On the third day of 2024, a group brawl broke out at an auto repair shop in Shi City. Both Sun Xi and Ge Fan were caught up in it, both threw themselves into the fight, both got injured, and neither gained any advantage.

Yu Jiuqi wasn’t in Shi City at the time. She was accompanying Third Uncle, a devoted “Journey to the West” enthusiast, in Changchun, feeding a popular internet celebrity dressed as the Monkey King.

She had three days off for New Year’s, and those days happened to be peak tourist season. Yu Kaixuan and Meng Huihong were both tied up at Wendu Shuihui. Wen Wen had no patience staying with Third Uncle and they often bickered. Third Uncle got annoyed with her and made a fuss about leaving, so Xiao Jiu said she’d take him out for a trip.

Recently, Third Uncle had been obsessed with a chatty monkey character that had gone viral on short video platforms. He kept talking about buying snacks to go feed him in Changchun, so Yu Kaixuan gave Xiao Jiu the car and told her to take Third Uncle for an outing.

When they were leaving, Yu Kaixuan specifically reminded Xiao Jiu, asking if she had any plans for the holiday. Xiao Jiu said no. He asked again if she hadn’t made plans with anyone. Xiao Jiu said oh, actually yes. Brother Er Kai’s expression grew slightly serious, his eyes questioning. Xiao Jiu said she’d promised to help her brother shoot a video. Yu Kaixuan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, waved his hand dismissively and said Ge Fan never does anything serious, what’s the point of shooting those things, you should persuade him to just come work at the bathhouse instead.

Xiao Jiu smiled and said nothing. She knew Yu Kaixuan was testing her relationship with Sun Xi. He’d been beating around the bush asking about it many times over the past couple of days, just short of laying it all out directly. Seeing that Xiao Jiu spent almost every day of the holiday with Third Uncle, barely even touching her phone, which really didn’t look like someone in a relationship, he didn’t bring up the worry that had been weighing on him for so long.

Yu Jiuqi knew Sun Xi had just taken over Le Sheng Huang and it was peak season on top of that, with high staff turnover at the establishment. She guessed he must be too busy these past few days to attend to anything else. Combined with their tacit agreement in that iron pot stew private room earlier, she didn’t contact him much.

Only when touring the Changchun scenic area did Xiao Jiu select a few photos of Third Uncle with the monkey, casually posted them to social media with a location tag, and soon after, received a WeChat message from Sun Xi—just an inexplicable question mark.

[?]

Xiao Jiu immediately understood what he meant. Sun Xi was even more awkward when dating than usual, never liked to speak properly.

So she didn’t go along with him, replying with two: [??]

After a while, the other side seemed anxious: [Are you playing dumb with me?]

Xiao Jiu replied: [No.]

[Having quite a good time on your holiday.]

[It’s alright.]

[Having fun?]

[Pretty good.]

[Haven’t forgotten anything, have you?]

Xiao Jiu deliberately played coy: [I’ve been to all the places I wanted to visit. Do you have any recommendations, Brother Sun?]

She could almost feel him gritting his teeth: [Keep playing dumb.]

Xiao Jiu was following Third Uncle when she casually took the snacks he handed her that he’d bought at the park market. Upon closer inspection, she froze holding a candied hawthorn stick shaped like Sun Wukong.

She had never seen candied hawthorn made into a monkey shape before. Thinking that this year Northeast tourism was really going all out with endless creative variations, she stared at it for a while and was about to take a photo to send to Sun Xi when he suddenly replied again.

[Haven’t forgotten you have a hungry boyfriend in Shi City, have you?]

Xiao Jiu looked at this message, smiled with pursed lips for a while, thought about it, and simply selected several more various strange and oddly-shaped candied products. Besides the candied monkey Sun Wukong and Tang Monk, there were candied cucumbers and green peppers, even candied ginger. She grabbed a large bunch like a bouquet of flowers, took a photo, and sent it over.

Sun Xi was silent for a while, then replied: [Really something. For me?]

Xiao Jiu said yes.

[Then come deliver them in person.]

[Will you eat them?]

[You watch and see if I’ll eat them or not.]

Xiao Jiu stopped teasing, went along with him, sent back an emoji of obediently waiting for me, and casually asked: [How busy have you been these past couple days?]

Sun Xi said: [Pretty much done.]

[What’s pretty much done?]

[Everything’s pretty much done.]

Third Uncle suddenly pulled Xiao Jiu to go play on the snow slide. In his rush, the knit cap on his head fell off. Xiao Jiu quickly picked up the cap and chased after him, so she didn’t continue asking what exactly he was busy with.

She assumed it was just those KTV matters, never imagining he was busy fighting with Ge Fan.

Yu Jiuqi received news of Sun Xi and Ge Fan’s group brawl while driving Yu Kaixuan’s Range Rover back to Shi City with Third Uncle. On the road, she called Ge Fan wanting to ask when he’d shoot the video, thinking she’d go find Sun Xi after finishing the shoot. But she made two calls and no one answered.

The third call went through, but it was Xiao Zhuang who answered. The background seemed noisy, the words weren’t clear, and Xiao Jiu happened to be in the worst signal area of the highway. Both sides shouted blindly into their phones without getting anywhere.

Xiao Jiu asked, where’s my brother? Xiao Zhuang said, who? Xiao Jiu asked again, where’s Ge Fan? Xiao Zhuang’s side suddenly blurted out, you mean Sun Xi?

Xiao Jiu was startled—what about Sun Xi? Xiao Zhuang didn’t hear her. What did you say, Xiao Jiu? Xiao Jiu shouted, what happened!

Xiao Zhuang seemed conflicted, his voice got quieter: “Aiya, it’s just that Brother Fan and that guy…”

Xiao Jiu grew more anxious: “Who?”

Xiao Zhuang simply started shouting, extremely loudly: “Listen! I’m saying! Your brother and your boyfriend got into a fight!”

Xiao Jiu finally heard it crystal clear, not a single word missed.

She didn’t have time to think about how they got into a fight, or how Xiao Zhuang knew about her relationship with Sun Xi, or who else knew. She stepped on the gas, accelerated, and drove toward Shi City.

Xiao Zhuang had only just learned that Xiao Jiu was actually dating that pretentious jerk who’d been despised by everyone since childhood, and that his murderer father was the very culprit who had nearly destroyed the bathhouse family back then. What a shock.

Even more shocking was that Brother Fan had let this slip, and he’d let it slip right in front of Sun Xi. That scene was quite spectacular, even funny. Xiao Zhuang felt he could live off this joke for the rest of the year.

Ge Fan, however, couldn’t laugh at all. He was vexed, dejected, angry, and even more confused about how he’d failed to control his temper and blurted out the secret he’d discovered long ago but didn’t want to face.

He suspected Sun Xi had come prepared, that it was deliberate.

Over these past two days of New Year’s, Ge Fan had arranged several meetups one after another. Having just left his job, he had some former friends and clients to maintain relationships with, other KTVs were also beating around the bush inviting him for drinks to poach him, and there was even a media company manager who’d come all the way from Shenyang wanting to sign him as a professional internet celebrity.

Ge Fan took Xiao Zhuang along and attended each banquet one by one. It was cursed luck—he ran into Sun Xi at three consecutive gatherings.

The first time was normal enough, because they’d arranged to meet at Le Sheng Huang. It wasn’t Ge Fan’s idea—a former client heard he’d quit and said they might as well spend all the money they’d prepaid, not let that guy surnamed Sun earn a single cent from them.

But halfway through drinking, the card ran out of money. The group was discussing changing venues when Lin Hui suddenly knocked on the door with two people, carrying four large bags of beer, two bottles of foreign liquor, and holding a luxury fruit platter as big as a small boat decorated with caviar, saying this is all from our boss.

Xiao Zhuang asked, for who?

Lin Hui looked at Ge Fan and said, Brother Fan, our boss says happy new year to you.

Ge Fan didn’t take it seriously, figured Sun Xi was probably just itching to show off deliberately. Anyway, he was paying, so they might as well drink it all—no reason not to. After finishing all the alcohol, they left. When leaving, he glanced at him sitting at the front desk in the main hall but didn’t acknowledge him.

But unexpectedly, that evening they ran into him again at a seafood restaurant.

They were separated by just one Chinese-style screen, two tables sitting back to back. Ge Fan noticed Sun Xi seemed to be having dinner with two people from the government. He was treating people from that Shenyang media company. Neither side greeted each other. Sun Xi’s group finished and left first. When leaving, he glanced at Ge Fan. Ge Fan still didn’t acknowledge him.

But when settling the bill, the server said bro, someone paid for your meal.

Ge Fan asked who?

The server said the guy sitting behind you, that new boss of Le Sheng Huang, the really handsome one. After saying this, she even blushed.

Ge Fan gave a cold laugh, asked how much it cost, then directly transferred the exact amount via WeChat down to the cent. But the next evening, 24 hours later, the money was returned.

Yet they ran into each other again.

This time at a barbecue stand. Sun Xi was having a gathering with several employees at the outdoor seating. Ge Fan and Xiao Zhuang and the others were in a private room discussing whether to become internet celebrities or jump to another KTV. That’s when a server came over and told Ge Fan, sorry, we only have one roasted lamb leg left and customers outside ordered it.

Ge Fan said forget it then, we’re pretty much done drinking anyway.

But at that moment, a familiar deep voice came from outside, saying give it to the people inside, we don’t want it anymore.

Ge Fan hadn’t reacted yet. He stuck his head out and said, thanks, bro.

Then he saw Sun Xi sitting lazily on a simple plastic stool in the main hall, nodding and saying you’re welcome.

Ge Fan was thoroughly provoked. He kicked Xiao Zhuang and the others out of the private room, pointed at Sun Xi, and said get the fuck in here.

Sun Xi slowly stood up, walked into the private room, casually closed the door behind him, sat in a position against the wall. Because he’d been drinking, his complexion was paler than usual. With a half-smile, he looked at the person across from him and opened with a greeting.

“Brother Fan.”

Ge Fan shot back: “Don’t call me brother.”

Sun Xi pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Ge Fan looked at him through gritted teeth: “Are you fucking sick or something, day after day?” He added, “What’s up, taken a liking to me? Want to hit on me?”

Sun Xi smiled lightly, very politely: “Just ran into you, wanted to show some goodwill.”

“I need your goodwill?” Ge Fan studied him. “What the hell do you really want?”

Sun Xi didn’t hide it: “There is something.”

Ge Fan’s face turned cold: “What is it?”

“I’ll tell you.”

“Tell me.”

Sun Xi stared at him, speaking slowly: “I want to ask you to come back.”

For some reason, Ge Fan breathed a sigh of relief, then became confused again: “Come back? Come back where?”

“Come back to Le Sheng Huang.” Sun Xi looked more serious now. “I won’t hide it from you—these past few days I’ve been in a complete mess. The paperwork and accounts are a disaster, several product supplies at the establishment are running out, and most importantly, we’ve lost quite a few customers. You know, Old Wang took a bunch of people with him, the ones left aren’t key personnel, and the people I found are all inexperienced. I need someone like you with experience and connections to help me. Really, whether Le Sheng Huang can continue—having me or not doesn’t matter, but it can’t do without you.”

Ge Fan felt a bit unsteady from his flattery, forcefully steadying himself: “Now you’re being modest. I’ve seen your methods before. What are you afraid of?”

Sun Xi observed him and switched tactics: “If you come back, I’ll count you as a partner. Name your conditions.”

Ge Fan, seeing he didn’t seem to be joking, paused: “I’m not interested.”

Sun Xi nodded, lowered his eyes, then raised them again. His gaze instantly switched to that reckless look he usually had, saying: “There’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

Ge Fan asked what.

“Previously, Wang Heyuan used your name to get over 300,000 yuan worth of liquor on credit from a Tianjin foreign liquor distributor. You knew about that, right?” Staring hard at Ge Fan. “The bill has your personal information and signature on it. The distributor called yesterday demanding payment. I managed to put them off, stalled for a couple days, but they’ll probably track you down soon.”

Ge Fan cursed, shot up from his chair.

Because Wang Heyuan’s personal credit was a complete mess, he had once tricked Ge Fan into helping sign a document, saying next month when the KTV’s cash flow came in he’d pay it back. At the time, Ge Fan had been drunk out of his mind and after a round of sweet-talking, got carried away and signed with a flourish. Later he’d asked Old Wang about it, and Old Wang said it had been paid back, so he didn’t think about it anymore. He never expected that bastard had screwed him over.

Ge Fan immediately called Wang Heyuan, cursing and demanding answers. Old Wang wasn’t flustered, saying we’re not kids anymore, adults have to take responsibility for their own actions, what’s it got to do with me? He added, cursing me won’t help, I definitely don’t have the money. Why don’t you come to my auto repair shop tomorrow and sit down, I’ll treat you to a good meal.

Ge Fan said fine, you wait for me tomorrow.

Sun Xi could tell Wang Heyuan was determined to welch on the debt and it wasn’t that simple. He said this matter is somewhat related to Le Sheng Huang, tomorrow I’ll go with you.

Ge Fan didn’t refuse.

So at noon on the third day of 2024, Sun Xi brought Lin Hui, Ge Fan brought Xiao Zhuang, and the four of them together stormed Wang Heyuan’s shabby auto repair shop in the suburbs that he was barely keeping afloat.

Lin Hui drove Sun Xi’s car. Sun Xi sat in the back. Ge Fan didn’t want to sit next to him so he chose the passenger seat. Xiao Zhuang reluctantly sat next to the person he’d once hit with a beer bottle.

On the road, the four young men fell into an awkward silence.

It was also in this silence that Xiao Zhuang gradually understood why the relationship between Brother Fan and Sun Xi was so obscure and delicate, and incidentally picked up the biggest piece of gossip and entertainment of his year.

At first, he just felt the silence was too excruciating and wanted to find a topic to chat about. He glanced sideways and saw Boss Sun next to him sending WeChat messages to someone, and even opened a picture to zoom in on it.

Xiao Zhuang’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse—it was a bunch of bizarre varieties of candied hawthorn.

He casually said: “You like eating that stuff?”

Sun Xi smiled and said: “Someone wants to give them to me.”

“Who, your girlfriend?”

He paused: “Mm.”

Xiao Zhuang followed up: “From Beijing, your girlfriend?”

“From Shi City.”

“Who is she?”

“Can you shut your mouth!” Ge Fan, who had been squinting his eyes in the front, suddenly shouted. “Yapping all day long, so annoying!”

Xiao Zhuang’s peripheral vision caught the person beside him seeming to twitch his lips.

He immediately had some guesses and premonitions, but didn’t point them out. It wasn’t until they arrived at the auto repair shop and got into a fight with Wang Heyuan’s group that everything was confirmed from Ge Fan’s own mouth.

As soon as they arrived at the auto repair shop, Wang Heyuan was waiting there with three or four people, each holding non-lethal weapons in their hands, their posture arrogant, their eyes provocative, meaning cut the crap and let’s just fight.

In Northeast lower-class society, there’s an unwritten rule: before talking business, have a fight first. Don’t waste words. Lose and run with your tail between your legs; win and then they’ll call you daddy.

Ge Fan knew this matter was ultimately a conflict between him and Old Wang, nothing to do with Sun Xi, so he told him and Lin Hui to leave first. He said it twice, but seeing Sun Xi didn’t move, he got anxious.

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to leave!”

Sun Xi glanced at him: “With so many of them, can just the two of you handle it?”

“Mind your own business whether I can handle it!” Ge Fan was exasperated. “What’s it got to do with you!”

“I’m not doing this for you.”

“Go to hell, you don’t need to do it for anyone!”

“Brother Fan, we two…”

“Don’t call me brother!”

Sun Xi was about to say something else.

Ge Fan’s words burst out: “Let me tell you, don’t expect me to support whatever you have going on with Xiao Jiu!”

Xiao Zhuang had an epiphany beside them, exclaiming: “Holy shit, your girlfriend is Xiao Jiu?”

Ge Fan didn’t know where his temper came from, but he suddenly really wanted to find an unlucky bastard to vent on. He charged aggressively toward Wang Heyuan. Old Wang brought people forward to meet him. Both sides rushed at once and just like that, they started fighting.

In the chaos, Ge Fan’s phone fell out. Xiao Zhuang picked it up to hold onto it for him. The phone vibrated for a long time before he found time to answer Xiao Jiu’s call.

But some bastard was smashing a car, creating deafening thunderous sounds nearby. Xiao Jiu’s side also had poor signal. Xiao Zhuang talked at cross-purposes with her for ages without getting anywhere. Seeing not far away that Ge Fan and Sun Xi didn’t know whether they were enemies or allies but seemed to be fighting together, in his urgency, those words burst out.

Your brother and your boyfriend got into a fight!

Xiao Jiu asked where?

Xiao Zhuang used Ge Fan’s phone to send her a location pin.

Yu Jiuqi drove on the highway for over an hour. After reaching Shi City, she first sent Third Uncle to Wendu Shuihui, then drove straight to the suburban auto repair shop. By the time she arrived, that group brawl had already ended.

Xiao Jiu couldn’t figure out who won or lost. She just saw those four people standing scattered along the snow-covered roadside. In the sub-zero cold wind, they all had their jackets open, their clothes dirty and torn, their faces all bearing injuries. Each held some tissues or gauze pressing against wounds, their hands frozen bright red.

She didn’t do it on purpose—her first glance landed on that tall figure standing by the car hood. She saw him use his finger to wipe the corner of his mouth, as if stained with some blood.

Xiao Jiu walked directly toward Sun Xi.

“What happened?” Xiao Jiu looked toward the auto repair shop, assuming it was someone else.

But Sun Xi looked toward the other side: “He did it.”

Following his gaze, Xiao Jiu saw Ge Fan not far away. She saw Ge Fan with swollen eyes, glaring at Sun Xi with a face full of anger and resentment.

“Brother.”

Yu Jiuqi knew she couldn’t hide it anymore. With some trepidation, she looked toward him carefully and cautiously.

Ge Fan took great effort to slowly shift his gaze and place it on Xiao Jiu’s face. But it only stayed for a moment before hurriedly moving away. He furrowed his brow tightly, feeling he couldn’t stay here for even one more second.

“Give me the car keys.” He said coldly to Xiao Jiu.

Xiao Jiu knew he wanted Yu Kaixuan’s car, so she tossed them to him.

Ge Fan turned and walked toward that Range Rover, opened the driver’s side door, saw something, and suddenly froze.

Then he pulled out a large bunch of oddly-shaped candied cartoon characters and fruits and vegetables, stared at them fiercely, his expression growing uglier and uglier.

“Don’t move!” Sun Xi suddenly shouted at him.

Ge Fan turned his head to look at him, teeth clenched.

“They’re mine, I told you don’t move!”

Ge Fan suddenly flung his hand, throwing all of those bizarre gifts Xiao Jiu had brought back from Changchun into the dirty snow pile by the roadside.

“Fuck!”

Sun Xi strode toward him.