E | Chapter 13

Yu Zhinian wanted to adjust his jet lag but failed. He fell asleep around five in the morning and woke up at nine, his head pounding as if it would split open. His sleep schedule had become utterly chaotic.

He picked up his phone and saw a message from Shao Xilin sent at 6:30 AM after landing. It was a cheerful note, asking if Yu Zhinian needed help organizing his house. Shao Xilin claimed to be exceptionally skilled at tidying up and was eager to showcase his talents in Yu Zhinian’s home.

“I took a nap on the plane,” Shao Xilin added. “Feeling amazing!”

Reading that line, Yu Zhinian, already irritable from sleep deprivation, felt a deep pang of injustice.

He replied to Shao Xilin, saying the water pipes in his house were acting up, forcing him to sleep in Rose District last night. He had no idea when he could move in.

Thinking about the basement door lock, the moving company, the plumbing, and a myriad of unresolved issues, Yu Zhinian felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.

He changed his clothes, reorganized his suitcase, and called the real estate agent to inquire about the situation with the house.

Lin Kai told him that workers had already started repairs, but the house was a complete mess due to the water damage. Cleaning and renovations would take time.

“But I’m only renting for three months,” Yu Zhinian pointed out heavily.

“I know,” Lin Kai replied, his tone full of apology. He promised that he was already searching for new housing for Yu Zhinian and would compensate for the trouble, even covering any price differences with the new place.

After ending the call, Yu Zhinian contacted the moving company.

The response was equally unhelpful. The representative explained that there were too many people moving lately, and they couldn’t spare anyone on such short notice. However, three days later, someone had canceled, and their warehouse would be available. They asked if he could wait.

Having no luck with other moving companies either, Yu Zhinian had no choice but to stick with the original one and schedule the move for three days later.

With nothing resolved, Yu Zhinian felt his day starting on a gloomy note.

He dragged his suitcase to the door, leaving it there for now, and went downstairs to check the basement door. Passing through the living room, he saw a florist and her assistant replacing the fresh flowers in the house.

The florist was still Tiffany, as before, but her assistant had changed. Upon seeing Yu Zhinian, Tiffany greeted him warmly with a smile: “Mr. Yu, long time no see! Is your research project finally complete?”

Yu Zhinian froze for a moment, then said, “Yes,” and walked over to look at the new flowers. They chatted briefly.

Tiffany mentioned that she had opened a new studio in Rose District and praised Chairman Yang for his generosity. “You two must be very happy together,” she added.

For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, Yu Zhinian smiled sincerely at her and thanked her.

The flowers were white, as usual. Tiffany and her assistant collected the old flowers and arranged the new ones, filling the house with a fresh fragrance.

Yang Ke’s aesthetic was starkly different from Yang Zhongyun’s. The grandfather preferred traditional Chinese decor—redwood, intricate carvings, and an emphasis on outdoor landscaping. Yang Ke, on the other hand, liked simplicity.

This felt like a typical, ordinary morning in a home. Looking at the newly placed lilies, Yu Zhinian thought to himself with a surprising sense of calm, wondering what kind of people would live here in the future and achieve the happiness Tiffany spoke of.

As he stood there, the butler happened to walk by. Yu Zhinian asked him about the basement door lock.

The butler’s tone reminded him of Lin Kai and the moving company representative.

“A locksmith came earlier this morning, but he didn’t have all his tools, so the lock couldn’t be opened,” the butler said, frowning slightly. “To make matters worse, he has other appointments this afternoon. I’ll try contacting someone else.”

The whole morning had been unproductive, leaving Yu Zhinian feeling stifled. After some thought, he told the butler that since he couldn’t find a moving company, he would stay in a hotel for the next three days. “I think the lock will be fixed by then, and I can move my stuff out.”

“But I don’t know if Yang Ke will mind,” he added. “He seemed in a hurry. Even when I was back in China, he kept rushing me.”

The butler’s expression changed subtly. After thinking for a moment, he said, “You might want to ask Mr. Yang about that.”

“Wouldn’t it be more convenient to stay here?” the butler suddenly suggested. “Why bother moving to a hotel?”

Since moving into the house, the butler had treated Yu Zhinian well, so he didn’t want to argue. Smiling faintly, he asked, “Is Yang Ke working upstairs?”

“Mr. Yang went to the office,” the butler replied, shaking his head. “But he’ll be back for lunch.”

“The chef is already preparing a meal for two,” he added. “Why not wait for Mr. Yang to return and discuss it then?”

Yu Zhinian considered calling Yang Ke but figured he’d probably hang up, so he decided to wait and discuss things in person. Hoping for some leniency amid his streak of bad luck, he wished Yang Ke would grant him three more days.

It was still early, and Yu Zhinian didn’t want to linger downstairs. He told the maid to notify him when Yang Ke returned, then went to the bar to pour himself a glass of water.

Unexpectedly, while pouring, he noticed a familiar notebook on the shelf beside the counter.

Picking it up, he realized it was his ethnography methods notebook from university. He couldn’t fathom why it was here. Flipping through, he found nothing but dull class notes, group assignments, and discussion records.

He guessed that he had left it somewhere and the butler had tidied it up onto the shelf. Taking it, he headed back to his room.

Back in his room, Yu Zhinian sat on the bed and browsed the notebook.

It was from his sophomore year—several years old, with yellowed pages that made it look ancient. Reading the group discussion notes, he recalled his university days. He couldn’t discern whether those times had been happy. Perhaps because he was naturally optimistic, he had a knack for forgetting awkward or painful memories.

The amateurish notes reflected his effort, making him chuckle. While reminiscing, he drifted off to sleep.

This time, Yu Zhinian had his first dream since returning to He City.

In his dream, the events of yesterday replayed. However, in the dream, he had learned locksmithing and volunteered to pick the basement lock. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t open it. Standing beside Yang Ke was another person, possibly a new lover, watching coldly. The person asked, “Do you even know what you’re doing?”

Yu Zhinian tried countless tools, inserting them into the lock and attempting to release the catch, but he failed repeatedly. Each time, he said, “Let me try again,” and “I can do it.”

Eventually, Yang Ke, exasperated, gave him a light shove and said, “Stop messing around. Let someone else handle it.”

Yu Zhinian woke with a start to find Yang Ke standing beside his bed, leaning over to look at him.

Yang Ke didn’t seem to expect him to wake up so suddenly. He straightened and took a step back.

Startled, Yu Zhinian stared at Yang Ke, sat up, and said nothing.

Yang Ke wore a gray suit today, looking like he had just returned home. He hadn’t even taken off his jacket.

After a long silence, Yang Ke said, “It’s time to eat.”

“Oh,” Yu Zhinian replied. Then Yang Ke asked, “Why is your suitcase there?”

Pointing to the suitcase by the door, Yang Ke waited for an explanation.

“That,” Yu Zhinian said, snapping out of it, “I’m heading to a hotel after lunch.”

He added, “I tried contacting moving companies this morning, but none are available until three days later. They have a partnered warehouse for my stuff. I also checked with other companies, but no one’s free. So, can I leave my basement things for three more days?”

Yang Ke didn’t respond.

Sensing rejection, Yu Zhinian watched Yang Ke for a moment. Remembering his dream, he couldn’t help but ask, “Are you in such a hurry because someone else is moving in?”

Yang Ke paused and replied in an annoyed tone, “Yu Zhinian, what are you thinking?”

After a moment of silence, Yang Ke said, “You can stay here until you find a place.”

“Is that really okay?” Yu Zhinian hesitated.

Yang Ke added, “Just stay for one night. Treat this like a hotel.”

Although his tone wasn’t great and his logic seemed odd, Yu Zhinian dared not argue. After a brief stare-off, Yu Zhinian decided to salvage the mood and thanked him. “Alright, thank you. Can we eat now?”

“Hmm,” Yang Ke replied.

Yu Zhinian got out of bed and said, “Then let’s go.”

Heading downstairs together, Yang Ke’s phone rang again. He picked up and said, “Didn’t I tell you I’m on vacation?”

The voice on the other end seemed to be Zhai Di’s, as they discussed work matters. Yang Ke slowed his pace while they talked.

Yu Zhinian reached the dining room first and waited a few minutes before Yang Ke joined him.

Lunch was light and appetizing, and Yu Zhinian ate more than the previous night. While eating, he asked Yang Ke, “Are you on vacation?”

“Hmm,” Yang Ke replied, as if worried about a misunderstanding. He added, “It’s been a while since I took a break.”

Yu Zhinian nodded and ate a few more bites. Suddenly, Yang Ke called his name and asked, “What were you dreaming about earlier?”

Caught off guard, Yu Zhinian asked, “Why?”

“You were talking in your sleep,” Yang Ke said. “You said, ‘Let me try again.’ What does that mean?”

Yu Zhinian found the full dream too embarrassing to share, so he glossed over the details. “I dreamed I was a locksmith trying to open the basement door, but I couldn’t. Then you said you’d call someone else to do it.”

Yang Ke was quiet for a moment before asking abruptly, “Are you free tonight?”

Yu Zhinian said he was, so Yang Ke continued, “A restaurant’s head chef invited me to try new dishes. Bring a guest, they said. Come with me.”

Yang Ke and Yu Zhinian had rarely gone out for dinner together. If it were the old Yu Zhinian, he would’ve been thrilled. But now, he didn’t dare overthink it. He simply asked, “Why not bring someone else?”

Yang Ke’s face darkened slightly but, surprisingly, he didn’t snap. Instead, he said simply, “Who else would I bring?”

Yu Zhinian’s question led to at least five minutes of silence. When they were almost finished eating, Yang Ke spoke again, “I’m busy. I work from morning to night every day.”

Yu Zhinian looked at Yang Ke, puzzled. After being stared at for a moment, Yang Ke put down his chopsticks and said, “Can you stop overthinking everything?”