Chapter 126: Excitement

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Chang Yu returned home carrying some cold dishes and spicy duck neck he had bought by the roadside, his mood a tangled web of emotions. Just moments ago, he had paid 36,000 yuan all at once for Yang Yang’s tuition because the kindergarten required a full year’s fee upfront. In the blink of an eye, his pocket held less than 14,000 yuan. It was as if he had walked away with nothing; now, he could proudly declare to the world: he, Chang Yu, was gloriously bankrupt.

On the quiet little balcony, Chang Yu held a duck neck in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other, silently gazing out at the night scene beyond the window. Inside, the room was dark, but outside, the street was ablaze with light. Sitting on a high stool, he chewed on the spicy duck neck while occasionally swirling the deep purple wine in his glass, lost in a melancholic yet intoxicating reverie.

Cars sped by in groups, their headlights flickering like mesmerizing flames. Nearby, towering buildings were dotted with countless lights—red, green, blue, and purple. The room’s dim glow filtered through curtains of various colors and textures, casting vibrant hues that resembled a painter’s palette from afar. This was the city’s true beauty at night: a myriad of lights from countless homes.

What is the most beautiful night view of a city? It is not the flashy neon lights, nor the warm glow of street lamps and buildings, nor the dazzling gold of bustling traffic. It is the colorful tapestry woven by the lights of every household.

Within these towering skyscrapers live countless small families. Though insignificant to the city, they are its very foundation. The people inside experience joy and sorrow, parting and reunion, living their own lives while carrying the hopes of the next generation. They are the ones who truly call this city home, quietly leading their simple lives.

Chang Yu had long enjoyed standing by the window, staring into the distance for long stretches. He liked to hide in the shadows by the window, turning off all the lights to watch the world outside in darkness. Seeing the countless lights flickering in the residential buildings and the busy silhouettes of people made a small spark of envy rise in his heart.

Sometimes, he deeply envied those people. When could he, too, have a place of his own in this city?

For the past two years, he had been asking himself this question repeatedly. When he was a humble security guard, living in hardship, he dreamed of owning a home in this city. He even imagined joining the ranks of those who had a place to call their own—not having to rent, not having to endure a landlord’s temper, not being rootless and drifting.

Everything they owned would revolve around that small, personal nest. Like all families with their own homes, after a day’s hard work, he could return to the warmth of his wife and children whose gentle smiles would soothe his exhaustion.

Living in that small space, he could be the happiest man alive.

In truth, no one who has never experienced homelessness and instability could understand Chang Yu’s feelings now. Those who have a home to go to after school or work could never fathom his loneliness and desolation.

Without a home of his own, he was like a drifting weed, a moon hanging in the sky with no place to rest forever. Without ever witnessing the lights of thousands of homes, one could never truly appreciate the city’s nightscape.

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Those who have never experienced loneliness would not suddenly yearn for a true place to belong in the city.

Fortunately, compared to two years ago, Chang Yu was now a bona fide homeowner. The property certificate bearing his name, a gift from his friend Wang Pangzi, lay in his bedroom. It was a spacious apartment with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen, spanning over two hundred square meters. Many spent their entire lives without ever affording such a home.

With just a little more patience—one more year—Chang Yu could move into this new house. His long-held dream was on the verge of becoming reality. Thinking this, the lingering clouds of worry in his heart instantly dissipated.

“Since I’m in such a good mood, I might as well post something on social media,” he thought, pulling out his phone to capture the beautiful view outside the window.

He deliberately included the duck neck and the glass of red wine in the shot, especially focusing on the bottle of wine on the table. What appeared to be an accidental photo was actually the centerpiece of his post.

The wine was from Bordeaux, France—a decade-old vintage worth over ten thousand yuan per bottle—one of the priciest in the plastic bag of liquor his helpful supplier, Comrade Xiao Li, had brought him.

Chang Yu ostentatiously posted these photos online, adding a melancholic selfie and the caption: “In the adult world, everyone bears their own burdens. Depression is the norm; self-healing is reluctant.”

After a moment’s thought, he added: “The taste isn’t pleasant at first, yet I’ve fallen in love with the subtle thrill of being tipsy.”

To set the mood, he chose to stand rather than sit on the comfortable stool. He leaned his face against the back of his hand, swirled the wine glass, and drank deeply with a look of profound melancholy, tinged with loneliness and desolation.

After all, showing off has always been a source of joy on social media. His main purpose was to flaunt the wine; otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered posting.

Wine paired with spicy duck neck—what a refined, exquisite combination! The spicy flavors mingled with the wine’s sharpness, leaving Chang Yu’s mouth fragrant and lips tingling.

“Pfft!”

Yang Yang, who had been quietly sipping water from a small teacup, suddenly sprayed out the cool water in surprise at Chang Yu’s sorrowful expression.

“Ch-Chang Yu, what are you doing?” Yang Yang stammered, finding it odd that Chang Yu was up late at night on the balcony, acting so strangely.

Especially when he saw that Chang Yu’s post had already received likes within seconds, and that he was cradling his cheeks with both hands, shaking his head in a playful, almost girlish manner, excitedly exclaiming “Oh yeah!” Yang Yang began to feel a bit overwhelmed.

“What do kids know? Sitting in this spot is for posting on social media,” Chang Yu replied matter-of-factly. “Even something as simple as breakfast can be a post.”

“What’s the occasion to be so happy?” Yang Yang asked, watching Chang Yu alternate between biting the duck neck and sipping the wine.

Chang Yu forced a casual smile, trying to appear as a strong and heroic father.

“Yang Yang, I have good news for you,” he said.

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“I took care of your enrollment this afternoon. The day after tomorrow, just like the other kids, you’ll be going to kindergarten.”

Yang Yang’s eyes widened in astonishment and delight, his mouth opening wide enough to fit an egg.

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It was the first time Chang Yu had seen such a vivid expression on Yang Yang’s face.

Surprise, excitement, shock, disbelief...

After a long pause, Yang Yang finally said, as if waking from a dream, “But aren’t you really poor?”

“Even though your current job pays okay, you haven’t received this month’s salary yet.”

“Your previous job didn’t pay much either; you probably didn’t save anything.”

“Really!” Though Yang Yang complained, the sly smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed his true feelings. “If you had that money, wouldn’t it be better to buy me snacks? What if you run out of money to support me later?”

Yang Yang’s barrage of questions moved Chang Yu deeply, and the next moment tears welled up in his eyes. His vision blurred as emotions erupted like a volcano.

It was true—his son really understood now and worried about money for him.

“Don’t worry about money; that’s something adults have to handle,” Chang Yu offered a gentle smile. “As a child, your most important task is to study hard, enjoy your childhood, and live a life you deserve.”

Though he said this, every time he thought of the little more than ten thousand yuan left in his account, a sharp pang of pain seized his heart.

Clearly, he needed to figure out a way to earn more money to support the family.

“Yay! Chang Yu, you’re so handsome!” Yang Yang jumped up excitedly. “I take back what I said before—you’re not stingy at all.”

“You’re the biggest and most generous man in the world!”

That night, Yang Yang snuggled under the thick covers, giggling foolishly. He had been laughing for a whole hour, like a little madman.

He thought he was being quiet so Chang Yu wouldn’t know, but even through the covers, his laughter carried clearly to Chang Yu’s ears.

There was no stopping it; the two of them shared a bed, just over half a meter apart between the upper and lower bunks. Any movement below was immediately heard above.

Yang Yang was finally going to the kindergarten he had longed for, and Chang Yu could feel his joy and excitement.

Perhaps influenced by Yang Yang’s happiness, Chang Yu’s own spirits lifted, and a smile never left his lips.

Sending Yang Yang to kindergarten was a blessing—it saved him worry. Though it cost more money, it brought peace of mind.

From now on, Chang Yu only had to drop Yang Yang off at kindergarten, and his days would be easier.

Without this little troublemaker running around all day at home, Chang Yu could have more time to himself, no longer fretting over Yang Yang’s antics.

Thinking this way, sending him to kindergarten seemed like a good thing.

The next day, Chang Yu rose early and took Yang Yang out.

Grabbing the car keys, the two drove to a nearby mall.

Their first stop was a specialty store for children’s backpacks, filled with a wide range of exquisite options for parents to choose from.

The young saleswoman smiled professionally as she spotted the father and son approaching.

“Hello, sir. Are you here to pick out a backpack for your child?”

(End of chapter)