Anderson appeared in the general ward with the thermal food container in hand—it was almost nine o’clock.
The corridor had grown quiet, with only a few nurses moving between rooms.
Seeing him in a sharp suit, long legs, and a slim waist walking through the ward, they couldn’t help stealing glances. It was like watching a drama shoot.
Anderson dialed a number and waited a long time before seeing his childhood friend remotely maneuvering the wheelchair into view.
Li Jichuan hadn’t answered the phone, saying he didn’t want to disturb “someone else’s” rest.
Anderson naturally knew who “someone else” was and chuckled, thinking: Li Jichuan, you finally have your day!
“Here, go ahead and give it to ‘someone else’—he must be starving, right?” he teased.
Li Jichuan didn’t respond. He took the container and looked up.
“How’s John? Is he okay? Why did he suddenly get so drunk?”
Anderson smirked.
“Doesn’t he always get drunk like that? Starts talking nonsense, so I grabbed him a hotel room before he could say too much.”
Li Jichuan smiled lightly.
“Makes sense.”
Thinking back, the three of them had walked along the river during their youth, drunk and carefree—it felt like ages ago.
Now, they had all changed so much.
“Did John go spouting nonsense everywhere tonight?” Li Jichuan asked with a smile.
Anderson almost admitted it, but stopped himself mid-sentence.
“No…”
He recalled the many times John had teased Li Jichuan with the photo in his wallet when drunk, nearly getting himself removed from the friend list. Best not to stir up trouble.
As for the boy in the photo, Anderson was sure he wouldn’t affect Li Jichuan’s current marriage. It had long been a chapter closed and done with.
Night fell, and the corridor lights felt dimmer.
Li Jichuan and Anderson, one seated, one standing, looked striking together.
The white light outlined Li Jichuan’s sharp profile. After a long silence, he suddenly looked at Anderson.
“Hey, do you know how to make dumplings?”
Anderson blinked, surprised, and studied Li Jichuan.
“Huh?”
“Dumplings—have you ever made them?” Li Jichuan pressed.
Anderson stared at him like he was crazy.
“I barely eat dumplings these days. Since when are you interested in this kind of refined carb?”
Li Jichuan, always the model of discipline, holding himself to the highest standards, rarely indulged in such domestic matters. Sometimes Anderson joked that Li Jichuan might be planning to sabotage the family company and suddenly “go rogue” to start his own venture.
Li Jichuan was silent for two seconds, then said, with the most serious expression, the most unexpected words:
“I… want to make dumplings for Su Pu.”
Anderson pinched the back of his hand to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. He was furious at the lack of logic.
“Why not throw him a whole Spring Festival banquet?”
“If he really likes excitement, give him a Spring Festival! Don’t just… I’m scared…”
“Damn you!” Li Jichuan scoffed.
“I’m serious!”
Anderson hugged himself, mock-crying. “I’m seriously scared too!”
Li Jichuan clicked his tongue and unlocked his phone again, continuing to study filling techniques.
“Dude, you’re actually serious?”
Seeing this, Anderson straightened, abandoning his casual façade.
“Li Jichuan…”
He said the full name, signaling gravity.
“If you go all out with these dumplings, Su Pu might actually fall for you… at least he’ll seriously consider your relationship.”
He looked at his old friend, once so dismissive of love.
“Can you handle it if he falls in love with you?”
Anderson knew Li Jichuan’s situation well. He knew Su Pu was only a placeholder to pacify his grandfather, and that people like them rarely sustain intimate long-term relationships.
The question hit Li Jichuan hard. Indeed—would it be a good thing if Su Pu fell in love with him?
“Li Jichuan, you really need to think—what role does Su Pu play in your life?”
Anderson reminded him earnestly.
“Your recent focus has been excellent. You said you wanted to do in-depth research at universities, and John was overjoyed—constantly calling for the old Lee to return…”
“I can’t deny that the old Lee was more charming than I am now. But back then, he was also farther from conventional success than I am today!”
Li Jichuan had thought about this. He missed the ambitious, spirited Lee.
But since returning home, he had gradually shed that persona, growing into Li Jichuan: a capable figure commanding the business world.
It was his grandfather’s hope, the board’s expectation, and the hope of tens of thousands of employees worldwide.
He could only force himself forward.
A gentleman transforms like a leopard.
Li Jichuan was destined for a brilliant career and a harsh coming-of-age.
He took a deep breath.
“Do you remember what you said to me after that incident?” Anderson asked.
Li Jichuan immediately understood what “that incident” referred to.
He nodded, then carried the food container back to Su Pu’s room.
…
The corridor was empty except for Anderson.
He picked up his phone, waking the screen.
Three youthful, smiling faces appeared.
All three wearing graduation gowns, holding diplomas, carefree smiles.
At that time, Li Jichuan hadn’t suffered his accident, had strong legs, and was determined to develop his own gaming enterprise.
As Anderson pressed the shutter, Li Jichuan excitedly declared:
“I found him!”
“Who?” John asked curiously.
Li Jichuan pulled out his wallet, revealing the blurry photo of a boy from behind.
“My first love!”
Half a month later, Li Jichuan gladly took over the Li Group and actively persuaded the entire team to relocate domestically with him.
On the day he received his company ID, he grabbed Anderson and, without another word, took him to a floor of the office building.
“You’re not telling me you’re going to work here!” Anderson exclaimed.
Li Jichuan, dressed formally, radiated meticulous elegance.
“No, I’m meeting Cong Shu,” Li Jichuan said succinctly.
Hearing the name, Anderson tensed.
He knew the boy in the photo was called Cong Shu.
Li Jichuan had never forgotten Cong Shu all these years, and finally, here he was!
Though uninterested in gossip, Anderson stayed to see the “first love” in person.
Yet the person who appeared was far from what he imagined.
Upon seeing Li Jichuan, his eyes lit up, and he was talkative and flattering throughout.
Anderson still remembered Cong Shu’s sharp laughter, like nails scraping glass.
Li Jichuan didn’t look pleased. The only happy person at the dinner was Cong Shu.
He first expressed gratitude that a former high school notable remembered him after so many years. Then he subtly expressed his wish to join the Li Group.
Finally, Cong Shu requested a glass of milk, spilled it all over himself, and pretentiously licked it off with his tongue.
Disgusting!
Anyone with common sense knew Li Jichuan wouldn’t be interested in someone like that.
As expected, after the dinner, Li Jichuan walked along the river with him.
“People change. Nothing to regret…”
The evening wind lifted stray strands from his forehead, Li Jichuan’s eyes full of uncertainty.
“If they’re in the past, let them stay in the past. I have to move forward.”
He nodded, both agreeing with and consoling himself.
“Yes. Grandpa was right—I must keep striving forward, to take control of my life and be responsible to all who believe in me…”
“Ah Chuan…”
In the sunset, everything seemed unreal.
Even the regret in Li Jichuan’s brow seemed softened.
Suddenly, he scoffed.
“Ann, what if… the person in the photo isn’t him, but someone else… did I get it wrong?”
Anderson remained silent, worried.
Li Jichuan shook his head, laughing at himself.
“Never mind. How could that be? I must have romanticized the memory too much.”
“People have to look forward. Rather than expect from others, expect from yourself, right?”
The evening breeze brushed gently. Anderson saw a glimmer in Li Jichuan’s eye.
Then, it was gone.
…
The next day, Su Pu woke up in the master bedroom.
Li Jichuan had already gone to work.
Feeling groggy, Su Pu tried to get up to wash, when Mantian entered with a bowl.
“Awake?”
Mantian smiled at him.
“Mr. Li specially reminded me to make sure you eat this bowl of dumplings…”
Su Pu’s thoughts stirred. He had heard what the family member next door said last night.
Li Jichuan’s pensive expression had lingered in his mind all evening.
Sure enough, upon waking, he was greeted with dumplings!
He couldn’t help smiling, taking the porcelain bowl with both hands.
“Careful, it’s a bit hot…” Mantian watched him.
Su Pu ate one, feeling a ripple of warmth, but still placed the bowl on the bedside table.
Mantian, who made these dumplings?
His eyes sparkled, yet he asked anyway.
Mantian paused for a moment.
“I made them…”
“Mr. Li said, he wanted you to eat dumplings this morning.”
Su Pu’s expression froze. The warmth in his chest dissipated inch by inch.
He signed: Thank you.
He ate the dumplings. They were still delicious.
But… why did they taste a little bitter?