Modern Epilogue (2)

 

Modern Epilogue (2)

Jiang Yuxun ended up spending much longer at the museum than he had expected.

By the time he stepped outside, the sky had already begun to darken, and several unread messages had piled up on his phone.

Although he had already told his parents that he was fine, they still immediately booked flights for a few days later, determined to come see him in person after he had just returned to his work city.

Zhuang Youli, meanwhile, played games while multitasking—sending Jiang Yuxun a link to a restaurant.

Aside from that…

The online friend Jiang Yuxun had been chatting with also left him a message.

-: Are you free tonight?

Below it were two food emojis provided by the app.

…Was he asking Jiang Yuxun out to eat?

Jiang Yuxun suddenly remembered that he had once told this online friend that when he came to Zhaoshi, Jiang Yuxun would show him around and treat him to local specialties. A wave of guilt immediately rose in his chest.

JIANG: Sorry T_T I already made plans to eat with my roommate tonight, so I probably can’t meet up.

JIANG: How about another day? How long are you staying in Zhaoshi?

Summer was the best season for barbecue. The trendy place Zhuang Youli had chosen was some distance from the city center.

Jiang Yuxun typed as he walked. Before he realized it, he had already reached the roadside.

Before he could get into a taxi, his phone vibrated lightly again.

The online friend didn’t answer his question, instead asking where Jiang Yuxun planned to eat—clearly hoping for a recommendation.

Without thinking much, Jiang Yuxun directly forwarded the link Zhuang Youli had sent him.

JIANG: This place! I haven’t eaten here yet, but my roommate says it’s good~

-: Okay, I got it.

The taxi’s air-conditioning was turned all the way up. The moment Jiang Yuxun sat down, he let out a long sigh of relief.

He was just about to reply with a sticker when he saw that the other party had suddenly withdrawn their message.

A few seconds later, his phone vibrated again.

-: Okay, I got it~

Jiang Yuxun: “……”

He withdrew the message just to add a tilde?

—

The moment Jiang Yuxun pushed open the door, the smell of grilled meat rushed toward him.

The next second, Zhuang Youli’s voice cut through the noisy chatter and reached his ears.

“Axun, over here!”

Zhuang Youli, who had just been gaming, stood up holding chopsticks.

“Why are you so late today?”

Jiang Yuxun pulled out a chair and sat across from him, casually placing his phone on the table.

“The museum suddenly had an extra reception task today. I didn’t leave until the VIP was gone.”

“I see…”

Zhuang Youli didn’t think much of it and took the menu from the server.

“Buzz—”

Jiang Yuxun’s phone vibrated again.

Zhuang Youli, in the middle of ordering, suddenly looked up and squinted at Jiang Yuxun suspiciously.

“Something’s off… Why are you getting so many messages today? Don’t tell me you’re chatting with that online friend again.”

Jiang Yuxun’s daily social life was simple to the point of boredom.

Even working regular hours at the museum, he never had to reply “received” to a boss at midnight.

Unable to come up with a lie on the spot, he could only nod and admit it.

“It’s his first time in Zhaoshi, and he doesn’t know what’s good to eat or where to go. I’m just introducing things when I have time.”

What Jiang Yuxun said was completely true.

His tone and expression were therefore unusually straightforward.

“Tsk, tsk.”

Zhuang Youli clicked his tongue twice. Seeing Jiang Yuxun calmly sipping his drink, he lost interest and went back to ordering.

A trendy shop really lived up to its name.

Even while extremely busy, they served food almost immediately.

Just as Zhuang Youli finished a round of gaming, the grilled meat was brought to the table.

He finally put down his phone, picked up a skewer, and asked amid the noisy atmosphere,

“So what kind of person is this online friend of yours? You two seem to get along really well.”

Jiang Yuxun ate while answering casually,

“I haven’t really asked about his personal life… He seems pretty busy, like he works overtime a lot. We get along because he also understands archaeology and history—there’s a lot of common ground.”

Zhuang Youli took a sip of beer and muttered softly,

“…That does make him sound like a pretty normal person.”

Jiang Yuxun put down his skewer and complained quietly,

“What do you mean ‘sounds like’? He is a normal person.”

“Look at you, taking his side already!”

Zhuang Youli exclaimed in mock shock.

The two of them had only eaten a light hospital meal at noon. Now they were truly hungry.

Before long, they finished the plate of grilled meat completely.

Just as the server brought over the second dish—

Zhuang Youli, who was sitting facing the entrance, suddenly froze.

He raised a hand to cover his mouth and whispered mysteriously to Jiang Yuxun,

“Hey… look behind you.”

“What?”

Jiang Yuxun paused and turned in the direction Zhuang Youli pointed.

At the entrance of the barbecue restaurant stood a man in a black shirt.

The side lighting cast by the restaurant’s glaring lamps made his features appear especially deep and defined.

Whether it was his clothes or his bearing, he looked utterly out of place in a barbecue joint.

Zhuang Youli whispered,

“He doesn’t look like he’s here to eat barbecue. He looks like he’s here to buy the place.”

At the same time, the man at the entrance finally walked inside.

Their gazes met.

Across the noisy crowd and the harsh lights, the man in the black shirt smiled and nodded at Jiang Yuxun.

Then—he walked straight toward them.

Jiang Yuxun immediately stood up.

“Hello—”

As he spoke, he extended his hand and said sincerely,

“I’m sorry. Earlier at the museum, I didn’t realize it was you who helped me today. I really apologize for that.”

Thinking of the awkwardness earlier, his expression grew tense.

“Oh, right. My surname is Jiang—Jiang Yuxun. If you don’t mind, you can call me Xiao Jiang, like my colleagues do.”

At the moment the words fell, their hands gently clasped together.

The other man seemed to have just gotten out of a car—his skin still carried a chill that felt out of place on a summer night.

Jiang Yuxun’s fingers trembled.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination… but the handshake seemed unusually long, and the other man’s grip unusually firm.

Their hands were pressed tightly together. Jiang Yuxun could even clearly feel the lines of the other man’s palm.

The noise of the barbecue restaurant seemed to vanish in an instant.

In those ash-gray eyes—both陌生又熟悉—he saw his own reflection.

“Hello,”

The man smiled lightly at him and finally released his hand.

“My name is Ying Changchuan.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ying!”

Jiang Yuxun responded quickly.

The restaurant was already packed, without a single empty table.

Seeing Ying Changchuan enter alone, Jiang Yuxun hesitated and asked,

“Are you by yourself? Or waiting for friends…?”

Ying Changchuan shook his head slightly and said with mild regret,

“A friend in Zhaoshi recommended this place, but it seems there aren’t any seats left.”

He really had come alone to eat barbecue.

The nearby restaurants were just as popular and just as crowded.

…Should he invite him to join them?

Jiang Yuxun instinctively glanced down at Zhuang Youli, silently asking for his opinion.

Back at the hospital, Zhuang Youli had heard from Jiang Yuxun’s colleagues that a visitor had helped him.

Now it seemed… this was that “visitor.”

Before they could finish exchanging looks, Zhuang Youli spoke up warmly,

“If you don’t mind, why not share a table with us?”

He even pointed to the empty seat beside Jiang Yuxun.

Ying Changchuan showed none of a “VIP’s” airs.

“Of course I don’t mind.”

But instead of sitting down immediately, he turned to Jiang Yuxun and asked,

“Would that be inconvenient?”

“No, not at all—please sit.”

Jiang Yuxun immediately pulled out the chair beside him.

—

Jiang Yuxun hadn’t been at the museum in the afternoon. He only knew that the man before him was a “VIP.”

He didn’t know Ying Changchuan’s identity, nor what exactly he planned to donate.

Seeing that Ying Changchuan was easygoing, Jiang Yuxun relaxed after a few casual exchanges.

The server brought over another plate of grilled meat.

Unlike before, this plate wasn’t skewered—it was simply arranged on the dish.

Jiang Yuxun enthusiastically introduced it,

“Mr. Ying, try this. It’s a Zhaoshi specialty. It’s not cooked on a regular grill, but with a special cooking tool. The prototype comes from a ‘燔器(fanqi)’, which existed even before the Zhou dynasty. If you go back to the museum, you can see it for yourself.”

As he spoke, he slid the plate toward Ying Changchuan.

Whenever Jiang Yuxun talked about his field, his voice naturally became gentle and steady.

Even Zhuang Youli, who normally had no interest in such things, listened attentively.

Busy arranging the dishes, Jiang Yuxun didn’t notice that the moment the words “Zhou dynasty” were spoken, something subtly shifted in Ying Changchuan’s gaze.

Ying Changchuan lowered his head and took a sip of his drink, hiding the emotion in his eyes.

A few seconds later, he looked up with a smile.

Picking up his chopsticks, he said casually,

“I’ll go back then. When I do, I’ll have to trouble Xiao Jiang to give me a tour.”

Jiang Yuxun quickly waved his hands.

“Reception tasks at that level are usually handled by the department head. I’ve only been here two months—I really shouldn’t.”

“It’s fine.”

Ying Changchuan smiled at him as he picked up a piece of meat.

“Just starting out is when things are the freshest. I don’t really like overly standardized explanations.”

His demeanor was relaxed, and for a moment Jiang Yuxun couldn’t tell whether he was serious or joking.

But there was no point dwelling on it now.

Jiang Yuxun smiled back and smoothly changed the subject.

—

By the time they finished eating barbecue, it was already eight in the evening.

Zhaoshi’s nightlife was always lively; even at this hour, the streets were packed with people.

After stepping outside, Zhuang Youli frowned at his phone.

“There are still more than forty people in line ahead. How about we take the subway back?”

The subway was just as crowded at this hour, but it was still better than waiting endlessly here.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Jiang Yuxun nodded, turned around, and was about to say goodbye to Ying Changchuan—

Only to see…

A luxury car whose brand he couldn’t even name had somehow pulled up to the curb.

The driver stepped out and opened the rear door for Ying Changchuan.

…So that was his car.

Jiang Yuxun’s pupils trembled.

Unlike Jiang Yuxun—who had already braced himself after learning that Ying Changchuan was a “VIP”—Zhuang Youli was completely caught off guard.

He struggled to lift his head from the ride-hailing app and stared wide-eyed.

“W–what the hell…”

So this was what hiding one’s true depth looked like.

Ying Changchuan didn’t head for the back seat. Instead, he walked to the front passenger door. As he opened it, he turned back toward them, raised an eyebrow, and said casually,

“Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

After sharing a barbecue meal, their relationship was no longer as stiff as before.

With his tone so natural, Jiang Yuxun and Zhuang Youli found it hard to refuse. The two exchanged a glance, thanked him, and walked toward the car.

…

The neon lights of the city center were blinding. Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help narrowing his eyes.

At the very moment he got into the car, Ying Changchuan—still standing outside—lifted his hand and politely shielded the upper edge of the doorframe where one might bump their head.

Though the barbecue restaurant had air-conditioning, it had still been warm inside.

At some point, Ying Changchuan had undone the top two buttons of his shirt.

As Jiang Yuxun got in, a faint scent of men’s cologne suddenly brushed his nose.

He instinctively looked up—his gaze landing squarely on the other man’s Adam’s apple.

A strange sense of danger washed over him.

Jiang Yuxun immediately looked away and ducked into the car.

“Bzz—”

The black sedan started up smoothly and merged into the night. Jiang Yuxun’s phone vibrated twice.

Beside him, Zhuang Youli was hunched over his screen, frantically tapping.

At the same time, he curled himself cautiously into the corner, afraid of accidentally touching the interior trim.

Shuli: !!! I looked it up—this car seems to be a limited edition. You need eight figures minimum to get one.

Shuli: So who exactly is Ying Changchuan???

Shuli: Did you see the way he looked at you just now? I’m not imagining it, right?

JIANG: I only know he’s a VIP at the museum. I don’t know his exact background.

JIANG: What look?

The luxury car rolled to a stop at a red light. Zhuang Youli suddenly lifted his head and gave Jiang Yuxun a long, meaningful look, then lowered it again and continued typing furiously.

Shuli: Deeply affectionate. Extremely affectionate.

JIANG: ?

After sending that, Zhuang Youli went completely silent—no matter how many question marks Jiang Yuxun spammed, there was no reply.

Despite the crowds that night, the roads were clear.

Before long, they arrived at their destination.

Only after stepping out of the car and into the elevator did Zhuang Youli—who had been holding it in the whole ride—finally speak again.

His tone was exaggerated.

“You really didn’t see it?”

Under the street’s neon lights, Ying Changchuan’s gaze had been so gentle it could drown someone.

…Zhuang Youli was absolutely certain he hadn’t imagined it.

Suppressing the odd feeling in his chest, Jiang Yuxun shook his head seriously.

“I really didn’t.”

“Forget it…”

Zhuang Youli sighed regretfully.

“Isn’t he coming back to the museum? When the time comes, suddenly turn around and catch him off guard—you’ll definitely see it then.”

As he spoke, the elevator slowed and came to a stop.

The two walked out one after the other and returned home.

Zhuang Youli was still muttering about his observations. Wanting to change the subject, Jiang Yuxun glanced curiously at his phone.

“…By the way, why didn’t you play games at all today?”

Recently, Zhuang Youli had been obsessed with mobile games—he wouldn’t even put his phone down while eating.

Today, not only had he not played at all, he’d even been fully focused on observing Ying Changchuan’s attitude toward Jiang Yuxun.

Zhuang Youli suddenly stopped.

He turned to Jiang Yuxun and said hesitantly,

“I don’t know why… but I’m kind of scared of him.”

Jiang Yuxun turned on the living-room light and looked at him in confusion.

“Scared of him?”

Zhuang Youli answered with complete sincerity.

“Yeah… like he’s my boss or something.”

—

Jiang Yuxun had thought Ying Changchuan was joking. He hadn’t expected that the very next morning—just after arriving at the museum—he’d be called into the department head’s office.

And informed that—

Ying Changchuan would be visiting the museum tomorrow, and had specifically requested that Jiang Yuxun be his guide.

As the highest-ranking museum in the country, Huaguo Museum was notoriously difficult to enter.

All staff were graduates of top universities and had passed multiple rounds of written exams, interviews, and training assessments.

Those who made it in were elites among elites.

Though Jiang Yuxun hadn’t been employed for long, his professional ability was beyond question.

Even so, his direct supervisor kept him in the office for over an hour, carefully going over everything.

Repeatedly reminding him to focus on preparation today and not do any regular gallery work.

Jiang Yuxun had never seen his supervisor this nervous before.

The moment he stepped out of the office, he suddenly felt as though the honor of the entire museum rested on his shoulders.

Even his steps grew heavy…

At two in the morning, a torrential rain fell over Zhaoshi.

The sound woke Zhuang Youli. He scrolled his phone a couple of times, grabbed a cup, and went to the living room for water.

But the moment he stepped out, he noticed that Jiang Yuxun’s room was still lit.

“Axun?”

Zhuang Youli peeked through the crack in the door.

“Why are you still up so late?”

Jiang Yuxun yawned lightly.

“I have something important tomorrow. I’m reviewing some data. You go back to sleep—did I wake you?”

“No, no.”

Zhuang Youli shook his head quickly.

“Tomorrow’s work—”

He was just about to ask whether Jiang Yuxun really was receiving Ying Changchuan tomorrow when the phone on the desk vibrated softly.

Unfamiliar with museum procedures, Zhuang Youli assumed Jiang Yuxun was talking with colleagues. He quietly closed the door for him and left.

-: Still busy?

JIANG: Yeah, I’m going to review one more time. Sleeping at 2:30!

JIANG: [CheerUp.jpg]

On the other side of the city, a man in a bathrobe stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, slowly knitting his brows together.

In his ash-gray eyes appeared a rare emotion—regret.

-: Try to sleep earlier. Treat tomorrow like a normal task—don’t put pressure on yourself~

JIANG: How could I![Shocked.jpg]

JIANG: I think he’s extremely professional. There absolutely can’t be any mistakes tomorrow. You sleep first—don’t worry about me.

JIANG: Good night~

Ying Changchuan turned and walked toward the bed. Sensing his movement, the curtains slowly closed on their own.

The dazzling neon lights were shut outside, and the room dimmed.

He lay down, opened the profile picture labeled “JIANG.”

In the half-year-visible Moments feed, aside from reposts of museum articles, there was only one photo—from a few months ago, taken at the university gates on graduation day.

In the photo, the person wore a white shirt, eyes strikingly dark and bright, holding a bouquet of sunflowers.

Ying Changchuan’s finger slowly brushed across the image.

His gaze was almost greedy, his breathing growing heavy.

…

For the past month, Jiang Yuxun had been chatting on and off with that online friend.

From what he understood, this anonymous person seemed extremely busy, often working overtime late into the night.

But today, after Jiang Yuxun mentioned that he’d be staying up to review, the other party began messaging every so often, urging him to rest.

Completely different from his usual “workaholic” image.

After saying good night, the other side fell silent.

Jiang Yuxun assumed he’d put his phone down and gone to sleep.

But more than half an hour later, Jiang Yuxun’s phone vibrated again.

-: You too. Good night~

 

• 「燔器」 → highlighted: An ancient cooking vessel used before and during early Zhou times; grilling over open fire predates modern barbecue by millennia.