An hour is actually quite a long time. Shan Yu usually hid on the fourth floor of Dayin, watching the staff busy themselves down below; they could get a lot done in an hour.
They could sweep the courtyard and the path out front, wipe down tables and chairs, run out to buy groceries, pop over to the pavilion for two or three smoke breaks, and let Mushroom chew a brand-new squeaky ball to shreds…
Put into a different setting, however, an hour wasn’t even enough for a couple who hadn’t seen each other in days to finish walking around a pocket-sized civic park.
Of course, that also had to do with the fact that they spent the entire stroll talking without watching the path, circling the exact same spot four times.
“Has that kid been following us the whole time?” Chen Jian looked back at a little boy squatting by a trash can blowing bubbles. “Why is he standing next to every single trash can?”
Shan Yu didn’t say anything.
Chen Jian pondered for a few seconds. “We’ve just been looping around the same spot, haven’t we?”
“How could that be? He’s obviously carrying the trash can and running alongside us. The second you turn around, he drops it and starts blowing bubbles,” Shan Yu said. “What kind of world is this where they can’t even afford to hire a second NPC?”
Chen Jian burst out laughing at the kid.
Terrified, the little boy clutched his bubble gun and sprinted away.
“Should we head to the station now?” Chen Jian rubbed his face once he finished laughing.
“Mm,” Shan Yu acknowledged.
“Then I’ll have Nana drive the car over to take you…” Chen Jian pulled out his phone.
“No need, I’ll just hail a cab,” Shan Yu said. “You can walk around with her a bit more later.”
“You don’t need me to see you off at the station?” Chen Jian asked.
“I’ll be back in a couple of days,” Shan Yu said. “Let’s skip the station send-off. Saying goodbye at a station is too depressing, and when I head back here in a few days I’ll have to say goodbye to my parents too. These few days have been nothing but goodbyes.”
Chen Jian smiled. “Fair enough.”
Shan Yu hailed a ride, and the two of them sat down on the edge of a raised flowerbed along the sidewalk to wait.
“Go buy a couple more pieces of clothing in a bit. Have Nana pick them out for you, she has good taste,” Shan Yu said.
“Thinking my clothes look too rustic and you’re ashamed to let your parents see me?” Chen Jian asked.
Shan Yu inhaled sharply and glanced at him. “Don’t go overthinking. The car will be here in six minutes; that’s barely enough time to coax you out of a mood.”
“I know,” Chen Jian smiled, looking down at what he was wearing. “This one’s yours. Does it look rustic too?”
“Bought in the old town, they’re all like that,” Shan Yu said. “I’m telling you to buy clothes not because of my parents, but purely because the New Year is around the corner. I’m worried we won’t have time to shop before then. Nana happens to be here anyway, so let her pick for you. She has an eye for style.”
“Buying new clothes for the New Year,” Chen Jian thought about it. “Only kids do that, don’t they? Little ones like Xiao Dou’er.”
“I still do it now,” Shan Yu said.
“You two are the same age anyway,” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu smiled. “I’m still a whole year older than her.”
Chen Jian rested his elbows on his knees, turning his head to look in the direction the car would come from.
Shan Yu’s fingertips tapped lightly in a steady rhythm, keeping track of the time. The parting was right before their eyes, yet they had suddenly run out of things to say. Gone was the urgency to squeeze in a few more words; instead, they simply watched the clock, waiting for the car.
Waiting for a parting sometimes felt like waiting for an execution, just wishing the blade would drop faster.
“It’s a silver-gray car, right?” Chen Jian asked.
“Mm, should be here.” Shan Yu checked his phone. The car was a hundred meters away. He rested his elbows on his knees too, then leaned forward and planted a kiss on Chen Jian’s cheek.
Chen Jian didn’t move, still looking toward the approaching traffic.
He didn’t even turn his head toward Shan Yu.
After a second or two, he finally glanced around. “Are you insane? Right in the middle of the street…”
“No one’s around,” Shan Yu said.
“Good thing no one is…” Chen Jian leaned forward on his knees again. “Do it one more time.”
Shan Yu paused. “What?”
“The car’s here, I see it… never mind.” Chen Jian stood up swiftly, using the momentum of rising to lean toward Shan Yu, planting a kiss on his temple.
The smack was quite loud.
Almost sounded like he was taking a bite.
The driver pulled the car up right in front of them. Shan Yu slung an arm around Chen Jian’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “I’ll text you when I get home.”
“Are you going straight to dinner with your eldest aunt and the others?” Chen Jian asked.
“Mm,” Shan Yu nodded. “Once dinner’s done, there won’t be much else to handle before the New Year. I’ll probably head back on Wednesday or Thursday.”
“Is it you two?” the driver shouted out the window at them. “Get in, can’t park here long!”
Shan Yu patted Chen Jian on the back twice, walked over, opened the door, and got in. “Just me.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the car surged forward, leaving them zero time for another exchange. Shan Yu turned around to wave goodbye, but with a sharp whoosh, the car turned the corner in the very next second.
Waiting for a parting sometimes felt like waiting for an execution, wishing the blade would drop faster.
Yet the moment the blade fell, regret rushed in immediately.
The trip went smoothly enough, though Shan Yu hadn’t left himself much leeway. He had told Chen Jian his train was at 3:30, but it was actually at 3:10. By the time he reached the station, the boarding queue had already cleared out.
He hadn’t managed to snag a business-class seat for either leg of the trip. The return ticket was first-class, an aisle seat. Aside from having his legs bumped by the occasional passerby, everything else was fine.
It wasn’t a seat where he could fall asleep easily, so he could only close his eyes and pretend to doze.
Next to him, a young girl was chatting with her friend across the aisle about some couple they knew—an absolute soap opera filled with wild, baffling drama.
When the train stopped at a station, his phone rang. Pulling it out to head to the corridor, Shan Yu didn’t forget to catch the girl’s closing argument:
“I’ve already blacklisted them! If I ever utter one more word about their business, I’ll eat shit for the rest of my life!” the girl declared.
“Don’t you dare contact them ever again. If you don’t cut them off, you’re the one eating shit,” her friend said.
“Damn right!” the girl gritted her teeth.
“Director Lu,” Shan Yu answered the phone, thoroughly satisfied with what he’d overheard. “Hello.”
“I was going to catch you after the meal, but you guys finished so quickly and had already left,” Lu Yun said.
“My train was at three today, had to rush,” Shan Yu said. “Is something up, Director Lu?”
“You’re not in town?” Lu Yun asked.
“Went home for a trip, I’ll be back in a couple of days,” Shan Yu said. “If there’s anything, just say the word. Store Manager Chen is in town.”
“Mm, here’s the thing,” Lu Yun said. “Over the next few days, the people in charge of travel route development from the travel agency are heading out that way to survey the area. Have Dayin handle the reception for the Hongye Town leg. Find a local who knows the area well to show them around… I’ll have them get in touch with Store Manager Chen directly.”
“Sure,” Shan Yu replied. “I thought these things wouldn’t be arranged until after the New Year…”
“If there’s time before the New Year, no sense in dragging our feet. We need to capitalize on the snow season. Once the routes are drawn up, we can organize trial tours,” Lu Yun said. “Any issues can be smoothed out immediately. That way, we’ll have polished routes ready for next year’s snow season.”
“Thanks for your hard work, Director Lu,” Shan Yu said.
He had thought things would be quiet before the holidays, only to run into a workaholic director who somehow didn’t lose his drive just because the New Year was approaching…
An unrelenting workaholic Chen Jian at the inn, a workaholic President Liu at home, and now another one here…
While Chen Jian wouldn’t have any issue hosting the travel agency folks, they were here to survey routes and would be staying for several days. Chen Jian definitely wouldn’t feel comfortable letting another “local” guide them around, but if he went himself, he’d be anxious about the inn.
To keep his store manager from spiraling into total anxiety, Shan Yu—who had originally planned to return on Thursday—moved his departure up to Wednesday.
“Driving straight back?” his mother asked.
“Mm,” Shan Yu stood before the wardrobe, planning to pack some of his old clothes. “You didn’t go back on your word, did you?”
“Why would I go back on my word?” his mother smiled. “It’s just an old car. If you had said you wanted a new one…”
Shan Yu turned his head toward her immediately.
“I wouldn’t have bought it for you anyway,” his mother said.
“Ah.” Shan Yu laughed.
“Do you have enough working capital?” she asked.
“It’s fine for now,” Shan Yu said. “If I’m short, will you lend me some?”
“Sure, I’ll give you a lower interest rate,” she said.
Shan Yu paused. “Heartless capitalist.”
“If that area is going to be developed into a major tourism zone, you can look into projects beyond guesthouses,” his mother said. “There should be quite a few new opportunities.”
“Looking to invest?” Shan Yu asked.
“We’ll see after I check it out over the New Year,” she said. “I don’t have that much energy right now, though. Spreading myself too thin is exhausting. If we do it, I’ll partner with you and set up a project entity…”
Shan Yu remained quiet.
“What?” His mother walked over and gently patted his shoulder. “Not interested?”
“No,” Shan Yu looked at her. “I just never dared to ask you… about Fang Xu…”
“You mean the time he came to the house?” she asked.
“Mm,” Shan Yu’s voice dropped low.
“His mother came with him,” she said. “Claimed they wanted to apologize.”
Shan Yu furrowed his brow.
“Didn’t even let them through the door,” his mother said. “Exchanged a few words on the doorstep. Your father and I made it clear that apologizing was completely pointless. Whether he came alone or dragged his mother along made no difference; even if they hauled their ancestral graves over to apologize, it wouldn’t change a thing.”
Shan Yu suddenly felt like laughing.
“Then we sent them away,” his mother said.
“About that whole thing…” Shan Yu started.
“You weren’t in the wrong at all. Even your oversight came from trusting a friend,” his mother said. “That’s not a fault, it’s a virtue.”
“You’re really shielding your own,” Shan Yu said.
“Felt pretty satisfying,” she said. “Give us more chances to take your side in the future.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu paused, then reached out and hugged his mother. “Alright.”
Early Wednesday morning, Shan Yu prepared to drive back to town.
In addition to his luggage, his father had packed an entire suitcase full of holiday goods.
“Figured you wouldn’t have much time to shop for New Year supplies,” his father said. “So I got it all ready for you.”
We run a guesthouse, how could we not have someone to buy supplies?
…Though if Zhao Fangfang was too swamped, they really might not.
“This much?” Shan Yu tried lifting the suitcase. Unprepared for the weight, he nearly failed to budge it. It must have taken some real effort for his father to haul it into the car.
All that fishing hadn’t gone to waste. He might never catch any fish, but whipping the rod around had built up his arm strength.
Should’ve taken up throwing cast nets instead…
“You’ll be busy all the way until the New Year once you get back, right?” his mother asked.
“Should just be these next few days. Once the guests leave, there won’t be much,” Shan Yu said.
“I used to always want you to come back,” his mother hugged him gently. “Looking at things now, maybe… that place really does have room for growth. Make the most of this opportunity.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu nodded. “President Liu is welcome to come survey and invest anytime.”
“On the road already?” On the phone screen was Chen Jian’s face, looking like he hadn’t fully woken up yet.
“About to get on the highway. It’s past eight, still not awake?” Shan Yu put on his earpiece and adjusted the phone mount while driving so the camera faced him.
“Slept a bit late last night,” Chen Jian yawned. “Two guests on the second floor… checked in past midnight. Stayed for an hour, then suddenly threw a fit wanting to check out, claiming the room wasn’t cleaned and was filthy.”
“And then?” Shan Yu asked.
“Panpan went up to check. Blood all over the sheets and towels,” Chen Jian said. “In the sink too. Unbelievable. Obviously one of them had a nosebleed! Got it on the bed first, wiped it with the towel, then tried washing it in the sink…”
Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
“First time I’ve ever run into people this unreasonable,” Chen Jian said. “Demanding to file a complaint! Demanding to leave a bad review! Demanding a full refund!”
“In their dreams,” Shan Yu said.
“I told them I’d call the police right now and take that towel for a paternity test,” Chen Jian said, still sounding furious. “To see whose…”
“Right, to see whose kid it is,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian paused, then burst out laughing after a few seconds. “Fuck, meant a DNA test, right?”
“Mm,” Shan Yu nodded with a chuckle.
“…Pretty sure I actually said paternity test,” Chen Jian admitted. “They didn’t argue back though. In the end they didn’t check out either, just took a fresh set of linens and stayed the night. I really wanted to kick them out, but was worried they wouldn’t leave…”
“Did you charge a cleaning fee?” Shan Yu asked.
“The whole reason they made a scene was out of fear we’d make them pay for damages. Sister Huang said the stains would wash out, so we didn’t charge them,” Chen Jian said. “They woke up other guests in the middle of the night. Making a bigger fuss would only disturb more people. Good thing the travel agency folks aren’t arriving until today, otherwise what a terrible impression that would have made.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu hummed with a smile.
He really liked this feeling—listening to Chen Jian ramble on, whether venting or complaining, it was incredibly soothing to hear.
It carried a vivid sense of reality, the feeling of feet planted firmly on solid ground.
Like bare feet treading across river pebbles warmed by the sun.
The reception on the highway was spotty, so Shan Yu ended the video call.
The drive was undeniably tiring; he hadn’t driven for this long in ages. Only when his car pulled up near Tang Rui’s repair shop did his energy surge back. Almost there.
Suddenly, a figure bolted out of the repair shop, waving at him.
Shan Yu hit the brakes, coming to a stop a dozen meters past the shop.
Chen Jian came jogging up from behind.
Shan Yu opened the door and stepped out, mildly surprised. “Why’d you run all the way out here to wait?”
“To join the excitement,” Chen Jian said. “Check out the new car.”
“Old car,” Shan Yu corrected.
“Check out the newly arrived old car,” Chen Jian amended.
Shan Yu didn’t say anything, stepping forward to pull him into a hug. “How long have you been waiting?”
“Half an hour or so,” Chen Jian said. “I did the math on your timing. You wouldn’t waste much time stopping at rest areas along the way.”
Shan Yu patted the roof with a laugh. “Want to drive?”
“…Don’t have a license yet.” Chen Jian circled the car, taking it in. “Holy crap, this thing is seriously imposing.”
“Isn’t there an abandoned road by the new village that leads to the quarry?” Shan Yu asked. “Want to take it for a spin out there tomorrow?”
“Mm,” Chen Jian smiled and nodded.
“Get in.” Shan Yu tilted his head toward the passenger side.
The car drove forward for a short stretch before pulling over onto the shoulder.
“Hm?” Chen Jian looked at him.
“Hold on.” Shan Yu unbuckled his seatbelt and checked the road behind them.
“Need to pee?” Chen Jian asked. “We’re just a few minutes away.”
Shan Yu didn’t answer. He looked ahead once more, then abruptly pushed off the backrest, turned around, and swung a leg over into the passenger side.
Chen Jian stared at him in shock.
Before he could speak, Shan Yu cradled his chin and kissed him firmly on the lips.
At the same time, his hand found the memory seat buttons on the door panel and pressed one. He knew this car inside and out; preset two was what he used to recline the seat for sleeping.
The backrest slowly angled backward.
The moment the seat moved, Chen Jian reflexively shoved against him, but in the very next second his hands reached around Shan Yu’s waist, pulling him tight.
Heavy breathing laden with days of pent-up longing instantly filled the compact cabin.
Tangled with the warm air blowing from the vents, it swept softly across every inch of exposed skin.
