After watching the video, Bai Shuijin’s heart directly flew overseas.
So this world actually had such good things. He suddenly narrowed his eyes, “Little Uncle, why didn’t you tell me about this kind of good stuff earlier?”
It made him cry tears from his mouth.
Wang Muguang stayed silent.
Fortunately, his big brother wasn’t home. If he found out he showed Bai Shuijin this kind of thing, the land he just bought in the east of the city might immediately get converted into his burial ground.
Wang Muguang closed his eyes like he was prepared to die. He truly had no words left for Bai Shuijin. It counted as one of the deepest emotional ties in his life, he’d already done all he could.
But what would he do if his brother ever found out?
Wang Muguang didn’t even dare think about it. For now, he could only look through life and say one line: “Do the right thing at the right time.”
Bai Shuijin: “Then can we change to the drama Shen He acted in now? I want to watch him.”
At this moment, the TV was still playing Wang Muguang’s movie.
“…”
After watching TV, Bai Shuijin ate some more fruit, then went upstairs hugging his phone. The screen was playing the video of the Magic Show. Every show had a professional cameraman, and audience filming wasn’t forbidden either, so there were many videos online, too many to even finish watching.
He lay on the big bed, completely absorbed, like he was sitting in the examination room for the college entrance exam. In the video, there were even audience members being picked up by the performers.
!
It could even be interactive.
Through the screen, Bai Shuijin spun in circles on the bed in excitement.
.
Wang Huanxiu finalized the deal for the land in the east of the city, signed the agreement, and locked in the project. The rest of the negotiation work would be much easier.
He had worked overtime until 9 PM. He glanced at the watch on his left wrist, and felt it was about time.
In the past, if there was any major task, the 18th floor of the building would stay lit all night.
But now things are different. Someone was waiting for him at home. This year, his home no longer had only the butler and a group of servants.
Wang Muguang and Wang Zhenzhu had moved back from their grandfather’s place, and Bai Shuijin was there too.
The elegant fingers capped the pen. Looking down from the high-rise window, the lights outside sparkled densely, like another starry sky on the ground.
Wang Huanxiu got up and went to the coat rack to put on his overcoat. He wasn’t particularly tired after the day’s work. Compared to usual, today’s work was actually light.
He had the energy to stay up all night. But there was no reason to because he still had other matters waiting for him at home.
He could already picture Bai Shuijin’s expression when he saw him.
The other party would probably really like the new clothes he just bought.
Wang Huanxiu took the elevator down to the underground parking garage. The phone in his pocket vibrated.
He took it out and saw it was a message from Bai Shuijin.
He was already used to Bai Shuijin texting him without caring about the time. The other party was like a dandelion that had suddenly blown into his life, and could always float to where he was.
It was probably a message asking after him because it was late and he hadn’t come home yet. The message would start with feeling sorry for him, then ask if he could come back now or come home earlier, and that he didn’t want him working too late.
Even though he already knew what it would say, Wang Huanxiu still curled his lips into a smile.
Bai Shuijin was like a little sun, always warm to him.
He opened the message…
[Bai Shuijin: I’m tired, I’m going to bed first.]
Wang Huanxiu: ???
.
Wang Muguang didn’t know where to hide the things from the sex toys shop, so he simply hid them in the safe in his brother’s study.
Wang Huanxiu had also been waiting to wear the clothes and show them to Bai Shuijin, but lately, Bai Shuijin had been sleeping early and getting up early. After dinner and watching TV, he’d head directly back to his room and had never asked to sleep together again.
After waiting a few days, the new clothes still hadn’t been worn. If he waited any longer, they’d probably go out of style.
If something’s abnormal, there must be a reason…Bai Shuijin’s “normal” behavior was starting to feel a bit abnormal.
If the mountain wouldn’t come to him, he’d go to the mountain.
Waiting was the most passive and least effective way to get results. It was better to strike first.
After dinner that night, Wang Huanxiu didn’t leave the table but instead waited for Bai Shuijin, who was still eating fiercely next to him.
Bai Shuijin always ate with full effort, and never left a single grain of rice in his bowl. Wang Muguang was the same and he’d always lick his bowl clean after eating.
Wang Huanxiu silently watched as Wang Muguang licked his bowl spotless.
Bai Shuijin noticed his gaze. “Laogong-ge, Little Uncle has never come out of the role ever since he played a beggar.”
It felt like he’d starve to death tomorrow after eating this meal.
Bai Shuijin mumbled with his mouth stuffed with rice, “He has found his role in life…ahem ahem ahem…”
Bai Shuijin choked because he was talking too fast while eating, and he coughed as if on vibrate mode.
He was struggling, like something was stuck in his airway, but he still kept trying to swallow the rice so it wouldn’t come out. His face turned red, matching chili peppers in color.
There was a transparent crystal pitcher on the dining table. Wang Huanxiu reached out and grabbed it. Without having time to pour a glass for Bai Shuijin, he directly took off the lid which was as big as his palm and lifted the pitcher in front of Bai Shuijin. The mouth of the pitcher was so big that it could swallow half of Bai Shuijin’s face.
He moved extremely quickly. One second he noticed something was wrong, and he was already rescuing the next. Looking at Bai Shuijin who was coughing and struggling to breathe, his eyes darkened slightly, but his voice remained calm.
“Drink.”
Bai Shuijin grabbed his strong wrist with both hands and drank from the pitcher that Wang Huanxiu brought close. The cherry red lips wrapped around the rim, gulping down water.
He was lightly dressed at home; it was spring, the snow outside had melted, trees were budding, and winter’s chill was completely gone.
Spring had come, but the temperature difference between day and night was big, so the heater in the house stayed on. It was hot indoors, so Bai Shuijin simply walked around in short sleeves and shorts.
The pajamas he wore now weren’t the same type as the cheap T-shirts he wore before. Wang Muguang had disliked those 50 yuan-for-3 shirts he wore as loungewear, so he immediately gave him several sets of branded sleepwear he endorsed that were in his size.
Since they were his and they were just lying around in the closet, Bai Shuijin wore them. The fabric was skin-friendly and comfortable. He felt like he was wearing slippery silk on his body.
The pajama neckline was just right, but with his head tilting back to drink, his neck moved, drawing the gaze down toward the collar, trying to peek in further.
Wang Huanxiu’s eyes were clouded. Bai Shuijin was still holding his wrist and drinking little by little. He couldn’t open his mouth too wide or he’d choke again, so he could only take in water slowly to relieve the discomfort.
After he had enough, Wang Huanxiu saw him squint his eyes in satisfaction and pulled the pitcher away.
Bai Shuijin licked his wet lips. “Thank you , laogong-ge.”
He took a deep breath, as if he had just downed a gallon of wine.
Looking at the pitcher in Wang Huanxiu’s hand, he once again admired the man’s terrifying arm strength. The pitcher was full just now. It was almost the height of a grown man’s forearm, and heavy with water. But he just lifted it like it was nothing. As expected of a domineering CEO who worked all day and still went to the gym to pump iron.
Bai Shuijin finished drinking and lowered his head to continue eating. Wang Muguang and Wang Zhenzhu had already finished.
He took another bite and still remembered to say, “Laogong-ge, you’re like my rebirth parent.”
Wang Huanxiu reached out and tugged the hair on his head.
“What’s wrong, laogong-ge?”
“Nothing, I am just wondering who your old Chinese teacher was.”
“…”
‘Why does it sound strange? Is that a jab at him?’
Forget it, just eat. Today there was his favorite dish, braised pork. Actually, the dishes on the table were always his favorites.
The fatty part of the braised pork had been stewed until it became translucent, coated with red sauce and giving off a tantalizing aroma that teased the taste buds.
Mixing the sauce with rice was also delicious. Bai Shuijin had already finished one bowl and was working through his second. As he neared the end, he started to feel full and he no longer felt like eating the fatty meat. The taste had started getting greasy, and he only wanted to eat chewy lean meat.
But to bring out the best flavor of the braised pork, Auntie Li had cut each piece with alternating layers of fat and lean meat.
Wang Huanxiu was reading messages on his phone when he felt a burning gaze from the side.
Bai Shuijin was looking at him eagerly, like he was looking at the stars.
“Laogong-ge.”
“Speak.”
Bai Shuijin picked up a piece of braised pork with his chopsticks. “Laogong-ge, I don’t want the fatty part anymore. I’m a little tired of it.”
“You just want the lean meat?”
Bai Shuijin nodded, his tone regretful. “But not eating the fatty part would be wasteful.”
‘If you don’t want it, don’t eat it.’ Wang Huanxiu didn’t know why, but when Bai Shuijin and Wang Muguang ate, he always felt like their household could barely put food on the table.
“Laogong-ge, what should I do?”
He asked what to do, and the next second, shoved the chopsticks toward Wang Huanxiu’s mouth.
Wang Huanxiu: “…”
At least Bai Shuijin could solve problems on his own.
Wang Huanxiu gave in, opened his mouth, and bit off the fatty part from the chopsticks, swallowing it.
“Laogong-ge, you’re such a good eater.”
“…”
Seeing Bai Shuijin’s happy smile, Wang Huanxiu raised the corner of his lips and sighed with helplessness and satisfaction.
While chewing the meat, Bai Shuijin didn’t forget to flatter him. “Laogong-ge, I like you the most.”
“How much do you like me?”
“Just the most,” Bai Shuijin replied, his mouth glistening with oil.
He was charging into the final stretch of dinner when the person beside him asked, “Do you want to sleep together tonight?”
‘Sleep together?’
“Okay.” Bai Shuijin placed his hand on Wang Huanxiu’s arm. “Laogong-ge, come earlier. No…let’s go to the room together after I finish eating. I have something I need to do with you tonight.”
After dinner and rinsing his mouth, Bai Shuijin dragged Wang Huanxiu to the room without even giving him time to go back for his clothes.
After closing the door, Bai Shuijin’s eyes sparkled with a smile. “Laogong-ge, let’s go all out tonight.”
His words were thrilling.
Before Wang Huanxiu could react, Bai Shuijin had already pulled him into the walk-in closet. “I’m traveling abroad with Little Uncle tomorrow and I haven’t packed yet. Laogong-ge, do you know what the weather is like in Europe? Little Uncle said you studied abroad before high school, so you should know what to bring.”
Wang Huanxiu: “…”
So the so-called “going all out” was to pack luggage.
The two of them packed until midnight. After washing up, they collapsed onto the bed. Wang Huanxiu thought Bai Shuijin would snuggle up to him, but all he got was the same sentence.
“I’m tired, I’m going to bed first.”
Wang Huanxiu felt as powerless as a wilted flower.
The next morning, he was woken by Bai Shuijin lying on top of him. The rare thing was, Bai Shuijin had gotten up earlier than him. It was six-thirty in the morning, but he had already quietly washed up and gotten dressed, ready to head off to Europe.
Before leaving, he didn’t forget to bid farewell to his one and only laogong-ge.
“Laogong-ge, I’m leaving now. Who knows when we’ll meet again.”
“How long are you going for?”
Bai Shuijin didn’t know either, but he still painted a rosy picture for Wang Huanxiu. “Of course it’ll be soon.”
At seven o’clock, Bai Shuijin and Wang Muguang left the house and took a private car to the capital’s airport.
It was Bai Shuijin’s first time going abroad, and he was buzzing with excitement.
In his past life, he had taken planes a few times too. Sometimes they would follow their teacher to perform in other places as part of the curriculum. A professional dancer couldn’t be afraid of the spotlight or of being watched.
Even shy or introverted students could, through constant practice, overcome psychological barriers.
He still remembered how he looked on his first flight…like a country dog not knowing where to go, sticking close to the group. The hotel and flight were paid for by the school.
He also once had the chance to go abroad and see the world, but later missed it.
That painful and bitter memory was still fresh in his mind. It was the venue for an international dance competition, a preliminary for modern dance and Latin.
His mentor had received two entrance tickets to attend in person.
Bai Shuijin was talented and the mentor’s favorite student. But she wasn’t his teacher alone. She had many students, and couldn’t openly favor him, as it may easily cause dissatisfaction among the students. Bai Shuijin was already being ostracized for his top performance.
But if Bai Shuijin could witness the competition himself, he would learn a lot and absorb it into his own dancing.
The tickets wouldn’t go to waste.
Eventually, they decided to compete. Their main focus was modern dance, but Latin was also required.
Bai Shuijin excelled at modern. For Latin, everyone participated, and the best student would get the ticket.
In the end, Bai Shuijin and a female classmate won. He went to the airport, full of excitement. But when he checked his bag, the ticket was gone.
That ticket had vanished without a trace.
Bai Shuijin didn’t know whether it was stolen or not, but that was the first time he broke down. He felt like his dream was slipping out of reach, and he cried so loudly at the airport that security came over.
They got on the plane and fastened their seatbelts.
Wang Muguang: “Is there anything you want to experience while abroad?”
Bai Shuijin shook his head. He didn’t know either. Or maybe he did in his heart, but couldn’t say it out loud.
“Think about it carefully.” Wang Muguang put on his neck pillow. “Although there will be many opportunities to travel abroad in the future, you should always have a good time without any regrets. Only then will the trip be worthwhile.”
Bai Shuijin looked down at his seatbelt.
‘No regrets?’
He didn’t reply. Something surged in his chest…a feeling that hadn’t stopped since Wang Zhenzhu’s birthday banquet.
That day, he had been genuinely happy, even more ecstatic than when he’d come to this world and received a gold card he could spend for the rest of his life.
He enjoyed the confidence dance gave him, moving to the rhythm of the music.
Maybe he should go see it for himself…a dance competition that once left him crying helplessly because he couldn’t attend in person.
See the real thing. Real dancers who qualified to be on stage.
If even then he still didn’t want to dance, if he still couldn’t face his dream, then so be it.
He wanted to live his life with no regrets. He had already died once and full of regret. He didn’t want that to happen again.
“I want to see a modern dance competition. Is there one happening now?”
Wang Muguang, wearing a sparkly-eyed sleep mask, turned to look at Bai Shuijin. He looked a bit strange.
“Of course there is. It’s competition season now. We’ll go right after landing.”
Getting tickets to an inner-circle dance event was easy for someone like Wang Muguang, a rich second-generation with a powerful background.
Bai Shuijin’s eyes welled up. “Little Uncle, thank you.”
“What’s there to thank?” Wang Muguang sniffed. “The airplane meal is here.”
He pulled off his mask and started eating.
Bai Shuijin loved the sweet bread rolls served on planes. After eating one, he asked for another. When he wanted a third, he didn’t know how to ask.
Wang Muguang: “Just call the flight attendant.”
Bai Shuijin looked at the man carrying the bread basket. He was male.
Women on planes were called air hostesses. What were the men called?
“What do I call him…air hostess?”
“I know what to call him, I got this.” Wang Muguang raised a hand. “Male air hostess.”
“…”
The plane landed the next morning. Golden sunlight spilled into the transparent walkway. Surrounded by people with distinctly Western features, Bai Shuijin truly felt that he had gone abroad.
He half understood the English being broadcast in his ears, and the European-style buildings outside looked completely different from those back home.
Wang Muguang waited for the assistant to collect their luggage. To adapt to the environment quickly, he had even specially hired a local guide. The filming location was a town by the sea, and having a guide would help them familiarize themselves with the terrain and landscape faster.
Once the luggage was collected, the two of them got into the car.
Wang Muguang had no work scheduled today and had the whole day free to explore and relax.
First, they booked tickets for a dance competition. Then, just like Bai Shuijin, he turned his gaze to the window to enjoy the scenery.
The guide in the front passenger seat said, “We’re now about to pass this city’s most famous Lover’s Park. Every day, people from all over the world come to take pictures here.”
Bai Shuijin listened in a daze. His English proficiency had stayed at the level of the College English Test Band 4. He asked in somewhat accented English, “What’s special inside the park?”
If people from all over the world came to check in, there must be something eye-catching about it, otherwise, it wouldn’t be so popular.
“It’s a love story from the last century. During a time of war, a soldier was about to leave home for the front lines. He told his fiancée that if he didn’t return, she should forget about him. But their love was stronger than gold. The fiancée said that even if he didn’t return, she’d never forget him until death. She even tattooed his name on her arm. The place where they parted was at the fountain inside Lover’s Park. No one knows whether the soldier ever came back, or whether they ended up together. It’s a mystery.”
“Eighty years later, a young couple who looked strikingly similar to them was photographed dating at the same spot. People said it was a fated reunion from a past life. The fame of the attraction completely blew up. There’s even a stand near the fountain for temporary tattoos. Many tourists go there to check in, get a tattoo, and take photos.”
The love story didn’t really move Bai Shuijin emotionally, but he did want to join the fun.
“Little Uncle, let’s go take a look. Crowded places are lively, and we can see some local tourism culture too.”
“Alright.”
With that, the car stopped at the park entrance, and the two got out and entered Lover’s Park.
The Lover’s Fountain was located deep inside the park, which was a wetland park. They had to walk about a kilometer to reach the fountain, and the closer they got, the more people there were.
There was even a long line in front of the tattoo stand. Bai Shuijin was a little tempted and his heart felt itchy. He rolled up his sleeve, thinking about getting one himself.
Anyway, it was temporary and would wash off the next day.
“Little Uncle, I want to get one. What about you?”
Wang Muguang hesitated. After all, his body was already perfect. He’d never touched tattoos before, and anything that might damage his perfect body, he instinctively resisted.
After all, if his body were harmed, even the heavens would weep.
Seeing the other party’s hesitation, Bai Shuijin uttered the four words of divine persuasion: “We’re already here anyway.”
“…”
Do it!
Wang Muguang hesitated over whether to get it on his left or right arm, let alone who to tattoo.
Aren’t these tattoos supposed to be of one’s lover? He didn’t have one.
Looking ahead at the line, he was the only single dog there. His eyes fell on Bai Shuijin…the green hat monster.
Tattooing a name on the arm was a way of hoping they’d meet again in the next life.
Bai Shuijin would definitely tattoo his big brother’s name, right?
Soon it was their turn. The temporary tattoos were drawn on the skin using special ink, and once dry, the effect looked just like a real tattoo.
The vendor said, “You can tattoo your lover’s name, surname, or initials.”
Bai Shuijin: “OK! OK!”
After getting his tattoo, Bai Shuijin went to the side to let it dry. Wang Muguang, who was all in at this point, decided to tattoo the initials of his fan group name.
In the next life, he’d still be their idol.
Once it was done, Wang Muguang thought it looked quite beautiful. He went over to see Bai Shuijin’s design. It was initials too, but the three letters weren’t the initials of Wang Huanxiu’s name.
‘ZJL?’
Wang Muguang was completely puzzled. “What did you tattoo?”
Bai Shuijin said, “Zha Ji Liu.” (Fried Chicken Strips)
“…”
Wang Muguang was shocked. “Why would you tattoo fried chicken strips?!”
Such a romantic place suddenly became unromantic.
“Didn’t they say that if you get a tattoo, you can reunite in the next life? I want to eat fried chicken strips in my next life too.”
“…”
The tattoo was a fun novelty. And when they went back to the hotel, he couldn’t wait to take a picture of his arm and sent it to Wang Huanxiu.
“Laogong-ge, I got a tattoo at the Lover’s Park abroad. They said if you get one, you can meet again in the next life.”
Wang Huanxiu saw the message fifteen minutes later. He had actually visited that park back in high school, so he knew the story and the site’s theme well.
Bai Shuijin should’ve tattooed his lover’s name. But when he opened the photo, silence fell over the executive chairman’s office on the 18th floor of the building.
ZJL? Who was that?
Wang Huanxiu didn’t say anything. His obsidian-like eyes even tried to analyze those three letters into something related to himself.
Bai Shuijin liked him so much. He said he liked him all the time.
Would he tattoo someone else’s name?
Just at that moment, Secretary Chen Ji came in.
Wang Huanxiu asked him, “Do you think these letters have anything to do with the abbreviation of my name?”
Chen Ji shamelessly declared, “Of course, President Wang. WHX and ZJL only differ by three letters.”
