoo Girl (Xiaomei) with red hair were holding phones and looking at Kuaivin.
Seeing Gao Jing push the door and come in, Tony paused.
He wondered for a bit, said slowly: “Bro, Brother Gao?”
Not feeling sure who it was.
Gao Jing sat down on the barber chair, nodded, and said: “Little brother Tony, help me fix up my hair.”
“Wow!”
Shampoo Girl (Xiaomei) jumped up and cried out loud: “Brother Gao, how did you get so much more handsome?”
Gao Jing laughed: “I was always handsome.”
Shampoo Girl (Xiaomei) gave a playful smile and winked at him: “Not like now handsome. Let me wash your hair first.”
Gao Jing did not agree: “No need to bother. I am in a rush. Let Tony cut it straight.”
Shampoo Girl (Xiaomei) pouted her lips and sat back down to play with the phone.
Tony Barber stood behind Gao Jing, looking left and right, front and back, still not believing.
Gao Jing often cut hair at his place, but compared to last time, it was like a whole new person.
If he got face fixed, it couldn’t happen that fast!
“Ahem!”
Tony kept staring, and Gao Jing coughed loudly twice from impatience.
Tony woke up and said quickly: “Brother Gao, I will trim the sides even, and cut a bit off the top.”
Gao Jing had no say: “Yeah, up to you.”
Even though Tony Barber was young, his skills were pretty good.
He and Shampoo Girl (Xiaomei) were a couple, running away from Gan Province to Yuncheng to open this shop.
Eloping was simple: Tony’s family could not pay the wedding money.
Gao Jing used to get haircuts at his shop before, so he knew the pair well.
That was why he knew some things.
Tony Barber picked up the electric razor and got it all done in less than ten minutes.
He kept most of Gao Jing’s short hair, clipped the sideburns on both sides, and shaped it into a layered buzz cut for the head shape.
Professional meant professional.
After that quick fix by Tony Barber, Gao Jing’s good-looks score went up at least 0.5 points.
Fresh, neat, sunny, handsome, with an extra cool dude feeling.
Shampoo Girl (Xiaomei) next to him stared with starry eyes.
Gao Jing was happy: “How much?”
Tony Barber used the blower to blow off bits of hair, smiled, and said: “Just pay twenty.”
Gao Jing pulled out his phone and paid with WeChat.
Saying bye to Tony Barber, Gao Jing went to the clothes shop across the street.
This street in the Urban Village had shops lined up. Most day-to-day stuff could be found there.
At one shop, he bought a new T-shirt, at another shop he got new jeans, and also a pair of well-fitting shoes.
After swapping into all new clothes, Gao Jing waved down a taxi at the street corner.
“Driver, to the Jinlong Grand Hotel!”
Gao Jing was in such a big hurry because his belly started acting up again.
Earlier at home, Gao Jing had eaten up all the dry food in the backpack.
Plus two sport drinks, he only filled up about 30% full.
But in under half an hour, his stomach started loud rumbling again.
Not just the belly, but every cell in his body felt starved, crying out for more energy.
Seriously nuts.
The Jinlong Grand Hotel was an old five-star place in Yuncheng and the set meeting house for Jinhui Trading.
Its buffet was really good. Before, Gao Jing had snagged a few meals there with clients.
It stayed in his mind strongly.
Reaching the hotel, he took the elevator directly up to the third-floor dining spot and paid 298 yuan at the counter.
The price was a bit steep, but Gao Jing decided to reward himself.
Celebrating his survival and this unexpected good fortune!
Jiulong Grand Hotel’s buffet starred fresh seafood, praised for its quality and taste. Though it wasn’t peak dining hours yet, many customers filled the hall.
Gao Jing took his plate, skipped past the crowded seafood area, and headed straight to the grilling section.
Barbecued items were far less popular than seafood.
For most people, a single thick grilled steak would fill them seventy or eighty percent, or even fully—such a waste of the buffet fee. Totally uneconomical.
Plus, meat gets tiresome fast.
But for Gao Jing at this moment, the thick ribeye steaks sizzling on the grill looked absolutely mouthwatering. He couldn’t stop drooling.
He ordered five steaks at once and asked the chef to layer each with extra cheese.
Precisely the calorie bomb he needed!
The chef hadn’t expected all five steaks were for Gao Jing alone, so he kindly served a special dipping sauce too.
Carrying his massive servings, Gao Jing found a corner seat in the hall.
Gao Jing rarely ate Western food and wasn’t skilled with knives and forks.
Yet today, he handled the knife swiftly, effortlessly slicing through the steak and forking meat dipped in sauce.
Devouring with delight!
One substantial thick-cut ribeye steak vanished in moments, leaving nothing behind.
Not even a bit of cheese remained. Pure bliss!
Though far from full, this much steak made Gao Jing feel far more comfortable.
He could sense the beef rapidly breaking down inside him, steadily turning into energy.
Keep going!
Second steak, third steak—eliminated in succession.
His skills with knife and fork improved swiftly, speeding up the pace of destruction.
Five minutes, five ribeyes… mission accomplished. Clean plates!
Aaaand done!
Thankfully Gao Jing hid in this quiet corner—if anyone saw, they’d be stunned.
Still, even now, he wasn’t even thirty percent full.
Wiping leftover sauce from his lips with a napkin, he rose for another trip to the grill area.
True, Jiulong Buffet offered diverse dishes: stir-fried veggies, soups, dim sum, noodles, rice, desserts—plenty beyond seafood and meat.
But Gao Jing only craved more protein.
Seeing him return, the grill chef blinked in surprise.
Again? Just now, he’d taken all the cooked steaks. Fresh batches were on the grill, not ready yet!
“Rare is fine,”
Gao Jing shrugged. “I’ll take whatever’s done. Thanks.”
Locals rarely preferred rare steaks—mostly medium to well-done.
Yet Gao Jing felt hungry enough to eat any meat, raw included.
Looking puzzled, the chef handed him three rare grilled steaks.
Of course, cheese and sauce were essential.
Gao Jing added one pan-fried lamb chop and some onion pork belly too.
Back to conquering meat mountain!
Just as he finished four more plates, leaving only the lamb chop, a waitress approached.
Smiling politely, she said: “Sir, let me clear these plates.”
Gao Jing smiled back: “Sure, thanks.”
“No trouble at all.”
Score-6.5 Waitress’ cheeks flushed slightly as she gathered empty plates calmly.
Her inner voice screamed: “Wow wow wow! He’s so handsome! That smile’s dreamy! And so…”
“Hungry!”