Chapter 70 Different

Chapter 70: Different

The osmanthus wine from Suzhou was pleasantly sweet and low in alcohol. Jiang Luo drank quite a bit of it like sugary water, and by the time he left the old house, his face was flushed, as if he were drunk.

His mother specifically instructed Huo Zongzhuo, "Make sure he hasn’t had too much or gotten drunk. Keep an eye on him so he doesn’t trip and fall into the river."

"Okay."

After seeing Jiang Luo off, Huo Zongzhuo walked back alone, finding it hard to pinpoint his exact feelings at that moment.

Was he happy? Of course, and very satisfied too. His heart felt fulfilled in a way that even closing a major business deal couldn’t compare to.

But this was different—far surpassing those feelings.

To him, Suzhou was unlike any other city, big or small.

These were his roots, the place where he was born and raised, where he belonged, and where his mother was.

Bringing Jiang Luo here was like opening a unique door for him, allowing Jiang Luo to step into a world that belonged solely to Huo Zongzhuo. It was like a weary bird returning to the forest or an old cat carrying its kitten back to the nest—marking Jiang Luo with his unique imprint and presence.

Huo Zongzhuo understood clearly that, to him, Jiang Luo was an extraordinary and unique presence, unlike anyone else.

At the same time, he was also aware that no matter how he viewed Jiang Luo or treated him, the truth remained that Jiang Luo and he were fundamentally different.

Jiang Luo was a straight man.

He was gay.

Huo Zongzhuo didn’t need to analyze or ponder this—it was simply reality, right before his eyes.

He could have feelings for Jiang Luo—that was fine, no problem. It was his own business, his freedom.

But could he easily reveal these feelings?

Huo Zongzhuo walked along the cobblestone path, his shadow pooling vaguely at his feet.

When he returned to the old house, his mother was waiting in the corridor again.

After closing the courtyard gate, Huo Zongzhuo went over. His mother said gently, "Is that boy alright? His face was so red when he left. I blame myself—I shouldn’t have let him indulge in the osmanthus wine."

"It’s fine. He’s not a child."

Huo Zongzhuo had said this more than once.

His mother followed him into the house. "He’s still young—he’ll only be nineteen after the New Year."

Huo Zongzhuo was about to escort his mother upstairs to her room to rest, but she, concerned about him, held his hand and stood in the living room, saying, "I know what’s on your mind."

"Do you feel that you and he are different?"

"Zongzhuo."

His mother comforted him, "I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it—times will change."

"Just wait and see. It might not take many years for society to become different, more accepting."

"Just like how women used to have bound feet and follow the 'three obediences and four virtues,' but now women are liberated and can hold up half the sky."

"I know."

Huo Zongzhuo didn’t say much, not wanting to worry his mother.

His mother patted his hand again, reassuring him, "Luckily, he’s still young. He won’t be getting married right after the New Year."

"And as you said, his mind is focused on business. There aren’t any girls around him."

"Don’t worry."

Huo Zongzhuo knew his mother cared for him deeply and tried to comfort her in return. "I’m a grown man, and my age speaks for itself. I won’t let myself become a mess just because I have feelings for someone."

"Mom, you know me—I always have my ways."

His mother walked toward the stairs, shaking her head with a helpless smile. She understood clearly and said, "You’re just trying to comfort me. I know."

"You don’t want me to worry."

"Don’t worry, I won’t."

"Your path is yours to walk."

She added, "Bring that boy back often when you have time."

"Not specifically for me—there’s nothing interesting about an old woman like me."

"It’s mainly for you. When you two are close, you’ll be happier."

"As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters."

"And don’t think too far ahead."

"After all, people don’t live in the past or the future—they live in the present, the here and now."

"If you live well in the present, happy and smooth-sailing, that’s stronger than anything else."

…

Huo Zongzhuo, wearing pajamas, stood on the balcony of his bedroom, drinking a cup of warm water.

He thought about what his mother had just said, understanding that she was telling him not to worry about the future or feel sad just because he and Jiang Luo were different and might not have a future together.

Huo Zongzhuo wasn’t sad. With Jiang Luo, the path ahead was too clear—distinct and straightforward. Or, to put it bluntly, it was his own path, his emotional path, and it was entirely predictable. Where was there room for sadness?

Ever since he realized he liked men, he had known what he would have to bear.

Huo Zongzhuo wasn’t sad—he just felt regretful.

So much so that even someone as rational as him couldn’t help but think: if only he weren’t gay right now, or if only Jiang Luo were a girl who also liked men, things would be better.

Huo Zongzhuo knew perfectly well that he and Jiang Luo would have no outcome—none at all.

Just like the loquat tree in the courtyard of the old house, which had never borne fruit all these years.

But what did that matter?

Huo Zongzhuo gazed out the window, sipping his water, and thought silently: The loquat tree doesn’t bear fruit, so what? It still lives there, growing branches in spring and shedding leaves in autumn.

He was the same.

Even without an outcome, his life would still move forward, day by day, with time.

This year, he brought Jiang Luo back for the New Year, happy. Next year? The year after? Five years from now? Ten years from now?

The future is hard to predict, but he understood that as long as one was alive, life must go on day by day.

No matter what, life would pass day by day, and each day must be lived as it came.

With Jiang Luo, with Jiang Luo by his side, it was this way;

Without Jiang Luo, without Jiang Luo by his side, it was still this way.

Perhaps many years from now, Jiang Luo would get married and have children...

Suddenly, Huo Zongzhuo heard a "bang, bang, bang" knocking downstairs.

His thoughts were interrupted as he looked down and saw Jiang Luo at the door, wearing a jacket. After knocking, Jiang Luo stepped back a few paces, looked up at him, smiled, and waved.

Huo Zongzhuo turned and went downstairs to open the door.

As the door opened, Huo Zongzhuo was puzzled about why Jiang Luo had returned. Just as he was about to ask, he saw Jiang Luo step inside holding a pillow, saying as he entered, "Asleep? Not yet, right? Mind if I crash in your bed?"

Huo Zongzhuo understood but was still a bit puzzled.

As he closed the door, he asked, "You want to sleep in my room?"

Jiang Luo walked into the room, turning his head slightly, "That's cool, right? It's fine?"

"Your bed isn’t a single bed, is it?"

Huo Zongzhuo followed, "Is the bed in the small courtyard uncomfortable?"

Jiang Luo turned his head again, "Can't I just miss my dad?"

Jiang Luo, brash as ever, walked toward the staircase and waved, "Come on, come on, let’s go together."

"I can’t sleep anyway, and it’s New Year’s Eve today. We'll just keep vigil."

"We can lie down and chat."

He also asked, "Is there any osmanthus wine left at home?"

"Want to have a drink together?"

Huo Zongzhuo understood—Jiang Luo didn’t want to sleep, couldn’t sleep, and had come to pass the time with him.

Huo Zongzhuo chuckled, "Yes, there is. I’ll go get it. You go upstairs—my bedroom is the one on the east side."

"Okay."

As Jiang Luo climbed the stairs, he turned his head again, "Is Mom asleep?"

"Yeah."

When Huo Zongzhuo brought the wine and glasses upstairs, he saw that Jiang Luo had already made himself at home in the bed, even covering himself with Huo Zongzhuo’s quilt. Huo Zongzhuo silently found it amusing—he had been right, Jiang Luo really was still like a child, and only a child would act this way.

Huo Zongzhuo closed the door and handed the wine and glasses to Jiang Luo. Jiang Luo took them, placed them on the bedside table, and immediately patted the space beside him, saying, "Come on, get in."

Huo Zongzhuo walked around the foot of the bed to the other side and sat down, "A heart-to-heart? What do you want to talk about?"

Jiang Luo poured the wine, handing him a glass, "Let’s just chat casually, or we could watch TV."

"Never mind, there’s nothing on at this hour. Let’s have a drink first."

Jiang Luo leaned against the headboard, the quilt tucked over his legs, raised his glass, clinked it against Huo Zongzhuo’s, and said as he drank, "Before today, I’d never drunk with you."

Huo Zongzhuo leaned against the headboard as well, not too close but not far either, since the double bed was only 1.5 meters wide—not particularly large.

Huo Zongzhuo turned to look at Jiang Luo, osmanthus wine in hand, and said, "We’ll have a chance to drink together after the New Year."

"I plan to take you to have a meal with the senior executives at Bank of China after we return to Haicheng after the New Year."

Jiang Luo, of course, understood that this was to introduce him and pave the way for him. He smiled faintly, turned to look at Huo Zongzhuo, and teased, "What a dad. The best."

Huo Zongzhuo patiently said, "In the business world, as you know, relationships are built over meals and drinks."

"In business, you can’t just keep your head down and work hard. You also need to look up, look around you, and meet more people."

Jiang Luo understood all this.

He raised his glass again, clinking it with Huo Zongzhuo’s, and said, "Okay, I'll do as you say."

Huo Zongzhuo said gently, "After the New Year, you should also spend more time at the Juxiang town government."

"Yeah."

Jiang Luo nodded.

Huo Zongzhuo: "With equipment, factory expansion, recruitment, and management, you’ll have a lot to do after the New Year."

"No matter how busy you are, you still need to maintain relationships."

"You have to show up for these dinners. If you can’t drink, bring someone who can to accompany you."

"The town government, Bank of China, and the German company—every party needs to be well taken care of."

"None of this is unimportant."

"These factors determine whether your factory can get off the ground and, once established, whether it can run smoothly."

Huo Zongzhuo didn't mind lecturing—he was only concerned that Jiang Luo might not understand. He continued, "Later, other departments in town—Public Security, the Tax Bureau, and the Industry and Commerce Bureau—whether you end up dealing with them or not, you should still build connections and get to know them."

"It's not about bribery, but at least get your face known and stay on good terms."

"That way, if anything happens at the factory in the future, you’ll have people to turn to."

Jiang Luo heard it all, took it all in, understood it all, and got the picture.

Taking a sip of his osmanthus wine, he sighed casually, "So much stuff to deal with, this and that."

Huo Zongzhuo heard him and said, "There really is a lot to handle."

"If you find it troublesome, I’ll find the time after the New Year to go over there and have those meals for you."

"Daaad..."

Jiang Luo turned his head, "Isn't it exhausting, worrying this much so young?"

Huo Zongzhuo took it as Jiang Luo being playful.

He quirked his lips and said, "It's not a matter of being tired or not."

"If you find it troublesome, I'll go handle it."

"Someone has to take care of these things anyway."

Jiang Luo teased deliberately, "Wow, you're so good to me?"

He kept looking at Huo Zongzhuo, his eyes bright.

Huo Zongzhuo smiled warmly and replied, "What am I supposed to do?"

"We call the same person Mom. We can't just celebrate the New Year together, and then after the holidays, when things come up, go our separate ways when problems arise."

"If I don’t take care of you, who will?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Luo butted and nuzzled his head against Huo Zongzhuo’s shoulder like a little puppy, teasing, "Why don't you just adopt me?"

"Come on here, take me in, bring me home and raise me."

Huo Zongzhuo chuckled, "Such a puppy."

He lifted his other hand—the one not holding the cup—to block him, though not seriously, just resting it on Jiang Luo’s head, letting Jiang Luo’s hair rub against his palm like a furry puppy’s head, tickling his palm and making his heart feel all warm.