Chapter 27#

All evening, I clutched that photo in my hand, my ears filled with the lingering romantic waltz from that awkward dance party long ago, surrounded by mocking and disdainful glances. It was the first time I had danced a complete waltz with a girl.

I thought it would be a sweet dream, but midway through, the scene shifted. When I suddenly turned around, I only saw her bare face, her smile slowly crumbling against the dark curtain.

“Li Ling—!!”

I snapped my eyes open.

Cheng Chen stood there in just his underwear, a toothbrush dangling from his mouth, his cup swaying in his hand as he frowned at me.

“What’s wrong?”

I broke out in a cold sweat, still a bit shaken. After taking a deep breath to calm down, I was about to reassure Cheng Chen when I noticed that sly grin slowly spreading across his face, sending goosebumps crawling all over my skin…

He swaggered over, glanced at the scattered photos and papers on the floor, and with foam still in his mouth, slung an arm around my shoulder and said, “Who’s that—your crush? How come Big Bro doesn’t know?”

This kid…

I swatted his face away as he tried to rub his stubbly cheek against mine, which stung. Sitting up, I realized I’d stayed up too late and fallen asleep on the sofa last night—now my neck was sore and uncomfortable.

“Fatty, come on, who is it? Does Big White know?”

I glanced at my watch. I still had a few hours before work, just enough time to go back and freshen up.

Cheng Chen and I no longer lived together.

Back in college when we roomed together, I’d already witnessed his flimsy sense of integrity and immense destructive power. If it hadn’t been for the financial strain back then, I really couldn’t have stood living with this kid for four years.

Truth be told, aside from the first year’s tuition being paid by the Ren family, I scraped through the rest on scholarships earned through hard study and living expenses cobbled together from odd jobs. Luckily, with my old man’s mindset, I couldn’t indulge in youthful pastimes, so strictly speaking, I didn’t suffer much those four years.

“Fatty, you can’t be two-timing and let Big White down.”

I patted him on the head, went to the bathroom to wash my face, then came back for my jacket. Cheng Chen had already freshened up. When he saw me, he threw himself onto me.

“Hey, don’t act like a big kid. I’ve got to get to work.”

I pushed him off with effort. He flopped back onto the sofa, laughing, and said, “You’ve already paid off the tuition you owed the family. Why are you working so hard?”

I shrugged on my jacket, said, “I’m heading out,” and walked toward the door.

Life had just started to settle down in the past two years, but my salary still couldn’t cover a car loan. The apartment I lived in was near the subway station—expensive, but convenient.

The building’s security guard was a jazz-loving white guy named Tom. When he saw me, he swayed rhythmically, chewing gum, and said, “Sir, you’re back early.” I smiled and nodded. He grinned wider. “Young people should go out and have fun. Don’t hold it all in.”

Tom was a nice guy, just a bit too enthusiastic.

Living here for a few years, I’ve come to realize our ancestors’ words ring true—subtlety is truly a virtue.

Out of habit, I opened the mailbox near the elevator, glanced through it, and pulled out the water and electricity bills. My gaze suddenly caught a white envelope mixed in with the stack of flyers. I paused, instinctively about to toss it away, but in the end, I opened it—

This time, besides the check, there was also a letter attached.

I casually opened it, skimming over the neat, forceful handwriting, until I reached the last paragraph:

[Manager He and his wife both hope you can come back to visit, if time permits.][Qi Ri, I’m glad you could read this. Uncle is pleased.][May everything be well with you.]

At the very bottom was an elegant signature: “Yun.”

I stared at the letter, dazed, until my phone suddenly rang. I hurriedly opened it to find a message from Cheng Chen.

Turns out I’d left my tie at his place.

At the bottom of the message was written: “Want to come with me to that club tomorrow night? Don’t worry, just a look. Pure relaxation.”

I sighed softly.

Cheng Chen liked to act first and ask later. One of his supervising officers above him appreciated him but sometimes couldn’t handle him. General Cheng had asked me to keep an eye on him these past few years. Luckily, Cheng Chen had some discretion and never caused big trouble.

Besides… I thought of that photo. I hesitated for a moment, my eyelid twitching. I quickly rubbed my eyes and typed back, “Okay.”

Getting my emotions in check, I tore up the letter and the check, along with the flyers, and tossed them into the trash can by my feet.

Maybe I hadn’t gotten enough rest the night before, and the morning had put me in a bad mood. At the firm, I kept spacing out and making mistakes. Finally, Catherine couldn’t take it anymore and approved my afternoon off, forcing me to go home and rest.

“You know, Ren, I trust your work ethic and efficiency. I really need you, but I don’t want to be seen as some horrible demon bullying a poor intern.” Catherine looked up from a pile of documents and spread her hands. She’d been following an antique fraud case lately, and it seemed tricky—at least the opposing counsel was her biggest current headache.

I was indeed exhausted that day, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

As I was leaving her office, she suddenly called me back, her red lips slightly parted. After a long pause, she finally asked, “Is Charles close with you?”

I looked back at her, puzzled. She clasped her hands together and stammered, “You… um, Mr. Bai seems to have a good relationship with you. He’s a very famous man. What I mean is, actually—Ren, as your mentor, I do care about you.” Catherine looked like she’d been caught by the throat, her eyes comically wide.

I roughly understood what Catherine meant and couldn’t help but find it amusing, but I explained, “You’re mistaken. It’s not that kind of relationship between us. Of course…”

Bai Junrui’s sexual orientation was as well-known as his fame. But he never avoided it. Two years ago, when Uncle Shu announced him as his adopted son, he also publicly came out to the media, sincerely stating that he had a long-admired person in mind, though he was still in the pursuit stage. He hoped the media would give him some personal space and wished him luck in bringing his beloved home soon.

That story had made headlines back then. Despite some negative comments, most were tolerant and appreciative of Bai Junrui. Cheng Chen had been ecstatic, dragging me to read every word and imitating Bai Junrui’s tone, reciting the whole speech in my ear for nearly a month.

If Cheng Chen hadn’t been clearly into women, I might have mistaken them for using the media to flirt with each other. When I shared my thoughts with Cheng Chen, he suddenly groaned a few times, completely incomprehensible.

What surprised me most was Uncle Shu. Uncle Shu was an old-school Chinese American, deeply influenced by traditional Eastern values. That he could accept Bai Junrui’s orientation was totally unexpected. At least their bond as adoptive father and son was undeniable—you could tell from how Bai Junrui never forgot to bring Uncle Shu a gift whenever he went out.

After hearing my explanation, Catherine seemed both enlightened and incredulous. I guess my face really did look awful, so she didn’t press further, said a few caring words, and let me go.

But as soon as I opened the door, I saw the crowd outside quickly disperse—men and women. One of the new female interns, Stephanie, turned back, gave me a knowing smile, and flashed a thumbs-up.

I couldn’t help thinking—the generation gap truly emerges unconsciously.

When I got back to the apartment, I basically collapsed into bed and slept. When I groggily woke up, everything was dark and silent.

My head throbbed badly. I fumbled around, stood up dizzily, feeling feverish.

Just then, my phone rang.

I jumped, grabbed my jacket that I’d tossed on a chair earlier, fumbled inside for my phone, and looked down.

A whole row of missed calls, lights flickering intermittently. I pursed my lips, pressed the answer button, and a low, slightly tense voice came through immediately.

[Xiao Qi, I was waiting downstairs at your firm just now. Your colleague said you’d already come back. Are you feeling unwell?][I’m almost at your place now. Hold on a bit. Why didn’t you answer the phone? I thought something had happened to you.]

I cleared my dry throat, rubbed my forehead, and said, “It’s nothing… It’s just that last night—” I was about to explain when the doorbell rang.

I stared blankly at the phone.

The doorbell rang again, urgently. I scrambled out of bed and rushed to open the door, nearly tripping and falling.

When I opened the door, I saw Bai Junrui in a dark coat, his hair slightly damp, carrying the smell of rain. I paused, realizing it seemed to be raining outside.

Bai Junrui didn’t stand on ceremony. He pulled me inside, closed the door, and without waiting for me to speak, reached out to feel my forehead. Even in the dim light, I could tell he was frowning slightly. “You’ve got a fever.”

“It’s not too bad. I bought some medicine. Have you eaten?” He rummaged through a bag, then looked up at me. “I knew you wouldn’t have eaten anything.” I watched him get straight to work, setting the bag on the table and heading to the kitchen. He opened the fridge, glanced back, and said, “Go sit down. I’ll make some porridge. Eat first, then take your medicine.”

“You don’t have to…”

He cut me off impatiently. “I ran into your supervisor earlier. She said you looked drained. Did you stay up again? Not watching your diet? Haven’t you learned from past mistakes?”

I was at a loss for words.

The “past mistakes” he referred to were from my senior year of college, when I ended up in the hospital for two nights on IV fluids due to academic stress and irregular sleep. Back then, Cheng Chen was so frantic he called Bai Junrui without thinking, which resulted in him coming all the way from the north that very night.

“Go lie down. I’ll handle this.” Bai Junrui took off his coat. When he saw me eyeing him suspiciously, he added, “I’ve lived on my own for over a decade. I can’t cook a feast, but I can manage porridge. Now go lie down, be good.”

Being coaxed like this by someone actually more than twenty years younger than me was a bit embarrassing.

Bai Junrui seemed easygoing, but when he dug his heels in, he was troublesome. I rubbed my nose, still nursing a headache, and obediently sat on the sofa nearby, curling up tiredly.

By the time Bai Junrui finished cooking the porridge, the rain outside had picked up, accompanied by a few thunderclaps.

The porridge had minced meat and a sprinkle of chopped green onions. Bai Junrui watched me eat half a bowl, then fetched warm water and fever medicine. “Don’t take a shower tonight. You’ll catch another chill. Take the medicine and sleep.”

I glanced out the window. Only a small lamp was on in the room. When I looked back at Bai Junrui, it seemed to cast a warm glow.

“Tonight…” My throat still ached. “The rain’s too heavy. Driving visibility is poor now. If you don’t mind, stay here for the night and leave tomorrow morning.”

Bai Junrui didn’t refuse, just hummed in agreement. I was about to get up and fetch him some clothes from the closet, but he pushed me back onto the bed. “I know where everything is. You lie still.” He grabbed a towel and headed into the bathroom.

Maybe the fever meds were kicking in. I felt a bit better, though my eyes were heavy. Listening to the muffled sound of water, I made sure to leave space on the bed, turned over, and drifted off into a hazy sleep.

This dream felt strangely real.

Just more chaotic, less hazy, and oddly embarrassing instead.

I considered myself fairly restrained in desires, always maintaining self-discipline. But still, I was a normal man with emotions and urges. Suddenly having such a dream—maybe it had just been too long since I last…

I could clearly feel a weight, and even the kiss on my lips felt so real it made me shiver. The touches on my body varied in intensity, laced with passion, unhurried—so real it was almost surreal. My faint rationality nearly dissolved under the skilled caresses.

Strangely, in that erotic dream, I still had the leisure to think—this woman’s hands seem pretty big…

My breathing grew irregular. Being pinned down and freely touched felt odd but not unpleasant. That warm sensation was actually comfortable and soothing. By all rights, I should have been satisfied. But when that place was enveloped, a kind of sensual excitement surged—rapid movements that almost overwhelmed me. Being tightly sucked and involuntarily moaning gave me a sense of… criminal illusion.

When I finally released, I clutched the person on top of me.

Before losing consciousness, I arrived at one strange conclusion—so this woman has short hair.

When I woke up in the morning, I instinctively pulled back the blanket.

Then let out a small sigh of relief.

Turning my head, I didn’t see Bai Junrui, but there was a note on the bedside table. I shifted over.

The note bore Bai Junrui’s somewhat messy Chinese handwriting:

[Sorry, I have an important meeting this morning. Also, I already asked for leave from the firm for you. Rest well at home today.][I’ve ordered delivery for you. Before that, drink the hot milk on the table. If it gets cold, heat it up. Don’t be lazy about this kind of thing.][Take care of yourself. Junrui.]

I glanced at the clock and was startled. It was already that late.

I put the note away in a drawer and stretched—strange, why did I feel more tired after sleeping? My lower back was sore too. Maybe I really was getting old…

True to his word, the delivery came for every meal, all Chinese dishes I was used to. Having lived in the US for years, some habits had worn off, but my preferences never changed. Cheng Chen always said my tastes in this area were old-fashioned. I’d just laugh it off, unable to tell the kid that I’d actually lived an extra thirty years.

Maybe because I’d started decades earlier than most, my love life was even more barren than in my previous life. Strictly speaking, my life and so-called “romance” had no intersection.

During college, it wasn’t that I was too thick-skinned—a couple of girls had asked me out. Cheng Chen reacted more strongly than I did, turning them all down on my behalf, guarding me and insisting I had someone waiting for me back home. I remember he’d worked himself into a lather saying it—honestly, as the person involved, I had no clue about this so-called beautiful, wealthy, devoted, and slightly older fiancée supposedly waiting for me.

Cheng Chen made it sound so real that I shot up from being the most pitiful single man in the college to the top of the campus happiness rankings. Overnight, I became the envy of my male classmates in the law school.

But thanks to that, I lived those four years fairly ascetically, almost vegetarian. Honestly, I had no interest in that direction anyway—how could I, seeing all those people as kids decades younger than me? I couldn’t bring myself to cause trouble.

But last night…

Now lying in bed with my eyes closed, I couldn’t help my mind wandering. Hazy memories suddenly surged back. I opened my eyes and looked around; every corner seemed steeped in pink, ambiguous atmosphere.

I sat up abruptly, almost instinctively rushing to the bathroom. Was I really getting horny after eating my fill? I felt I needed a cold shower to cool off and cleanse my thoughts, though this was hardly a big deal for a man in his twenties.

After a cold shower in the afternoon, my mind was still a bit foggy, but at least clearer than before. My back still ached—probably from sleeping in a weird position last night. In the evening, Cheng Chen called again, and I suddenly remembered the plans for tonight. I hurriedly got ready and went downstairs. Cheng Chen’s car was already parked outside.

Cheng Chen was a trendsetter, and as General Cheng’s only son, he lived comfortably. Looking at the red sports car parked in front of the apartment, the only word that came to mind—besides “flashy”—was “ostentatious.”

“Hey, Fatty—”

He wore sunglasses, dressed casually with his shirt unbuttoned, the tips of his hair dyed a bit, and a single earring. He looked the epitome of a nightclub libertine.

Cheng Chen got out of the car, took off his sunglasses, looked me up and down, and burst out laughing.

“Fatty, oh my God.” Tom, the building security, happened to be outside. When he saw Cheng Chen, they exchanged jazz dance moves.

For a moment, I felt a deep sense of guilt toward General Cheng.

“Looking like that, you’ll get kicked out before you even get in. Come here!” Cheng Chen reached over to unbutton my collar. I quickly stepped back, waving my hands. “Isn’t it just an investigation—”

Cheng Chen suddenly covered my mouth and whispered mysteriously, “Of course it is, but first, you need to look the part, Fatty. We’re going to a club, going to ‘party,’ not a date, my dedicated lawyer.”

Without another word, he undid my top buttons, ruffled my hair, and even took off my glasses, tossing them into the car through the window. Then he pulled out a pair of blue-lensed glasses studded with rhinestones from his pocket and put them on me himself.

“Oh yeah, looking sharp, bro. Fun times await—!”

In the chaos of being dragged by Cheng Chen, I heard Tom behind us shout, “Don’t let our good little lawyer come back on time tonight!”

“Don’t worry—I won’t fail my mission.”

Cheng Chen had some semblance of discipline at work, but once off the clock, he was like a wild horse—no need to pull, just better to knock him out cold.

The club was in B City’s bustling district, medium-sized, with a unique exterior. For its time, the design was quite impressive. Inside, it wasn’t much different from an ordinary bar filled with clinking glasses.

Before entering, Cheng Chen had specifically warned me in the car that this club wasn’t as ordinary as it seemed—there was more beneath the surface. At least, he’d received reliable intel that the club’s real owner wasn’t the one on paper, but a major shareholder of B City’s biggest entertainment complex.

It sounded pretty unbelievable. I’d only been to that entertainment complex once, also with Cheng Chen. It was like another world altogether—full of strange and wonderful things, mostly frequented by high society or people with money to burn. Compared to that, this club was small potatoes.

“Loosen up. Don’t treat this like work.” Cheng Chen flashed his libertine grin again and patted my shoulder. “Come on, baby—”

Inside, lights flashed, smoke and alcohol mingled. I suppressed my discomfort and smiled at the approaching waiter. The waiter was Black, showing a set of white teeth when he smiled. “Gentlemen, let me show you to your seats.”

Cheng Chen had been laughing and joking, dragging me along as we followed the waiter into a private room, his eyes darting everywhere.

Once in the room, Cheng Chen slipped a tip into the waiter’s pocket. The waiter beamed. “Would the gentlemen like some entertainment? I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

“Uh, no—” I started, but Cheng Chen quickly covered my mouth and cut in, “My friend here is a country bumpkin. Don’t mind him. He needs to be shown a good time. Call in all the pretty girls you’ve got!”

The waiter nodded knowingly and backed out of the room. Before I could scold him, Cheng Chen leaned in and whispered, “We need to be careful here. There might be surveillance. Just play along as best you can. If it gets too much, I’ll cover for you.”

No sooner had he finished than several scantily clad hostesses walked in, laughing and pulling me and Cheng Chen onto the sofa. Cheng Chen slipped into character effortlessly, flirting and joking like a pro.

Just drinking made my head ache, and the white girl pressed close to me kept pouring liquor into my glass. Cheng Chen was having a great time, soon starting to play finger games, though his eyes occasionally glanced my way to show he wasn’t completely lost in revelry…

“Sir, you’re a lawyer? I really admire lawyers—” Somehow, the conversation turned to my profession. The girl next to Cheng Chen clapped excitedly, then leaned over, cupped my face, and tried to kiss me.

Startled, I instinctively raised my hand to push her away, forgetting I was holding a glass. The result? A full glass spilled all over my pants.

“Oh—!” Everyone gasped. Cheng Chen reacted quickly, pulling the girl into his arms and smoothly flirting, “Hey, this bumpkin friend of mine can’t keep up with you. Bro, go to the bathroom and wash up, or people will think you wet the bed.”

The hostesses covered their mouths and giggled. Embarrassed, I stood up and caught Cheng Chen’s wink from the corner of my eye. I tightened my coat.

Using the bathroom as an excuse, I wandered around openly. Out in the main seating area, all kinds of people passed by—men and women. It was a place of wine, women, and song, but I couldn’t tell what was wrong with it yet.

As for the person I was looking for…

“Sir, can I help you?” A waiter approached eagerly.

I quickly waved him off. “No, please—where’s the bathroom?” The waiter pointed in a direction. I tried to act natural, pulled a bill from my pocket, and slipped it into his hand. He gave me a bright smile.

At least the bathroom lights were bright. My eyes felt tired from the visual overload. I wiped the alcohol stains off my pants, took off those blue glasses that had been making me stumble, sighed softly, and rubbed my temples.

As I left the bathroom, the hallway was dim. Walking through, I could faintly hear other sounds besides the loud music—groans or sounds of resistance. I frowned. In a corner where the sounds came from, there seemed to be shadows. I was about to hurry away when a sharp scream suddenly rang out: “Fuck—!!”

I stopped and turned. Vaguely, I saw a fat man pushed away, and then someone leaning against the wall stood up unsteadily—looked like a woman.

The man had fallen to the ground but jumped up, furious, ran over, grabbed the woman by the hair, and started cursing a blue streak.

I was startled. I rushed over and separated them, pulling the petite woman behind me. The fat man staggered back a few steps, his pants still undone, staring at me in surprise.

“You yellow-skinned mongrel, interfering with my fun!”

The woman grabbed my arm, trembling, and cried, “Sir! Sir, please save me! I’m not a prostitute! Really! Really!” She sounded like a young girl. I patted her shaking hand soothingly and said to the furious man, “Sir, regardless of whether a gentleman should hit a woman, you heard her. She doesn’t want this. If you insist on using force, that constitutes sexual assault, also known as rape.”

The man looked at me as if I’d said something bizarre. First he was dumbfounded, then he burst out laughing. The security guards outside heard the commotion. I was secretly relieved as the burly guards walked over. “Please don’t make trouble here…”

The two guards suddenly fell silent, exchanged strange looks, and then spoke respectfully to the fat man: “Boss.”

I froze.

The boss snorted at me, straightened his suit, and said, “Kid, looks like you’re new around here. Don’t know the rules. I touch my own property, and I need permission? First time I’ve heard such a joke.”

My heart sank. While they weren’t paying attention, I shoved the girl behind me and shouted, “Get out through the back door!”

The girl nodded frantically and ran off.

“Damn it! You—go after her!”

Before the two guards could rush me, I blocked them, using my body to hold them off, yelling, “Is there no law here!” Passing waiters and guests just glanced and walked by, no one helping. I gritted my teeth and took a few hits.

“She got away! She got away! Useless—forget it! We’ll find her anyway. First, teach this yellow dog a lesson!”

I took another blow to the back. I was never good at fighting. Soon, I was pinned to the ground, my arms twisted behind me.

I groaned in pain, lifted my head with difficulty, and saw the fat boss swagger over, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, smirking at me.

“Hmph.” He bent down and kicked my face with his toe. “Kid, this isn’t a place for playing hero.” He suddenly swung his leg, and my head snapped to the side. I tasted blood in my mouth. Before I could recover, he grabbed my hair and forced my head back.

“Law? You brain-dead, talking to me about law?! Goddamn, I’ll show you what—”

“What’s going on here?”

A male voice, full of displeasure, came from behind.

The fat man stiffened, straightened up, and stammered something unintelligible. Someone seemed to approach. The voice said, “Don’t you know who’s coming today? What are you doing?”

“No, no, it’s a misunderstanding. This kid doesn’t know the rules—”

“Rules? Hmph.” The person seemed to come closer. “You don’t know your own strength.” I felt someone lift my chin with the tip of their shoe, then pause.

“This person—” A puzzled voice sounded above.

Then another, deeper and colder voice came from behind…

“A De, what’s the matter?”

“No… this—”

The surroundings seemed to fall silent, leaving only the heavy footsteps.

I felt the guards release me. Struggling, I got up, wiped my nose, and looked down dazedly to see dark bloodstains. Before I could speak, the front voice asked, “What’s going on?” A simple question, yet it carried immense authority.

The boss stammered, unable to speak, all his earlier arrogance gone. I felt someone grab my arm. Instinctively, I pushed them away, swaying as I turned my head—damn, why did it hurt so much?

But the person persisted, coming closer again. It didn’t seem like they were about to use more violence. They grabbed my elbow, surprisingly gently, and then lightly lifted my chin.

Hiss…

I clenched my teeth, ready to shove them away, but was suddenly pulled into an embrace. Before I could gasp, I heard that deep voice, tinged with something like delight, even trembling slightly.

“Don’t go.”

This… the call brought back a sliver of clarity. I looked up from within the man’s arms, squinting.

I stepped back slightly and examined him.

He was tall, exuding an imposing presence, dressed in a sharp suit, yet carrying an indescribable aura of ruthlessness.

“Look at me… I’ve disturbed you. Let me handle this ungrateful wretch.” The boss blurted out in oddly accented Chinese, sounding ridiculous.

“I’ll have someone get rid of this brat—” The front suddenly went silent.

The man gave a light laugh, but it carried no humor, only a sense of impending storm.

“Handle it yourself.” He tossed out that line, then gently took my hand again. I instinctively pulled away.

He said nothing, just looked at me. After a long moment, he gave a bitter smile. My mind was a mess. I nodded absently, my body aching badly as I walked away step by step.

But I hadn’t gone far before someone wrapped their arms around me from behind. I panicked, struggling wildly.

“…Let go. This is America, a place with laws, not your—”

I suddenly heard a call from above: “Xiao Qi.”

I froze.

“Xiao Qi, don’t you remember me?”