Chapter 23 - 2#
“Eh? Aren’t you supposed to take Line 6 home?” After passing security, Zhang Qing noticed that Yan Heqing wasn’t heading toward the line he usually took and was a little surprised. “Do you still have something else to do?”
Yan Heqing smiled lightly. “I’ve got another part-time job.”
“!” Zhang Qing smacked her lips. “You’re really pushing yourself! No wonder you’re so thin.” She said it sincerely. “Your body is the capital of revolution—you really should take better care of yourself. Even when you’re young, you can’t handle long-term shift work forever.”
Just then, the subway pulled into the station. Yan Heqing’s gaze flickered slightly. “Mm. Once I finish today, I’m quitting.”
*
At the bar, Feng Zhixian had brought a large group of people and occupied every seat at the bar counter.
Yan Heqing mixed one drink per person. Feng Zhixian, on the other hand, had called over dozens of people, ordering one glass at a time, slowly and deliberately.
Feng Zhixian sat directly across from Yan Heqing, propping his chin on one hand and staring at him without blinking.
“Xiao Yan, have you put on a little weight lately?”
You look even better.
Feng Zhixian had seen plenty of beautiful people before—he’d slept with several popular young actors who relied on their looks to get famous.
But Yan Heqing was different. His beauty carried an alluring temperament.
The more Feng Zhixian looked, the more captivated he became.
Yan Heqing focused on mixing drinks, eyes lowered so his expression couldn’t be seen, and didn’t respond.
Feng Zhixian didn’t mind. He grinned so wide his mouth almost split open—he thought he might actually be a bit cheap.
In the past, his flings were always eager to start relationships with him, which only annoyed him.
Now that Yan Heqing ignored him, he found himself utterly infatuated.
Yan Heqing finished mixing a B-52, lit it, and handed it to the person next to Feng Zhixian. “Your drink.”
They were all plants Feng Zhixian had brought along. The man winked ambiguously. “For Young Master Feng.”
Yan Heqing calmly turned and handed it to Feng Zhixian.
Looking at Yan Heqing through the blue flames, Feng Zhixian felt his heart melt. He didn’t take the glass. “Xiao Yan, how about I take you abroad on a trip? You decide where.”
Yan Heqing set the glass down. “Thank you, but no need.”
Feng Zhixian let out a long sigh. “What exactly do you like, Xiao Yan? You’re really making this hard for me. At least give me a hint?”
Yan Heqing finally looked at him properly. “Quiet.”
Feng Zhixian: “……”
For the rest of the time, Feng Zhixian really didn’t say another word. Yan Heqing worked until two in the morning and then went to the changing room on schedule to change clothes.
This time, however, he didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he went to the manager’s office.
“Resigning?” The manager’s expression changed slightly. Yan Heqing was practically the bar’s living signboard—of course he didn’t want to let him go. The manager poured him a glass of water. “Come, sit and have a drink. Tell me your reason. Is it the pay? The hours? We can discuss all of that.”
Yan Heqing didn’t sit or take the water. “It’s for personal reasons.”
The manager hesitated for a moment, then spoke with difficulty. “Is it because of last night…?”
He didn’t dare continue.
About Lu Lin keeping Yan Heqing overnight in the private room—other staff didn’t know, but he, the manager, knew everything.
He’d been in nightlife long enough to read people—not perfectly, but eighty percent accurately.
Despite his young age, Yan Heqing was upright and principled, with a quiet pride—he would rather break than bend.
After encountering… something like that, the fact that Yan Heqing hadn’t gone all-out against Lu Lin actually surprised the manager.
“It’s not,” Yan Heqing said with a faint smile. “There’s no need to try to keep me. We didn’t sign a labor contract, and I don’t need to give a month’s notice. There’s plenty of time to find another bartender before next week.”
He then gave a polite nod. “Thank you for your care this past month. Just settle my wages and transfer them to my account.”
With that, he left.
The manager remained motionless. After a long while, he let out a quiet sigh.
The bar didn’t lack bartenders. What it lacked was someone like Yan Heqing—good-looking and able to draw in customers.
But regret aside, considering Yan Heqing’s temperament, it was only a matter of time before he offended Lu Lin. Letting him leave early might actually be better for the bar.
He picked up his phone and left a message for accounting, telling her to settle Yan Heqing’s pay in the morning.
*
Outside the bar, it had just snowed. The air was damp. As Yan Heqing reached the roadside to hail a car, a Mercedes pulled up in front of him.
The window rolled down. Feng Zhixian smiled at him. “I’ll give you a ride.”
Yan Heqing declined gently. “The car picking me up will be here soon.”
Feng Zhixian’s expression shifted slightly. Whoever was coming to pick Yan Heqing up in the middle of the night clearly had an extraordinary relationship with him.
Yan Heqing lived alone—it wouldn’t be his parents. Then could it be…
Feng Zhixian’s face changed drastically. He tested the waters. “Your friend?”
Yan Heqing suddenly smiled. “You don’t know what happened at the bar last night?”
Feng Zhixian was momentarily dazzled by his smile. It took him a while to recover. “What?”
Yan Heqing shook his head and said nothing more.
A storm raged in Feng Zhixian’s heart. Burning with anxiety, he jumped out of the car and rushed back into the bar, not even closing the door.
Yan Heqing walked over, closed the car door for him, then turned and left.
*
The next day was Sunday. The café was closed, but Yan Heqing still woke up at 6:30 on the dot.
After washing up, he steamed twenty dumplings and then went to memorize Russian vocabulary.
After half an hour of memorization, he reached his goal—and the dumplings were done.
He made a bowl of seaweed and dried shrimp soup, carried it to the coffee table, and quietly finished everything.
After eating, he stepped on the scale.
114
Only one jin gained in the past few days. The rapid weight-gain period seemed to be over—his weight was increasing very slowly now, even though he’d increased his food intake.
It didn’t matter. What he had the most of was patience.
He washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. When he came out, it was almost eight.
The timing was right. He dialed a number.
Beep… beep… beep…
The long ringing tone dragged on. Yan Heqing waited patiently.
Just before the final ring ended, the call was answered by an impatient male voice.
“Who is it?!”
“May I ask if this is Rainbow Bridge Orphanage?” Yan Heqing asked politely.
The man raised his voice. “We’re full! No beds for orphans right now!”
“I’d like to apply as a volunteer,” Yan Heqing said calmly.
Hearing “volunteer,” the man immediately changed his tone. “Sure. Fill out an application form and send it to me. If it passes, I’ll contact you. My WeChat is this number—add me first.”
Yan Heqing added him on WeChat. Soon, the man sent over the application form. Yan Heqing filled it out carefully and sent it back.
“OK,” the man replied. “I’ll submit it for review and let you know the result.”
“Alright, thank you,” Yan Heqing replied.
The chat ended. Yan Heqing put down his phone.
Rainbow Bridge Orphanage—the orphanage where he and Lin Fengzhi had stayed as children.
It was also where Lu Muchi’s mother worked. She had never left the capital.
In the original story, after Yan Heqing died, Lin Fengzhi was devastated and returned to Rainbow Bridge to search for memories of the past.
There, he naturally met Lu Muchi’s mother, who was working as an art teacher at the orphanage.
Lin Fengzhi immediately called Lu Muchi over, mediating the rift between mother and son.
Lin Fengzhi and Lu Muchi’s relationship warmed once again. That same night—when Yan Heqing hid in an abandoned storage room all day so the Lin couple would adopt Lin Fengzhi—the two lost themselves in passion and spent the entire night together.
……
His stomach churned violently. The urge to vomit grew stronger. Yan Heqing hurried into the bathroom and threw up as soon as he reached the sink.
Everything he’d just eaten came back up. He gripped the edge of the counter with both hands and stayed still for a long time before lifting his head.
In the mirror, the youth’s face was pale, so thin it seemed a slightly stronger wind could carry him away.
Yet his eyes were incomparably resolute, giving one complete certainty that no matter how fierce the storm or snow, he would not be struck down.
*
In the afternoon, Yan Heqing received a bank notification.
His bar wages plus bonus had arrived—a total of 17,656 yuan.
Immediately after, Lin Fengzhi called.
“Can you bring the things to Ruixing Plaza? It’s near your place! Really close—only a ten-minute walk!” When Lin Fengzhi felt guilty, he spoke extremely fast. “I want to treat you to a meal!”
Yan Heqing had already packed everything into a paper bag.
Lin Fengzhi was very worried about others knowing about their relationship. The last time Yan Heqing deliberately called Lu Muchi over, Lin Fengzhi had been frightened and didn’t dare come by again for the time being.
Yan Heqing picked up the bag and went out. “That works.”
When he opened the door, several boxes of cat food stacked by the wall were still untouched.
He went downstairs and walked toward Ruixing Plaza, arriving in about ten minutes.
From afar, he spotted Lin Fengzhi—wearing a milky-white cashmere coat, a smog-blue knitted scarf, and a burgundy wool hat.
Standing beside the plaza’s bronze statue, he looked obedient and pretty, very eye-catching.
After a while, Lin Fengzhi also saw Yan Heqing and waved from where he stood. Yan Heqing suddenly stopped.
He quietly watched Lin Fengzhi and didn’t walk closer this time.
After waiting a bit and seeing Yan Heqing still standing there, Lin Fengzhi finally jogged over.
“What’s wrong?”
Yan Heqing curved his lips slightly. “Work’s been a bit tiring. My eyesight’s not great—I didn’t see you.”
Lin Fengzhi first looked at the paper bag in Yan Heqing’s hand and casually asked, “What job?”
“Waiter.”
Yan Heqing didn’t hand over the bag, and Lin Fengzhi felt too awkward to take it himself—it would look like he was in a rush. Thinking about the white porcelain piece inside, he was a bit distracted. “Is being a waiter that exhausting?”
Yan Heqing smiled faintly. “It’s fine. I was just juggling several part-time jobs back-to-back. I quit one, so things will be easier from now on.”
“That’s good.” Lin Fengzhi nodded and rubbed the tip of his nose. “Are you hungry? Want to eat first? Which place here is good? I’ve never been here before.”
“Me neither. I’m not sure.”
Lin Fengzhi looked incredulous. “Are you a homebody? This place is so close to your home and school, and you’ve never been here?”
Yan Heqing smiled lightly. “No. It’s just that things in malls are too expensive—doesn’t suit me.”
Lin Fengzhi felt awkward. He quickly pulled out his phone and started walking into the mall. “Let’s go. I’ll check the rankings.” He sorted by high rating. “How about Japanese food? Reviews are good. There’s hot pot, barbecue, Cantonese food too.”
“Hot pot.” Yan Heqing coughed lightly. “I’ve been coughing a bit. I want something hot.”
Lin Fengzhi nodded. “Okay.”
The hot pot place was in Building F, Room 3033. Lin Fengzhi had no sense of direction. Usually someone else led him, but today it was Yan Heqing—he felt too embarrassed to admit it, so he forced himself to lead the way.
After walking for over ten minutes, they still hadn’t found the hot pot place—only stores selling children’s toys.
They’d wandered into the kids’ zone.
“That’s strange…” Lin Fengzhi muttered while staring at the red dot on the map. “It says it’s here.”
Just then, a finger-length Ultraman figurine appeared in front of his eyes. He froze, then turned and ran straight into Yan Heqing’s smiling gaze.
“You loved Ultraman when you were little.” Yan Heqing’s lips curved into a warm smile. “Once you broke one of Ultraman’s arms and came crying to me, saying that without an arm he wouldn’t be able to defeat the monsters.”
Lin Fengzhi didn’t remember it at all. In his memory, he hadn’t liked Ultraman—he liked Transformers.
He pressed his lips together. “I don’t remember…”
“I do.” There was a starlike smile in Yan Heqing’s eyes. Their eyes shared the same trait—beautiful when not smiling, dazzling when they did. “Here.”
Yan Heqing placed the Ultraman in Lin Fengzhi’s hand. “I’ve always wanted to give you another one. Now I’ve finally fulfilled that wish.”
The figurine carried faint warmth—the temperature of Yan Heqing’s skin. Lin Fengzhi’s heart suddenly felt like it was being lightly scratched by a cat’s paw—an itchy, fluttering sensation.
He finally spoke up. “I can’t find the way!”
Yan Heqing’s lashes shifted slightly. He held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
Lin Fengzhi obediently handed it over. Yan Heqing glanced at the map, then at the signposts. “Follow me.”
This time, Yan Heqing walked in front.
The back of the boy’s head was beautifully rounded—exactly like his own. Lin Fengzhi stared absentmindedly and walked straight into Yan Heqing’s back.
Even through his padded jacket, Lin Fengzhi felt his shoulder hit hard. He let out a muffled groan.
When he looked up, the restaurant was right there.
Yan Heqing stopped and turned around. “Are you okay?”
Lin Fengzhi’s face flushed slightly. He shook his head. “I’m fine.”
A server came out to greet them. “Hello, how many?”
“Two,” Yan Heqing replied.
“Alright, please follow me.”
There weren’t many people eating hot pot at this hour. The server led them to a four-person table.
After sitting down, Yan Heqing picked up the menu. “What soup base do you want?”
“Anything’s fine,” Lin Fengzhi said.
“How about a mushroom and tomato split pot?”
Lin Fengzhi actually wanted spicy red oil—hot pot wasn’t flavorful without it—but since he’d already said “anything,” he nodded awkwardly. “Okay.”
“What about dishes?”
“Anything’s fine.”
Yan Heqing didn’t ask further. He selected a few items and a jug of blueberry juice, then handed the menu to the server.
The food came quickly.
But it turned out to be a red soup and tomato split pot. Lin Fengzhi stopped the server. “This is wrong—”
“It’s not.” Yan Heqing picked up a baby cuttlefish and dropped it into the red soup. “I didn’t forget. You liked spicy soup when you were little.”
Lin Fengzhi’s chest jolted. He stared at the bubbling red soup, where the cuttlefish occasionally surfaced. He liked cuttlefish too.
So this was one of his childhood habits…
He felt deeply moved and tightened his grip on the chopsticks. “What do you like? I’ll put it in for you.”
“Beef.”
Lin Fengzhi placed a slice of beef into the tomato broth, then happily went back to fishing for cuttlefish.
Yan Heqing lifted his cup and took a small sip of barley tea. His lashes lowered, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
When Lin Fengzhi was little, he didn’t eat spicy food or cuttlefish at all.
They couldn’t handle spice.
“Yours is done too!” Lin Fengzhi picked up another slice of beef and placed it on Yan Heqing’s plate. “Here!”
Yan Heqing looked up, his lips lifting slightly. “Thank you.”
As Lin Fengzhi chewed on cuttlefish, he occasionally stole glances at Yan Heqing.
Yan Heqing was adding vegetables to the pot. “Is something wrong?”
Lin Fengzhi’s earlobes quietly turned a bit red. There wasn’t really anything major—he was just a little, just a tiny bit curious. “Do you still remember your… our biological parents?”
Yan Heqing set down his chopsticks. A faint smile surfaced in his eyes. “Our mother was named Yan Qiushuang. She was a gentle, graceful woman from Jiangnan—her voice soft and clear, sweet and flowing. She made excellent mint mung bean soup.”
“Our father’s surname was Dong. He seemed to be a university lecturer, teaching history… Our home had many history books…”
Lin Fengzhi listened, utterly absorbed, when his pocket suddenly started vibrating violently.
He took out his phone. It was Lu Muchi calling.
“I’m eating out,” Lin Fengzhi answered.
Lu Muchi chuckled. “A friend gave me a crate of king crab. I was about to bring it over to you. Since you’ve already eaten—”
“I’ll eat again tonight!” Lin Fengzhi smiled. “Once you’ve sent it out, don’t even think about taking it back!”
Yan Heqing heard the conversation and guessed who was on the other end.
He stood up. “I’m going to the restroom.”
Lin Fengzhi nodded. “Okay.”
Lu Muchi had heard Yan Heqing’s voice. His heart stirred. “Who are you eating with?”
Oh no! Lin Fengzhi’s eyes darted around. He answered vaguely, “Just… a friend.”
Lu Muchi didn’t pursue it. “Take your time eating. I’ve already told the driver to deliver the king crab to your place. If you like it, I’ll send more tomorrow.”
Lin Fengzhi beamed. “Okay, thanks!”
Lu Muchi hung up. Replaying Yan Heqing’s voice in his mind, his heart itched unbearably. He grabbed his coat and strode out of the office.
……
After the meal, Lin Fengzhi went to pay, but Yan Heqing stopped him.
“Treat me once you’re earning your own money.” Yan Heqing lightly patted the top of his head. “This one’s on me.”
He went to the counter to pay.
There was a faint scent of hand soap on Yan Heqing’s fingers, similar to the soapberry powder on his clothes. Lin Fengzhi stood dazed for a long moment before hurrying after him.
Outside the hot pot restaurant, Yan Heqing finally handed over the paper bag. “It’s still early. Want to come sit at my place?”
Lin Fengzhi opened the bag and saw the white porcelain on top. He relaxed and looked up. “I won’t go. I’ll walk you to the complex entrance. I drove here.”
Yan Heqing smiled. “No need to trouble yourself. I’m a bit full—walking back will help digest.”
“Alright then.” Lin Fengzhi waved cheerfully. “I’ll head off. Call me sometime!”
Yan Heqing nodded, watching Lin Fengzhi run off with the bag—full of youthful energy, disappearing into the distance like the wind.
After a while, Yan Heqing withdrew his gaze. Instead of going home, he set his phone to silent and went to a nearby bookstore to read.
……
At ten in the evening, the bookstore was closing. Yan Heqing took several books to the counter to pay.
Shopping bags cost one yuan each. He didn’t take one, hugging the books as he walked home at an unhurried pace.
Entering the residential complex and nearing his building, he saw two people confronting each other at the entrance from afar.
Yan Heqing stopped.
Under the dim light, the taller one was Lu Muchi.
The other—
Feng Zhixian.