The Great Wall

by Z. Allora

  Tian Di paid the driver and then grabbed a box out of the back seat.

  “Here’s your key card, gate code, and Wi-Fi password. Welcome home.” Jin handed Tian Di the envelope of information.

  Touching his heart, Tian Di said, “Thank you,” and then he slipped the packet into his bag.

  Styx reached for the locked file box Tian Di clutched in his hand.

  “Oh, that’s okay. I’ve got this one.” Like a dragon protecting his treasure, Tian Di turned to prevent Styx from touching the mysterious box.

  Styx shrugged and guided the cart piled with suitcases to the elevator.

  Once they were inside, Jin demonstrated the process. “You just insert your card, and the elevator goes to our apartment.”

  The elevator rose, then stopped to allow them to enter their private entryway.

  Jin slid the mirrored doors to show Tian Di where he could hang his coat, and then he opened the slipper cabinet. “We gave you the top shelf.”

  “Nice.” Tian Di pulled a case out of his leather sack. He unfolded his slippers, put them on, and then stowed his shoes with the slipper case on the top shelf.

  After they slippered up, Jin handed off one of Tian Di’s suitcases to Styx, grabbed one to carry himself, and walked through the apartment door.

  Tian Di entered behind them and exhaled hard. “I really appreciate you offering me a place to stay, because to be honest, the electrical sockets in my apartment kept sparking. I started to worry about a fire breaking out when I was sleeping. Though maybe if the mice paid rent, it would have been easier to share my food with them, but the black mold was killing my voice. Thank you for saving me.”

  Styx held in a grimace of disgust and gripped the handle of the suitcase tighter. Poor guy.

  “No problem. We had the extra room. Plus it makes sense for a band to be together.” Jin graciously led the way to what would become Tian Di’s bedroom. “Hey, these suitcases are good quality knockoffs.”

  “Thanks. These were the last present my father ever gave me.” Tian Di’s hesitant words were mumbled.

  Jin frowned. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did he die?”

  “No.” Tian Di’s tone suggested the subject was closed.

  Indigo stepped into the hallway, and leaned against his bedroom door. He glared at Tian Di. “Those aren’t knockoffs.”

  Looking down at the designer logo on the bags, Styx couldn’t tell the difference between real or fake and didn’t know what point Indi was attempting to make.

  Tian Di didn’t restrain his eye rolling. “Morning, Indigo. I know you’re thrilled to have me right across the hall from you and Li.”

  Jin wasn’t deterred by Indi and Tian Di’s pissing contest. He swatted the pouting Indigo on the arm as he passed and pushed open the door to Tian Di’s new room. “This was officially the study; it’s a bit smaller than the rest of the bedrooms, but should be ample space for one person. The futon folds out. There should be enough space for your clothes in the closet, and this unit is actually a dresser.” He pulled open the doors to reveal the empty drawers. “You’ll have to use the hallway bathroom, but no one else uses it.”

  Styx set down the suitcase carefully, in case Indi was correct. After retrieving the other bags, he said, “If there’s anything we can do to help you settle in, let us know.”

  Tian Di shook Styx’s hand. “Thanks, man.” He grabbed a startled Jin and pulled him into a grateful hug. “I really do appreciate your and your uncle’s kindness. I won’t forget it. Anything you ever want, it’s yours.”

  Jin shook his head, probably getting ready to say he didn’t need to be rewarded, but his eyes met Styx’s for a long moment. He turned back to Tian Di and said, “The very best reward you’d give me is to do everything, and I do mean everything, including getting along with Indigo, to make our band successful.”

  Tian Di studied both of them before he smiled. “I’ll do my best, man.”

  IT WAS Made in China’s first real performance. They trekked over to the restaurant early to avoid fumbling around in the dark to set up in front of the audience, like they had the first time. Once was one too many times. They took the restaurant owner up on his offer to keep most of their equipment at the restaurant.

  Sebe bounced over to Tian Di. “Hey, you must be a singer. Can you carry a tune? Oh, I really hope you don’t suck, ’cause if you stink, that’ll be bad. What’s your name?”

  Tian Di stiffened, then scowled. “My name is Tian Di Zhao, and for the record, I don’t suck.”

  The kid burst out laughing, endearing him to Indigo forever.

  Indigo fist-bumped Sebe. As he stepped around the kid, Indigo snarked, “Well, I guess whether you suck or not is up to you.”

  Styx wasn’t sure why, but Indigo chuckled at whatever joke he’d told. The kid launched into a lecture, reminding them about all the things they needed to remember to improve their performance from last time.

  “Who’s the kid?” Tian Di asked Styx.

  Shaking his head, Styx answered, “Owner’s son.”

  “Brat does have some valid points, though,” Indigo begrudgingly admitted.

  Li nodded. “I agree with Sebe. We should be more than just a cover band. Let’s give the songs a bit of us.”

  Tian Di stopped and asked, “By the way, what’s the name of the band?”

  With all the focus on getting Tian Di settled and practicing, they’d failed to tell their new lead singer, and he hadn’t thought the band name was important enough to ask for until now.

  Indigo grinned at everyone and leaned into the loose circle they had shifted into. “Okay, guys. Here’s another part of the Rolling Stone interview.”

  “What interview? Rolling Stone wants to interview us?” Tian Di asked with his eyes flashing from one band member to the next.

  Li waved him down. “The fantasy interview in Indi’s head.”

  Indigo shook his head, ignoring the doubter. “Here’s how you should remember us telling the lead singer the name of our band.” Indigo took a deep breath and made a show of putting his hand on Li’s ass and said, “Made in China, Tian Di. Made. In. China.”

  Styx glanced around to see if anyone watched where Indigo’s hand was, but no one else was on that side of the kitchen.

  A few months ago, Indigo’s actions would have really freaked him out. Now he thought the action was silly, and he was more confused by Indigo speaking in commentary. Maybe his worry of detection was slipping, but he cared less and less. He would never be marching in any parades, especially not the kind Indigo showed him pictures of, but he accepted who he was, and Jin had assured him that wasn’t a bad thing.

  Tian Di waved his hands around. “What? Why does your hand need to be on his ass when you’re telling me the name of the band?” He hesitated for a moment before adding, “Great name, by the way.”

  Jin turned toward Styx to beam at him. Geez, only a glance and a grin did things to all parts of Styx. He returned the happy smile before hearing Indigo’s response.

  “Because my hand is always on his ass. And thank you.” He glanced at Li. “Glad you approve of the name.” Indigo sounded like he actually meant it.

  Pretending to be taking notes, Styx asked with a straight face, “Now was it your right hand or your left?”

  Jin bumped his shoulder and let out a soft chuckle.

  “Left hand.” Indigo’s grin turned into a smirk. “’Cause that leaves my right hand free to hold—”

  “Okay, enough. We’re set up. Time to get the food orders out.” Li broke the circled and grabbed the tray of food. He stomped out of the kitchen, muttering to himself about talented but grabby musicians.

  Styx and Jin struggled to gather and organize their orders.

  Indigo glided around the kitchen as if he skated on ice. He snagged a pitcher of water. On his way out, he said, “Jin, FYI… I mean just so you know, your uncle is in the back left corner of the restaurant with Li’s uncle.”

  Tian Di flew around the kitchen, gat
hering his orders and assisting others as he could. Styx and Jin shared the shock as Tian Di floated effortlessly out of the kitchen with a double tray.

  A few minutes later when their paths crossed again, Jin patted Tian Di on the back to congratulate him. “You’re really a great waiter.”

  Tian Di replied with a dramatic eye roll, “Imagine the headline: Boy from Hong Kong Knows How to Wait Tables.”

  Jin just stared at him as Tian Di waltzed out the swinging doors.

  Styx leaned in. “They’re too much alike. That’s why Indigo and Tian Di can’t get along.”

  “Well, they need to.” Jin exhaled loudly.

  Tian Di glided back through the double doors. Turning to their new singer, Jin asked, “What animal were you born under, Tian Di?”

  “Trying to figure out my age?” He batted his eyelashes, feigning an innocence everyone knew had been lost long ago.

  “No, just curious. I’m an Earth Dragon and Styx is an Earth Snake,” Jin said.

  Tian Di shrugged. “That’s why we get along. I’m an Earth Dragon.”

  Styx wanted to figure it out. “What is your Western sign?”

  “Scorpio.”

  Indigo flitted back in and snorted. “You’re a Scorpio? Me too.” He handed Styx and Jin plates to add to their order, and then he marched his tray out of the kitchen with his last order before the set, Tian Di close on his heels like they were racing.

  Jin nodded over at Styx. “That’s it. When two Scorpios get together, they either fight or mate.”

  “Well, those two don’t look like mating is in their future. Too much is at stake. Let’s try to get them to fight nice.”

  “IT IS with great pleasure the Biergarten of Suzhou presents—” Sebe’s dramatic introduction was flawless except that his voice cracked a record five times, and his light display might have caused seizures if one watched the stage too closely. “—Made in China!”

  A huge spotlight drenched each band member.

  There was only quiet applause from Tai-hua and Bao-zhi. After the relatively ignored intro, Styx drove right into their first cover.

  Tian Di demurely slid over to the mic, acting shy and embarrassed. His stage presence caused Styx to do a double take. Who kidnapped Tian Di? Styx would never have guessed Tian Di was even capable of acting demure and almost sedate, like he didn’t have the confidence to own the stage. Did he have stage fright?

  The expat audience, as well as the locals, stopped eating and talking as they were drawn in by his prim act of innocence. His notes were soft but clear. He used the words of the song to tell a story that gripped the audience and wouldn’t let them go.

  The song ending was met with quiet. Tian Di waited with his head down, clinging to the mic on the stand as if it were the only thing holding him upright. Finally, the small crowd broke from their stunned silence to applaud.

  “Play ‘Country Roads’!” an almost-drunk man yelled out.

  Tian Di raised his head but continued to play humble and whispered into the microphone, “I want to thank you all for the honor of being able to sing in front of you. I truly hope Made in China’s performance meets with your expectations.”

  He tilted his head to the side and Styx witnessed Tian Di batting his eyelashes at the audience.

  Damned if it didn’t work. Several women moved from the back of the restaurant to the tables closest to the stage.

  Tian Di smiled. “We’d like to play ‘Country Roads’ for you, but may we play one other song first?” he asked, shyly turning away from the audience as if he were bashful at having to make the request.

  Styx almost started to laugh. Indigo got his attention from behind the keyboards to do a doubly dramatic eye roll at their lead singer’s antics.

  But the audience ate up Tian Di’s act. Some had their phones out to take pictures or maybe video of the band, while several people yelled out their agreement on waiting for “Country Roads.”

  Tian Di glanced behind him at Styx. He appeared to barely control his smirk as he quietly asked the band to play one of Li and Indigo’s songs. It was unexpected, but the rest of the band followed along. He sang the sweet love song, making the girls squirm in their seats and snap pictures of him.

  When the applause finished, Tian Di said, “Thank you for your patience. We wanted to share that original song with you. And now—” He broke into “Country Roads.” The band took the cue and caught up with him. They had been working on some changes during practice, which they incorporated, making the song more theirs and less John Denver’s.

  Sebe flashed the lights as if to communicate his approval. The audience clapped, sang, and participated with complete enthusiasm. Even Tai-hua and Bao-zhi mouthed the words as they sang along in between sips of beer.

  When the set ended, the audience jumped to their feet clapping. The band took a small bow and fled into the kitchen to do a mini celebration of their success. Even Tian Di was affected by the way the crowd seemed to respond with devotion. “That was great.”

  Indigo nodded. Li smiled. Jin glowed and gave Styx a big hug. When Jin looked around to see if the cooks saw them, he tried to pull away, but Styx held him tight before releasing him.

  The owner ambled in. He clapped his hands together and rubbed them. His German accent was heavier when he was pleased, but Styx understood him. “Good job. Well done.” He suspiciously eyed Tian Di. “Where did you learn English?”

  “I’m from Hong Kong.”

  “Ah, very good. Very good. You speak almost as well as the American.”

  Indigo batted his eyelashes innocently, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, he’s almost as good as me in most things.”

  Li jabbed him in the ribs.

  As the boss went into his office, Sebe came bursting through the door and skidded to a stop. He shook each one of their hands like he was responsible for their current level of success. “Awesome! Now for the second set….”

  After five minutes of the kid telling Made in China what they needed to do, how to focus on the audience and what music to play, his father stormed back in and yelled, “You have to let them serve the food! Orders are up and people are hungry! We’re a restaurant, not a nightclub!”

  Sebe sighed dramatically and slapped his thighs, studying the band. “First time we renegotiate your contract, no more waiting tables.”

  His father grimaced and started speaking to the kid in rapid guttural tones Styx assumed were German. The boy followed his father out of the kitchen.

  Styx laughed. Life was great. The band did a wonderful job.

  Jin? Well, Jin just appeared like he would float away with giddiness and something else… maybe hope.

  They served the food to a warm reception by the customers. “You guys are great!” one woman with her three girlfriends said in broken Chinese.

  Two of the women expats at another table asked, “Single?”

  Styx stared at them.

  They were resourceful enough to ask the question a different way in Mandarin. “Girlfriend?”

  He wanted to say he didn’t understand, but unfortunately he did. Shaking his head seemed to cause the entire table of ladies to squeal. Shit! He almost dropped the last dish. Catching it, he set the plate of fries down in front of the howling blonde and hurried away.

  Indigo slapped him on the back. “Getting hit on?”

  “Yeah. What’s with those women?” He watched the door to ensure none of them followed him into the kitchen.

  “It’s all part of it. Just smile.”

  Jin entered shell-shocked. He had a folded piece of napkin in his hand and a frown on his face.

  “What’s that?” Styx asked as Jin threw the ripped napkin away.

  “A number.”

  Indigo laughed. “Some girl gave you her number?”

  Li slid past them with some dirty plates. “No, it was a guy.”

  Styx didn’t like hearing about that at all, but Jin had thrown the number away. He wasn’t going to act like an ass, but he did want t
o know which idiot had hit on Jin.

  Indigo gathered an order. He handed a tray to Li and a tray to Jin. “For your uncles.” Jin appeared relieved and left with Li.

  Styx took some orders, passed out some food, and even helped clean a mess at the bar.

  Li’s uncle Tai-hua stopped him as he passed.

  “Can I get you something else?” Styx asked.

  “Bao-zhi said I owed you an apology for my little drunken rant at the wedding.”

  “No need. Please. No need.” Styx would rather put the whole thing out of his head for as long as possible. He wanted to absorb every cubic centimeter of joy tonight offered.

  Li’s uncle continued, “Well, I’m sorry. I don’t know you well enough to lecture you.”

  Styx nodded and gathered their empty glasses.

  “I don’t want to see any of you boys getting hurt.” Li’s uncle raised his hand to stop any words from coming out of Styx’s mouth. “You’re young, but just… be careful.”

  He didn’t know what to say. “Um, I’ll get you guys another round.”

  When he delivered the beers, Bao-zhi told him, “You’re a great drummer. I haven’t seen you guys play since you were much younger, but… the whole band has a great sound.”

  Smiling, Styx felt his cheeks heat. “Please, don’t give me a red face.”

  Both men laughed, and Styx retreated to the kitchen where Jin was talking to Li and Tian Di.

  The warning of the two older men echoed through Styx’s mind along with the words too late.

  Chapter 16

  STYX’S LIFE had dramatically changed in a few short months. Made in China gained a local following. They were actually popular. The restaurant owner had listened to his son and hired other waiters. This allowed Made in China to play longer sets.

  They actually had a small fan club. Every Friday night the group met and requested the band’s original songs. Made in China was flying high on their local success. It went beyond Styx’s wildest dreams.

  But the most incredible change was that he and Jin had become lovers in every sense of the word. He still wore the chastity belt because he liked Jin having the key. Coming to terms with who he was sexually made him struggle at times, but Jin was worth the battle. All the years of conditioning and pretending he was something else seemed to be distant from who he was now.