On Saturday afternoon, Wang Hao arrived at Shangguan Yu’s apartment, laden with bags of varying sizes. As he entered, he announced boisterously, “Yo yo yo, well look who’s talking! The great Shangguan Yu actually said he had something to ask me! Don’t worry, I’m here for my visit!”
“……” Shangguan Yu, seated in the living room, watched Wang Hao in silence as he hauled his bags into the kitchen. “I told you, I didn’t need anything. We have everything we need here.”
“Ah, come on, I know you. You’re all talk. Now that Zuo Zhou’s gone, you’re probably living in a desolate state with nothing in the house, so…”
Wang Hao trailed off mid-sentence, abruptly stopping. He leaned against the refrigerator, staring at Shangguan Yu in disbelief. “You’ve bought all this food? And there’s even cooked ribs and beef! Who made all this for you? Did you hire a housekeeper?”
Shangguan Yu saw no need to hide anything from Wang Hao, so he answered truthfully, “No, Zuo Zhou has been staying here recently.”
“What?” Wang Hao’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait, what did you say? Zuo Zhou came back? Where is he? How come he didn’t come out to let me in?”
“……He has classes this afternoon; he went to university.”
Wang Hao, abandoning his unpacking efforts, hurried out of the kitchen, pulled Shangguan Yu over to the sofa, and asked eagerly, “Come on, tell me! How did you convince Zuo Zhou to come back? Did you have to resort to tears and begging, and he couldn’t bring himself to refuse?”
“………………”
Shangguan Yu sighed, casting a sidelong glance at Wang Hao, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Wang Hao chuckled dismissively. “Hahaha, just kidding, just kidding. I’ll stop teasing you. Go ahead, tell me the real story.”
“He fractured his arm playing basketball. I asked him to come back and stay here, so he could eat better and be closer to the hospital for treatment,” Shangguan Yu replied curtly.
“What? Is he alright? How serious is it?”
“It’s not serious. He should recover in a month or two.”
“Phew, that’s a relief,” Wang Hao sighed before asking, “So how did you find out he was injured?”
“WeChat. He told me.”
“You two still chat on WeChat every day?!”
“Why not? I just didn’t want him to stay and take care of me. It’s not as though we’re never going to speak again.”
“Of course you can chat! Who said you couldn’t? Why would that even be a problem? You’re Zuo Zhou’s great benefactor, and he’s your little lucky star. You two can hang out every day; I’ve got no problem with that. I’m just…”
Shangguan Yu sensed that Wang Hao was about to delve into the minutiae of his daily WeChat exchanges with Zuo Zhou, perhaps even suggesting that he should never leave now that he had returned. He quickly interjected.
“Alright, let’s not get sidetracked. The reason I asked you to come here is for something else.”
“Huh? What’s that?”
“That car I mentioned before. Could you inquire about its current market value?”
Shangguan Yu’s car was something Wang Hao was familiar with, and given Wang Hao’s extensive network of acquaintances, he felt comfortable entrusting him with the task.
“Okay, that’s fine,” Wang Hao nodded, then inquired, “But if you’re selling your car, does that mean you’re strapped for cash?”
Shangguan Yu didn’t dissemble with Wang Hao, replying honestly, “Not yet, but given the circumstances, I don’t really need the car, and if I wait too long, it’ll depreciate even further.”
Wang Hao didn’t respond immediately. He leaned back on the sofa, considering the matter, before saying, “The moment a car leaves the lot, it starts losing value. But in your case…you might be better off keeping it. Does Zuo Zhou have a driver’s license? If not, I’ll gladly cover the cost of lessons. That way, it’ll be more convenient for you when you need to go out.”
Shangguan Yu hadn’t anticipated Wang Hao suggesting Zuo Zhou. He paused, then shook his head. “Once Zuo Zhou’s arm heals, he’ll be moving out, so there’s no need to trouble him with that.”
“You!” Wang Hao abruptly sat up straight, pointing at Shangguan Yu, exasperated. “Why are you so obstinate? Are you intentionally being difficult? Zuo Zhou is willing to stay and take care of you; what’s the problem? Don’t give me that nonsense about not wanting to burden him—do you realize you need someone to take care of you right now? When someone offers to help, you should gratefully accept it, not stubbornly push them away!”
Wang Hao had reiterated these sentiments countless times, but Shangguan Yu had long since become impervious to them. Calmly seated in his wheelchair, hands folded in his lap, he quietly observed Wang Hao until he finished his tirade, then said, “My minimum acceptable price is 60,000. As long as the offer isn’t lower than that, I’ll accept it, but it has to be a lump-sum payment.”
After what seemed like an eternity of lecturing, Wang Hao realized he was talking to a brick wall.
“………”
They held each other’s gaze for a long moment before Wang Hao finally relented with a sigh.
He shrugged and threw his hands up in defeat. “Shangguan, seriously, it’s hard not to wonder if your deadbeat father finally cut you off, and now you’re desperate for cash. Here, let me send you some money to tide you over.”
With that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, poised to make an immediate transfer.
Shangguan Yu looked at him, exasperated. “I haven’t accepted a cent from him since I started working. Everything I’m spending now comes from my accumulated savings and the inheritance my grandmother left me.”
Wang Hao knew Shangguan Yu had always maintained a strict distance from his absentee father. He was also aware of Shangguan’s diligent work ethic over the years, likely resulting in substantial savings. But hearing him state it so plainly still took him aback.
He stared at Shangguan in disbelief, searching his expression for some telltale sign. Ultimately, all he could muster was another deep sigh. “You really…sigh. Look, Shangguan, you don’t have to be this self-reliant all the time. You don’t have to shoulder everything alone. That father of yours never cared about you growing up—giving you money is the absolute least he owes you. You shouldn’t feel any obligation about it. Besides, he’s rolling in it. If you don’t use it, it’s just going to benefit your stepmother and their—”
“Enough,” Shangguan Yu interrupted with a frown. “Wang Hao, why are you being so persistent today? I simply asked you to help me sell a car. If you’d rather not, I’ll handle it myself.”
“Tsk, what are you getting so worked up about? Why so short-tempered?” Wang Hao rolled his eyes at Shangguan Yu, clearly just as exasperated. “Did I say I wouldn’t help? You asked, didn’t you? How could I just ignore it? You’re practically my ancestor at this point!”
“Damn it.” Wang Hao muttered under his breath and got up from the couch. “Where’s your car key? Give it to me—I’ll find someone to get it running again.”
That evening, when Zuo Zhou returned home, he found Shangguan Yu in the living room, watering the plants with a watering can.
Shangguan Yu balanced the watering can on his lap, one hand steadying it while the other maneuvered his wheelchair back and forth across the room, carefully tending to the greenery Zuo Zhou had purchased. The lush green leaves added a refreshing vibrancy to the space.
Zuo Zhou greeted him with a smile and chatted casually for a while before heading to the kitchen to wash up and prepare dinner. But when he opened the refrigerator and saw a sudden abundance of groceries, he couldn’t help but poke his head out of the kitchen and ask, “Brother Yu, did Brother Hao come over this afternoon?”
Shangguan Yu, still focused on watering the plants, didn’t even look up. “Yeah. Oh, by the way, I made soup in the rice cooker, so you don’t need to cook tonight. We can just have a bowl each when it’s ready.”
“Got it.”
Zuo Zhou responded with a smile, but for a fleeting moment, his expression clouded slightly.
Later that night, back in his room, he sat on the edge of his bed, took out his phone, and sent Wang Hao a WeChat message.
“Brother Hao, did Brother Yu mention anything to you about selling his car today?”
About ten minutes later, instead of a text reply, Wang Hao called him directly.
Zuo Zhou, wanting to keep this from Shangguan Yu, discreetly lowered his phone’s volume to the lowest setting before answering.
“Hello, Brother Hao.”
“Zuo Zhou, yeah, he did mention it. How did you know? Did he tell you as well?”
“Mm,” Zuo Zhou replied, careful not to divulge too much. “Brother Yu mentioned it briefly.”
“Brother Hao, I wanted to ask if you could give me two months.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I signed up for driving school at my university today. I’m hoping to get my license within two months, so I can drive Brother Yu wherever he needs to go, rather than calling a taxi every time. It’ll be much more convenient.”
Wang Hao paused for a moment, then chuckled. “Zuo Zhou, you know, I actually suggested this to Shangguan today, but he dismissed it without a second thought. I never imagined you’d just go ahead and do it. You really are something.”
Zuo Zhou offered a sheepish smile, though Wang Hao couldn’t see it. “Yeah, my university was offering a group discount for driving lessons, so I signed up with some classmates.”
“Oh, that’s fantastic! Honestly, I think this is the ideal solution. And if you’re willing to do it, even better.” Wang Hao said. “By the way, how much was the driving course? Let me reimburse you.”
“No need, Brother Hao. It was quite affordable through the university, and besides…”
“Alright, enough talk. If you don’t tell me, I’ll just send you the money regardless.”
Seeing Wang Hao’s unwavering stance, Zuo Zhou, not wanting to reveal he wasn’t actually short on funds, had no choice but to reply. “2,500, Brother Hao.”
“Got it. I’ll send you 3,000—just in case you fail a test and need to retake it.”
“…”
“By the way, are two months truly enough? Shangguan told me your arm is fractured. Is it serious?”
“It’s nothing major; it won’t be a problem. I’ll take the first theory test now, and by the time I need to start driving practice, my arm will be fine.”
“Alright then, I’ll keep him occupied for now. Let’s stay in touch.”
“Got it, Brother Hao.”
After hanging up, Wang Hao promptly transferred the money. Zuo Zhou accepted it, thanked him politely, and reassured him that he’d get his license as soon as possible, so Wang Hao wouldn’t have to worry. Wang Hao, in turn, expressed his appreciation.
Unlike Shangguan Yu, who maintained a more reserved demeanor, Wang Hao practically revered Zuo Zhou, going out of his way to ensure he remained by Shangguan Yu’s side—ideally, permanently. As this aligned perfectly with Zuo Zhou’s own objective, the two quickly developed a close relationship in private.
Ever since Xu Xiaomeng added Shangguan Yu on WeChat, she had been regularly sending him job postings, inquiring if he was interested in taking on some work to earn extra income.
Shangguan Yu was indeed interested in generating income. After reviewing the available options for a while, he finally decided on a data entry position and informed Xu Xiaomeng of his decision.
Xu Xiaomeng was happy to assist and promptly sent him the contact information for the job’s supervisor. She also suggested they get together sometime.
Shangguan Yu wasn’t particularly inclined to socialize, but not wanting to offend someone who had helped him secure a job, he politely demurred, suggesting, “Perhaps another time.”
The following morning, Zuo Zhou had no classes. After breakfast, he was preparing to leave.
As he typically left early for university, he would usually keep breakfast warm in the pot. But today, just as he got up, Shangguan Yu also rose.
“Brother Yu, why are you up so early?” Zuo Zhou asked, surprised and slightly concerned. “Are you feeling alright?”
Shangguan Yu did feel a bit lightheaded from waking up earlier than usual. Rubbing his eyes and yawning, he replied, “I’m fine. I just need my laptop. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find it after you left.”
“Oh, I’ll put it on the coffee table for you in a moment.” After saying that, Zuo Zhou inquired, “Are you planning to download a movie? I think there’s a good action film out recently… What was it called again?”
Shangguan Yu, giving it little thought, replied, “No, Xiaomeng found me a data entry job. Since I’m home all day anyway, I thought I might as well do something productive and earn some money.”
“Oh, I see…” Zuo Zhou responded, his back to Shangguan Yu, obscuring his expression. His voice, however, remained even. “Just take care of yourself, Brother Yu. If you start to feel unwell, be sure to take breaks.”
“Mm.”
After finishing breakfast, Zuo Zhou went to his room, retrieved his laptop, and bid Shangguan Yu farewell before leaving.
Shangguan Yu placed the laptop on his lap and wandered around the living room for a moment before returning to his room to begin working.
The job contact was quite courteous. After a brief voice call explaining the data entry process, they emailed him the necessary files.
Once the call ended, Shangguan Yu opened his browser to check his email and download the materials.
But as his mouse hovered over the desktop, he noticed something peculiar—a neatly arranged row of unfamiliar icons had appeared on the right side of the screen.
They must have been left there by Zuo Zhou, who had been using the laptop recently.
Intrigued, Shangguan Yu clicked on a few of them. The windows that opened were filled with lines of text that looked like complete gibberish to him—an incomprehensible jumble of English. Judging by the interface, however, they appeared to be programming software.
Why would Zuo Zhou, an architecture student, be using such software?
Shangguan Yu mentally put a big question mark over it, but since Zuo Zhou wasn’t around—and he had work to do—he decided to postpone further investigation.
The entire day was spent with Shangguan Yu glued to his computer, typing almost nonstop, pausing only briefly for meals and rest.
Having been away from computers for a year, and with the notes he was transcribing being highly technical, the task proved quite challenging.
Before he realized it, evening had arrived. When Zuo Zhou opened the door and called out to him, Shangguan Yu was still engrossed in his work.
“Ah, I’m here!” he replied.
Zuo Zhou changed into his slippers and went directly to Shangguan Yu’s room. As he entered, he saw his usually composed older brother sitting upright, intently focused on the screen as he typed.
The room was dimly lit—Shangguan Yu hadn’t turned on the lights, leaving only the cool, bluish-white glow of the monitor illuminating his face. His naturally pale complexion appeared even more so under the cold light.
Leaning against the doorframe, Zuo Zhou quietly observed him working, completely absorbed and oblivious to his presence.
For some reason, an odd thought crossed his mind—it was like he was a husband returning home after a long day, only to find his tranquil and elegant spouse waiting for him. A feeling of warmth and contentment spread through him.
Cough, cough. Zuo Zhou quickly cleared his throat, dismissing the absurd notion. He then stepped into the room and walked up behind Shangguan Yu.
“Brother Yu, take a break. You’ve been working for too long.”
Shangguan Yu, eyes still fixed on the screen, replied, “Mm, just a moment. Let me finish this section.”
Zuo Zhou bent down to glance at what he was typing, but the text was utterly incomprehensible to him. Straightening up, he instinctively reached out and began massaging Shangguan Yu’s shoulders.
“…?”
Shangguan Yu stiffened in surprise, his entire body tensing. “No need, I’m almost finished.”
But Zuo Zhou’s large hands worked with a steady, unhurried rhythm, kneading his shoulders to prevent him from pulling away.
“Brother Yu, your shoulders are incredibly tense. Just let me help you relax a bit.”
Shangguan Yu was unaccustomed to such gestures, but Zuo Zhou’s technique was surprisingly effective—after just a few presses, he already felt the tension dissipating.
Consequently, he ceased resisting and simply sat there, continuing to type as he enjoyed Zuo Zhou’s impromptu massage. Strangely enough, he even felt more focused.
Zuo Zhou chuckled softly. Leaning closer, he continued the massage and whispered near Shangguan Yu’s ear, “Brother Yu, how would you rate this little Zuo masseur’s skills?”
Shangguan Yu smiled faintly. “A hundred out of ten.”
“That high? Then next time, how about I give you a full-body massage?”
Shangguan Yu, preoccupied with his work, didn’t fully register what Zuo Zhou had just suggested. Without thinking, he absentmindedly replied, “Sure.”
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