Chapter 44
Gu Tang worked at the Third People’s Hospital for five years. His initial contract was for three years, but he extended it for another two due to various reasons.
Renovating his private clinic took some time, and coupled with other matters in his life, it was delayed for two years.
The connections and patients he accumulated during these five years were enough for Gu Tang’s psychology clinic to open smoothly.
He didn’t have any financial pressure. The clinic space was a property owned by Jiang Huaisheng, with zero rent, he only had to pay the property management fees.
A large sum had already been paid upfront for five years of property management fees, so Gu Tang only had to pay for utilities.
And Gu Tang wasn’t short of money. As mentioned before, he was very talented in computer science and had made connections in that field.
Through these connections, he had access to some good projects. Besides psychological counseling, he was also an angel investor.
Not the kind involved with large investment institutions. Gu Tang’s investment company was small but specialized, completely his own. He purely invested without participating in any decision-making, only taking dividends, the kind of angel investor entrepreneurs loved.
Perhaps because he was selective, and also because he was lucky, the return rate on his investments was quite good, some average, some very profitable.
Gu Tang wasn’t materialistic, so when he returned five years ago, based on his spending habits, he had already achieved financial freedom.
After all, his hourly rate as a psychiatrist was substantial, enough for him to buy an apartment in City A in full within five years.
The current Gu Tang had no financial worries and didn’t have many material desires.
Working as a psychological counselor was Gu Tang’s personal pursuit and also his passion. He found fulfillment in healing others and soothing their psychological trauma.
The money he earned after his career took off, Gu Tang didn’t keep in the bank, but used it to establish a charity.
This charity was also personally managed by Gu Tang. After all, he had experience volunteering since he was young and understood the operations of orphanages and welfare homes.
The charity had its own income-generating projects and didn’t rely solely on external donations. Gu Tang had separated this part of the business, ensuring the charity could be self-sufficient and operate independently.
The large psychological counseling clinic, of course, wasn’t just Gu Tang alone. Besides him, there were also his senior brother, whom he had known before, several of his students, and junior and senior students from universities in the country.
But Gu Tang had a completely independent and, in the eyes of outsiders, impressive private counseling room.
On an auspicious day chosen beforehand, a sunny day, the day of the grand opening, Jiang Huaisheng specifically took a day off.
The feng shui master looked at the time: “It’s time.”
Assistants held the two ends of the red ribbon. Gu Tang and Jiang Huaisheng held the same pair of scissors, and with a “snip,” the “Yusheng Psychological Counseling Clinic” officially opened.
“Yu” meant healing, recovery, and new life. He hoped that every client who walked in here would leave with their wounds healed and embrace a new beginning.
“Actually, I think ‘Tangsheng’ would sound better, but this name is also good.” Jiang Huaisheng was a bit smug. He felt that Gu Tang chose this name because of him.
There were so many beautiful words in the world, why did he choose the character from his name?
This was also why he insisted that Gu Tang rent his property. On the one hand, the vacant property would still incur property management and maintenance fees. Letting Gu Tang use it wasn’t wasteful at all.
On the other hand, how could a Gu Tang business using his name not have his involvement?
They had been together for so long, Gu Tang wouldn’t play hard to get. Sometimes, keeping their finances too separate could create distance. He had no qualms about using Jiang Huaisheng’s resources.
After opening his own clinic, Gu Tang could break free from the fixed schedule of working at the hospital.
The clinic opened in early summer, around April, when the weather wasn’t too hot. After about a month, things were on track.
Around May, it was typhoon season again. City A was a coastal city, and although they didn’t live by the sea, they were still affected by typhoons several times a year.
This year’s typhoon was stronger than previous years, a super typhoon.
Gu Tang wasn’t a heartless boss. He had suspended consultations early on, allowing his employees to go home.
He had them work from home. The psychology clinic always had a special free hotline on special days.
The service was free for clients, but Gu Tang paid his employees compensation and bonuses for working from home.
He was a generous boss. When his employees said they should refuse payment for free services, he said: “Take it, I hope you can provide better service even if it’s free, for the sake of the bonus.”
After all, most of their clients preferred face-to-face consultations. Few would take advantage of this free hotline.
Of course, for those who deliberately caused trouble or had malicious intentions during these special times, Gu Tang would have his employees record their numbers, block them, record the calls, and send lawyer letters.
It was typhoon season, and this year’s typhoon was particularly strong. The news was all over social media. When the typhoon arrived, even during the day, it was dark, as if the whole world was plunged into night.
The city lights came on, and people in essential services were still working hard.
Due to the hurricane, the sound of ambulances could be heard downstairs, along with distant fire alarms.
Jiang Huaisheng had gone home long ago. They had moved again. Considering work efficiency, their new home was very close to Mingyuan Group’s headquarters.
“Work is work, life is life. Living together would blur the lines, sometimes I want to keep them separate.”
Gu Tang’s clinic was in the same building as Mingyuan Group, so they commuted together every day.
Today was a government-declared holiday. Jiang Huaisheng had arranged everything yesterday, taking the day off as planned.
Since being with Gu Tang, he rarely worked overtime. Although he wasn’t late, he sometimes left early.
Mingyuan Group was already a giant ship, a vast business empire. Normally, even without a helmsman, it should be able to operate normally. A capable helmsman simply made the group even more successful.
In the years since Jiang Huaisheng took over, he had removed many corrupt elements. He had a healthier body now, not just for better work, but for a better life.
The typhoon hadn’t arrived in the morning, so they had been intimate for a long time last night. When they woke up, the washing machine and dryer were running.
On this sunless typhoon day, they relied on the diligent dryer for a dry, comfortable, and clean experience.
Jiang Huaisheng looked at the phone Gu Tang brought back, knowing that once the typhoon passed, it would start ringing non-stop.
Jiang Huaisheng complained: “You’re going to answer that free psychological hotline again, why work even at home?”
He hugged Gu Tang’s waist. Gu Tang, wearing an apron, still had the same slim waist as five years ago.
Gu Tang was still slender and strong, his abdomen flat, the outline of his muscles faintly visible even through his clothes.
The young man, looking very domesticated in his apron, was calmly frying eggs in the kitchen. Today’s breakfast was a simple and plain bowl of noodles, fresh handmade noodles from the market, in purple, green, and yellow.
Green was spinach noodles, purple was red cabbage noodles, and yellow was egg noodles, healthy and nutritious.
The topping was chilled char siu pork, prepared and vacuum-sealed by the housekeeper, thinly sliced, pan-fried in a little olive oil, sprinkled on the noodles, and topped with a perfectly fried egg.
“The noodles are ready, come and eat.”
Gu Tang bent down and gave Jiang Huaisheng a good morning kiss. A certain someone slipped his hand under his apron and shirt, resting it on his abs before letting go: “I’ll take a vacation to be with you after the typhoon.”
Gu Tang had also given the housekeeper a day off during the typhoon. They both loved cleanliness. Usually, they relied on the robot vacuum and cleaning robot, and there was a dishwasher for washing dishes. Once a month, the cleaning team from his hometown would come for a deep clean, which was time-consuming and laborious.
The housekeeper who usually cooked was a veteran from the old mansion and knew their tastes very well, cooking with care.
But she didn’t live with them. Their home was just the right size for two people; one more would feel awkward.
After all, they didn’t have children, and they were usually clean and organized, so there wasn’t much housework.
After finishing the noodles, the typhoon arrived. They had taped the windows with a cross pattern earlier. The wind was strong, and the whole building trembled slightly.
The building they lived in was in a high-end complex near the technology building. They lived in a single-unit apartment on each floor, only ten stories high, so the shaking wasn’t as bad as the taller landmark buildings in the distance.
And they didn’t have large floor-to-ceiling windows, which had remained safe after years of wind and rain.
The lights were on in the house. Under the bright light, Gu Tang started answering the hotline in a gentle voice: “Hello, this is Yusheng Psychological Counseling Hotline, how can I help you?…”
At the bar not far away, the coffee machine was running. Jiang Huaisheng sat at the bar, continuing his work on his laptop. Since Gu Tang would be taking a vacation after the typhoon, he had to free up these few days.
Outside, the wind howled and the rain poured; inside, it was peaceful and quiet.
After a long day of work, Jiang Huaisheng finished his third cup of coffee, iced Americano.
Gu Tang drank three cups of jasmine tea. When he hung up the phone, Jiang Huaisheng leaned in and kissed him. They both tasted jasmine-flavored coffee, the light tea fragrance neutralizing the strong bitterness of the coffee.
By the end of the day, the typhoon had weakened, the terrifying wind stopped, and only the endless rain remained.
The next morning, the rain stopped, and the sun was shining. Looking out the window, you could see the lush greenery washed clean by the rain.
The complex’s cleaners were sweeping up fallen leaves and branches, and the security guards were checking for any damage to the air conditioners.
Services suspended on various food delivery apps resumed, and the city, which seemed like it was facing the end of the world yesterday, regained its vitality.
It was Saturday, but the city was already running at full speed.
A small bird flew to their windowsill and chirped.
Gu Tang opened the curtains, his gaze shifting from the scenery outside to the little bird.
In the goose down quilt, the naked young master sat up. He didn’t see Gu Tang, his eyes widening as he found him standing by the window, his head outside, his body still inside.
He stood up, wearing only his underwear, but his body was still weak.
He leaned against Gu Tang, his bare upper body covered in ambiguous red marks, and said coquettishly: “Where are my clothes? Help me get dressed.”
The cute little bird, after singing for a while, flew away. Gu Tang pulled away and skillfully put a silk robe on Jiang Huaisheng.
He suddenly said: “Let’s get married.”
