Li Jin Yu’s father was a “phoenix man” who flew out of the countryside, but he was handsome and dignified, standing out among the awkward poor boys in college like a crane among chickens, winning the favor of many female students. Eventually, he fell in love with a rich girl, Li Ling Bai. Li Ling Bai was a pampered young lady who had never done a day’s work in her life. Her parents ran an antique business in Beijing, with a complex, massive family enterprise behind them. After painful deliberation, Li Jin Yu’s father decided to change his surname and marry into her family. The following year, they had a chubby baby boy, Li Jin Yu’s older brother, named Li Si Yang.

Li Jin Yu and his brother had completely different personalities from childhood. Li Si Yang was mischievous, naughty, with average grades, and whenever he made mistakes, the well-behaved and adorable Li Jin Yu would take the blame. Once, twice, over and over again, Li Si Yang began to notice something was wrong. Although their mother never physically punished either of them, she often used cold violence against his younger brother. Once, he curiously took his mother’s jade ring to the bathroom and accidentally dropped it into the toilet. Hearing that the ring was worth 200,000 yuan, he was scared witless and blamed his brother for it. As a result, on a snowy day that year, Li Jin Yu was stripped naked by Li Ling Bai and left outside the door, freezing all night long.

Li Jin Yu’s lungs had never been very good, and it was then that the root of his illness was established, causing him to cough with every change of season now. When Li Jin Yu was young, he didn’t quite understand what the difference was between him and his brother. Relatives and friends around him couldn’t help but compare him with his brother; he excelled over his brother in every aspect, and they loved to praise him in front of his mother. But unless he achieved the most extreme excellence, his mother rarely praised him. So for all these years, he pursued perfection in everything, leading to anxiety and depression. As for Li Si Yang, he didn’t need to do anything to receive their mother’s favor.

When their father was alive, their mother would at least restrain herself. After their father passed away due to illness, their mother became even worse, causing Li Jin Yu to suspect at one point that he was his father’s illegitimate child with another woman. In college, he even had a DNA test done. However, the result surprised him somewhat—he was her biological child.

His relationship with his father and Li Si Yang was quite good. Although Li Si Yang often got him into trouble as a child, resulting in cold stares and scolding from their mother, Li Si Yang also realized that their mother seemingly didn’t like this younger brother. He began to look after him in every way, and there was no resentment between the brothers. Although Li Si Yang was both foolish and noisy, he fulfilled his role as the older brother dutifully. That year, when Li Si Yang was in high school, on a weekend, Li Si Yang pulled him into the room and they enthusiastically played video games for half the night, only to be caught by Li Ling Bai when she returned home late. Without a word, she sent him away to America.

Li Jin Yu was only thirteen that year.

Li Si Yang cried out hoarsely, kneeling and begging his mother not to send his brother away. Li Ling Bai agreed at the time, but a month later, when Li Si Yang went to school, Li Jin Yu was directly shipped off with his luggage to attend Fessenden, a boarding middle school in America. The school was in Newton, Massachusetts, near Boston. Sometimes when Li Ling Bai had business in Boston, she would have the housekeeper deliver things to him.

From then on, Li Si Yang began to reform himself. He no longer dared to play video games, no longer acted carelessly, and started studying hard. During those three years, the two brothers often video-chatted. Li Si Yang would occasionally ask Li Jin Yu, his genius younger brother who was three years his junior, to help him with his homework. Li Jin Yu had already completed the domestic middle school curriculum by then and had started learning high school material. Li Si Yang was amazed by how smart his brother was, but he also knew that Li Jin Yu still wanted to return to China to take the college entrance exam. So he often asked, “Little Yu, do you hate Mom?” Li Jin Yu would become increasingly silent at that, just shaking his head without saying a word. Li Si Yang felt sorry for him and promised, “I’ll do well on the college entrance exam. I’ll bring you back. If that doesn’t work, I’ll give up on Mom too and go to America to be with you.”

Li Si Yang truly worked hard those three years, studying day and night, enduring all kinds of hardships. But unfortunately, his natural abilities were limited, and even performing at his absolute best, he only managed to get into a second-tier university. However, Li Ling Bai saw his transformation and agreed to bring Li Jin Yu back from America.

The three years of Li Jin Yu’s high school were probably the most harmonious period in the mother-son relationship. Perhaps because Li Ling Bai hadn’t seen him for a long time, she might have missed him a little. She no longer treated him harshly and showed a pleasant demeanor like a real mother.

But the good times didn’t last long. During the summer of Li Jin Yu’s freshman year in college, Li Si Yang suddenly died in a car accident. All harmony shattered like a broken mirror. Li Ling Bai collapsed, was depressed for three months, then immediately threw herself back into work and began going on arranged dates. Li Ling Bai hadn’t remarried in all the years since Li Jin Yu’s father died, but as soon as Li Si Yang died, she remarried. After many twists and turns, disregarding her safety, she even wanted to have another child.

Li Jin Yu felt like a joke at that time. No one cared about his feelings. After Li Ling Bai formed a new family, Li Jin Yu became somewhat awkward in the household. In the end, it was his grandmother who traveled overnight from a small southern town, taking a long-distance train for more than ten hours to Beijing. Her health was already poor, with many ailments, and the journey of more than ten hours left her barely able to stand. Trembling, she took his hand and walked imposingly to the astonished Li Ling Bai, like a world hero. She had no colorful auspicious clouds, and her imperial sword might have already rusted, but she firmly said to that woman:

“Li Ling Bai, it’s not that you don’t want him, it’s that we don’t want you anymore.”

The room was very quiet, with no lights on. Ye Meng was drowsily half-asleep, half-awake. Li Jin Yu placed her on the bed and only turned on a small yellow wall lamp. A semicircular halo of light fell on the floor in the corner of the room, the light faint, with the two people barely able to see each other’s faces.

Dr. Yang Bing Zhang has been providing free medical consultations here for a while. Meeting Li Jin Yu was unexpected; he had heard that the child had left with his grandmother but didn’t expect it to be in this small town. After Li Jin Yu left, Li Ling Bai didn’t mention him, and no one in the Li family dared to bring him up.

“How do you know little Meng?” Yang Bing Zhang sat on the sofa chair by the bed, lit a cigarette for himself, and opened the conversation.

Li Jin Yu placed his guitar bag on the TV cabinet; it was bulging, stuffed with a large bundle of nylon rope. He had originally planned to teach Ye Meng a lesson, but now it seemed unnecessary. He half-sat on the TV cabinet, glanced at the woman sleeping with a flushed face on the bed, and smiled, “By accident, we’re not close.”

Yang Bing Zhang nodded, exhaled smoke, and said, “She sent me a WeChat message saying she was waiting for me here, asking me to check on someone. I didn’t expect it to be you.”

Ye Meng wasn’t covered with the blanket and was sleeping lightly, her lips occasionally still moving. Li Jin Yu had once suspected that she might still be awake. But the next second, he no longer doubted, as Ye Meng carelessly rolled over, changing from lying on her side to lying flat. Her black hair spread out on both sides, and her collar slipped down, revealing her well-proportioned chest. Perhaps due to the alcohol, both her cheeks and collarbone were flushed red. Her skin was delicate, with faintly visible blue veins. She was beautiful, with fine features, possessing a kind of ascetic beauty. She was much more beautiful than Jiang Lu Zhi.

Li Jin Yu imagined that if they had met earlier, he might have made an exception and actively pursued her.

He walked over and casually pulled the blanket over her, covering her head as well. He sat down by her bed and said in a low voice to Yang Bing Zhang, frowning: “Women’s savior complex acting up again, unstoppable, always meddling in others’ business.”

Yang Bing Zhang looked at Ye Meng on the bed, completely covered with the blanket, and was afraid she couldn’t breathe. He carefully pulled it down a bit, only for Li Jin Yu to mercilessly cover her up again.

“She might suffocate soon,” Yang Bing Zhang said.

“Let her suffocate then, better if she stops bothering me,” Li Jin Yu said coldly.

Yang Bing Zhang looked at him quietly. “You used to be such a gentleman with girls.”

The room was dim, with the cool moonlight hanging outside the window, its clear light scattered on the floor. The room fell silent for a moment. Li Jin Yu sat with his hands on his knees, head lowered, giving a self-mocking smile without responding. His chest itched slightly, and he coughed once.

Yang Bing Zhang was quite familiar with his condition. There was no use in saying more; all possible treatments had been tried before. Li Jin Yu’s root problem was still with Li Ling Bai. He didn’t say much else, only expressing concern: “The seasons are changing soon, take care of your lungs. If you cough a lot, go to the hospital for some medicine. Don’t try to tough it out. You boys always like to tough it out when you’re sick, just like my son, refusing to go to the hospital at all costs, all thinking you’re made of iron!”

Li Jin Yu leaned on his arm, lowered his head, and smiled. No matter how cavalier he appeared on the surface, he was polite to the bone, and casually asked about Yang Bing Zhang’s son: “How is brother Li Cheng now? Has he found a girlfriend?”

“He’s already married, his child can already play with other children. Yesterday he was learning to make meat buns in Beijing, and he showed me a video of a perfectly made one. You haven’t been here these few years, but Li Cheng has often mentioned you to me. When you have time, go see him too. Your mother may have abandoned you, but are you going to abandon all these childhood friends who grew up with you in diapers?” Yang Bing Zhang was moved by his own words, and hesitantly said, “Your mother…”

Li Jin Yu still had his hands on his knees, slightly raising his head to meet Yang Bing Zhang’s eyes, and interrupted without emotion: “No need to tell me, it has nothing to do with me.”

Yang Bing Zhang didn’t know what to say then. He nodded, supported himself on his knees, and slowly stood up. “Then I’ll leave first. As for little Meng here, think about how you want to talk to her. I’ll cooperate with you. If you don’t want people to know about the past, then I’ll pretend I don’t know you.”

“Thank you, Dr. Yang,” Li Jin Yu also stood up to see him off. “How are you getting back? Should I call a car for you?”

Yang Bing Zhang waved his hand. “No need, the hotel will help call a car. Little Meng has a premium membership here, they’ll arrange it.” At the door, he held the handle and turned back to say, “Jin Yu, if you’re not feeling well, you still need to come to me for some medicine. Don’t be self-destructive.”

He agreed.

After seeing Yang Bing Zhang off, for as long as Ye Meng slept on the bed, Li Jin Yu leaned against the wall and watched her for just as long. He discovered that this woman had a soothing power when she slept—to put it bluntly, she slept like a dead pig.

Of course, her sleeping posture was still attractive, her whole body letting down its guard against the outside world. Both he and Dr. Yang were men, though, at Dr. Yang’s age, he doubted if he could even… but she was so trusting? How could there be such a carefree person?

As Ye Meng continued to sleep, the blanket probably made it difficult for her to breathe. At some point, she gradually revealed her small, red, round face, her mouth slightly open, like a small fish thirsting for water, breathing in small gasps.

Li Jin Yu finally sat on the edge of the bed and lowered his head to send someone a WeChat message. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her moving. With one hand holding his phone, without even turning his head, his other hand mercilessly covered her again.

It was now two in the morning, the night silently deep, as if freshly soaked in ink, the stars especially bright.

The entire small town had fallen asleep, and all around was silent, with only the rustling of leaves. Under the night sky, the eternally unchanging Ganges River shimmered like an inlaid silver silk ribbon. Outside the wall, the vines had silently sprouted fresh green buds.

Ye Meng was completely suffocated awake. In her hazy state, she saw a tall, broad-shouldered man sitting by her bed. Before her consciousness fully returned, she immediately struggled, kicking her legs.

Li Jin Yu was sending someone a WeChat message with one hand, while his other hand directly gripped Ye Meng’s neck through the blanket, pinning her to the bed. He said nonchalantly, “Awake? I haven’t even started yet.”

Ye Meng heard his low, husky voice, and all her memories came back. She figured there must have been some issue with his conversation with Uncle Yang. She was held down tightly, unable to move, so she simply gave up, lying flat on the bed like a lamb waiting for slaughter, no longer moving. “Go ahead then, kill me or torture me as you wish.”

He withdrew his hand instead. Ye Meng heard him snort coldly. She peeked her head out slightly. Li Jin Yu had his back completely turned to her, slightly hunched, both hands now busy on his phone, texting someone. Tall and big, with such a dashing back view, Ye Meng’s heart skipped a beat again. She heard him say without turning his head: “You’re not going to check yourself after waking up?”

Ye Meng turned to her side, hugging the blanket to her chest as she lay watching him, her eyes fixed steadily on him, certain: “You wouldn’t dare touch me.”

Li Jin Yu felt as if he was being looked down upon. His hand movements paused for a moment as he slightly turned his head to glance at her, sneered disdainfully, then turned back. “Don’t be so sure. It’s only two in the morning, if I wanted to do something, there’s plenty of time.”

Ye Meng stared at him seriously. She didn’t continue the conversation.

She seemed to like his appearance.

Li Jin Yu was a bit annoyed. He casually picked up a pillow from nearby and threw it over to block her eyes, not allowing her to look: “Do you have an ex-boyfriend who looks like me? Isn’t it annoying? Haven’t you seen someone this handsome before?”

Ye Meng laughed uncontrollably. “Yes, indeed, a crush I’ve had for over ten years.”

Li Jin Yu had finally finished his WeChat messages. He tossed his phone onto the bedside table, turned to look at her, and stared intently for about a minute. Only to see him take a deep breath, and withdraw his gaze as if it was difficult to speak, or as if in self-loathing. He suddenly changed the subject and said—

“Ye Meng, I’ve attempted suicide before.”

Ye Meng was not surprised at all; she had noticed the scar on his wrist long ago. His wrists were fair and slender, with just that one scar, but it wasn’t unsightly.

“For an ex-girlfriend?” she asked curiously.

The phone on the bedside table vibrated again.

He shook his head, picked up the phone again to look, gave a self-mocking smile, and replied while saying: “For my mother.”

The man was lean and muscular. Ye Meng wanted to reach out and hug him, but she restrained herself at this moment.

“I loved her very much, but she didn’t love me.”

“My mother loves me very much,” Ye Meng said out of nowhere.

Li Jin Yu was nearly infuriated by her. “Are you showing off?”

“I meant, I know how to love you. Date me, I know how to love you.” Ye Meng propped up her head in a mermaid pose, smiling brightly at him in the dim yellow bedroom light. It looked very casual but was unexpectedly enticing.

The room was quiet and dim, and the vines outside the wall seemed to have grown a bit more.

“You look like a playboy from a mile away. No thanks,” Li Jin Yu refused with a straight face.