Jiang Tong stood where he was, watching Xiao Fengtai’s less-than-composed departure with a silent, wry smile. He hadn't expected Xiao Fengtai to agree immediately, but now that the moment had truly arrived, he found that the impact of reality was far stronger than he had imagined.
But this was only the beginning. Xiao Fengtai was no longer the innocent, almost naive youth of ten years ago, and Jiang Tong was no longer as weak and confused as he had been then—a man with no control over his fate, left to the mercy of others. Jiang Tong straightened his collar, preparing to catch up with Xiao Fengtai. He had never been one to easily give up on the things he truly desired.
His phone suddenly rang. Jiang Tong glanced at the screen, hesitated for a moment, and then answered.
"Senior Pei, it’s been a long time," he said, quickening his pace as he walked out of the church. "Is something the matter?"
"You’re not at the venue anymore?" Pei Jing was as blunt as ever. "The program said the BTK27 seminar was in Room 203, but I didn't see you."
"You’re interested in BTK?" Jiang Tong asked, surprised. "I can send you some materials later. To be honest, there aren't any major innovative breakthroughs in the R&D, but if you have questions, feel free to contact me."
"For God's sake," Jiang Tong could almost imagine Pei Jing rolling his eyes on the other end, "did we really work in the same lab?"
"I’m currently working part-time as a consultant for a pharmaceutical company, helping them screen targets. A few days ago, they sent me one of your papers."
"Are you free tonight? Let's talk about CD30."
Jiang Tong met Pei Jing at the hotel’s lounge bar. Having scheduled a conference call with his team in China beforehand, Jiang Tong arrived just on time to find Pei Jing already seated at the bar. Perhaps it was the lighting, but Pei Jing seemed a bit heavier than Jiang Tong remembered. However, his features remained sharp and profound, his gaze as piercing as ever—he still stood out like a crane among a flock of chickens, even among middle-aged men. Jiang Tong hadn't seen Pei Jing since returning to China, and seeing that familiar, critical expression now actually brought a surge of warm, nostalgic joy to his heart.
"You're late," Pei Jing said, frowning.
Jiang Tong sat down beside him and signaled for a whiskey. "Sorry, I just finished a meeting. Tonight’s drinks are on me."
"How have you been? It’s been nearly two years since I moved back, and we haven't really been in touch."
Pei Jing cut straight to the point. "We can catch up later. Business first."
He pulled a card from his wallet and pushed it toward Jiang Tong. "As I mentioned on the phone, I’m a part-time academic consultant for Yinsan, providing guidance on target screening. Yinsan sent me your paper on CD30 and asked for my opinion."
"And?" Jiang Tong asked calmly.
"It’s simple," Pei Jing said with a matter-of-fact air. "I believe the field has R&D value, and Yinsan isn't short on cash. As long as the price is right, you should consider it. You don't have the capacity to develop the overseas rights for CD30 anyway. If you sign the agreement, you get a massive chunk of R&D funding immediately, and if it succeeds, you’ll get annual sales royalties."
"Since it’s a win-win for both you and Yinsan, I came to talk to you."
The shock of Pei Jing "selling out" to the corporate world was roughly equivalent to the shock of a major multinational like Yinsan Pharma being interested in CD30. "Senior, are you facing some kind of difficulty? Do you need help? I can do my best, whether it's financial or otherwise."
"I’m perfectly fine," Pei Jing glared at him. "And right now, I’m the one asking the questions."
"It might sound biased, but if I were in your shoes, I would never pass up the chance to collaborate with Yinsan."
Jiang Tong gave a bitter smile. "Senior, a large domestic pharma company wanted to buy CD30 a few weeks ago. I just turned them down."
"So what?"
"I know what you value. You want independence in the R&D phase and a say in the later pipeline layout of the product. Those details can be negotiated," Pei Jing said, undeterred. "From my perspective, the benefits of working with Yinsan clearly outweigh the drawbacks. By selling off the overseas rights—which are currently worth very little to you—you not only get a large sum of cash, but you also gain milestone payments as R&D progresses and access to Yinsan’s clinical and academic resources in the US. Most importantly, Yinsan can provide a free endorsement of your credibility. Sorry, I Googled you a bit on the way here. I think Huaqing is in desperate need of credibility right now."
Jiang Tong studied Pei Jing from head to toe, finding it hard to believe that such a well-thought-out argument had come from a man famous for his lack of worldly wisdom. *Work really does reshape the soul,* he mused silently.
Pei Jing had truly struck his Achilles' heel.
The ASCO presentation had been a success, but it wasn't nearly enough. Huaqing *had* withdrawn the Phase I clinical trial for BTK27, and Lu Wei *had* indeed held a senior position at the company. At this stage, the results of BTK27 itself were almost secondary; the key issue was that the capital market's perception of Huaqing’s management was likely to deteriorate because of the scandal Lu Wei had caused. If a company’s core management team was in chaos and its R&D staff were poorly managed, what did one or two clinical successes even prove?
Even if Huaqing could eventually reverse this impression, the company's valuation would inevitably take a hit. Huaqing needed money desperately; with every step forward in R&D, the costs doubled. He couldn't afford to wait.
"Selling overseas rights requires board approval..." Jiang Tong hesitated. "Is there a specific proposal? I want to ensure Huaqing’s independence in the Greater China region."
His mission accomplished, Pei Jing visibly relaxed and drained the rest of his drink. "Yinsan’s people will contact you formally later. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving."
"Wait," Jiang Tong caught him. "It’s been so long, and we finally have a chance to catch up. Stay a while longer. The drinks are on my tab."
"No need for you to treat me." Pei Jing sat back down stiffly on the high stool. "I’ll take the receipt later; Yinsan can reimburse it."
Was this really the same Pei Jing who used to sit in front of a lab microscope in the early hours of the morning, eyes gleaming as he talked endlessly about the mysteries of scientific research? Jiang Tong had to pretend to choke on his water and cough to hide his look of utter astonishment.
Pei Jing himself seemed accustomed to the shocked reactions of others. He signaled the server for another drink.
"Why did you start getting involved with the corporate world?" Jiang Tong asked, trying a roundabout approach. "Does your university have a partnership with Yinsan? I heard they’ve been expanding their scientific value chain lately, setting up several labs in universities across the US and Japan."
"I can't be bothered with those vanity projects," Pei Jing said, more candidly than expected. "I need money. The consulting fee Yinsan pays is decent, and the time commitment is tolerable. Why wouldn't I sign?"
"Are you that short on money?" Jiang Tong was shocked. Pei Jing had long since earned tenure, and his university was well-funded—a position his peers had always envied. Financial trouble was the last thing Jiang Tong would have expected.
Pei Jing rubbed his brow, looking exhausted. He propped his elbows on the table, the dim yellow light of the bar falling across his broad shoulders. His shoulder blades protruded, and the deep shadows on either side looked like the visible weight of an invisible burden. Life—sticky, murky, heavy, and incredibly dense—had finally caught up with him, tethering the young man who once wanted to fly toward his ideals to the ground.
"You’ll understand once you have two children in private school." A cynical smile touched Pei Jing’s lips. "The North American private education system is the perfect modern manifestation of Russian serfdom. Unfortunately, we parents lack the decisiveness of the October Revolution. As soon as we step through the school gates, our knees go weak, and we submissively offer up our tributes to be harvested by the school."
Jiang Tong nearly dropped his glass. "You have children? You’re married? When did you get married?"
He found it unbelievable. "You didn't even invite me?"
Pei Jing said impatiently, "I didn't invite anyone! I don't need a stupid sense of ritual to comfort myself over the end of the golden years of my life."
Jiang Tong asked cautiously, "And now...?"
"Separated last year! No pre-nup!" Pei Jing ordered another drink, his mood visibly souring. "That’s the second reason I have to sell my soul to do chores for capitalism!"
Jiang Tong was filled with emotion. "I thought you’d stay single for life."
"Why do you all have such ridiculous ideas?" Pei Jing snapped. "Stephen Hawking had a wife! John Nash had a wife! Einstein had more than one wife! I’m a reasonably handsome, normal man, and the lab isn't a mountain monastery!"
"Though, after getting married, looks aren't that useful anymore." Jiang Tong doubted his ears; he actually heard a hint of grievance in Pei Jing’s complaining. "I’ll never understand what women are thinking all day long."
He glanced at Jiang Tong. "What about you? I heard you have a kid too. Is he smart?"
Jiang Tong quickly clarified, "I didn't father him; I adopted him."
"My God!" Pei Jing groaned. "You still haven't gotten over *that* person?"
Jiang Tong lowered his voice instinctively. "Actually... we’re back together. I ran into him during the B-round roadshow. He invested in Huaqing."
Pei Jing straightened up, looking at Jiang Tong as if he were an alien.
"It’s not as smooth as you think," Jiang Tong whispered. "There are still a lot of issues between us."
"That’s understandable," Pei Jing said. "Given what you did back then, it’s a miracle you could even reconcile."
"In that case, you should definitely accept my proposal—since he’s your shareholder." He patted Jiang Tong’s shoulder, his smile complex. "Use this money to buy an indulgence from him. Congratulations, you no longer have to fear hell."
"Don't tell me you’ve become religious," Jiang Tong dodged his hand. "Let me keep some illusions about marriage and family."
"I’m not, but my ex-wife takes the kids to church every Sunday. What can I do?" Pei Jing sighed. "That’s life."
Pei Jing called a car to go home, and Jiang Tong saw him to the door. The two stood at the windy intersection for a moment before Jiang Tong finally couldn't help his curiosity. "How did you meet your ex-wife?"
He was genuinely curious about what kind of extraordinary person could drag Pei Jing down from his ivory tower into the dust of the mundane world.
"None of your business," Pei Jing replied coldly, ducking into the taxi and speeding away without looking back. Whether it was an illusion or not, Jiang Tong thought he saw a hint of a "narrow escape" in his departure.
Xiao Fengtai had remained noncommittal regarding Jiang Tong’s confession, and Jiang Tong played along, acting as if nothing had happened. After they returned to China, everything seemed the same on the surface, yet changes were quietly taking root in the details.
One Friday, after school, Jiang Zhen walked out of the school gates with his backpack and was surprised to see Jiang Tong across the street.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Zhen’s lip was curled in a pout, but he still obediently climbed into the passenger seat. "Auntie already promised to take me out for a big dinner tonight."
The boy refused to call him "Dad," but he was incredibly affectionate with Beibei, calling her "Auntie" at every turn. Jiang Tong glanced at Jiang Zhen. "The place I’m taking you is definitely better than whatever your aunt found."
Jiang Zhen snorted in disdain, facing the window, but his eyes kept darting back to peek at Jiang Tong. Jiang Tong kept his eyes on the road, focusing on driving. After a while, a small hum came from the boy beside him. The sound was as faint as a mosquito, nearly drowned out by the engine noise.
"Where are we actually going..."
Jiang Tong suppressed a smile and looked at Jiang Zhen through the rearview mirror. "To meet someone."
Jiang Zhen’s eyes lit up.
"Don't say anything reckless when we get there." Jiang Tong felt a surge of bashfulness amidst Jiang Zhen’s excitement. "And... don't tell your aunt about this when we get back."
"Don't worry!"
The boy acted mature, trying to pat Jiang Tong’s shoulder, but since he wasn't tall enough, he could only pat his thigh.
"This is our secret. I won't tell anyone."
The car drove out of the city center toward the suburban villa district. Jiang Zhen clung to the window, staring at the exquisite two-story houses nestled behind thick greenery. As soon as Jiang Tong parked, Jiang Zhen tugged at his sleeve. "Aren't we eating out? It’s not good to visit someone’s home for the first time, is it?"
He looked a bit bashful. "I... I’m not prepared."
Jiang Tong laughed, unable to resist reaching out to ruffle the boy’s small brown curls. "This *is* the restaurant. We’re having a private meal today; the whole house is just for our table."
"Whoa—" Jiang Zhen’s eyes widened in shock, then he looked up at Jiang Tong suspiciously. "You’re not... living off a rich lady, are you?"
Jiang Tong, leading him up the steps, nearly tripped at the remark.
"I really need to talk to Beibei. Where do you get these strange ideas?" He looked down and gave Jiang Zhen one last warning. "Remember what I said on the way here. Today is a secret between the two of us."
Jiang Zhen nodded vigorously.
Jiang Tong smiled and stepped forward to push open the villa door.
After noticing the changes in Jiang Tong, Jiang Zhen had secretly imagined what his "stepmother" would look like. Although he joked with Jiang Tong in the car, deep down, Jiang Zhen assumed Jiang Tong’s lover was a woman.
Step-parents in fairy tales and movies were often villains: beautiful women with heavy makeup, submissive in front of their husbands but cold and selfish in reality, taking pleasure in secretly mistreating their stepchildren. However, Jiang Zhen instinctively felt that Jiang Tong wouldn't like someone like that. Late at night, with the lights off, while Xiao Yu slept in the bottom bunk mumbling in his sleep, Jiang Zhen would lie awake in the dark, sketching the face of the woman in his mind. She wouldn't be ugly, but she wouldn't be exceptionally striking either. A young woman who would blend into a crowd, with fair skin, wearing glasses like Jiang Tong, and long black hair falling over her shoulders with a few strands on her forehead. When she smiled, her eyes would crinkle—very kind, like his favorite Teacher Zhang from kindergarten.
He thought about it with relish until a sense of dread rose within him. Would she like him? She probably wouldn't. When Jiang Tong married her and they had their own child, what would happen to him? Even if she were a kind person, compared to her own baby, a child from another family with no blood relation wouldn't be as important, right? Would Jiang Tong send him away then? Jiang Zhen’s eyes widened in the dark. He wouldn't be kicked out that easily!
After all, Jiang Tong was already his legal father.
And... and he actually quite liked him.
Jiang Tong taking him to meet that person actually made Jiang Zhen very happy. He decided to make an exception today and cooperate with Jiang Tong, putting on his best behavior. Jiang Zhen adjusted his expression, putting on a look of extreme innocence and cuteness. The hallway lights reflected in his eyes, making his large brown eyes sparkle like transparent glass marbles. Tonight, he would strike with one blow, being the most polite and obedient child in the world so that Jiang Tong’s girlfriend would fall in love with him.
The dining room door opened. He looked up.
A man was sitting at the table.
A beautiful young man.
"This is Kenneth," Jiang Tong pulled him forward gently. "Kenneth, this is my son, Jiang Zhen. You can also call him Dennis."
The beautiful man stood up, walked over, and knelt on one knee to be at eye level with him. Although everything from the gender onward was wrong, the way he smiled was exactly as he had imagined—eyes crinkling like a cat’s.
His eyelashes were so long, longer than the prettiest girl in his class.
"Hello." He held out his hand. His hand was so much larger than the boy's that it could easily envelop his palm. Yet, he held Jiang Zhen’s fingers seriously, as if treating him like an adult.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can be good friends."
It was decided. Jiang Zhen nodded dizzily, making a vow in his heart. If Kenneth and Jiang Tong ever fought in the future, he would unconditionally side with Kenneth.
On the drive to the restaurant, Jiang Tong had appeared calm on the surface but was quite anxious inside. Jiang Zhen wasn't exactly a model of an obedient child by traditional definitions, and Xiao Fengtai’s temper went without saying. He had put a lot of effort into convincing Xiao Fengtai to meet Jiang Zhen, and now he suddenly regretted it, his mind filled with awkward images of the two of them clashing while he was caught in the middle.
However, to his surprise, Jiang Zhen liked Xiao Fengtai immensely, so much so that he exhausted every trick in his book to act like a model child from a home appliance commercial. As for Xiao Fengtai, he always maintained a warm and gentle facade in public, and the dinner actually ended smoothly amidst laughter and conversation.
The private kitchen was also the owner’s residence, and the small garden behind the house had a few rabbits and a goat. After dinner, Jiang Zhen was taken to feed the rabbits and pet the goat. Jiang Tong and Xiao Fengtai stayed on the terrace drinking Mojitos, watching the boy’s exuberant figure from afar.
"Yinsan’s proposal came at a very opportune time." Xiao Fengtai smiled and waved at Jiang Zhen, who was hopping around with a rabbit, but his words were completely at odds with the warm family atmosphere. "How long until the US side officially announces it? Until then, I suggest we stall the C-round financing."
"Yinsan is a listed company; their internal processes are cumbersome. We should see results by the middle of next month. After the Lu Wei incident, several interested institutions have requested to redo their due diligence. We still have money in the bank; if they want to take their time, let them."
"Your timing for entering Huaqing was excellent," Jiang Tong said, a hint of well-concealed pride in his expression. "Once Yinsan announces their partnership with us, there will never be such a cheap price again."
"Naturally."
Xiao Fengtai turned to look at the garden below, avoiding Jiang Tong’s gaze. "The investments I set my sights on never lose money."
Jiang Tong smiled silently.
"It’s about time. Let's head back." He placed his glass on the windowsill. "It’s still early. Want to come over to my place for a bit?"
Xiao Fengtai hesitated, saying nothing.
He used to visit other people’s homes frequently and often brought people to his own. He had received countless invitations like "Come over to my place for a drink." But ever since he started seeing Jiang Tong again, the two of them seemed to be deliberately avoiding something, neither of them ever crossing that line.
It was an invisible boundary. Once crossed, memories would come flooding back. The small apartment in Singapore with the curtains half-drawn, the raw and urgent touches, the breaths, the kisses. His hand over the other’s, stroke by stroke on white paper, writing: *"You ask when I shall return, but no date is set; the night rain on Mount Ba swells the autumn pools."*
One step further, and it would be impossible to pull away easily.
"Let's go." Jiang Tong took hold of his arm, a gentle tug. As long as Xiao Fengtai moved slightly, he could break free at any time.
"Do you want a late-night snack? Once Dennis is asleep, I’ll boil some wontons for you."
"There are shrimp wontons in the freezer; I just wrapped them last night. I haven't made them in a long time, so I don't know if they’re good." He smiled somewhat bashfully. "I remember you like the ones with shrimp."
Xiao Fengtai’s heart eased.
"Let's go."
He pulled his arm from Jiang Tong’s grasp and walked a few steps ahead of him to hide his flustered expression.
Jiang Zhen had finally exhausted his energy after a night of excitement and fell asleep with his head lolling halfway through the car ride. The child was a deep sleeper; no matter how Jiang Tong patted him, he wouldn't wake up, so Jiang Tong had to lift him out of the car like pulling a radish. Dennis had grown in height and weight since starting elementary school, and Jiang Tong was sweating by the time he carried him from the garage to the sofa inside.
"There’s juice in the fridge, and the kitchen tap has a purifier so you can drink directly from it. The glasses are in the cabinet," he whispered to Xiao Fengtai, who had followed him inside. "Make yourself at home. I’ll get Dennis settled."
Jiang Tong didn't treat him like a guest, so Xiao Fengtai followed suit, taking a glass from the cabinet to get some water. While Jiang Tong dragged a half-awake Dennis to brush his teeth and wash his face, Xiao Fengtai sat leisurely on the living room sofa with his legs crossed, drinking water while observing the apartment.
Jiang Tong’s apartment wasn't large, but it had a good layout and likely got plenty of sunlight on clear days. The walls were plain white, and the wooden floors were clean and bright. There wasn't much furniture, mostly in natural tones; though there were no decorations, it felt clean and refreshing. A few stacks of folded shirts and trousers that hadn't been put away yet lay on the sofa, and several open academic journals and children’s picture books were piled on the coffee table. In a corner of the living room stood a child’s bicycle, its frame shiny and bright—a stark contrast to the overall style of the room, yet somehow harmoniously integrated.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom, mixed with Jiang Tong’s low-voiced instructions—a soothing white noise that made one feel drowsy. Xiao Fengtai relaxed, leaning back against the soft sofa. His body felt as if it were soaking in hot water, a wave of warm comfort washing over him. He was starting to feel sleepy too.
"Wake up." He was nudged awake by Jiang Tong, who looked both amused and exasperated. "If you fall asleep too, I won't be able to carry you."
Xiao Fengtai cleared his throat to ease the awkwardness, changing the subject. "Weren't you going to boil wontons?"
So, the two of them went into the kitchen. Jiang Tong did the work while Xiao Fengtai watched with his arms crossed. There wasn't much to see, really. The wontons were already made; he just had to wait for the water to boil, drop them in, and wait for the little wontons to rise to the surface, bobbing with the bubbles. Then he added some dried seaweed and a handful of chopped green onions before turning off the heat.
No one spoke. The water bubbled, and the natural gas hissed as it burned. Pale white steam rose from the surface, thinning and dispersing. The warm, moist aroma of food gradually filled the entire kitchen.
The ivory-white skins gradually became translucent, thin and soft, floating with the current. The wontons were cooked through, a faint pink showing from within, reminiscent of a shy teenage girl’s cheek. They also looked like peach blossoms blooming by a small river in early spring—tiny, delicate, and thin in color, ready to scatter at the slightest touch of a spring breeze.
Jiang Tong focused on the pot, his expression as intent as if the things tumbling in the water weren't wontons but some vital experimental material. When the steam fogged up his glasses, he took them off and wiped them with the corner of his shirt. It should have been a comical sight, yet for some reason, it felt tender. Leaning against the doorframe, Xiao Fengtai suddenly had a strange thought. If not for the entanglements and rights and wrongs of ten years ago, if they were meeting for the first time now, he would likely still be attracted to Jiang Tong sooner or later.
Handsome but not excessively so, intelligent yet possessed of self-awareness—a man as clear and gentle as spring water, whose strength was an internalized resilience that quietly broke through obstacles, flowing all the way to the sea.
His own life already had too many dramatic elements. Fine clothes, gourmet food, the glitter of high society, and the calculated maneuvers hidden behind masked smiles. Too many camera flashes gave him a headache; when he returned home and took off his suit jacket, the mixed scent of expensive perfume and cigars smelled like a trash can in a nightclub alleyway. Even champagne became tasteless after a while; it was better to drink water—clear, tasteless, passing through the body with ease and no burden, so that he wouldn't wake up the next day with aching muscles and a splitting headache, feeling as if he’d been beaten.
"What are you looking at?" Jiang Tong finally spoke up, unable to bear the scrutiny.
"Looking at how good you look," Xiao Fengtai said, his lips curling into a smile. "How’s the soundproofing in this building?"
Xiao Fengtai hadn't given an answer to Jiang Tong’s question yet. But neither of them was in a hurry. They had a very, very long time to answer it together.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
银杉 (Yinsan) | Yinsan Pharma | A major pharmaceutical company mentioned as a potential partner for Huaqing.
赎罪券 (Shúzuìquàn) | Indulgence | Used metaphorically by Pei Jing to refer to buying one's way out of "sin" or guilt.
私房菜 (Sīfángcài) | Private Kitchen / Private Dining | A restaurant typically located in a private residence, offering a more intimate dining experience.
蒋蓁 (Jiǎng Zhēn) | Jiang Zhen | The Chinese name given to Dennis, Jiang Tong's adopted son.
莫吉托 (Mòjítuō) | Mojito | A traditional Cuban highball cocktail.
馄饨 (Húntun) | Wonton | A type of Chinese dumpling, often served in soup.
