“Liu Ge, starting from now, I’m no longer part of Jiang Yu Company, so you don’t need to pick me up tomorrow. Don’t worry, the new boss won’t be unreasonable, you can continue driving peacefully.” Before getting out of the car, Zeng Yu gave his driver, Liu, a final instruction.
Liu Ge looked completely dumbfounded, but Zeng Yu didn’t explain further. He just left without looking back.
“Zeng Yu, over here.” When Zeng Yu arrived, Annan stood up to greet him. Annan had been introduced to Zeng Yu by Wang Zheng. Later, Annan and Zeng Yu became close friends, though Annan’s relationship with Wang Zheng remained casual. Fate works in strange ways. In Zeng Yu’s eyes, Annan was someone with ambition and a friend he could really talk to.
“Ever since you resigned, I haven’t been to Wild Grass Bar,” Zeng Yu casually commented as he sat down.
“Yeah, Wang Zheng just called me. He said there’s a decent property, and we’ve arranged to go check it out tomorrow. As for the investment, I have one condition,” Annan said, looking slightly conflicted.
Zeng Yu smiled and responded, “I’ll just invest the money and leave the rest to you. But speaking of which, since I’ll be one of the shareholders, will you still welcome me at your bar? Don’t worry, I’ll pay like a regular customer.”
Annan chuckled. Even though he expected this, he still felt a bit uneasy. Zeng Yu knew the business well, which made them great friends, but partnerships were a whole other story. He added, “Don’t get me wrong, Zeng Yu. It’s just that…”
Zeng Yu waved his hand, interrupting him, “It’s just a bar. You calling the shots is enough. Two people trying to steer it would only cause chaos. I understand that, so no need to feel awkward.”
“Alright then, here’s my bank account info and the contract I’ve drafted.” Annan pulled a contract out of his bag, placing it on the table, watching Zeng Yu for his reaction. But without even looking, Zeng Yu simply signed his name.
Annan was taken aback. “Aren’t you worried at all?”
Zeng Yu grinned, “It’s not that much money anyway. I doubt it’s even as much as what you’ve spent traveling the world studying whiskey culture, right? Besides, my gut tells me you’re someone I can trust.”
Annan gave a wry smile, “Hearing that puts a lot of pressure on me. Even though this investment isn’t a huge sum, it’s still three million yuan in total. According to the contract, you’re contributing the larger part—two million for a forty percent share. I think you should be a bit more cautious. This isn’t a trivial amount. And by the way, when I traveled the world, it wasn’t as glamorous as you might think. I’d stop and work to support myself, covering basic living expenses and travel costs. It was more like a backpacking lifestyle. You get what I mean?”
“I’ve heard of it, but don’t know much about it. So what?” Zeng Yu asked with a smile.
Annan didn’t answer directly. He stood up and packed away the contract. “There’s something I’ve always wondered about. How is it that with your impulsiveness, you haven’t gone bankrupt yet?”
Zeng Yu pointed to his eyes. “I rely on these. I rarely misjudge people.”
Annan nodded, “Let me give you some advice: human nature isn’t fixed. When the temptation is strong enough, people change.”
Zeng Yu waved his hand dismissively, “It’s fine. Two million isn’t enough to corrupt you.”
“You handle the bill, I’m heading off. Don’t forget to send the money to my account,” Annan said, throwing out the words as he left swiftly.
Annan had his own path and goals. Zeng Yu, however, remained seated, staring at his cooling coffee without any desire to drink it.
“Hi, I’d like a Scotch whisky on the rocks,” Zeng Yu called out to a passing server, raising his hand.
The server smiled and nodded, “Certainly, just a moment.” Shortly after, they returned with a whisky on ice and placed it on the table. “Please enjoy.”
Zeng Yu took a sip, frowned, and muttered under his breath, “There’s no smoky flavor. This isn’t Scotch—it’s Irish whiskey.” But the server had already walked away and didn’t hear his remark.
After finishing the drink, Zeng Yu checked his phone and saw that it was still early. Suddenly, a wave of impulse hit him. He called for the bill, paid quickly, and left.
An hour later, Zeng Yu arrived at the high-speed rail station.
Carrying a simple backpack, he’d changed into a casual T-shirt and shorts. As he sat down on the train, his phone rang—it was Wang Zheng.
“Hey, come join me for a drink at Old Wang’s BBQ.”
“I’m already on the high-speed rail, heading home to see my parents. You’ll have to drink alone,” Zeng Yu replied with a laugh.
Wang Zheng was stunned. “Standing me up again? No way, not this time.”
After hanging up, Wang Zheng turned to his wife, Ye Xiyan. “Yezi, I think I’ll head back to my hometown.”
It was already 6 PM, and there was still plenty of daylight left. Though confused, Ye Xiyan smiled and said, “Alright. Do you want me to come with you?”
Wang Zheng shook his head. “No need. Zeng Yu’s acting a bit strange. I need to check on him.”
“Go ahead,” she said, nodding her approval.
Wang Zheng drove off, and Ye Xiyan watched his car disappear before taking out her phone and making a call. “Auntie, it’s me.”
On the other end, Yuan Lei was having dinner. She stepped away from the table and smiled into the phone. “I didn’t expect it to be you calling. I thought it would be Wang Zheng.”
“Same thing. What’s going on with Zeng Yu?” Unlike Wang Zheng, who was carefree and spontaneous, Ye Xiyan was observant and keenly aware of subtleties. She had quickly sensed that something was amiss—she had rarely seen Zeng Yu act so out of sorts.
“It’s nothing major. It’s just that Jiang Nan came back, and Zeng Yu can’t handle it. Sigh, these two are really bound by fate.” Yuan Lei’s heart felt heavy as she spoke. Over the past few years, one of them had been suffering alone across the ocean, battling illness, while the other had pretended to forget everything, exhausting himself with work to distract his mind.
Ye Xiyan sighed deeply and hung up the phone. She knew all too well how Zeng Yu had been coping these past few years. He always had a smile on his face, but there was always a trace of melancholy in his eyes.
Still, this was between him and Jiang Nan. It wasn’t a matter for others to meddle in.
By the time Zeng Yu stepped out of the high-speed rail station, night had fallen. He hailed a cab, placed his backpack on the seat next to him, and pulled out his phone to read a novel.
The city had changed a lot—almost unrecognizable to someone like Zeng Yu, who had spent so much time away. The city seemed to transform every year, faster than he could keep up with.
When the cab pulled up at the entrance to his old neighborhood, Zeng Yu stretched lazily after paying the fare.
This neighborhood was still familiar to him. But during his last trip home for the New Year, his mother, Fu Yu, had mentioned that the area was set for demolition. To Zeng Yu’s surprise, his parents were actually looking forward to the demolition. The reason was simple: the neighborhood had fallen behind with the city’s development, and its facilities no longer met the residents’ needs.
Zeng Yu’s parents lived on the fifth floor. As he walked through the narrow stairwell, he noticed the clutter of belongings piled at each turn—one of the hallmarks of an old residential area. The cramped space gave him a sense of suffocation, as though there was no room to turn around.
When Fu Yu heard a knock at the door, she poked her head out of the kitchen. “Old Zeng, go open the door! You’re sitting there like some kind of idle lord!”
Zeng Zhanhao, who had been engrossed in his tablet, took off his headphones and muttered, “I didn’t hear it. I’ll get it now. Who’s coming over this late?”
When he opened the door and saw Zeng Yu standing there, Zeng Zhanhao froze, then smiled. “Everything okay? Why’re you back so late?”
Zeng Yu smiled. “Nothing’s wrong. I just suddenly felt tired and thought I’d take a break. I’m planning to take a trip to France next week. I’ve always wanted to go, but I’ve never had the time.”
Fu Yu emerged from the kitchen and saw Zeng Yu changing his shoes. She froze for a moment, then asked, “Have you eaten yet?”
Zeng Yu shook his head with a smile. “No, the food on the high-speed rail was awful.”
Fu Yu chuckled. “I’ll cook something for you right now.” Zeng Yu stepped forward and hugged her tightly. “Mom, I missed you, so I came home.”
Fu Yu’s tears started flowing, and she wiped her eyes with her sleeves, laughing as she said, “What’s gotten into you today? You’re being so sweet. Go take a shower. I’ll have food ready by the time you’re done.”
When Zeng Yu came out after his shower, two dishes were already on the table. Fu Yu smiled and asked, “Want a drink?”
Zeng Yu glanced at the braised dishes on the table and guessed that his father must have gone downstairs to buy them. He shook his head. “No, just food will do.”
“Zeng Yu, is Xiao Jiang still not back from abroad?” Zeng Zhanhao asked from the side.
Hearing this, Zeng Yu’s heart clenched, but he kept his face calm. “Not yet. She finished her master’s and is working on her PhD. It’s probably her family’s idea.”
Fu Yu frowned. “Sigh, you’re almost thirty, and Xiao Jiang isn’t getting any younger either. She should come back and get married. Having kids later can be really tough.”
“I’ll talk to her about it. She’s busy abroad, with a lot of coursework and work on top of that. Her schedule is packed.” Zeng Yu dodged the topic with a vague answer.
Suddenly, Zhanhao chimed in, “Zeng Yu, do you think Xiao Jiang might’ve found someone else over there?”
Zeng Yu’s chopsticks paused for a second, but he quickly laughed it off. “No way. Don’t overthink it.”
After dinner, Zeng Yu returned to his room. Lying on the bed in the same familiar surroundings, he lit a cigarette and stared silently out the window. He had thought that once he calmed down and had some time alone, he might be able to forgive Jiang Nan. But whenever he thought about her betrayal, he couldn’t let it go.
Over the years, he had imagined many versions of what Jiang Nan might be like, but now he didn’t dare to think about it anymore. Yet whenever he tried not to, her image stubbornly resurfaced in his mind—always with her long hair cascading down and that slightly mocking smile at the corner of her mouth. It was as if the persistence of the past four years had all been in vain.
“I’m sorry. I can’t forgive you, and I don’t want to hear your explanation.” Zeng Yu shook his head and lay there, staring at the ceiling until he eventually drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up, sunlight was streaming in through the window.
Stepping out of his room, Zeng Yu found Fu Yu in the living room, sorting vegetables. She looked up and smiled. “We’ve had a heatwave recently. Even running out early to buy groceries leaves me drenched in sweat.”
Zeng Yu laughed and asked, “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at work. He’s got two more years before he retires. We’re just waiting for you to get married and have kids. We’ll help you take care of them.”
Not wanting to continue the conversation about marriage, Zeng Yu quickly excused himself and ducked into the bathroom. Staring at his reflection in the mirror, he wondered if coming home to avoid Jiang Nan had really been the right decision.
“The city has changed a lot. I think I’ll go out for a walk,” Zeng Yu said, changing into fresh clothes as he prepared to leave.
“It’s hot out, don’t go too far, and be sure to come back for lunch,” Fu Yu called after him. Though she didn’t want him to leave, she never interfered with his plans. After all, her son was a grown man now, and it was rare for him to be home. He probably had some gatherings with old friends to attend.
As Zeng Yu left the house, Jiang Nan was on her way to find him. She knew Zeng Yu’s personality well enough to know that calling or texting wouldn’t work. So, she showed up at his neighborhood directly.
“Hmph, it’s like catching a turtle in a jar,” Jiang Nan muttered to herself, psyching herself up as she entered the building.
Standing at Zeng Yu’s door, Jiang Nan adjusted her expression in a compact mirror before knocking. But there was no response.
Frowning at the tightly closed door, she murmured to herself, “He’s not home?”
Just then, the door of the neighboring apartment opened, and a young woman stepped out. “Don’t bother knocking. I saw him leave with a backpack yesterday. He’s probably on a business trip.”
Jiang Nan was disappointed but remained polite as she thanked the neighbor.
The young woman gave her a once-over before casually remarking, “To be honest, you might have a shot.”
Alarm bells went off in Jiang Nan’s head, but she kept her smile and replied, “Oh? So there are a lot of people chasing him?”
