Bai Yun Sheng really didn’t like his car.
It wasn’t particularly comfortable to drive, and it had been expensive when he bought it. If it hadn’t been for his boss, who, after a meeting, had said, “Xiao Bai, your car isn’t quite up to standard,” he wouldn’t have sold his old car to Su Nian and then replaced it with this second-hand BMW 3 Series.
The car had cost him more than a year’s savings. Doing business was all about putting on appearances. Fortunately, he had the face of someone from a wealthy family, so even when standing among a group of accomplished young men, he didn’t look out of place.
Still, there were always some clueless butterflies fluttering around him. He parked at the train station to wait for Yun Jin, and before long, a girl, all dolled up, came over to ask him the time. Avoiding the look she gave him, sizing him up from head to toe, Bai Yun Sheng lazily glanced at the sun hanging high in the sky and replied, “The time? It’s eight in the morning.”
The girl got the hint and left.
When Gu Yun Jin got into the car, she didn’t even look directly at him. She had been making trips back and forth all year, and Bai Yun Sheng had finally rented a single apartment within the Fifth Ring to bring her over. Although it was just a one-bedroom, one-living-room place, at least she didn’t have to share it with other white-collar workers anymore.
His foresight had paid off. That particular collaboration had propelled Gu Yun Jin to fame, making her a well-known name in the fashion design world. Some other business partners had approached her, but she always went against Bai Yun Sheng’s suggestions.
“They’re offering twice as much as the deal you picked. Why are you still taking this one?”
“Did you even see what they’re asking me to make?” Gu Yun Jin said dismissively over the phone, hanging up a moment later. “I’m tired. We’ll talk later.”
Many of the collaborations had been introduced by Bai Yun Sheng, but by now, she was tired of it. She started refusing all of his introductions, saying, “I think I liked it better when I used to make clothes for little girls in Suzhou. These business deals are too restrictive. I don’t like them.”
“Don’t like them? Yun Jin, no one dislikes money.”
Her tone was especially distant: “Not everyone likes money.”
Bai Yun Sheng was taken aback, not fully understanding what she meant. “If you’re tired of running around, I’ll bring you over.”
“Suzhou is fine.”
“No,” Bai Yun Sheng softened his voice, “I miss you.”
Gu Yun Jin stayed silent for a long time before finally saying, “Alright then.”
When he lived alone, he made do with anything, but now that they had a new place, he didn’t dare neglect it. He replaced the bed with a double one, which meant the old bedding and sheets couldn’t be used anymore. Bai Yun Sheng dragged Zheng Su Nian to IKEA, making him feel quite uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong with you?” Zheng Su Nian grumbled impatiently as he watched Bai Yun Sheng, lovestruck, selecting bedding sets. “It’s bad enough that Shao Xue left me, and I’m practically in mourning. Do you have to rub it in my face?”
“Which one do you think looks better, this ocean blue or the orange one?”
Zheng Su Nian frowned and pointed at the uglier orange set. Bai Yun Sheng nodded and picked up the ocean blue one to take to the checkout.
The apartment complex used to be employee housing for a relocated factory. With over sixty buildings, it gave an idea of the scale of the factory back in the day. Gu Yun Jin got out of the car and looked up, immediately sensing that the atmosphere was completely different from Suzhou.
She hadn’t even entered yet, and she already wanted to go back.
“Come on up,” Bai Yun Sheng called, carrying her luggage. “I’ve cleaned everything up.”
The place was relatively clean, but no matter how much he cleaned, it was still an old-fashioned apartment. The gas water heater made a “bang bang” sound when it was turned on, and the wiring was strangely installed. The landlord’s air conditioner barely cooled the place, but it was loud enough to shake the walls.
Gu Yun Jin didn’t say much, only glanced at the curtains: “I’ll go buy thicker ones in a couple of days. These let too much light through... What are you doing?”
Bai Yun Sheng pressed her against the wardrobe with one hand on her back and the other arm tightly around her waist, almost rough in his intensity. Gu Yun Jin let out a startled breath, but it only seemed to ignite something in him. Unable to wait any longer, he tilted his neck and left a series of red marks with his kisses.
She raised her hand to push him away, but Bai Yun Sheng caught her wrist with one hand.
“You don’t want this?” he murmured into her ear.
Gu Yun Jin closed her eyes, her voice suddenly becoming heavy with suppressed emotion.
“Bai Yun Sheng, you know why I’m upset.”
He froze for a moment, then stepped back and slumped onto the sofa in defeat.
The new house had a recently installed water dispenser. Gu Yun Jin poured herself a glass of water and sat at the other end of the sofa.
“You promised me you wouldn’t mention Master Chu’s name during the promotion.”
“It’s a commercial brand,” he ran his fingers through his hair, “Master Chu is well-known, and having a direct disciple involved is the perfect selling point. Even if I said no, the marketing team wouldn’t have agreed.”
The brand’s advertisement campaign was massive, and as soon as the product hit the market, it dominated countless media headlines. The blend of Chinese and foreign styles, with many elements requested by the brand itself, was widely publicized. Gu Yun Jin’s name was embellished with various epithets, and naturally, Master Chu became a key part of the marketing strategy.
Her master refused to see her. The older generation valued reputation more than life itself. After a lifetime of crafting and mentoring his disciples, watching them work on such projects had caused him to lose face among his peers.
Gu Yun Jin said, “I must have been crazy to get involved in this mess.”
“You didn’t lose anything,” Bai Yun Sheng sighed. “You got the money, and the fame. Isn’t this better than being a little tailor in Suzhou?”
“What’s wrong with being a little tailor? It’s honest work. Master Chu raised me with care, and now I’m making… what exactly?”
“Aren’t tailors supposed to make whatever people want to wear? The things you despise are what customers like. Foreigners are willing to pay, so just do it. Why all this fuss about principles and standards?”
Gu Yun Jin’s voice shook with anger. “Did you ask me here just for this?”
Irritated, Bai Yun Sheng stood up, grabbed his coat from the sofa, and stormed out. The door to the new apartment slammed shut with a loud “bang,” knocking a painting he had hung to welcome Gu Yun Jin off the wall.
Gu Yun Jin picked up the painting and carefully re-hung it, all the while crying.
Bai Yun Sheng’s work had become more scattered recently, with jewelry design being just a small part of his responsibilities. His boss, Xiao Yi, had once been a client of Bai Yun Sheng’s and found him young and clever, so he took him under his wing. Xiao Yi wasn’t an expert in art, but he was a sharp businessman. Before partnering with Bai Yun Sheng, he had focused solely on gold jewelry.
In business, profit was all that mattered. Xiao Yi had seen the lucrative potential of jade and white jade jewelry, but he couldn’t conquer the market alone. He needed Bai Yun Sheng to help him get rich. After a little more than a year since graduation, Bai Yun Sheng had made a name for himself in Beijing’s jewelry scene, building useful connections along the way.
Young people are sentimental, so Bai Yun Sheng genuinely called him “Yi-ge” from the heart. But in truth, Xiao Yi didn’t care much for him. He found these designers laughably naive, thinking that without his guidance, Bai Yun Sheng would still be struggling to make a name for himself.
That day, when Bai Yun Sheng called Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi was in a KTV room entertaining clients.
The deafening music blasted into his left ear, while Bai Yun Sheng’s hesitant voice murmured in his right. Xiao Yi grew impatient, stepped out of the room, and raised his voice, “What’s going on?”
“Yi-ge, I’d like to request some time off.”
“Time off?” Xiao Yi was clearly displeased. “We’re swamped right now—how long are you asking for?”
“A week.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Xiao Yi sneered coldly. “I’ve already been generous giving you a half-day off today, and now you want a whole week?”
“I didn’t use any of my vacation days last year,” Bai Yun Sheng insisted, unexpectedly firm this time. “I’ve even worked overtime on all the national holidays. Can’t I at least get one week off?”
Xiao Yi’s eye twitched. “Fine, but there’s a client meeting tonight. You wrap it up, then you can go.”
The moment Bai Yun Sheng left the office, he regretted it.
He wandered around outside for over an hour, smoking half a pack of cigarettes. He mulled over how things had gotten so strained with Gu Yun Jin, eventually concluding that it was because they hadn’t spent quality time together in ages.
They had been in a long-distance relationship for five years—of course, they weren’t the same as when they were teenagers. After counting up all the vacation days he had saved from working overtime, Bai Yun Sheng finally mustered the courage to call Xiao Yi and ask for time off.
At twenty-four, Bai Yun Sheng still saw Xiao Yi as a benefactor, someone he had met right after graduating. By the time he finished making his case over the phone, his palms were slick with sweat.
He got into his car and drove to the KTV Xiao Yi had mentioned.
Gu Yun Jin, for her part, was practical.
Once Bai Yun Sheng had left, her crying had been just a way to vent; it hadn’t served any real purpose. If she had been the type to act out, the long-distance relationship would have fallen apart years ago. After calming down, she took a good look at the apartment, her need to clean taking over as she meticulously tidied up the furniture and bed.
By the time she scrubbed the bathroom clean, it was getting dark. She made herself a pot of noodles and ate them angrily, determined not to leave even a bite for Bai Yun Sheng.
But then she heard someone shouting her name from downstairs.
“Gu Yun Jin! Gu Yun Jin! Gu Yun Jin!”
Each shout was louder than the last, and every now and then, she heard a slurred “I love you,” like some drunken fool yelling up at the building. When she opened the window, other residents in the complex had opened theirs too, angrily yelling at the howling Bai Yun Sheng: “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy?”
Rolling up her sleeves, Gu Yun Jin dashed downstairs.
Bai Yun Sheng reeked of alcohol, leaning against his car with a foolish grin on his face. Zheng Su Nian stepped out of the driver’s seat, looking irritated. He waved at Gu Yun Jin, then shoved Bai Yun Sheng onto her shoulder from behind.
The six-foot man flopped onto her, forcing her to stumble backward under his weight.
“Finally, you’re here,” Zheng Su Nian sighed. “Every time he has a business meeting, he ends up like this. I’m tired of being his chauffeur.”
Gu Yun Jin chuckled awkwardly, a bit concerned. “Does this happen often?”
“Four or five days a month… when it doesn’t.”
With Gu Yun Jin’s help, they dragged Bai Yun Sheng upstairs. After setting the car keys on the table where they’d be easy to spot, Zheng Su Nian left, while Bai Yun Sheng, knowing his way around, headed straight for the bathroom. That left Gu Yun Jin standing there, speechless.
“Not bad,” Zheng Su Nian commented as he glanced around the apartment. “Looks like he really put some effort into this for your visit.”
“Effort? We just had a huge argument this afternoon, and he stormed out.”
“Don’t argue,” Zheng Su Nian smiled. “I wish I had someone to argue with. Anyway, I’m off.”
After seeing Zheng Su Nian out, Gu Yun Jin rushed to the bathroom. Bai Yun Sheng was slumped over the toilet, looking like he had just pulled his head out of it.
“What is wrong with you?” Gu Yun Jin tried to pull him up, but instead, he dragged her down to her knees. “Bai Yun Sheng, stand up!”
“Why are you calling me Bai Yun Sheng?” To her surprise, he pinned her against the bathroom tiles. “You used to call me… Yun Sheng.”
The smell of alcohol clouded her thoughts. Gu Yun Jin reached out to touch his neck, feeling the heat rising through his skin.
“How much did you drink…” she sighed, slipping out from under him and guiding him to the bed. Fortunately, Bai Yun Sheng was easy to handle when drunk—he might shout loudly, but once he hit the bed, he would fall asleep. Still, dealing with such a large man wasn’t easy. After finally managing to strip off his dirty shirt and trousers, Gu Yun Jin collapsed on the sofa to rest before fetching his pajamas.
She rummaged through the wardrobe, which had only recently been filled, but came up empty. Just then, Bai Yun Sheng poked his head out from under the covers and groaned, “Thirsty.”
He started to get up, feeling his way around for water.
“Stay put,” Gu Yun Jin scolded softly. She filled a large glass of warm water from the dispenser and brought it to him. As she approached, Bai Yun Sheng, like a puppy sensing its owner, nuzzled against her.
After drinking, he hummed contentedly, “Having a wife is great.”
“Shut up, who’s your wife?” Gu Yun Jin flicked him on the forehead with her finger. “I’m still mad at you.”
“Don’t be mad,” he mumbled, rolling over and lying across her lap. “I’m working hard to make money so I can buy you a big house.”
“I don’t need your stupid house,” Gu Yun Jin said, laughing despite herself. “Just drink less and smoke less, and I’ll be happier than anything.”
“It’s not like I want to drink… Come closer…”
He scooted back, pulling Gu Yun Jin under the covers, his body radiating heat as he burrowed into her embrace.
Gu Yun Jin slapped his hand away. “I haven’t even changed you into your pajamas yet.”
“Forget it, they’ll just come off anyway,” he mumbled, pressing his chin into the crook of her shoulder. “And you’re the one who’ll take them off.”
“Bai Yun Sheng, stop being a scoundrel.” Only now did Gu Yun Jin realize she was a lamb in the lion’s den. “What do you think you’re doing, getting drunk and…”
“I am drunk, and I don’t care.”
He raised his head and looked down at Gu Yun Jin, his eyes suddenly much clearer.
“Are you really drunk or not?” she snapped, trying to push his chest, but then her whole body tensed.
Bai Yun Sheng’s skin burned like a hot coal.
“You started this fire; now you put it out.” His hand slipped up to unbutton her neatly fastened shirt. “We didn’t finish what we started this afternoon.”
This apartment was 300 yuan more expensive than the one next door, all because the bedroom faced the sun.
The curtains let in light, making Gu Yun Jin squint from the brightness. As she opened her eyes, she noticed sunlight filling half the bedroom.
“What time is it?” she mumbled.
The person beside her moved, glanced at his phone, and then tossed it aside. Gu Yun Jin reached over and pinched his waist, making him jerk in surprise.
“You don’t even have work today, so why does it matter what time it is?” he grumbled, pulling her closer. Not content with just his arm around her, he snuggled even closer.
“I might not have work, but you do,” she said, regaining some clarity as she tried to wriggle free. “What if you’re late?”
“I have time off.”
“Liar. It’s not even the weekend. What time off?”
“Stop moving,” Bai Yun Sheng said, now sounding irritated. He tightened his grip and pressed her against him. “I haven’t had a break in a year. What’s wrong with taking a week off to be with you?”
Finally, Gu Yun Jin quieted down.
She traced a finger along his brow, then tapped his nose, and finally let it brush over his lips. When he didn’t react, she playfully pinched his chest.
“Ow!” He cracked open an eye. “Are you acting up again?”
“You’ve lost weight,” she said matter-of-factly. “My ‘God’s hand’ can feel that your chest size has gone down.”
“Yeah, so you better feed me well.” He freed one hand and slipped it between her neck and the pillow, curling it behind her head in a playful grip. “Let me sleep a bit longer. I haven’t slept this soundly in ages.”
His words hit Gu Yun Jin in the heart. She reached out and patted his back, her voice softening as she asked, “Is work really that exhausting?”
“Mm,” he murmured sleepily, his head resting against her chest. “Once I’m rested, I’ll take you out.”
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