A Long-Ago Morning

Chen Si had his heart broken at eighteen. He buried his face on Jiu Ci's shoulder and sobbed. Jiu Ci pushed him away without changing expression and said, "Don't get tears and snot on my clothes."

Chen Si had his heart broken at twenty. This time, he'd learned his lesson and dabbed at his tears with a handkerchief. Jiu Ci tried to put up with it, but eventually snatched the handkerchief away and threw it in the trash. Then he turned and said, "Are you even a man? Stop crying!"

Chen Si had his heart broken at twenty-two. He didn't go to Jiu Ci this time. He got completely drunk alone at a bar, then called Jiu Ci. He wouldn't answer any questions, just kept giggling foolishly. But by the time Jiu Ci went to pick him up, he had stopped laughing and fallen asleep. The next morning, someone was made to drink a pound of liquor, and never wanted another drink after that.

Chen Si had his heart broken at twenty-eight. ~ tried to comfort him from the side. "Chen Si, go ahead and cry. Come on, you'll feel better once you let it out." He only smiled. His tears would no longer come.

At nineteen, Jiu Ci smiled gently at little Chen, who sweetly called him "big brother," and said, "My older brother and your father are sworn friends despite their age difference. By seniority, you should call me 'uncle.'"

At twenty-seven, while making a routine inspection of the company, Jiu Ci happened to see Chen Si, who was there as an intern. Chen Si gave him a big, toothy smile. Jiu Ci smiled back, then instructed his secretary in a flat voice, "Throw this intern out."

At thirty-five, Jiu Ci finally decided to get married. The first thing he did was write an invitation for Chen Si. As soon as he finished it in the early hours of the morning, he had someone deliver it, then burned the trash can himself.