As a tool photographing another tool, Chang Jinxing did his best to make him look good.
When no one else was around, Kong Yu said, “Let’s exchange contact info. Send me the photos later.”
Chang Jinxing added Kong Yu as his contact, but he had absolutely no desire to sleep with him. He was exhausted, for one thing, and for another, Kong Yu wouldn’t be interested in him. He hadn’t realized it before, when he was still deep in the game, but being on the outside looking in gave him a new perspective, and he gradually understood that he’d been a bottom-shelf version of Kong Yu all along: getting by in life by social climbing.
Lots of people survived by leaning on their connections to people above them on the social ladder. There was nothing wrong with it, and being able to achieve success that way was a skill in and of itself. Chang Jinxing didn’t judge anyone who lived that lifestyle, but he had decided not to live it himself anymore. He wouldn’t go back.
The cruise drew to a close, and Chang Jinxing wanted to talk to someone. When he greeted his roommates over text, Zheng Weize was the most responsive, so Chang Jinxing showed him a few photos from the cruise. Zheng Weize’s comments on the photos belied his envy; he felt inferior, like Chang Jinxing lived in an entirely different world from him. Chang Jinxing, realizing he’d gone too far with his bragging, had to comfort Zheng Weize by making up a story about tagging along with a group of old folks to take seascape photos.
When he showed the photos to Zhang Yuwen, Zhang Yuwen already knew what he’d been up to. He was unmoved, however, having always found cruise parties boring. Engaging escorts’ services on a ship was no different from bringing call girls or rent boys on a joyride. It was all the same old thing: drinking and sunbathing by day, drinking and having sex by night. He preferred to just play video games at home.
Then Chang Jinxing texted the photos to Yan Jun, who was always busy caring for his daughter. Everyone experienced life’s highs and lows differently, and Yan Jun just asked: How much per night? Must be expensive, right?
Dunno, Chang Jinxing replied, probs tens of thousands.
Chang Jinxing sent the photos to Chen Hong next. So many rich ppl in the world. U think they hv a net worth of billions?
Chen Hong had been on a trip like this before. His rich boyfriend once took him on a cruise, where Chen Hong was just one of the many escorts they brought along, so he had a rough idea of how much it would cost. He replied, Nah, not that much. These peeps only booked 2 floors. If they were seriously rich theyd book the entire ship.
That made sense to Chang Jinxing, who followed up by asking Chen Hong what he was doing. The answer: weeding the backyard of his childhood home back in his hometown.
Where u getting off? Chen Hong asked.
Lion Sands, Chang Jinxing replied. Getting off tmrw. Gonna take the train back to Jiangdong City. U?
Wanna come to my house? Just get off at Lanqiu County. We can head back to Jiangdong 2gether.
Chang Jinxing hadn’t expected Chen Hong to invite him to his hometown. He couldn’t be interested in Chang Jinxing, could he? From their usual interactions, it didn’t seem like it. Chen Hong behaved just like any other roommate. He wasn’t even as close to Chang Jinxing as he was to Zhang Yuwen.
It was on the way, though, so Chang Jinxing was fine with paying him a visit.
The next day, he sent several photos in a zip file to the email listed on Kong Yu’s personal website, then packed up his stuff and disembarked. The domestic servant handed him an envelope containing his payment, plus a little extra as a tip, but they’d also deducted the cost of the five cups of coffee he had on board, each at precisely ¥60, and the three pieces of clothing he had laundered using room service, ¥160 apiece. It almost drove Chang Jinxing mad with anger. He had made a tidy sum of money, but he could tell from their attitude that they weren’t satisfied with him. Chang Jinxing didn’t like having his self-esteem trampled on, and he swore never to take a cruise job again.
He disembarked with a group of tourists to a dock full of waiting cars, where he sorted out the few pieces of luggage he had and bought a train ticket. The din inside the train and the homely, vibrant winter scenery outside quickly brought him back to reality. He was back in his own world.
When Chang Jinxing arrived at Lanqiu, Chen Hong was waiting on the train platform with two motorcycle helmets. The sight of Chang Jinxing’s exhausted face startled him. “Wow, how long did they spend milking you?”
Laughing, Chang Jinxing gave him a playful punch. He took the helmet and rode pillion on Chen Hong’s motorcycle through the cold wind to his house.
Chen Hong’s family lived in the urban district, where they ran a printing shop that also offered simple advertising design services, helping nearby businesses make flyers. Occasionally, they produced blueprints for a few partner organizations. The shop faced the street, and the back side of the building served as their living quarters. The house was saturated with the smell of ink.
Chen Hong’s parents were delighted to see that Chen Hong had a friend over. They were an older couple, already in their sixties, but they still worked hard in the shop every day. Chen Hong dropped off Chang Jinxing, then went to buy some ready-made food to prepare for the meal.
“I can do the cooking,” Chang Jinxing offered.
“No, no, no.” Chen Hong tied an apron around his waist. “You’re a guest! We can’t let you cook!”
Chang Jinxing was planted in the guest seat. The whole family treated him warmly. Chen Hong had a twenty-six-year-old younger sister who had been helping out in the shop since she graduated. Curious about Chang Jinxing, she peppered him with questions about everything from how he met Chen Hong to what he did for a living and whether he was a member of Chen Hong’s gym. Chen Hong coughed and shot Chang Jinxing a warning glance, reminding him not to out him or get any ideas about his sister.
Chang Jinxing understood him, of course. In truth, he was dead tired, and all he could think of was sleep. When night came, Chen Hong laid out the bedding so Chang Jinxing could sleep in his room. They shared a bed surrounded by stacks of papers of varying sizes, Chen Hong’s dumbbells, yoga mats, and so on.
“Why are there so few people in Lanqiu?” Chang Jinxing asked.
“They all went to work in the big cities. A lot of the young people have left. There are lots of old folks left behind, and the local economy can’t develop.” Chen Hong sighed. He’d once harbored a lofty goal of going to Jiangdong to make a name for himself and returning home in glory, but that plan kept getting pushed back. At this point it felt like a distant dream. Absently, he added, “I was the one who told my sister to stay here. She’s idolized me since she was little. I don’t want her to go out and work.”