The Missing Piece: 貌合神离

Extra Story 4: Present

 

On Valentine’s Day, Shen Mo received a rose as a present. It was a red rose, not yet fully in bloom, with morning dewdrops still on its petals; someone had quietly put it beside his pillow. Waking up in the morning, he saw the rose the moment he opened his eyes. He wasn’t too interested in plants’ reproductive organs, but he couldn’t help but look over and over at the present he’d received on such a special day.

 

The sun outside the window was rising higher in the sky. It wasn’t until Ji Ning called “Uncle” loudly from outside Shen Mo’s door that Shen Mo got up to wash himself. 

 

It was the weekend, so he had got up a little later than usual. Ji Mingxuan and Ji Ning were already fully dressed, waiting for him at the breakfast table. After the three of them finished breakfast, Shen Mo found a vase and placed the rose inside, while Ji Mingxuan watched Ji Ning draw in the study. 

 

When Ji Ning returned to China, he was old enough to start kindergarten here. Perhaps he had been affected by Shen Mo, but he was especially interested in art. Shen Mo was quite happy, of course, and bought him a variety of tools.

 

There was no kindergarten today. Ji Ning had been making a fuss about wanting to draw since early in the morning. After finishing up other matters, Shen Mo went to the study as well and saw that Ji Ning was drawing a giraffe—they had gone to the zoo last week and seen giraffes. It was quite a good drawing, in fact. Shen Mo gave Ji Ning some advice on the side, then took out his phone to take a photo.

 

Next, Shen Mo posted it directly to his WeChat Moments.

 

He’d never used these features before, but he’d recently hired a new girl for his studio. She was Yang Yue’s age, and the two hit it off immediately. They were always posting landscapes, food pictures, and couple photos to their Moments, and they’d even urged Shen Mo to join them.

At first, Shen Mo was only doing what they wanted, but as time went on, he gradually became addicted. Ji Ning was just too cute—like every silly parent, Shen Mo would show off his baby every day if he could.

 

Soon after Shen Mo posted the photo, Ji Mingxuan took out his phone and looked at it as well. After that, he became somewhat distracted, looking down at his phone again and again.

 

Seeing this, Shen Mo said, “Are you busy with work, Mr Ji? Don’t worry, you can go to work. I can stay with Xiao-Ning.”

 

Ji Mingxuan replied grimly, “No.”

 

His tone definitely sounded unpleasant.

 

Shen Mo was surprised, not knowing what had upset Ji Mingxuan. He’d been together with Ji Mingxuan for so long already, but he still couldn’t figure Ji Mingxuan out. Was it because last night he’d said he was too tired and refused to do it a second time?

 

Shen Mo’s face felt somewhat warm. Ji Ning was here, though, so Shen Mo couldn’t ask Ji Mingxuan directly. A while later, Ji Mingxuan finally lost his patience. He stood up and left the study.

 

Shen Mo thought Ji Mingxuan had gone to work, but Ji Mingxuan returned quickly, holding the rose Shen Mo had just put in the vase.

 

Ji Ning looked up and exclaimed, “Flower!”

 

Ji Mingxuan placed the vase on the desk and petted Ji Ning’s head, asking, “Do you want to draw this?”

 

“But I haven’t finished my giraffe yet.”

 

“You can draw this one after you finish the giraffe.”

 

Ji Mingxuan was talking to Ji Ning, but he gave Shen Mo a deliberate glance.

Shen Mo suddenly understood what Mr Ji was thinking—Shen Mo had shown off their kid, but he’d forgotten to show off their relationship as well. Ji Mingxuan waited and waited. Not seeing what he wanted, he had to make it happen himself.

 

Once Shen Mo figured this out, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—he hurried to cooperate, taking out his phone to photograph the rose. Ji Mingxuan was finally satisfied. He walked over and stood behind Shen Mo, watching him take the photos.

 

“That’s not a good angle. Move a little to the left.”

 

“Try turning on the flash.”

 

“No, adjust the lighting again.”

 

Shen Mo took quite a few photos, but Ji Mingxuan wasn’t satisfied with any. In the end, Ji Mingxuan even grabbed Shen Mo’s phone and started taking photos on his own.

 

Ji Ning watched them from the side, asking curiously, “Uncle, is Daddy also gonna draw?”

 

“No, he’s just taking a few photos.”

 

To Shen Mo’s surprise, Ji Mingxuan spent a whole half hour taking photos. Ji Ning had already finished drawing the giraffe. He’d even finished listening to a story from Shen Mo when Ji Mingxuan finally gave the phone back to Shen Mo, his expression calm. Opening the album, Shen Mo saw that it was filled with photos of the rose, taken from every angle.

 

Which one should he post?

 

Shen Mo didn’t dare decide on his own. He immediately asked Ji Mingxuan for his opinion.

 

With indifferent eyes, Mr Ji casually picked one.

 

Shen Mo looked at it carefully—it was really the best photo. The instant after he posted it on his Moments, Ji Mingxuan liked his post. Shen Mo thanked him.

The morning interlude passed just like this. After they had lunch, Ji Ning asked Shen Mo to take him to the amusement park. Ji Mingxuan happened to be free, so he volunteered to be the driver.

 

The three changed their clothes. Ji Mingxuan was in a full suit as usual, while Ji Ning was also in a small suit of the same colour—the two, standing together, really looked like father and son. Ji Mingxuan led Ji Ning downstairs first. Shen Mo brought some fruit and snacks before he followed their way. When he reached the underground garage, he saw the two talking beside the car.

 

Somewhat confused, Shen Mo asked, “Why aren’t you getting into the car?”

As he spoke, he reached out to open the car door.

 

But Ji Mingxuan grabbed his arm. “Let’s drive another car today. This one… hm, it’s time to take it to maintenance.”

 

Shen Mo was a little surprised—he thought the car had been taken to maintenance just last month. However, they had many cars, and Ji Mingxuan always entrusted his assistant with maintenance, so Shen Mo wasn’t sure if he had remembered wrong either. It wasn’t a big deal to drive something else, though. He turned around and got into another car. Ji Mingxuan and Ji Ning walked behind him, even whispering some things to each other.

 

Ji Ning had a great time this afternoon. Shen Mo went on his favourite attraction, bumper cars, with him quite a few times. Because of the bright sunshine, both of their faces flushed red, and their foreheads were sweaty too.

 

In the evening, Ji Mingxuan booked a table at a restaurant for steak. It was almost eight when they got home after dinner. Ji Mingxuan still had a few emails to send, so Shen Mo had the nanny wash Ji Ning, then sat on the edge of the bed and told Ji Ning a bedtime story. Ji Ning had been too excited during the day—he didn’t feel sleepy yet. Even after he listened to the story, he asked Shen Mo for paper and crayons and finished two drawings.

 

Both drawings were of cars. Shen Mo recognised that the first was a bumper car they’d ridden in the afternoon, while the second was their own car, the one Ji Mingxuan had said would be taken in for maintenance. However, the car was covered in… flowers?

 

Shen Mo didn’t quite understand. He asked Ji Ning, “Why did you draw so many flowers, Xiao-Ning?”

 

“Because I saw them. The car was full of flowers.” Ji Ning chose a red crayon to colour the flowers. “But Daddy told me not to tell you, Uncle.”

 

Shen Mo felt his heart flutter. He asked, “Roses?”

 

Ji Ning blinked. Obviously, he didn’t know what kind of flowers roses were.

So Shen Mo changed his question. “Did they look the same as the one in the vase this morning?”

 

Ji Ning nodded and replied immediately, “Yeah.”

 

Shen Mo understood at once.

 

Ji Mingxuan had prepared a car filled with roses, but he chose only one and gave it to Shen Mo.

 

Shen Mo stroked Ji Ning’s black hair. As he thought about it, he couldn’t help but laugh.

 

Yes, it was exactly something Mr Ji would do.

 

After Shen Mo got Ji Ning to fall asleep, he walked into the living room. For a long time, he stared at the rose blooming in the vase, and then finally returned to his bedroom to rest.

 

It wasn’t until midnight that Ji Mingxuan finished his work and entered the bedroom. He didn’t turn on the light. Quietly, he felt his way to the bed, then reached out and wrapped Shen Mo in his arms.

 

Shen Mo gently held Ji Mingxuan’s hand.

 

Ji Mingxuan was somewhat surprised. “You haven’t slept?”

 

“No.” Clasping Ji Mingxuan’s hand, Shen Mo said, “Mr Ji ...”

“Yes?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

Shen Mo thought for a while and, in the end, didn’t mention the car of roses after all. He only turned around and kissed the edge of Ji Mingxuan’s lips. 

 

“Thank you for the Valentine’s Day present.”

 

Ji Mingxuan let out a soft laugh. “You should sleep.”

 

Shen Mo murmured a reply and fell asleep in the gentle embrace.