Meeting

After hanging up, Li Ping thought about it and felt that something was off. He called several college classmates to ask about Zhao Danshi, wondering whether anything unusual had happened to him.

Zhao Danshi had been in the same club as them in college, so they still had some contact with one another. Yet none of them knew what had happened to Zhao Danshi.

After winding its way around, the news reached Wei Borong, the eldest in Zhao Danshi's old dorm.

Wei Borong was baffled and sent Zhao Danshi a WeChat message: Danshi, did something happen on your end? Why did I hear that some woman threatened you?

Zhao Danshi didn't know whether to laugh or cry: Nothing like that. Where did you hear it?

-It seemed to have come from Senior Li Ping. Don't tell me there's some misunderstanding between you two?

-No, there's no misunderstanding between us.

Wei Borong cautiously asked: Did you two have a fight?

-How could that be? How could Senior and I even quarrel?

-That's good, then. You scared me. I thought something had happened between you two.

Zhao Danshi changed the subject: How were those vegetables I sent you? Want me to send you another batch?

-They were delicious, all the hometown flavors I remembered. But forget about another batch; the shipping costs too much. By the way, Sixth, your vegetable-growing venture's going pretty well, huh? How much do you expect to make this year?

-It's too early to talk about making money. I'll be fine as long as I don't lose any. Facepalm.jpg

-Don't worry if you don't make money right away. Just treat it as slowly building up experience. I'll be going home for the New Year, and I'll come see you then. We can have a drink.

Zhao Danshi calculated the timing. By the New Year, his child would already have been born. If everything went smoothly, there would be no problem meeting the eldest.

-I might tell you some big news during the New Year.

-Why are you being so secretive? Spit it out already.

-This really has to stay secret. You'll find out during the New Year.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Danshi rubbed his stomach and felt an inexplicable anticipation toward the child inside him.

After finishing his call with Zhao Danshi, Li Ping went to work early the next morning. He instructed his secretary, Huang Shaoan, to pack his schedule tightly over the next few days, since he had personal matters to handle that weekend and the following Monday.

It was only midyear, and there was not much going on. Huang Shaoan reviewed the work schedule and nodded. "No problem."

After thinking for a moment, Li Ping said, "Don't cancel that engagement this weekend. We can't neglect a major client. Take it to my brother and have him handle it."

"Understood." Huang Shaoan noted it down, then placed that day's documents on Li Ping's desk.

Li Ping waved him out and began dealing with the day's paperwork.

Li Ping had been two years ahead of Zhao Danshi in college and had worked for over three years since graduating. He was thoroughly familiar with company affairs and handled them with ease.

At eleven thirty in the morning, Li Ping finished his work and went downstairs to the gym.

He was used to exercising for forty minutes every noon and an hour and a half every evening. His life was extremely regular.

Halfway through his workout, while he was fully focused, he caught sight of his brother entering through the door with a stack of documents in hand. Li Ping had no choice but to release the machine, stop what he was doing, wipe away his sweat with a towel, and go over to him.

At this hour, Li Ping was the only one working out in the gym, so the brothers did not need to find somewhere else to talk.

After sitting in the lounge area, Li Ping poured his brother a cup of water and took a bottle of sports drink for himself. "Brother, what is it?"

"What else could it be? The Hengshi project." Li Sheng handed him the documents. "Dad wants you to try taking charge of this project. Look over the materials first, and tell me promptly if you run into any difficulties."

A wave of irritation suddenly rose in Li Ping's heart.

When he had first entered the company, he had started at the bottom. Now he was, at the very least, a general manager. His abilities had long since spoken for themselves.

But the old man did not see it that way. He always felt that Li Ping still lacked polish, and whenever an opportunity arose, he wanted Li Ping to "gain experience." He also frequently summoned him to the study for lectures.

The Hengshi project was not even within Li Ping's scope of work. He had handled a similar project last year, and if he took this one on again, he would have to work day and night for another two or three months.

Li Ping's expression darkened. "Didn't I say I wasn't taking this project? Is there no one else in the company who can handle it?"

Li Sheng was helpless. "I tried to talk Dad out of it too, but he insisted that you take it. It probably won't be settled now. In a couple of days, he'll likely send out a company-wide OA notice."

Li Ping drew in a deep breath. "I have personal matters to handle. I need to take leave this weekend and next Monday."

Li Sheng was surprised. "What could be so important that you need to be away for three days?"

"Personal matters. Don't ask. In any case, I need three days off."

Li Sheng said, "How about I cover for you first, and you take over the project next week?"

Li Ping rubbed his brow helplessly. "Fine. Brother, cover for me for two weeks first. Also, transfer Vice President Zhao over to work on this with me. He's familiar with the Hengshi side. Next time a major project like this comes up, help me persuade Dad. It's not like there's nobody in the company who can shoulder the burden. Stop piling everything on me."

"Got it." Li Sheng remembered something else. "Oh, right. Mom wants you to meet the Huang family's daughter tomorrow night. Don't forget."

Li Ping's face immediately darkened. "Brother, it's not like you don't know I prefer men. I'm not going."

"If you don't go, just wait for Mom to nag you to death." Li Sheng sighed. "So what if you prefer men? It's not like you can't get hard for women."

"I'm a grown man, not a breeding stud. Why should I go mate just because the time has come?"

"Mom said that while you're young now, when you grow old and have no children around you, you'll feel lonely."

Li Ping gave a derisive laugh. "I have money and free time. What kind of life can't I live? Why the hell would I need kids? Brother, stop worrying about my business. I know what I'm doing."

"You know jack shit." Li Sheng looked at him disdainfully. "Do you think I wanted to come persuade you? Mom nags in my ear all day about forcing you to get married."

Li Ping had a headache and muttered, "Sooner or later, I'm going to set up my own household."

Li Sheng patted his shoulder. "Accept reality. I'm going to eat lunch. Want to come with me?"

"No. I'm working overtime." Li Ping stood up, grabbed his towel, and headed for the locker room.

He was tall with long legs. In his workout clothes, his solid, lean muscles looked exceptionally striking.

Li Sheng watched his retreating back and silently sighed.

The Li family had built a sizable business. The more successful they became, the more traditional the family's mindset was.

Li Sheng's marriage had followed the conventional path. After graduation, he broke up with his former girlfriend. Two years into work, he went on blind dates at his family's request and eventually married his current wife. She came from a family of equal standing, and they had a son and a daughter. She was now a full-time housewife and very virtuous.

His parents were quite satisfied with his wife and were set on finding Li Ping a woman like her, one who would support her husband and raise children.

Li Ping took a shower, returned to his office for lunch, and worked another two hours of overtime. That afternoon, when he thought of his family and work, he still felt unsettled.

He was a man who kept himself clean. He did not flirt with women or men, and he would not even arrange a hookup once a year. Why the hell should he go on a blind date?

Thinking of that, Li Ping recalled those clear eyes. In truth, when Zhao Danshi had come to pick him up, he had not been unconscious. He had merely been in a bad mood and did not want to deal with anything.

That day, he had had a huge fight with his family. The argument had gone in circles around the matter of his marriage, and in a fit of anger, he had gone drinking at the bar he often visited in college.

He drank a little too much, and before he knew it, it was late. He wanted to call his driver to pick him up, but the bartender had unexpectedly called Zhao Danshi instead.

He knew Zhao Danshi liked him, and he had a favorable impression of Zhao Danshi as well, but that was all. He had never considered dragging Zhao Danshi into his quagmire of a family.

That day, Zhao Danshi had taken such earnest care of him. Li Ping did not know what came over him, but in a moment of impulse, he pulled Zhao Danshi down and kissed him.

That kiss had been unexpectedly sweet, and Li Ping reacted immediately.

Zhao Danshi had not resisted either. Everything that followed came naturally. The alcohol had stoked Li Ping's desire, turning three parts lust into seven, and the two of them had muddleheadedly slept together.

Early the next morning, Zhao Danshi slipped away. Li Ping assumed he was merely embarrassed and did not think much of it. At the time, he had a project that kept him busy from morning to night. Even in his dreams, he was mulling over project-related issues. Once the project finally reached a stopping point, he found time to deal with what lay between him and Zhao Danshi.

Unexpectedly, after asking around among their college acquaintances, he discovered that Zhao Danshi had already resigned and returned to his hometown.

Li Ping felt somewhat guilty then. He did not know whether that accident had affected Zhao Danshi or whether Zhao Danshi had already planned to return home. But after doing something like that, he felt that something was off and wanted to compensate him.

He thought again of Zhao Danshi's evasive words and suspected that Zhao Danshi might already have a child with another woman.

His chest felt tight, so he asked his friend Yao Jingming out for drinks.

Yao Jingming could not stand seeing him like this. "What's the big deal? If you like him, go after him. If you don't, pretend you never heard about it. He never confirmed a relationship with you. Whether he had a girlfriend before or has one afterward, what does any of that have to do with you?"

Li Ping drank gloomily. It was not that he did not understand the logic, but Zhao Danshi had secretly loved him for years, and everyone around them knew it. Now that Zhao Danshi had suddenly fallen for someone else, Li Ping felt sour inside and could hardly bear it.

His friend scoffed. "Give me a break. You don't have the fate of a straight man, but you've caught the disease of one."

Li Ping smiled bitterly. He really did have a bit of that straight-man chauvinism.

Yao Jingming leaned closer and asked, "What are you planning to do next? Is your family still forcing you to go on blind dates? If you really intend to date and marry someone, then don't go provoking him."

"No, I won't go on blind dates." Li Ping sighed. "Let me think about it some more. This week, I want to go over and see him first."

Yao Jingming disapproved. "Danshi seems like someone who wants to live a steady life. Until you've made up your mind, you should leave him alone."

Yao Jingming had been Li Ping's classmate and had met Zhao Danshi several times before. He had a rather good impression of him.

Li Ping shook his head. "I'm afraid he's being deceived. I won't be at ease unless I go see him myself."

Yao Jingming could not help sighing deeply at that. "If you knew it would come to this, why did you make him wait for you all these years?"