Pei Cangyu was jolted awake by the buzzing of his phone. He had stayed up late the night before watching a livestream and hadn't so much fallen asleep as he had simply lost consciousness. When he came to, the phone was still vibrating in his hand.
"Hello..." Pei Cangyu answered without even opening his eyes.
"It's me."
It was Bai Shi’s voice. It sounded uncharacteristically raspy, followed by a few muffled coughs.
Pei Cangyu lifted his head to squint at the clock. It was only six-fifteen. His mood soured instantly. "Big brother, don't you sleep? Do you have any idea what time it is? How are the budding flowers of the nation supposed to grow if they don't get their rest..."
"When can we meet? I finished the homework."
Pei Cangyu’s eyes snapped wide open. He bolted upright. "Huh? You finished it?"
"When?" Bai Shi repeated.
Pei Cangyu took a moment to process this. "You finished it that fast? That’s way too quick. Didn't I just tell you about it the day before yesterday... or was it yesterday? Huh?"
Bai Shi took a deep breath on the other end and exhaled slowly, as if gathering the last remnants of his dwindling patience. "When?"
"Oh, oh, then... whenever is convenient for you, whenever is convenient," Pei Cangyu said with a fawning smile. "After all, you’ve done the hard work. What do you want to eat? I’ll buy it for you—but nothing too expensive, okay? Ma Hua hasn't paid me for the shifts I worked a few days ago. Once he does, I’ll treat you to grilled fish. Speaking of which, a grilled fish place opened right by the school gate. Have you seen it? I haven't either, but I heard people say—"
"This afternoon, then," Bai Shi interrupted his rambling.
Pei Cangyu gave a broad wave of his arm. "Fine. Where?"
Bai Shi thought for a moment. "You decide."
"Okay. Do you know Leping Park?"
"No."
"...Then, do you know the bookstore on the west side of Heping Road?"
"No."
"...Then, there’s a tea shop near Xinjie Stationery..."
"No."
"...Then what *do* you know?" Pei Cangyu asked, exasperated.
Bai Shi fell into a brief silence before answering, "I don't go out much."
This response made Pei Cangyu laugh. "Oh, okay. A shut-in, very refined. Nice. How about we just meet at the school gate?"
"Fine."
With that, Bai Shi hung up before Pei Cangyu could even react.
He stared at the darkened screen and scratched his head. Next time, he’d have to give Bai Shi a piece of his mind—he couldn't just let the guy hang up on people whenever he felt like it.
Since he was already up, Pei Cangyu decided to start his day. His grandmother wasn't awake yet, so he began by sweeping the floor.
As he swept, he noticed subtle changes in the room. Ever since his grandmother’s health had improved, the house had regained a certain atmosphere—one that Pei Cangyu had tried to mimic while she was sick but could never quite capture. Perhaps it was the specific angle at which the curtains were drawn, the placement of the record player, the order of the stacked books, or the scent in the air. Everything was gradually aligning with the childhood in his memories.
On the TV stand, he saw a new picture frame. Several photos of Pei Yueshan had been taken out of the old album and placed into this brand-new blue frame. The photos chosen were the ones where he looked his most spirited—the outstanding youth of his grandmother’s memories.
Pei Cangyu picked up the frame and studied Pei Yueshan closely. The man in the photo was fifteen or sixteen, standing at a school gate, clutching a trophy and smiling brightly at the camera. He looked radiant. In the background, groups of girls who had accidentally been caught in the shot were covering their faces or clutching their chests, looking at Pei Yueshan with pure adoration. Pei Cangyu sighed and put the photo back. He had never been as popular with girls as his father. According to Apple, girls liked the "silent type." Pei Cangyu agreed; Bai Shi, for instance, was very popular, even if he didn't realize it himself.
Pei Cangyu picked up another photo. Pei Yueshan was holding a different certificate, standing on a high platform. Above him hung a bright red banner for some competition, and below him was a dense crowd. He stood alone in the center of it all.
Pei Cangyu looked around. Every photo related to his father was laden with honors. It wasn't surprising; since he was a child, the walls of their home had been covered with framed certificates belonging to Pei Yueshan—academic rankings, various competitions, awards for bravery, and "Outstanding Class Leader" commendations. They filled three walls in his grandmother’s room, surrounding her.
Pei Cangyu adjusted the frames and picked up a group photo from the very front. It was Pei Yueshan and his grandmother, with his grandmother holding Pei Cangyu in her arms. In this one, Pei Yueshan looked a bit more mature, but he still wore that same confident expression and signature smile. According to his grandmother, when Pei Cangyu had a fever as a toddler, Pei Yueshan had taken him to the doctor and stayed by his bedside all night without closing his eyes. When Pei Cangyu was a baby and they had no milk, and he turned out to be allergic to formula, Pei Yueshan would ride his bike to a rural dairy farm before dawn to buy fresh milk and boil it himself. Pei Yueshan had made him many toys, some of which were still by Pei Cangyu’s bed—like a wooden drummer. After Pei Yueshan had read him the story of the Steadfast Tin Soldier from *Andersen's Fairy Tales*, Pei Cangyu had pointed at the illustration and cried until his father carved him one out of wood.
Then, one day when Pei Cangyu was five or six, Pei Yueshan suddenly left. Pei Cangyu remembered nothing of that day. His grandmother said he had cried until his voice went hoarse and never truly recovered, but he didn't remember that either. In his grandmother’s narrative, Pei Yueshan was a good man, a good son, and a good father who loved Pei Cangyu dearly. For a long time, when Pei Cangyu tried to understand the concept of not having a father, he had assumed Pei Yueshan left because he found him annoying.
Whenever he thought that, his grandmother would sternly tell him it wasn't true. She said the logic of life was difficult and that one shouldn't try to measure sincerity against hardship. But she promised Pei Cangyu that there was no one in this world Pei Yueshan loved more than him. His grandmother had visited his father in prison; she said life would start over for the three of them. After that visit, she had come home and cried for a while. Pei Cangyu couldn't tell if she was happy or sad. She said the man had truly suffered, but fortunately, he still had them, and that Pei Cangyu shouldn't blame him. Pei Cangyu had nodded; he understood.
Pei Cangyu looked at Pei Yueshan’s photo and smiled. He put it back, wiped the glass clean, and whispered, "Welcome home, Dad."
***
That afternoon, before heading out to meet Bai Shi, Pei Cangyu made a special trip to the supermarket. He bought a large bag of snacks as a way to repay Bai Shi, but he also had a hidden motive.
At the lunch table, his grandmother had asked about his studies again. As a chronic slacker, Pei Cangyu felt his head throb. In truth, his final exam results this semester were the best he’d ever achieved—he ranked twenty-ninth in the class. At that rank, the top-tier No. 1 High School and the Attached High School were likely out of reach, and the second-tier No. 2 and No. 10 High Schools were a gamble, but he could get into almost any other school. This was entirely due to his sheer persistence, considering he didn't actually know how to solve any of the truly difficult problems. But his grandmother always encouraged him to aim higher, specifically for that university she was so set on.
Pei Cangyu leaned against a tree by the school gate, waiting for Bai Shi. He planned to grab Bai Shi and head to the tea shop, where he’d treat him to a drink while Bai Shi explained some problems to him.
However, Pei Cangyu waited for over an hour. By five o'clock, Bai Shi still hadn't appeared. He had called Bai Shi several times, but no one picked up. He was fuming. He wanted to leave, but felt like he’d lose too much "investment" after waiting so long. Just as he was hesitating, Bai Shi called.
"Have you gone home?"
Pei Cangyu’s anger flared. He drawled out his words, "No—I—haven't. When—the—hell—are—you—coming?"
Bai Shi paused. "I can't make it."
"Dammit! Why didn't you say so earlier!" Pei Cangyu turned and stomped toward his bicycle. "You couldn't even call to let me know? How annoying..."
Bai Shi opened his mouth, then asked, "Are you angry?"
"No kidding. You try waiting for an hour."
"Then..." Bai Shi seemed to make a difficult decision. "Do you want to come to my house? I’ll give you the homework."
Pei Cangyu’s eyes lit up. "Oh, okay. I’ve never been to your place. Where do you live?"
Bai Shi gave him an address. "Do you know where that is?"
Pei Cangyu shook his head. "How do I ride there from school? How long will it take?"
"Don't ride your bike. It’s too far. Take a taxi. I’ll pay for it."
Pei Cangyu hesitated. "That’s a lot of trouble... maybe forget it? Another day?"
Bai Shi thought for a moment. "School starts soon, doesn't it?"
"Then we’ll talk when school starts. Not copying homework is good for my self-improvement anyway..."
"No." Bai Shi’s voice suddenly sharpened. "Come over. I’ll wait for you."
Then, he hung up without another word.
Pei Cangyu stared blankly at his phone. "Is it that serious? He just *has* to meet..." Then he frowned. "Dammit, I really need to fix that habit of his."
Following the address Bai Shi provided, Pei Cangyu eventually arrived at a mountain estate. Looking at the price on the taxi meter, he was genuinely shocked. He was just wondering how he was going to pay—since he didn't have that much cash on him—when someone tapped on his window.
It was a man who looked like a security guard. He greeted Pei Cangyu politely. "Hello, are you Student Pei Cangyu? Could you please tell me who you are visiting?"
Pei Cangyu blinked, feeling inexplicably nervous. "Uh, yeah. Bai Shi. Number 117, I think..."
The guard nodded, opened the car door for him, and then handed the driver a card. He smiled at Pei Cangyu. "Please go straight ahead."
Pei Cangyu pointed at the driver. "I haven't paid yet..."
"We will take care of it."
Pei Cangyu was a bit dazed. "Oh..."
He took a few steps toward the entrance of the estate before realizing this wasn't just Bai Shi’s house. This was a cluster of luxury mansions built into the mountainside. He even saw guards at the entrance carrying guns. Pei Cangyu stared in disbelief. *Is that even legal?*
Before he could move, someone stepped forward to lead the way. As they passed the gatehouse, a camera swiveled toward him, its red light flashing twice. Someone handed him a white magnetic card, and then a golf cart pulled up. He was invited to board and was driven all the way to the entrance of a villa nestled in the mountains.
Pei Cangyu was still in a bit of a daze. It was cold up on the mountain; he sneezed and walked toward the main entrance. Looking at the magnificent, gilded doors, he wasn't sure if he should knock.
Just as he raised his hand, the double doors swung open. He was met by a towering fountain. A man who looked like a butler didn't even ask questions; he simply led the way.
Pei Cangyu clicked his tongue at the sight of the house. It was too ostentatious, giving the impression that it contained everything one could imagine. The style was a bit of a mix, and Pei Cangyu had never seen such a massive residence. He wondered what it would feel like to sing outdoor karaoke here.
Lost in his confused thoughts, he was led into a room. The butler asked him to wait a moment and then left. Pei Cangyu sat alone in the silent room, still clutching the bag of snacks he had bought.
It was too quiet.
Although people walked by occasionally to clean, they never spared him a glance, nor did they speak to one another. It was incredibly oppressive. Pei Cangyu’s arm grew tired, so he switched hands; the sound of the plastic bag crinkling echoed through the large room, making the silence feel even more profound.
The longer he sat, the more awkward he felt.
There was a floor-to-ceiling window here, made of a textured, undulating glass. It caused the sunlight to refract as it entered, casting vibrant, mottled colors across the table. On the table, plates were arranged with meticulous precision. This place felt like a room for displaying things.
But the sky was gradually darkening. The light on the table slowly retreated, finally slipping off the edge. Pei Cangyu watched the purple-red glow of the sunset being swallowed bit by bit by the night. His heart suddenly quickened, and he stood up abruptly.
The darkness made him feel intensely lonely. Pei Cangyu hated being alone.
He decided not to wait any longer.
He couldn't get through to Bai Shi on the phone either, which only added to his frustration. Whatever. Maybe he shouldn't have come to a place like this in the first place. Pei Cangyu lowered his head and walked toward the door. He remembered the way; he could just walk out.
As he was leaving, he bumped into someone.
Because he was walking so fast, Pei Cangyu slammed right into the person. The impact sent him stumbling back a step. He wobbled, and the bag of snacks in his hand spilled all over the floor.
Pei Cangyu looked up impatiently. In the orange-red remnants of the sunset, he saw a young man with an expressionless face. His eyes looked somewhat like Bai Shi’s, but...
"So tall..." Pei Cangyu murmured.
The door closed, and the last of the sunset vanished behind the man. The lights inside flickered on. The man looked at him coldly, his hands remaining in his trouser pockets. He stepped around Pei Cangyu and used the tip of his leather shoe to nudge the snack bags on the floor. After flipping them over to see what they were, he let out a contemptuous chuckle and turned to look at Pei Cangyu.
"Who are you?"
His voice was deep, carrying an indescribable sense of pressure.
Pei Cangyu looked at him. "I’m here to see Bai Shi. I’m his classmate."
The man smiled. "Is he even attending school right now?" He stepped back, finally focusing his attention on Pei Cangyu.
Pei Cangyu asked again, "Is he here?"
The man didn't answer. He looked Pei Cangyu up and down, then waved a hand. "You can go."
Whether he left or not was one thing, but Pei Cangyu at least wanted to know where Bai Shi was.
"No, I want to know if he’s here. I’ve been waiting a long time." Pei Cangyu’s resentment finally bubbled over. "Otherwise, could you give this stuff to him for me? I bought it for him anyway."
Seeing Pei Cangyu’s furrowed brow, the man’s smile deepened. "Waited too long? Are you angry?"
When he put it that way, Pei Cangyu felt too embarrassed to stay mad. "...It’s... fine..."
The man took two steps forward until he was right in front of Pei Cangyu. He crouched down so that he was looking slightly up at him. "Did you just say I was very tall?"
Pei Cangyu felt he was too close and tried to step back. As his foot moved, he tripped on the carpet and wobbled again. The man watched him steady himself, not forgetting to answer the question. "Yeah."
The man leaned forward, getting even closer, his head level with Pei Cangyu’s chest. Pei Cangyu backed up again until his back hit the wall. He had nowhere left to retreat. Although he was looking down at the man, the man’s composed, leisurely expression made it clear who held the upper hand. People passing by didn't look their way. The man’s breath brushed against Pei Cangyu’s chest, making it feel a bit itchy. He raised his hand and, disregarding politeness, pushed against the man’s shoulder to create some space.
The man turned his head to look at Pei Cangyu’s hand, which was trembling slightly as it rested on his shoulder. His smile grew even wider. He turned back to Pei Cangyu. "Is it strange that I’m tall?"
Pei Cangyu couldn't budge him, but being asked a question made him forget he was trying to push. He answered, "Yeah. Will Bai Shi grow this tall too?"
The man lowered his eyes. Using two fingers, he drew a business card from his suit pocket and held it out in front of Pei Cangyu. The card carried a scent of perfume. As his clothes moved, a draft of air brought with it an elegant, wine-like fragrance that lingered before Pei Cangyu along with the card.
"My name is Bai Jiang."
Pei Cangyu didn't take the card. "Oh. I’m Pei Cangyu."
Bai Jiang smiled and nudged the card forward. "A gift for you."
Pei Cangyu found it hard to refuse, so he took it. He flipped it over to look. It had a sand-like texture with a cloud-like pattern embroidered on the background. It contained only a name and a phone number.
"A business card?"
"It’s a wish card," Bai Jiang said with a smile. "It can grant any wish you have."
This tone, like he was talking to a child, made Pei Cangyu laugh. Who did this guy think he was?
So, Pei Cangyu played along. "Oh? And what kind of wishes can it grant?"
Bai Jiang’s eyes were fixed on him. "Gifts you want, places you want to go, things your family can't do, people you hate... I will help you realize any wish you have."
Pei Cangyu gave a short laugh and tried to give it back. "I don't have any wishes."
Bai Jiang’s eyes crinkled. "Keep it. One day... well, no one can have everything go their way forever."
Those eyes looked too much like Bai Shi’s.
Bai Jiang reached out and took Pei Cangyu’s hand off his shoulder. He held the broad hand in his own, gripping the four fingers and bringing them toward his lips while watching Pei Cangyu’s face.
For a split second, Bai Jiang looked so much like Bai Shi. Mistakenly thinking his hand was being held to "Bai Shi’s" lips as if for a kiss, Pei Cangyu’s face suddenly flushed a deep red.
Bai Jiang chuckled. He did nothing, simply lowering the hand gently back to Pei Cangyu’s side. "Pei Cangyu, I’ve remembered your name. You are welcome to make a wish." He winked and stood up, the scent of aftershave wafting over. "Now, you may go."
Pei Cangyu thought to himself that none of this made any sense. Everyone in the Bai family was strange.
He said his goodbyes and walked out the main door. Bai Jiang instructed a butler to see him out and drive him home.
Pei Cangyu got into the car. As it drove away from the Bai estate, he felt a sudden chill down his spine. The sensation made him whip his head around. In the distance, in a third-floor window, he saw the silhouette of Bai Shi standing by the glass in the dim light, watching him leave.
Pei Cangyu waved at him. Bai Shi didn't react.
For some reason, Pei Cangyu had a bad premonition. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Bai Shi.
It wasn't like before when the call just didn't go through.
This time, he was hung up on.
***
