Chapter 23 Ten Thousand Reasons to Meet

Chapter 23: Ten Thousand Reasons to Meet

The plane climbed slowly, piercing through the white clouds, as the cabin announcement rang out. Lin Haoda raised his hand to turn off the reading light, getting ready to sleep.

He leaned back against the narrow seat, slowly closing his eyes. Maybe because the air in the cabin was stale, he tried hard for a while but couldn't sleep. After a pretty rough patch of turbulence, Lin Haoda gave up on sleeping, raised his hand, and pushed the window shade up a little.

Outside the porthole was a wide, clear blue sky, the contrails like birds, carving a steady flight path. Lin Haoda propped his chin on his hand and watched the clouds for a while, feeling a bit bored. He pulled out his phone and idly swiped around his phone screen.

As if sensing his mood, the screen suddenly popped up a photo album suggestion, even went ahead and named it on its own.

It was called "Memories with Him."

Out of curiosity, Lin Haoda tapped it.

Turns out there were only two photos, both of Guan Junshan.

The first was from the night before he left Hong Kong—the Polaroid picture he had taken. Guan Junshan was standing under some neon sign, on the phone, in a sharp suit, his eyes cold and expressionless as he looked toward the camera.

Lin Haoda had to leave early the next morning and had decided that night to give the photo to Guan Junshan. Before putting it in the envelope, he scanned it with an app and saved it on his phone.

He couldn't really explain why he had to keep it, but conversely, not having a backup just felt like a waste.

Lin Haoda hesitated a few seconds, then swiped to the next photo.

The second was a live photo. Lin Haoda felt like a guilty sneak, his hand was shaking so badly when he took it, but the Guan Junshan in the frame barely budged. He stood in front of a coffee machine, head down, reading the instructions on the espresso pod. Light fell on him, lighting up a small patch of his face.

The coffee machine hissed out some steam. In the dim room light, Guan Junshan felt close, but also far away.

The atmosphere was quiet, perfect for a little chat, but in the end, Lin Haoda didn’t speak. He pretended to be really into the movie, waiting until Guan Junshan walked past with a cup of coffee and returned to his room.

It was an old movie, a war romance. Lin Haoda had seen it in college and didn't like the ending, so he didn't finish it.

Taking that sneaky photo of Guan Junshan was completely on a whim. Lin Haoda had intended to delete it, but whether he was lying to himself or genuinely forgot, he just never got around to it.

He couldn’t give Guan Junshan another photo—it would make him look like some creepy stalker. Even if it probably wouldn't bother Guan Junshan much, just the thought made Lin Haoda feel sick.

Because in Lin Haoda’s eyes, Guan Junshan was one hundred percent a good person.

Lin Haoda felt both lucky and ashamed. He often did some self-reflection, vowing that next time they met, he'd repay Guan Junshan's help double.

Days flew by at double speed. Summer arrived, and Lin Haoda’s work got crazy busy, filled with proposals and materials from morning to night. Even in his sleep, he was budgeting and cutting costs.

His boss remained difficult, but at least he wasn't just picking on Lin Haoda. Gradually, Lin Haoda's life got back into a rhythm, and he wasn't getting sick all the time anymore.

At one point, Guan Junshan reached out to him on WeChat, asking if he had left anything behind in the hotel room. Lin Haoda spent one evening going through his stuff and replied that he hadn’t. Then he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Guan Junshan said it was nothing and was vague, saying the hotel had called about something that might have been left behind.

But it probably wasn’t important.

He didn't stay on the subject long. Right when he was about to log off, Lin Haoda asked him if he would be returning to Hong Kong soon. Lin Haoda mentioned that he had saved up a week of comp time from overtime and had no plans, so he was thinking of revisiting the place.

Guan Junshan didn't answer directly. Instead, he warned Lin Haoda not to travel to Hong Kong in the near future, as typhoons were hitting land one after another, and the weather bureau was raising typhoon warnings every few days.

Lin Haoda took his advice, stayed home, and didn’t go out.

Near the end of his time off, Lin Haoda saw a post on WeChat Moments from Yang Yue, and found out he was with Guan Junshan on a business trip to Shanghai. Yet Guan Junshan hadn’t told him about it.

No way.

Immediately, the debt-ridden Lin Haoda messaged his creditor Guan Junshan, demanding to know why he had come to Shanghai without saying a word. Was he trying to sneak by and blur their debt?

Guan Junshan was probably in a meeting and didn’t reply all afternoon. Fearing it was intentional, Lin Haoda contacted Yang Yue instead.

Yang Yue courteously dismissed Lin Haoda’s worries, explaining that the business trip had been very sudden. Guan Junshan’s schedule was packed—already the most compressed version possible—leaving almost no personal time.

Lin Haoda replied with a simple “Okay,” checked the time, and asked if Guan Junshan even had time for dinner. He decided to go to the hotel to find them.

Yang Yue was typing a response. Lin Haoda watched his phone screen, but before Yang Yue’s reply came, Guan Junshan called him directly.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” The background noise was a bit chaotic. Guan Junshan lowered his voice and walked quickly to a quieter spot. “What are you saying now?”

Lin Haoda put on his shoes as he asked, “Guan, why didn’t you tell me you were coming to Shanghai?”

“Too many things going on.” Guan Junshan held the phone and paused for a moment before saying, “Even if I told you, I wouldn’t have time to see you.”

Lin Haoda was quiet, breathing softly for a while, then asked, “Not even ten minutes?”

Lin Haoda had good professional instincts and was skilled at squeezing concessions out of negotiation partners.

But it wasn’t about ten minutes for Guan Junshan. What he didn’t understand was why Lin Haoda was so insistent on seeing him. So he tried another reason. “Lin Haoda,” he reasoned logically, trying to persuade him, “you live in Hongqiao. I’m in Pudong.”

Lin Haoda was silent for a moment, then let out a reluctant “Oh.”

Guan Junshan thought he had finally given up on meeting. Just as he was about to hang up, Lin Haoda called out to him again, his tone urgent, his breathing labored, as if he were running.

“I’m already out the door,” Lin Haoda announced happily over the phone, his voice pressing against Guan Junshan’s eardrum through the current. “Let’s have dinner together.”

Guan Junshan swore he had never met anyone so stubborn and self-willed in his life.

“Lin Haoda,” Guan Junshan said, his patience wearing thin, lowering his voice in warning. “Go back now. I’m already on my way to the airport.”

“Then I’ll go straight to the airport.” Lin Haoda paused for a second, quick to react. “See you soon, Guan.”

With that, he cunningly hung up first.

Guan Junshan listened to the dial tone, pocketed his phone after a moment. Ignoring the fact that his driver and assistant were still in the car, he scowled and rolled down the window, letting the evening wind blow on his face. Still not cooled down, he told Yang Yue to block Lin Haoda from now on and not to say anything unnecessary to him.

Guan Junshan was right; they were too far apart. The taxi ride from Hongqiao to Pudong passed through countless tunnels and green lights, and the weather even turned from clear to rainy.

Lin Haoda forgot his umbrella. By the time he rushed into the terminal, his shoes were soaked, leaving wet footprints with every step, nearly causing him to slip.

Just like in countless movies, afraid of missing their meeting, Lin Haoda dashed into the crowd, looked around, and found the largest electronic display, which was scrolling through all flight information in chronological order. He spotted Guan Junshan’s flight near the top, noted the gate number, and was about to head inside when his phone buzzed.

Yang Yue called to tell him they were at the coffee shop on the second floor, in the seat farthest on the left.

Guan Junshan was still working on the move. He looked up and saw Lin Haoda appear at the door. He was wearing a loose cotton shirt, the parts that had been rained on stained a dark gray. His jeans were patchy with wet and dry spots. The only thing that remained relatively intact was the canvas bag he clutched, only a corner damp from the rain.

Seeing Guan Junshan, Lin Haoda seemed to exhale with relief. He flashed a smile, walked over, and sat down in the empty seat next to Yang Yue.

“Made it,” he declared with satisfaction, as if showing off to Guan Junshan. “Didn’t I tell you?”

Guan Junshan’s expression was cold. He glanced down at his watch and poured cold water on him: “You have ten minutes. Now you have nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds left.”

Lin Haoda said, “Okay,” as if completely undeterred, even seeming content. “Just meeting is good enough.”

Guan Junshan stared at his face, momentarily speechless. The sarcastic remarks that followed never had a chance to leave his mouth.

Yang Yue went to order a latte for him. Lin Haoda placed his canvas bag on the seat next to him. "This is so last-minute," he said, pulling out a small kraft paper bag, carefully opening one corner to show Guan Junshan, "But I prepared this in advance."

Guan Junshan, his face cold, condescendingly leaned closer and saw some grayish-brown spherical objects, about the size of soybeans, inside the paper bag.

"Magnolia seeds," Lin Haoda said quietly. "Last time in Hong Kong, I didn't pick the best magnolia flowers. Later, I asked the flower supplier, and he said these seeds are easier to grow—they like moisture and can tolerate heat."

He paused slightly, carefully sealed the bag, and then continued, "I hope your mother recovers soon."

"Thank you," Guan Junshan said, accepting the small packet of seeds.

Seeing him accept it, Lin Haoda seemed encouraged. Pressing his advantage, he pulled out another item. Guan Junshan kept watching him, finding it oddly familiar.

Sure enough, Lin Haoda, who was fond of giving small trinkets, never disappointed. Guan Junshan saw him shake his wrist, and a red-braided tassel dangled from his fingers. "Mr. Guan," he offered the item with a beaming smile, "News says you're getting engaged. Wishing you happiness in love."

This time, Guan Junshan didn't intend to take it. He looked somewhat displeased and commented, "Even a street charlatan isn't as convincing as you."

"Left hand a peace charm, right hand a love charm."

Guan Junshan frowned and questioned, "Why are you, so young, obsessed with this superstitious stuff every day?"

Lin Haoda glanced up at him, rubbed his nose, and mumbled in defense, "Not really, Boss Guan."

"Speaking of which, you said you'd knock on an electronic wooden fish for me every day after you came back—" Guan Junshan crossed his arms and asked knowingly, "How's that going? Have you kept it up?"

Lin Haoda wouldn't meet his eyes and mumbled something vague. Just as Guan Junshan was about to launch into a lecture, Yang Yue returned with the latte.

Lin Haoda, as if he'd found a savior, immediately shoved the love charm into his hands. "Assistant Yang, try this! It brings good luck in love!"

Yang Yue smiled and told him, "But I'm already married."

Lin Haoda said "Oh" and quickly corrected himself, "Marriage is great—eternal unity, long-lasting love!"

Guan Junshan watched from across, frowning in annoyance. At that moment, he felt Lin Haoda was still the same: sincere, but not entirely, always trying to bluff his way through and brush him off.

Ten minutes passed quickly, and it was time for Guan Junshan to go through security and board.

Lin Haoda saw them off at the door. Guan Junshan asked him how he would get home.

He had no private driver in Shanghai to assign, nor could he send Lin Haoda home as he had many times before.

Lin Haoda accepted the two-hour subway ride without complaint and told him not to worry. But Guan Junshan was the type who hated trouble and owing favors, so he reiterated to Lin Haoda that if there were a next time, he didn't need to cross the entire city just for a casual meeting.

A waste of time, with no point or reason.

But Lin Haoda thought otherwise.

"How could there be no reason?" He stood under the airport terminal lights, his eyes bright, his smile sincere, the water stains on his clothes drying, as if he weren't the one who had braved the rain and traveled such a long distance to be here.

"If I have ten thousand reasons to meet,"—maybe it was an illusion, but Guan Junshan thought he saw Lin Haoda wink at him—"which one would you like to hear first this time?"

How long had they known each other? How could there be ten thousand reasons to meet?

Guan Junshan stared at the vivid flush on his cheeks, wondering whether this joke was true or false, and thus boarded the night flight.