“They’re your parents, you raised him—of course he wouldn’t mistreat you.”
“Or maybe you treated him badly before, so that’s why he ignores you now?”
Someone chimed in: “We sell small goods outside the factory gate. Director Jiang never makes things difficult for us; the workers even let us sell our things freely. When it’s hot, he sends someone out with cold drinks.”
“Director Jiang treats us well—so of course he’ll treat his parents even better.”
“See? You’re definitely not his parents.”
“We are! Of course we are…”
Chased by the dogs and mocked by the crowd, Zhang Xiangping and Jiang Jianmin slunk away, thoroughly humiliated.
That same year, through a series of operations, and at a time when China had yet to establish the Securities Regulatory Commission, Huo Zongzhuo’s Huachen went public in the United States in October 1992, becoming the first Chinese company listed abroad, successfully raising seventy million USD.
Jiang Luo went to New York with him. He not only witnessed Huachen’s listing but also explored Wall Street, saw the Statue of Liberty, visited Central Park, and stayed in a high-rise in Manhattan, experiencing firsthand the modern, bustling, and luxurious nightscape of the city.
Jiang Luo looked out the window as Huo Zongzhuo embraced him from behind, face to face: “Haicheng will be like this eventually.”
“And other cities too.”
“Mm.”
Jiang Luo admired the view: “It’s beautiful.”
Huo Zongzhuo: “If you like it, we can buy a place in Manhattan too. Come stay whenever you want.”
“Sure,” Jiang Luo smiled.
Together, they looked at the densely packed skyscrapers, the neon lights.
After a moment, Jiang Luo turned to face Huo Zongzhuo, kissed him, and affectionately said, “You looked so cool when you rang the bell today.”
Huo Zongzhuo kissed him back: “I asked you to join, but you wouldn’t.”
Jiang Luo laughed: “I wanted to take photos of you, had to capture that moment.”
“And it’s fine, we won’t only ring the bell once.”
They kissed, enjoying the warmth and intimacy.
In June 1993, Wang Chuang and Mo Wanzhen got married.
On the auspicious day, Wang Chuang wore a suit, his eyebrows carefully trimmed, hair styled with wax, looking exceptionally sharp.
His family’s gathering was lively. From early morning, firecrackers exploded outside. Numerous cars arrived—Mercedes, BMWs, black Volkswagens—along with Zheng Bin and a group of young men, all driving luxury cars, waiting for the appointed time to pick up the bride.
“Chuang’er,” Zheng Bin, dressed as a groomsman, asked in confusion, “where’s Luo-ge? On such an important day, why isn’t he here?”
“No idea,” Wang Chuang said. He had seen Jiang Luo that morning, but now with so many people, he couldn’t pay attention. He quickly went upstairs with two cameramen to serve tea to Bai Ting and Wang Junwei. Zheng Bin also didn’t look for Jiang Luo, instead leading the other groomsmen upstairs.
As Wang Chuang served tea, Bai Ting, dressed in her new outfit and sitting on the sofa, whispered to Wang Junwei: “Does Haicheng have this tea-serving custom? I don’t remember it… Where did this come from?”
Bai Ting had been busy since early morning and was exhausted. Jiang Luo had arranged a makeup artist, and she had been up since six.
“I don’t know either,” Wang Junwei said, flustered, “just drink, the cameras are filming.”
Bai Ting quickly sipped her tea properly.
“Mom, Dad, I’m going to fetch the bride.”
After serving tea, Wang Chuang ran downstairs with the groomsmen.
There, a truck was parked.
Wang Chuang saw Jiang Luo beside it, puzzled: “What’s with this truck? Are we moving furniture to pick up the bride?”
Jiang Luo tilted his chin: “Look at the license plate, the front.”
Wang Chuang saw the tail number “269” and then the cab—astonished. This was the same truck they had used at the small market years ago!
Excited, Wang Chuang touched the truck and asked Jiang Luo: “How did you get this?”
Jiang Luo, sucking on a lollipop, said casually: “An old buddy from when you started out, brought it here to witness your wedding.”
He added: “Use this truck as the lead car, okay?”
“Of course!” Wang Chuang was thrilled: “Perfect!”
So, the truck became the lead vehicle, driven by Jiang Luo, with a convoy of cars following to the hotel to pick up the bride.
At the bride’s door, Yu Dong, dressed as a bridesmaid, blocked them and indicated the suite’s bedroom: “Wait! Drink first!”
The groomsmen eagerly cheered: “Drink! No problem! Cups here!”
After happily fetching the bride, Wang Chuang held Mo Wanzhen, now in her wedding dress, and led her to the truck. Excitedly: “Wife! Look! This is the very truck we used at the market—I told you about it!”
Mo Wanzhen was delighted: “Who brought it? Luo-ge? How meaningful!”
“Right? I think so too! So meaningful!”
“Let’s go! Get in!”
Wang Chuang personally drove, taking Mo Wanzhen to their new home.
Jiang Luo rode in the next car, his Mercedes, driven by the fourth brother.
As soon as he got in, he smiled at Huo Zongzhuo in the back seat: “I wanted to drive for them, but they insisted on driving themselves. Wasted my effort.”
Huo Zongzhuo, smiling, straightened Jiang Luo’s collar, which had been twisted during the playful wedding games.
Jiang Luo plopped down next to Huo Zongzhuo: “Ugh, it’s so hot.”
Huo Zongzhuo draped one arm around him, handed him water with the other.
And so, the convoy—with the truck leading—drove along, drawing attention wherever they went.
At the wedding banquet, it was chaotic and noisy. Friends they normally hung out with joined in the fun. Wang Chuang drank heavily; Mo Wanzhen didn’t hold back either. Jiang Luo helped block some drinks, enjoying himself thoroughly, singing and laughing.
Huo Zongzhuo carried a drunk Jiang Luo out of the hotel, prompting laughter from onlookers. Bai Ting followed, exclaiming: “Oh my, how drunk are you?”
“Dad,” Jiang Luo murmured in Huo Zongzhuo’s arms.
“Let’s go home,” Bai Ting urged.
Huo Zongzhuo said goodbye to Bai Ting, then carried Jiang Luo into the fourth brother’s car.
Leaning against Huo Zongzhuo, Jiang Luo, still drunk, began singing—a Cantonese song, slurred enough that it sounded like gibberish to someone unfamiliar.
The driver and Huo Zongzhuo laughed, as Huo Zongzhuo caressed Jiang Luo’s face, holding him gently.
Back home on Wukang Road, Huo Zongzhuo carried Jiang Luo upstairs. Jiang Luo continued singing loudly, clearly in high spirits.
Huo Zongzhuo put him on the bed, crouched to remove his shoes. Drunk, Jiang Luo groaned, mumbling: “Dad, you know… in my previous life, they were married, had twins…”
Huo Zongzhuo smiled, sat beside him: “You weren’t married before?”
“No,” Jiang Luo mumbled, eyes closed, wriggling.
“And you had three wives, ten sons… no, ten daughters.”
Huo Zongzhuo laughed: “Impossible. I don’t like women; I would never marry.”
“You liar.”
Jiang Luo wriggled on the bed, humming and giggling.
Huo Zongzhuo leaned down: “Feeling uncomfortable? Want to throw up?”
Jiang Luo didn’t hear, continuing: “I used to… love everyone I saw.”
Huo Zongzhuo caught that: “Ah, still a playboy.”
He teased: “How many did you love?”
Jiang Luo raised a hand dramatically: “Count…! Countless! Can’t count them!”
Huo Zongzhuo laughed, grabbing his hand: “So that’s it. You loved so many… why didn’t you ever love me?”
Jiang Luo half-opened his eyes: “You ignored me! Always cold when you saw me!”
Huo Zongzhuo huffed: “You loved everyone you saw; why would I pay attention?”
Then he leaned down, kissed Jiang Luo softly: “Of course I pay attention. I love you.”
“No matter how many you loved before, I love you the same now.”
Sternly, he added: “Just don’t bring anyone home for me to see.”
“Huh?” Jiang Luo heard that clearly, struggling up: “How can you say that?”
“Of course I can’t love anyone else!”
Huo Zongzhuo smiled: “I’m teasing. If you dare bring someone home, I’ll tie you up with your own tie and lock you in the house.”
“Huo Zongzhuo~!”
Jiang Luo hugged his neck, whining: “I love you so much.”
Huo Zongzhuo leaned down, kissed him sideways: “Can you move? Or lie down?”
Jiang Luo immediately started pulling off his clothes: “Move, move!”
Soon, he couldn’t even speak, lying on his stomach with pale shoulders, moving rhythmically—body pressing forward, moans fragmented, entirely lost in pleasure.