Chapter 2#
Jiang Yicen’s sadness lasted only a moment. He did not regret his decision, but now his heart was filled with anxiety.#
He had no idea where the unfamiliar man before him was headed, so he stepped half a pace behind, letting the man lead the way.
He knew this layout all too well—it was clearly his family’s hotel. But the hotel had changed drastically, completely different from before: the curtains, walls, and carpet had all been replaced with different colors. Even the uniforms of the waitstaff passing by had transformed. The female servers wore qipaos, while the men wore long robes.
Jiang Yicen recalled that just two days ago, he had personally dismissed all the hotel’s employees. Their uniforms had been designed by his second brother, who had studied abroad. The female waitstaff wore identical light-colored suits, and the men wore identical black suits, each custom-tailored. In contrast, the employees here wore ill-fitting qipaos that were too loose on the women, and the men’s long robes had ungraceful lines and poor tailoring—the overall design was terribly sloppy.
The man ahead suddenly stopped, and Jiang Yicen halted too.
Since this was a restaurant, they must have come here together for a meal or some social engagement.
What was their relationship? They had walked for a while without exchanging a single word—hardly close.
As the unfamiliar man pushed open the door to the private room, Jiang Yicen couldn’t help feeling nervous. What would he do if he couldn’t handle the situation?
Before he could think of a solution, a middle-aged man’s voice came from inside, scolding: “What took you so long? Everyone’s been waiting for you.”
Then a woman’s voice laughed and chimed in to ease the tension: “Our Yicen just said he went to the restroom. Maybe he got lost? Why isn’t he back yet?”
The unfamiliar man entered reluctantly, showing no reaction to the scolding and not even bothering to make an excuse.
He was tall and had just been blocking Jiang Yicen from view. When he turned sideways to hang his coat, Jiang Yicen finally got a clear look at the people in the room.
Around the round table sat two middle-aged couples—clearly two married pairs. Between the two couples sat an elderly man with graying hair.
The elder wore a Tang suit. He smiled warmly and beckoned them: “Both children are here. Sit down, sit down quickly.”
When everyone saw them appear together, their expressions relaxed noticeably.
The woman on the left, who had her hair in a bun, smiled cheerfully and pretended to scold Jiang Yicen: “You child, why were you out so long? How could you keep the elders waiting?”
Hearing his name, Jiang Yicen’s feet froze. He didn’t want to step inside. He didn’t know any of these people, but the “Yicen” they mentioned must be him.
Still, he calmly responded in the manner he usually used with his family: “Sorry, I lingered downstairs to look at an exhibition and lost track of time.”
No one minded the small incident.
Jiang Yicen and the unfamiliar man sat down in the seats left for them.
From their conversation, he gathered that he and the strange man were the younger generation here.
Could it be that their parents were friends, and the two families were having a meal to stay in touch?
That was the most reasonable explanation so far. After all, the strange man wasn’t familiar with him, nor did he show any intention of getting closer. In fact, Jiang Yicen could sense the man’s distance. Although his upbringing was excellent, so the detachment wasn’t obvious, ever since Jiang Yicen had been forced to learn how to manage the family business, he had also learned to read people.
Compared to the others, Jiang Yicen actually felt the strange man was safer than them.
Except for Nan Shuyi, the smiles on everyone else’s lips widened. Even Nan Anru, who had been keeping a stern face, nodded slightly.
Nan Anru turned to the woman beside him and said, “Tell the server to start serving. Let’s eat and talk.”
The woman pressed the service bell as instructed.
Jiang Yicen discreetly observed everyone’s reactions, even noting the woman pressing the bell.
There was no server waiting outside the door, and no need to go out to call someone?
Within less than a minute, a server began bringing in the appetizers. That service bell was really useful.
While he was lost in thought, the conversation at the table shifted to topics he couldn’t follow. They seemed to be discussing politics and economics, but soon the focus turned to him and the strange man.
Nan Anru asked him, “Yicen, are you adjusting well since returning from abroad? Do you plan to join the company or start your own business?”
Jiang Yicen carefully considered how to answer. He had never studied abroad in his life. This casual chat felt no different from being caught as a spy and interrogated.
He secretly pinched his palm. It hurt.
Whether or not this was a dream, he was still a real person.
He chose his words: “I’m still thinking about it.”
When he said that, a flicker of relief passed through the woman’s eyes, but she said nothing.
Jiang Gongming said, “Chairman Nan, young people can start a family before establishing a career. I originally wanted him to join the company and gain some experience first. What are Shuyi’s plans now?”
Before Nan Shuyi could speak, Nan Anru said, “Him? All he knows is having fun. I hope he’ll settle down after getting married.”
Jiang Yicen turned to look at the person beside him. He felt that Nan’s father’s words were likely just polite talk.
Which Shu was it? Which Yi was it?
Nan Shuyi? Yi often carried the meaning of a graceful gentleman—a very refined name.
Nan Shuyi caught Jiang Yicen staring at him openly. He turned his head slightly, and their eyes met for less than a second before both looked away.
Out of habit, he retorted to Nan Anru, “How do you know I’m just ‘having fun’?”
Nan Anru remembered that this was his matchmaking dinner and wanted to leave a good impression, so he ignored him and looked at Jiang Yicen instead.
“Yicen, our group has several subsidiaries that match your major. You two can go there to gain some experience first.”
Jiang Gongming smiled and cut in, “Yicen, thank Uncle Nan quickly.”
Jiang Yicen followed along: “Thank you, Uncle.”
He carefully considered the word “you two”—did it mean he and Nan Shuyi would join the company together to gain experience?
If it was a family connection, it seemed reasonable for an elder to help him out.
During the meal, both families showed great respect for the elderly man. They called him Uncle Lin, and Jiang Yicen and Nan Shuyi had to address him as Grandpa Lin.
However, they didn’t talk much about company matters. Instead, they chatted about family affairs, with most of the conversation revolving around Jiang Yicen and Nan Shuyi. The former felt like he was hearing someone else’s story, while the latter grew increasingly impatient.
From their words, “Jiang Yicen” had been studying abroad since childhood, had just returned after completing his master’s degree, and hadn’t started working yet. He preferred Western food and often used English as a filler.
As for Nan Shuyi, Nan Anru described him as having no stable job, excelling only in eating, drinking, and having fun—a typical playboy.
Throughout the meal, Jiang Yicen and Nan Shuyi were like decorations, speaking little. Jiang Yicen savored the delicious food, while Nan Shuyi only took a few bites and spent most of the time drinking.
To others, the meal seemed harmonious.
Afterward, they first saw Grandpa Lin off to his car.
Grandpa Lin patted both Jiang Yicen’s and Nan Shuyi’s shoulders and said with a smile, “You two are good kids. Get along well from now on.”
Not knowing the background, Jiang Yicen politely opened the car door for him: “I will, Grandpa Lin.”
After the whole meal, he had vaguely picked up on something—everyone seemed to be hinting at making peace between him and Nan Shuyi. Could it be that they had some past grudge?
Grandpa Lin: “Good, good, that’s right.”
After Grandpa Lin left, the Jiang couple and the Nan couple each prepared to get into their own cars.
Jiang’s mother: “Son, are you going back with us or by yourself?”
Jiang Yicen thought for a moment: “I’ll go with you.” He didn’t know the place, and if he didn’t follow them, he’d probably end up on the streets.
Before getting into the car, he glanced back at Nan Shuyi, who was about to get into the Nan family’s car. Summoning his courage, he stepped forward: “Nan Shuyi, could I have your contact information?”
After all, he was the first person Jiang Yicen had met here, and he felt a closer bond with him than with the others. They would be working together in the company, so they’d have plenty of chances to interact. Moreover, both families seemed pleased with their interactions.
Nan Shuyi thought Jiang Yicen was being quite proactive. He casually recited a phone number: “180XXXXXXX.” He doubted Jiang Yicen would remember it anyway.
Jiang Yicen was confused by the length of the number. He silently repeated it to himself and, even though it was longer than any number he had known before, he still memorized it.
He asked, “Can I contact you if something comes up?”
Nan Shuyi paused: “Suit yourself.”
Having obtained permission, Jiang Yicen returned to the Jiang family’s car. He took one last look at his family’s hotel. The entrance was the same—even the stone lion missing one ball that his second brother had yanked out was identical—but the few pots of old wintersweet that his second brother had paid a fortune for were no longer there.
He reluctantly got into the car.
At that moment, the Jiang couple’s attitude changed from how they had been at the table. Jiang Gongming dropped his pleasant demeanor.
“You did well today. From now on, don’t keep mixing in English. Just behave like you did today.”
Jiang Yicen was baffled but didn’t ask immediately. Wasn’t this just two families having a meal together? What exactly did he need to “perform”?
He Nuanqing came to Jiang Yicen’s defense: “The child has lived abroad for so many years. A habit of six or seven years can’t change overnight. He’s already improved by acting like this today.”
Jiang Yicen thought He Nuanqing was defending him out of maternal love, but then she spoke to him again.
“Yicen, you’ll have to put up with it from now on. I think Nan Shuyi isn’t bad. Since you like men anyway, just get along well with him from now on.”
Jiang Yicen thought he had misheard: “What?”
He Nuanqing patted his hand: “This is good luck for our family. Nan Anru wanted to find a partner for Nan Shuyi, and he didn’t seem to dislike you. Grandpa Lin is the best fortune-teller in our city. He matched your horoscopes, and they’re a great fit. Nan Anru seems satisfied with you.”
Jiang Yicen was full of confusion. Why did he need to be “satisfied” by Uncle Nan?
Jiang Gongming snorted: “Our Jiang family never had a man who likes men, but this is a blessing in disguise for you.”
Jiang Yicen: “…” If he understood correctly, it meant he was attracted to men?
Jiang Yicen remained silent. Jiang Gongming thought he had been too harsh, and remembering that he needed to rely on his son to get closer to Nan Anru, he softened his tone.
“Once the Nan family’s investment in our company comes through and the project runs smoothly, we’ll give you everything you’re entitled to. Not a penny less. And even if you divorce Nan Shuyi in the future, I won’t meddle in who you’re with anymore.”
He Nuanqing quickly tried to appease him: “The child will listen. Yicen, go on a few dates with Nan Shuyi in the next couple of days. As long as he agrees, this marriage will be settled.”
Jiang Gongming added, “Once this is done, I won’t bring up what happened before. Just get along well with Nan Shuyi. At least you graduated from a good school, so try to impress Nan Anru and get into an important position in the Nan family.”
His greatest satisfaction with this son was that he was good at studying. Before, Jiang Gongming had been unhappy about his sexuality, but now it seemed useful.
Jiang Yicen suppressed his astonishment and quickly pieced things together.
So the Jiang family needed investment from the Nan family. Tonight’s dinner wasn’t about two families socializing; it was a matchmaking dinner. The Jiang family wanted a business marriage with the Nan family.
Men could actually get married to men in this world after death? How open-minded it was.
No wonder Nan Shuyi had given him such an odd look today. They weren’t sworn brothers from friendly families; they were here for a blind date.
After interacting with this couple, “Jiang Yicen” realized his relationship with them wasn’t as close as he had imagined, so he stopped talking.
But he felt embarrassed about how he had acted in front of Nan Shuyi. He covered one eye and turned to look out the car window. What a misunderstanding.
Outside, countless vehicles he had never seen before drove on wide, clean, smooth asphalt roads. The receding street scenes showed skyscrapers he had never encountered. Huge screens played commercials featuring celebrities. Pedestrians were dressed in stylish, bright clothes. Even the large dogs being walked were plump and sleek, their fur shiny.
The people here had no sorrowful faces, no dirty clothes, no numb expressions;
There was no war, no frozen corpses, no separated families, no being torn apart from loved ones;
So doing good deeds really did lead to heaven after death. He couldn’t believe it, but his heart yearned for it.