On the next day, he woke up suddenly at 3 AM.
Not wanting to disturb others by turning on the lights, he used his phone, which was still charging, to scroll through unread messages and play a few rounds of Snake.
Used to the soft mattress at home, the hard guest room bed was uncomfortable for his back. Jiang Wang lit a cigarette in the bathroom with the window open and sent a message to Ji Linqiu.
[The air here is great, you should come visit.]
To his surprise, there was a reply after a while.
[Why aren’t you asleep?]
[Choosing a bed. Just finished work?]
[Yeah, the school is evaluating, and I’m preparing materials.]
Jiang Wang checked the layout of the house to ensure the bathroom was far from the rooms and living area. Speaking softly wouldn’t disturb them.
He felt oddly like a child staying in his mother’s new home, being cautious and careful.
He then called Ji Linqiu.
The other side quickly answered, with a hint of sleepiness in his voice.
“This is a long-distance call, be careful with the charges.”
“Well, I just wanted to talk to Teacher Ji late at night.”
Ji Linqiu chuckled. “Oh, not having fun?”
Jiang Wang thought for a moment and shook his head.
“Not really. We’ll go sightseeing tomorrow, get some fresh air, and then go back after spending a few days with the kids.”
He didn’t have anything particularly important to discuss with Ji Linqiu over the long-distance call.
He just wanted to hear his voice.
In an unfamiliar environment, people often seek comfort from familiar sources.
Ji Linqiu was still working on something, with the sound of scratching pens.
Accustomed to indulging Jiang Wang, even for a long-distance call, he kept the phone to his ear and listened to the other’s shallow breathing in the deep night.
One person listened to the sound of the pen, while the other listened to breathing, remaining silent for a long time.
Jiang Wang didn’t smoke, just let the cigarette burn in the wind.
When it was about to go out, he suddenly said with a smile.
“It’s only been a day, and I’m already feeling anxious.”
He immediately realized how drunk he sounded and felt embarrassed about his own words.
No, it was just one bottle of beer today; he usually doesn’t get drunk with two and a half bottles.
Ji Linqiu thought he must have misheard and didn’t dare to ask more, only responding with a vague “Hmm.”
Jiang Wang pressed his face to the phone, as if afraid he wouldn’t be heard, and murmured, “Teacher Ji, I miss touching your jade pendant.”
Ji Linqiu was silent for two seconds. “You pervert, go to sleep.”
He hung up the phone with a snap.
Jiang Wang looked at the call record and smiled for a while, not even sure what he was smiling about.
The next day, Du Wenjuan woke up early. She had planned to go for a prenatal check-up with her husband first, letting the two at home sleep in a bit longer.
Unexpectedly, Peng Xingwang woke up as well and insisted on accompanying her to the hospital.
“Mom will be back soon, just one hour,” Du Wenjuan said, both touched and hesitant, “Be good, just a little while.”
“I want to protect Mom,” the little one said seriously, “And protect the little brother or sister.”
“Alright, we’ll go together.”
Jiang Wang woke up even earlier, took a walk, and brought breakfast back, mirroring Peng Xingwang’s meticulousness.
Chang Hua was surprised at Jiang Wang’s politeness and felt a bit embarrassed, repeatedly thanking him.
“It should be us doing this. You’re so thoughtful, thank you, thank you.”
Jiang Wang only realized later that he had subconsciously taken on the role of Du Wenjuan’s eldest son, smiling without explaining.
Their interest in sightseeing was minimal, and they were content to accompany Du Wenjuan to the hospital.
The fetus was at 22 weeks, so a comprehensive check-up was needed, which required holding urine and queuing for a long time, followed by a 3D ultrasound and blood and urine tests to confirm the development of the fetus’s organs.
Most people in the obstetrics department came as couples, while a few pregnant women stood in line alone with their large bellies.
Du Wenjuan would be in the B ultrasound room for about half an hour. Jiang Wang and Peng Xingwang were left waiting outside, holding the child in his arms and going through the entire pregnancy check-up process and information about childbirth.
Jiang Wang, single for 28 years, was unfamiliar with these things and felt a bit embarrassed explaining unfamiliar terms to the child.
Peng Xingwang had been relaxed but became confused after seeing the anatomical diagrams.
He turned to Jiang Wang and asked, “Is giving birth really this painful?”
He demonstrated with his hands, showing the size of a tiger’s mouth and then expanding to the size of a baby’s head.
“Is it squeezed out like this?!”
Jiang Wang, who had never seen it himself, nodded awkwardly. “Probably.”
“Ah.” The child sighed. “Then Mom really loves me.”
Peng Xingwang found confidence in his own existence.
‘—Mom went through so much trouble to bring me into the world, so I must be very important to her!’
Jiang Wang had some understanding of childbirth but didn’t realize the frequency of check-ups during pregnancy. He looked at the promotional materials as if discovering a new world.
When Du Wenjuan came out again, both the adult and the child looked at her with awe, as if witnessing a miracle.
Du Wenjuan laughed and cried, “You don’t need to be so nervous, everything is fine. The results are great.”
Peng Xingwang nodded seriously and gave her a hug.
“In the next two years, I’ll live well with Brother Jiang and not cause you any trouble.”
Jiang Wang: “……?”
The morning hadn’t taken much time. In the afternoon, they drove to a nearby observation tower to take photos and then leisurely strolled through the folk culture street below the tower.
Cizhou had become prosperous with its light industry and tourism. The cultural spots were well-planned, and the small commodity street had even hired professional actors to perform with stilt walking and boat rowing. The small trumpets played lively tunes, creating a bustling atmosphere.
Peng Xingwang ran quickly between the shops, checking out the silversmith’s hammering and picking out hairpins for his mother, eager to buy everything with his little wallet.
He turned and bought Jiang Wang a pair of silver-pink sunglasses.
The dazzling, iridescent pair was full of vitality.
“Big Brother! Isn’t this cool?”
Jiang Wang, holding the 50 yuan sunglasses, was skeptical.
“Do you really think this suits me?”
Chang Hua laughed heartily from the side. “It’s okay, if you’re not used to it, you can give it to your girlfriend!”
Jiang Wang wanted to say he didn’t have a girlfriend, and the only one he could temporarily claim was Ji Linqiu.
But he realized that wasn’t quite right and didn’t say anything.
He shrugged and hung the sunglasses around his collar, continuing to browse.
Du Wenjuan took a closer look. “The kid has a good eye. You’re wearing a light blue shirt today, and the color matches well.”
Jiang Wang straightened his back suddenly, coughed, and adjusted his collar. “Really? That’s a coincidence.”
Halfway through their outing, Chang Hua began to chat more, introducing the most famous local specialty — fountain pens.
Although Cizhou’s fountain pens weren’t as famous as those from Japan, they secretly produced a large portion of domestic pens. The craftsmanship was good, the prices low, and the designs innovative, with porcelain and gold pens looking quite beautiful.
The folk street also had a very traditional pen shop. Du Wenjuan had taken the child to the opposite side to eat scallion pancakes and green dumplings. Jiang Wang greeted Chang Hua and walked into the shop.
The store specialized in cloisonné enamel crafts, evoking the opulence of the Kangxi and Qianlong periods.
Jiang Wang looked at a long row of pens but his gaze stopped at a display case set apart.
Made of resin with rose gold edges, the colors blended deep blue and green, like the stars of a summer night — deep and gentle.
“How much for this?”
The pen shop owner, who had been observing Jiang Wang’s choices, was in a good mood. “Good eye! This is an original pen I had a friend bring from Italy, it’s not for sale!”
Jiang Wang: “……But I only want to buy this one.”
The owner was a bit reluctant but eager to share his passion for the series. He took out a small light and explained the special features of the pen.
“VISTI, an old Italian brand. Look at this platinum nib and the streamlined design of the barrel!”
He spoke excitedly, as if finally finding someone who appreciated it.
“I didn’t expect you to pick it out at first glance. My friend had to queue for hours to get it!”
Jiang Wang seemed a bit distracted but was still listening. After a while, he asked, “What’s this pen called?”
“Starry Night,” the owner said proudly. “Isn’t it a nice name? Most pens don’t have names like this!”
Jiang Wang nodded. “I’ll take it. What’s the price?”
The owner was momentarily speechless, unsure whether to sell it or not, and rubbed his hands. “It’s… a bit expensive.”
“Doesn’t matter. How much?”
The owner quoted a price over two thousand yuan and explained that it included the queue and travel expenses.
Jiang Wang nodded again and took out his card. “Is UnionPay okay?”
The owner, who had rarely encountered such a non-haggling customer, was surprised. “Would you like… me to give you a discount?”
“No need.” Jiang Wang shook his head.
He wanted to give the pen to Ji Linqiu.
He felt that haggling might diminish the sentiment.
That evening, Jiang Wang took a walk downstairs alone, estimating what Ji Linqiu might be doing at the moment, and called him.
This time, it took a while for Ji Linqiu to answer.
Before Ji Linqiu could speak, Jiang Wang started, “Teacher Ji, I bought a fountain pen for you.”
“I really, really like this pen, so I want to give it to you.”
“You can’t just put it in a drawer, you should use it every day.”
He spoke without hesitation, not even realizing how his words contained a blend of possessiveness and coaxing.
Ji Linqiu hadn’t expected such a monologue right off the bat and laughed helplessly. “Are you making unilateral decisions like this?”
Jiang Wang realized his behavior and felt embarrassed, sounding like a tipsy wolf.
“If you don’t accept it, it’s fine,” he said softly. “But if you don’t, I’ll be sad, quietly sad for a long time.”
“Teacher Ji, can you bear to do that?”
Ji Linqiu covered his eyes, as if deceiving himself with forbidden feelings.
Each word Jiang Wang said made his heart burn, yet he couldn’t convey this feeling to him.
Covering his eyes, he listened to the last sentence, feeling a mix of anger and happiness.
“Jiang Wang,” Ji Linqiu called his name gently.
Jiang Wang’s cheeks turned red suddenly as he leaned against the wall covered with ivy, waiting for the next words.
“You’re still too arrogant,” Ji Linqiu said, covering his eyes in the pitch-black silence.
“What if I don’t indulge you?”
The man’s lips curled into a lazy, flirtatious smile.
“No, you will.”
