The performance ended with cheers from the audience, and Zhou Jun felt a sense of satisfaction. He was also full. In response to his earlier comment about needing more practice, he was given peanuts and sweet cakes, as if they might even pour tea directly into his mouth. Yet, the man did all of this without a single kind word or any warmth; it felt more like a task than a gesture of care, and Zhou Jun had no choice but to eat.

As he continued eating, it went from being enjoyable to a struggle. He tightly shut his mouth and turned his head, his eyes clearly expressing that he didn’t want to eat and didn’t want to be fed. Amid the pushing and shoving, Mu Liqing changed into a plain robe and stood at the door of their box, softly talking to the deputy officer. Yong Jin withdrew his hand and called for him to come in.

He called for Deputy Chen to come in as well and instructed, “Take Mr. Zhou back.” Deputy Chen politely came to escort him. Zhou Jun stood up, barely sparing Mu Liqing a glance, and walked out. As they brushed past each other, a faint floral scent lingered in the air from Mu Liqing. Along with it, there was another scent that Zhou Jun caught.

He didn’t want to ride in Deputy Chen’s car and politely stated that he was heading somewhere else. Deputy Chen bowed his head and said, “Please, Mr. Zhou, don’t make this difficult for me.” No matter what was said, the conversation kept going in circles. Zhou Jun swallowed his frustration, realizing that Deputy Chen probably didn’t think much of him either. After all, no matter what was said, Yong Jin was his superior, the one whose words truly carried weight.

Sitting in the car, he recalled the scent on Mu Liqing. It felt somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t place it at the moment.

The rain had stopped, and people started filling the streets again. Bicycles jingled by the window. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, spreading its rays generously everywhere. It was hard to believe that just half an hour ago, the sky had been dark and gloomy like a dirty rag.

Children came out to play, one with two braids, holding a string of grasshoppers, her cheeks flushed from running. Nearby, an old woman with bound feet sat sunbathing, watching her obedient grandson. Her feet were so small, too small—no bigger than a child’s. Beneath her swollen ankles were tiny triangles, decorated with beautifully embroidered flowers.

Rules were rules, and there were rules everywhere. Even the Zhou family had countless rules. He didn’t want to go home, but he had been summoned. Earlier today, before he left, his older brother, who rarely called him, had called. His brother was a man of rules, and his words were always proper. He didn’t say a single harsh word, but the hidden meaning in his tone pierced Zhou Jun all the same.

So, he got in the car and asked Deputy Chen to stop by the foreign goods store so he could buy a few things. With bags and boxes in hand, he asked Chen to drive to the Zhou family home. When the car stopped, Zhou Jun pulled out a pack of German cigarettes from his haul, offering it to Deputy Chen as a sign of respect. Chen didn’t refuse and accepted it. After thinking for a moment, he added, almost as if it were a return favor, “The Major General will probably come to see you again.”

Zhou Jun almost laughed out loud; he didn’t care about this matter. So many people longed for Major General Yong to seek them out, wishing that they could occupy his heart. But what did that have to do with him? He wasn’t lacking in money, nor in women. The only thing he could care about was feelings, and that was something he didn’t have—and neither, he was sure, did Yong Jin.

But such things couldn’t be said out loud, so he descended from the car with a subtle smile. His mother was the Zhou patriarch’s favorite youngest daughter, and his elder brother was the eldest legitimate heir of his maternal uncle. After entering the Zhou household, Zhou Jun exchanged a few words with his uncle and aunt, then began distributing the gifts. He hadn’t forgotten anyone’s preferences—whether young or old, everything suited them perfectly.

Once everyone was happily entertained, Zhou Jun was called to the study by his elder brother’s assistant. As soon as he entered, he noticed a lingering scent in the room. Zhou Jun sniffed and finally recognized what it was: the smell of tobacco, reminiscent of both Mu Liqing and his elder brother.

His elder brother sat behind the desk, his face pale and thin, with a pair of eyes strikingly similar to Zhou Jun’s. The room wasn’t very bright, with only a small window open. Zhou Jun noticed his brother’s hand resting on a ledger, the bluish veins prominent on the back of his hand, and a green jade ring sitting on his finger, making his bones appear even more pronounced, as if he had lost a bit more weight.

Zhou Jun had always felt a mix of desire for closeness and fear towards his elder brother, so he stood a short distance from the door, ready to bolt at any moment, and cautiously called out, “brother.” Zhou Yan, the eldest of the Zhou family, responded slowly with a hum. His fingers traced the rim of a teacup, leisurely wiping it.

The scent in the room seemed to grow stronger, likely because the window hadn’t allowed it to dissipate. On the desk, in addition to the tall stack of ledgers, there were various items: a sand timer, an exquisite copper box, matches, and an unlit oil lamp. His brother’s belongings used to be neat and organized, but now they appeared increasingly chaotic.

He looked at the copper box, thinking that it probably contained opium. When did his elder brother start indulging in it? Lost in thought, Zhou Jun didn’t respond immediately when his brother asked him a question. Suddenly, the teacup fell, startling Zhou Jun. Zhou Yan’s tone didn’t change much; he simply said calmly, “Recently, you seem to have gotten close to the person from the Yong family.”

Zhou Jun glanced at the porcelain shards on the floor. “It’s alright,” he replied. Zhou Yan chuckled softly, a strange note in his voice. “You really have a knack for getting close to all sorts of people.” Zhou Jun blinked. “I wouldn’t say we’re that close; we’ve just met a few times.”

Zhou Yan started to cough; his voice sounded quite weak. Zhou Jun couldn’t help but step forward, but Zhou Yan stopped him sharply. The porcelain shards on the ground felt like a strict boundary, forbidding him to approach even half a step. So, from across that line, Zhou Jun softened his tone. “Brother, it’s best if you avoid the opium. It’s not good for your health.”

Zhou Yan stood up from the chair, his frame not large, with delicate and bony lines. The robe hung loosely on him, not indicative of healthy thinness. Zhou Yan, showing a hint of impatience, warned, “Stay away from that kid from the Yong family; you’re no match for him.”

Zhou Jun let out a breath and considered his words: “If it’s him who comes…” Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, his expression turning angry. “You think you can avoid it? Those entanglements of yours—didn’t you always manage to shake them off cleanly? Now you feel like you can’t handle it?”

“Yong Jin, he…” Zhou Jun’s words were cut off again by Zhou Yan. “Your relationship is so good that you’re using his full name?” Zhou Jun replied helplessly, “Brother, you know that’s not what I meant.”

The two brothers fell silent for a long time. Zhou Yan slowly sat back down in his chair, resting his forehead as if he had a headache. “You never want to deal with these family matters. I don’t expect you to have much ability, but please don’t add to my troubles.”

“If you really can’t avoid it, then go back abroad. Stay away from the Yong family.”

Zhou Jun thought for a moment and said, “My relationship with him isn’t like that.” Zhou Yan flipped through the account book in his hand, seemingly disinterested in dealing with him. “Just because you slept with a woman, do you really think that the person from the Yong family is so free as to be fixated on you?”

Feeling an unusual frustration, Zhou Jun replied for once, “In fact, he doesn’t seem very busy either.”

These words made his brother look up from the account book and focus on him again. Zhou Yan looked at him like he was a stubborn and ungrateful child who would never change, thinking that Zhou Jun was hopeless. So, Zhou Yan raised his hand and told him to leave. He didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

Zhou Jun lowered his eyelids, feeling that returning this time was just to get scolded, and he hadn’t gained anything good from it. Clearly, these words could have been said over the phone; why make him come back? Was it because saying it face-to-face felt more intimidating?

He was about to quietly leave and close the door when Zhou Yan spoke again, “Stay for dinner tonight. Your sister-in-law heard you were coming and specially made ginseng soup.” After saying that, he awkwardly added, “You know I don’t like that stuff. Finish it all before you go back.”