Negative Electrode Material Chapter 11

Lorenzo’s Invitation

Chapter 11: Lorenzo’s Invitation

After scoring a meal from Teacher Lin, Gao Huan was in high spirits on the way home. Sitting in the back seat of the car, he happily recalled the way Lin Yi looked while eating with his head down, the aluminum tray with its two meat and two vegetable dishes, and the snippets of conversation between them:

“I teach three large classes for undergraduates every week and two for graduate students. The rest of the time, I’m basically in the lab.”

“The cafeteria food has improved lately; it used to be even greasier.”

“It’s not even June yet, and it’s already over thirty degrees every day!”

As he thought about it, his heart suddenly skipped a beat: Gao Huan, what are you doing? Is this part of the job?

Before he could answer his own question, his phone screen lit up with a video call from Lorenzo. Over the past six months, Gao Huan had been busy familiarizing himself with the company’s business and learning about silicon-based materials and lithiation—subjects he might never truly understand—so he had barely contacted Lorenzo. Their last chat had been over dinner the night before he returned to China. Lorenzo had brought his new boyfriend, a new trainer from the gym. Lorenzo was as relaxed as ever, his words half-true and half-jest, his face half-drunk and half-awake.

Hearing the phone ring, the driver, Old Zhang, habitually turned down the air conditioning to reduce noise. Gao Huan waved to indicate it was fine and put on his earphones. As soon as the call connected, he heard Lorenzo’s slightly raspy voice: “Hi my prince, it’s been so long!”

In the video, Lorenzo looked like he had just showered, wearing a white home T-shirt with his damp black curls falling over his forehead. He had propped his phone on the dining table and was catching a cup of espresso from the coffee machine, clearly making the call during the brief interval while the coffee was brewing.

“Yeah, long time no see,” Gao Huan laughed. “Why are you up so early? Is your fitness coach training you this early in the morning?”

“Haha, oh how I miss you!” Lorenzo showed a flash of white teeth and downed the small espresso in one go. “The fitness coach is a thing of the past. But you’re not entirely wrong; even though he’s gone, I kept the habit of sleeping early and waking up early. Look at me, won’t I live to be a hundred at this rate?”

Lorenzo rested his chin on one hand, still holding the empty coffee cup in the other, his eyes bright as he stared at the screen. “Tell me about you. What have you been up to lately?”

The two teased each other while catching up on their recent lives. When Gao Huan mentioned he was in charge of a project, Lorenzo’s eyes widened on the spot, as if he had heard something incredible.

“Wait, wait, wait, I can’t believe it!” He spread his hands theatrically. “You actually took over the family business.” After a two-second pause, he arched an eyebrow, his smile self-deprecating yet slightly proud. “Just like me, then.”

Gao Huan took the opportunity to ask, “And you? How have you been these past few months?”

Lorenzo lowered his head, his hands rubbing the cup. “I’m getting married, my dear.” After saying this, he looked up at Gao Huan, offering a smile that only moved his lips.

Gao Huan thought he had misheard. “What? You? Getting married?”

Who are you marrying? Isn’t the fitness coach a thing of the past? Is same-sex marriage legal in Italy now?

Just as he was about to press for details, he heard Lorenzo slowly add, “It’s true. I’m calling because I want to invite you to my wedding. It’s in my hometown, Tuscany, on September 10th this year.”

“But, with whom…” Gao Huan’s voice trailed off, already hesitating whether he should continue asking.

Lorenzo, however, seemed to intentionally deny him a moment to breathe. “Oh, a banking family from Florence—her family is also in the wine business.” He spoke nonchalantly. Gao Huan had never heard him introduce any of his previous partners this way—whether an art student was from a certain family or if a gym coach’s family sold wine.

Gao Huan fell silent for a moment, then smiled and said, “Then congratulations! Don’t forget to send me the invitation; of course I’ll be there.”

They chatted for a few more minutes. Lorenzo mentioned that he had met Gao Le for coffee a few days ago and handed her an invitation as well. “Your sister is glowing now, she’s like a completely different person,” Lorenzo returned to his exaggerated way of speaking. “She’s practically born for the theater; she’ll definitely be a big star in the future!”

The conversation gradually slowed down, and there were a few seconds of unnatural silence in the air. Clearly, both of them had things they wanted to say, but neither spoke up.

Finally, Lorenzo joked, “So… are you coming alone, or with a plus one?”

Gao Huan smiled instinctively. “I’m coming alone.” As soon as the words left his mouth, a clear and elegant figure on a podium flashed through his mind, making his heart tighten once again.