PART 2
Sitting on the cable car, watching the sunset, the person in question lowered his head and opened WeChat, looking at the red notification dots.
Besides Jiang Shulu, there were several friend requests.
Jiang Shulu’s WeChat was the one Tang Yue had added before.
Compared to Yao Lixin’s sickeningly sweet WeChat name “Xinxin,” Liu Xicháo’s was quite normal, his English name.
Jiang Shulu’s was just the letter C.
Tang Yue had thought before that Jiang Shulu’s name didn’t start with C, it must be an abbreviation of Liu Xicháo’s name.
Back then, Tang Yue thought: They’re such a good match, truly the official pairing.
Now, Tang Yue felt a little uneasy.
Liu Xicháo and Jiang He were publicly engaged, but hadn’t held an engagement ceremony, possibly getting married directly, a definite same-sex couple.
Jiang Shulu said he didn’t have someone he liked, so did he also…?
Tang Yue felt increasingly suffocated, feeling even more reckless about what he did last night.
If fate was unchangeable, his connection with Jiang Shulu could become a turning point in the other’s destiny.
He might still be a supporting character, unable to achieve a perfect happy ending.
But the captain’s actions didn’t seem…
Tang Yue in the live stream had a furrowed brow, appearing even a bit cold.
Jiang Shulu, several cable cars away from Tang Yue, opened the live stream, glanced at Tang Yue’s image, and asked the little one happily enjoying the scenery beside him.
Jiang Shulu: “Little Me, does your dad also make this expression often when he’s at home?”
Tang Mian glanced at him: “Occasionally.”
Jiang Shulu: “When he can’t decide which flavor of milk to drink?”
Tang Mian exclaimed: “Uncle Jiang, you’re so smart! You guessed it right!”
“Silly kid, he’s more like your dad than your dad.”
“Back then, every monthly vlog showed Jiang Shulu treating Tang Yue like a spoiled child…”
“This isn’t a family, what is it!?”
Jiang Shulu: “Then why do you think he’s like this now?”
Tang Mian looked at his biological father on the phone screen.
The same scenery, the same sunset, Tang Yue’s face was shrouded in dusky light, his expression mixed with loneliness and confusion, as if struggling with something.
Tang Mian: “Because of Uncle Jiang.”
“?”
“Is this kid really only five years old?”
“Don’t delay this child’s college education.”
Jiang Shulu: “Why?”
The cable car swayed gently, the breeze refreshing and pleasant, yet Tang Yue’s troubled brow seemed etched into Jiang Shulu’s heart.
He recalled the many times Tang Yue hesitated to speak.
Many times he refused to stand beside Jiang Shulu, pulling Liu Xicháo over and retreating to the side.
Jiang Shulu thought: Who instilled in Tang Yue the idea that Liu Xicháo and I are in a relationship?
He seemed so sure that I belong to someone else.
Even now, with Liu Xicháo and his uncle together, Tang Yue still thought so.
Who defined this qualification?
Jiang Shulu asked gently, but Tang Mian pondered for a long time.
Jiang Shulu was carrying his thermos; unlike Yao Lixin’s intimidation, Jiang Shulu gave Tang Mian an endless sense of security.
Different from the feeling Tang Yue had, where he even depended on himself.
It seemed that no matter what, Jiang Shulu could solve it.
Tang Mian: “Because…”
The little boy started counting on his fingers.
Tang Mian: “Because Uncle Jiang…”
He was usually articulate, rarely stuttering; this time, he made a sound, signaling Jiang Shulu to lean in.
“Why are you whispering again!”
“You don’t understand father-son time.”
The little boy whispered, “Because Uncle Jiang is also very important to Dad.”
He spoke quickly, then exclaimed, pretending to praise a cable car worker passing by: “Sister, you’re so pretty!”
“What did he say? Why is Jiang Shulu smiling like that?”
The next second, Jiang Shulu’s phone screen lit up.
The cameras installed on the cable car were better than Tang Yue’s impromptu ride, offering much clearer images.
It allowed viewers to see Jiang Shulu’s lock screen wallpaper.
It looked familiar.
But Jiang Shulu quickly unlocked it.
It was a new WeChat notification.
Tang Yue9787 has accepted your friend request.
Tang Yue’s new WeChat account was the same, with the same number in the ID.
Yao Lixin had asked before, it wasn’t a birthdate.
Tang Yue said it was his lucky number.
Tang Yue’s WeChat profile picture was a photo of the starry sky, looking vast and lonely, matching his temperament.
In plain sight, Jiang Shulu sent Tang Yue a message.
【_C.: We still have a mission after getting off the cable car.】
【Tang Yue9787: ?】
【_C: There’s one more thing.】
【_C: Little Me said you have many of my posters at home, many, how many?】
“?”
“Many? Does that mean even the out-of-print long-haired posters don’t count?”
“No, it’s weird, whose band member would keep their bandmate’s signed posters?”
“It could also be for resale.”
“Tang Yue doesn’t care about money.”
“Then it’s because he likes his looks! I’ve found a blind spot!!”
“Guys, case closed, Jiang Shulu’s lock screen is the little knitted hat Tang Yue made seven years ago, you can check his Weibo for the original picture.”
“Have they never loved each other? I don’t believe it—”
After getting off the cable car, Tang Yue saw Yao Lixin waiting for him.
He took out a bag of dried persimmons and gave Tang Yue two.
This was very rural, and Tang Yue was a little surprised.
Yao Xuan Yu, sitting next to Yao Lixin, explained for his uncle who had eaten vegetarian food at lunch and now had a bland taste: “The neighbor lady gave them to me this morning when we left the house.”
Yao Xuan Yu and Tang Mian were both very cute and polite children.
Even though Yao Xuan Yu wasn’t naturally sweet-talking, he was easily influenced by Tang Mian, calling out to people, smiling, and always getting things back.
Unbeknownst to them, Tang Mian learned this from regularly visiting the market with Tang Yue back in their hometown.
Whether in seclusion or living in the city, his father had a bit of a lazy disposition.
Perhaps because Tang Yue didn’t care much about money, he was often cheated. Tang Mian would always stand in front, in a milky voice, bargaining for something else.
On their way back, Tang Yue said softly: “Little Me, we don’t need that extra dollar.”
Tang Mian reasoned confidently: “But that uncle weighed the water with the fish when selling it to you, why can’t I get some onions and garlic from him?”
Tang Yue was speechless, having been lectured by his son again.
Now, accepting the dried persimmons, Tang Yue found himself thinking of Tang Mian again: “Little Me likes this the most.”
Yao Lixin: “I think it’s not your son who can’t leave you, but you who can’t leave your son.”
He laughed, his eyes narrowed, asking Tang Yue: “So what will you do when Tang Mian goes to school?”