After work, Xiao Zhan went to his parents' house for dinner, using the opportunity to reassure them that he would take care of the debt with Yunshen Credit.
Of course, his parents weren't reassured. They kept pressing for details, and eventually, Xiao Zhan gave in and confessed everything.
He told them: Wang Yibo had returned from abroad and was now the owner of Yunshen Credit. Xiao Zhan had met with him and agreed to resign from the bank and join Yunshen Credit. The revenue from his work there would go toward repaying the debt. It was a concession from Wang Yibo, a former acquaintance.
The name "Wang Yibo" was no stranger to Xiao Zhan's parents.
Years ago, that very name had sparked many arguments between them and Xiao Zhan.
What no one had expected was that, years later, those three characters would once again return to their lives.
The more Xiao Zhan's mother listened, the darker her expression became—clearly displeased.
"What kind of concession is that? You're quitting such a good bank job to go work for him? Who knows if he's just trying to take revenge? And that place doesn't even sound like a legitimate company."
Dinner had already been served. Xiao Zhan ladled soup into bowls for both of his parents.
"You already said it's not a legitimate company. We're lucky he's not shipping us off to Vietnam to be sold. Mom, do we even have a choice? When it comes to loan sharks, whatever he says goes."
Xiao Zhan's father was silent, face tense, but his mother was visibly upset.
"Son, don't take this the wrong way, but what do you mean you don't have a choice? What, the Jiang family isn't willing to help or something?"
Xiao Zhan took a deep, deep breath. "Mom, I didn't tell Jiang Cheng about this. It's got nothing to do with him or the Jiang family."
His mother, mid-bite, put down her chopsticks as soon as she heard that.
"How is it nothing to do with them? You're our only son, and you're going to spend your whole life with Jiang Cheng now. You know this path isn't going to be easy, right? He pursued you—so that means he owes our family. His family's business is thriving. We're in trouble; what's the harm in asking for help? Or is it that you're just too scared to tell Jiang Cheng?"
Xiao Zhan took another deep, steadying breath.
"What are you implying, Mom? Why would I be scared to tell him?"
His mother, whether genuinely worried or not, looked deeply concerned.
"A mother knows, Zhan. You can't handle him—you're terrified of Jiang Cheng. His parents have so much money, but you don't get to touch a single cent, and you act like that's totally normal. Take this situation for example—don't tell me you didn't consider telling him. I think you did consider it, but in the end, you chickened out—"
Xiao Zhan's father suddenly slammed his chopsticks down.
"That's enough! This is getting out of hand. Anyone listening in would think we're selling our daughter!"
Xiao Zhan's mother slammed her chopsticks too. "What do you mean 'selling our daughter'? I'm just afraid Zhan's going to suffer in this relationship!"
His father raised his voice.
"Do you even hear yourself? Do you think of Zhan as a boy at all? He graduated from a top university with a degree in finance, has a solid job, and is a perfectly good young man! One day, he'll come to his senses, find a nice girl, settle down, and have a family!"
His mother actually laughed in disbelief.
"And how much longer are you planning to keep living in denial? Your son's not going to 'come to his senses.' He came out in college for that Wang Yibo boy! It's been years—has he shown any signs of going back? And now, as if one wasn't enough, Wang Yibo's come back to stir things up too!"
As expected, the night ended in yet another never-ending family argument.
Xiao Zhan kept his head down the entire time, silent. He slowly, quietly finished his bowl of rice, barely touching the rest of the food.
When he left his parents' house, the sun was just setting.
He had made plans to meet Jiang Cheng after work to head home together. On the way, passing a small convenience store, Xiao Zhan stopped in front and stared at the fridge stocked with cold beer.
At that moment, a wave of deep, soul-level exhaustion washed over him.
He bought the beer and a small piece of bread. Mocking himself for being foolish, he walked to the riverside park near the company and sat on a bench.
A tree shaded the bench, its leaves glowing reddish in the twilight breeze. It was summer, and the scenery was lovely.
In the distance, the water glittered gold under the sunset.
Xiao Zhan opened the beer and drank it sip by sip. With his free hand, he crushed the bread and scattered the crumbs on the ground. Soon, a flock of white pigeons fluttered down nearby, wings rustling as they pecked at the crumbs.
Xiao Zhan ignored them, silent. But his hand didn't stop scattering crumbs. He had already drunk more than half his beer, and it was nearly gone. The quick drinking made him dizzy, his face flushed red.
Drinking made his heart beat faster, made his body warm. It made his chest feel a little less cold.
He leaned back in the soft golden glow of dusk, thinking of what his parents had said.
...You can't handle him—you're terrified of Jiang Cheng. His parents have so much money, and you don't get to touch a cent, but you act like it's normal. Just like this situation—I think you considered telling Jiang Cheng but backed out because you were afraid.
...He graduated from a top university with a degree in finance, has a solid job, and is a perfectly good young man! One day, he'll come to his senses, find a nice girl, and settle down!
...He's not going to come to his senses. He came out in college for Wang Yibo! It's been years—has he changed at all? And now Wang Yibo's back too!
How many years had it been? Must be five, at least.
So, it had already been that long since he came out for Wang Yibo.
He'd never really stopped to reflect or look back. So, when his mother said that, and he did look back, he realized just how far they'd all come down a road with no turning back.
Had he changed?
It seemed not. The Xiao Zhan from five years ago and the one sitting here now were exactly the same.
But wasn't everyone racing against time? While others surged forward with all they had, he remained unchanged.
Xiao Zhan finished the beer, his head spinning, the corners of his eyes-tinged red. He looked at the carefree pigeons still pecking away, wanting to laugh at them but feeling too drained.
He shook the empty bottle, slowly crushing it in his hand—when someone tapped his shoulder.
Xiao Zhan squinted into the sun and turned to see Jiang Cheng smiling at him.
"We said we'd go home together, didn't we? And here you are, hiding out and drinking alone?"
Xiao Zhan's eyes sparkled. "The horoscope said my luck's been bad lately. Drinking beer in the park is supposed to turn things around."
Jiang Cheng pulled him up. "Right, sure. You've attracted a whole flock of pigeons! Isn't this gross? Lucky, I found you—if you'd passed out drunk, you could've ended up sleeping here. It's not safe in public like this. Come on, let's go home!"
Xiao Zhan grumbled, "If I go home, I have to cook."
Jiang Cheng slung an arm around him. "I'll cook. I'll do it today, alright? Let's go!"
Their shadows stretched long and slightly wobbly in the fading sunlight.
...The pigeons circled, unable to find more bread, and with a few flaps and scattered white feathers, they flew off.
Wang Yibo stood across the river, watching their figures disappear.
The sunset bathed half his face, casting beautiful shadows on his pale skin. He slowly turned his eyes to the now-empty bench where Xiao Zhan had sat. His expression was neither the confident mischief he'd shown when facing Xiao Zhan after returning to China, nor the giddy amusement he'd barely held in when Xiao Zhan called him earlier.
He curled his lips into a small smile, as if mocking the empty bench—or perhaps mocking himself.