Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Enjoy this next chapter :)
Beta: jeangirlmy
- Chapter Start –
The train ride back is uneventful.
Jiang ZiSuan keeps to the carriage he shares with Huo DaoFu, Jia KeZi and Li JiaLe. He can hear Bai HaoTian's excited voice and Pang Zi's boisterous laugh up front, but has no wish to find out the source of their merriment. He learns of it anyway when Jia KeZi says that Bai HaoTian wrote something amusing on the cast of Pang Zi's broken leg.
Huo DaoFu naps for most of the ride, sitting primly with legs crossed and arms folded over his chest. His head dips towards Jiang ZiSuan's shoulder a few times, but thankfully jerks back each time without actually touching him. Li JiaLe, sitting opposite them with Jia KeZi, has no qualms and sleeps with his head on his friend's shoulder.
Jiang ZiSuan wonders what's going through Jia KeZi's head as he stares out the window at the passing scenery with a pinched look on his face. It strikes him, not for the first time, how much he doesn't know about these two. Yes, he shared a life and death experience with them. They even took turns caring for one another, but that doesn't make them friends.
Does it?
- o -
By the time Li JiaLe wakes up, the sun is starting to set among the trees. He straightens up and rubs his eyes before shooting Jia KeZi a self-conscious smile which the latter doesn't see. Neither does the dozing Huo DaoFu.
"Jiang ZiSuan, what are your plans going forward?" Li JiaLe asks, tacking on a hasty, "if you don't mind me asking. Manager Bai told me that Warehouse 11 has a few vacancies at the moment."
"That's right," Jia KeZi says. "You probably don't need the money, but if you don't have anything else to do...?"
Jiang ZiSuan shrugs.
"I have a couple of jobs awaiting my return, but I plan to take a break first."
"Of course." Li JiaLe nods.
Jiang ZiSuan gets the feeling he's disappointed and can't think why. He's sure they'd be much happier not seeing him anymore.
"I'll think about it." He really needs a break after… well, after everything that's happened.
Li JiaLe fishes out his phone from his jacket pocket and holds it out.
"In that case, can I have your number?"
Jiang ZiSuan takes the phone, inputs his number and name and saves it. Then he passes the phone back to Li JiaLe who immediately calls the number and terminates it after one ring.
"That's mine," he offers and shows his phone to Jia KeZi so he can save the number on his phone. Jiang ZiSuan's phone buzzes again.
"And mine," Jia KeZi says with a smile.
"Thanks." Jiang ZiSuan saves both numbers. He doesn't realises he's smiling too.
There's a pointed throat clearing and another phone - a shiny, newer model than Jiang ZiSuan's - enters his vision.
"I want all three," Huo DaoFu says.
- o -
Jiang ZiSuan spends the next couple of days holed up in his apartment, catching up on both sleep and exercise. His regular visits to the gym keep him pretty fit, but recent events and the beating his body has taken leaves him feeling drained.
Huo DaoFu also cautions him that while his skin is healed, it'll still burn easily so he should avoid exposure to strong sunlight for the next two weeks. He should also continue applying the lotion for a whole month for optimal results.
While Jiang ZiSuan couldn't care less if his skin is unblemished or not, he complies and only ventures out for groceries after sundown. He's almost used up all the lotion by now and will have to get more from Huo DaoFu soon. He'll also get the snippy doctor to tell him how much he owes him so that he can settle his bill once and for all.
- o -
While Jiang ZiSuan was met with an empty apartment and Li JiaLe went home to a mother and younger sister, Jia KeZi was served divorce papers by his wife. Li JiaLe called Jiang ZiSuan yesterday to update him and to ask if he has transport and an hour of free time.
Jiang ZiSuan has both so he's now sitting in his pickup truck with the engine idling in a rather rundown part of town. It's just past nine on a bright Sunday morning, and the two of them are waiting for Jia KeZi to pick up his belongings.
Jiang ZiSuan's eyes rove over the densely populated flats in front of him, floors stacked on top of each other with the peeling paint half obscured by crisscrossing lines of colourful laundry. He can hear the muted shouts of children playing on the bare patch of land in front.
Li JiaLe offered to accompany Jia KeZi, but was politely turned down. That was half an hour ago. Fifteen minutes of fidgeting later, Li JiaLe hopped out, forgoing the comfortable, air conditioned interior of the Isuzu pickup in favour of pacing up and down on the dirt path.
Jiang ZiSuan leans back in his seat and rests both hands on the steering wheel. This isn't how he planned to spend his Sunday morning, but it's not as if he has anything urgent to do other than keep a promise.
He doesn't mind being the driver.
Not for these two anyway.
The bracelet on his right wrist glints in the sunlight shining through the windshield, catching his attention. He turns his arm this way and that, letting the light dance off each individual bead. A-Ning had given him her precious bracelet before she left for the Snake Marsh.
Jiang ZiSuan pushes the memory away as a lone figure comes up the path with a cardboard box in his arms. Jia KeZi's stumbling a bit like he can't see where he's going even though the top of the box doesn't reach his chin. Li JiaLe hurries over, taking the box and tucking it under one arm while the other goes around Jia KeZi's shoulders.
Jiang ZiSuan is out of the truck before he even realises what he's doing. The bright sunlight prickles his skin as he takes in the telltale wetness on Jia KeZi's cheeks. Lips pressed tight, he plucks the worn box from Li JiaLe.
"You two sit at the back," he says and hops back in the driver seat, placing the box beside him. A quick glance in the rearview mirror shows Jia KeZi hastily wiping his face with his sleeve and Li JiaLe looking like he wants to punch someone's lights out.
Without a word, Jiang ZiSuan puts the truck in gear and turns it around, heading for the opposite side of town. The eatery he has in mind is one he's been going to for years. He and A-Ning used to go there to celebrate birthdays, him getting good grades at school and her getting paid for a job. It's a stone's throw from his apartment and the food tastes like home.
He frequented it less and less after A-Ning died.
Right now, it's just ten in the morning and there are ample places to park. He eases into one and turns around.
"I've not eaten breakfast," he says in lieu of an explanation.
"Me neither," Li JiaLe says at once with a nod of approval at Jiang ZiSuan. "My treat since you drove us."
"Nope. Mine."
"But-"
"I'll tell Wong-shu not to take your money," Jiang ZiSuan cuts him off with a brief grin. "Let's go."
Jia KeZi doesn't say anything, but follows them into the cool interior of the eatery.
"Who's - A-Suan? Is that you?" The middle aged man bustling out from the kitchen squints at him, fingers still tying a tattered apron around his waist. "Where have you been? We've not seen you for almost two years now!"
"It's a long story, Wong-shu."
"And you're so early. We just opened our doors, nothing's ready yet."
"I know. Tea's fine for now," Jiang ZiSuan says. "We just want a place to sit and chat. No hurry."
"Good, good. Sit down, A-Mei will bring you tea and some red bean buns."
- o -
The dishes arrive faster than expected. The sweet and sour pork is tender and flavourful, the homemade tofu silky and smooth, and the vegetables stir fried to perfection.
Jia KeZi doesn't eat anything at first, claiming he's not hungry. When Li JiaLe mock threatens to feed him like a child, he gets an unimpressed stare that makes Jiang ZiSuan bite back a grin, and again when Li JiaLe shoves in a mouthful of rice as if he's issuing a challenge.
But it's only when A-Mei brings out three steaming bowls that Jia KeZi's appetite truly picks up. The daily soup won't be available until later in the afternoon, but Wong-yi has heated up the last of yesterday's soup for them - pork ribs, lotus root and black beans. The broth is sweet and flavourful, and the meat falling off the bone tender.
Seeing Jia KeZi and Li JiaLe's faces light up with delight warms Jiang ZiSuan even more than the soup. He nods to fourteen year old A-Mei who's peeping at them from the kitchen doorway and giggling behind her hand.
- o -
As they eat, Jiang ZiSuan learns that Warehouse 11 is still closed for business, but have contacted some of their employees to report in tomorrow to help out.
"JiaLe and I are on morning duty," Jia KeZi explains. "If you wouldn't mind dropping us off there after this?"
Li JiaLe gives a tiny shake of his head which Jiang ZiSuan takes to mean he doesn't want them to go there until later. It also means that Jiang ZiSuan's stuck with them until then. He's never taken anyone to the place he intends to visit this afternoon, but…
"I can drop you two off if you don't mind waiting a couple more hours," he replies. "There's somewhere I want to go first."
"Of course. We're not in any hurry," Li JiaLe says at once.
"Thank you," Jia KeZi says politely although he doesn't look very enthusiastic.
Jiang ZiSuan pays for their lunch and introduces them to the Wongs when they come out to see him off. He even promises to bring his friends again although he doesn't know why. It's not as if their paths will cross again after today.
- o -
The cemetery is a half hour drive and the journey there is one he can make with his eyes closed. It's also crowded, being a weekend. There's a large, airy hall for visitors and a small eatery in one corner where one can order drinks and snacks.
"You two can wait here and order something," Jiang ZiSuan says, placing some money on a vacant table. Paying no mind to Jia KeZi and Li JiaLe's protests, he strides off to the adjoining flower shop and buys a small bouquet before making his way to the large columbarium. Thankfully, it's connected to the visitor hall by a long covered walkway.
He takes the steps two at a time and is about to enter the room when a familiar voice makes him freeze.
"... where I met him again." Wu Xie's voice holds a note of wry amusement. "Guess I have you to thank for his change of heart, huh? Well, I'm glad you did that. I'll look out for him. He's your younger brother, after all."
Jiang ZiSuan scowls. Wu Xie makes him sound like he's a child when he's thirty!
"Still, I'll always regret that I didn't stop you from following me to the Snake Marsh." Wu Xie continues, his voice lowering until Jiang ZiSuan isn't sure he heard him right.
There's a pause followed by a loud exhale and someone sniffing.
"Anyway, we all made it back from Thunder City safe and sound. We had quite the adventure, but I'll tell you about it another day. Pang Zi's waiting for me at the carpark. Bye for now, A-Ning."
Jiang ZiSuan ducks behind the door just in time. He catches sight of a familiar profile and reddened eyes before Wu Xie disappears down the stairs. Jiang ZiSuan waits for those quick footsteps to fade before entering the room. There's a small family offering prayers to a niche on the opposite wall.
Placing his bouquet alongside another on the long stone bench, Jiang ZiSuan sinks to his knees, paying no mind to the sprinkling of incense ash on the floor. A-Ning seldom smiled, but in the picture embedded in the glass front of her niche, she is. Jiang ZiSuan had a copy made from one of his favourite photos of them, taken after an afternoon of flying kites. A passer-by captured the two of them windblown, sun kissed and laughing. He was eighteen then and she was twenty four.
Two years later, she was gone.
"Jie, it's me," he says softly, ignoring the familiar tightening of his throat and the burn in his eyes. "I'm back from Thunder City and all healed up. Wu Xie… Wu Xie's right, it was quite an adventure. He doesn't have time to tell you, but I do."
- Chapter End -
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment if you enjoyed it :)