ATLT Chapter 3

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(7)

After months of back and forth, their relationship remained ambiguous.

Zhang Linghao was the one actively pursuing Chu Yi, but his visits to the club were erratic—sometimes he’d show up three or four days in a row, and other times, he’d disappear for two weeks.

Chu Yi, for various reasons, never outright rejected him, but he also had no intention of accepting him. Over time, Zhang Linghao just felt like another familiar customer—except he didn’t drink, didn’t cause trouble, and never asked to lift Chu Yi’s shirt to touch his abs.

Then, the club got shut down in a crackdown. Chu Yi lost his job and, afraid of getting arrested, turned off his phone and stayed home for days, surviving on instant noodles until he got mouth ulcers and a pimple on his face.

When he finally turned his phone back on, there was no message from Zhang Linghao. He waited a few more days, but the only call he received was from Dai Yanyan, asking for help.

So, Chu Yi took half of his savings and went to bail Dai Yanyan out of detention.

Back at their shared apartment, he started considering subletting the place to save money. If he moved somewhere cheaper, he could stretch his remaining funds a little longer.

As he browsed rental listings for cheaper places, he never expected to run into Zhang Linghao’s younger brother, Zhang Lingrui, on a public bus.

He had only met Zhang Lingrui once before when Zhang Linghao had taken his little brother shopping and invited Chu Yi to join them for dinner at a mall near his apartment.

That day, Zhang Lingrui had been carrying multiple branded shopping bags, complaining about a limited-edition LEGO set that wasn’t available in China, demanding that his brother find a reseller to buy it for him.

Zhang Linghao had glanced at him and said lazily, "If you place in the top five on your next exams, I’ll get it for you."

Zhang Lingrui had huffed, "I already pushed myself to the limit just to get eighth place!"

Zhang Linghao had then pointed at Chu Yi with his chin and said to his brother, "Ask this guy what happens when you don’t study properly."

Zhang Lingrui had looked over at Chu Yi—a tall and handsome guy in a floral shirt and Gucci sneakers. He didn’t seem too bad off. Plus, if he was hanging out with his brother, how bad could he really have it?

So the little prince had scoffed, "Forget it. I’ll just buy it myself during my summer camp in Europe."

(8)

Now, seeing Zhang Lingrui on a public bus was a complete surprise.

Chu Yi grabbed a handrail and moved closer. "Zhang Lingrui? Do you remember me?"

Zhang Lingrui looked up, equally surprised. "You’re… my brother’s friend? What are you doing here?"

His memory was surprisingly good. Chu Yi smiled. "I should be asking you that. What, are you riding the bus to experience the commoner’s life?"

Zhang Lingrui froze for a second, then suddenly lowered his head and shook it, unwilling to speak.

Chu Yi felt a little nervous. "What’s wrong? Don’t cry…"

Zhang Lingrui shook his head again. "I’m not crying."

At the next stop, the bus doors opened, and Zhang Lingrui suddenly pushed through the crowd and bolted. Chu Yi had no idea why, but he chased after him instinctively, catching up on the sidewalk and grabbing his shoulder. "Hey, don’t run off! Do you even know where you are? This area’s not exactly close to home."

It wasn’t exactly remote, but it was far from the Zhang family’s luxury villa in the city center.

Zhang Lingrui turned back and looked at Chu Yi. "You don’t know what happened to my family?"

Chu Yi was taken aback. "What happened?"

Zhang Lingrui hesitated, then asked instead, "My brother didn’t tell you? I thought you were his friend."

Chu Yi felt a bit awkward. "Of course we’re friends, but we haven’t talked lately. What happened to your family?"

Zhang Lingrui finally couldn’t hold it in anymore—his eyes turned red. "My family… we’re in trouble."

(9)

Chu Yi gritted his teeth and spent money on a taxi to send Zhang Lingrui home—partly out of concern for the kid, and partly to check on Zhang Linghao.

The Zhang family had moved out of their villa in the city center and into an old, rundown apartment complex. The corridor was dimly lit, and the air smelled of greasy home cooking.

On the way there, Zhang Lingrui had stammered through an explanation—his father had been placed under "shuanggui" (a disciplinary measure for government officials under investigation), and the authorities had seized all their valuable assets. His mother, brother, and he had been forced to move into an old apartment left behind by their grandparents.

Chu Yi was stunned. He hadn’t expected the government’s crackdown to extend beyond the high-end nightclub he had worked at—to actually reach Zhang Linghao’s high-ranking official father.

No wonder he hadn’t heard from Zhang Linghao lately. It seemed like the guy was going through even worse than he was.

So, Chu Yi figured he should check in on him.

He wasn’t sure if they counted as true friends, but at least they were acquaintances. Zhang Linghao had treated him to a meal before. Now that he knew the guy was in trouble, it would feel wrong to just ignore it.

When Zhang Lingrui opened the apartment door, he called out, "Bro, I’m home! Your friend came to see you!"

The living room was empty, but sounds of chopping and the kitchen exhaust fan came from inside.

Chu Yi followed Zhang Lingrui toward the kitchen doorway and saw Zhang Linghao awkwardly chopping a carrot.

Hearing his brother’s voice, Zhang Linghao turned around. The moment he saw Chu Yi, his hand slipped—his knife sliced into his finger.

"Shit—!" Zhang Linghao tossed the knife aside, clamping his bleeding finger, his face twisting in pain.

Chu Yi quickly grabbed his hand and dragged him under the sink. "Rinse it off before it gets infected!" Then he turned to Zhang Lingrui. "Do you have iodine and bandages?"

Zhang Lingrui scrambled to search the drawers, but Zhang Linghao barked, "Don’t bother. We don’t have any."

Chu Yi let go of his hand. "I’ll go buy some."

But Zhang Linghao grabbed him again and turned to his little brother. "You go buy it."

Zhang Lingrui was at a loss. "Where do I even buy it? What is iodine povidone?"

Chu Yi couldn't help but laugh. "I'll go. He won't be able to find it."

Zhang Linghao was adamant. "No way. Let him go. He's grown this much and still doesn't even know where to buy a band-aid. What will he do in the future?"

Chu Yi shot back, "Then do you know where to buy it?"

Zhang Linghao: "Of course! The pharmacy!"

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