...A-Ling, [ Jiang Cheng repeats, voice uncharacteristically soft as he tests his nephew's name out for the first time. Jin Ling. Without seeing the characters, what Jiang Cheng pictures is a little gold bell, is his sister holding her child and wishing him all the good there is in the world.

He doesn't let go, even as Jin Ling's cries subside, doesn't know if he can, is no longer even sure of which one of them is the comforted party. ]

A-Ling, [ he says again, firmer now, giving his nephew a tight squeeze as he swallows. ] Look, I can't change that I'm only twenty, or that I don't remember the life we had. But I'm here for you. I want to know everything there is to know about you. Okay?

Whatever you tell me, I'll remember. I promise.