WBAI Chapter 31

Yu Feng contacted Jiang Xiaotian, intending to ask him to accompany Xie An’yu to the clothing wholesale market.

“Xiaotian, do me a favor tomorrow,” Yu Feng said to the person on the other end of the phone. “It’s not work-related, just a personal matter.”

“No problem, Brother. Just say the word.”

Yu Feng briefly explained to Jiang Xiaotian about Xie An’yu’s model audition: “It’s best if you’re with him when he tries on clothes and takes photos, just in case something unexpected happens.”

While Xie An’yu wasn’t completely defenseless, he was still young, and the incident where he was drugged before served as a warning—it’s impossible to guard against all ill intentions; it’s not about fearing gentlemen but guarding against scoundrels. It’s better to be cautious.

“I understand, Brother,” Jiang Xiaotian responded. “Are you worried he’ll run into some shady boss?”

Yu Feng hummed in affirmation. “I’m worried he might get scammed.”

And also afraid he might get taken advantage of.

That part, Yu Feng could only keep to himself. After all, Xie An’yu was indeed handsome. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been scouted as a model just by buying clothes. There were male creeps, but that didn’t mean female creeps didn’t exist…

At that thought, Yu Feng suddenly clicked his tongue in annoyance.

His mind had been getting more and more ridiculous lately. What kind of nonsense was he thinking?

Hearing his impatient sound, Jiang Xiaotian asked nervously, “What’s wrong, Brother?”

“Nothing,” Yu Feng continued to instruct. “If they want him to sign a contract on the spot, tell him not to sign it too quickly. Wait for me to look it over before making a decision.”

This situation was different from signing ordinary labor contracts. Yu Feng’s daily work involved dealing with models; he understood the intricacies too well. If Xie An’yu ended up signing a long-term contract with a bunch of tricky clauses, it could effectively be a contract of servitude.

“Understood, Brother. I promise to complete the task.”

“Thanks for your trouble. Call me if anything comes up.”

After hanging up, Yu Feng immediately sent Jiang Xiaotian a 888 yuan[mfn]T/N: Around 124 USD[/mfn] red packet[mfn]紅包 (hóng bāo): red envelope; red packet (monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions, such as the Chinese New Year); money wrapped in red as a gift; bonus payment; bribe; kickback.
[/mfn] via WeChat[mfn]T/N: WeChat red envelope (or WeChat red packet) is a mobile application developed by the Chinese technology company Tencent. The concept, also offered by its market competitors Alibaba and Baidu, is based on the Chinese tradition of hongbao (red envelope, or red packet), where money is given to family and friends as a gift.[/mfn].

Jiang Xiaotian: 【No need, Brother. It’s just a small matter.】

Yu Feng: 【Take it. This is a private matter—private work, private pay.】

Jiang Xiaotian: 【Hahahahahahahahaha】

Jiang Xiaotian: 【Seriously, no need. Whether it’s private or work-related, it’s still your business. I’m your assistant—this is part of my job.】

In the end, Jiang Xiaotian still didn’t accept the red packet.

***

The next day, Jiang Xiaotian arrived early as agreed. He didn’t own a car yet, so Yu Feng let Jiang Xiaotian drive his own car to take Xie An’yu to the clothing wholesale market.

It was Jiang Xiaotian’s first time visiting Yu Feng’s home. Standing outside the door, he felt a little nervous as he knocked.

Xie An’yu was the one who opened the door for him. The moment the door opened, Jiang Xiaotian locked eyes with him for a couple of seconds and thought to himself; no wonder he’s going for a model audition—this guy’s got the looks and the build.

Jiang Xiaotian smiled at Xie An’yu. “Teacher Yu asked me to come. He must’ve told you already—I’ll be accompanying you today.”

Xie An’yu nodded politely. “Thanks for the trouble, Big Brother.”

Yu Feng was already getting ready to leave. Jiang Xiaotian walked into the living room and waved at him. “Morning, Brother.”

Yu Feng fastened his watch and gave a slight nod. “Morning.”

Yu Feng wasn’t heading to the company or any shoot today, so Jiang Xiaotian casually asked where he was going.

“Sweeping the grave[mfn]掃墓 (sǎo mù): to sweep a grave; (figurative) to pay respects to a dead person at their grave; to sweep the tombs (of one’s ancestors); the Qingming festival; sweep graves; visit graves; pay respects at a grave; tomb sweeping; clean a tomb; honor the deceased. The Qingming Festival or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English (sometimes also called Chinese Memorial Day, Ancestors’ Day, the Clear Brightness Festival, or the Pure Brightness Festival), is a traditional Chinese festival observed by ethnic Chinese. Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites and make ritual offerings to their ancestors. Offerings would typically include traditional food dishes and the burning of joss sticks and joss paper. The holiday recognizes the traditional reverence of one’s ancestors in Chinese culture.[/mfn],” Yu Feng said.

Jiang Xiaotian froze and didn’t press further. Asking more would be overstepping.

Yu Feng handed the car keys to Jiang Xiaotian and, as he passed by, slipped a stack of cash into his coat pocket. Before Jiang Xiaotian could react, eight ‘Grandpa Maos[mfn]毛爺爺 (Máo yé ye): Mao Zedong (26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976) was a Chinese politician, revolutionary, and political theorist who founded the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 and led the country from its establishment until his death in 1976. Mao served as chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1943 until his death, and as the party’s de facto leader from 1935. His theories, which he advocated as a Chinese adaptation of Marxism–Leninism, are known as Maoism. T/N: While not specified, knowing YF, it’d be all red 100 yuan bills.
[/mfn]’ were already stuffed in his pocket, and Yu Feng had walked out the door.

“Hey, Brother!” Jiang Xiaotian turned around with wide eyes, calling out as he reached into his pocket.

Yu Feng disappeared around the corner, and Jiang Xiaotian chuckled helplessly while patting his pocket. “What kind of virtue did I accumulate to meet such an amazing boss?”

He turned back to ask Xie An’yu when they were leaving but hesitated, unsure how to address him.

“My name is Jiang Xiaotian. What should I call you?”

“Xie An’yu.”

Yesterday, Yu Feng had told Jiang Xiaotian that he was accompanying a younger brother of his. Their surnames were different, so they definitely weren’t blood-related—probably a cousin or something.

After staying at Yu Feng’s place for a short while, Jiang Xiaotian and Xie An’yu set off for the clothing wholesale market together.

Jiang Xiaotian was a relatively outgoing person, but since he wasn’t familiar with Xie An’yu, and Xie An’yu remained silent throughout, Jiang Xiaotian didn’t initiate much conversation. The two sat in the car in silence.

The atmosphere was a little awkward, and Jiang Xiaotian couldn’t stand it. He cleared his throat and found a topic. “Little Brother Yu, are you and Teacher Yu related?”

Xie An’yu was taken aback and denied it. “No.”

“Ah? But aren’t you his little brother?”

Xie An’yu realized the other person might have misunderstood.

“…I’m just a friend of his,” Xie An’yu said. “I’m going through some financial difficulties and staying at his place temporarily.”

“Oh, I see… Teacher Yu told me you were his brother, so I thought you were relatives.”

There was something Xie An’yu had been curious about, so he asked Jiang Xiaotian, “Why do you… call him ‘teacher’? Isn’t Brother Yu a photographer?”

“Ah?” Jiang Xiaotian paused, then laughed. “It’s just a respectful title. Everyone calls him that.”
Xie An’yu nodded in understanding.

Xie An’yu’s social circle was very small, and he rarely encountered people in the class that would be respectfully addressed as ‘Teacher So-and-so’, which was why he hadn’t quite grasped it earlier.

If Yu Feng could be called ‘Teacher Yu’, he must be really skilled at his job.

***

The cemetery in late spring was always filled with birdsong and floral scents. Someone had already visited Cheng Sheng—a bouquet of white flowers lay before the tombstone.

It couldn’t have been anyone else but Wang Minying.

Yu Feng placed his own bouquet beside the other flowers and gently wiped the dust off the photo on the tombstone with his thumb.

“How are you doing?” Yu Feng asked the boy in the photo.

“I’ve been okay lately. Still struggling with insomnia, but at least I can fall asleep before dawn now.”

“I’ve met someone recently.”

“How should I put it? I feel like he’s a bit like my medicine.”

“Does that sound a little cheesy?” Yu Feng smiled.

“But it’s the truth.”

He wasn’t much different from someone addicted to drugs—otherwise, why would he insist on keeping Xie An’yu by his side? There were countless ways he could have helped Xie An’yu, yet he chose the one that brought them closest.

But Xie An’yu was good medicine. Only when the patient becomes overly dependent does good medicine turn into an addiction.

“He thinks I’ve been the one helping him, but really, it’s him helping me,” Yu Feng continued.

The boy in the photo didn’t respond to Yu Feng; he just smiled brightly.

***

Xie An’yu and Jiang Xiaotian arrived at the wholesale market. The clothing store boss lady led them to the warehouse, which served as the shipping hub for her online store and also the main location for live streams. There was a small studio, fitting rooms, and makeup rooms.

The boss lady glanced at Jiang Xiaotian and asked Xie An’yu with a smile, “Why didn’t you come with that handsome guy from last time? Changed partners?”

Xie An’yu responded casually with an ‘Mm’.

The boss lady had an assistant fetch several newly arrived outfits for Xie An’yu. As Xie An’yu went to the fitting room to try them on, Jiang Xiaotian dutifully followed his boss’s instructions, sticking close like a bodyguard stationed outside the fitting room door.

“What are you standing here for?” the boss lady asked Jiang Xiaotian. “Playing bodyguard?”

“Yeah,” Jiang Xiaotian nodded.

The boss lady burst into laughter at his response.

Xie An’yu tried on the first outfit. When he stepped out of the fitting room, the boss lady’s eyes instantly lit up.

“I knew it would be a good fit!” the boss lady clapped her hands together. “The effect is even better than I imagined. Quick, have him try on the next set.”

Xie An’yu was tall but had a slender frame, making any clothing appear exceptionally well-fitted on him. His excellent head-to-shoulder ratio perfectly showcased the clothing’s design.

Before arriving, Xie An’yu had been dressed quite plainly. Now, suddenly clad in stylish, trendy attire, he truly stood out. Though Jiang Xiaotian had worked alongside Yu Feng for half a year and was accustomed to models with extraordinary heights and proportions, he was still momentarily stunned by Xie An’yu’s transformation.

The main reason was Xie An’yu’s strikingly handsome face—it wasn’t just about good looks, but more importantly, it carried depth. In modeling, empty expressions are the biggest taboo. Xie An’yu’s eyes held a lively spirit; his features had character.

Xie An’yu tried on several more outfits. With each change, the boss lady’s delight grew. Some designs were quite flashy—likely too ostentatious for everyday wear—but on Xie An’yu, they sparked a desire for people to buy the same pieces.

At this moment, Jiang Xiaotian deeply understood the saying ‘Fashion is completed by the face’.

“A clothes hanger really can pull off anything,” the boss lady remarked, feeling she had struck gold. She quickly called over the photographer to guide Xie An’yu through a few poses for test shots.

Xie An’yu’s movements were somewhat stiff. As the photographer instructed him to pose, he recalled when Wu Jie had helped him take photos for his mini-program account application—he had been just as awkward then, as if his limbs had only just grown.

It had been a long time since Xie An’yu last saw Wu Jie.

He never returned to his aunt’s home after leaving. His departure had been to distance himself from their family’s life, and reappearing might only disrupt them again.

Xie Li had called multiple times to ask for Xie An’yu’s current address, but each time, he brushed her off by saying he was staying with a friend and couldn’t host her. After several attempts, Xie Li stopped asking, and her calls became less frequent. She seemed to have accepted Xie An’yu’s departure calmly, settling back into her usual life.

And that mini-program, along with the brief time spent at Xie Li’s home, had been cast aside by Xie An’yu into the past.

The platform had sent multiple notifications that long-inactive accounts would be deactivated. Xie An’yu’s mini-program account was likely already deleted—and with it, Xiao Zhou.

Xie An’yu’s earlier assumption had been confirmed: to Xiao Zhou, he truly was insignificant, an online acquaintance who wouldn’t be missed or contacted even if he never appeared again.

Outside this mini-program, they had no reason whatsoever to stay in touch.

Xie An’yu often wondered how this stranger, who had once sent him the moon, was doing now.

He hoped Xiao Zhou was doing very well.

Xie An’yu was a bit stiff when posing at first, and the photographer had to give endless instructions until his mouth went dry. Fortunately, after a few sets, Xie An’yu gradually got the hang of it.

“It’s fine. First time’s awkward, second time’s smooth. Everyone’s like this during their first shoot,” the photographer said with a smile. “Even if the experience isn’t there, the looks make up for it. These shots are already more than usable.”

The photographer’s words signified that Xie An’yu’s audition was successful.

After the fitting, the boss lady discussed cooperation with Xie An’yu. Xie An’yu made it clear he wouldn’t sign a long-term contract. Jiang Xiaotian, listening nearby, chuckled inwardly—Teacher Yu had worried for nothing. This kid clearly had his own ideas.

“Then we’ll calculate it per order,” the boss lady said briskly, not insisting on a long-term deal. “I’ll contact you in advance when new styles are released, pay a portion upfront, and settle the rest once all the photos are taken and the products are listed.”

“Do we need to sign a contract for this step?”

The boss lady replied with a smile, “Of course. Cooperation is a two-way street. We’ll draft a service contract, and once you agree, we can sign the contract. The commission is based on sales percentage, and we’ll provide a detailed breakdown in the order agreement.”

Xie An’yu nodded.

“Then it’s settled.”

The next shoot was scheduled for the following Friday. Before leaving, Jiang Xiaotian asked the boss lady for the photos the photographer had just taken of Xie An’yu.

“Since this isn’t an official cooperation yet, the photos should go with us,” Jiang Xiaotian said with a friendly smile. “Otherwise, if they get leaked later, it’ll be hard to clarify.”

Working under Yu Feng, he was well aware of image rights. But he phrased it tactfully—his real concern was the shop misusing Xie An’yu’s photos before payment was settled.

The photographer’s expression was noticeably less amiable than before. He hadn’t intended to do anything with Xie An’yu’s photos; he just felt uncomfortable being guarded like he was a thief.

“If you want to take them, you’ll need a USB drive to copy them. Do you bring one?” the photographer asked lazily, glancing at his camera.

“I did.” Jiang Xiaotian directly pulled an SD card from his pocket. “Just copy them here.”

The photographer looked at him in surprise.

Who carries an SD card with them? What kind of weirdo is this!

What he didn’t know was that Jiang Xiaotian was practically a half-colleague. On a normal workday, he could’ve whipped out a DSLR on the spot.

Even Xie An’yu was a bit surprised that Jiang Xiaotian had something like that on hand. He’d never used a camera, but he knew an SD card should be inserted into a camera.

The photographer, with a darkened face, transferred the photos from his camera to a computer, then cut and pasted them from the computer to Jiang Xiaotian’s SD card.

Jiang Xiaotian’s SD card already held plenty of photos. The photographer glanced at them, his eyebrows subtly raising. Those photos clearly looked like they were taken by a master-level photographer; the composition, lighting, and colors were very mature.

The photographer’s gaze was different when he handed the SD card back to Jiang Xiaotian.

“So you’re in the same line of work,” the photographer said with a smile.

“Not really,” Jiang Xiaotian put the card in his pocket. “My boss is your actual peer.”

Though not in the same league, Jiang thought smugly, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes as he basked in his boss’s prestige.

Yu Feng possessed top-tier professional skills, and admiration for the strong is human nature. Jiang Xiaotian could strut around proudly as a mere assistant precisely because of Yu Feng—his boss had the credentials to allow his little assistant show off outside.

When they got into the car, Jiang Xiaotian handed the SD card to Xie An’yu. “Just return this to Teacher Yu after you’ve copied your photos.”

“No need, these photos aren’t much use to me.”

“Alright then,” Jiang Xiaotian took the card back.

After a hectic morning, it was nearing noon. Xie An’yu wanted to treat Jiang Xiaotian to lunch and said, “Big Brother Jiang, let me take you out for a meal later.”

Xie An’yu’s face was always expressionless when speaking, his tone rarely fluctuating. Today was Jiang Xiaotian’s first time meeting him, so he didn’t quite know what kind of person Xie An’yu was.

First impressions suggested Xie An’yu was somewhat aloof. Yu Feng was also cold by nature, but Xie An’yu’s demeanor was different—Yu Feng’s indifference stemmed from a laid-back personality, making him seem detached from everything, whereas Xie An’yu’s coldness carried a hint of ‘keep your distance’.

Compared to Yu Feng, Jiang Xiaotian felt Xie An’yu was even more distant.

“You’re too polite,” Jiang Xiaotian laughed. “No need, I have to head back to the company soon—I’ll grab something there.”

“Thank you for today.”

“Don’t mention it, just doing my job. Anything Teacher Yu asks of me, I’ll make sure it’s done right.”

After dropping Xie An’yu off at home, Jiang Xiaotian called Yu Feng.

“Finished?”

“Report, Boss! Mission successfully completed.”

Yu Feng chuckled. “Good work.”

“How did it go?” Yu Feng asked.

“Smooth sailing. I checked everything carefully—definitely doesn’t seem like some shady business. But, Brother…”

“What?”

“Your little brother actually has a strong mind of his own,” Jiang Xiaotian said with a laugh. “After all the instructions you gave me, I thought he’d be some naive, clueless kid. Didn’t expect you to worry so much about him.”

Yu Feng smiled silently, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. He took a drag, exhaled smoke, and said, “He’s just a kid—it’s normal to worry about him.”

---

The author has something to say:

《Kid》

《The 183.5 cm kid》

(Grew 0.5 cm in half a year)

Future is the 184.5 cm kid.

Brother Yu is 186 cm, no need to worry.

[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 31″]
前車之鑒 (qián chē zhī jiàn): lit. the warning taken from the overturned cart ahead; previous experience of failure that serves as a lesson for oneself or others; to learn a lesson from the mistakes of one’s predecessor (idiom); lesson from the past; warning from others’ mistakes; cautionary tale; a metaphor that the previous failure can serve as a lesson for the future.

防不勝防 (fáng bù shèng fáng): you can’t guard against it (idiom); the utmost care could not prevent it from happening; to be impossible to defend effectively; it can’t be prevented; not much one can do about it; hard to guard against; preventive measures prove to be useless; defy any precautions.

鳥語花香 (niǎo yǔ huā xiāng): lit. birdsong and fragrant flowers (idiom); fig. the intoxication of a beautiful spring day; birds sing and flowers give forth their fragrance (characterizing a fine spring day); birds’ twitter and fragrance of flowers; birds chirping and flowers fragrant; the warbling of birds and the scent of flowers; the birds are singing beautifully and the flowers are blooming fragrantly. It describes the beautiful scene of spring.

寸步不離 (cùn bù bù lí): lit. not parting even by a tiny step; to tag; to follow sb closely (idiom); to keep close to; not/never move a step away from; be always at sb’s elbow; originally refers to harmony between husband and wife, inseparable. It generally means that two people have a good relationship and are always together.

口乾舌燥 (kǒu gān shé zào): lit. dry mouth and tongue (idiom); to talk too much; dry mouth and sore throat; having spoken so much that one’s mouth and throat become thirsty; have one’s mouth parched and one’s tongue scorched—be extremely dry/thirsty in the mouth.
[/dropdown]

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