Chapter 5: White_005

Translator: Abo Dammen

The second “date” wasn’t happening soon.

Because Deng Chengning was swamped, buried in overtime.

Two days after their meal, he texted that he’d be on a ten-day business trip. Their next meeting would have to wait until his return. He also requested that if his mother asked He Ruifeng’s mother whether they were chatting online, He Ruifeng should confirm they were.

He Ruifeng agreed.

Though he felt that at this stage, what the Deng mother-son pair truly needed was genuine communication, not this dynamic of one party pressuring and the other evading.

That weekend at home, his mother did indeed ask whether he and Deng Chengning had been texting.

He Ruifeng said yes.

His father chimed in, “When’s the second date?”

He Ruifeng replied, “After he gets back from his business trip.”

Lai Xuefen pressed, “How did the first date go?”

He Ruifeng countered, “Is this you asking, or Auntie Zhao?”

Lai Xuefen shot him a look. “What’s the matter?”

He Ruifeng answered honestly, “Does Auntie Zhao frequently ask about our progress? I heard Deng Chengning has to send her photos every time we meet before she feels reassured. Does she often probe you for information too?”

Lai Xuefen settled onto the sofa, adopting a posture for a serious talk.

He Ruifeng hurriedly brewed a cup of jasmine tea and placed it respectfully before his mother.

Only then did Lai Xuefen begin leisurely, with He Yongkang leaning in to listen.

“Chengning’s mother has had a hard time these years,” Lai Xuefen sighed. “Chengning lost his father in middle school. Think about it, she was under forty then, still young. How could she bear such a blow?”

He Ruifeng nodded. “It must have been very difficult.”

He Yongkang chided him, “Listen to your mother. Don’t interrupt.”

He Ruifeng: “…”

Before retiring, Lai Xuefen had been a mediator for the Justice Bureau, stationed long-term at a basic-level court. She had mediated countless civil disputes, witnessed all facets of human nature, and analyzed cases with piercing clarity.

Now, her professional habits resurfaced.

“Their family was quite well-off. I heard Chengning’s father left a substantial estate. Just imagine, she was an arts graduate, trained in dance. What did she know about business? Who knows how much she was cheated by relatives and friends. According to Chengning’s mother, by the time Chengning reached high school, seeing she couldn’t manage it, she sold off the businesses, keeping only the house and cash. That matter even led to lawsuits with relatives.

“Such things are common. I saw plenty at the court. The only difference is the amount of money involved.

“With reality so distressing, a significant part of her emotional reliance naturally fell on her exceptional son. It’s inevitable her controlling tendencies grew a bit strong, but she’s aware of it and has been trying to change. Many things she doesn’t dare ask Chengning directly, afraid of pressuring him, so she asks me if I know how you two are getting along.”

He Ruifeng: “…But isn’t that still being controlling?”

Lai Xuefen glanced at him. “Has Chengning said anything about it?”

“He hasn’t said anything,” He Ruifeng looked away. “It’s just that I think occasionally children need some breathing room, a bit of freedom, right? They’re adults now. All these questions about a blind date…”

“Oh?” He Yongkang smirked suggestively.

He Ruifeng sensed trouble. He sprang from the sofa, aiming to bolt to his room.

His mother wouldn’t let him escape. “Getting protective already?”

He Yongkang called out, “We gave you all the freedom in the world, yet you haven’t gone out and conquered it!”

He Ruifeng shut his bedroom door. His mother’s voice carried from the living room: “Chat with him more! Show some concern, ask if he’s tired!”

He Ruifeng couldn’t stand staying home, unable to endure the teasing. Grabbing a basketball, he headed out.

One phone call, and Li Jieming promptly arrived at the Renmin Park basketball court.

The two teamed up with some locals and dominated the court all afternoon, working up a thorough sweat.

“Playing so fiercely today?” Li Jieming handed He Ruifeng a bottle of water. “What kind of extraordinary person did you meet on that blind date two weeks ago? It’s really gotten to you.”

He Ruifeng gazed with a complex expression past Li Jieming toward the lakeside corner of Renmin Park, the location of the matchmaking corner.

Sunday afternoon was a peak time where people swarm the place.

He Ruifeng drank some water and remained silent. Li Jieming leaned in, scrutinizing his face, then shook his head. “Something’s up. This isn’t normal.”

He Ruifeng stared at the distant matchmaking corner, imagining Zhao Wanyi typing Deng Chengning’s actual details onto a small flyer, showing it around, and how, due to the excessively impressive resume, many would dismiss Deng Chengning as a scammer and walk away. He imagined the dramatic scene of their parents meeting.

“Say…” He Ruifeng began slowly. “A person…”

“Yeah, a person. I get it. Not two people, not three, one person. And then?” Li Jieming was impatient.

“What would make someone… I mean, for what reasons… embrace staying single?” He Ruifeng fumbled for a while, realizing this was the question he truly wanted to ask.

“Oh.” Li Jieming looked bored. “Because he’s not interested in you and is making excuses.”

He Ruifeng turned to stare at him.

Li Jieming grew nervous. “What? You can’t get mad just because I told the truth.”

He Ruifeng clenched the water bottle. “He’s genuinely committed to staying single. The type who doesn’t want a relationship.”

“He rejected you like that?”

“He didn’t reject me. No! It wasn’t a rejection, we’re just friends!”

“You’re still in touch?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh. He’s keeping you on the line.”

He Ruifeng crushed the plastic bottle.

Li Jieming widened his eyes. “Can’t you see it’s obvious? Telling you he’s committed to staying single, but not deleting your contact? If it’s not keeping you on the line, what is it?”

He Ruifeng gritted out each word, “He. Is. Not. Keeping. Me. On. The. Line!”

Li Jieming squatted beside He Ruifeng, thought for a moment, and said, “Then he’s been hurt in love. Got burned, and doesn’t believe in love anymore.”

“Impossible. Someone that exceptional? He’d be the one doing the dumping, not getting dumped!” He Ruifeng retorted instinctively.

For the rest of that day until he fell asleep, He Ruifeng wondered. Was he really hurt in love? Someone as perfect as Deng Chengning, who could possibly make him suffer love’s bitterness? He’d be the one making others suffer.

But maybe during his studies abroad, he met someone equally exceptional. Perhaps they disagreed about returning home, leading to a breakup. Like his own ex, that scumbag who wanted to go back to his hometown for a sham marriage, claiming to be bisexual. Which was a complete lie, he was gay as a rainbow.

But He Ruifeng himself had been burned once, and he hadn’t turned to staying single.

Tossing and turning, He Ruifeng imagined what kind of exceptional ex-boyfriend could have made Deng Chengning taste love’s bitterness.

Must have been another Ivy League elite, someone who shared Deng Chengning’s wavelength. Someone who’s intellectually compatible.

For a moment, it felt like being back in high school, just after midterm results were posted, running endless laps on the track, glancing up at the distant glass windows of Chengguang Building, feeling those inside were so exceptional they seemed utterly out of reach.

Two weeks later, the second “date” arrived.

Deng Chengning, as before, sent the restaurant reservation details in advance, asking if any adjustments were needed.

He Ruifeng silently checked on his phone. It was a famous local Japanese restaurant, set menus starting at two thousand per person. He initially wanted to suggest somewhere less extravagant, but then saw reservations required a two-week lead time. Realizing Deng Chengning had probably booked this half a month ago, he felt too awkward to refuse.

He Ruifeng replied that it was fine, no adjustments needed, but since Deng Chengning paid last time, this round was on him, and Deng Chengning shouldn’t argue.

Deng Chengning looked genuinely puzzled. He said that the agreement clearly stipulated he would cover all expenses, and asked He Ruifeng not to stand on ceremony, since he was already taking up He Ruifeng’s personal time.

It was a very businesslike tone.

The realization struck He Ruifeng all at once. Perhaps drafting that agreement in the first place had been precisely to keep everything clear, to define this strictly as a fake date. If they started treating each other like friends, keeping score and returning favors, things might grow blurred and messy.

So he didn’t press the issue.

The next day, He Ruifeng arrived at the restaurant right on time. Deng Chengning was already waiting inside.

It was Saturday. Deng Chengning, rarely off work, wasn’t wearing a formal suit for once. Instead, he had on a deep blue satin shirt paired with matching trousers. The top two buttons were undone, revealing a sliver of chest. Without a styling product, his hair fell naturally, dark and soft.

He looked polished enough to step straight into a fashion magazine spread.

Country bumpkin He Ruifeng had never seen a man wear a satin shirt in real life. He hadn’t expected it to look this good, that every movement caught light in a restrained, shimmering way.

Noticing He Ruifeng’s lingering gaze, Deng Chengning grew slightly ill at ease and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

He checked his attire, thinking something was amiss.

The chef behind the counter said something in Japanese with a smile, and a staff member immediately translated.

“This gentleman is enchanted.”

Before He Ruifeng could even feel embarrassed, he saw Deng Chengning’s ears flush crimson almost instantly, a blush spreading to his cheeks.

“We’re friends,” Deng Chengning explained, then sat down.

The chef nodded, wearing an expression of complete understanding.

He Ruifeng sat. Deng Chengning took out his phone and asked softly, “May I take a photo of you eating to send to my mother?”

He Ruifeng agreed.

Deng Chengning took the photo, sent it, and exhaled in relief, murmuring, “I’m really sorry. My mother suspects I’m just going through the motions with her.”

He Ruifeng said, “Well, she’s not entirely wrong. We are going through the motions, just putting in more effort than usual.”

Deng Chengning laughed.

For a moment, He Ruifeng felt all the lights in the restaurant seemed to glow brighter.

Today’s chef was particularly chatty, ensuring no awkward silences throughout the meal. Deng Chengning couldn’t finish his sea urchin rice, leaving half. The chef actually brought the remaining portion directly to He Ruifeng, saying, “I think this gentleman can finish it.” Before Deng Chengning could protest, He Ruifeng accepted and ate it.

The set menu included drinks. Neither had driven, so they had some sake.

By the end of the meal, Deng Chengning’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol.

The chef bid them farewell, saying, “Remember to come back to celebrate your anniversary!”

He Ruifeng wasn’t sure whether to reiterate “We’re just friends” or simply slip away quietly.

Unexpectedly, Deng Chengning, swaying slightly, stood up and said to the chef, “Thank you.”

Author’s Feed:

Drunk Xiao Deng