The Stars In Your Eyes

The sun rays from the autumn sun shines through branches of trees and warmth spreads to Jian Kang Lu's heart. The autumn comes with regal ease, content to arrive with slow grace. Though the first leaves have tumbled to the soil so rich with rain, most remain green, fluttering in the strengthening wind.

And so, though Jian Kang Lu wishing for the freshly calm with that hint of earthly aroma, the fragrance of homeliness, he knows he must be patient to wait for his own spring to arrive.

His kitten said that he had free time around lunch time today. They agreed to meet in this big shopping mall not so far from his hospital. Jian Kang Lu arrived 20 minutes earlier than their appointment time.

He stands at the mall lobby near the reception. They promised to meet each other here. He just stood there with one of his hands in his pocket. His handsome face and elegant figure made people around him can't help to wonder why this attractive man was standing there alone. 

His other hand holding his mobile phone, browsing for the best topic to talk with youth male in the internet. He doesn't want his kitten getting bored while having a "date" with him.

Besides, it's been so long since his last date. He knows his age gap with the kitten is also wide. To be honest, this is one of his reason why he's being so fucking single without any romantic relationship for last 2 years. He's tired of having to try guessing the other person's mind, and tired to maintain a lively conversation.

He already had to talk too much with his patients and colleagues, giving so many different smiles to people around him just for the sake of maintaining good relationships with them. When he finishes his work, he just wants to go home and have a silent night reading books or watching movies. Without having to be a good doctor, a good colleague, or a good friend.

But somehow, he doesn't mind doing this one hell of a cycle again just for the sake of hearing that lovely kitten's voice once again. In this last week he even questioned himself whether it was just a sexual desperation, maybe he was also tired after 2 years maintaining a mutual relationship between his hands and his "brother".

Jian Kang Lu tried to analyse himself, and found his curiosity towards his kitten not really a sexual attraction towards his kitten. He doesn't have any lewd imagination about him, and he also didn't want to start that perverted dream about his pure kitten. He just felt a sprout seed of happiness, from the first time he saw him in the plane.

He doesn't want to think too much about that. He decided to just walk one step towards another step to know his kitten better. He felt this road is quite beautiful with autumn triumphant in colour. After all, he met his kitten in autumn.

Just let the flow of time bring forward the answer to him.

Suddenly the phone in his hand rang, Sun Hongjia's name appeared on the screen. He's one of his friends from his high school. Though Hongjia studied abroad after high school, he is still one of his best friends. He's a fuerdai, a second generation nouveau rich family in the B city. Though rich as hell, he's a smart and calm person. That's why they could maintain a good friendship after almost 20 years.

Sun Hongjia is a happily married man. He and his wife, Xie Lihua, married 10 years ago after he graduated and took over some of his father's company. Xie Lihua is not from a filthy rich family like Hongjia, but she's a really sweet and smart woman. Her father owns a small furniture company. 

Their wedding is small compared to any fuerdai's wedding around their circle. But so warm and intimate between friends and family. Just like this couple's personality. They have 1 daughter and 1 son, ages 8 and 3 years old.

Even though Hongjia has his own driver, for some reason he's so damn afraid to go home just with his driver if he's going to have some business meeting that will have the possibility of women and drinks around. He will always give Jian Kang Lu a call before to make sure his friend can drive him home safely after that. If not, Hongjia will pester him all day because he doesn't want Lihua to think he's doing something out of decency outside.

He's such a henpecked husband.

But there's another reason for Jian Kang Lu to spare his time to accompany and drive this man home after a drinking party. It all started before Hongjia married Xie Lihua. 

One day, he was drunk enough in the party and one low class model in the party tried to take advantage of him. He was dragged to a hotel room above by this young woman. And only God knows what will happen after that if Jian Kang Lu didn't call him at that time.

Jian Kang Lu kept talking to Hongjia non stop for 20 minutes until he picked him up at the hotel, while also noticing Hongjia's driver to look at him while he was still on his way and make sure Hongjia was safe.

The driver noticed the hotel security to track this young master via cctv and found him in the hotel room corridor with a young woman who tried to drag him. Jian Kang Lu immediately took him from the hotel security and the driver. Then he took Hongjia back home sound and safe.

And that's the story of how Jian Kang Lu started his profession as a professional driver and drinking companion to Hongjia, becoming a private joke spread around the fuerdai circle. Not a malicious joke, but a teasing one that was used between close friends. 

These young masters used to see him previously as Sun Hongjia's high school friend who liked to hang around with Hongjia in those wild parties. But later they know that Jian Kang Lu won't accept any party invitation from them without Hongjia.

All of them value Jian Kang Lu quite high. Jian Kang Lu is polite, but always add liveliness to the party. He's really smart and easy to talk to. His parents are also quite rich. He has no problem buying his own liquor, without needing anyone to cover his expenses. 

People like to be around him, and he's not a person who likes to take advantage of their high status. That's why Jian Kang Lu is really popular in the fuerdai circle. Besides, Sun Hongjia won't receive any trash party invitation from trash fuerdai again after that last incident with the low class model.

Jian Kang Lu stares at his phone, slides the screen and answers the phone.

"Yo, why did this brother suddenly call me on Saturday noon? Does sister in law finally get bored with you and want to get rid of your clingy ass this weekend?"

Sun Hongjia's laugh could be heard from the other side of the phone. "You bastard! Why didn't you tell me that you're going for vacation to W city? Are you hiding something good from me over there? That's why you don't want to invite me to have some bachelor party by yourself in W city?"

"Bachelor party your ass! I'm going for a pure mind and soul vacation alone to soothe my suffering single dog soul. I don't want to have a vacation with you just to see you having some perverted video call with my sister in law like our last vacation. That's really a traumatic experience for my pure virgin soul."

Sun Hongjia snorted, "If you're a virgin, then I'm a holy saint. So how's your vacation? Did you manage to get my future sister in law there? Don't tell me you're enlightened to shaved your head, become a monk dedicated to stay celibate for the rest of your live."

Jian Kang Lu smiled though the other party can't see his smile over the phone. He then replied with a light teasing tone.

"I don't know, maybe i will just adopt a kitten to accompany me at home."

"Shit! Are you going to transform into that granny near our high school that raised 14 cats at her home, and just smelled like cat's poop every time we met her at mini market?"

"No way! Nowadays cat's litter is of good quality and I guarantee you that my kitten's smell will be wonderful. But of course it's only me who can hold and sniff at my kitten."

Sun Hongjia was surprised. Will his best friend really adopt a kitten? "Do you seriously want to adopt a kitten??? God, i need to tell Xiao Hua about this. And why the hell are you so possessive with your future kitten? Why only you can sniff at your kitten. You won't let Xiao Hua and MeiMei play with your kitten? Why so stingy now?"

"I'm not stingy, unlike you. I haven't even counted my fee from having to send you back home after every business party or our annual meeting we had when you're so wasted. If I didn't bring you back home, I'm sure my sister in law will whip you so hard until you forget how to walk with 2 legs and lose the ability of your third leg."

"Why do you have to bring those things up? God, your pure mind and soul vacation definitely failed. It didn't bring you any changes. You're still as bad as a fox demon."

Jian Kang Lu's playful tone was heard once more. "You know my fees are hourly, right? And it's definitely not cheap to have a nephrologist as your personal driver. Don't worry, I'll give a 5% discount considering our friendship for all this year."

"I will pay all those fees when you get me a sister in law. Don't stack your money when you don't even know how to spend it." Sun Hongjia knows his best friend rarely spends his money except for good food.

"Oh I will definitely send the bill to my sister in law. Don't look down at this single dog. By the way, how do you know I have vacation to W city?"

Jian Kang Lu heard some voices from the background. He can recognise it was HongHong and MeiMei's voice. It seems they are pestering their dad to let them talk with their uncle Jian.

"Oh, I met Ah Se yesterday when having dinner at Altitude. He then asked me why I didn't accompany you on your vacation. Your brother was a little worried when heard you had vacation alone, it was not like you. So we wonder if there's something happening with you recently. You know this big brother will always support you, so please tell me if you had something bothering your mind." 

Sun Hongjia's tone now conveyed his worries, and Jian Kang Lu touched. But it really was not necessary for them to worry about him. He was an adult, and knew how to handle his loneliness.

Suddenly Jian Kang Lu feels someone appeared in the corner of his eyes. He looks at the person next to him. That person stared at him and had a kind of 'did i disturb your conversation' face.

He wears a green hoodie sweater with black jeans. His bangs slightly shifted to the left, revealing his eyebrow so Jian Kang Lu could see his facial expression better than last time. He has a slightly curved eyebrow that suited well with his phoenix eyes. His bright eyes looked at him, and he tilted his head a little bit while stare at him.

That is his lovely kitten.