The Stars In Your Eyes

Jian Kang Lu doesn't know what emotion he felt right now. He was over forty years old. He thought he already tasted every emotion a human should encounter. But now..

Rage. Fury from his kitten's suffering. His hands trembled while holding the glass. He kept drinking and drinking, holding himself from running to the F firm and lash his anger to the whole people who bullied his kitten.

Dejected. Why didn't his kitten tell him this kind of thing? He didn't believe his kitten didn't know the persecution done by his colleagues. Is he not strong enough to let his kitten depend on him?

Remorse, a gnawing pain crept inside.. How hurt and sad his kitten had to face those kinds of things. This is only a small portion he heard from Zhen Guo. What else did they do to his kitten over there?

Distress. The mental pain he faces right now is hurting his head, and most of all, stabbing his heart. It has been a long time since he has felt this kind of ache. Slice his inside slowly, bleed him out.

If not because of him, his kitten won't be bent. His kitten will be just a normal young man with a girlfriend. A normal person in society. Not a freak like him. His kitten won't have to face these kinds of dark and creepy things from human's fear and judgment.

Another emotion blended in those negative feelings he felt.

Immoral. For he was touched and happy on top of his kitten's suffering. Happy to discover his kitten still chose to stand by him despite all those bad things that happened to him because of an old man named Jian Kan Lu.

"So, does my TangTang know what those people talk behind his back?" Jian Kang Lu asked.

Zhen Guo shook his head, "I didn't ask for more. I feel they won't tell me the truth even though I asked. I contacted my friend, F firm director, but he didn't seem to know, or he pretended to blind. I have no idea."

Jian Kang Lu knows his friend well. Zhen Guo is not a man who likes to pry into someone else's matters. He has already asked Zhen Guo to tell this story three times. Now he blankly stares at the bubbles on his beer.

Zhen Guo noticed the icy tone of Jian Kang Lu. His face was full of black lines, it was rare for his best friend to show this kind of scary face. 

Even Zhen Guo was really mad when he heard them talking about Bai Yutang that way, moreover his best friend who cupped his little boyfriend in his palm, as if he was the most delicate thing in this universe.

"Liu Xiang hasn't gone home yet, right? Let's call him.." Jian Kang Lu reached his phone and dialled Liu Xiang's number. He was glad Zhen Guo suggested this place to meet. It only takes 10 minutes from Zhen Guo's office.

Liu Xiang is still working. Being a junior architect in Zhen Guo's office means working over time almost everyday. He was surprised to see Jian Kang Lu call him.

"Liu Xiang. I'm at Gioi with your boss. Come here for a minute. Let's talk for a little bit." Jian Kang Lu's voice sounds cheerful and calm at the same time. Jian Kang Lu didn't want Liu Xiang to notice something was wrong.

"Jian Ge! Okay! But I can't go for long. Treat me for dinner!"

"I will." Jian Kang Lu laughed. "Come, you can order whatever you want. My treat."

"Does TangTang there also?" Liu Xiang pressed save and took his wallet. He needs to hurry if he wants to come back sooner, finish this damn roof by today.

"No, TangTang is still working. See you here soon." Jian Kang Lu hung up.

"You didn't mind your employee being kidnapped, right?" Jian Kang Lu asked.

Zhen Guo gave him facepalm. What is the use asking him now?

Jian Kang Lu ordered his third bottle. He needs something to calm his nerves. His fingers keep trembling from the wrath.

Liu Xiang didn't take long. At first he thought the atmosphere around these two people was weird. As if there's a dark cloud hanging exclusively in that area.

"Mr. Zhen Guo. Jian Ge." He politely notified the two people of his arrival.

Jian Kang Lu instantly put on his friendly smile, "Liu Xiang. Come, sit down." Jian Kang Lu raised his hand to call for the waiter, asking for the menu.

Zhen Guo only nodded and said nothing. He really admired his best friend's ability to plastered different kinds of smiles in a short moment. Honestly, if this man didn't decide to be a doctor, he could pursue a career as an actor.

He saw Liu Xiang's happy face when he ordered one egg salad and steak. He silently lit the candle for Liu Xiang. Does this young employee still be able to swallow his food after interrogation?

Of course Jian Kang Lu is a decent man. He let Liu Xiang chat with him and Zhen Guo, leisurely eating, let this man happily chew his dinner first.

When Liu Xiang happily patted his bloated tummy from this delicious dinner, Jian Kang Lu smiled, "Liu Xiang, can I ask you about my TangTang?"

Liu Xiang patted his chest, "Of course Jian Ge! Ask me anything!" He shamelessly sells his friend for this exquisite dinner. 

One should know since two of his roommates decide to save their money for the upcoming wedding, Liu Xiang can't ask them to eat outside again for two months in a row. Those two only eat instant noodles or the cheap fried rice near their apartment as an effort to scrape every cent they have.

Jian Kang Lu's smile never faded, he slowly asked, "Then.. Do you know why TangTang resigned from his last working place?"

Liu Xiang shook his head, "I told you, Jian Ge. I was also surprised. We know we need to work at least for two years before we take our architect license. If he quits, it will take longer to apply for the license. I don't understand why he decided to quit before two years."

Jian Kang Lu nodded his head. He knows, and it hurts him more. If his tough and iron kitten decides to resign, it must be unbearable for his kitten. His kitten who didn't even complain when he holed up in that shabby hostel, doing a lot of part time jobs to support his study and his family, eventually gave up with F firm.

With that, Jian Kang Lu's rage flared once more. He really wants to search for a fierce lawyer and sue them all.

Liu Xiang still enjoyed this dinner even with the strange atmosphere, but then he paused to see Jian Kang Lu's face. Never.. Never did he see this gentle man show this kind of face.

"Liu Xiang, then do you know that my TangTang is bullied by his colleagues? I bet you know. Tell me, why hide those facts? Does my TangTang think he could hide it from me forever?" Jian Kang Lu's smile is frozen, his voice is even colder than his face.

Liu Xiang's smile faded. He saw Zhen Guo's face. Now he knows why his boss's face is like that the whole night. His scalp is numb.

"Er…"

"No need to lie. I already heard from Zhen Guo. I just want to confirm what TangTang told you guys."

Liu Xiang gave up. Then he tells Jian Kang Lu about how Bai Yutang's peers and boss unfairly treat him. Hearing Liu Xiang's story made Jian Kang lu's face colder and colder to the degree Liu Xiang felt this year's winter is the worst winter he ever faced.

On the other side, Zhen Guo's rage is flaring now. What kind of firm is this? He couldn't believe his friend's firm turned out to be filled with this kind of trash.

Zhen Guo also tasted the bitter and painful experience of becoming an architect, but for someone to steal your precious idea, your hard work and claim it to be their own is something unforgivable for all of them.

"Shameful!" He slammed the table.

Liu Xiang jumped and looked at his boss with fear.

"Ah.. I don't know that my TangTang could hide so many things from me. Why don't you tell me, Liu Xiang? Actually that's not what I heard. It seems you also hide so many things from me."

Liu Xiang's hand is now trembling. Does he fall for these two wolf's tricks? Actually they don't know a thing and are just fishing for information from him? And now he stupidly sold Bai Yutang's secret.

"No.." He said timidly.

"Don't tell me you didn't know that TangTang's colleague was gossiping behind his back. They spread rumors that my TangTang is a duck, with an.. Old.. Bald.. Fat.. Sugar daddy.."

Liu Xiang almost knocked his beer from the table. He coughed and choked to hear that. "I swear I don't know about that, Jian Ge! I swear!"

Liu Xiang also raged now. How did that happen? Who is the evil who spread those rumors again?

"Really?" Jian Kang Lu's face clearly shows he didn't believe Liu Xiang at all.

"Really! If I know, I will tell him to resign earlier! How could they still spread those old rumors until now??"

Jian Kang Lu froze, "Old rumors?" His face and tone is now really frightening.

Liu Xiang clasped his mouth. So stupid. How could he loosen his tongue to this extent? He sighed and gave up. Jian Kang Lu is not stupid. Rather than Jian Kang Lu interrogating Bai Yutang and creating a rift in their relationship, better Liu Xiang comes clean.

Thus, Jian Kang Lu and Zhen Guo silenced for a long time listening to Liu Xiang's story. Bai Yutang has endured this for years.

Jian Kang Lu's heart ached even more. His eyes are hazy. It was true he wanted to be with someone who was willing to walk with him hand in hand despite the hardship and adversity. But not this way. 

He wants to shield his kitten from all the bad things in this world. He thought he was strong enough to bear all the consequences. But it turns out, his kitten is the one who shields him from all those things.

Only an idiot who couldn't see how much his kitten loved him.

The strongest form of love is not from the sweet act or sugary words spoken between two strangers. It comes from the blood and tears shed to maintain the bond between two lovers.