Chapter 38 – What’s Your Relationship with That Flight Attendant?

After two weeks in the hospital, Yan Ankuo delivered two meals a day to the ward, covering the medical expenses along with car repair costs. Bian Ji didn’t refuse his kindness, accepting everything, only promising to return the favor by treating him to several meals once he recovered. Yan Ankuo didn’t decline, tacitly agreeing to this opportunity for more contact.

It turned out repairing the car was more challenging than healing a person, for even after Bian Ji was discharged, his car was still getting repainted.

Yan Ankuo’s arm wound had long since scabbed over and fallen off, so his capable duties shifted from delivering meals to chauffeuring. Whenever Bian Ji needed transportation within the city, Yan Ankuo was there to fulfill his requests.

At first, it was fine, but over time, Bian Ji felt increasingly embarrassed. A minor leg injury didn’t warrant such a significant debt of gratitude.

“It’s really not necessary for you to pick me up and drop me off every day,” Bian Ji tried to persuade him earnestly. “The perpetrator has already been arrested, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“That won’t do,” Yan Ankuo insisted stubbornly. “I’m going to keep doing it.”

Bian Ji was at a loss for words, “Are you this free lately?”

Yan Ankuo nodded firmly, “Even if I’m not, I will make time.”

Bian Ji couldn’t argue with such a skilled debater, so he relented, saying, “Alright then, once my car is fixed, I’ll take over and start picking you up.”

Yan Ankuo suddenly burst out laughing.

Confused, Bian Ji asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Yan Ankuo sobered up, looking serious. “I’m laughing at how stubborn you are.”

“I can’t help it,” Bian Ji said, looking defeated yet helpless. “Some people are just too hard to chase.”

“Is that so?” Yan Ankuo looked at him with a hint of amusement. “I think I’m alright.”

True to his word, Bian Ji immediately picked up Yan Ankuo from work in his newly repaired car the moment the dealership called.

Seeing the Tesla from afar, Yan Ankuo’s lips curved slightly before dropping again. He walked forward with a cold expression, asking, “Why did you drive over here?”

“I promised I’d pick you up,” Bian Ji explained. “My car is fixed now.”

“Get out,” Yan Ankuo said, leaving Bian Ji perplexed.

“What for?”

“Go sit in the passenger seat,” Yan Ankuo pointed at his foot, robbing the former patient of his driver’s rights. “I’ll drive.”

Bian Ji shook his head with a smile, “No need, my foot doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Yan Ankuo wouldn’t let up, “Then why aren’t you working?”

Bian Ji said, amused and exasperated, “My boss isn’t as ruthless as you! Can’t I take a few days off? I’ve been on sick leave for so long, it would be a shame not to use it all!”

Yan Ankuo chuckled, “Looks like Chief Attendant Bian doesn’t have to worry about flight hours.”

Flight attendants’ salaries were partly determined by their flight hours, which is why many preferred international routes. Bian Ji waved his hand, saying, “I’ve been working for over ten years; I’ve let go of those concerns. Health is more important.”

Yan Ankuo agreed wholeheartedly, sitting in the driver’s seat and effortlessly finding the ignition button. He nodded at Bian Ji to confirm that his seatbelt was fastened.

Bian Ji was surprised, “Do you know how to drive my car?”

Despite needing help adjusting the seat last time, Yan Ankuo now handled the car like an expert, remaining calm. “I watched you drive a few times and learned a bit.”

Bian Ji settled into his seat, somewhat doubtful. “Attorney Yan always learns things quickly.”

This was a playful jab at his previous skiing incident, which Yan Ankuo understood but didn’t respond to. Instead, he focused on driving. As they approached a traffic light, he slowed down and mentioned Ms. Wu’s ex-husband, noting that Professor Wen was handling the case. His experience meant there was no need to worry.

Bian Ji wasn’t concerned, but he didn’t understand how he ended up being driven around despite initially planning to pick up Yan Ankuo.

Yan Ankuo dropped Bian Ji off at home, warning him to avoid driving for a while. Despite Bian Ji’s repeated assurances that his leg was fully healed, his words lacked persuasiveness.

Due to this detour, Yan Ankuo returned home later than usual, finishing his shower by almost ten o’clock. Before sleeping, he made a video call to Bian Ji, asking how his leg was feeling after climbing the stairs. Satisfied with the answer, he finally went to bed.

Switching back to the messaging interface, he noticed an unread message from an unknown number sent an hour ago: [I heard you have a case to prosecute?] Yan Ankuo stared at the courthouse avatar for a while before realizing whose number it could be. However, he didn’t reply immediately, first asking, “Who is this?”, and upon receiving the response “Lin Yu”, he replied: [Yes.] After their breakup, Lin Yu deleted each other from WeChat. They had little professional interaction and no personal life overlap, so there was no need to save phone numbers.

It was clear who leaked information about the case, but Yan Ankuo wasn’t upset. Professor Wen was unaware of their relationship, and it was normal for brothers-in-law to discuss old friends.

Lin Yu continued: [Was anyone hurt?] Yan Ankuo answered truthfully: [A friend of mine.] Lin Yu quickly replied: [The one in the car today?] After a pause, possibly realizing his reaction was inappropriate, he added: [I was handling business at BFC today and saw you in the parking lot.] Yan Ankuo didn’t understand the psychology behind someone who broke up with him a long time ago bringing this up. His response was neither particularly polite nor friendly, laced with a hint of sarcasm: [I thought Wanhangdu had nothing to do with BFC.] Clearly flustered, Lin Yu took longer to reply: [That’s true, but if you need help, feel free to ask.] Yan Ankuo politely declined the latter half: [Thank you, Lawyer Lin, you can focus on your own affairs. I can handle everything on my end.] Lin Yu said: [Okay, stay safe, goodbye.] Yan Ankuo found the word “goodbye” somewhat grating, choosing not to respond.

Yan Ankuo had an unusual interpretation of the term “goodbye.” He rarely said it, always telling Bian Ji “See you tomorrow” or “See you next time” due to a sincere hope that they would indeed meet again.

Therefore, for those he didn’t wish to see, he didn’t waste such thoughts.

Little did he know that sometimes fate works in unpredictable ways, ignoring expectations.

Within a month, Yan Ankuo received a call from Professor Wen, saying that the law school anniversary was coming up, and alumni were invited back to campus for events.

Professor Wen was leading this alumni gathering, and Yan Ankuo’s undergraduate mentor and lecturers would be attending. Most alumni planned to come, including partners and even directors from top-tier law firms.

In such settings, besides reconnecting with fellow alumni, consolidating social resources was crucial. Yan Ankuo had no reason not to attend.

The gathering was held at a well-known hotel off-campus, with ten tables booked in the lobby and a large electronic screen stage for activities.

Yan Ankuo wasn’t one to seek the limelight, but as an adult, he did things that didn’t align with his personality. In such situations, he would naturally sit beside his mentor and chat with old classmates about recent cases, Shanghai’s educational resources, the A-share market trends, and topics that didn’t interest him.

At these moments, he would think of Bian Ji, recalling the casual gathering at Shikumen unrelated to work or networking.

After three rounds of drinks, the mentor announced his departure, prompting several old classmates to stand up to see him off. Yan Ankuo joined them, watching the teacher descend the stairs before returning to the hall.

As he turned around, Lin Yu appeared beside him, looking at him and asking, “Professor Kong left?”

“Yes, he just went downstairs,” Yan Ankuo replied coolly, not elaborating, and bypassed Lin Yu, heading straight for his seat.

Lin Yu turned and caught up, asking as they walked, “How’s the progress on the car accident case?”

Yan Ankuo paused, “For that, it’s better to ask Senior Brother Wen.”

Lin Yu was momentarily speechless, but fortunately, a few people approached to exchange pleasantries, interrupting their conversation.

The former class president patted Yan Ankuo on the shoulder, saying he was also ready to go home. Lin Yu stepped aside, pretending nothing happened, and asked, “Leaving so early?”

The president nodded, “Can’t be helped, my child is about to sleep. You guys carry on.”

“How old is your child now?”

“Almost six, birthday next month.”

“Time flies, she was barely over a year when I last saw her.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Yu put away his smile and turned to Yan Ankuo, saying, “Don’t you think this kind of occasion is actually quite meaningless?”

Yan Ankuo glanced at him without a word, walked out of the hall, and leaned against the railing on the balcony.

Lin Yu followed quietly, paused for a moment, lit a cigarette, and joined him, staring into the distance.

“It’s been three years,” Lin Yu suddenly said. “I haven’t properly spoken to you.”

Yan Ankuo smiled faintly, not speaking.

“I was pretty damn awful,” Lin Yu held the cigarette between his fingers, his jawline starkly defined by the side profile. “Back then, I kept saying that you had too much control, wanting to take the lead in everything, suffocating me. Over time, I couldn’t tell if we still had feelings for each other.”

Yan Ankuo stopped smiling, unwilling to maintain even a courteous expression, and asked coldly, “Lawyer Lin came up here just to settle old scores?”

“Not settling old scores, I’m apologizing to you,” Lin Yu wore a white suit today, his eyes unusually gentle, a stark contrast to the proud and sharp-tongued lawyer on TV. “I know the words I said before our breakup had a significant impact on you, as well as on me. These three years, I’ve avoided seeing you, reflecting on what my feelings for you were back then.”

Yan Ankuo looked down, fiddling with the lapel chain on his chest.

It was a gift from Bian Ji.

“In fact, it doesn’t matter anymore,” Yan Ankuo twirled the chain between his fingers, half-focused. “Whether love, gratitude, or the suspension bridge effect, none of it matters to us now. Let’s look forward, Lin Yu.”

Lin Yu’s eyes seemed red, but if the lighting hadn’t been so good, Yan Ankuo might have thought he was imagining it.

To hide something, Lin Yu lowered his head, flicking off some ash. “What’s your relationship with that flight attendant now?”

Yan Ankuo frowned, clenching his fist in his pocket, asking, “We haven’t spoken for three years, and you’re prying into my private life right away. Isn’t that inappropriate?”

His words left no room for tact, making Lin Yu uncomfortable. He was somewhat awkward, holding the cigarette, exhaling a small circle of smoke. “Yes, I know, I owe you a lot.”

Yan Ankuo shook his head, “There’s no question of owing anything.”

Not allowing him to even say “owe” meant they were worse than strangers.

Realizing this day wouldn’t allow for further conversation, Lin Yu bitterly extinguished his cigarette butt and left.

Watching Lin Yu’s retreating back, Yan Ankuo rubbed his fingertips and sighed deeply.

The lapel chain reflected a beautiful halo under the light, casting golden spots on the wall. Yan Ankuo reached out to touch the dancing specks of light, suddenly feeling a bit dizzy.

He opened his Moments and snapped a photo of the distant landmark, captioning it: [Alumni Gathering.]

Soon, Bian Ji’s message arrived: [Drinking?]

Yan Ankuo gave a “predictably so” smile, truthfully replying: [Just finished drinking.]

Bian Ji asked: [Drunk?]

Yan Ankuo, looking at the chauffeur app he had just opened, laughed and said: [A little.]

Bian Ji understood and quickly said: [I’ll come pick you up then.]

Yan Ankuo didn’t refuse, sending his location directly.

He repeated his instructions: [Alright, but don’t drive.]

Bian Ji, unable to type fast enough, sent a voice message: “My leg has been fine for ages, I had no issues during my workout this afternoon, so driving is definitely no problem!”

Yan Ankuo firmly rejected: [If you’re driving, don’t come over.]

Bian Ji: […then I won’t drive, I’m taking a taxi now /embarrassed.jpg ]