AD CH46

Over the past two days, Shan Yu hadn’t been sleeping well. First, he couldn’t sleep easily in an unfamiliar place; second, even though he had been avoiding Yue Lang and the others for several years, now that they were actually face to face, there was still so much to talk about.

Just like in the old days, after finishing their meal, the group returned to the hotel and curled up on the beds and sofas, drinking and chatting.

“So you’re permanently stationed in that small town now…” Xiao Lu leaned back on the sofa with a frown.

“Hey,” Yue Lang pointed at him from the bed. “Don’t go banishing him outright. Believe it or not, he’ll just take your words as an excuse not to come back.”

“I do have to stay there for a while,” Shan Yu said, sitting on the armchair by the bed, repeatedly squeezing a beer can in his hand. “The shop just opened, and business was decent over the long holiday. Once it snows in a while, it’ll definitely get busy too.”

“Busy all the way until the New Year before coming back, then?” Da Kang said.

Shan Yu paused, then nodded. “Mm.”

Yue Lang glanced at him. “Coming home for the New Year?”

Shan Yu turned his head away, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling window at the night view.

This hotel wasn’t close to his house, but looking out from this room on the 40th floor, he could still see where his home was—a residential compound illuminated by a cluster of lights, just across the street behind the square.

“Let us know in advance whether you’re coming back or not,” Yue Lang said. “Just in case my wife and I have nowhere to go for the New Year, we can head over to your place to celebrate Spring Festival.”

“We’ll go too,” Xiao Lu added.

Shan Yu looked at him and Da Kang, remaining silent for a long time.

“Not welcome?” Xiao Lu looked back at him.

“Didn’t I say before, let’s each live our own lives peacefully?” Shan Yu said. “You guys just go about doing what you’re supposed to—”

“Then how come Lang-ge doesn’t need to ‘each live our own lives peacefully’?” Xiao Lu frowned, feeling a bit upset.

“I’ve been living peacefully for several years too,” Yue Lang said.

“He’s different from you guys. He’s an old fox who won’t easily let himself get entangled in trouble,” Shan Yu said. “You two are still young. I’m not saying there will definitely be trouble, but just stay far away.”

“So we’re not even friends anymore, huh?” Da Kang stood up, walked over in a few steps, opened the door, and walked out. “We hung out together for all those years—even if we were just grunts, we shouldn’t get this kind of treatment…”

“Fuck, is that what he meant?!” Yue Lang shouted. But the door had already slammed shut, so he could only point at Xiao Lu. “Hurry up, go follow him.”

“Mm.” Xiao Lu let out a sigh, got up, and ran out after him.

“I’ll say these kinds of things in the future.” Yue Lang looked at Shan Yu. “Those two really treat you as their big brother.”

“Mm.” Shan Yu tilted his head back and drained the beer from the can, crushed it flat in his grip, and tossed it into the trash bin up ahead.

“Honestly, there’s no need to draw such a… firm line,” Yue Lang said. “I’m worried that one day you’ll draw me out too.”

“I won’t, and neither will those two,” Shan Yu turned his head back to look out the window. After staring blankly for a moment, he flicked at the corner of his eye with his fingertip. “I’m just afraid they won’t be far enough from trouble.”

“The two of them are doing pretty well at work right now,” Yue Lang said. “I’m keeping an eye on them here.”

“You didn’t even invite me when you got married,” Shan Yu said.

“I got…” Yue Lang froze, then pointed at him and cursed, “Your granddad! Where the fuck were you when I got married?”

Shan Yu gave a faint smile.

“Make sure to make up for the wedding red packet later,” Yue Lang said, getting up to fetch a mint from the coffee table and placing it in Shan Yu’s hand. “Eat some wedding candy.”

Shan Yu put the candy into his pocket.

“Get some rest early,” Yue Lang lay back down on the bed. “Tomorrow at noon, after eating with Qian Yu, you still have to catch a ride.”

Shan Yu went to take a shower. Now that his leg could finally touch water, his hand had to be held up high again—and it was his right hand.

Back in school, except when asking to go to the bathroom, he had never raised his hand so earnestly.

Coming out after his shower, he glanced at his phone charging on the nightstand.

“Hasn’t rung,” Yue Lang said with his eyes closed.

Shan Yu smiled without saying a word, then fell back onto the bed.

“Do you actually have a plan with this kid? Has he just never even thought about things that way?” Yue Lang asked.

“You sure worry a lot,” Shan Yu said.

“Aren’t you six years old?” Yue Lang said. “It’s better to lay these things out clearly right from the start. Don’t make it too exhausting.”

“I did lay it out clearly,” Shan Yu said.

Yue Lang turned to look at him. “What was his attitude?”

An attitude too painful to look back on.

“Slapped me across the mouth,” Shan Yu said.

“Are you…” Yue Lang froze, sitting straight up from the bed. “How on earth did you lay it out clearly?”

Shan Yu stayed silent.

Yue Lang stared at him for a few moments, unable to hold back a burst of laughter. “Holy shit, that’s way too funny.”

“Got any manners?” Shan Yu said.

“So he didn’t resign? He’s still working?” Yue Lang lay back down and asked another question.

“Mm,” Shan Yu acknowledged.

“Then there’s a chance…” Yue Lang said.

Shan Yu let out a sigh.

Yue Lang fell silent along with him, but then started laughing again.

“How much did you drink?” Shan Yu couldn’t help turning to look at him. “No wonder your wife gets annoyed by you.”

“She wouldn’t be annoyed by this,” Yue Lang said while laughing. “If she found out about this, the two of us could laugh for a whole day.”

“Fuck off.” Shan Yu turned back and closed his eyes.

Perhaps because he was heading back tomorrow, coupled with having drunk quite a bit of alcohol, Shan Yu actually slept decently well that night.

In fact, he slept straight through until nearly noon. When he woke up, Xiao Lu and Da Kang were sitting on the sofa.

“You two…” Shan Yu glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. “…didn’t go home, or did you come back over?”

“Didn’t go back,” Xiao Lu said.

“Where’s Yue Lang?” Shan Yu sat up.

“Holding a video conference out in the hallway,” Da Kang said.

“Holding a meeting while on annual leave,” Shan Yu remarked. “This foreign company isn’t all that great either.”

“The money’s pretty good, though,” Xiao Lu said.

Breakfast was sitting on the table, likely brought back from the restaurant by the two of them.

Shan Yu got out of bed, walked over to them, and stood there in silence for a moment before reaching out to pat both of their heads.

After washing up, he came out, grabbed a sandwich, and finished it in a few bites. “Yue Lang has my new number. I’ll have him give it to you guys later.”

“Mm,” Xiao Lu responded.

“Let’s go,” Yue Lang walked in from outside. “The car arranged by the hotel will be here soon.”

“Finished your meeting, Director Yue?” Shan Yu teased.

“Fucking annoying,” Yue Lang said. “Must be nice to be Director Shan—throwing the shop over there, acting like you don’t even know the manager.”

“Get out.” Shan Yu shot him a look.

The restaurant was chosen by Yue Lang, just across the street from their hotel. They arrived twenty minutes later than the agreed time.

Qian Yu was already standing at the entrance of the restaurant waiting. As soon as Shan Yu got out of the car, he hurried over to greet him. “Long time no see, Xiao Yu.”

“You wish we’d never see each other again,” Shan Yu said.

“Look at you, saying that,” Qian Yu chuckled. “That’s impossible.”

The driver brought over Shan Yu’s suitcase, and Qian Yu immediately moved to take it. “Why not stay for a couple more days? You’re leaving already?”

Da Kang pulled the suitcase over to his own side without a word.

“Hurry up, let’s head in,” Yue Lang said. “I’m hungry. We still have to take a ride this afternoon after eating.”

“Let’s go, let’s go inside,” Qian Yu said with a smile, leading the way in.

At lunchtime, there weren’t many people in the private dining rooms, most of which were empty. Their room was the innermost one; by the time they walked over, the surroundings were very quiet.

A waiter who wanted to follow them in to take their order was stopped at the door by Yue Lang.

“Kang,” Yue Lang tilted his head toward Da Kang.

“Mm.” Da Kang walked out and said to the waiter outside, “We’ll order at the front desk.”

When the private room door closed, leaving only the few of them inside, Shan Yu took the head seat, and the atmosphere shifted instantly.

“Xiao Yu…” Qian Yu pulled out the chair opposite Shan Yu.

Just as he was about to sit down, Shan Yu pointed to the chair beside himself. “Sit here.”

“Alright.” Qian Yu walked over and sat next to him.

Yue Lang sat in a seat one chair away from Qian Yu, turning sideways to look at him.

“Wait a sec,” Qian Yu gave a forced smile, glancing at Xiao Lu standing near the door. “What’s all this about? Am I going to run away or something?”

The waiter knocked on the door from outside. When the door was opened, Xiao Lu braced it with his foot, leaving only a small crack.

“Give it to me.” Xiao Lu took the tea from the waiter’s hands and placed it on the table.

“It’s not like you haven’t run away before,” Shan Yu said. “Better be safe than sorry. My leg just healed, so I can’t outrun you.”

Qian Yu let out two dry laughs, glancing at Shan Yu’s bandage-wrapped hand.

“Let’s resolve this matter,” Shan Yu said.

Yue Lang drew a printed sheet of paper from his bag and placed it in front of Qian Yu. “Boss Qian, take a look first—the debt and the valuation of the guesthouse.”

“No need to look, no need to look…” Even while saying there was no need, Qian Yu still picked up the paper and read it carefully.

Regarding the valuation of the guesthouse, Qian Yu had nothing to say. The architectural designers had been brought in by Yue Lang at his request. Qian Yu stared at the numbers on the paper, scanning back and forth, unable to object.

“If Shan Yu doesn’t take over the guesthouse, it’s impossible for you to sell it off to pay back the money. No one wants that godforsaken place,” Yue Lang said. “This is already considering the fact that you’re in a pinch.”

Yue Lang had likely already talked with Qian Yu beforehand, so Qian Yu didn’t try to make any more excuses now. He simply nodded. “Right now, I really can’t produce this much cash…”

“Then sign the IOUs,” Yue Lang pulled out another piece of paper. “Deduct the money you can pay today.”

“The money I can pay today…” Qian Yu glanced at Shan Yu.

“The hundred thousand you owe Chen Dahu, the unpaid utilities, the back pay owed to the staff, plus various repair costs,” Shan Yu said. “Two hundred thousand.”

“Where on earth did Chen Dahu get a hundred thousand from!” Qian Yu blurted out.

Shan Yu didn’t say a word. Reaching out, he cupped the back of Qian Yu’s head and slammed his face straight down into the table.

With a loud thud, the cups on the table jumped.

Qian Yu clutched his nose, tears of pain welling up in his eyes. “Can’t we talk things over properly?!”

“No. I’m in a hurry,” Shan Yu said.

He hadn’t used much force this time—Qian Yu wasn’t Fang Xu, after all.

Still, when Qian Yu let go of his nose, blood dripped out.

Shan Yu let out a sigh, pulled out a tissue, and handed it to him.

Yue Lang pulled out his pen again and set it on the IOU. “You didn’t have to take that hit. Why bother? You know what kind of person he is. If you’re soft, he’s easy to talk to; if you play tough, he’ll beat you until you can’t take care of yourself.”

Qian Yu stared at the IOU for a good half-minute before finally picking up the pen.

There was a knock at the private room door.

Xiao Lu opened it, and Da Kang walked in carrying the dishes he had just taken from the waiter, placing them on the table.

Qian Yu signed the IOU and was even forced to press his thumbprint onto his name using his nosebleed.

“Couldn’t you ask the restaurant to borrow an ink pad? Their accounting department definitely has one,” Yue Lang frowned in disgust.

“In a rush.” Shan Yu pulled out his phone and set it on the table. “Transfer the money, Boss Qian.”

There was still no notification in his phone’s message bar.

Is this manager looking to get fired?!

Qian Yu held his nose and pulled out his phone.

The food was served shortly after. Da Kang joined them inside, sitting opposite Qian Yu alongside Xiao Lu.

Shan Yu didn’t speak; he just served himself some rice and began eating.

Qian Yu’s blood flow was rather vigorous—before he could eat more than two bites, his nose began bleeding again. He simply set down his chopsticks and sat in silence.

Yue Lang, Xiao Lu, and Da Kang, on the other hand, ate with great relish, chatting as they ate and even planning to go out for karaoke that night.

The moment Shan Yu finished eating and set down his chopsticks, Qian Yu stood up. “Gentlemen…”

“If Boss Qian has matters to attend to, go ahead and get busy,” Yue Lang said. “Thanks for your hard work today.”

Qian Yu didn’t say another word. Shooting a backward glance at Shan Yu, he hurried out of the private room, terrified that if he moved any slower, he’d be pulled back to slam his face into the dishes on the table.

With the IOUs and the money secured, the mission for staying this extra day was considered accomplished.

Yue Lang and the others originally wanted to see Shan Yu off at the station, but Shan Yu refused. “Don’t get all sentimental. It’s not like we’ll never see each other again.”

“That thing of yours…” Yue Lang patted his arm. “Secondary account aside, clean out the people you don’t want to keep on your main account, and use it when you should.”

“Mm.” Shan Yu gave a small smile.

When leaving the small town, he hadn’t felt it was that far. Now on his way back, he realized what a hassle it actually was—transferring from train to long-distance bus, and the long-distance bus was as chaotic as ever.

His mood was thoroughly foul.

Upon getting on the bus, he sent a text to Chen Jian. Although the distance from the station to the guesthouse wasn’t far, dragging a suitcase all the way over was still somewhat bizarre.

[Fa Shan Ke Chen]: Arriving soon. Pick me up at the station.

When he got off the bus, Chen Jian still hadn’t replied to the message, nor was there anyone at the station.

What kind of fucking manager is this?

In the end, he dialed the front desk phone. “It’s Shan Yu.”

“Boss Shan?!” Hu Pan shouted in pleasant surprise. “Why are you calling the front desk?”

“Have someone come pick me up at the station. I just got off the bus,” Shan Yu said.

“Sanbing is here, he’ll head over right away,” Hu Pan said.

“Where’s Chen Jian?” Shan Yu asked.

“Manager Chen took the day off today,” Hu Pan said.

“Took the day off?” Shan Yu froze. “What happened to him?”

“He didn’t say. He went back to the village last night,” Hu Pan said. “Might have something to attend to.”

The manager ran off?

The crippled boss had finally gotten his leg healed, only to return from a few days away with a crippled hand. Several people in the shop were shocked.

“What happened here?” Zhao-jie looked at his hand.

“Scratched by glass, no big deal,” Shan Yu dragged his suitcase into the elevator. “It’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

“Have you had dinner?” Hu Pan asked.

“Ate already,” Shan Yu said.

Once the elevator doors closed, he pulled out his phone and dialed Chen Jian’s number.

Chen Jian had never taken a day off before—he didn’t even necessarily rest on off-days. His sudden trip back to the village was truly a bit strange.

“Sorry, the number you have dialed is out of the service area…”

Shan Yu froze, then initiated a voice call to Fish & Geese Plummet.

No answer.

“Fuck.” Shan Yu stood in the office for a few minutes, then turned around and walked out again.

“Where are you going?” Sanbing looked at him. “It’s about to be pitch black soon.”

“Getting some fresh air,” Shan Yu swung his leg over Sanbing’s motorcycle. “Haven’t breathed fresh air in days.”

“Your hand…” Sanbing felt uneasy.

Before he could finish, Shan Yu had already ridden the motorcycle out the courtyard gate.

The temperature in the small town was several degrees lower than in the city, and the wind was strong. By the time Shan Yu rode the bike to the entrance of the village, he felt his hands go numb from the cold.

He parked the bike at Xiao Dou’er’s front gate.

Xiao Dou’er was holding a piece of chalk drawing pictures in the courtyard. Looking up and seeing him, she called out in joyful surprise, “Boss Gege!”

“Where are Grandpa and Grandma? Just you?” Shan Yu got off the bike, entered the courtyard, and looked around to find no one else—Chen Jian wasn’t there either.

“Grandma is sleeping, and Grandpa went to watch people play cards,” Xiao Dou’er said.

“Where’s Chen Jian Gege? Is he not here?” Shan Yu asked.

“He went to his godmother’s place,” Xiao Dou’er said. “He’ll be back in a bit.”

Chen Jian has a godmother?

This “in a bit” turned out to be quite long.

In between, Xiao Dou’er grew tired from playing and went to sleep.

Shan Yu sat in the courtyard, lost in thought.

Hearing the sound of a motorcycle engine, he stood up and walked out of the courtyard.

A motorcycle rode over from the direction of the mountain. When the headlight hit him, the motorcycle decelerated abruptly.

The bike came to a stop a few meters away from him, and then Chen Jian jumped off.

Walking forward a few steps, he asked as if unable to quite believe his eyes, “Shan Yu?”

“Are you night-blind?” Shan Yu said.

“What happened to your hand?” Chen Jian walked up to him with swift steps.

Shan Yu didn’t say anything.

Chen Jian didn’t speak either, his gaze slowly shifting from Shan Yu’s bandage-wrapped hand back up to his face.

The night wind blew past, stirring the hair on Chen Jian’s forehead, obscuring half of his eyes and making it hard to read his expression.

It was very quiet all around, with only an occasional dog bark and the distant sound of the river flowing.

And the sound of Chen Jian’s breathing.

Don’t move.

Shan Yu, don’t move!

…

To hell with it.

After a moment of silence, Shan Yu raised his arm anyway and wrapped it around Chen Jian.

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