Sissy (Niang Niang Qiang) - Chap 54
Chapter 54
Li Chengxiu and Li Shuo enjoyed a quiet and peaceful life for nearly half a month.
Li Chengxiu felt that their life was very similar to that of an ordinary couple.
Usually, when they left together in the morning, Li Shuo would first take a long detour just to bring Li Chengxiu to work and only then would go to his own company. During their lunch break they would have an obligatory 10-minute phone call. In the evening, Li Chengxiu would always try his best to return as early as possible, so Li Shuo could have dinner immediately after he came back from work. Li Shuo was much busier than Li Chengxiu, but no matter how late it was or how tired he was, he always wanted to help out if he saw Li Chengxiu busy in the kitchen.
At night they watched movies and listened to music, while leaning onto each other. Such life was very leisurely.
Li Chengxiu couldn’t tell whether his feelings towards Li Shuo were romantic or not. He only knew that he was very happy and very grateful to be together with him.
One day, Li Shuo told Li Chengxiu that he was going back home.
Li Chengxiu was stunned for a moment, remembering that Li Shuo’s parents actually lived in the US.
Li Shuo left in a bit of a hurry. Regretfully he said: “It’s a pity, I was called back by my father on short notice this time. If I had known I was going back in the near future, I would have gotten you a visa, but now it’s really too late.”
Li Chengxiu smiled shyly, not knowing how to answer.
Li Shuo continued, “I mentioned you to my parents. They really want to meet you.”
Li Chengxiu looked at him in surprise: “Your parents…”
Li Shuo said with a smile: “They’re very open-minded people. Don’t worry, my sexuality hasn’t been a secret for a long time.”
Li Chengxiu felt a bit envious.
Li Shuo had a family, and his family was also reasonable. He was truly lucky.
While packing his luggage, Li Shuo noted: “But it’s fine. Next time I can take a longer vacation and apply for a visa for you. Then we both can go to the US and enjoy ourselves there. This time, I’m only going for a couple days.”
Li Chengxiu nodded: “Take care of yourself.”
Li Shuo showed a gentle smile: “I’m used to having you around these days. I’m going to miss you. Will you miss me?”
Li Chengxiu gave him a shy smile and nodded honestly.
Li Shuo smiled sincerely, his eyes slightly curving. He then approached Li Chengxiu, kissed and hugged him, promising that he was going to bring some fun trinkets from his trip.
The two of them thought that this trip was similar to an ordinary business trip. They had no idea that they wouldn’t be able to see each other again for a long long time.
Before leaving, Li Shuo made sure to install Global Connect service on Li Chengxiu’s mobile phone. He also deposited a couple thousands of RMB on his mobile account, saying that he could send text messages and call Li Shuo directly, as if he was in China.
What Li Shuo didn’t tell him was that the phone bill would end up being several times more expensive. Li Chengxiu didn’t even question it and only said that it seemed to be really convenient. He always thought that in order to make a call to a foreign country, one needed to add a lot of numbers and jump through a lot of hoops.
On the morning when Li Shuo left, Li Chengxiu cooked his favorite crab porridge for him.
Li Shuo went directly to the airport, and he couldn’t take Li Chengxiu to work that day. So he asked him to take care of himself.
Li Chengxiu nodded and told Li Shuo to be careful on the road.
Li Shuo cupped the back of Li Chengxiu’s head and tenderly kissed him. Li Chengxiu didn’t know what to do, and he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.
Li Shuo was going to return in just a couple days… So why did it feel like they were parting forever?
He suppressed the strange premonition, smiled and sent Li Shuo out the door.
While Li Shuo was still waiting on his plane, Li Chengxiu was already sitting in the office, and they kept exchanging messages.
When Li Shuo finally got on the plane, Li Chengxiu felt empty.
He had never been on a plane. To be honest, Li Chengxiu always felt that such a big thing flying in the sky was a bit suspicious. He also thought that Li Shuo would have to sit for such a long time.
Li Chengxiu was very worried and was counting hours till Li Shuo’s landing. He hoped that Li Shuo would report to him that he was safe as soon as he arrived.
In the evening, Li Shuo gave him a call. There was a lot of noise coming from his side. He said that he had just gotten off the plane and was entering customs control.
Li Chengxiu, who had been on edge the entire day, finally breathed out.
Li Shuo’s voice sounded quite relaxed, but the fatigue of the journey could not be concealed, so Li Chengxiu told him to get some rest when he got home.
The two hung up after chatting for a while.
When Li Chengxiu had already tidied up at home and was lying in bed, Li Shuo sent him another text message with a photo. In the photo, he was pointing his finger at his stubble and helplessly smiling.
Li Chengxiu couldn’t help but snicker. He texted back: “Why did you forget to shave yesterday?”
Li Shuo replied: “I just wanted to go to bed earlier before the flight. And then I wasn’t in the mood to shave on the plane. My mother will laugh at me when she sees me like this.”
Even though it was a meaningless exchange, it made Li Chengxiu feel very calm and relaxed.
His phone beeped again, and Li Chengxiu opened the new text message without any hesitation. It was an already familiar sentence: “Chengxiu, I miss you very much.”
Li Chengxiu felt that was a little strange. They were just talking about something else. Why would Li Shuo suddenly send him this kind of line?
Li Chengxiu tensed up.
He usually made a point of ignoring anything coming from unfamiliar numbers. But just now, because he had been texting with Li Shuo, he lost his vigilance.
He knew that most likely the owner of this number was Shao Qun.
Now, Li Chengxiu was no longer in the mood to chat with Li Shuo. He hurriedly said that he needed to go to sleep early because of work tomorrow. Li Shuo said that he would contact him when he had settled down.
Li Chengxiu turned his phone off in a hurry and put it away in the furthest drawer, as if on the other side of that phone there was some horrible cannibal waiting for him.
With Li Shuo’s departure, his loneliness and his fear had returned.
The first two days were fine. Li Shuo would text him and call him, telling him one or two funny stories about his parents when he had some free time.
But on the third day, there was no news from Li Shuo all day long.
Li Chengxiu thought that was a little strange, so he sent Li Shuo a message. But even after several hours had passed, Li Shuo still didn’t reply.
Li Chengxiu calculated the time difference and felt that it was inappropriate to call around this time. He planned to call again tomorrow. Maybe Li Shuo was just busy.
He made two calls the next day. Li Shuo still didn’t answer.
When Li Shuo hadn’t contacted him for an entire three days, Li Chengxiu finally realized that something was wrong.
He got really anxious and called him several times in a row. Finally, Li Chengxiu even contacted Li Shuo’s assistant.
The assistant knew about their relationship. When Li Chengxiu interned in Li Shuo’s office, they had even met. For some reason, he was very secretive on the phone and refused to say anything, only telling Li Chengxiu that Li Shuo was busy and he would contact him soon.
Li Shuo had always been very considerate. No matter how busy he was, he would never let Li Chengxiu worry about him for so many days without a good reason. Unless something serious happened, he wouldn’t leave his messages without an answer.
Li Chengxiu’s uneasiness gradually became worse, and his thoughts were in disarray.
Two days later, Li Shuo finally called. Li Chengxiu’s hands shook with excitement when he saw the caller ID.
“Hello…” A very tired voice came from the other end of the phone.
Li Chengxiu’s heart sank. It was clear that something had happened. He had never heard Li Shuo so tired and frustrated. Li Shuo was always confident and steady. Even when he was tired, he was never dejected or foul-mooded.
“Li-Dage, what’s wrong?”
Li Shuo sighed softly: “Chengxiu, I’m sorry, I’ve been really… There’s been an accident here, and I can’t go back to China for the time being.”
Li Chengxiu froze: “Your parents…?”
Li Shuo said softly: “My parents are fine. Something went wrong with my business in China.”
Li Chengxiu asked, “Is it serious?”
Li Shuo sighed: “This matter is very complicated. I was framed. Now, as soon as I set foot on Chinese territory, I will be arrested immediately. Everything happened very quickly while I was abroad. For a moment, I am not able to sort this convoluted issue. So, I can’t take the risk and return to China. Can you understand?”
Li Chengxiu trembled uncontrollably.
If this issue could make a person like Li Shuo so miserable, it must be really serious.
“Li-Dage…” Li Chengxiu wanted to comfort him, but didn’t know what to say.
“I didn’t want to make you worry, so I wasn’t planning to tell you that. But I can’t really hide it from you, taking your safety in consideration.”
Li Chengxiu was shocked: “What… what do you mean?”
“I’m 90% sure that this was Shao Qun’s doing.”
Li Chengxiu’s body seemed to freeze up. It felt like he had fallen into a basin of ice water, and the coldness immediately swallowed up his limbs and his bones.
Li Shuo continued: “Many years have passed since this thing that I’m responsible for has taken place. It also doesn’t involve the interests of any third parties. What I mean is that the only possible beneficiary of this case is the legal representative of the original company or its creditor – a state-owned bank. Whoever is trying to frame me, is not going to benefit from this no matter what the final result is. The legal representative of the company disappeared long ago. And the state-owned bank is unlikely to do such a useless thing. Since no business interests are involved, I can only suspect that it’s about a personal grievance.”
Li Shuo paused and then continued:”After considering such factors like motive, time, tactics, and the influence at the level of government departments, I can only think of Shao Qun at the moment.”
Li Chengxiu was so anxious that he wanted to cry: “Li-Dage, is it really him?”
Li Shuo pondered: “90% sure. This matter is too complicated to explain but the amount of files in this bankruptcy case alone is akin to a mountain. I’m afraid it will take at least a year and a half in order to dig up evidence that can clear me.”
“Then you can’t come back anymore?”
“I’m afraid, at least not in the short term. I can’t risk arrest after my return. If I stay in the United States, the worst case scenario is that I will never be able to enter China again, but if I go back … the worst case is criminal detention.”
Li Chengxiu felt extremely uneasy.
If this is really Shao Qun’s work, then it’s Li Chengxiu who dragged Li Shuo into it. Even if Shao Qun did not do it, it was still a fact that Li Shuo was in big trouble. If he couldn’t come back for a year and a half, everything he had worked so hard to build in Shenzhen would be wasted.
Li Shuo continued: “I’m very worried about you now. If this was indeed Shao Qun’s ploy, then, I’m afraid, his next step is to come after you. My place… I’m afraid you can’t live there anymore. I have contacted my assistant. He will find you a house, so you don’t have to worry about that for a time being.”
Li Chengxiu’s heart was full of sadness. He suddenly got tired of constantly hiding. Time and time again, he did everything to avoid Shao Qun. But how long was he supposed to be on the run? Not only did Shao Qun ruin his life, he also dragged Li Shuo into it. How could Li Chengxiu afford to pay for such a big crime?
Li Chengxiu said miserably: “Li-Dage, I’m sorry…”
Li Shuo was silent for a while, and then he softly said: “Chengxiu, I don’t want your apology. The truth of this matter is still uncertain. Even if it really is Shao Qun’s doing, it is not your fault. I have been thinking about it a lot for the past two days.In fact, when I came back this time, my father wanted to retire due to health reasons. His client hoped that I could take over his work. I was not interested at all. I always wanted to build my own career. But now that I have this chance, I think it might actually be fate. Maybe I should stay in the US for a while and take over my father’s work. I have something to ask you, and I want to hear your answer.”
Li Chengxiu said witlessly, “What is it?”
“Would you like to come to America?”
Li Chengxiu was stunned.
“I know you need to think about it first. This is a very important decision. You would basically need to leave your past life and your familiar environment behind. This would be a challenge for anybody. But if there’s a will, there’s a way. A way to get used to the language and to the new environment, a way to find new friends and also work. It’s all possible. And I will be here for you, if you want to come. Everyone will welcome you, and my parents would really like to meet you. So if you want…”
After the phone call, Li Chengxiu couldn’t calm down for a long time.
He felt that his life had been turned upside down again.
Li Shuo promised to give him time to think about it, but he also asked him to hand over the required documents to his assistant for the visa application.
Li Shuo’s exact words were: “You can think about it during the visa application period. You can change your mind even right before boarding the plane. But I really hope to hug you here in the United States in two months.”
Li Chengxiu understood very well that if he didn’t go, he would completely let Li Shuo down, and their relationship would basically be over.
But, to be honest, it was just a little too much to ask from a nearly 30-year old man go to an unfamiliar country, pick up the language that he hadn’t touched in more than ten years and start a new life
If he had been in his teens or even in his early twenties, it would have seemed like an exciting challenge. But at his age, it was more like an ordeal.
Li Chengxiu didn’t have a good education, nor did he have good language skills. Would he have to rely on Li Shuo for everything when he came to the US? What would that make him?
Even if he also had no relatives or friends in China, at least he was familiar with everything here and he could always find a job to make ends meet. So he didn’t have to live in a state of perpetual anxiety.
In Li Chengxiu’s heart, he really didn’t want to go.
He was not a brave man, so he never dared to change things without somebody’s permission. He was such a useless person, that even after ten years in this city, he still hadn’t established a foothold here.How can he even think about going to a foreign country?
But Li Shuo…
It was a dilemma.
Li Chengxiu was not too surprised when Shao Qun blocked his way when he came back home from work.
Strangely, he was neither panicking, nor particularly terrified. He just knew that it was an inevitability.
When a heart is repeatedly broken, it freezes over and loses its ability to move.
Shao Qun’s face didn’t look very good. He was obviously sleep-deprived. But as soon as he saw Li Chengxiu, he seemed immediately refreshed.
Shao Qun’s eyes were full of emotions, as he looked at Li Chengxiu. Just as he was about to open his mouth, Li Chengxiu interrupted him, his tone cold and distant.
“Is what happened to Li-Dage… your doing?”
