### Chapter 16: A Little Kiss?
Unlike the usual favors, this time, no matter how busy Jiang Shen was, he couldn’t stop thinking about that cup of coffee from Zhao Louyue. Finally, he managed to squeeze out some time on Thursday afternoon.
They arranged to meet at a café that was a midpoint between their companies. Due to traffic, Jiang Shen was about ten minutes late, and Zhao Louyue was already there.
By the window, the man wore a white shirt and suit pants, without a tie, with the top button undone, looking casual and quite eye-catching.
“Sorry, sorry,” Jiang Shen hurried over.
“No rush during break time,” Zhao Louyue looked up at him.
“Mainly because I’m the one treating, and I’m late.”
“No worries,” Zhao Louyue changed the subject and waved over the waiter.
“Order whatever you like,” Jiang Shen said as he sat down opposite.
Zhao Louyue flipped through the drink menu, “Then I won’t hold back.”
How could he not hold back? He just ordered a mocha.
Jiang Shen looked at the waiter, “I’ll have a mocha too, with sugar and milk.”
Something about that seemed to amuse Zhao Louyue, as his lips clearly curled up.
Jiang Shen asked, “Is that wrong?”
“No,” Zhao Louyue replied, “Also, bring a Mont Blanc cake.”
Jiang Shen wondered why he only ordered one.
When the cake arrived, Zhao Louyue pushed it towards Jiang Shen.
Jiang Shen was surprised, “You’re not eating?”
“I don’t like sweets,” Zhao Louyue explained why he ordered the cake, “Your taste is pretty easy to guess.”
“…”
That afternoon, the rare sunshine filtered through the glass, casting a warm and pleasant glow over everything. Jiang Shen had nothing else to do, so he even slowed down his coffee drinking.
There was no awkwardness at all. Zhao Louyue was talkative, able to chat about any topic, from the “Mingxi Building” project to Chang Junfei, hitting all of Jiang Shen’s interests precisely.
“Chang Junfei is a rare honest person. You can trust doing business with him, and also…”
Zhao Louyue paused.
Jiang Shen was scraping the chestnut cream off the cake, and when a bit got on his lips, he licked it off with his tongue.
The young man lowered his head, his thick eyelashes gilded by the sunlight, and his face, when not sharp, made people want to wrap him up in comfort and wealth.
Jiang Shen didn’t hear the rest and looked up.
But Zhao Louyue had already forgotten what he was going to say.
He looked somewhat absent-mindedly out the window, where a polar bear mascot from the restaurant across the street was handing out samples to passersby.
Jiang Shen didn’t want to talk business anymore, “By the way, is your brother feeling better after the breakup?”
Zhao Louyue: “…”
Zhao Louyue didn’t even want to admit that Zhao Xiangting’s situation was a breakup.
“That Jia family’s pretty boy…” Zhao Louyue sneered.
Usually, Jiang Shen would just offer a few comforting words, but this time he couldn’t help himself, “Indeed, I haven’t met Jia Xinjue, but judging by his group of friends, I can guess what kind of person he is. Maybe you’ve protected Zhao Xiangting too well.”
“He’s just too soft-hearted, never dated anyone before, and got swept away by sweet talk. Now it’s a ‘record’ on his history.”
Jiang Shen chuckled lightly.
Zhao Louyue laughed along, seeing the cake was almost gone, he asked, “Want another one?”
“No, I’m full.”
“I feel like you eat less than Zhao Xiangting.”
Jiang Shen gave him a mild glare.
Jiang Shen checked the time and was surprised that three hours had passed.
Honestly, it was quite relaxing, not having to focus intensely on work or deal with the old hands in the business world. Putting aside those indescribable, ambiguous feelings towards Zhao Louyue, chatting with him was really nice.
Before leaving, Zhao Louyue suggested packing a cake, but Jiang Shen declined.
When Zhao Louyue took out his card, Jiang Shen suddenly stopped, staring at him expressionlessly.
Zhao Louyue immediately gave up on paying, stepping back very understandingly.
Jiang Shen paid the bill, and they left the café together.
In the distance, dark clouds loomed, likely to rain in about an hour. The sycamore leaves on both sides of the road were sparse, with a few yellow leaves clinging on, as late autumn swiftly invaded Lin Du.
“Well, you head back first. Call if you need anything,” Zhao Louyue said.
Jiang Shen smiled, “Sure.”
Jiang Shen noticed that gaze following him, but he never looked back.
The gray Range Rover merged into the traffic, and just as Zhao Louyue lit a cigarette, Fu Cheng’s call came in.
“Discharged?” Zhao Louyue asked first.
“Yeah,” Fu Cheng replied coldly, “You only visited once while I was in the hospital.”
“Scared of a minor scrape?”
Fu Cheng: “…I have a fractured leg bone.”
Zhao Louyue: “I know, I’ll send you two boxes of bone broth later.”
Fu Cheng detected the lightness in his tone, even his teasing carried a smile, so he sarcastically asked, “What, did you see Jiang Shen?”
Fu Cheng was the only one around Zhao Louyue who noticed his feelings. Originally intending to tease his friend, he didn’t expect Zhao Louyue to respond enthusiastically, “Ah, how did you guess?”
Fu Cheng: “…”
Fu Cheng chose gossip over scolding, “And then?”
“I feel like he’s avoiding me a bit.”
“That’s good news.”
“Bro, do me a favor,” Zhao Louyue’s tone turned serious.
Fu Cheng sensed danger and was about to hang up when he heard Zhao Louyue continue, “Don’t you dare hang up!”
Fu Cheng: “…Go on.”
“This can’t go on forever. Jiang Shen is thin-skinned and doesn’t like owing favors. A meal, a cup of coffee, it’s nothing substantial,” Zhao Louyue said sincerely, “You’re just out of the hospital, right? Perfect, use the Mingxi project as an excuse to organize a team-building event and include me.”
Fu Cheng laughed, “Then you owe my leg a kiss?”
Zhao Louyue: “I’m begging you, Brother Fu.”
Fu Cheng hung up, goosebumps rising all over.
Jiang Shen signed off on a few documents in the office and returned to the Jiang residence after dark.
Jiang Wenze was sitting on the living room sofa, reading.
Sometimes Jiang Shen felt Jiang Wenze was completely bound by his “persona,” marinated in it, reading financial magazines seriously every day, but when it came to practical application, the knowledge seemed to slip through the folds of his brain, leaving nothing behind.
Hearing movement, Jiang Wenze looked up at Jiang Shen, then tossed the magazine onto the table.
Jiang Shen knew why he was angry.
Jiang Wenze said coldly, “Did you snatch the deal with Country B that I was negotiating?”
“That’s not fair,” Jiang Shen took a sip of water, “You didn’t even have a complete contract. I just finished the follow-up procedures. Is there a problem?”
“You just picked the fruit!” Jiang Wenze was furious, “I negotiated it, and you signed your name in the end!”
“How did you negotiate it? By cozying up with young models?” Jiang Shen replied calmly.
He stood while Jiang Wenze sat, Jiang Shen’s gaze was condescending, addressing him with “you” but with a cold indifference throughout.
Jiang Wenze was so angry he was about to explode, “Jiang Shen! Don’t forget, you’re just the deputy general manager!”
“I remember, you can take back the real power anytime, and I’ll fully cooperate,” Jiang Shen said slowly, “But let me remind you, if you don’t correct your personal conduct, something else might fall into my hands next time.”
“You!”
If Jiang Shen were someone who craved wealth, it would be easier. Jiang Wenze could string him along for a long time, but Jiang Shen didn’t care. Even if he were sent back to Yuwei Village now, Jiang Wenze felt Jiang Shen wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
After a brief standoff, Jiang Wenze’s chest heaved a few times, then he sighed deeply, speaking earnestly, “I’ve been married to your mom for twenty-eight years. How could I mess around? Sometimes circumstances force me to put on a show. I’m not that kind of person!”
Jiang Shen nodded cooperatively, “Then you’re doing well.”
Jiang Wenze: “…”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head upstairs. Dad, you should rest early too.”
Tian Lu had quietly returned to the bedroom before him. As the door closed, Tian Lu leaned against it, feeling her heart race and her eyes uncontrollably warm.