Deep in the Night - Chapter 3

Late at night, Young Yao quietly pushed open the bedroom door and saw a warm orange light glowing from the direction of the tea room. Curious, he tiptoed over and saw a small clay pot simmering on the stove. Fang Jin had pulled up a comfortable chair and was seated beside it, engrossed in some documents.

“You…”

Fang Jin looked up. “What is it?”

He wore a loose, light gray wool sweater, its soft fabric accentuating his slender frame. The neckline revealed a hint of his sunken collarbone, giving him an air of casual elegance. Young Yao stared at him for several seconds before stammering, a little embarrassed, “Uh… I came for a drink. Are you cooking something?”

Fang Jin’s gaze returned to his documents. “I’m making a pot of hangover remedy soup.”

Surprised, Young Yao lifted the lid. Inside was a fragrant, milky-white soup simmering gently. It contained tender fish heads, crisp bamboo shoots, plump mushrooms, and silken tofu—all cooked to perfection. Not a trace of oil marred the surface, and the pot bubbled with an alluring aroma.

Young Yao had come to serve, having cleaned the house earlier and skipped dinner. The tantalizing aroma now made his mouth water. He asked, his voice tinged with longing, “May… may I taste it?”

Fang Jin was speechless for a moment, realizing that this handsome young man before him was probably a bit… unconventional. “…Then wait here. I’ll add some vinegar.”

He set down the contract, stood up, and added half a bottle cap of fragrant vinegar and a few drops of sesame oil to the soup. He then chopped a tender scallion and sprinkled it in, turned off the heat, and stirred it all together. He filled a pristine white porcelain bowl from the hotel with the soup. The tea room was instantly filled with a warm, savory aroma. Young Yao, who had been eagerly waiting with a spoon in hand, immediately took the bowl with delight.

“Wow, it smells amazing! Did you make this yourself? Is it for Eldest Master Gu?”

Fang Jin replied softly, “Yes.”

He sat back down in the armchair, picked up his pen, and resumed reading the documents.

The tea room fell silent. For some reason, Young Yao slowly stopped moving, staring blankly at Fang Jin’s calm profile. After a long pause, he asked, “Does Eldest Master Gu… treat you well?”

“Very well,” Fang Jin replied with a faint smile.

It was the first time Young Yao had seen him smile. Though subtle, his eyes narrowed slightly, the long corners curving into a pleasing arc, like gentle ripples spreading from his gaze.

Young Yao was consumed by conflicting emotions. After a long pause, he dragged a chair over and sat down beside Fang Jin, cradling his bowl. He whispered, “Do you…”

He had originally wanted to ask, “Do you like Eldest Master Gu?” But remembering his awkward position, he feared such a blunt question might reopen old wounds. He swallowed the words and rephrased, “Eldest Master Gu… um, is he any good in bed?”

Fang Jin choked on his breath. “Huh?”

“He didn’t even touch me!” Young Yao whispered conspiratorially. “He just took a bath and went straight to bed without touching me at all! Do you think he’s no good in bed?”

Fang Jin’s pen hovered mid-air, looking both awkward and comical. After a moment, he sighed. “You’re overthinking it. My relationship with Mr. Gu is purely professional. As for his… capabilities, I can’t say. But I do know he’s exclusively attracted to women, so you needn’t worry.”

“What?!” Young Yao exclaimed, startled. “Then why did he summon me here?”

“You were a gift from the Second Young Master. Declining you to your face would be a direct insult to him.”

“B-but… then what should I do tomorrow?”

“They’ll probably ask me to escort you back,” Fang Jin said, his tone slightly comforting. “They might fabricate some excuse about you failing to serve properly, but it doesn’t matter. Everyone knows Mr. Gu only likes women. Mr. He and the others won’t blame you.”

Young Yao was instantly struck dumb, his earlier gossiping thoughts about Fang Jin completely forgotten.

“But… but Mr. He and the others were counting on me to cozy up to the Gu family! Damn it, if I’d known he wasn’t gay, I wouldn’t have come! I should have stuck with Second Master Gu from the start! Oh no, now Mr. He and the others will criticize me again…”

The handsome young man paced anxiously, pounding his chest in genuine distress, completely oblivious to how self-deprecating he sounded. Fang Jin shook his head with a smile, flipping a page of the contract. This kid has a natural, endearing foolishness, he thought.

“Hey, don’t mock me,” Young Yao finally realized he was overstepping and offered a sheepish explanation. “I didn’t have a choice. It’s just how the industry works. My situation is actually pretty good compared to others. There are cases even worse than mine, but… you wouldn’t understand. Someone like you could never grasp how ruthless our business can be.”

Young Yao stared at the Montblanc pen in Fang Jin’s hand and the high-quality German contract, its value evident at a glance. He felt a mix of envy and sourness, thinking, Even if he’s not the playboy, Eldest Master Gu’s kept lover, he’s certainly doing well for himself.

Then again, not having that kind of relationship might actually be better for him.

As he pondered this, Fang Jin casually remarked, “I know.”

“Huh?”

Fang Jin closed the thick file and stood up. “I still have some documents to review. Take your time with your meal. Add half a bowl of water to the clay pot later and let it simmer overnight. Mr. Gu can have it for breakfast tomorrow morning.”

His demeanor was calm, but Young Yao sensed a subtle undercurrent of resignation and avoidance. He wondered if Fang Jin was evading his gossip and prying questions, or something else entirely.

Lost in thought, Young Yao watched Fang Jin turn and leave the break room, returning to the bedroom across the hall.

The next morning, when Gu Yuan woke up, he found a bowl of fragrant, milky-white fish head tofu soup on the dining table, just as Fang Jin had promised.

This was Fang Jin’s long-established habit. Whenever Gu Yuan drank too much, Fang Jin would prepare a tangy and aromatic hangover soup the next day. It might be fish head with tofu, sour bamboo shoot with old duck, or a blend of aged tangerine peel, sandalwood, and other medicinal herbs. The first time he made it, Gu Yuan had found it peculiar, but he gradually grew accustomed to it, reasoning that as Gu Yuan’s assistant, it was only natural to curry favor with a boss who didn’t particularly like him.

“Take him to Mr. He’s place today,” Gu Yuan instructed, sipping his soup without looking up.

Fang Jin understood this meant he should escort Young Yao back to Gu Yang. “Yes, then I’ll leave shortly.”

Just as Fang Jin was about to leave, Gu Yuan swallowed his soup and suddenly remembered something. “Wait—take me out first. I have something to take care of.”

What was this matter? Gu Yuan didn’t elaborate, and Fang Jin didn’t ask. He knew Eldest Master Gu disliked being questioned. As the eldest son of this wealthy family, having grown up without his mother’s protection, Gu Yuan had learned early to conceal all his emotions, presenting only a handsome, cold, and distant facade to the world.

Fang Jin ate slowly, and he had to hurry to keep up with Gu Yuan, who devoured his food like a whirlwind. After breakfast, Gu Yuan left Young Yao behind in the hotel room without a word and called the driver to take him and Fang Jin straight to Macau’s city center.

Uncle Zhang, a veteran driver who had been with Gu Yuan for years, skillfully navigated the city streets and soon pulled up in front of an alley. Fang Jin followed Gu Yuan out of the car and found himself in a shaded, breezy lane. At the corner stood an unassuming three-story gray building with a black plaque inscribed with the bold characters “Rong’s Curios.”

Gu Yuan strode into the shop. A sharp-looking clerk in a blue cotton shirt immediately greeted him: “Ah, Eldest Master Gu is back!”

“My father’s birthday is next week. He’s always loved calligraphy, so I had someone procure a set of the Four Treasures of the Study as a gift. The brush, ink, and paper are decent enough, but I’m undecided about the inkstone. I heard you worked as my father’s assistant for a few days once, so I came to ask for your expertise.” Gu Yuan nodded at the clerk. “Fetch the square inkstone I left with you.”

The clerk bowed and hurried off to prepare tea. Fang Jin, however, looked surprised. “The Four Treasures of the Study?”

“Mm-hmm.”

To reach the status of Gu Mingzong, the sect leader of the Gu family, material wealth and sensual pleasures become fleeting clouds. Finding a gift that would please him was no easy task. Gu Yang, ever the opportunist, had sent a Philippine beauty pageant winner the previous year, but she proved to be all looks and no brains, discarded by Gu Mingzong within a month. Gu Yuan’s gift of a pure-blooded racehorse fared even worse, still confined to its stable and reportedly twenty kilograms heavier.

Fang Jin looked troubled, as if he wanted to say something, but at that moment, the owner of Rong’s Curios arrived personally with his assistants. They bowed deeply and presented two large glass cases. Inside were four rectangular inkstones, each with a simple, ancient form and a fine, smooth stone texture—clearly rare treasures.

“Mr. Gu, here they are. These two are old-pit Duan inkstones, now extremely rare. We specially sent someone to the countryside in Guangdong to find them for you. The other two are She inkstones—the one on the left has raindrop gold stars, and the one on the right has a jade belt with golden halos. These are the finest pieces our trade rarely comes across.”

Fang Jin’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the price.

“Well?” Gu Yuan asked.

Fang Jin hesitated for a long moment before saying awkwardly, “CEO Gu… actually, he doesn’t really appreciate the Four Treasures of the Study. Perhaps we should consider something else.”

Gu Yuan was somewhat taken aback. He had already decided before arriving to purchase the renowned lotus-leaf-shaped Duan inkstone, and he’d brought Fang Jin along merely as a precaution. But to his surprise, Fang Jin immediately undermined his entire plan. “What do you mean by that?” Gu Yuan pressed. “Don’t you know he once had a calligraphy couplet specially framed and hung in his study? And he constantly sent Gu Yang and me searching for imitation Chengxin Hall paper… How could he not appreciate these things?”

Fang Jin wanted to say, You don’t know the couplet wasn’t written by him, and he never used the paper himself. That million-yuan inkstone will just gather dust in his study—what’s the point? But he couldn’t reveal these truths. Instead, he stammered, “I’m not sure… Perhaps it’s because I haven’t worked for you long enough to understand your tastes fully.”

Gu Yuan’s interest waned. He casually pointed at the Duan inkstone he’d already selected and told the shopkeeper, “Wrap it up.”

In truth, Gu Yuan could have easily diffused the awkwardness at that moment if he had been willing to act like a decent boss. But Gu Yuan had always been utterly unrestrained around Fang Jin, frequently darkening his face at the slightest misstep.

This was a deliberate management style, primarily meant to intimidate: Don’t think you can act big just because you were sent by my father. I’ll give you face when I’m in a good mood, but when I’m not, I’ll still humiliate you.

Gu Yuan casually strolled over to watch the clerks wrapping the stationery, the shopkeeper trailing behind him with an obsequious smile. Fang Jin, however, remained rooted in place, silently gazing at the tall figure ahead.

Gu Yuan bore a strong resemblance to Gu Mingzong, but his features also carried traces of his birth mother. This gave his face a strikingly sculpted appearance: deep-set eyebrows, a prominent nose, and a profile that resembled a marble statue gazing down from above. When he stood motionless, staring intently at something, the effect was suffocating, like drowning.

Fang Jin stared blankly at him for a long moment before snapping out of his daze and shaking his head in self-ridicule.

I can’t keep thinking like this... he thought.

While the others were at the other end of the shop, Fang Jin wandered around casually. The store was crammed with items—antiques piled haphazardly on shelves, cabinets, and glass display cases, waiting to be picked through. Behind the counter sat a black wooden tray holding a small collection of jade pieces, their emerald hues shimmering under the light.

Fang Jin casually flipped through the pieces until he spotted a peculiar jade ring. He picked it up and examined it closely, realizing it was actually two rings, one larger and one smaller, designed to fit inside each other. The craftsmanship was exquisite, with intricate patterns carved on both rings. When the rings were nested together, the patterns formed four complete characters: “Two Hearts Aligned.”

A sharp-eyed salesperson approached with a smile. “You have a discerning eye. This ring isn’t made from top-grade, centuries-old glass-like jade, but the material is still of good quality. What makes it truly rare is the carving. In the past, close friends or brothers would each wear one of these rings, and married couples would wear them to symbolize their shared heart and unwavering devotion.”

Fang Jin felt a soft thorn pierce his heart, leaving a faint ache.

“How much?”

The shop assistant offered an apologetic smile and held up his hand in a dismissive gesture. “I’m sorry, sir. We’re a small, family-owned business and can’t negotiate our prices.”

Fang Jin found this somewhat amusing. “You certainly know how to price things. No matter how expensive, I couldn’t afford it.”

As he spoke, he pulled out his wallet. The Black Card, that global top-tier unlimited credit card, was prominently displayed on top. But his fingers didn’t linger there. He bypassed it entirely and pulled out a plain Mastercard with his name on it, handing it to the assistant.

Gu Yuan strolled back after seeing them finish wrapping the gift, only to find Fang Jin sitting in an armchair with a faint smile.

It wasn’t a particularly noticeable smile, just a subtle, almost absent-minded expression that suggested he was suddenly immersed in something pleasant. Yet the joy radiating from the depths of his being was infectious, making others feel relaxed and even a little tender towards him.

Gu Yuan felt a moment of bewilderment.

What’s with this guy? He was about to burst into tears just now, and now he’s happy again.

Still, he preferred seeing Fang Jin happy. Upon closer inspection, he realized the man was actually a bit more handsome than that third-rate celebrity from yesterday…

“You’re back?” Fang Jin suddenly noticed him and immediately stood up. “Sorry, should we leave now?”

The gentle smile in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by his usual respectful, obedient, and vigilant demeanor.

Gu Yuan felt a sudden displeasure, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. He said curtly, “Let’s go. What were you doing here?”

As they exited the shop under the owner’s courteous farewell, Fang Jin said with a smile, “I just bought a ring in the store.”

Gu Yuan frowned. “Why did you buy that?”

At the alley entrance, sunlight streamed down, and a gentle breeze rustled through the lush foliage, creating a soft rustling sound. Uncle Zhang, the driver, was bending down to open the car door a short distance away. But in that brief moment, across those mere ten meters, it was just the two of them together.

“Just for fun,” Fang Jin said, smiling. “When you get married, I’ll give it to you as a wedding gift.”

The words were perfectly ordinary, yet a peculiar feeling stirred in Gu Yuan’s heart, like a feather softly brushing against his skin, creating a subtle, indescribable tingling.

“Fine,” he said brusquely, without turning back. He quickened his pace, stepped forward, and slipped into the Bentley.