The Decade of Deep Love

Translator: Claire.KK

“You don’t have to take off your shoes, just come in. Zekun Li is going to mop the floor just in a moment.”

The boy spoke with a little slur, a very thick Beijing accent, sounded concise and exuberant. He didn’t sound ill if you didn’t look at his pale face.

Wenxu Jiang thanked him. But Wenxu Jiang didn’t see the man he came here to see, so he asked: “Is Mr. Li busy?”

“I’ll check him on. He’s probably watching the soup in the kitchen.”

The boy was gone for a minute, then Zekun Li came out with a cup of tea in his hand.

“Mr. Li.” Wenxu Jiang reached out to shake hands with Li. Zekun Li ignored his hand and handed him the cup of tea. “Please sit and have some hot tea. Xia just made it for you.”

Maybe because he was home, Zekun Li didn’t seem that difficult to get along with. Zekun Li was still too young to show a lot decisiveness rather than capriciousness.

They sat on the couch together. The TV was on, playing “Tom and Jerry.” The sound from the show was very loud.

Zekun Li was a little embarrassed. He picked up the remote and pressed pause. “Xia loves it. He must have watched it for a dozen times. It made me have goosebumps whenever I hear the sound of the lion roaring at the beginning of the show.”

Wenxu Jiang laughed a little: “Young boys are all like that. But it is rare to love old cartoons more than video games.”

For a moment there was a very gentle look and a hint of smile in Zekun Li’s eyes: “It’s not that he doesn’t like video games, but he’s just so dumb. No matter how hard I teach him, he could not learn. Watching him play link games or Tetris will upset me. I’d rather let him watch ‘Tom and jerry’.”

Wenxu Jiang smiled in agreement. But his heart was sinking.

“You came to me just to thank me?” Zekun Li remembered the business between them. He was going to make lunch after Wenxu Jiang left.

Wenxu Jiang didn’t give a straight answer and talked about something else: “The boy you are keeping, is he getting better? He hasn’t had the bone marrow transplant surgery yet, has he?” He felt a little fortunate when he saw Xia Cheng earlier. It meant he hadn’t used the bone marrow yet.

Zekun Li’s face went a little dim. He hated the using of the word “keep” when someone talked about him and Xia. The sound of the word could make his stomach turn.

“He is unwell for the last couple of days. He is taking medication to maintain his health. The surgery is in next week.” Zekun Li lost his interest to talk to Wenxu Jiang, “It’s noon already. I won’t keep you for lunch.”

Wenxu Jiang was feeling out the situation. Zekun Li’s blunt impatience did not iritate him: “Now that I have come here, I must make things clear.”

“Did you know I have a loved one who’s been with me for 15 years?” Wenxu Jiang was looking down on the tea leaves floating up and down in the teacup.

Zekun Li would never respect people who made him lose his patience. He crossed his long legs and sneered: “Um…I remember vaguely. I think I have seen him with you one time. He looked not bad. That little thing has already been with you for 15 years? He maintained himself well to look that young.”

Wenxu Jiang’s face changed for a while. He knew the person Zekun Li was talking about is Zui Shen. 𝐟𝓇ℯ𝐞𝚠𝚎𝒃𝑛𝒐ѵe𝚕.co𝚖

Zekun Li saw his embarrassment and sneered more: “I’m wrong? It’s not the boy I’m talking about? My bad.”

Wenxu Jiang smiled and didn’t give a straight answer: “You know, Mr. Li. When you go out to engage in social activities and entertainments, who is willing to bring the person he really loves to kiss ass and drink for him? I’ve seen you a couple of times before, it’s not the boy here who’s accompanied you, right?”

“Xia!” Zekun Li didn’t answer Jiang; instead, he called for the person who was in the kitchen, “Turn off the stove. Go change on second floor and wait for me. I’ll take you out to eat in a moment.”

Watching Xia Cheng go upstairs, Zekun Li turned cold completely: “Wenxu Jiang. What are you came here to talk about exactly?”

“My love’s surname is He.” Wenxu Jiang didn’t answer Zekun Li’s question directly. It was almost like he was talking to himself, “He has leukemia. Recently he has been treated by Dr. Ai at General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.” Zekun Li only raised his eyebrows after hearing the familiar name of the condition. His words were not from the bottom of his heart.

“His doctor found him matching bone marrow. But now it’s gone.” Wenxu Jiang’s voice quivered a little, even though he tried so hard to control himself not to.

Zekun Li frowned already. He had a hunch about this.

“The bone marrow your boy got, is not originally for him, right? You know how you snatched it.”

“I don’t have to snatch the things I want.” Zekun Li sneered in scorn, “I got it; it’s mine. What can you do about it? Everyone has his own fate. Your boy is unfortunate. Who’s to blame?”

Wenxu Jiang clenched his fist; his veins near his eyes were popping: “Show some kindness.”

Zekun Li couldn’t care less: “You are a resourceful man. Go find another one. It’s easy for you.”

“The bone marrow you got, Shao Lu gave it to you, right? You were willing to put yourself at risk to take it from that scumbag. You say it’s easy to find another one?”

Shao Lu is the president of that hospital. He snatched the bone marrow away before it could get to Ziyu Ai. Shao Lu was usually discreet. After all, the hospital was at the capital; he would not act recklessly. But he and his in-laws together invested and opened several schools to treat adolescents for their internet addictions and rebellious behaviors. Lately the media exposed their shady business with gory details. It had gotten so big even mayor Mr. Li wouldn’t dare to intervene.

But Zekun Li still took the risk and accepted the bone marrow from Shao Lu. He was risking his family being dragged down with this. Wenxu Jiang did some research and found out about this when he was in Hangzhou. He was impressed by Zekun Li of taking such a big risk.

“Like you said, I took a big risk. So you ask me for this. It is not appropriate, right?” Zekun Li shook his head and laughed, “It wouldn’t matter who came to it first. No matter who ended up with the bone marrow, it is still a life to be saved by the hospital. Your love is waiting for the bone marrow to live, but you think mine can wait?” 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝒆𝘸𝚎𝙗𝒏oν𝙚𝘭.𝐜𝒐m

Wenxu Jiang didn’t answer. He just put the little suitcase on the tea table and opened it slowly.

Zekun Li glanced at it and sneered: “You think I’m short of money?”

“I’ll be ashamed to give this to you.” Wenxu Jiang closed up the suitcase, “I’ll give you whatever you want as long as I have it. This money is for the person who donated the bone marrow. I wanna ask you a favor, find the donor and ask him if he is willing to donate again in a short time.” The donor was hidden away. Even Ai’s family couldn’t find him. Wenxu Jiang could only rely on Zekun Li now.

“Either way it has to be after Xia’s surgery. You just go home and wait. Not for long. Half a month at most. When Xia’s surgery is done, I will bring the donor to you.”