The Stars In Your Eyes

Liu Xiang can't help but order a bottle of beer to calm himself. The pressure omitted by the two old wolves in front of him is too heavy for him to bear.

After drinking half a bottle of his beer, he suddenly heard Jian Kang Lu speaking.

"Can you find out what else they said about my TangTang? And I also want to know how he spent his days over there.. What did they do to him? Is it worse compared to what he went through in university as you told me?"

Even Liu Xiang's heart tightened to hear Jian Kang Lu's voice. There's a hint of anger over there. But the most prominent tone he heard from Jian Kang Lu is despair and sadness. 

Liu Xiang took a deep breath. "I will try, Jian Ge. I'll let you know when I find about it.."

"Thank you." Jian Kang Lu hand's playing with his glass without drinking it. His eyes looked empty. "Don't let TangTang know.."

"I get it. Don't worry, Jian Ge." Liu Xiang's voice is soft, assuring Jian Kang Lu.

They finished their drink and Jian Kang Lu paid the bill. Zhen Guo didn't bicker with him to pay like usual. He saw that his best friend's face was really bad. He pat Jian Kang Lu's shoulder without any words.

When Jian Kang Lu paid the bill, Bai Yutang already reached the apartment and washed his hands, preparing to cook their dinner. He starts to cook when Jian Kang Lu is already driving home, to ensure his lover eats the freshly cooked one pot chicken rice.

He starts with deboning chicken drumsticks and marinates the chicken with white pepper, salt, scallions, ginger and Shaoxing rice wine for a while to let the sauce sipped and penetrate the chicken well. Then he fried the scallions and ginger in olive oil until the kitchen filled with fragrant scent, taking half of it to make the sauce later on.

Bai Yutang rinses the jasmine rice under cold and soaks it. He drains the water and pour rice onto the fried scallions and ginger, add the diced carrot, sprinkled some salt and stir fry while slowly adding the water. After one minute, Bai Yutang placed marinated chicken pieces on top. He cooked it on low heat. After fifteen minutes he removed the heat and let the rice with chicken stand for a further five minutes.

During cooking, the juice from the chicken flows into the rice, releasing an enticing fragrant chicken rice. While he ensures the chicken is cooked well, Bai Yutang prepares the sauce.

He added light soy sauce, black rice vinegar and a little bit of chilli to the remaining fried scallions and ginger.

Bai Yutang finished his cooking and waited for his lover to arrive. Once he heard their apartment's door open, he shouted from the kitchen, "Gege?"

Bai Yutang walks toward the living room to welcome his lover. Usually his lover will take off his coat, put his bag, and give him a light kiss. Bai Yutang startled when he saw his lover standing there and watching him intensely.

"Gege?" Bai Yutang asked. Why does his lover seem to be in a bad mood? Is this related to his meeting with Zhen Guo? Does Zhen Ge encounter some troubles? It was very rare to see his lover in a bad mood like this.

Bai Yutang startled when he was embraced tight by Jian Kang Lu. Jian Kang Lu even hasn't taken his coat off yet.

He silently embraced his lover back, stroking that wide shoulder and strong muscles on his lover's back. They are just standing there without words. The comfortable silence engulfing both of their closely attached bodies.

Jian Kang Lu knows his kitten won't tell him anything. Jian Kang Lu also knew his kitten refused to show him any weakness. He just can enveloped this thin body of his kitten onto his own. How he wished he could put his kitten on a strong protective bubble, to never let him encounter any of those misfortunes again.

To let this man he loved the most, to never feel any pain again. To let this man who gave his love, never waste life in vain.

After a while, Bai Yutang's voice broke the silence. "Do you want to talk with me, gege?" His voice is still the same as what Jian Kang Lu heard years ago. His kitten has already matured, but with him, his voice always sounds soft. Declaring his youthful carefree life, as if he never tasted a single pain in this life.

Jian Kang Lu slightly reduced his tight embrace, he pressed his lips into his kitten's forehead lightly, an act full of worship. "Nothing, just missed you so much.." His voice is a little bit hoarse.

Bai Yutang could smell faint alcohol from his lover. He kissed his lover's back. "Let me finish cooking. Wash your hands first and go to the dining room."

Bai Yutang walked back to the kitchen. He quickly blanch some pak choi, put the rice and chicken into the bowl, top it with the sauce, then add the pak choi to the side. Jian Kang Lu already washed his hands and faces and hugged his kitten from the back.

"Gege, let me finish this first. Go sit down, ah." Bai Yutang slapped his lover's naughty paw who hugged him and rubbed his waist in an unrestrained manner. He was afraid his lover would pounce on him here just like it happened before. At that time, they eat their cold dinner thirty minutes later after Jian Kang Lu mopped their love making traces on the dining table.

Truly unhygienic!

Jian Kang Lu kissed his kitten's shoulder, obediently released his paws and sat down like a naughty boy punished because of his mischievousness.

Both of them enjoy the dinner. At this time, Bai Yutang knows his lover won't say much. So Bai Yutang only told Jian Kang Lu what he did for today, what gossip Xiang Cai told him, what he ate for lunch, those small things happened in his ordinary days.

They take a bath together, and of course no need to elaborate what happened in the bathroom.

As a male species with testosterone flowed in their blood, Jian Kang Lu shut his brain while letting his lower brain take control. Indeed, this is why females say that males tend to think with their lower parts.

Bai Yutang already sleeps after their night exercise. His naked body covered in thick quilt, tightly enveloped in Jian Kang Lu's arms. The heat from both their bodies seeped to Jian Kang Lu's bone, engraved Bai Yutang's name deeper in it.

Jian Kang Lu still can't sleep. He only caresses his kitten's soft hair lightly, afraid of waking his kitten up. His brain went back to active once more after his lower part shut down.

What can he do for his kitten? He was not sure his kitten will let him sue F firm for discrimination. After all, the law in their country didn't elaborate on this kind of matter clearly. Even with money and a long time taken in the court, it won't guarantee they will win.

Moreover, his kitten doesn't like to stand in the light because of this matter.

What could he do to prevent this thing from happening again? Just like what their teacher and textbook taught him when he studied medicine, the best thing is preventing humans from falling into sickness compared to treating the sickness after it surfaced. Just like vaccination is important to prevent major diseases from harming humans.

Jian Kang Lu is not an official, he could not change the law. Jian Kang Lu is not a big architect, he can't open a firm for his kitten led a leisure architect's life. Jian Kang Lu definitely won't be a tyrant that keeps his kitten at home without a job.

But one thing Jian Kang Lu knows, every human has a similar instinct to stay alive. They will prostrate to the higher power. Just like slaves feared their masters, employees feared their boss, the poor admired the rich, the ordinary fancied the talented.

To stand still in this society without fear, one had to establish their position. Unshaken by the cruel society. No matter which part of the world, everyone will fancy the one who contributes to society. 

It doesn't matter if they talk on your back, the most important thing is to let them know his kitten was not the one easy to bully and to make sure they will be afraid to show any impolite manners in front of his kitten.

What can he do?

At least for now, Jian Kang Lu had to make sure his peers and colleagues in the hospital would never bully his kitten. He needs to drill his claws deeper and reach the possible highest position.

Before, Jian Kang Lu avoided the light. He didn't want people to notice him more than what he could afford for fear they would pry into his private life more than necessary. To protect his beloved.

But now, his kitten doesn't mind walking out from the dark toward the edge of light. His kitten even told his colleagues that he had a boyfriend. Admitting Jian Kang Lu as the owner of his heart. Not ashamed to hold a male's hand as his companion.

So, why do Jian Kang Lu need to be afraid? He was the one who needed to protect his kitten, not the opposite. In the dimmed bedroom, Jian Kang Lu's eyes are full of determination. He calculates, and estimates the time he needs to achieve his target.

Thus the next day, 74 year old Professor Lin Hsing Hun who is still energetic at his age but rarely comes to hospital anymore, is surprised to receive a call from Jian Kang Lu. Prof Lin is the name known worldwide and still etched as the best nephrologist this country ever had. He agreed to let this young man come to his home for a visit.

Looking at the expensive health tonic and rare delicacies brought by Jian Kang Lu, Prof Lin gives a faint smile. At his age, he couldn't count anymore how many times people came to him asking for favours. As expected, the young man with a warm smile in front of him was also the same.

"But why now?" Prof Lin asked Jian Kang Lu. Prof Lin already offered this young man many times before, but the young man politely retreated. Why now does this young man want to dive into the world of politics and power?

"What is your target?" Prof Lin asked again.

"To be the best. To let the world know my name and achievement. To let them know that I give my best to contribute to society. To let my future spouse stand proud with me, knowing that I am the best. I know I'm lacking in so many points, and it might be too late. That's why I came here, shamelessly asking for your help. I know I could never achieve my target without your help, Prof Lin." Jian Kang Lu firmly said.

Prof Lin laughed. Indeed, this young man is so amusing. Prof Lin received so many requests before, but no one answered with this level of honesty, with this mighty arrogance, but also with the utmost humble words.

"For your future spouse… Yes, yes.. What an answer." Prof Lin smiled. 

Jian Kang Lu was the one who chose this road to walk. He didn't want to lie when he asked for help. He believed honesty is the best foundation when someone needs assistance for they will work together for a long time. If Prof Lin rejects him, then this is not the right path for him to walk. He will search for another path.

"It makes me wonder, who is your future spouse? She must be a great person to make a person like you who rejected me many times, now willing to bow your head in front of me. Is she a doctor also?" Prof Lin raised his cup of tea and his hands gesture Jian Kang Lu to drink his tea also.

Jian Kang Lu raised the cup and washed his throat with this bitter tonic tea. He put the cup slowly back to the table. "He is still young. Not a doctor, an architect. And he is a man, not a woman." Jian Kang Lu said. His head never bowed down, he showed his clear eyes filled with determination to Prof Lin.

Prof Lin almost spurted the tea in his mouth. He coughed, clearing his throat for a while before laughing like a maniac. He coughed again and needed to pat his own chest. Jian Kang Lu was already standing and helped Prof Lin to calm himself.

"Ahahaha.. Indeed, I was always right. You are the most entertaining among the others." Prof Lin coughed again and wiped his tears. "It will be a long road, and you need to work harder since you're not young anymore. Who told you to reject me before."

Jian Kang Lu returned to his seat. "I will work hard to meet your expectations, Prof Lin. I will try my best. I can't promise you anything besides my effort."

Prof Lin waived his hand, "I know your capability. First of all, send me all your research list and your accumulated points. Target to fill your requirement to achieve professor title first, and give me the list of your future research ideas. No need to fight for the position in the hospital, better target the position in the committees of Chinese society of nephrology, and later if possible, target to be the ISN head or executives committees in KDIGO. Co chairman if possible."

"Yes, Prof Lin. I already prepared the files and will send you the report by today." Jian Kang Lu said. He breathed out in relief. Prof Lin didn't reject him, this is a good start. 

The road is hard and rough. This is only the first step. Like many things in life, everything needs to be done step by step. It doesn't matter, he knows his own capability, ready to bring out the best in him.

Jian Kang Lu is not the one who is afraid of hardships. He only feared for one thing. He only feared for his kitten's suffering. Afraid that his kitten will someday feel tired from living an unhappy life with him.

He clenched his fist. The road is still long. But as long as it was needed as insurance for his kitten's happiness, he didn't mind. For their future life will be filled with wonderful flavours, as they could meet a life as an equal with everybody else. As everyone in this world has the right to pursue happiness and love in equality.