“So Huishang Bank never considers employees’ requests?” Tang Yang softly interrupted President Fan. She had a closer relationship with President Fan than with Zhou Zisheng.
President Fan remained silent.
Tang Yang continued, “So Huishang employees are like bricks, moved wherever they’re needed? Customers are gods, but employees can be dispatched at will without considering their wishes. Or were you subtly testing me before…”
“Tang Yang, calm down,” President Fan seemed to have anticipated Tang Yang’s reaction.
He stood up to close the door, then turned off the surveillance camera in the corner before returning to his seat.
Tang Yang’s lips were pressed into a thin line, her expression displeased.
“Tang Yang,” President Fan picked up the personnel transfer document, his gaze scanning over it, “A City Branch has many opportunities, but you have Gan Yiming above you. As long as Gan Yiming doesn’t leave or step down, it’s hard for you to move up.”
“We both know that everyone only has a few golden years, and it’s hard to have another chance once they pass. Transferring back to B City Branch’s Credit Review Department as Deputy Director seems like a lateral move, but Director Yuan is taking unpaid leave next week, so…”
President Fan stopped there, lifting his teacup for a sip.
The steam from the cup blurred his slightly plump features. Tang Yang also withdrew from her tumultuous emotions.
Tang Yang’s eyelashes fluttered. She took a deep breath and said, “My reasons are the same as last time. I’m from A City, my parents are in A City, my friends are in A City. I’m almost thirty, not young anymore. I want to go back to A City, to be with my parents…”
President Fan had a sudden realization: “Last time was also because of Jiang Shiyan?”
Faced with President Fan’s direct gaze, Tang Yang fell silent.
The last time Tang Yang stood in the same position was in late October of the previous year.
In early October, she had been rotated to a small town branch in southern B City to familiarize herself with grassroots operations. It was more of a village than a town, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with buildings no taller than three stories and a single two-lane road leading to the outside world.
The small town only had 3G coverage, with intermittent wireless connection. Tang Yang lived in a cramped staff dormitory, finding daily joy in chatting with neighbors and watching a small color TV less than 20 inches wide as if she had returned to the 1970s.
That month, the Yixiu live-streaming platform was launched. With prior promotion and multi-functional interactive development, the Yixiu Live APP quickly surpassed ten million downloads upon release, with daily active users rocketing to the top of the industry.
That month, the profits from Yixiu Live alone propelled Jiang Shiyan past his parents on the wealth rankings, entering the top ten.
That month, “Yixiu Live” and “phenomenal” were the hottest terms across Weibo, WeChat, and various news feeds.
That month, Jiang Shiyan frequented various business occasions. Despite poor signal on Tang Yang’s end, they maintained their routine of liking each other’s moments and chatting occasionally during the week. Jiang Shiyan would complain to Tang Yang about eccentric business partners, while Tang Yang listened to his ramblings, watching him on TV with a radiant face and reaping both profits and praise, all while teasingly comforting him.
Until mid-October, when a Yixiu Live streamer was exposed for major violations in their content. Not only was Yixiu Live ordered to be taken down, but due to Yixiu’s early habit of using clickbait titles, almost all of Yixiu’s marketing accounts were banned and thoroughly investigated. Yixiu’s top management was summoned for questioning by relevant authorities, each being interrogated.
The previous week, Jiang Shiyan had been in high spirits. This week, on TV, Jiang Shiyan was seen rushing about, accompanied by fragmented newspaper patterns and the words “Disgraced?” in question marks.
Tang Yang didn’t understand the process and didn’t dare disturb him, only sending him a WeChat message.
That week, Yixiu’s stock price hit the limit down for three consecutive days, with analysts singing about keywords like “bubble too big” and “Yixiu delisting.”
On Monday, Jiang Shiyan and his assistant were summoned for questioning. Jiang Shiyan didn’t reply to Tang Yang’s WeChat message.
On Tuesday, the number of Yixiu employees resigning increased from double digits to triple digits. Jiang Shiyan didn’t reply to Tang Yang’s WeChat message.
On Wednesday, Yixiu urgently convened a shareholders’ meeting. Jiang Shiyan didn’t reply to Tang Yang’s WeChat message.
On Thursday, the relevant authorities officially issued the punishment order. Jiang Shiyan signed to confirm, with Yixiu surrounded by enemies on all sides.
On Friday afternoon, on the snowy TV screen, layers of dark clouds rolled over the Yixiu Building, creating a suffocating atmosphere. Reporters from various media outlets stood guard at the entrance with their cameras.
A black Lincoln slowly approached and came to a stop.
The assistant got out of the passenger seat and went around to open the back door. The moment Jiang Shiyan stepped out of the car, reporters swarmed forward, their clamorous voices amplified through microphones.
“Mr. Jiang, can you confirm whether the punishment order means Yixiu Media will pay a huge fine and Yixiu Live will be permanently taken offline?”
“Mr. Jiang, what’s your view on Yixiu’s consecutive limit-down this week? Will there be a temporary suspension tomorrow for adjustments?”
“Mr. Jiang, Hucha Live, and Yuying Live deny unfair competition. Could you please…”
“…”
Jiang Shiyan wore an impeccable black suit, his handsome face cold and unyielding.
The assistant cleared the way for him: “Excuse us, please make way…”
Then came the press conference.
The reporters were aggressive, while Jiang Shiyan’s expression remained calm, answering questions as they came. Eventually, as the reporters’ questions became increasingly inappropriate, Jiang Shiyan simply stood up and left.
As the assistant managed the situation on the podium, Jiang Shiyan walked backstage, stretching his jaw in a wide arc. His tall figure looked lonely, his eyes filled with unnamed emotions as he gradually moved from light into darkness.
The moment his figure completely disappeared, Tang Yang held her breath.
As the screen image changed, Tang Yang gripped the sofa armrest tightly, her back already damp with sweat.
Outside the window, dusk was falling. The road leading to the outside world had collapsed a week ago and hadn’t been repaired yet.
Tang Yang couldn’t leave, couldn’t return, and the instant noodles in front of her had already gone cold.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz,” her phone vibrated.
Tang Yang glanced at the flashing “Yan Dog” on the screen, quickly picked up the phone, and slowly pressed the button.
The call connected.
Jiang Shiyan seemed to be in a cramped space, quiet, with an echo.
“Have you had dinner?” he asked.
Tang Yang: “Mm-hmm.”
Jiang Shiyan: “I saw your WeChat message. I was too busy to reply.”
Tang Yang’s lips moved slightly: “It’s good that you saw it.”
Jiang Shiyan made a sound of acknowledgment, then asked, “What did you eat?”
Probably not wanting him to feel lonely, Tang Yang answered, “I ate with colleagues at noon. The branch manager’s family made and sent over some home-cooked dishes. There was fish-flavored eggplant, braised pork ribs, ginseng chicken soup…”
“Yang Jie,” Jiang Shiyan called her.
Tang Yang: “Mm.”
“Yang Jie,” Jiang Shiyan called her a second time.
“Mm,” Tang Yang responded again.
“Yang Jie.” Jiang Shiyan pronounced each word heavily and painfully, but he said nothing else, just calling her name.
Tang Yang had seen the news but didn’t ask. She responded, “Mm.”
“…”
That dusk, Jiang Shiyan was in A City, at the center of the storm. One moment he was facing the press with a strong presence, the next he was calling her name repeatedly in an almost seeking comfort tone, calling her Yang Jie over and over.
That dusk, Tang Yang was in an isolated small town in B City, all alone, listening to Jiang Shiyan call her name again and again, laughing as he called her. She responded each time, wanting to hug him but unable to. It felt as if a hand was squeezing her heart, tightening and tightening, until her throat constricted, as if someone was pinching her nose and mouth simultaneously, leaving her on the verge of suffocation.
However later, it was revealed that the Yixiu streamer who violated the rules had a dual labor contract with Hucha. Jiang Shiyan, with the stance of purifying the industry environment, swiftly acquired Hucha and Yuying. His subsidiary, Yixiu Finance, intervened to complete the monopoly of the live-streaming platform conglomerate. Subsequently, relevant authorities proposed commendations, Yixiu’s stock price hit the limit consecutively, and a beautiful and thorough comeback was achieved.
After returning to B City Branch from the small town, Tang Yang still resolutely requested to transfer back to A City.
At that time, she wasn’t clear about her feelings for Jiang Shiyan, nor did she know Jiang Shiyan’s feelings for her.
She only knew that she was Tang Yang, and he was Jiang Shiyan. She could accept countless times Jiang Shiyan standing at the peak of storms while she remained unaware. But she couldn’t accept him calling her name repeatedly, and she couldn’t even be by his side.
Since Jiang Shiyan restructured Yixiu, there have been ups and downs.
Tang Yang thought she had long forgotten about this incident, but when President Fan suddenly brought it up, her heart still inevitably contracted.
After a long silence.
Tang Yang didn’t deny it. She nodded, her attitude gentle but her words firm: “President Fan, you know me. I can’t tolerate even a speck of sand in my eye. I’m straightforward and don’t have many friends, even fewer close ones. Especially Jiang Shiyan, who has been my good friend for many years. We’ve finally gotten together,” Tang Yang continued calmly, “You can say I’ve regressed, or that I’m not ambitious, or that I have a girlish mentality. I might change many jobs, but I’ll only have one partner. I can accept salary packages from many banks, but I can’t accept a long-distance relationship, so…”
“The higher-ups at the B City branch have a strong desire to keep you. Considering your situation, I haven’t signed,” Branch Manager Fan turned to the last page of the transfer document and said, “It won’t take effect.”
Tang Yang stared at the empty signature space at the end of the document, words caught in her throat, stunned for a full minute.
“Thank you, Branch Manager Fan.”
She tightened her hand at her side, feeling not so much grateful as relieved. Branch Manager Fan was also testing her. If Tang Yang had half-heartedly agreed, he would have naturally signed to finalize it. If Tang Yang refused, he would be doing her a favor.
Although this arrangement, seemingly a lateral move but a promotion, was indeed beneficial for Tang Yang.
Another moment of silence.
Branch Manager Fan took another sip of tea: “Did you know I’d be soft-hearted, so you took such a hard stance?”
She had a feeling based on her understanding of Branch Manager Fan, probably also driven by emotion.
Tang Yang stood on the boundary between light and shadow, not responding.
Branch Manager Fan exhaled a breath of hot air, spitting tea leaves into the trash can, and changed to a casual tone: “Why did you initially join the bank?”
“I studied economics and management in university, and the bank was the best choice,” Tang Yang answered honestly.
Branch Manager Fan asked, “Then why did you study economics and management back then?”
Tang Yang recalled, “At that time, economics and management were the most popular. My scores were high, so it was the most worthwhile choice.”
That blank transfer document had made Tang Yang feel relieved, and unknowingly, the barrier in her speech lessened.
Branch Manager Fan listened to Tang Yang’s answer and responded, “So, you’ve been at the bank for over a year now, what are your thoughts and experiences?”
Thinking of something, Branch Manager Fan added, “I’ve turned off all monitoring and listening devices. Feel free to speak your mind. After all, I’m your first boss since you entered society, and you’re the first management trainee I’ve wanted to keep but let go.”
However, this question was very open-ended and broad.
Tang Yang set aside her composure in front of her superior and said sincerely yet helplessly, “It seems the workplace is quite different from what I imagined in university, and the things we do are also quite different.”
She had once thought of specializing in risk control, but the management trainee program offered good treatment and broad prospects, so she chose it. After rotating through various positions, she found that more than the professional knowledge that didn’t account for much of the work, it was more about interpersonal communication. Whether to get promoted, whether to get a raise, the tense atmosphere between her and Gan Yiming recently… and many other things, half puzzling and half clear.
Branch Manager Fan watched the changes in her expression. After she finished speaking slowly and confusedly, he said slowly, “You have a high starting point and a wide path, but I hope you can think clearly. You work diligently and strive hard, but what is your purpose in climbing up? What do you want to get from this industry, or what do you want to leave behind? What do you want to become, or what do you want to achieve?”
Tang Yang listened respectfully.
Branch Manager Fan said, “A great man should illuminate virtue throughout the world. Among the 360 trades, every trade can produce a master. To others, I often say take one step at a time, set a goal, achieve it, and then set the next one. But for you, Tang Yang,” Branch Manager Fan paused for a few seconds, “I hope you have a grand vision, and then, don’t look back.”
Limited by B City’s geography, the temple was too small. Branch Manager Fan let Tang Yang go, also with an appreciation for his former subordinate’s talent, and rambled on quite a bit.
Tang Yang carefully noted down every word.
In the blink of an eye, it was noon.
Hearing the clock chime, Branch Manager Fan was startled, then affectionately waved at Tang Yang: “I’ll be retiring in a few years, and I don’t know when I’ll see you again. This might be the last time we meet in this life. This old man talks too much when he’s old, I just hope you walk well, walk higher, walk further.”
Tang Yang was moved: “I’ll often return to B City and visit you during holidays.”
“That won’t be necessary, I’ll be traveling with my wife,” Branch Manager Fan waved in refusal, “Given your personality, your flight ticket is probably for 2 PM at the latest. I still have someone to wait for, you go down for lunch first.”
Tang Yang wasn’t annoyed at being seen through: “I’m sorry, Branch Manager Fan, my tone was a bit harsh earlier.”
Branch Manager Fan: “When I was young, I was a hundred times more aggressive than you.”
Tang Yang: “…”
“Alright, alright, no need for false courtesy, hurry along,” Branch Manager Fan teased, “If I had signed that document, I guess you’d have to perform the act of tearing apart the old monster.”
“How could I…” Tang Yang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Amidst their banter, Tang Yang retreated to the office door.
Her hand touched the doorknob, then let go. She turned around, faced Branch Manager Fan, and bowed deeply to him. After a few seconds, she straightened up and left.
“Click,” the door closed gently.
Branch Manager Fan’s ears twitched. He put away his previous joking disdain, cradled his purple clay teacup, and said to the old man in the cup with some emotion: “She’s a good kid…”
Coming down from the top floor of Huishang, Tang Yang pushed her 2 PM flight ticket back. She called Jiang Shiyan, who said he would return to A City tomorrow.
Tang Yang was pleasantly surprised: “I was afraid you’d go back today. It just so happens I’m going back tomorrow too.”
Jiang Shiyan asked what time her flight was, wondering if he should pick her up at the airport since she’d be carrying luggage.
Tang Yang frowned her delicate eyebrows: “I’m an adult,” feeling like someone was talking about picking up a child, she said, “Fan Linlang will pick me up, I have to return to Huishang to resume my duties first.”
“Alright.” Jiang Shiyan couldn’t help but smile.
Although Tang Yang was eager to return home, she still invited her classmates for a meal. On Saturday, before going to the airport, she sincerely bid farewell to several close friends.
Among them, of course, was Xiao Qin.
Xiao Qin opened her big eyes expectantly: “Can I come to visit you in A City in the future?”
“Of course,” Tang Yang said.
Xiao Qin: “Can you treat me to hot pot?”
Tang Yang: “Of course.”
Xiao Qin: “Can I request that just the two of us eat, Jiang Shiyan can’t eat, he can only sit beside and watch us eat?”
Someone would probably throw a fit.
Tang Yang chuckled: “That might be difficult.”
The airplane’s wings cut through the soft clouds, and B City’s concrete jungle faded into a distant picture below.
Two hours later, the plane landed in A City.
After completing her reinstatement procedures at Huishang and returning home, it was already 2:30 PM.
Warm sunlight shone into the apartment building. Tang Yang fumbled for her keys in her bag while entering the elevator. She thought that since Jiang Shiyan would be back in the evening, she could take a shower first, then order a bouquet, clean the house spotlessly, order takeout, transfer it to porcelain plates, and keep it warm. When he came back, there would be a cozy home and a table of steaming hot food waiting.
“Ding dong,” the elevator reached her floor.
Tang Yang dragged her suitcase to open the door. Just as she put the key in the lock, the door opened from inside.
The man had just showered, wearing a bathrobe, his attractive abdominal muscles faintly visible.
He had washed his hair, which was still half-wet, black and shiny. A drop of water trickled down from his temple, past his nose bridge, and the side of his thin lips, then converged at his clear-cut jawline, rolled over his Adam’s apple, and fell.
Why do some people always appear unexpectedly?
Jiang Shiyan looked at Tang Yang with a smile, while Tang Yang stared blankly at Jiang Shiyan.
In her peripheral vision, the vase in the living room had been cleaned and filled with freshly bought pink roses. The coffee table and wooden floor were spotless. The curtains were half-drawn, bright sunlight gilding behind him.
Jiang Shiyan took her things and said softly, “I originally said I’d be back in the evening, but Feng Weiran that jerk bought a private plane, so I hitched a ride and came back early. I’ve tidied up the house a bit. Knowing you wouldn’t have eaten well on the plane, I’ve made your favorite braised ribs, fried phoenix tail, and stewed ginseng chicken soup…”
Tang Yang made a soft “woo” sound and threw herself into Jiang Shiyan’s arms.
He smelled of the pleasant, familiar scent of shower gel, mixed with the aroma of chicken soup wafting from the kitchen, making Tang Yang feel so comfortable that her whole body went soft.
She hugged his waist, sniffing here and there like a puppy, restlessly nuzzling against him.
Her soft hairtips brushed across Jiang Shiyan’s chest.
Jiang Shiyan felt ticklish and suppressed a laugh as he hugged her inside, closed the door, and then lifted the soft, cuddly koala onto the dining table. Jiang Shiyan patted her soft bottom, but Tang Yang clung to his neck, refusing to let go.
“What are you sniffing so enthusiastically?” Jiang Shiyan asked, amused.
“Didn’t you make braised ribs? I’m smelling the scent of ribs,” Tang Yang said, burying her little head deeper into Jiang Shiyan’s embrace.
It was Jiang Shiyan’s scent. He was in A City, and she was back too. They didn’t have to be apart anymore.
It’s so good, it is his scent.
Jiang Shiyan made an “Oh” sound and mimicked her by burying his head in the crook of her neck, nuzzling.
His hair was stiff, and the stubble on his chin was rough. Tang Yang giggled ticklishly, her small hands pushing him away: “Jiang Shiyan, what are you doing?”
Jiang Shiyan nuzzled even more intensely, but his words were soft: “Smelling Yang Yang’s scent.”
His hot breath brushed against her smooth neck. Tang Yang laughed “Ya ya,” her earlobes imperceptibly warming up.
Tang Yang refused to get off Jiang Shiyan, so he held her while eating, occasionally picking up food and ladling soup for her.
Tang Yang indeed didn’t like airplane meals much. She sat cross-legged on Jiang Shiyan’s lap, slurping contentedly with eyes narrowed, speaking softly: “Will you cook at home in the future? It’s quite nice to have the man in charge of domestic affairs and the woman handling external matters.” Tang Yang looked back, blinking at him, “You can cook in the kitchen, and I’ll cheer you on from outside.”
Jiang Shiyan raised his hand to wipe the rice from her lips: “Pick a date.”
“Pick a date for what?” Tang Yang was puzzled.
Jiang Shiyan’s lips curved into a pleased smile: “Pick a date to marry me.” Seeing Yang Yang’s confusion, Jiang Shiyan explained, “Didn’t you just say I’ll be cooking at home in the future? By ‘future home,’ don’t you mean you want to marry me?”
How did it suddenly turn into marriage? Tang Yang’s little face suddenly heated up, and she glared at him: “How can you jump to conclusions like that? Why don’t you assume picking a date means you want to marry me—”
“Sure!” Jiang Shiyan agreed readily.
Seeing his smug face, Tang Yang took several seconds to realize she had talked herself into a corner.
But can a girlfriend make mistakes? No.
Tang Yang gritted her teeth angrily, and Jiang Shiyan suppressed a laugh as he pinched her face. Tang Yang puffed her cheeks, not letting him pinch, but Jiang Shiyan insisted on pinching.
His fingertips were slightly calloused, making Tang Yang’s cheeks red and warm. Tang Yang let out a soft sound from her throat, mischievously wiping her oil on the corner of his lips. As she wiped, Jiang Shiyan supported her and turned her around.
While Jiang Shiyan cleared the table, Tang Yang went to take a shower.
After Jiang Shiyan finished cleaning up and entered the bedroom, Tang Yang, fresh from her shower, stood behind the door. She wanted to cover his eyes but didn’t succeed; her delicate, soft hands covered his Adam’s apple instead.
The gray blackout curtains shut out the beautiful daylight outside.
Like toddlers learning to walk, they stumbled and entangled, kissing, toes touching, and falling onto the bed together.
Jiang Shiyan’s earlier kisses were urgent, but when it came to the actual act, his eyes darkened like the approaching night, caressing and kissing her over and over, from foot to head, incredibly gentle.
The teasing was exquisitely tender, but the final possession was forceful, thrust after thrust, both fierce and vigorous.
Broken syllables of barefoot cloud-walking escaped Tang Yang’s lips, only to be kissed back in by his sweat-dampened temples.
They had already done it twice before. After Jiang Shiyan bathed the little girl, she was all white and soft, fragrant everywhere. He couldn’t help but kiss her again and again, leading to a third time.
At the very end, Tang Yang didn’t even have the strength to reach out her hand, curling up in his arms and breathing softly.
Jiang Shiyan twirled her hair with his fingers, calling her: “Little Moon.”
Tang Yang played with his fingers in return, snuggling closer to his chest: “Are you Little Sun?” Tang Yang remembered Jiang Ya’nan saying he had a little tyrant nature, and she softly clicked her tongue, “Dominating heaven and earth.”
The tenderness in Jiang Shiyan’s eyes deepened. He hooked a smile and repeated, “Dominating heaven and earth and dominating…”
Jiang Shiyan slid to Tang Yang’s ear, slowly licking along her ear curve with the tip of his tongue while letting out two lingering syllables in a low, hoarse voice.
In a flash, Tang Yang’s whole body turned red like a cooked shrimp, burning all over.
What does it mean to dominate heaven and earth and dominate… Yang Yang?
How can this person be so vulgar, so lustful, so erotic?
Tang Yang was both embarrassed and annoyed, kicking him again and again. Jiang Shiyan trapped her feet between his knees, and Tang Yang feigned resistance while welcoming it. Jiang Shiyan pulled the covers over them.
The two were like fish with intertwined tails. Tang Yang giggled, “I was wrong, I was wrong,” while Jiang Shiyan responded with “Mm, mm,” grinding out monosyllables. The blanket bulged up and down.
Tang Yang had always left a spare key for her mother.
Last time, Tang’s mother told Jiang’s mother she would come to see Tang Yang, but she had been too busy to come. Finally, when her school matters were settled, she remembered Tang Yang said she would be home today. Tang’s mother beautifully did her hair and painted her nails, excitedly bought a bunch of groceries, and drove to Tang Yang’s apartment building.
After knocking three times with no answer, Tang’s mother saw it was almost 5 o’clock and figured Tang Yang hadn’t returned from reinstating her job. She used the spare key to open the door.
There were two pairs of men’s leather shoes in the shoe cabinet. Jiang Shiyan must often come to Tang Yang’s place. It was convenient for friends to look after each other, so Tang’s mother didn’t think much of it. She put the groceries on the dining room table and faintly heard Tang Yang’s voice.
“Tang Tang, are you home?” Tang’s mother asked softly, holding her keys and walking towards the bedroom.
On the other side of the wall, Jiang Shiyan and Tang Yang were rolling around under the covers, playing.
Outside, Tang’s mother approached step by step.
Inside, the bathrobes and underwear they had just put on fell to the ground again in a series of arcs.
Outside, Tang’s mother’s hand gripped the doorknob.
Inside, Jiang Shiyan kissed Tang Yang, entangled with her, about to enter.
“Click,” the door opened.
Tang’s mother came in: “Tang Tang, are you home? Why are you sleeping at this hour—”
Tang’s mother was an experienced woman and naturally understood what this room’s disarray and ambiance represented.
Especially the blanket on her daughter’s bed, which covered two people.
Hearing Tang’s mother’s voice, the two people rolling around under the covers suddenly froze.
A few seconds later, Tang Yang’s hand emerged from under the blanket, followed by a small head with a bright red face, timidly calling out: “Mom…”
The exposed skin of Tang Yang was bare, with moist, mottled kiss marks. Tang’s mother’s gaze swept over, and she coughed lightly, taking on a parental tone: “Put on some clothes, Tang Yang, and come out.”
Five minutes later, Tang Yang came out wrapped in pajamas.
At the same time, the sound of water running could be heard from the bedroom bathroom.
Tang’s mother stood by the window in the living room. Tang Yang, with her hands in her pajama pockets, shuffled to her mother’s side and called out very softly: “Mom.”
Tang’s mother didn’t respond.
She heard it, of course, she heard it, but she also heard the water running in the bathroom!
Tang’s mother had been teaching for decades. As a famous teacher who dominated the educational supplements market, she had two things to be proud of in her life. The first was the number of times she participated in setting authoritative exam questions. The second was her daughter, Tang Yang, who had always been particularly well-behaved and sensible from childhood to adulthood, without much parental discipline.
She had always thought her daughter was too well-behaved, to the point of being single until now. She was still anxious about whether her daughter liked men, whether she could get along with men, and whether she would find someone suitable through blind dates.
But suddenly, she goes to her daughter’s house and sees her long-single daughter rolling around in bed with some unknown wild man…
Recalling the earlier scene, Tang’s mother felt a headache coming on.
Tang’s mother didn’t speak, and Tang Yang didn’t dare make a sound.
The silence, as if a pin could be heard dropping, continued for quite a while.
Tang’s mother lightly stroked her chest: “Tang Yang.”
Tang Yang’s head was lowered so much it almost touched her chest: “Mm…”
Tang’s mother organized her thoughts and began: “Mom is not against premarital sex. Mom also understands the needs of adults. But is that man your boyfriend? Do you know him well? Is he reliable? Are you dating with the intention of marriage?”
Tang Yang wanted to speak.
Tang’s mother took a deep breath, not giving Tang Yang a chance to speak.
Tang’s mother said: “Mom is an open-minded person. If you’re in a proper relationship and things happen, mom won’t say much. But are you in a relationship? You tell me what you eat every day, but you wouldn’t tell me about a relationship? Nowadays, there’s a lot of one-night stands and hookups. Mom thinks you should know the other person a bit before taking things further. Otherwise, for a moment of pleasure, you might be cheated out of your money and body by some unreliable man. If you become depressed or despondent, what should mom do?”
Seeing Tang Yang still wanting to speak, Tang’s mother became more agitated: “Can’t you learn from someone like Jiang Shiyan? Be a little more discerning! A little more self-disciplined! When his mother went to his house looking for Little Moon, not even a hair was seen. But you, you’ve directly produced a living man for me to see. Good! Good! Good!”
Tang’s mother became more heartbroken as she spoke: “Even if you’re hooking up for one night, can you at least not do it at home in broad daylight? At least don’t let me see it. Out of sight, out of mind, I could still believe I had a good daughter…”
Jiang Shiyan, having tidied himself up, came out from inside and stood next to Tang Yang.
“They say one takes on the color of one’s company. How is it that Jiang Shiyan can be self-disciplined and self-respecting, but you, having such a close relationship with him, now instead—”
As Tang’s mother spoke, she turned her head towards Tang Yang.
Jiang Shiyan met Tang’s mother’s direct gaze, his eyes wandering, not daring to breathe.
He swallowed and nervously rubbed his hands: “Aun-Aun-Auntie Zhou.”
Tang’s mother stared at this wild man next to her daughter who looked almost identical to Jiang Shiyan, slowly, very slowly freezing her open-mouthed expression.