Ten minutes later, Jiang Ling stepped out, clutching a loose bathrobe. He felt a bit self-conscious and nervous.
“Huh? Where did everyone go?”
Jiang Ling found the room empty. Just as he was about to put on his slippers to find someone, his phone rang. Huo Junnian’s voice came through the line.
“Ling, I have an urgent matter to handle and need to head out. Rest for a bit. If you need anything, you can contact Secretary Li.”
The smile on Jiang Ling’s face vanished instantly. “Oh.”
“I will be back later to take you out for dinner.”
Jiang Ling walked to the window and looked out at the towering skyscrapers. “Whatever works,” he said calmly.
“Alright then. If there is nothing else, I will hang up.”
The call ended quickly. Jiang Ling stared at his phone for a few seconds before tucking it away. He let out a light snort and turned to look at the large bed. Adhering to the principle that a good bed should not go to waste, he flopped directly onto it. He buried his face in the comforter and took a deep breath. There was no distinct scent. Perhaps Huo Junnian rarely rested here, so the lingering smell was very faint.
“Bastard, stood me up!”
With Huo Junnian gone, Jiang Ling found he could not sleep. He lay there, his fingertips tracing the soft sheets. He wondered how Huo Junnian lay on this bed. Did he sleep on his side or his back? Did he wear pajamas, or did he sleep naked?
Countless fantasies flooded his mind. He curled up, wrapping the blanket tightly around himself. Thinking about his little schemes, he suddenly wanted to laugh. Huo Junnian would never imagine that the youth he had watched grow up and viewed as a nephew harbored such covetous thoughts. It was a secret only he knew. He remembered hearing somewhere that two things cannot be hidden: a cough and love.
Here he was, right under Huo Junnian’s nose, risking discovery at any moment, using every excuse to get close and enjoy brief, tense moments of intimacy. It was like walking a tightrope high in the air, dangerous, but thrilling. He could not just sit and wait. Making Huo Junnian accept him before the man discovered the truth was a task as difficult as reaching the heavens. But Jiang Ling wanted to try. His most prominent virtue was his courage. He dared to think, and he dared to act. He was determined to win Huo Junnian over.
Thinking this, Jiang Ling immediately went into action. If he wanted Huo Junnian to notice him, he had to cater to the man’s tastes. He pulled out his phone, opened a search engine, and frowned as he typed “Tang Qin.”
Huo Junnian’s ex, no, ex-lover.
He had to study exactly what kind of person Huo Junnian liked. He quickly found a complete profile on Tang Qin: a member of the boy band SK, the group’s visual, birth date, height, weight. Jiang Ling had zero interest in his songs. He frowned and kept scrolling. The information was diverse: family members, pets, academic history. He graduated from Jinnan University with a major in dance and was skilled in painting and composing. To his fans, he was an innocent, well-behaved, and obedient “good baby.”
Calling a twenty-six-year-old adult man a “good baby”? Jiang Ling’s brow furrowed deeply. He exited the search page and took a moment to compose himself. He thought for a bit and decided he could not learn that style. Forget it; he would search for how to pursue a man instead.
Time passed quickly, and evening soon arrived. After lying in bed for a while, Jiang Ling changed back into his clothes and walked out of the office. He immediately ran into Secretary Li. Because of their interaction that morning, she had a good impression of this approachable young master. She greeted him warmly.
“Young Master Jiang, afternoon tea is ready downstairs. Why do you not see if there is anything you would like to eat?”
“The company benefits are this good?”
Secretary Li gave an awkward but polite smile. “Yes, they are quite good. You can head down and take a look.”
Jiang Ling went downstairs and saw the counter filled with pastries, fruit, snacks, and appetizers. His eyes lit up. He suddenly felt that Huo Junnian’s suggestion for a summer internship was not a bad idea.
Later that afternoon, Jiang Ling received a call. He went downstairs and saw the familiar car, but before he got in, he noticed something was off. A stranger was in the driver’s seat. While Jiang Ling was confused, the window rolled down, and Huo Junnian’s face appeared. He smiled and said, “What are you standing there for? Get in.”
Jiang Ling got into the car and looked at the tired-looking man beside him. He said nothing, watching him silently for a few seconds before looking away.
“The situation today was sudden. Uncle apologizes to you first. Ling, what do you want to eat tonight? Western food or?”
“I want to go home and eat,” Jiang Ling interrupted, turning to look at the man. “I have been tired all day and do not want to run around.”
Huo Junnian was stunned for a moment, but he quickly heard the hidden concern in the youth’s awkward tone. A faint smile touched his lips. He reached out and gently stroked the boy’s black hair. “Alright, we will do as Ling says. Let us go home and eat.”
Feeling the man’s gentle gaze and the light touch on his head, Jiang Ling looked away uncomfortably. He stared at the scenery outside, though the tips of his ears hidden in his hair turned red.
They returned shortly after. Huo Junnian went upstairs to shower, while Jiang Ling called his grandfather to let him know he was safe, mostly chatting about what he did that day.
“Ling is such a good boy. You must listen to your Uncle Huo. He is a good man, much better than that father of yours,” Old Master Bai said with a laugh. “If the age difference had not been so large, I would have tried to set him up with your mother back then.”
Jiang Ling nearly exploded upon hearing this. “Grandpa!” He quickly cut off his grandfather’s joke. “Do not make such jokes. It would be terrible if Uncle Huo heard you.”
“Grandpa is just talking.”
However, at that moment, Huo Junnian, who had just finished his shower, came downstairs and happened to overhear the conversation. He walked up behind Jiang Ling and said with a smile, “What are you saying about me? What would be so bad for me to hear?”
Jiang Ling was startled by the sudden voice. He instinctively said, “Nothing was said.”
From the phone Jiang Ling had not yet hung up, Old Master Bai’s hearty laughter rang out. “Is that Xiao Huo?”
“No, Grandpa, you heard wrong!” Jiang Ling covered the phone and said quickly, “I will call you back later.” He hung up immediately.
“What secret are you two talking about that you do not want me to know?”
The more Jiang Ling tried to hide it, the more curious Huo Junnian became. He took out his phone and said with a chuckle, “It does not matter. If you do not want to tell me, I will call your grandfather myself and ask.”
Jiang Ling instantly deflated. He said reluctantly, “Forget it, I will tell you. It is nothing scandalous. My grandfather was praising you!”
Huo Junnian was puzzled. “If he was praising me, why not say so?”
Jiang Ling rested his chin on his hand and looked down. “Grandpa said you are a good person. He said if you were a bit older back then, he would have introduced my mother to you.”
Huo Junnian burst into laughter. “Hahahaha! So that is what it was.”
Jiang Ling’s face turned red from the laughter. “Grandpa was joking. You like men.”
Huo Junnian’s laughter stopped, and he said somewhat seriously, “But honestly, if it were not for my sexual orientation, I might have given it a try.”
Jiang Ling’s eyes widened. He stared at the man in disbelief. “No way, you actually dared to think that?”
A flash of amusement crossed Huo Junnian’s eyes. He said softly, “Why not? Ling’s mother was a famous beauty and very gentle. Everyone likes beautiful things, and I am no exception. Actually, Ling looks a lot like your mother.”
His gaze fell on the youth’s surprised face. Jiang Ling was stunned; it seemed he had never heard anyone say such a thing before. He blinked and instinctively touched his face. “Is that true?” he asked softly. “Was she very gentle?”
Jiang Ling could no longer clearly remember her face. It felt like a very distant memory, with only a blurred image in his mind. His only impressions were a woman’s broken sobbing and her loud scolding.
“Stop crying! Why are you always crying?!” “Ling, you are a boy. You must learn to be strong, do not always cry.” “Why are all the other children so well-behaved and obedient, while you only bring me endless pain?”
As he pulled away from the memory, Jiang Ling’s face turned pale. His head throbbed. He seemed to have forgotten many things. He could not reconcile the blurry, hysterical woman in his memories with the gentle, beautiful woman Huo Junnian described.
Huo Junnian noticed something was wrong. The youth kept his head down, his long eyelashes trembling, making it impossible to see his eyes. His lips, previously flushed, turned pale and were pressed together weakly. Huo Junnian’s smile vanished. He frowned and asked immediately, “Ling, what is wrong?”
As Huo Junnian leaned closer, the youth suddenly moved. In the next second, a weight settled on the man’s shoulder. Cool strands of hair brushed against the skin of his neck, causing a slight itch. He did not dare move, letting the boy bury his head on his shoulder.
“Ling, are you feeling unwell?” Huo Junnian asked with concern.
After a few seconds of silence, a muffled voice came from his shoulder. “Huo Junnian, my head hurts so much.”
Huo Junnian’s brow furrowed tightly. He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gently touching the boy’s cool hair. “Where does it hurt? Can you tell me?”
Jiang Ling took the hand stroking his head and placed it at the back of his skull. He said softly, “Right here. It feels like a needle. Can you tell me more about her? I feel like I have forgotten many things. I do not think I remember what she looked like anymore.”
Huo Junnian massaged the area gently with his fingertips. He understood the cause of Jiang Ling’s headache and massaged him in silence. After a long while, he said gently, “Before she got sick, your mother was a very gentle person. She loved you very much, Ling. No mother does not love her child; she was just ill. Your eyes and the bridge of your nose look just like hers. They are very beautiful.”
Under the man’s steady massage, the headache seemed to ease. Hearing that gentle voice, Jiang Ling felt as though he were being pulled into a dream. In this dream, the blurry woman gradually gained features. Those eyes were familiar, very familiar. The woman held him gently in her arms, humming a beautiful lullaby.
For a moment, the woman’s humming seemed to overlap with the gentle voice in his ear, making his consciousness drift. Jiang Ling instinctively tightened his arms, hugging the man closer. The man had just showered, and his body heat was higher than usual. It felt like holding a warm little furnace, making his heart feel hot. He suddenly thought that perhaps his mother’s embrace when he was a child felt just as warm as this.
Huo Junnian felt the youth’s grip tighten. He did not stop him; instead, he indulgentiy stroked the boy’s back, providing silent comfort. He had experienced a childhood similar to Jiang Ling’s, perhaps even worse. That was why he always showed extra favoritism toward Jiang Ling, both when he was a child and now. As long as the youth did not violate any fundamental principles, he would turn a blind eye to most things.
Once Huo Junnian observed that Jiang Ling’s mood had improved, he said, “Ling, come with me.” He took the boy’s hand and led him upstairs. “I want to take you somewhere.”
Jiang Ling looked at his captured hand and followed obediently. He did not know where Huo Junnian was taking him. At this moment, he only wanted to follow him anywhere. Soon, Jiang Ling was brought to a room in the attic. When the light was turned on, he saw that it looked like a study filled with books. He watched as the man searched the shelves and soon pulled out a yellowed book. Huo Junnian handed it over.
Jiang Ling took the book and stared blankly at the faded cover.
“This is a book your mother gave me years ago when I visited your grandfather with my family. There is a photo of her inside; she must have left it there by accident. When I found it, I intended to return it, but things did not go as planned. Many things happened that made me forget about it. When I remembered, years had passed, and this book was buried on the shelf. Since you are here, I am returning it to you.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ling’s fingertips trembled as they touched the book. He carefully opened the flyleaf, his fingers gently stroking the yellowed paper, but he suddenly stopped. Under Huo Junnian’s gaze, he closed the book and handed it back.
“I will look at it later.”
Jiang Ling did not know why, but he was suddenly afraid. Huo Junnian said nothing. He silently took the book and placed it on the nearby desk. Then, he took Jiang Ling’s hand and placed a key in his palm.
“This is the key to the attic. There are many books here. Whenever you have time, you can come up and read.”
Looking at the key in his palm, Jiang Ling felt a strange swelling in his heart. He understood what Huo Junnian meant.
“Are you hungry? It is getting late, let us head downstairs for dinner.”
Jiang Ling withdrew his hand, clutching the key tightly. He nodded. “I am hungry.”
“I specifically asked Auntie Zhang to make several dishes you like. You must try them later.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Ling followed behind Huo Junnian as they walked downstairs. He watched the shifting light and shadow move across the man’s body with every step, and his eyes darkened. He realized Huo Junnian possessed a special magic that could always make his heart beat faster and faster uncontrollably.
After they finished dinner in a quiet silence, Jiang Ling returned to his room. He closed the door, opened his palm, and stared blankly at the key he had been clutching. If he continued like this, he would not be able to hide his feelings even if Huo Junnian did not notice. After a long while, Jiang Ling curled his lips, a dark glint in his eyes. He was looking forward to that day. He really wanted to see what kind of expression his dear Uncle would make.
After a night of light rain, the sky the next day was very clean. Perhaps because of the rain, Jiang Ling had slept very soundly. The slight curl of his lips suggested he was having a beautiful dream. Huo Junnian woke up early. He gently pushed the door open and smiled at the sight. He did not disturb the boy’s dream, carefully closing the door and instructing the housekeeper not to disturb him. He made sure breakfast was prepared so Jiang Ling could have a hot meal whenever he woke up.
“Mr. Huo, rest assured, we will take good care of Young Master Jiang.”
Huo Junnian had originally thought about letting Jiang Ling pick any car from his garage if he wanted to go out, but then he remembered Jiang Ling did not have a driver’s license. “If Ling wants to go out after he wakes up, have him call the driver.”
“Of course, Mr. Huo.”
After giving his instructions, Huo Junnian took his car keys and left.
Jiang Ling was woken up by the sound of birds outside the window. He opened his eyes, saw the daylight, and bolted upright. Oh no, I am going to be late for work!
Wait. Jiang Ling suddenly realized school had not even started yet. What work? Had working at Huo Junnian’s company for one day made him lose his mind? Jiang Ling rubbed his face. When he looked at the key on the pillow, he froze for a few seconds. Then he put the key in his pocket and went to wash up before heading down for breakfast.
He went downstairs and looked around, but as expected, Huo Junnian was nowhere to be found. Auntie Zhang saw him and asked immediately, “Young Master Jiang, would you like to eat now?”
Jiang Ling had not been a “young master” for half a year and felt a bit uncomfortable with the title. He felt like an ordinary person. He smiled and said, “Auntie Zhang, please do not call me that. It is too formal. I will likely be staying here often, so just call me Ling.”
Auntie Zhang had worked for the Huo family for a long time and rarely saw Huo Junnian bring anyone home. The house was usually very quiet. She especially liked Jiang Ling because he always ate every bit of the food she prepared. Auntie Zhang looked at him with motherly eyes. “Ling, I made beef pies. I do not know if you like them.”
“Beef pies? I was wondering why it smelled so good.”
“I bought the beef early this morning; it is the freshest and most tender part.”
Jiang Ling smelled more than just beef. He smelled something else sweet and looked at her with bright eyes. “Auntie Zhang, what else did you make? I smell something sweet.”
Auntie Zhang laughed. “Nothing gets past your nose. The fermented sweet rice I started a while ago is ready. I was going to make sweet rice soup with egg.”
“It smells so fragrant.”
“Would you like to try some?”
Hearing the scent from the kitchen, Jiang Ling nodded vigorously. He followed her into the kitchen; it was his first time seeing homemade fermented rice. Auntie Zhang scooped a bowl of pure fermented rice and handed it over. “The flavor is just right, neither too sweet nor too sour. It is better than what you buy outside.”
Jiang Ling leaned down to smell the bowl. It had a rich, fermented aroma, but it was sweet. He took a large gulp, and his eyes lit up. He realized Auntie Zhang was not exaggerating. It was smooth, mellow, and did not seem very strong. Without realizing it, Jiang Ling finished the whole bowl.
Seeing this, Auntie Zhang scooped another bowl. “If you like it, have more. I made a lot. You can have some whenever you want. Mr. Huo usually eats very little, and now that I am older, my appetite is not what it used to be. A lot of things would just go to waste.”
So, before even having breakfast, Jiang Ling knocked back two bowls of fermented rice, followed by a bowl of sweet rice soup with egg and three beef pies. After eating, he lay on the sofa, planning to play games while his food digested. He did not expect the two bowls of fermented rice to have such a strong kick. Not long after opening his game, his vision started to blur. Before long, he fell asleep on the sofa.
On the other side, Huo Junnian finished his work in the morning and, seeing no other important matters in the afternoon, ended his shift early. Instead of heading straight back, he drove to a famous trendy drink shop. After buying some things, he drove home. On the way back, he called Jiang Ling several times, but the calls went unanswered. He frowned slightly.
When Huo Junnian arrived home and saw the youth passed out on the sofa, he was stunned. He looked at Auntie Zhang and asked, “What happened to him?”
Auntie Zhang had not expected the boy’s alcohol tolerance to be so low. “He must be drunk.”
Huo Junnian’s brow furrowed. “Drunk?”
Auntie Zhang said apologetically, “He drank two bowls of my fermented rice and then fell asleep.”
“…”
Huo Junnian leaned down toward the sleeping youth and indeed smelled a faint scent of alcohol. He saw that although Jiang Ling was asleep, he was still clutching his phone with the game screen open. He could not help but find it a bit funny. He reached out and pinched Jiang Ling’s flushed cheek. “Ling, wake up. This is not a good place to sleep.”
Jiang Ling was in a deep slumber. He frowned at the disturbance and turned his head away irritably without waking up. Huo Junnian stopped trying to wake him forcefully. He asked Auntie Zhang to bring a clean blanket and gently covered the boy. Then, he helped pull the phone from the boy’s grip. He looked at the screen, which was still on the game. Just as he was about to exit the game, his fingertip accidentally touched another part of the screen, and a new page popped up.
Just as Huo Junnian was about to close it, his gaze fell on the search terms on the page, and he froze.
“Tang Qin” “Tang Qin’s favorite outfits”
In addition to a series of searches about Tang Qin, there were:
“Five tips on how to pursue a man who does not like you?” “What are the ten tactics no man can resist?”