Although Xangi Xi still felt a little uneasy, he wasn't distressed anymore. Compared with the uncertainty he used to feel, this new uneasiness came with hope and a quiet excitement. Whether or not finding his parents was possible, one thing was certain—he was finally about to become someone with an ID card.

He took out the fake ID card he'd had made for three hundred yuan and looked at it carefully for a while before cutting it into pieces with a pair of scissors and throwing it into the trash.

In truth, he'd only ever used the fake ID a handful of times. There hadn't been much occasion for it. Back when he'd gotten it made, it had mostly been for fun—he'd just wanted to see what it would feel like to have an ID card of his own.

The photo wasn't very good, either. He looked impatient, as though he were about to jump out of the picture and punch someone.

If he took a new photo now, it probably wouldn't turn out like that anymore. He had Cheng Boyan take a few front-facing headshots of him at home with the camera. Looking through them, he thought they came out pretty well.

“My photography skills are nothing special,” Cheng Boyan said, looking at the pictures. “But you're still pretty handsome. You look like someone who sleeps in the same bed as me.”

Once the forms were filled out, everything else became much simpler. Officer Chen looked over the completed paperwork and the supporting documents Xangi Xi had brought and said there were no problems. After entering everything into the computer, he gave him a receipt.

“All you have to do now is wait for the final notification,” Officer Chen said. “I've already contacted the identification centre. You'll come with me today to give a blood sample. The DNA comparison will still take around ten days, so you'll have to wait a little longer.”

“That's fine. I can wait,” Xangi Xi said, touching the mole at the corner of his eye. He couldn't exactly say he'd been waiting for more than ten years, but ever since Mantou had talked about wanting to go home, he'd secretly begun nurturing a vague longing for a home of his own. He'd simply never mentioned it to anyone.

While waiting to have his blood drawn, he noticed a middle-aged couple who had also been brought in by the police to provide DNA samples. Their daughter had gone missing, and despite years of searching, they'd never found her. They had come to try their luck.

Looking at their exhausted faces and the hollow eyes that no longer even had tears left when they spoke of their abducted daughter, Xangi Xi felt a pang of sympathy.

Was I abducted too?

Were my parents ever this desperate? Do they still think about me now?

After standing there in a daze for a while, he let out a quiet sigh.

Maybe he hadn't been abducted after all.

The neighbours had all said Uncle Ping had brought him home after finding him. Although that was only because Uncle Ping himself had said so...

If he really had been found abandoned, then perhaps he'd simply been a child someone had thrown away, left with a valuable jade pendant in the hope that whoever found him would treat him kindly for the pendant's sake.

If that were true...

...then there probably wouldn't be any DNA match.

The waiting took a while, but the blood draw itself was quick and simple. The only frustrating part came when he had to sign his name. Bent over the desk, he painstakingly wrote each stroke, taking forever just to finish it.

“The handwriting on the forms you submitted wasn't yours, was it?” Officer Chen asked with a smile as he looked at the signature.

“No,” Xangi Xi admitted sheepishly, scratching his head. “I had my friend fill them out for me. I was worried my handwriting was so bad you wouldn't be able to read it.”

“You should practice your handwriting when you have time,” Officer Chen said. “Alright, you're all set. We'll notify you once the DNA comparison results come back.”

As they walked out together, Xangi Xi lowered his voice. “Officer Chen... if my parents... abandoned me... then there won't be a match, right?”

“That's right,” Officer Chen replied. “Though there are exceptions. We've seen cases where parents later regretted it and tried to find their child again.” He patted Xangi Xi on the shoulder. “Don't let this weigh too heavily on you. Whether you find your parents or not, aren't you doing pretty well now? You're a handsome young man. You have friends. You have your own life. Finding your family would be wonderful, but even if you don't, you still have to live your life well, alright?”

“Mm.” Xangi Xi nodded and smiled at him.

After finishing everything, Xangi Xi headed to the hospital. First, he wanted to update Cheng Boyan on the progress. Second, he wanted to see him. Third, he wanted to get the splint on his arm removed.

He didn't call Cheng Boyan beforehand. He wanted to surprise him. He registered like any other patient and sat outside the consultation room to wait.

Nearly an hour later, just as he was beginning to worry that he might not get assigned to Cheng Boyan's clinic after all, he saw his name called.

Perfect!

He jumped to his feet happily and walked into Cheng Boyan's office.

Cheng Boyan was standing with his back to the door by the water dispenser, apparently taking advantage of a brief break to drink some water. Xangi Xi plopped down in the chair and waited until Cheng Boyan had tilted his head back and emptied the whole cup before speaking. “Dr. Cheng, I'm here for my follow-up.”

Cheng Boyan visibly froze and whipped around. “How come you're here?”

“I'm here for a follow-up,” Xangi Xi said, placing his medical file and registration slip on the desk. “You told me to come if I had time these next couple of days. And I didn't sneak in through the back door—I registered properly.”

“How did everything go this morning?” Cheng Boyan asked as he sat back down and began filling out the examination request. “Did you get all the documents?”

“Yep. They also took a blood sample,” Xangi Xi said with a grin. “Now all I have to do is wait—for the DNA comparison results and for the notice about my ID card.”

“That was fast,” Cheng Boyan said, glancing at him with a smile. “So, how do you feel now?”

“Like I want this splint off as soon as possible so I can enjoy having two working arms again.”

“Go get an X-ray first so I can see how the bone's healing.” Cheng Boyan handed him the request form. “Did you bring money?”

“I did. A rich guy never leaves home without cash,” Xangi Xi said, patting his pocket. “I've got a whole heavy bag of it.”

“Go get the X-ray.” Cheng Boyan laughed.

The X-ray wouldn't be ready for another forty minutes. Since it was almost lunchtime, he wouldn't be able to collect it until the afternoon.

Xangi Xi simply sat outside the consultation room waiting for Cheng Boyan's lunch break, watching him the whole time.

In theory, there wasn't much to look at. He saw Cheng Boyan every day. He knew the shape of his eyebrows, even that the eyelashes near the inner corner of his left eye included one especially long lash...

And yet he still wanted to keep looking.

After Cheng Boyan finished seeing the last patient of the lunchtime shift, he stepped out of the consultation room and beckoned to him.

Xangi Xi immediately sprang to his feet. The two of them hurried down the corridor and slipped out through the back entrance to grab something to eat.

“Let's just buy a few steamed buns and call it lunch,” Cheng Boyan said.

“You're in a hurry again?” Xangi Xi sighed.

“No.” Cheng Boyan pulled a small box from his pocket. “We're going to have the cord replaced. Aren't you showing off your wealth tomorrow? We should get it ready today.”

Xangi Xi laughed. “Don't you think we're being kind of silly?”

“I caught it from you,” Cheng Boyan replied. “Can't help it.”

He led Xangi Xi into a small jewelry shop across the street from the hospital. “I saw they sell those little jade beads here. They should also be able to restring jade pendants.”

The young woman in the shop was idle and said she could do it. “Twenty yuan.”

“Twenty yuan for one string?” Xangi Xi exclaimed. “I could buy a whole coil of hemp rope for that!”

“One string doesn't cost twenty yuan,” the young woman said coolly, pulling a length of red cord from the rack and dropping it in front of him. “If all you want is the cord, you can have it for free. Go ahead.”

“Can you tie this kind of knot?” Cheng Boyan asked, pointing to several finished necklaces hanging nearby with decorative knots and clasps.

“Sure. They're all tied like that.” She looked at him. “Is it a jade pendant?”

“Yes. This one.” Cheng Boyan opened the little box and took out the pendant.

“Oh my...” The young woman sighed the moment she picked it up. Holding it up to the light, she examined it carefully. “This is a really fine piece. The translucency and the carving... If you bought this, it'd cost close to a hundred thousand yuan.”

Xangi Xi froze beside her.

It's worth that much?

Hanging a hundred thousand yuan around my neck on a short cord... and calling it showing off? Can I even dare walk outside wearing this?

“Hurry up,” Cheng Boyan said with a smile. “We're short on time.”

“It'll only take a minute.” The young woman quickly threaded the cord and tied the knot. “Honestly, with jade this good, you're worried about twenty yuan? People usually set something like this in gold and wear it on a chain. Who puts it on a cord?”

She finished quickly, tying an adjustable sliding knot so the length could be changed.

As she handed it back, she added, “Be careful wearing it every day. If the cord starts fraying, remember to replace it.”

“Thanks.” Cheng Boyan put the pendant back into its box.

Once they left the jewelry shop, Xangi Xi lowered his voice. “It's really worth that much?”

“I don't know the exact price,” Cheng Boyan whispered back. “But it's definitely high-quality jade. Why? Too scared to speak at a normal volume now?”

“I don't dare,” Xangi Xi whispered even more quietly. “What if someone overhears and comes to rob us?”

“Oh no, that's terrifying,” Cheng Boyan replied in the same exaggerated whisper. “I'm so scared. I don't dare carry it anymore. You hold it yourself.”

“Are you nuts?” Xangi Xi burst out laughing at his tone.

“You take it yourself. I don't even dare go eat steamed buns anymore,” Cheng Boyan said, still lowering his voice. “What if the owner slips something into our food and steals the treasure from us...”

“Are you ever going to stop?” Xiang Xi laughed.

“Come on, I've been exhausted all morning. Let me relax a little,” Cheng Boyan said, stretching lazily. “If you've got nothing to do this afternoon, stay with me. Just looking at you makes me feel better.”

“No problem.” Xiang Xi chuckled.

After finishing their buns, they returned to the hospital. Cheng Boyan went to the restroom, and by the time he got back to his consultation room, quite a few patients were already waiting outside. Xiang Xi watched as, before Cheng Boyan had even properly sat down, a patient had already followed him inside.

As soon as Cheng Boyan looked up at the patient, his face had already switched back to its usual gentle smile. Xiang Xi couldn't help admiring him—after working all morning, he could still smile, still be in the mood to joke around.

If this job didn't keep him in check, who knows what kind of lunatic he'd be all day...

Xiang Xi sat outside for another hour before going to Radiology to collect his X-rays. He studied them as he walked back. Now that he could recognize most characters, the medical terminology was still difficult, but after reading it all the way through, he'd more or less figured out the meaning: his bones were healing beautifully, and the rest was up to the doctor.

As soon as the previous patient came out, Xiang Xi hurried into the consultation room. “Dr. Cheng, my X-rays are back. Take a look.”

Smiling, Cheng Boyan held the films up to the light for a couple of seconds. “Mm, they've healed nicely. We can remove the splint now. But avoid anything too strenuous for a while.”

“Oh.” Xiang Xi instantly relaxed, swinging his arm a little. “So I'm free now?”

“Mm, you're free,” Cheng Boyan said as he wrote in the medical record. “Go fly away.”

Without the splint, Xiang Xi genuinely felt like he could fly. Sitting outside on the bench, he moved his watch back to his left wrist and kept lifting his arm every few moments, enjoying the freedom.

But that exhilarating feeling wasn't just because the splint was gone.

After spending another hour watching Cheng Boyan work, he gestured that he was going to wander around elsewhere. Cheng Boyan nodded, and Xiang Xi strolled out of the hospital.

Outside was a lively shopping street lined with upscale malls and boutiques.

He wandered into one of the malls and browsed among the watch counters on the first floor.

The watch Director Xu had given him was from a foreign brand. Although he couldn't understand the letters, he'd memorized them in order by force. After only a short walk, he found the brand's counter and leaned over the display to examine the watches carefully.

“Sir, are you looking for a watch or for maintenance?” the young saleswoman immediately asked.

Maintenance?

A wave of satisfaction suddenly washed over Xiang Xi.

So I own a watch that's worth maintaining now...

“Just looking,” Xiang Xi said, lowering his head to admire the beautiful watches. “What kind suits... an old man in his thirties?”

“Thirty isn't old,” the saleswoman laughed, pointing toward another display. “You might prefer these—they have a more mature style.”

Cheng Boyan's remark about wanting a watch that cost over a thousand yuan hadn't really been a serious request. Even if it had been, it certainly didn't mean Xiang Xi should buy one now. He knew that perfectly well.

Still...

He wanted to look.

He actually did have over a thousand yuan now.

There were so many feelings he couldn't properly express to Cheng Boyan—affection, love, gratitude, being deeply moved... all kinds of emotions. He'd said them countless times, yet words always felt insufficient.

Buying things wasn't enough either.

He had no idea what would ever be enough.

So he'd simply save up little by little.

He picked out several watches priced just over a thousand yuan and asked the saleswoman to show them to him. They were all beautiful. He carefully compared them while she patiently explained the features of each one.

An hour later, he finally put the last watch down. “I've got a good idea now. Thanks. I'll come back another day to buy one.”

He had the distinct feeling the saleswoman probably wanted to slap him—after making her spend an entire hour helping him, all she'd gotten was an I'll come back another day.

“Of course,” she still replied with a smile. “The ones you looked at are all excellent choices. You can take your time comparing them.”

Back at the hospital, Xiang Xi saw it was almost quitting time. There were still twenty or thirty patients outside the consultation room, but after taking a look, none seemed to have injuries requiring lengthy treatment. Cheng Boyan and the other doctors would probably still get off work on time.

When Cheng Boyan glanced outside, Xiang Xi flashed him a wide grin.

He hadn't rushed to buy the watch because he couldn't decide on the colour.

At first he'd thought black would suit Cheng Boyan well. Cheng Boyan looked especially handsome in black jackets and black T-shirts.

But then he thought—for someone like Cheng Boyan, who only looked calm and steady on the outside, maybe he'd actually prefer something like blue or green.

He decided he'd try to find out indirectly before making up his mind.

Unfortunately, after Cheng Boyan got off work, the two of them went grocery shopping and returned home, and Xiang Xi still couldn't find a natural way to ask what his favourite colour was.

Back home, Cheng Boyan immediately started searching recipes for new dishes to cook, leaving Xiang Xi with no opportunity to ask.

“You bought the fish first and only now you're learning how to cook it?” Xiang Xi said worriedly, looking at the computer. “Is this actually going to be edible?”

“I already survived your clay-pot rice that left everyone's mouths black,” Cheng Boyan replied. “What couldn't I eat? Let's steam it. It's simple and healthy.”

“Oh.” Xiang Xi looked at the picture. “The scallions are such a nice colour. So green.”

“Mm.”

“And these...” Xiang Xi wanted to bring up another colour somehow, but staring at the plate of fish, he couldn't think of anything. “The chillies are really pretty too. So red.”

“Mm.” Cheng Boyan finished copying down the recipe and headed into the kitchen. “Go entertain yourself.”

“...Okay.”

Originally, Cheng Boyan had planned to prepare several elaborate dishes, buying both fish and chicken. In the end, he only made the fish and a bowl of mashed potatoes.

The fish was overcooked, the flesh had become rather stringy and tough, while the mashed potatoes remained at their usual acceptable standard.

“One step at a time,” Cheng Boyan said, though it wasn't clear whether he was comforting himself or Xiang Xi.

“The fish actually tastes pretty good... if you'd been willing to add a little more salt,” Xiang Xi commented while eating. “Tomorrow when I go to the teahouse—”

“Go study your tea and show off your wealth,” Cheng Boyan interrupted. “You don't need to learn cooking from him.”

“Okay.”

Although he agreed, the next day, on his way to the teahouse, Xiang Xi still planned to ask Hu Hai how to steam fish properly so that it cooked through without becoming tough.

Neither he nor Cheng Boyan had particularly demanding tastes, but Cheng Boyan had suddenly become even more enthusiastic than he was about learning to cook well.

Xiang Xi wanted to help however he could.

But the moment he arrived beneath the teahouse and saw the upstairs window standing open, he instantly forgot all about asking how to steam fish.

The adjustable cord around his neck had been shortened so that just a tiny glimpse of the jade pendant was visible above his collar.

Will Hu Hai notice it?

If he notices... will he react?

What if he doesn't notice?

Should I pretend it's really hot and take my jacket off?

Or fake stumbling so the pendant swings out?

Or maybe shorten the cord even more?

Standing downstairs, Xiang Xi's thoughts spun like a washing machine overloaded with clothes, tumbling and splashing noisily in every direction.

“Why aren't you coming up?” A head suddenly popped out of the window.

“Oh!”

Xiang Xi jumped in fright. Seeing that it was Hu Hai, he became so nervous he nearly broke into a sweat. He immediately lowered his head and hurried upstairs.

Old Lu hadn't arrived yet. Hu Hai was the only person in the teahouse, sitting by the window playing the guqin. He looked so completely absorbed that Xiang Xi almost felt the person who had just spoken to him had been an illusion.

“Your master hasn't finished lunch yet,” Hu Hai said without stopping his playing after hearing Xiang Xi come in. “His little granddaughter came home today, so he'll be about half an hour late.”

“Oh, that's fine.” Xiang Xi sat down at the tea table and instinctively touched his collar, checking where the pendant lay.

“Have you eaten?” Hu Hai asked after plucking the strings a few more times and finally looking at him.

“Yeah.” Xiang Xi subtly puffed out his chest. “I ate before coming.”

“Oh. If you hadn't, I was going to cook you some noodles,” Hu Hai said. “Then just make yourself comfortable for a while.”

Xiang Xi had been rather tense, but hearing that reminded him of something Cheng Boyan would have said, and he relaxed a little.

After sitting quietly for two minutes, he stood up, dragged his stool over beside Hu Hai and awkwardly searched for something to say. “Is... this instrument hard to learn?”

“It's not difficult to make it produce sound.” Hu Hai withdrew the hand resting on the strings.

Xiang Xi reached over and lightly plucked one. The guqin gave a clear note.

“You've been learning for a long time, haven't you? Last time you said your master made you learn it?”

“Mm.” Hu Hai nodded. “More than ten years, I guess.”

Xiang Xi fell silent, wondering how to continue, while Hu Hai didn't even glance his way.

Hu Hai seemed perfectly comfortable with silence. He made no attempt to start a conversation, simply lowered his head and continued playing.

Watching him, Xiang Xi felt an overwhelming urge to yank the jade pendant out and thrust it right in front of Hu Hai's eyes.

Just as he was raising his hand, he suddenly found an opening.

“This... when you play,” Xiang Xi said softly, “I always feel it's a little... sad.”

“Really?” Hu Hai responded.

“Are some instruments just naturally like that?” Xiang Xi continued. “Like the suona. It's supposed to be such a festive instrument, but whenever I hear it, it always sounds like it's crying. I don't know why.”

“It depends on one's state of mind,” Hu Hai replied. “The listener, the player—whatever they're thinking about becomes what they hear.”

“But I'm in a really good mood right now,” Xiang Xi said, looking at him. “So... that means it's your state of mind, doesn't it?”

Hu Hai didn't answer. He merely glanced at Xiang Xi before continuing to play without stopping.

“Is it because of your younger brother?” Xiang Xi leaned back in his chair, finally getting to the point. “Losing him hurt so much that after you learned the guqin, that sadness stayed in your music.”

At last, the music stopped. Hu Hai rested his fingers on the strings, staring at his own hand.

After a long pause, he quietly said, “Maybe.”

“Your brother...” Xiang Xi spoke with difficulty—not only because he was reopening Hu Hai's old wound, but also because of the fragile hope inside himself. “How old was he... when he disappeared?”

“He was still very little,” Hu Hai said, gently brushing the strings. “He wasn't very healthy. After he was born, he stayed in the hospital for a long time. Normally my mom never let me take him outside. But that day... she agreed.”

Xiang Xi said nothing.

His hand remained in his pocket, his fingers unconsciously digging hard into his own thigh.

Hu Hai gave a bitter smile, stood up, and leaned against the windowsill. “That day... was his third birthday.”

 

Translator : DarNan