Yingqu Liuzi was pampered by her wealthy daddy.

On the morning of the day he left Lake Como, Caesar received a phone call in the yard.

Shen Yu'an was eating bread on the steps of the porch when she heard Xize say a few words in Italian. He spoke casually and occasionally chuckled.

He hung up the phone and walked back. Shen Yu'an looked up at him.

"who?"

"A friend from my childhood. He said his boat was free today and asked if we wanted to go."

"Didn't you say I could borrow it?"

He said he would drive it himself.

Shen Yu'an lowered his head and took a bite of bread: "That's too much trouble."

He said he wanted to see you.

Shen Yu'an paused in his chewing of bread: "To see me?"

"Yes. He wants to see what kind of person you are."

Shen Yu'an swallowed his bread, paused for two seconds, and said, "Then go tell him he might be disappointed when he sees it."

Xize looked at him: "No, it won't."

Shen Yu'an lowered his head and continued eating his bread, without replying.

They walked along the lake for a while and came to a private dock.

A man stood beside the dock, shorter than Xize, with dark hair, wearing a light-colored linen shirt, and looked to be about the same age as Xize.

He saw Xize smile first, then came over and patted Xize on the shoulder, said something in Italian, and then turned his gaze to Shen Yu'an, smiling as he extended his hand.

Shen Yu'an shook hands and heard the other person say in accented English, "He has never brought anyone here before. You are the first." Shen Yu'an turned his head to look at Xize, who was not speaking and was looking at the lake.

The boat wasn't large, it was white with dark blue seats. My friend sat in the driver's seat, while Xize and Shen Yu'an sat side by side in the back.

The wind was strong once the boat started moving, and Shen Yu'an's hair was blown back. He squinted as he watched the villas and gardens on the lake shore glide past one after another.

Shen Yu'an didn't hear what her friend said ahead, but the wind was too strong.

Xize leaned closer, his lips close to Shen Yu'an's ear as he translated, "He said that the yellow building over there used to be a writer's house." Shen Yu'an nodded and glanced in that direction again.

The boat sailed for nearly an hour before docking at a small pier.

There's a small restaurant next to the pier, with outdoor seating right by the water.

Their friends had lunch with them, ordering fish and grilled vegetables, and opening a bottle of white wine. Shen Yu'an took two sips and put his glass down, while Xize took his glass and finished his.

My friend asked me a lot of questions during the meal.

They asked how they met, what Shen Yu'an did for a living, and how long they had been married. Xize answered some questions for him, while Shen Yu'an answered others himself.

After listening, his friend smiled, holding his wine glass, and said something in Italian. Shen Yu'an didn't understand and turned to look at Xize.

He said he thinks you're a good person.

"Just this one sentence?"

"There's one more thing."

"What?"

He said I was lucky.

Shen Yu'an lowered his head, picked up his water glass, took a sip, and didn't reply. But when he saw Xize's lips twitch when he said those words, he couldn't suppress it himself.

When we returned to the villa in the afternoon, the sun was already setting.

Shen Yu'an sat on the steps of the porch, and Xize sat down next to him. The two of them looked at the lake.

The boat was no longer at the dock; the mooring lines were undone, and the planks lay empty. In the distance, a sailboat was heading back on the lake.

Shen Yu'an leaned closer, his shoulder pressed against Xize's. He tilted his head slightly, resting it on Xize's shoulder, his hand on his knee.

"Daddy."

"Um."

"What were the last words your friend said?"

Which sentence?

"He said something to you again before he left."

Xize was silent for two seconds: "He told me to treat you well."

Shen Yu'an didn't move or speak. A bird skimmed low over the lake, its wings barely touching the water before it lifted off the ground. After a while, he spoke: "So, are you going to listen to him?"

Xize reached out and placed his hand on the back of Shen Yu'an's hand, which was resting on her knee: "Listen, baby. Even if he doesn't say anything, I'll still be good to you."

The two sat in the living room at night with the window open, and the lake breeze blowing in from outside made the curtains flutter slightly.

Shen Yu'an curled up on the sofa looking at her phone, while Xize sat beside her flipping through an old book. After a while, Shen Yu'an put down her phone and stretched her legs out to rest on Xize's lap.

Xize glanced down at his feet, reached out and grasped his ankle, rubbed his thumb against the back of his foot, and then continued turning the pages of his book.

Shen Yu'an moved his foot and felt the pressure of his big toe rubbing very lightly against the skin of his instep.

"Will your friend's boat still be there tomorrow?"

"He's gone. He has something to do tomorrow."

"So where are we going tomorrow?"

Venice.

Is it far?

"It took more than two hours to drive there."

Xize paused for a moment, loosened his ankle, and gently patted his calf.

Shen Yu'an pulled her feet back, turned to the side and curled up on the sofa, her face facing Xize.

He watched Xize's profile as he looked down at the book for a while, then closed his eyes, leaned against the sofa armrest, and slowly fell asleep.

They arrived in Venice the following afternoon.

Shen Yu'an's impression of this city is water, narrow alleys, and many bridges.

Their hotel was located by the canal, and from the window they could see the houses on the opposite bank and the occasional passing boat.

Shen Yu'an stood by the window for a while, and Xize walked over from behind, resting his chin on Shen Yu'an's shoulder.

Have you been to Venice before?

No. The first time.

"What would you like to see first?"

Shen Yu'an thought for a moment: "By boat."

They rode in a gondola. The gondolier stood at the back, rowing, and the boat slowly made its way along the canal.

The houses on both banks are very close together, their walls painted in light yellow and pinkish-orange. Some walls have green moss growing at their base, clinging to the water's surface.

Occasionally, a bridge arches overhead, and pedestrians on the bridge look down as they cross.

Shen Yu'an leaned back in his seat, stretched his legs out and put them on the opposite seat, tilting his head to look at the scenery on both sides of the river.

Xize sat down next to him, his hand resting on the back of the chair, his fingertips dangling down to touch Shen Yu'an's shoulder. Shen Yu'an turned his head and glanced at him: "You've been here before?"

"I've been here once. A long time ago."

"With whom?"

"Myself."

Shen Yu'an didn't ask any further questions and turned back to look at the opposite bank.

The light dimmed briefly as the boat passed under a bridge arch, then brightened again. An echo emanated from beneath the arch, and the boatman hummed a tune, the sound resonating between the stone walls.

"Will you come by yourself again in the future?"

Caesar gently pressed his finger on his shoulder: "I'm not coming by myself."

Shen Yu'an didn't reply. He reached out and touched the water, his fingertips breaking through the dark green surface.

The water in the canal was divided into two parts by the ripples at the bow of the boat, and then they met again at the stern.

After getting ashore, they walked for a while in the narrow alley.

The stone path was worn smooth by footsteps, and in some places it glistened with water, as if it had just rained.

The shops on both sides sold masks, glass crafts, and leather goods. Shen Yu'an paused in front of a mask shop window, where a row of half-face masks hung, white with gold trim.

He looked for a few seconds but didn't go in; he turned around and continued walking.

Dinner was at a small restaurant by the canal. Shen Yu'an ordered squid ink pasta, while Xize ordered a seafood platter.

While waiting for his meal, Shen Yu'an leaned back in his chair, watching the lights that came on across the canal.

The windows were lit up, a warm yellow light, one after another, casting reflections on the water, which were broken and then closed again by the ripples.

"Daddy."

"Um."

Where did you stay when you came here alone before?

"A small hotel. It's tucked away in an alley."

What were you thinking at that time?

Xize looked at him: "I'm thinking of bringing someone with me next time."

Shen Yu'an did not respond.

He looked down at the water in the glass on the table, the surface reflecting the lights from the opposite bank, broken into small pieces of gold.

He picked up the cup, took a sip, then put it down and looked up at Xize.

"Then you brought it."

Xize reached out and touched the back of his hand on the table, then turned his palm over and slipped his fingertips between Xize's fingers, locking them together.

"I brought it."

The squid ink pasta was served, and Shen Yu'an let go of his hand and lowered his head to start eating.

The noodles were stained black with squid ink and sprinkled with finely chopped parsley. He twirled a piece with his fork, chewed it a couple of times, and glanced up at Caesar: "This is better than that fish from France."

"Then come more often in the future."

"Take me to Naples next time."

"good."

Shen Yu'an lowered his head and continued eating his noodles.

The lights on the opposite bank of the canal swayed slightly in the evening breeze, and the reflections on the water scattered and gathered again.