On the way, Tang Yang received a call from Gan Yiming. He answered, “I’m out with a friend. I didn’t look for Zhang Zhilan. I know it’s unnecessary… Yes, thank you, Director Gan. No need to count this as overtime.”
When Tang Yang had just been transferred back, Jiang Shiyan had seen photos of the Credit Review Department staff on Huishang’s official website.
After she hung up, Jiang Shiyan said, “Gan Yiming gives me the impression of… thick-cut fat.”
“Is it not good to directly say he’s greasy?” Tang Yang, who wrapped herself up in front of others, wouldn’t do so with Jiang Shiyan.
“Occasionally showing off without being struck by lightning,” Jiang Shiyan chuckled lightly. “How about your other colleagues? Are you getting along well?”
“It’s alright,” Tang Yang said. “They might talk behind my back, but everyone’s quite cordial on the surface.”
Tang Yang shared a few amusing incidents.
Jiang Shiyan responded as usual: “No matter how capable you are, you’ve only been out for just over a year. Those are all office-seasoned veterans. Anyway, you need to know what you’re doing and what you want to achieve.”
Tang Yang gave a soft “Mm,” tilting her head to glimpse a profile as if cast in bronze. She hadn’t had time to respond.
The next second, those thin lips on the handsome face opened with mock seriousness: “Don’t covet a big chest and long legs. To maintain your IQ, you can persist in drinking Want Want or Future Star every morning and evening.”
Tang Yang refused to admit that she had been moved for a second earlier, and smiled, “You look particularly handsome when you’re talking seriously, all prim and proper.”
Jiang Shiyan paused: “It’s okay if I don’t say thank you?”
Tang Yang magnanimously replied: “As you wish.”
Upon arriving at their destination and getting out of the car, Tang Yang opened her walking navigation app.
After a few steps, both her and Jiang Shiyan’s expressions froze.
The outer street of Nanjin Street was brand new, but the inner street just across the way was a mess. Ramshackle aluminum shacks were scattered haphazardly, dishwater from one house’s front flowed to the next house’s boiler, the road surface was pitch black, and occasional shouts of abuse could be heard from some unknown house. A pungent odor of fish and poultry assaulted their noses.
At the end of the inner street was a slightly neater cluster of buildings. Tang Yang checked the street sign: “It should be there.”
Jiang Shiyan glanced at an overloaded garbage bin: “We should have brought an umbrella from the car, in case we encounter stray cats or dogs or something…”
Tang Yang walked onto the sidewalk, mocking: “Is your 188cm height just for show?”
Before Jiang Shiyan could answer, Tang Yang drawled, “Oh, it seems so. I wonder who accompanied someone back to school in their junior year, carrying two braised chicken wings, when a stray dog spotted them. They took off running, but the more they ran, the more the dog chased. In the end, they threw away the chicken wings, hugged their chest with both hands, and that scream… tsk.”
Jiang Shiyan sneered: “You’re talking as if you didn’t run too.”
Tang Yang retorted: “Could I not run if you were running…”
Her final words were drowned out by the hungry gaze of a mangy dog three meters away.
Jiang Shiyan took one look and was certain: this was a rabid dog.
He was no longer that timid youth; now he wouldn’t be afraid of normal stray dogs under normal circumstances. But this was a rabid dog, and he couldn’t joke with Tang Yang and his safety.
Jiang Shiyan was about to pull Tang Yang back.
Tang Yang thought for half a second that she couldn’t accompany Jiang the Muscle-head in his foolishness while wearing high heels. Almost simultaneously, she yanked him to her side.
The stray dog whimpered with a low “Woof,” pawing at the ground repeatedly with its front paws.
The great Jiang pretended to be calm, reasoning: “Let’s run. I’m a 100-meter sprint champion now.”
Tang Yang faced off with the dog.
The great Jiang swallowed and appealed emotionally: “If it pounces, we’re both done for. I swear on my former 100 kilos of flesh that I might probably perhaps be willing to run behind you.”
Tang Yang didn’t react, insisting on holding onto him.
Malignant pus flowed down the stray dog’s back. The great Jiang strongly suppressed his discomfort, sucking in a cold breath: “Tang Yang, really, I suddenly remembered I have two express deliveries at home, I’ll go first—”
The stray dog let out a fierce bark. The great Jiang’s whole body shook. Deputy Director Tang, poised for action, fished out her lipstick from her bag, bent down as if picking up a pebble, then quickly and fiercely hurled the lipstick.
The rogue dog yelped in pain, its eyes red as if soaked in blood as it glared at the two.
Using Jiang Shiyan’s arm for support, Tang Yang lifted one foot to the side, pulled off her black high heel, and suddenly raised it. The rogue dog gave a “Woof” and ran away with its tail between its legs.
Everything seemed to happen in a flash.
By the time Jiang Shiyan came to his senses, Tang Yang had already put her shoe back on and was still holding onto his arm as she sighed: “Jiang Shiyan, are you cursed or something? Whatever you say comes true. My newly bought bullet lipstick…”
They had had physical contact before. Hugs when saying goodbye, support when drunk, high-fives, pinky promises…
Perhaps it was the wind blowing now, or perhaps it had been a long time since he had been protected, so the great Jiang seemed particularly uncomfortable.
Jiang Shiyan thought that Tang Yang had lost a lot of weight, even more than the 90 pounds from their last meeting. Now maybe 80 pounds, no more.
When she instinctively pulled him, her hand felt almost weightless, soft, and light, like…
Jiang Shiyan had a bit of OCD, but he just couldn’t find the right word. It felt like a soft cat’s paw gently scratching in his heart.
Jiang Shiyan had been silent for too long.
Tang Yang looked up at him, “I’m not asking you to compensate,” then, with tacit understanding, she noticed her hand hooked onto his.
If it were two girls, Tang Yang would think it normal. If it were a couple, Tang Yang would find it sweet. But between herself and Jiang Shiyan… The world suddenly fell silent.
Only the rustling of the wind and their breathing remained.
Both parties pretended to be statues for a good while in the unpleasant environment.
Tang Yang said complexly: “Don’t you think we look like two big men hooked together like this… weird and… gay?”
Jiang Shiyan’s throat moved: “Plus one.”
Tang Yang gave an “Mm” sound: “Then let’s not hook arms.”
Jiang Shiyan: “You were the one who hooked on me.”
Tang Yang had a moment of embarrassment, feigning a cold face: “Couldn’t you have brushed my hand away?”
Jiang Shiyan equally cold-faced: “Couldn’t you have let go yourself?”
Tang Yang took a deep breath, wanting to withdraw her hand. Jiang Shiyan teased her by tightening his arm. Tang Yang tried to pull away but couldn’t, glaring at him. Jiang Shiyan loosened his arm, and Tang Yang resentfully withdrew her hand.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
A snicker came from above: “Even a mimosa doesn’t shrink as fast as you, and you call yourselves big men—”
Tang Yang stomped her foot, the black shoe surface making an immediate impact.
Jiang Shiyan: “Five digits, WeChat transfer, thanks.”
Tang Yang stepped on his right foot again: “We’re even.”
Then she walked forward.
Jiang Shiyan’s expression didn’t change at all as he followed: “With this kind of logic in credit review, I wonder which great Buddha Huishang is worshipping to still be ranked first overall. So brilliant.”
Tang Yang stopped and looked at him: “Do you think success in banking relies on luck?”
Jiang Shiyan returned her gaze, as if to say, doesn’t it?
Tang Yang smiled slightly: “It relies on beauty.”
Jiang Shiyan gave an “Oh”: “Good thing it doesn’t rely on height.”
Tang Yang hadn’t caught her breath when she heard Jiang Shiyan sigh: “No wonder my company is developing so rapidly, thriving, prosperous…”
Tang Yang: “…” In broad daylight, have you no shame???
Their conversation, which was roughly at a third-grade level, continued all the way, ending at a simple community with “Happy Garden” written on it.
Zhang Zhilan wasn’t home, neither were her mother-in-law and children.
After going up and down several times, Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan confirmed they hadn’t made a mistake. Tang Yang knocked on the door of the first-floor mahjong parlor: “Excuse me, does Zhang Zhilan from 301 still live here?”
A woman with permed waves said: “Yes, she’s only not here on weekends. I think she said she goes back to the suburbs to see her mother.”
The woman asked again: “Are you her friends or relatives?”
“No,” Tang Yang politely said, “She submitted some documents to our company, and I came to check.”
Tang Yang’s appearance was extremely appealing to middle-aged and elderly people – clear, delicate, with a hint of docility. Jiang Shiyan also had bright features. Along with their outstanding temperament and attire, a short-haired old lady enthusiastically welcomed the two in, and everyone immediately started chattering.
They said Zhang Zhilan’s family had moved here for about half a year. The old mother-in-law sold youtiao at the community entrance every morning and took care of the two children during the day.
They didn’t know what Zhang Zhilan did for work, but she left for work all dolled up every afternoon and only returned late at night.
“What kind of decent job could it be?” A group of middle-aged women exchanged meaningful glances.
One said: “Last time I kindly asked her, she was quite impatient and mentioned a shop name, something like Hokkaido Japanese…”
Tang Yang: “Hokkaido Japanese Cuisine.”
“Yes, yes, that’s the name,” the woman clicked her tongue, revealing a meaningful expression, “Still saying it’s a decent job. Anything involving Japan can’t be decent…”
After chatting back and forth, the middle-aged woman forgot it was dinner time. When Jiang Shiyan and Tang Yang left the community, the night sky was as dark as spilled ink.
Back in the car, Tang Yang received another call from Gan Yiming. Before Jiang Shiyan could make a sarcastic comment, his phone lit up.
As Jiang’s mother, Yi Fangping, got older, her voice got louder. Sitting in the passenger seat, Tang Yang could hear everything.
“My nagging calls have gone from half an hour every day to twenty minutes, and you’re still not coming back this week?”
“Not coming back,” Jiang Shiyan exposed, “Because you’ve used up your monthly call minutes.”
“You, you,” the sound of Jiang’s mother gasping and clutching her chest came through the phone, “How can you maliciously speculate about your old mother like this? Can’t you empathize with an old mother’s urgent desire to see her wandering son return home?”
As she spoke, Jiang’s mother even gave a couple of particularly convincing sobs, “I know you’ve grown up, and Mom’s getting old. Your wings have hardened, and Mom can’t control you anymore. But can you think about Mom’s feelings? Facing your empty room every day, the vacant spot at the dinner table, not even wanting to make your favorite tomato and egg stir-fry because I’m afraid no one will eat it…”
Jiang Shiyan: “I’m with Tang Yang.”
“Tang Yang is back?!” Jiang’s mother’s melancholy instantly vanished, replaced by a cheerful loud voice, “When did she come back? Is it for a vacation or has she been transferred back? How long is she staying?”
After a barrage of questions, before Jiang Shiyan could answer, Jiang’s mother quickly said: “Why don’t you know anything when I ask you? Can you manage? Quickly give the phone to Sugar Sugar.”
Jiang Shiyan turned his head to look at Tang Yang.
Tang Yang smiled and took the phone: “Auntie Yi, mm, it’s been almost half a month… I’m not leaving, it’s also convenient to take care of my parents…”
Whatever Yi Fangping asked, Tang Yang answered, her voice soft and patient. Occasionally when Yi Fangping made a joke or two, Tang Yang also laughed heartily.
The expressionless great Jiang seemed out of place in the joyful atmosphere of the car.
Half an hour passed, and Tang Yang returned the phone to Jiang Shiyan. The receiver still echoed with Jiang’s mother’s “Remember to come over to play, don’t be polite, Auntie will make your favorite Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. If you’re busy, Auntie can make it and bring it over to you… Oh my, it’s so good that Sugar Sugar is back, so good.”
Jiang Shiyan put the phone to his ear, really at a loss: “Mom.”
Jiang’s mother seemed as if she had been woken from a beautiful dream, stunned for a moment: “What was I calling you about just now?”
Jiang Shiyan: “You let—”
Jiang’s mother had no patience to listen: “Alright, alright, my square dancing is about to start, I’m busy heading out. Hanging up now.”
With that, not waiting for Jiang Shiyan to finish, “beep beep beep,” crisp and decisive.
One moment ago, a warm and caring mother; the next instant, leaving a cold busy tone.
Seeing Jiang Shiyan’s “I’m afraid I’m not Yi Fangping’s biological son” expression, Tang Yang felt that as a brother, she needed to comfort him.
One didn’t even want to make tomato and egg stir-fry, the other would deliver Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. The difference was as vast as the Milky Way.
“It’s okay,” Deputy Director Tang, with her Buddha Jumps Over the Wall treatment, patted the tomato and egg stir-fry great Jiang’s head, sweetly saying, “I’m not Auntie Yi’s biological daughter either.”