On New Year’s Eve, Fang Li watched the lion dance outside, a vibrant part of the local Chinese business association’s celebration. It brought back memories of the lively atmosphere in Chongsi during Lunar New Year—it seemed the smaller the town, the stronger the holiday spirit.
Qin Weidong had booked a table well in advance at a Japanese restaurant tucked away on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Rumor had it that every tree and flower in the courtyard had a name and a lineage, and even the sushi counter had been air-shipped directly from Tokyo.
He handed Fang Li a red envelope. “Happy New Year, Lili.”
Fang Li blinked. “You’re giving me a red envelope?”
Qin Weidong had been making good money the past two years, but Fang Li had never received a red envelope from him before. Qin cleared his throat. “Why didn’t you remind me?”
Fang Li chuckled and took it, then pulled out a small gift from his bag—two silver guitar-shaped pendants he’d found at an art shop in Brooklyn. “I got you something too. A New Year’s present.”
Qin Weidong accepted them. “I think I saw these in your bag earlier…”
Fang Li glared at him. “Why are you snooping through my stuff?”
Qin Weidong didn’t even realize what he’d said. “Is there anything of yours I haven’t seen?”
Fang Li’s chest tightened. He reached out to snatch the gift back. “Forget it. I’m not giving it to you anymore!”
“I want it—I want it!” Qin Weidong said quickly, not quite sure what had set Fang Li off, and hurried to hang one on his car key. Fang Li clipped the other to his phone.
Qin Weidong glanced at the little silver pendant. It wasn’t the kind of thing he’d usually go for—but if Fang Li picked it, it had to be good.
“Why a guitar?”
Truthfully, he preferred Fang Li on the piano—he looked and sounded like a masterpiece ready to be auctioned off at Sotheby’s.
Fang Li rolled his eyes. “It’s a symbol, okay? It represents music!”
It wasn’t just some random gift he’d picked up. The moment he saw those pendants, he knew. Music—and Qin Weidong—were the two most important things in his life right now. Probably always would be.
He kept eating. Qin Weidong had never been one for art or symbolism—that was no surprise. But after a while, he noticed Qin Weidong hadn’t touched his food.
“Come on, eat. It’s gonna get cold.”
Qin Weidong set down his chopsticks and looked at Fang Li seriously. “Lili, thank you for coming to the U.S. with me.”
After all this time, now he says something like that? Fang Li stuffed a shrimp into his mouth. “Okay, seriously, where’d you learn that? Qiao Shi told me that a lot of these rich kids studying abroad are pros at sweet-talking girls…”
Qin Weidong just looked at him and repeated, sincerely, “I mean it, Lili. You being with me—I won’t ever forget it.”
There was no need for many words between them. Traveling across an ocean just to be with someone wasn’t merely a romantic notion people talked about; it took genuine commitment, and very few actually followed through. Qin Weidong wasn’t foolish; he understood the weight of Fang Li’s decision. Besides, he had come to the U.S. with his own clear purpose.
But Fang Li, on the other hand, had ventured into a place where he didn’t speak the language, where his future was uncertain, and he’d even given up promising opportunities back home.
Unless someone was truly willing to intertwine their destiny with another’s, who would gamble the most precious years of their life on such a risk?
Fang Li rested his chin in one hand, looking at Qin Weidong with an almost playful air. “So… you’d better be good to me from now on. No more being mean, and no making me upset.”
Qin Weidong couldn’t help himself. He leaned in and kissed Fang Li deeply, almost losing control. “I will. I swear it.”
This private room didn’t have a lock. Fang Li let the kiss happen, then gently pushed him back. “Eat your food,” he said. “It’ll go cold.”
Halfway through the meal, Qin Weidong’s phone rang at the worst possible moment.
He glanced at the screen. Fang Li noticed his expression and asked, “Who is it? Your mom?”
Given the occasion, Qin had already called all the elders in the Qin family earlier that day.
“It’s Tong Na.”
Qin Weidong frowned and answered. Tong Na’s voice on the other end was panicked and shaky. She said she and her friend, Lin Huiru, had come to New York for New Year’s Eve. They’d ended up in a bar and met a group of Chinese exchange students. But now, after some drinking, Lin Huiru was suddenly in pain—clutching her stomach, face pale—and Tong Na had no idea what to do.
Qin Weidong told her to take Lin to a hospital immediately, but Tong Na was clearly overwhelmed. The background music on her end was blaring, and Fang Li could hear her sobbing through the phone.
They were just two girls, after all.
Fang Li said, “Is the bar far from here? Maybe we should go take a look?”
If it was just stomach pain, that wouldn’t be too serious—but he’d heard from classmates at the conservatory that in the U.S., things banned in China were easy to come by, especially in bars. Qin Weidong had clearly thought of that too.
They hurriedly paid the bill and drove straight to the bar where Tong Na was.
When they arrived, they saw Tong Na trying to support the dizzy Lin Huiru, while two guys were pestering them. The dance floor lights were dim, and at the booth, another two guys—taking advantage of the chaos—were trying to grope Tong Na. She shoved one away angrily while still struggling to keep Lin Huiru upright.
Qin Weidong marched up and grabbed one of the guys’ wrists. The guy’s face twisted in pain, and Qin Weidong kicked the other one straight over the edge of the booth.
“What the fuck—who the hell are you?!”
The guy who got kicked was furious, face red with humiliation. The alcohol was wearing off. He scrambled up, shouting.
It was Chinese New Year’s Eve, and he had organized the night out. The booth was filled with Chinese students—many from Boston colleges who had skipped class to party, though a few were part of the New York scene.
One of the guys suddenly recognized Qin Weidong.
“Qin Weidong…? Can’t believe I’m running into you here… Tang Ming, Tang Ming—! You’re drunk!” The guy quickly yanked back Tang Ming, who was about to lunge, and whispered a few words in his ear.
Everyone here was a second-generation rich kid from China, used to being arrogant thanks to their families’ wealth. Studying abroad was nothing more than a gold-plating trip for them.
But the moment Tang Ming heard who Qin Weidong’s father was—his own family also did business in Shanxi—he sobered up instantly.
Just the name alone was enough to make him swallow back every single curse word that had been about to burst out of his throat. His aggressive stance melted away in an instant. The guy who pulled him back also gave him a way out. He settled Tang Ming into a seat and reached out to shake hands with Qin Weidong. “I’m You Yue. We’re all from the business school. We actually met during orientation, but you probably don’t remember me. I had to leave early that night.”
Qin Weidong recalled him and shook his hand.
Tong Na ran up to him, calling out, “Cousin!”
She recounted what had happened. She and Lin Huiru had come to the bar thinking it was just a gathering of Chinese students. After being invited to join, Lin Huiru had two drinks and suddenly started feeling dizzy and nauseous. Tong Na suspected someone had spiked her drink.
When the others heard Tong Na call him “cousin,” their expressions shifted. Compared to You Yue’s family background, they were nothing more than nouveau riche with no real status. Seeing how respectfully You Yue treated Qin Weidong, they all quickly looked away, thankful they hadn’t been foolish enough to hit on the pretty girl earlier.
“You! You were the one forcing my friend to drink! What did you put in her glass?!”
With Qin Weidong there, Tong Na felt emboldened. She angrily swung her leather handbag at Tang Ming, who didn’t dare fight back. The hard Hello Kitty keychain on the strap smacked him repeatedly across the face. He could only shoot pleading looks at You Yue for help.
But You Yue couldn’t be bothered. If he’d known tonight’s group would be a bunch of spoiled, brainless rich kids, he never would’ve come.
“There was nothing in the drinks—I can guarantee that. Maybe your cousin’s friend just can’t handle her alcohol?”
Lin Huiru still looked awful. Her cheeks and neck were flushed red. The guys nearby were starting to feel guilty—they would’ve taken her to the hospital earlier if they’d realized how bad it was.
Qin Weidong glanced over the drinks and people at the booth but didn’t notice anything suspicious.
Fang Li rubbed his temples. “Let’s go. Better get her checked out.”
You Yue came along as well. Late that night, they brought her to a private hospital. After a full examination, it turned out to be nothing serious—just a mild allergic reaction to alcohol. The doctor prescribed some antihistamines.
Tong Na had originally planned to go shopping that night, but Lin Huiru suggested they check out a bar since they’d never been to one before. Tong Na was tempted and had dressed up especially for it—she was even wearing a dress underneath. Her English wasn’t very good, so she couldn’t be of much help in a hospital setting. You Yue took off his jacket and offered it to her.
Tong Na refused him flatly. “No way! You’re obviously with those guys. If anything happens to my friend, I’ll come after each and every one of you!”
You Yue chuckled without replying. He simply pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her to wipe off her smudged eyeliner.
After taking the medicine, Lin Huiru began to feel much better.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed. She said to Qin Weidong, “I’m sorry… I thought we were going to watch a performance. I didn’t know Tong Na would bring me to that kind of place… I’ve never had alcohol before. And it’s New Year’s Eve… Sorry to bother you.”
Her voice was soft and delicate, carrying a trace of vulnerability. When she mentioned “that kind of place,” You Yue, standing nearby, happened to catch her words.
Qin Weidong, partially deaf in one ear, didn’t catch what Lin Huiru was saying and wasn’t paying close attention either. When he looked up, he saw Fang Li returning.
“Where did you go?”
“Got a drink. I was dying of thirst.”
Fang Li handed out the sodas he’d bought from a convenience store. “They’re still in Christmas packaging. I didn’t notice earlier—looks kind of cute.”
Tong Na took one. “Why is it cold? I can’t drink cold stuff!”
Qin Weidong frowned. “But you can drink alcohol?”
“Cousin!”
Qin Weidong was losing patience. “You’re going back to Boston to study tomorrow. I’ll call your aunt.”
Tong Na was scolded. Her cousin could be quite intimidating when he got serious, and since they didn’t grow up together, she didn’t dare argue back. She glared at Fang Li angrily and muttered under her breath, “So unchivalrous…”
Fang Li really hadn’t thought about the needs of girls. He and Qin Weidong had grown up roughhousing together—just two boys figuring life out.
By the time they left the hospital, it was already past 2 a.m. Fang Li was exhausted. Aside from being intimate with Qin Weidong, he usually went to bed quite early. You Yue offered to drive the two girls back, but Qin Weidong politely declined.
As unlikable as Tong Na could be, she was still his cousin. He wasn’t about to trust someone he had only properly met tonight to take two girls home this late at night.
Qin Weidong’s refusal didn’t surprise You Yue. He didn’t press the matter and, after saying goodbye, drove off in his low-profile American car.
On the way home, Tong Na absolutely refused to stay in a hotel again. She insisted on staying at Qin Weidong’s place, arguing that if Lin Huiru started feeling unwell again in the middle of the night, what would they do? She went on and on the entire ride, giving Fang Li, in the passenger seat, a splitting headache.
He really had to hand it to her. It was already three in the morning. After an entire night of chaos, even he, a grown man, was exhausted, but somehow Tong Na still had energy to spare. Was this really the same girl who’d been sobbing on the phone earlier, sounding so helpless and scared?
In the end, the noise wore Qin Weidong down, and he gave in. People really are different—when Fang Li argued with him, all he could think about was how to make things right. But when Tong Na chattered nonstop right next to his ear, it just felt unbearably annoying.
When they got to the apartment, Fang Li was so tired that he was leaning his head back, nearly asleep.
Lin Huiru had her eyes closed, brows slightly furrowed. She still looked unwell. Tong Na said worriedly, “Cousin, I don’t think Huiru’s feeling any better. Why don’t you carry her upstairs…”
Qin Weidong asked, “Can you walk?”
Lin Huiru opened her eyes weakly. “I can…”
She forced herself to get out of the car, but maybe because she was still dizzy, she ended up collapsing into Tong Na. Tong Na quickly supported her and cried out, “Cousin! She’s dizzy—what if she faints again while walking?!”
Lin Huiru thought Qin Weidong would carry her.
Instead, he glanced at the front seat where Fang Li was asleep, then walked over, opened the door, bent down, and gently scooped Fang Li into his arms.
The movement woke Fang Li slightly. Still half-asleep, he instinctively wrapped his arms around Qin Weidong’s neck. “We home…?”
“We’re home.”
Qin Weidong loved it when Fang Li hugged him like this, completely unaware and instinctive. He shut the car door and said to Tong Na, “The keys are in the car. Don’t move. I’ll come down and get you two after I put him to bed.”
Tong Na was stunned. She couldn’t believe her cousin actually chose to carry a man who was simply asleep, instead of helping her delicate and clearly unwell friend.
Qin Weidong carried Fang Li upstairs and laid him on the bed. Fang Li instinctively hooked a leg around him. “So tired…”
Qin Weidong felt his heart melt. That look on Fang Li’s face—he only ever made it when he was truly at the end of his rope. Qin Weidong kissed his cheek, then his lips. “Go to sleep, baby. Tonight’s worn you out.”
“I didn’t shower…” Fang Li turned his head and sniffed himself, then wrinkled his nose. “I smell…”
“I’ll wipe you down with a towel when I get back, and change the sheets.”
Fang Li nodded. Having issued his orders without lifting a finger, he finally relaxed and drifted off.
Once Fang Li was settled, Qin Weidong went back downstairs to bring up Tong Na and Lin Huiru. He put them in a room on the first floor, then went back up to bed.
Axolotl Translations 
Leave a comment