Inside the office, two men are talking.
"I want to stop you, you know that," said Mark to Yibo. "I needed someone like you, Yibo. In the one year that you managed the company, the profit increased by ten percent. Not to mention some personal reasons. Like, you're more of a friend than an associate."
Yibo laughed. Remembering their first encounter sixteen months ago. That was nothing compared to the subsequent arguments he and Mark had in the board room since then. They argued, they debated, always at each other's neck then ended up respecting each other's decision. During office hours they are both like that. But off office hours they became the best of friends.
"Funny, man. Did you really put me into work like that and I didn't even once accept your invitation to spend the weekends in your private island?"
"You were so busy proving yourself that you can do it even without Wang Quiren, bro." Mark shook his head and smiled wryly. "I can see myself in you, way back."
"Let's have a deal then. One week on your island and one week in Yúnshēn Bùzhīchù or Gāodì—" a warning knock made the two turns at the door. Mrs. Yingchun entered the room.
"Yes, Mrs. Yingchun?"
"Do you have a moment to spare, or I'll ask Zhan to come back?"
Yibo raised his eyebrows at the name and looked up at the old woman. Zhan isn't a common name. In this life, Yibo has only met two people named Zhan.
"Has he come yet?" Mrs. Yingchun nodded. "Let him in." Mrs. Yingchun nodded, smiled at Yibo, and went out again. "Zhan is Mrs. Yingchun's nephew. He is graduating next sem and is an aspiring photographer."
Yibo didn't get to answer because the door opened and the strange Zhan he once knew walked in. His eyes were on Mark, and he was smiling.
"Hi. Sorry for intruding but I like to show you the pictures. If you're busy, I'll leave it here and I'll—"
"Zhan?" It's Yibo.
"Yibo!"
The envelope slipped from Zhan's hands and fell to the carpet in shock. On instinct, he and Yibo also bent down to pick it up. Their faces almost touched. Zhan let go of the envelope and straightened up.
Mark smiled and stared at the two in amusement. "You know each other?"
"Y-yes. I-I used to-"
"Zhan's a childhood friend, Mark," Yibo responded to what Zhan was saying. Staring at Zhan's face in disbelief. Look down. He's wearing tight blue jeans and a body hugger and damned sexy.
Zhan felt awkward. The self-confidence and poised that he had developed within the past year suddenly collapsed at that moment.
"I-I'm really-in a hurry, Mark. I'll be right back." he looked at Yibo out of politeness, he bowed and smiled. Then quickly walk towards the door.
"Zhan, wait!" Yibo stood up but Zhan was already out.
"You'll see him around, Yibo. I assure you," Mark said casually.
Yibo took a deep breath and returned to the chair. "How long have you known him?"
"Five months or so," he followed with a shrug of the shoulders. "Mrs. Yingchun introduced her to me because the boy was working on a thesis. He and Lulu accidentally met here. Lulu's a writer and Zhan loves photography. Lulu gave him the chance to photograph the articles she'd been writing for a women's magazine."
Yibo didn't answer. He kept staring at the door.
"He's young and very pretty for a boy." Mark in a mild teasing tone.
Yibo's eyebrows met as he stared at Mark. There was a slight doubt in the eyes. Mark laughed loudly.
"Don't look at me like that, friend," Mark said amusedly raising both hands.
"Linran will kill anything I set my sights on. Whether it's a person or an object." despite the smile there was bitterness and anger under Mark's voice.
Yibo let out a sigh. Raised both legs on the other swivel chair.
"Yeah, he's very pretty," agreed Yibo. A part of his mind traveled. One long-ago afternoon. And Mark caught the sudden twinkle in his friend's eyes and then his face suddenly darkened.
"I can be a good listener," Mark said seriously. Yibo and Liying's affair and some others are unknown to him. Except for Yibo's confessed relationship with the Wangs, he did not see this part of his friend's feelings.
"There's nothing to tell, Mark. Believe me. One moment he was there and gone the next." there was bitterness in Yibo's voice. "It was a dream. A kind of dream that you long every night to dream again."
Mark laughed again. At that time, laughter did not reach the eyes.
"Welcome to the club, friend." Mark stood up and went to the cabinet and took from there a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. "Who would believe it? Two good-looking rich men with broken hearts that can't be mended," he turned to Yibo while pouring the wine. "I'll rephrase that. One heart that can't be mended." He defined itself in the last statement.
Yibo laugh. "Romantic fools. When we were young, girls were for fun. In fact, it is up to now. I never believed that there is such a thing as love that binds two people together. For me, it is a means to an end." He sighed.
When Mark did not speak, Yibo continued. "In the kind of marriage between Qingheng-Jun and Mom, you can't blame me. For me, the relationship between Quiren and Aunt Carmen is one in a million. Not that Quiren was a saint but there's only one woman for him. And it's very ironic that my mother breathed, lived, and loved only one man in her whole life. And that's Wang Quiren. She died for him, you know." His voice shakes on that part and fills his chest with air.
"You're luckier, Yibo. I never met my Mom. And when I finally found out who was the bastard who bore me, he was gone. I have nothing but his damned money!" said Mark.
Yibo drank the contents of the wineglass straight away. "Let's drink, Mark, because I don't know what to say to Zhan and how to approach him."
Mark laughed again, this time it was real laughter.
"Let's toast to the proverbial rake, California U graduate, and a shrewd businessman at twenty-five. Who would soon be speechless in front of a lovely pretty boy."
Yibo smiled drily. "What do you say to a pretty boy you have no relation with except for one magic moment that I even doubted if it happened?"
Mark didn't answer and for a while was lost in thoughts. Remembering again for a million times one woman who breathed, lived, and died loving one man. Remembering that one magic moment happened one long long ago afternoon.
Yibo inhaled softly. He felt like he was alone in that room, figuratively. His misgivings are nothing compared to Mark.
He stood up and walked out of the room quietly. Mrs. Yingchun is still in front of the computer. Shee turned when he felt him.
"Dear, where is Zhan?"
"What happened back there, Yibo? Why Zhan suddenly left?"
Yibo let out a sigh. "Is he living with you, Mrs. Yingchun?"
The furrows on the old woman's forehead deepened and she stared intently at Yibo.
