“Your son?” Ma Liang hesitated a moment and took Sun Wenqu’s phone. “Fa—Fa—Fa… f*ck, you shamelessly ki—kissed him already. Huagudu can still ta—talk to you?”
“He definitely will.” Sun Wenqu smiled.
“Ho—how so?” Ma Liang didn’t dial, looking at him. “Did you fa—fall for that kid?”
“It’s not about falling for him or not. He’s too young.” Sun Wenqu leaned against the seat and clicked his tongue twice. “I think he’s just the type who mouths off a bit so I teased him a few times. He said he isn’t, so then I won’t tease him anymore.”
“So is he, or not?” Ma Liang asked.
“If he says he isn’t, then he isn’t.” Sun Wenqu smiled.
“Then he de—definitely is,” Ma Liang laughed too. “Maybe he li—likes you.”
“Hard to say.” Sun Wenqu thought about it. “This kid is the kind of person who easily feels guilty… that’s not exactly right, it’s just… you know what I mean?”
“Nope.” Ma Liang said.
“Before he finishes paying me back that hundred thousand,” Sun Wenqu said, “whatever I say or do, as long as it’s not too excessive, he’ll endure it because he owes me money.”
“Oh.” Ma Liang scrolled on the phone. “So call him o—over?”
“Forget it.” Sun Wenqu pressed down on Ma Liang’s hand. “It’s the end of term, right? Exams are coming. Don’t bother him. Just call a designated driver.”
“Mm.” Ma Liang called a driver he knew pretty well. “Have you fo—found a place yet?”
“Not yet.” Sun Wenqu stretched lazily. “No rush.”
“True.” Ma Liang nodded. “You’ll only ge—get anxious when you have to sl—sleep under a bridge.”
Sun Wenqu closed his eyes and laughed for a long time.
Anxious?
Not really.
Sun Wenqu didn’t feel there was anything worth being anxious about.
But if he said he wasn’t anxious… the faint uneasiness in his heart during this period had made his already poor sleep quality drop to the lowest point in history.
Was it anxiety? Or frustration?
Even after beating Li Bowen up, the feeling still hadn’t eased.
What the h*ll was going on?
A failed, melodramatic work.
After Sun Wenqu splashed him with water on the road that day on the way home, Fang Chi never contacted Sun Wenqu again.
Not long after, Fang Ying voluntarily brought twenty thousand over. Counting it up, half of it had been repaid already. She said the rest would be paid before the holiday, just enough to meet the three-month deadline. But Sun Wenqu wasn’t short of money and didn’t really care about the hundred thousand, so he didn’t follow up on it.
Their seemingly familiar relationship just awkwardly stopped like that for the time being. Sun Wenqu didn’t contact him anymore, and Fang Chi also seemed to have no other reason to contact Sun Wenqu.
This was also what he hoped for. He didn’t want to face Sun Wenqu again.
Only the slightly lonely figure of Sun Wenqu when he entered the room that day kept lingering in Fang Chi’s mind, popping up from time to time.
When boiling noodles.
When he couldn’t solve a problem.
When looking at the two paintings on the wall.
When Chief Huang practiced Iron Sand Palm on the food bowl.
When that Shepherd Girl song played in his earphones.
Many, many moments.
Sometimes Fang Chi felt the whole thing was really quite strange. He had only stayed with this person for about a month, yet he could recall so many things. But the relationship between them, after all that had happened, was maintained only by that so-called service contract.
Once that thing was declared void, everything would just freeze and disappear.
As if they had never known each other.
This year winter vacation started late. The school practically wanted to make New Year’s Eve into make-up class time.
As soon as the holiday started, Fang Chi went to find Fang Ying. Fang Ying reluctantly took out another forty thousand, saying she had asked their parents for part of it and had done everything she could. There was still ten thousand short that she truly couldn’t get, and they had to leave money for the New Year.
“After the New Year I’ll pay it all off,” Fang Ying said in a low voice. “These three months I’ve been doing nothing but looking for money. I really can’t find any more. You don’t know, when I asked Mom for money she almost wanted to chop me with a knife… we only managed to scrape this together by selling the bracelet Grandma gave Mom…”
“Pay it all off after the New Year.” Fang Chi paused when he heard about the bracelet, but he still took the money. Even if the bracelet really had been sold, if he refused the money, Fang Ying wouldn’t get the bracelet back anyway, and the money wouldn’t remain either.
Fang Chi didn’t argue with her about the remaining ten thousand. He took the money from his own savings to make up the difference. First, he was eager to go home and see his grandparents. Second, he had to hand the money to Sun Wenqu on time.
After withdrawing all the money from the bank, Fang Chi put it into a paper bag and took a taxi to Sun Wenqu’s house.
Thinking about it, it had actually been quite a long time since he had seen Sun Wenqu. The moment he thought about Sun Wenqu’s lazy, half-dead snake-egg look, he inexplicably began to feel a little nervous.
But even more inexplicably, although he was a bit nervous, when he walked down the small road leading to Sun Wenqu’s house, he quickened his steps.
He didn’t quite dare think too deeply about why.
But when he reached outside Sun Wenqu’s yard, he really didn’t have time to think about it anymore.
There was a car parked outside the yard. He hadn’t seen this car before. Sun Wenqu only had that Beetle, and he still hadn’t figured out whether that car belonged to Sun Wenqu or Ma Liang.
Just as he was hesitating over whether Sun Wenqu had guests and if he should ring the doorbell, the door inside opened. A man walked out, holding a folder with a work badge hanging around his neck.
Fang Chi froze. This was… an agent?
“The general situation is like this,” the man turned his head and said to someone behind him, “a house less than ten years old, this price is really rare.”
“There’s no decoration at all,” a woman walked out, an elderly lady beside her. “I’d still have to spend so much money on renovations.”
“Even if it’s decorated, if it’s not to your liking, you’d have to redo it anyway, more hassle,” the man said. Lifting his eyes, he saw Fang Chi standing outside the yard. “Do you need something?”
“I’m looking for someone,” Fang Chi felt a bit dazed. “I’m looking for Sun Wenqu.”
“Sun Wenqu?” The man thought for a moment, looking confused. “Don’t know him. The owner of this house isn’t called Sun Wenqu.”
“…Then this house is for sale?” Fang Chi asked.
“Yes.” The man nodded, then gave him a once-over, probably sizing up whether he could afford it, then ignored him and turned back to continue speaking with the woman.
Fang Chi moved into a small garden nearby. He was a bit shaken, Sun Wenqu’s house not being under Sun Wenqu’s name was one thing, but the house suddenly being up for sale?
He pulled out his phone and dialed Sun Wenqu’s number.
“I’m sorry, the number you have dialed has been suspended…” The voice on the other end stunned Fang Chi. He held the phone and listened three times before hanging up.
Suspended?
What did that mean?
A caller tune?
Fang Chi dialed again. Before, Xu Zhou had used a similar prank caller tune, things like “The number you’ve dialed has been hijacked, please bring a set of pancakes to redeem it”…
After dialing two more times, Fang Chi was sure, this wasn’t a caller tune.
Sun Wenqu’s number was disconnected.
Standing in the little garden, Fang Chi waited until the group viewing the house got into their car and drove away. Then he walked back to the courtyard gate. After a moment’s hesitation, he climbed over the wall and jumped inside.
The flowers in the yard were already withered, leaves scattered all over the ground, unswept.
He went up to the window to try and peek inside, but the curtains were drawn. Nothing could be seen, and the windowsill was covered in dust.
From the looks of it, Sun Wenqu had been gone for at least half a month.
Standing in the yard, Fang Chi felt lost. What had happened?
Just as he was hesitating about whether to pry open the window and take a look inside, someone approached from behind. He turned his head and saw a security guard standing outside the yard.
He’d seen this person before, the day they caught the thief, it was this guard who’d asked him who he was.
“Why do you keep jumping in every day? No one lives here anymore and you’re still climbing in,” the guard waved to him from outside. “Come out. If you keep this up, I’ll have to arrest you.”
Fang Chi had no choice but to climb back out. “Do you know what’s going on? Why the sudden sale?”
“I don’t know,” the guard said. “Aren’t you his friend? You don’t know either?”
“I haven’t… been in touch with him for nearly two months,” Fang Chi frowned. “Do you know when he… moved out? He did move out?”
“Yeah, moved out. The house inside’s empty,” the guard replied. “He’s been gone nearly a month now. People have been coming to view the house every day. Probably the family needs money urgently? I don’t know. Before leaving, he even gave me a piece of calligraphy.”
“What kind of calligraphy?” Fang Chi immediately asked.
“Something like ‘If this sky still cannot block my eyes’… something like that.” The guard chuckled. “I thought it was pretty well written. But rough people like us don’t really understand, don’t even know where to hang it.”
“Could I…” Fang Chi scratched his head awkwardly, “take a look?”
“Take a look?” the guard said. “Why not just take it with you if you like it?”
“Okay.” Fang Chi answered at once.
Sun Wenqu had moved away, his phone no longer reachable.
Fang Chi sat in his room, staring at the calligraphy he had gotten from the guard.
The guard hadn’t known where to hang it, and Fang Chi didn’t either. His walls were dingy, the only thing hanging was that chibi drawing of Chief Huang; even the formal portrait of Chief Huang that Sun Wenqu had given him, he hadn’t dared to put up.
What had happened to Sun Wenqu?
Was he in trouble?
Or… just a normal case of selling the house and changing phones?
But why not say anything?
Maybe he had said it, just not to him.
But then again, did that mean he didn’t want his money back?
Fang Chi felt a mess inside. He didn’t even know what to do with the pile of cash in his schoolbag.
With only two days left before heading home, he had to figure out a way to find Sun Wenqu before then. Even if not to repay the money, at least for the sake of that service contract, he needed to know whether Sun Wenqu was okay.
The next morning, he got up early, ready to head to the club. There was no more training, no more guiding work, but he wanted to try and see if he could contact Luo Peng. They used to hang out together, maybe Luo Peng would know something.
Just as he was leaving, Xiao Yiming called: “Xu Zhou rented a court. Wanna play ball?”
It had been a long time since he last played basketball. No matter how busy he and Xiao Yiming were, they used to play two or three times a month. Hearing it now, he felt itchy to go, but given the situation, he really couldn’t relax enough to play.
“I’ve got stuff these two days, really no time,” Fang Chi said.
“Alright then,” Xiao Yiming said. “Aren’t you heading home in a couple of days?”
“Yeah,” Fang Chi said while walking. “When I get back, let’s play.”
“Okay,” Xiao Yiming chuckled. “I’ll make Xu Zhou cry today.”
“Didn’t he say his skills have skyrocketed? You better watch out,” Fang Chi said.
“You actually believe that?” Xiao Yiming said.
“Nope.” Fang Chi laughed.
After chatting a bit more, he hung up and hailed a cab.
The club was still lively, being the holidays, lots of students came to hang out.
Fang Chi looked around but didn’t see Luo Peng or the others who usually came, so he went into the office and found a girl he knew to ask.
“Luo Peng?” The girl scrolled through the member directory. “Client information isn’t supposed to be shared, you know.”
“You already started scrolling.” Fang Chi said.
“Hey,” she quickly closed the page and shot him a glare. “I was just casually looking.”
“Then casually look a couple more times,” Fang Chi said. “Or go grab a drink of water, I’ll do the looking for you.”
“Fine, one number,” she glanced at the screen, scribbled Luo Peng’s number on a piece of paper, and handed it over. “Don’t say I gave it to you. I’m only helping because I know you’re close with them.”
“Thanks.” Fang Chi took the slip.
Luo Peng’s number went through easily enough, but the answer left Fang Chi disappointed.
“I don’t know either, really. Not lying to you. This time when he changed numbers, he didn’t tell anyone,” Luo Peng sighed. “That’s just the way he is.”
“Then…” Fang Chi frowned. “Would Ma Liang know?”
“Liangzi? Probably. What do you need Wenqu for?” Luo Peng asked.
“To pay him back.” Fang Chi said.
“Oh, I see.” Luo Peng hesitated, then said, “I’ll give you Liangzi’s number. Ask him.”
“Thanks.” Fang Chi said quickly.
Ma Liang sounded surprised when he picked up: “Eldest nephew?”
“Liangzi… Uncle” Fang Chi felt helpless. “I just wanted to ask, can you get in touch with Sun Wenqu?”
“He’s yo— your dad,” Ma Liang said. “You can’t get in touch?”
“…Yeah.” Fang Chi sighed.
“Something wrong?” Ma Liang asked.
“To pay him back.” Fang Chi said.
“Oh. Then just give it to me,” Ma Liang said bluntly.
“Give it to you?” Fang Chi froze. “Is that… okay?”
“Not okay. Not pay–paying him back would be the most okay,” Ma Liang said.
They agreed to meet at 4:30 outside the club. Fang Chi spent the wait stepping outside every thirty seconds, braving the icy northern wind to look around, before ducking back inside.
Nearly frozen, he finally saw Ma Liang’s beat-up minivan roll up, forty minutes late.
“Get in.” Ma Liang waved from the window.
Fang Chi pulled his collar tight and ran over. He tugged at the passenger door four times before it finally gave way, after Ma Liang kicked it from the inside.
They drove two streets over and stopped at a hot drink shop.
After gulping down half a cup of hot milk tea to thaw out, Fang Chi patted his bag, hesitating. “So… did something happen to Sun Wenqu?”
“No–nothing big,” Ma Liang sucked tapioca pearls through his straw. “He’s drifting.”
“What?” Fang Chi stared.
“Drifting,” Ma Liang repeated. “Don’t make me say it again.”
“He’s drifting? Why? And if he’s drifting around, why sell the house?” Fang Chi couldn’t follow the logic.
“Two separate things. The house… wasn’t even his,” Ma Liang said, then held out his hand. “The money?”
“Where did he drift off to?” Fang Chi clutched his bag. He knew Ma Liang and Sun Wenqu were close, and Ma Liang seemed reliable, but he still had to ask. “Can you reach him?”
“Sure,” Ma Liang smiled. “But I can’t tell you.”
“He didn’t run into any trouble, right?” Fang Chi pressed.
“You care about him, huh.” Ma Liang said.
Fang Chi suddenly tensed, feeling like he wanted to hide, glaring but unable to speak.
“Father and son,” Ma Liang chewed his straw. “Deep bond.”
“Please give this to him for me,” Fang Chi pulled the envelope of cash from his schoolbag. “The IOU…”
“Here.” Ma Liang pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and put it on the table.
Fang Chi picked it up, it was the IOU he had written for Sun Wenqu.
A wave of disappointment hit him. Sun Wenqu had already left the IOU with Ma Liang.
Which meant he knew Fang Chi would come looking, but hadn’t bothered to tell him about the number change. If Fang Chi managed to find Ma Liang, then Ma Liang would hand the IOU back.
Fang Chi suddenly felt it was all a bit pointless.
Sun Wenqu, always so sloppy and joking, but also capable of seriously drawing pictures for him, seriously explaining homework problems, even secretly slipping a Shepherd Girl tune into his device…
And yet in the end, he could disappear so cleanly, even rudely.
The contrast was jarring.
But thinking more, maybe it wasn’t strange. In his unpredictability, Sun Wenqu had never changed.
Ma Liang drove him back, then rumbled away in the beat-up van.
Fang Chi didn’t ask where the Beetle had gone, probably Sun Wenqu had taken it.
Where to? Drifting.
Back home, Fang Chi packed his things, still puzzling over it. He hadn’t even finished sorting his luggage. There were gifts to fit into the suitcase for his grandparents and family, plus a cat carrier and two bags of cat food…
Actually, since Chief Huang hated the carrier so much, Fang Chi had thought of leaving him here. Sun Wenqu loved cats; letting him take care of it for ten days should’ve been fine. But now, that wasn’t possible.
Thinking of the cat, Fang Chi sighed again.
The next day, with his train at noon, Fang Chi woke early, grabbed a bag of cat food, and went back once more to Sun Wenqu’s neighborhood.
He didn’t know why he suddenly felt so kindhearted, but he started wondering if the stray cats Sun Wenqu always fed might come looking for him during this time, and then leave hungry.
But when he got to the spot where Sun Wenqu used to feed the cats, he realized his worry was a bit unnecessary. There sat a bowl of cat food and a bowl of water, looked like someone else was feeding them now.
Fang Chi smiled, feeling like he’d overthought it. Hugging the bag of cat food, he hailed a cab and went back.
Before getting on the train at noon, he called Uncle Zhang and told him to let his grandpa know not to wait for him for lunch, he’d arrive in the afternoon and could go straight to dinner.
The train was packed, luggage piled in the aisles, all New Year’s goods.
Beside Fang Chi sat a woman holding a child. She kept apologizing, but the child refused to be held, insisting on sitting between them. The kid wouldn’t sleep, squirming constantly, asking to eat one moment and drink the next. Fang Chi had no choice but to keep shifting outward, until half his butt was perched on his suitcase.
Luckily the ride wasn’t long. Just as his backside was starting to go numb, he arrived.
It took him a lot of effort to squeeze off the train with his things. The moment his feet hit the ground, he heard barking.
Xiaozi came charging down the dirt road from the village entrance, barking nonstop.
“Xiaozi!” Fang Chi laughed, spreading his arms wide.
Xiaozi barreled into him, front paws smacking his chest and leaving two big gray prints.
“Alright, alright,” Fang Chi lifted his suitcase with one hand and the cat carrier with the other. Inside, Chief Huang was making indignant “ha-ha” noises, his fur puffed out like a giant dandelion ball. “You scared Chief Huang half to death…”
Xiaozi bounded ahead, tail wagging. Fang Chi closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in the familiar scents all around him.
It had snowed yesterday, not much, just little clumps of snow dotting the roadside. The crisp, cold air filled him with peace.
“Did Grandpa send you to meet me? Are Mom and Dad back yet?” Fang Chi nudged Xiaozi’s rump with his foot. “Has Grandpa cooked already? Probably not… but I’m starving…”
The village was livelier than usual, everyone having returned for the New Year. The road was full of familiar faces, more than on ordinary days. Fang Chi couldn’t resist, after just a few steps he broke into a run, suitcase and cat carrier trailing behind him in the wind.
Xiaozi ran ahead, barking all the way. From afar, Fang Chi could already see the big, new couplets pasted on Grandpa’s courtyard gate, much larger than in past years.
Grandpa usually said big ones were a waste of money, just two sheets of paper after all. But this year, he’d bought a massive set.
Xiaozi stopped at the gate. Grandpa came out from the courtyard.
“Grandpa!” Fang Chi shouted, dashing over. The suitcase clattered across the ground, and from inside the carrier Chief Huang let out furious, anxious yowls.
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