Chen Jian truly didn’t expect to be thrown off a wheelchair. Actually, the wheelchair wasn’t going fast, but he underestimated his own psychological readiness, and he was flung off just a few meters after the wheelchair shot forward. However, he quickly chased after it and grabbed the wheelchair.
“Stop, stop, stop,” Shan Yu said. “Let go, or we’ll start wrestling and call the security.”
“Who’s wrestling with you?” Chen Jian let go, reluctantly, but still stood behind the wheelchair again. Just in case this person wanted to speed up, he was essentially acting as a counterweight.
“You just pulled my hair,” Shan Yu fiddled with the hair on the back of his head. “If you weren’t my manager, I’d give you a stream-of-consciousness front flip right now.”
At this point, Chen Jian didn’t care what kind of “stream-of-consciousness front flip” that was. Instead, he had other curiosities. He leaned on the wheelchair’s backrest, bending down: “Boss Shan.”
“What is it, Manager Chen?” Shan Yu tilted his head.
“Have you trained before?” Chen Jian asked.
Shan Yu didn’t answer immediately. He just turned his head to look forward again. It wasn’t until the wheelchair stopped in front of the elevator, waiting, that he said, “I did train for a while. It’s one of my dad’s biggest regrets.”
“Ah,” Chen Jian responded cautiously.
What was the second regret?
Why did he regret it?
Probably because he didn’t have much martial ethics after training.
Instead of acting heroically, he did evil… that’s too strong. Instead, he was lawless…
That sounds even stronger.
In short, he didn’t do good things.
But he didn’t dare ask too much, afraid Shan Yu would suddenly suggest an exchange and check his household registration. It wasn’t just a matter of exchange either. Just like he himself was reluctant to bring up his family and parents, even though Shan Yu’s situation probably wasn’t like his family’s, it didn’t sound very pleasant. If Shan Yu didn’t say it, he wouldn’t pry.
It was just that the topic somehow circled back to his dad. Chen Jian rarely encountered a situation like this before. His dad was in the city, and he was also in the city, and it wasn’t just passing through or doing errands, but a long, full day. Perhaps because of Shan Yu’s words, he kept thinking about his dad.
“This is the fourth or fifth time now,” Shan Yu said.
“What?” Chen Jian asked.
“Sighing,” Shan Yu said. “Sighing on a business trip with your boss, and not even trying to hide it from your boss. That’s a bit much.”
“I… did I?” Chen Jian was startled.
“Call your dad after we finish shopping. If you don’t, I will,” the elevator door opened, and Shan Yu pushed the wheelchair controller, entering the elevator. “Even if you don’t go see him, just chat a bit. If you sigh a few more times, I’m afraid you’ll run out of oxygen.”
Chen Jian didn’t speak, following him into the elevator. The elevator wasn’t very big. Shan Yu didn’t turn the wheelchair around after entering, so Chen Jian didn’t move either, standing with his back to the door.
“Press the third floor,” Shan Yu said.
“I thought you were going to do a backhand sword move,” Chen Jian reached out and pressed the button.
Shan Yu sighed.
Lack of oxygen, Boss.
The elevator stopped on the second floor. The door opened behind them, but no one came in. Chen Jian looked back and saw two older women standing outside. Seeing him look back, one of the women asked, “Can we… come in?”
“Huh?” Chen Jian was startled, then quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, come in. Going up.”
The other woman smiled and said, “You two standing with your backs to us like that, I thought something was wrong.”
“No,” Chen Jian said, “His wheelchair can’t turn around.”
“The key is, you can’t turn around either,” the woman said.
Yeah, why am I facing the wall too?
Chen Jian turned to face the door.
“We hug back-to-back…” Shan Yu suddenly started singing.
Is he crazy!
Chen Jian suppressed the reflex to join in the next line. When the elevator door opened, he quickly walked out.
“Are there places to sing in town?” Shan Yu’s wheelchair backed out. “Sometime when we’re free, let’s call everyone from the guesthouse to go singing. They’re too ascetic day in and day out.”
“…Only in the old town,” Chen Jian said. “I heard the equipment isn’t good.”
“Haven’t you been?” Shan Yu asked.
“Been twice,” Chen Jian said. “For a classmate’s birthday. But I haven’t been anywhere else, so I can’t compare.”
“I’ll compare it then,” Shan Yu snapped his fingers. “If it’s not good, we’ll set one up ourselves at the guesthouse.”
Chen Jian looked at him: “Boss, we haven’t made much money yet. Spending money can wait a bit…”
“Oh, my,” Shan Yu chuckled.
Following the instructions on the list, they quickly found the shop Hu Pan was looking for. Because Hu Pan had written everything down in great detail, the sales assistant quickly found all the items.
“Do you want a gift box?” the sales assistant asked. “Is it a gift?”
“Uh… no,” Chen Jian waved his hand. “No need…”
“Do gift boxes cost money?” Shan Yu, waiting outside in his wheelchair, turned his head and asked.
“They’re free,” the sales assistant said.
“Then why not? Wrap it in a gift box,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian walked out with the wrapped box and put it in the back pouch of the wheelchair: “Couldn’t we just put it in a bag? Wrapped like this, she’ll have to unwrap it for ages.”
“Did you not know any other girls besides Xiao Dou’er before?” Shan Yu asked.
“You say that,” Chen Jian stepped onto the footrest, “and you’re completely right.”
Shan Yu looked up at him, then chuckled: “Ah.”
“Do girls like gift boxes?” Chen Jian asked.
“Not necessarily, but it’s fun to make her feel like she’s unwrapping a gift,” Shan Yu said, still laughing.
“She paid for it herself,” Chen Jian said.
“Damn it,” Shan Yu laughed even harder.
Shan Yu’s outing this time was probably just to go to the arcade. After buying Hu Pan’s things, they didn’t browse any other shops. They went straight to the supermarket to buy the snacks Zhao Fangfang wanted, as well as some boxed pastries and such, then left the supermarket.
“Should we put it back in the car?” Chen Jian asked. “That’s a lot of stuff.”
“Stuff it under the wheelchair,” Shan Yu said. “There’s a big pouch underneath.”
Chen Jian squatted down to look and indeed, there was a large mesh bag under the wheelchair. All these things actually fit inside.
“This wheelchair is great for grocery shopping, it holds so much,” Chen Jian said. “And you can shop while sitting.”
“Tomorrow, when Sister Zhao goes grocery shopping, tell her to drive it,” Shan Yu said.
“Crazy,” Chen Jian chuckled.
“That means you want me to drive it myself, doesn’t it?” Shan Yu said.
“I just said it casually!” Chen Jian patted the wheelchair’s handle. “Let’s go. Weren’t you going to mess with some kids?”
“What did I just say?” Shan Yu asked, the wheelchair not moving.
“Hmm?” Chen Jian looked at him.
“Make a call,” Shan Yu lifted his chin, looking at the pocket where Chen Jian kept his phone. “Since you’re already here, wouldn’t it be a bit unreasonable not to make a call? It’s just father-son awkwardness, not father-son discord.”
Chen Jian leaned against the nearby railing, neither moving nor speaking. Tang Rui used to tell him to contact his dad more often, to talk to him about things, but every time he agreed, he just agreed; most of the time, he wouldn’t actually do it. The estrangement between him and his dad wasn’t just a simple matter of spending less time together. He missed his dad very much at first, but slowly he learned that he couldn’t miss him. His dad had to earn money outside, and his longing and concern might become an obstacle, making his dad uneasy and guilty…
Shan Yu was different from Tang Rui. He was more direct and sharp, not leaving him any room for thought.
Call him, chat.
Go see your dad.
You’re already here.
One push after another, constantly pushing him forward. He looked at Shan Yu, then lowered his head, pulled out his phone, and dialed his dad’s number. It rang, but no one answered for a long time.
“Maybe he’s delivering food?” Chen Jian didn’t let the phone ring for too long, hanging up, afraid his dad was driving.
Shan Yu didn’t speak, moving his wheelchair to the railing, standing side-by-side with Chen Jian, looking downstairs. The small mall train just passed below; there were no children on this round. Shan Yu showed no intention of leaving, just waiting calmly.
After a few minutes, Chen Jian picked up his phone and dialed his dad’s number again. This time, it rang four or five times before someone answered.
“Hello!”
“Hello?” Chen Jian was startled. “Who is this?”
“You’re making a clatter and a clang!” the person on the other end said in a heavily accented dialect.
“What?” Chen Jian instinctively bent down, leaning closer to Shan Yu. “I’m looking for Old Chen, who is this?”
“Clatter, clang, clatter, clang!” the person on the other end sounded a bit anxious.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying…” Chen Jian frowned, suddenly feeling a pang of fear in his heart.
Shan Yu’s hand reached over and took the phone: “Hello, what did you say…? Yes, I’m Old Chen’s son…”
You’re his son’s boss!
But Shan Yu actually understood the other person’s seemingly fragmented language.
“Yes, what? Please speak slower,” Shan Yu continued. “Ah, good… What happened to him?”
Chen Jian suddenly turned his head, kneeling on one knee beside the wheelchair, staring at Shan Yu, What happened?
“Is it serious?” Shan Yu glanced at him.
“What happened?” Chen Jian was anxious, asking softly, “Did something happen to my dad?”
“Okay, which hospital?” Shan Yu continued to ask.
Chen Jian frowned, trying to glean more information from the faint sound leaking from the phone. His dad was fine when he called a few days ago, what happened?
“What happened?” he mouthed to Shan Yu again.
“Okay,” Shan Yu reached out and patted his face lightly, signaling him not to worry. “Okay, it’s not far. I’ll be right there. Thank you.”
“What happened?” Chen Jian asked as Shan Yu hung up the phone.
“It’s nothing, don’t panic. Your dad fell while driving yesterday,” Shan Yu said. “It’s not serious, he’s at the hospital now.”
“Then why is he in the hospital?” Chen Jian asked.
“He has to go to the hospital no matter what, right?” Shan Yu said. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
The hospital wasn’t close to the mall, the navigation showed nearly ten kilometers, and the streets were a bit congested at the moment, so the car wasn’t moving fast.
“Is there a shortcut?” Shan Yu asked.
“This road on the navigation is the fastest,” Chen Jian sighed.
“The call just now was answered by your dad’s rental neighbor. From what he said,” Shan Yu glanced at Chen Jian, “he fell yesterday, and the neighbor only accompanied him to the hospital today.”
“Mhm, usually for minor injuries, he wouldn’t go to the hospital. He’d just buy some medicine and rub it on himself,” Chen Jian said.
They needed to turn left ahead, and cars were lined up. Shan Yu floored the accelerator, cutting from the straight lane to the front, then sharply turned the wheel and slammed on the brakes, forcing the car into the left-turning lane. The cars behind started honking frantically.
“People are going to curse you to death,” Chen Jian looked behind him. The cars going straight were also blocked behind them.
“If they don’t kill me, I’ll have to wait,” Shan Yu said.
“No, there’s no…” Chen Jian felt restless from the honking behind them. “It’s so urgent, why not go straight and make a U-turn up ahead…”
“Then I’d have been rude for nothing,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian said nothing more, looking at Shan Yu, feeling again that unreliable yet very reassuring aura about him. The left-turn light turned green. As the cars ahead started moving, Shan Yu accelerated again, pushing forward and squeezing into the left-turn lane, pressing against the front of the car on his left-rear. The passenger in that car rolled down the window, and a man yelled, “Son of a bitch!”
“Wait till my dad kills you,” Shan Yu muttered, signaling and speeding forward.
“Thank you,” Chen Jian said softly.
“Don’t say thank you after words like that,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian paused for two seconds, then couldn’t help but laugh.
“Your dad’s not seriously hurt,” Shan Yu said. “Don’t worry.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard about him getting hurt,” Chen Jian looked out the window. “But this definitely isn’t the first time he’s been hurt. If this call hadn’t happened, this wouldn’t have happened to me.”
“It’s all the same,” Shan Yu said. “If something happened to you, your dad would probably be the last to know, or wouldn’t know at all.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian replied.
“Am I very spiritual, urging you to make this call?” Shan Yu asked.
“…Mhm,” Chen Jian nodded.
Under the influence of Shan Yu’s low-quality driving, they arrived at the hospital ten minutes earlier than the navigation’s estimated time, enduring the insults of countless car owners along the way.
“Go on in,” Shan Yu handed him the two boxes of pastries they bought at the supermarket. “Outpatient building, second floor.”
Chen Jian froze.
“I bought these for your dad anyway,” Shan Yu said. “Go quickly. If you want to thank me or cry, find a secluded spot later.”
“…Mhm,” Chen Jian scurried into the hospital, then after a few steps, turned back and pointed at Shan Yu, “Don’t go crashing everywhere.”
“You won’t die from exhaustion,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian ran up to the second floor and immediately spotted his dad in the waiting area. His arms and face were bandaged, and his arm was splinted. One pant leg was rolled up, revealing large abrasions.
“Dad,” Chen Jian walked over and called out.
“Hey,” his dad looked at him, awkwardly trying to pull down his pant leg. “You really… why did you actually come…”
An uncle standing nearby, who looked older than his dad, mumbled something, trying to stop his dad’s hand from pulling down his pant leg.
“Don’t move,” Chen Jian stepped forward and pulled his dad’s hand away, then said to the uncle, “Thank you, Uncle.”
“You’re welcome. We’re colleagues, it’s only right to help each other,” the uncle’s accent was still very heavy, but when talking face-to-face, he was easier to understand than on the phone.
“Broken arm, right?” Chen Jian asked his dad. “Besides these… are there any other injuries?”
“No,” his dad chuckled. “I drove a bit fast, and the turn was sharp. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest.”
“This arm won’t heal in a few days,” Chen Jian said. “It’ll take at least…”
“It’s really not that serious,” his dad interrupted him. “Did you come with someone today? Did you drive?”
“Mhm, our boss…” Chen Jian’s phone rang mid-sentence. He took it out and saw it was Shan Yu. He answered, “Hello?”
“There are a few small restaurants across the street. They probably haven’t eaten yet,” Shan Yu said. “Let’s go eat something after you’re done.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian replied, guessing his dad wouldn’t agree.
As expected, his dad immediately refused when he heard Chen Jian was out with his boss, and that the boss had brought him, and wanted to eat with them.
“Go quickly, don’t leave a bad impression on the boss,” his dad said. “He said you shouldn’t have come when he offered to bring you. He’ll think you’re getting arrogant just because you’re a manager.”
“I’ll be more careful in the future,” Chen Jian said.
“Go, I’m fine,” his dad said. “Tell the boss I said thank you.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian nodded, placing the pastries in his hand on his dad’s leg. “Eat this.”
“Go, go,” his dad patted his arm. “Don’t worry about me.”
Emotional Aftermath
As Chen Jian walked out of the hospital gate, he felt his whole body sinking. An inexplicable exhaustion. The way his dad kept urging him to leave made him very uncomfortable, but he didn’t know what to say or what he could say.
Shan Yu was waiting for him in the parking lot, controlling his wheelchair and circling around the car. Chen Jian walked over and took hold of the wheelchair.
“Hmm?” Shan Yu looked back, and when he saw Chen Jian alone, he smiled, “I guessed your dad wouldn’t come.”
“He’s always afraid of leaving a bad impression on the boss,” Chen Jian said.
“Tell him his boss usually doesn’t leave a good impression on people either,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian smiled, but said nothing.
“Let’s go eat,” Shan Yu said. “I’ve been eyeing that beef hotpot place across the street for ages. Business is good, so the food should be tasty.”
“I thought you had no taste buds,” Chen Jian said.
“I’m not particular, I don’t lack taste,” Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
The restaurant was indeed doing well. Even though it was past lunchtime, the dining area was still quite full. Shan Yu asked for a private room.
After the waiter left with their order, Chen Jian finally found an opportunity to speak: “We could have eaten at a small table outside, why did you need a private room?”
“Afraid you’d cry,” Shan Yu said.
“It’s not that bad,” Chen Jian frowned, and after a long pause, added, “It’s just really upsetting.”
Shan Yu sighed softly, poured a cup of tea, and placed it in front of him: “There’s about ten minutes before the food comes, right? If you want to cry, cry.”
Chen Jian looked at him, saying nothing. Shan Yu also remained silent.
A few seconds later, Shan Yu suddenly leaned forward and lightly kissed Chen Jian’s face. Chen Jian froze, feeling his breath stop at that very moment. The next second, his ears were filled with a booming sound like thunder.
Almost instinctively, he raised his hand and slapped Shan Yu’s face.
“Oh, damn it,” Shan Yu leaned back into his chair.
At that moment, the waiter knocked on the door and brought in a few small dishes, placing them on the table. Chen Jian felt nothing but the pounding of his own heartbeat in his ears, like drums.
“Could you also get me a bottle of cola, please?” Shan Yu said.
