Chapter 20 #2
Chen Hong had been on a trip like this before.
His rich boyfriend once took him on a cruise, where Chen Hong was just one of the many escorts they brought along, so he had a rough idea of how much it would cost. He replied, Nah, not that much.
These peeps only booked 2 floors. If they were seriously rich theyd book the entire ship.
That made sense to Chang Jinxing, who followed up by asking Chen Hong what he was doing. The answer: weeding the backyard of his childhood home back in his hometown.
Where u getting off? Chen Hong asked.
Lion Sands, Chang Jinxing replied. Getting off tmrw. Gonna take the train back to Jiangdong City. U?
Wanna come to my house? Just get off at Lanqiu County. We can head back to Jiangdong 2gether.
Chang Jinxing hadn’t expected Chen Hong to invite him to his hometown. He couldn’t be interested in Chang Jinxing, could he? From their usual interactions, it didn’t seem like it. Chen Hong behaved just like any other roommate. He wasn’t even as close to Chang Jinxing as he was to Zhang Yuwen.
It was on the way, though, so Chang Jinxing was fine with paying him a visit.
The next day, he sent several photos in a zip file to the email listed on Kong Yu’s personal website, then packed up his stuff and disembarked.
The domestic servant handed him an envelope containing his payment, plus a little extra as a tip, but they’d also deducted the cost of the five cups of coffee he had on board, each at precisely ￥60, and the three pieces of clothing he had laundered using room service, ￥160 apiece.
It almost drove Chang Jinxing mad with anger.
He had made a tidy sum of money, but he could tell from their attitude that they weren’t satisfied with him.
Chang Jinxing didn’t like having his self-esteem trampled on, and he swore never to take a cruise job again.
He disembarked with a group of tourists to a dock full of waiting cars, where he sorted out the few pieces of luggage he had and bought a train ticket. The din inside the train and the homely, vibrant winter scenery outside quickly brought him back to reality. He was back in his own world.
When Chang Jinxing arrived at Lanqiu, Chen Hong was waiting on the train platform with two motorcycle helmets. The sight of Chang Jinxing’s exhausted face startled him. “Wow, how long did they spend milking you?”
Laughing, Chang Jinxing gave him a playful punch. He took the helmet and rode pillion on Chen Hong’s motorcycle through the cold wind to his house.
Chen Hong’s family lived in the urban district, where they ran a printing shop that also offered simple advertising design services, helping nearby businesses make flyers.
Occasionally, they produced blueprints for a few partner organizations.
The shop faced the street, and the back side of the building served as their living quarters.
The house was saturated with the smell of ink.
Chen Hong’s parents were delighted to see that Chen Hong had a friend over. They were an older couple, already in their sixties, but they still worked hard in the shop every day. Chen Hong dropped off Chang Jinxing, then went to buy some ready-made food to prepare for the meal.
“I can do the cooking,” Chang Jinxing offered.
“No, no, no.” Chen Hong tied an apron around his waist. “You’re a guest! We can’t let you cook!”
Chang Jinxing was planted in the guest seat.
The whole family treated him warmly. Chen Hong had a twenty-six-year-old younger sister who had been helping out in the shop since she graduated.
Curious about Chang Jinxing, she peppered him with questions about everything from how he met Chen Hong to what he did for a living and whether he was a member of Chen Hong’s gym.
Chen Hong coughed and shot Chang Jinxing a warning glance, reminding him not to out him or get any ideas about his sister.
Chang Jinxing understood him, of course.
In truth, he was dead tired, and all he could think of was sleep.
When night came, Chen Hong laid out the bedding so Chang Jinxing could sleep in his room.
They shared a bed surrounded by stacks of papers of varying sizes, Chen Hong’s dumbbells, yoga mats, and so on.
“Why are there so few people in Lanqiu?” Chang Jinxing asked.
“They all went to work in the big cities. A lot of the young people have left. There are lots of old folks left behind, and the local economy can’t develop.
” Chen Hong sighed. He’d once harbored a lofty goal of going to Jiangdong to make a name for himself and returning home in glory, but that plan kept getting pushed back.
At this point it felt like a distant dream.
Absently, he added, “I was the one who told my sister to stay here. She’s idolized me since she was little. I don’t want her to go out and work.”
The printing shop was currently doing well enough to be self-sufficient. Chen Hong hoped his sister could marry and have children in their hometown instead of leaving to suffer the hardships of big city life. Here, she could take care of their parents for him, too.
“That’s nice,” said Chang Jinxing.
“What about you?” Then, noticing Chang Jinxing curling up like a worm, he asked, “Are you cold?”
“Not too cold.” Chang Jinxing’s eyelids were heavy with sleep. “Your room’s a little damp.”
Chen Hong turned up the temperature on the electric heater. “I haven’t been back in a long time. Hey, do me a favor tomorrow. A friend of mine is holding a funeral at his house. Help me take a few photos, will you?”
I knew it, Chang Jinxing thought. Of course you invited me over because you wanted me to help you.
“Are there any superstitions where you come from?” Chen Hong asked. “About attending funerals?”
“Okay… Sure… Nope…” Chang Jinxing was so sleepy he was almost out of it. “We’ll go tomorrow…”
Chen Hong’s room was damp and cold, but Chang Jinxing slept much more comfortably than he had on the cruise ship.
It was nearly nine o’clock the next morning when Chang Jinxing yawned and got up, feeling rejuvenated after a dreamless sleep. Chen Hong’s sister was cleaning up in the living room. “Xing, you’re up,” she said when she saw him.
Chang Jinxing was the same age as her. He wasn’t used to being addressed that way, but he just smiled. “Where’s your brother? He asked me to help with taking photos today. I think he said it’s for a funeral at a friend’s house?”
“My brother and parents left early to go help out.” Chen Hong’s sister was very curious about Chang Jinxing. Chen Hong rarely brought his friends from Jiangdong back home. “I’ll get you some breakfast. We’ll go over around eleven. No rush.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
“I haven’t had breakfast yet either, so…”
“I’ll cook,” Chang Jinxing said spontaneously. He entered the kitchen. “Noodles okay for you?”
He opened the fridge, took out the eggs, and began beating them with practiced ease.
Just then, Chen Hong returned on his electric motorcycle.
“Didn’t I tell you to go out and buy something outside?
” he said to his sister. “How can you let a guest cook?” Then he turned to Chang Jinxing.
“What are you making? Give me a bowl too. I’m hungry. ”
“I don’t have black clothes,” Chang Jinxing told him.
Chen Hong put down his chopsticks. “I have an extra set that I used to wear.”
Chang Jinxing changed into one of Chen Hong’s black suits. To his surprise, it fit him well. “This definitely isn’t yours,” Chang Jinxing said, chuckling.
Chen Hong made a hushing gesture, reminding Chang Jinxing that his sister was still outside. Chang Jinxing went back to admiring the dashing figure in the mirror.
Chen Hong looked at him silently for a moment, then tied Chang Jinxing’s tie for him with rough, quick movements, as if he had pent-up frustration to get out and Chang Jinxing was a punching bag.
“Choking… You’re choking me… Hong-ge…” Chang Jinxing nearly suffocated.
“Done,” Chen Hong said. He had such a deep voice. “Very handsome.” Then he patted Chang Jinxing on the face and turned to leave. But Chang Jinxing touched his shoulder, prompting him to turn around, and when he did, Chang Jinxing cupped his cheek with one hand and moved in to kiss him.
Chen Hong made an indignant noise. “Stop fooling around!” he hissed, grabbing hold of Chang Jinxing’s hand.
Chang Jinxing had done it out of mischief. He figured the suit must have belonged to Chen Hong’s ex and that, through Chang Jinxing, Chen Hong was seeing his former boyfriend. He was more than happy to kiss Chen Hong so that he could relive a love once lost.
After the siblings finished Chang Jinxing’s noodles, Chen Hong drove Chang Jinxing through town to the other family’s home. He made his sister ride her bicycle.
“About that ex of yours,” Chang Jinxing said. “How long were you with him? You’ve got good taste. How did you find such a handsome guy?”
“A month,” Chen Hong replied calmly. “He’s a far cry from you, but he’s rich and dresses well.”
Chang Jinxing wrapped his arms around Chen Hong’s waist. They were both in suits and motorcycle helmets. Chen Hong accelerated and sped along the country road. “No need to be so modest…”
“I’m serious.” Chen Hong turned his head slightly. “He’s not as handsome as you or even Yuwen. No, he’s leagues away from you guys. I don’t know why I liked him.”
Chang Jinxing didn’t ask Chen Hong if he still liked him. His attitude toward the black suit said it all: He couldn’t put his ex behind him.
The towns in Lanqiu County were underdeveloped: There was only one bus, which was now crowded with people coming to pay their respects to the deceased.
The streets were full of funeral wreaths, and everyone seemed to know each other, exchanging greetings when they crossed paths and addressing each other by name.