Chapter 28 – Haven’t Forgotten to Take Medicine

Guessing it was some case-related individual’s boring harassment tactic, Yan Ankuo took a screenshot of the harassing number to report it, then updated the password locks at home, reminding the company to strengthen security recently and advising Yan Fanxuan and the others to avoid coming to his place for a while.

Last night, Yan Ankuo had picked up his mother and sister and brought them to the riverside, letting them spend the New Year at his place before they left. Yan Fanxuan was used to such things, yawning as she asked, “Did you get threatened again?”

“Not really, just a harassing call,” Yan Ankuo replied.

“…” Yan Fanxuan was speechless. “Be careful, you’re almost becoming a high-risk target.”

“I know.”

Yan Ankuo returned to Bian Ji’s message window, staring at his question, pondering for a long time: “[Perhaps the case files are more interesting.] Workaholic.” Bian Ji thought to himself.

Bian Ji didn’t reply after that, nor did Yan Ankuo send any further messages, and the two spent the Spring Festival on opposite sides of the earth.

Bian Ji happened to find a restaurant run by Chinese people near the hotel he was staying at, so he called along colleagues from the same flight and went to the restaurant for a belated New Year’s Eve dinner.

The prices of the dishes at this restaurant were twice as high as in Shanghai, but the taste was surprisingly authentic. After they finished eating, the crowd on the street gradually increased, and the group walked along the Thames for half an hour, leisurely strolling around and entering shops that caught their interest.

They passed by a bespoke store filled with various suits and accessory designs.

Bian Ji paused when he saw the outfit on the mannequin, asking the others, “I want to check out this shop, where should I meet you guys later?”

A few people wanted to go to a nearby bar, so they decided to split up, with Bian Ji and the captain of this flight entering the store together. The captain asked him if he needed to buy suit accessories, and he shook his head, saying he usually didn’t like dressing too formally, he just wanted to get something as a gift.

Bian Ji circled the display window, skillfully asking the owner in English, “Excuse me, do you have this lapel chain in other materials?”

The storekeeper enthusiastically took out a row of chains in different colors of the same style, placing them on the table and saying, “Yes, which one do you need?”

Bian Ji pointed at the pure gold one, “Can I see this one?”

Many of Yan Ankuo’s suits had handcrafted buttonholes, perfect for adding some embellishment.

The lapel decoration Bian Ji chose was a balance intertwined with small snakes, finely crafted, even the scales were barely visible, the chain end was small, stable and low-key, not stealing the show, yet very eye-catching.

The captain only needed one glance to ask, “Your friend isn’t in our circle, right.”

Bian Ji asked him how he knew, and he laughed, saying, “I’ve been thinking about who in our circle would match this thing, but I couldn’t come up with anyone.”

“It’s a lawyer friend, helped me out,” Bian Ji briefly introduced. “Aren’t you buying anything?”

The captain waved his hand, “What would I buy? I’m suffocated enough wearing uniforms every day, who would wear that off-duty!”

Bian Ji then asked the storekeeper to pack it properly, planning to bring it back to Yan Ankuo when he returned to China.

By the time the group took the subway back to the hotel, it was already late at night. Bian Ji knew Yan Ankuo hadn’t woken up yet, so he didn’t dare disturb him, waiting until he estimated it was almost nine o’clock in China before sending a message: “[I’m having New Year’s Eve dinner.]” Accompanied by a photo of a group dining scene, with a flower arrangement placed in the middle of a table full of distinctive Hunan dishes.

Yan Ankuo said, “[The roses look nice.]” Bian Ji said he woke up early, casually asking, “[Do you like flowers?]” Yan Ankuo: “[Is that strange?]” Bian Ji: “[I thought someone with your personality wouldn’t like such ostentatious things.]” Bian Ji was quite mindful when chatting with Yan Ankuo, for example, he knew the other party valued efficiency and disliked idle chatter, so to prevent the conversation from dropping, he deliberately left openings for smooth transitions.

However, Yan Ankuo didn’t follow the opening Bian Ji left by asking “what kind of personality,” instead, somewhat awkwardly changing the subject: “[I haven’t received flowers either, don’t know if I like them.]” Staring at the phone screen first thing in the morning was truly out of character for Yan Ankuo, even Yan Fanxuan couldn’t bear it, raising her voice to ask, “It was you who asked us over, and it’s also you who keeps your head down looking at your phone! Aren’t you going to make dumplings?”

Yan Ankuo stopped waiting for a reply, putting away his phone, “Coming.”

Yan Ankuo’s family had the habit of eating glutinous rice balls during the New Year, since he bought plenty of dough, he might as well make some dumplings as well. Yan Fanxuan actually didn’t know how to make them, purely finding it fun; the dumplings she made either leaked stuffing or broke apart, none of them looked alike.

Yan Ankuo felt a headache coming on, “How about you don’t make them? Leave them there, I’ll do it.”

“Fine, I won’t make them, just as well I’m tired,” Yan Fanxuan complained, “As if you’re any better at making them.”

Yan Ankuo could cook a few simple home-style dishes, but making handmade dumplings was indeed difficult for a salaryman. However, he had a strong grip, at least none of them had leaked stuffing so far. He didn’t argue back, continuing to make another one, placing it on the steaming tray.

At that moment, Yan Ankuo’s phone rang. His hands were covered in flour, making it inconvenient to answer the call, so he instructed his sister, “Press it for me.”

Yan Fanxuan wiped her hands clean and held the phone to his ear.

On the other end was a local express delivery service, asking, “Sir, your flowers have arrived, can you please open the gate?”

Yan Ankuo was puzzled, “Flowers?”

“Yes, sent by a Mr. Bian,” the courier said.

Yan Ankuo’s lips curled up slightly, quickly returning to his usual state, “Understood, come on up.”

After hanging up the phone, Yan Fanxuan asked suspiciously, “Who was it?”

Yan Ankuo said it was “express delivery,” but he had already put down the flour and meat filling to wash his hands in the kitchen and dry them.

Soon, the doorbell rang, and Yan Ankuo quickly walked to the door, nodding his thanks to the delivery person, turning around with a large bouquet of roses in his hands.

Yan Fanxuan stared in amazement, “Who sent these flowers? So big!”

Yan Ankuo replied vaguely, “A friend.”

Yan Fanxuan didn’t believe him, “A friend would send… roses to a grown man during the Spring Festival?”

Yan Ankuo didn’t explain further, “Who says they can’t?”

Yan Fanxuan: “…Alright, alright.”

Yan Ankuo went into the bedroom alone, placing the flowers on the coffee table, adjusting the lighting angle, taking a photo to send to Bian Ji.

Yan Ankuo: “[Thanks, red is festive. Happy New Year.]” Bian Ji: “[Received it so soon? Still, domestic logistics are fast.]” Yan Ankuo: “[How did you know my address?]” Bian Ji: “[Didn’t I take you home once?]” Yan Ankuo countered: “[Just remembered it?]” Bian Ji modestly: “[Happened to have a good memory.]” Yan Ankuo teased, “[With such a good memory, how could you forget to take your medicine.]” Reminded of this, Bian Ji suddenly realized he had indeed forgotten to take it, hurriedly getting up to find the medicine box, pouring a cup of hot water, guiltily saying, “[Didn’t forget!]” Yan Ankuo: “[Don’t believe it.]” Bian Ji had no choice but to turn on the overhead light, taking a photo of himself taking the medicine: “[Really didn’t forget, look, I’m taking it!]” Since he was in a hotel, the down comforter was very warm, so Bian Ji only wore a silk pajama top.

The camera “accidentally” captured the slim ankle under the sleep pants, as well as the barely visible collarbone below the unbuttoned shirt.

The wrist bone reddened by the heat also appeared in the corner of the photo, the fingers long and looking a bit wet.

Yan Ankuo zoomed in on the photo, carefully savoring the damp fingertips and ankle, then zoomed out to carefully examine the flushed collarbone, repeating this three times before seemingly calmly saying, “[Understood.]” Bian Ji didn’t return to Shanghai until the eighth day of the New Year, but he didn’t immediately seek out Yan Ankuo, first paying respects to friends with whom he had a good relationship, then checking with Qiao Yuan about the recent case progress.

Qiao Yuan told him the trial wasn’t until next month, so he calculated the time for half a day, barely confirming that his flight schedule would be clear on that day.

Yan Ankuo also had relatives and friends to visit, so the two didn’t meet until the holiday ended.

Right after the Lantern Festival, Yan Ankuo drove to pick up Bian Ji, dressed in a dark gray herringbone wool overcoat and Oxford shoes, standing by the car waiting for him.

Bian Ji came out of the elevator and said to him, “Why didn’t you wait inside the car?”

“Was afraid you wouldn’t see me,” Yan Ankuo opened the car door, naturally arranging the passenger seat for him.

After Bian Ji sat down, he smiled at the person who circled around the car body to enter the driver’s seat, “Your car… hard to miss.”

Yan Ankuo chuckled, pointing at the exquisite gift bag in his hand, “What’s in your hand?”

“Oh, a gift I bought for you in England,” Bian Ji handed the bag to Yan Ankuo, “Better late than never, Happy New Year.”

“I came empty-handed, makes me seem very inconsiderate,” Yan Ankuo joked.

Bian Ji laughed and said, “Then treat me to a meal, forget the gift.”

“Sure, where do you want to go?” Yan Ankuo asked.

“Up to Daddy Yan,” Bian Ji had just flown four long segments and was too tired, rarely not playing the reliable host, but rather capriciously tossing the problem to Yan Ankuo, leaning back in the seat to rest his eyes, “I want to take a nap first.”

Yan Ankuo adjusted the sun visor for him, “Okay, I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”