Chapter 3 — The Day They Forgot Me

We only need to confirm the final details of the contract, which will be signed after the holiday. This is the life-saving contract I secured for my oldest brother's company. The annual cooperation framework is worth twelve million yuan. My brother's current cash flow cannot sustain the business for more than three months. Not a single person in the family knows any of this. They only know that I "do some business on the side." In my mother's exact words:

"Unlike your oldest brother, who runs a proper company."

Ha.

"Director Fang, this is Chen Bai."

"Little Chen, have you arrived at Thousand Island Lake? I have to fly to Beijing tomorrow afternoon, so today is our last window. Have the contracts been confirmed on your end? Can we meet tonight?"

"Director Fang, today I... will probably arrive a bit later than expected."

"How much later?"

I looked at the map. Uncle Chu's car was still more than an hour away.

"Within two hours."

"Alright, then I'll wait for you. Before eight o'clock tonight; after that, I have to prepare for tomorrow's work. Call me when you arrive."

"Understood."

I hung up the phone. Two hours. Just enough time. If I had foolishly continued to wait for my family to turn back and pick me up at the rest stop... This meeting would have been canceled. This contract would have failed. My oldest brother's company would cease to exist. Thinking of this, I let out a laugh. Fortunately, they left me behind. Fortunately, I called a ride-sharing car myself. Fortunately, I did not keep waiting. What if I had waited? The most likely outcome would have been that they got stuck on the highway, only turning back to get me after the traffic cleared. It would have taken at least three hours. After that, I would have missed Director Fang. The contract would have fallen through. They would never know that leaving me behind caused that consequence. Nor would they ever feel guilty toward me. Because in their minds, leaving me behind... was never considered a serious matter. Chapter 8

At six-forty, Uncle Chu drove me to the town of Thousand Island Lake.

"My friend, we've arrived."

I got out of the car, took two hundred yuan from my pocket, and stuffed it into his hand:

"Let me add a bit extra for your gas. Thank you, Uncle Chu."

Uncle Chu refused to take it:

"Just pay through the app, take this back."

I forcefully shoved the bills into the glove compartment on the passenger side:

"Please take it. I troubled you today."

Uncle Chu reached his arm through the window and patted my shoulder:

"My friend, there are some things you shouldn't keep enduring. If you feel someone is unworthy, stop serving them."

I nodded at him. Watching Uncle Chu's Accord drive away, I stood by the roadside and took a deep breath. The air carried the fragrance of osmanthus flowers. In October at Thousand Island Lake, the temperature was just right. I turned on my phone. Fifty-seven missed calls. Over a hundred WeChat messages. The family group chat had exploded. I read them one by one. Oldest brother:

"Chen Bai, what kind of games are you playing?"

Oldest brother:

"There is an urgent matter! Do you know Director Fang Hongyuan? His company just called!"

I pressed play on my oldest brother's voice message.

"Chen Bai! Do you know about Fang Hongyuan's contract? His assistant called saying they want to find you! Why are they looking for you? What kind of relationship do you have with him? Call me back right now!"

His tone shifted from steady to frantic, the final sentence practically a scream. Mother's messages:

"Call your oldest brother back, it's serious business."

"Chen Bai, have you gone mute?"

"Where on earth are you?"

Chen Yao's message:

"Second brother, if you don't reply, we're calling the police."

I read every single message. Then I closed WeChat. I opened Fang Hongyuan's phone number and called him back.

"Director Fang, I have arrived. You pick the place."

"Good! Same old spot, Watching Lake Tower. I'm heading over right now."

I hung up the phone. I straightened my collar and hailed a taxi. On the way to Watching Lake Tower, my phone vibrated a few more times. I glanced at it. My oldest brother was calling. I pressed reject and shoved the phone into my pants pocket. The taxi driver was a local woman who drove very steadily. At ten past seven, I arrived at Watching Lake Tower. I had been to this place three times. Director Fang liked the fish head soup here and always reserved the same private room whenever he came to Thousand Island Lake. I entered, stated my name, and the attendant led me directly to the second floor. Pushing open the door to the private room, Fang Hongyuan was already sitting inside. He was over fifty, his hair neatly combed, his shirt buttoned up to the second button. Before him sat a pot of Longjing tea and two cups. Seeing me walk in, he stood up:

"Little Chen, you're here."

"Director Fang, I've kept you waiting."

"Not long, not long. Sit down."

He poured a cup of tea and pushed it across to me.

"I've reviewed the contract three times, no issues. There's just one point: I want to adjust the payment schedule."

I sat down, my mind instantly shifting into work mode. Over the next forty minutes, we confirmed three specific details in the contract. The payment cycle was changed from quarterly to monthly, the proportion of the initial payment was increased to thirty-five percent, and the breach of contract clause was amended to impose equal responsibility on both parties. Fang Hongyuan was very satisfied. He put down his pen and raised his teacup:

"Little Chen, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart."

"Please go ahead, Director."