After singing in the bar for a month, Liang Zhen earned a total of more than six thousand yuan. After deducting a month’s rent and utility bills, he wasn’t sure if the remaining money would be enough to shoot a music video, but it was more than enough to produce better versions of his previously recorded songs. He was also efficient; before Jewish could make time, he not only revisited his old songs in the recording studio but also produced three new tracks. One of them included the four-line hook he sang at Shao Mingyin’s house on New Year’s Eve. The theme of the added verse was about his musical dreams and hopes for his future. Liang Zhen had always worked with the same recording engineer, who, after producing that song, remarked that he had worked with many rappers on numerous tracks, but had never encountered a song like “Crossing Mountains and Rivers For You.” Especially the four-line hook, which was so gentle it was like a drop of water falling on a saturated sponge.

After recording “Crossing Mountains and Rivers For You,” Liang Zhen didn’t upload it. Instead, he planned to include it in his digital album, so he only let Shao Mingyin listen to it. Shao Mingyin just kept smiling while listening, not saying a word, just happily smiling. After Liang Zhen pestered him for a long time, he finally managed to give an evaluation, saying that it made his heart feel warm.

Shao Mingyin asked Liang Zhen when he would release the album. Liang Zhen said they had to wait a bit for Jewish, as he hoped the songs they collaborated on would also be included in the album. He and Jewish had been in contact, and the beat was already decided. As for the theme, he and Jewish were in perfect agreement. There was no need for him to mention it explicitly; the song “The Collapse of Jiangnan Leather Factory in Wenzhou, Zhejiang” had always been a pain point for Jewish, a Wenzhou artist. He hoped that the song representing Wenzhou would be more “artistic.” Every song he made was aimed at changing people’s perception of Wenzhou, so they wouldn’t just think of the Jiangnan Leather Factory when Wenzhou was mentioned.

Jewish’s need coincided with Liang Zhen’s idea to a large extent. Liang Zhen had always known that Wenzhou had a large number of immigrants, but before he lived in Mushan Street, he, a young man living in a duplex in Zhongrui Manhattan, and his friends who lived in Lucheng Plaza, didn’t have a direct sense of this “largeness.” However, after being with Shao Mingyin, Liang Zhen had wandered into the police station more than once, charming female colleagues like Zhang jie with his words. Whenever something in the street required Shao Mingyin to go on patrol, Liang Zhen would give the female colleagues a look, and they would all say, “Xiao Shao, take Liang Zhen with you, maybe he can help.”

What could Shao Mingyin do? He could only let Liang Zhen sit in the back and take him along. Liang Zhen initially just wanted to spend more time with Shao Mingyin, but after going on patrols multiple times, he also got to see a lot of real-life situations, from trivial neighborhood quarrels to factory owners running away, leaving workers with no way to seek justice. This was a Wenzhou he hadn’t encountered in the first two years of his studies, but it was the real Wenzhou.

Liang Zhen was also an outsider in Wenzhou. A true portrayal of Wenzhou wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the people from all over the country who had come here. If Jewish’s lyrics were written from the perspective of a native, then Liang Zhen’s part would be about an outsider’s view and the lives of all the immigrants in Wenzhou.

Everything was progressing smoothly. After finalizing the theme, both of them quickly wrote their lyrics. However, one major challenge remained: what should the chorus be? Liang Zhen wrote a few lines, but Jewish found them unsuitable. When the pen was handed to Jewish, he couldn’t come up with anything satisfactory either. The chorus of a rap song carries as much weight and emotion as the lyrics. After several days of deliberation without finding the perfect hook, Liang Zhen jokingly suggested they remix the sentimental version of “The Collapse of Jiangnan Leather Factory in Wenzhou, Zhejiang.”

“Ge, let me tell you,” Liang Zhen said without needing to think, “I think this is an age of entertainment to death, an era where genuine artistic gems are overshadowed by brainwashing trash songs that shine the brightest. Let’s be absurd for once, remix Jiangnan Leather Factory.”

“Remix Jiangnan Leather Factory?” Jewish was confused. “That would turn it into a comedy rap.”

“Doesn’t that mean our song has reached a higher realm? Great comedies make people laugh and cry,” Liang Zhen continued, “let’s create a comedy that reveals the tragedy within.”

“Uh…”

Jewish didn’t argue back. Liang Zhen, afraid that he would get too wrapped up in the idea, quickly added, “I’m just kidding. We can’t actually remix Jiangnan Leather Factory. Let’s keep thinking; the right idea will come to us.” Then they scheduled a time to go to the recording studio. After parting ways, since Liang Zhen was about to take the bus, Jewish offered to give him a ride since it was almost six o’clock.

Liang Zhen didn’t refuse and told Jewish the address of the Mushan Street police station. On the way, Jewish wanted to ask several times about the person driving the police car that day, but seeing Liang Zhen didn’t bring it up, he felt embarrassed to ask. When they arrived, Liang Zhen thanked him and walked into the station. Watching his back, Jewish thought to himself how great it was to be young.

Inside the station, Liang Zhen was familiar with the place and went straight to Shao Mingyin’s office, where several female officers were present. Apart from Zhang jie, the others were of an age to have children. When they saw Liang Zhen, they greeted him warmly, as if they had watched him grow up.

“Liang Zhen, here to see Xiao Shao again?”  Zhao jie glanced at Shao Mingyin, who was tidying up his desk. “You don’t need to stay long today; Xiao Shao isn’t on night duty tonight. He can go home soon.”

“That’s great,” Liang Zhen said as he found a chair to sit on. “Zhao jie, you don’t know, Officer Shao is really dedicated to serving the people. He loves his job so much that his partner has complained to me several times, saying the night shifts not only reduce their contact but also harm Officer Shao’s health.”

“Oh…” Zhao jie listened, genuinely concerned. “I understand,” she said quietly to Liang Zhen, “next time I’ll pay more attention to the schedule. If it gets worse, I’ll arrange Xiao Shao’s night shifts during weekdays. You said his partner is a student, right? I’ll make sure Xiao Shao gets home early on weekends so they can have video calls or something.”

“Zhao jie, you are wonderful!” Liang Zhen shook her hand. “I’ll thank you on his partner’s behalf!”

“You’re welcome,” Zhao jie smiled, “I’m just waiting for the wedding to give them a big red envelope!”

“Ahem…” Shao Mingyin, overwhelmed with embarrassment, couldn’t listen any longer. Pretending to cough, he escaped from the office. As soon as he left, Liang Zhen said he needed to use the bathroom and followed him, locking the door behind them once inside.

“Get out.” Shao Mingyin scolded Liang Zhen in a low voice, reaching for the lock as he was about to unbuckle his belt. Liang Zhen wasn’t about to obey easily. Grabbing his arm, he pushed him against the cubicle. The sound was not light, and just as Shao Mingyin was about to lose his temper, Liang Zhen placed a finger on his lips, making a shushing gesture.

“I checked, there’s no one else in here,” Liang Zhen said, leaning closer, trying to part Shao Mingyin’s legs with his knee. Shao Mingyin tried to push him away, but Liang Zhen seized the opportunity to pin his wrists above his head against the cubicle.

“Liang Zhen! Do you really think I won’t act against you?” Shao Mingyin’s voice was still low. Rather than anger, his reaction was more like embarrassment. When Liang Zhen kissed him, he turned his head away in refusal, indicating Liang Zhen shouldn’t mess around here.

“I want to do it here!” Liang Zhen said, pressing himself against Shao Mingyin.

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time,” he said, tugging at Shao Mingyin’s police uniform, his fingers brushing against the warm, smooth skin below his collarbone, “I’ve always wanted to do this to you, wearing this…”

“Stop it!” Shao Mingyin finally broke free. Before his ears could turn red, he pushed Liang Zhen away. Staying any longer in the same stall, who knew what absurd thing Liang Zhen might do. Abandoning his bathroom break, he straightened his clothes and left the stall directly.

It was the first time Liang Zhen saw Shao Mingyin so resistant. Standing in the cubicle, he reflected on Shao Mingyin’s reaction and found it quite adorable. He followed Shao Mingyin out the door, only to find him still standing by the sink, facing away from the entrance and not moving.

“What’s wrong?” The cubicle door opened outward, obstructing Liang Zhen’s view. Thinking Shao Mingyin was waiting for him, he stepped forward and hugged him. Shao Mingyin staggered, hitting Liang Zhen’s arm hard, and the stern “Stop messing around” was genuinely angry.

Liang Zhen quickly withdrew his hand and stood properly next to Shao Mingyin. When he looked toward the door, he instantly froze, his heart leaping into his throat.

Shao Mingyin was also panicking, fumbling to straighten his clothes. Baogang, the head of the police station, was standing at the door, having seen the two emerge from the same cubicle. Shao Mingyin came out looking disheveled. Although Baogang was nearing retirement, he wasn’t out of touch with the times. A little imagination would suffice to guess what they had been doing in the cubicle.

“Chief…” Liang Zhen had been to the station many times and naturally knew Baogang. “It’s not what you think, Chief, I—”

“What do you mean it’s not what I think? What do you think I’m thinking?” Baogang pointed at him.

“I, you…” Liang Zhen swallowed hard, uncharacteristically at a loss for words, unsure how to explain. He deeply regretted his earlier impulsiveness and feared that the chief would now look down on Shao Mingyin and create difficulties for his future work.

While Liang Zhen was anxiously fretting, Baogang, still pointing at him, ignored him and asked Shao Mingyin, “Is it really him?”

Shao Mingyin pressed his lips together, said nothing, and simply nodded.

Seeing Shao Mingyin’s response, Baogang stepped into the room from the doorway, saying, “I was wondering where your significant other came from. I thought you were into girls now, but it turns out it was just a cover.”

Hearing this, Liang Zhen felt a sudden sense of relief. It turned out the director already knew about Shao Mingyin’s sexual orientation, which made him an ally.

Baogang pointed at Liang Zhen again and asked Shao Mingyin once more, “Is it really him?”

Shao Mingyin responded affirmatively, and Liang Zhen nodded too, just about to smile when Baogang let out a heavy sigh, stomped his foot, and looked at Shao Mingyin with an unmistakable expression of frustration.

“Can this guy be reliable?!” Baogang exclaimed in frustration. “I don’t approve!”