25
Eyes Filled with Tears
Chapter 25: Glimmering Tears
He gently rubbed the silver ring on his ring finger and said hoarsely, “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
When Fu Jing saw the glimmering tears in Jiang You’s eyes, he froze. He had never seen Jiang You cry.
Before Fu Jing could say anything, Jiang You stood up and went to his study.
After taking painkillers and a double dose of sleeping pills, Jiang You slumped onto the bed.
He grabbed that worn-out small blanket and hugged it tightly, shedding tears in a daze for a while before the medication forced him into deep sleep.
Jiang You didn’t return to the room until very late, and Fu Jing knew he wouldn’t be coming back to sleep tonight.
Hmph, it would be best if they remained separated until the divorce.
Fu Jing turned over and switched off the bedroom light.
…
Jiang You organized Fu Lin’s 18th birthday celebration with great extravagance.
After celebrating Fu Lin’s birthday that day, Jiang You left. Before leaving, he handed her a document folder, saying it was her birthday gift and that she should open it after returning home.
Fu Lin was utterly shocked, as she was already wearing two pieces of seven-figure jewelry from Jiang You around her neck and wrist.
She never expected there would be more.
This isn’t a brother-in-law, this is fucking Daddy! Fu Lin thought to herself.
Back home, Fu Lin eagerly opened the document folder in front of her parents and brother.
Everyone present was stunned by what they saw inside.
Jiang You had gifted her a car worth tens of millions and a luxury residence in the prime downtown area.
Plus five percent of Jiang Corporation’s shares.
The crucial part was those five percent shares in Jiang Corporation – Fu Lin could literally coast through the rest of her life.
After a moment of silence in the room, Fu Jing’s father said, “Linlin, don’t touch these documents for now.”
“I won’t, Dad.” Fu Lin obediently kept her arms at her sides, already imagining how many male models she could afford in the future.
“Fu Jing, did you know about this?” Fu Jing’s father asked Fu Jing.
Fu Jing slowly shook his head.
“Communicate with Jiang You about this. How can he just give away company shares like this?” Fu Jing’s father pointed at the share transfer agreement.
“…”
When Fu Jing returned home, the house was completely dark. After turning on the lights, he slowly walked to the sofa and sat down.
Jiang You had left right after Fu Lin’s birthday celebration, saying he’d be away for a few days without specifying where. Fu Jing hadn’t asked either.
After mentioning the three-month divorce, things had been tense between them, and neither had spoken to the other.
The honey water Jiang You had prepared for him last night was still in the same place, with a slice of lemon still inside.
Fu Jing picked it up and took a small sip – sweet and sour, the taste surprisingly good.
It had just gone completely cold.
He took out his phone and dialed Jiang You’s number. Zhao Linsheng answered.
“President Fu, President Jiang is resting. What can I do for you?” Zhao Linsheng’s voice was very low, clearly indicating Jiang You was right beside him.
Fu Jing paused for a moment, “Why are you with Jiang You while he’s sleeping?”
“He’s running a fever,” Zhao Linsheng said.
“…” Fu Jing: “Why does he have a fever again?”
“He never fully recovered, and it flared up again today.”
Fu Jing let out an almost imperceptible sigh, “Have him call me back when he wakes up.”
He didn’t receive Jiang You’s call until the following evening.
“I heard from Zhao Linsheng that you were looking for me?” Jiang You’s voice was calm, so calm it bordered on coldness.
As if that night when he was red-eyed and falling apart was just Fu Jing’s imagination.
“Where are you?” Fu Jing asked in a deep voice.
“Is there something you need?”
On the other end of the line, Fu Jing let out a long sigh. Even through the static, Jiang You could sense his displeasure.
Jiang You replied, “I’m in Country R.”
Then he immediately followed up, “What’s wrong? Did you miss me?”
“…” Fu Jing didn’t answer but instead asked, “Why did you give Fu Lin shares in Jiang Corporation?”
“I felt like it.”
“…We’re about to get divorced. Is this really necessary?”
“Our relationship may be over, but my bond with Linlin isn’t. I wanted to give them to her,” Jiang You said.
“Jiang You, stop doing these self-gratifying gestures.” The unspoken implications hung between them.
A lyric suddenly popped into Jiang You’s head—”I moved heaven and earth, yet I couldn’t move you.”
Jiang You chuckled softly to himself, so lightly that Fu Jing wasn’t sure if he’d actually laughed.
He responded to Fu Jing, “Alright, Fu Jing, stop needling me. This is the last time I’ll celebrate Linlin’s birthday. It’s her coming-of-age ceremony, and I just wanted to give her something meaningful. That’s all.”
On one hand, he claimed his connection with Fu Lin remained intact, yet on the other, he declared this would be the last birthday he’d celebrate with her. Fu Jing found the contradiction baffling.
“How long until you return this time?” Fu Jing asked.
“Do you miss me? If you do, I’ll come back sooner.”
“You’re asking for it, Jiang You.” Fu Jing’s retort lacked intensity.
“Fine then, I’ll hang up to stop the bleeding.”
“…” For a moment, Fu Jing was caught off guard by his dry humor.
Fu Jing abruptly changed the subject. “Are you running a fever again?”
“Can I take that as you caring about me?” Jiang You’s tone lifted slightly.
Within a second, the dial tone buzzed from the other end.
Fu Jing had hung up.
Jiang You held his phone, stunned for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
…
The next day, when Fu Jing arrived at the company, he learned that Jiang Yong had resigned for unknown reasons.
No one knew when he had packed up and left—his office was already empty.
Over the next two days, discussions about Jiang Yong persisted in the company, eventually circling back to Jiang You.
The general consensus was that while Jiang You appeared gentle, his methods were anything but soft.
Soon after, changes occurred in Jiang Corporation’s equity structure, and Jiang Yong was removed from his position as a board member. This caused quite a stir within the company.
Jiang Yong had been the only other member of the Jiang family, besides Jiang You, in a core position of power. With him gone, Jiang You could rest easy.
Moreover, for Jiang Yong’s subordinates, this presented an undeniable opportunity—after all, when one person steps down, another steps up.
Two days later, Jiang You held a video conference announcing that Zhang Qingyan would replace Jiang Yong as vice president of Jiang Corporation.
Aside from Zhang Qingyan himself, few colleagues were surprised.
Ever since the incident where the bid’s bottom line was leaked and Jiang You redistributed Fu Jing’s workload to Zhang Qingyan, everyone had recognized Jiang You’s high regard for him.
The video conference lasted only ten minutes.
Jiang You wore a simple gray sweatshirt, his hair neatly combed, giving him a gentle and soft appearance—like an ordinary young man fresh out of society, still green and inexperienced.
Fu Jing couldn’t even imagine what it would look like if Jiang You were to display the firmness his colleagues often spoke of.
…
By the time Jiang You returned, the progress bar for their divorce had already reached one-third.
He appeared at the company unexpectedly one early morning.
Immediately upon arrival, he called everyone into a meeting, much like a surprise inspection. Colleagues who had been slacking off in their work were suddenly on high alert.
Whether it was because his hair was cut short or he had lost some weight, his sunken eye sockets and slightly hollowed cheeks gave his features a hint of sharpness.
He appeared more capable and efficient.
During the meeting, he and Fu Jing hardly exchanged any glances. It was only when Fu Jing spoke that Jiang You would direct his gaze toward him.
Maintaining a clear distinction between public and private matters was the only understanding the two had upheld over the years.
Facing Jiang You’s cold and distant gaze, Fu Jing found it difficult to connect this version of Jiang You with the gentle, compliant man he knew in private.