The two of them found a tall and beautiful maple tree, with the distant rolling mountains as the backdrop. The city’s shadow was hidden in the vastness. Jiang Shen stood under the tree, facing Zhao Louyue’s camera. After a brief moment of discomfort, he curved his lips into a gentle smile.
Zhao Louyue’s wrist trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.
“Yeah, pretty good,” Zhao Louyue said, taking a shot and then handing the phone back to Jiang Shen.
Jiang Shen thought as long as his features were clear, it was fine. He didn’t expect Zhao Louyue to be so particular about composition.
“Looks good,” he said, sending the photo to Wang Xiuyu.
Zhao Louyue raised his phone to take a picture of the maple leaves on the treetop.
Jiang Shen noticed but didn’t think much of it.
Zhao Louyue’s fingers moved, switching to silent mode, and as he lowered the phone, he gently pressed the capture button.
Not gentlemanly, not polite, but he couldn’t help it.
In the photo, Jiang Shen’s profile was captured, sunlight fading at the tip of his nose, outlining a gentle contour. Because he was in a good mood, even the smile at the corner of his lips was clear.
Just then, an assistant called. Zhao Louyue waved his phone at Jiang Shen and went aside to answer.
“Hello, what is it?” Zhao Louyue occasionally responded, while Jiang Shen turned his head and found a rather unique orchid among the bushes, so he leaned in to take a picture.
Meanwhile, Duan Chaosheng seized the opportunity to approach Zhao Louyue.
“Mr. Zhao,” Duan Chaosheng said, looking nervous.
Though they were of the same generation, their experiences and temperaments were worlds apart. Duan Chaosheng always felt a sense of fear and timidity, as if facing an elder when dealing with Zhao Louyue.
“What is it?” Zhao Louyue lifted his eyelids.
Duan Chaosheng found it hard to speak. He had always had a smooth journey, with few who could trouble him. But half a month ago, a project his father was about to launch was suddenly “killed.” Upon careful inquiry, he found out it was Zhao Louyue’s doing. Duan Nan cautiously called Zhao Louyue, only to receive a bunch of evasive words. In the end, Zhao Louyue said with a fake smile, “Mr. Duan raised a good son.”
After hanging up, Duan Nan slapped Duan Chaosheng twice.
But no matter how hard Duan Chaosheng thought, he couldn’t remember when he had offended Zhao Louyue.
However, it didn’t matter. Easing the relationship was the priority now.
“Mr. Zhao,” Duan Chaosheng seemed to have adjusted his mindset, opening his tense shoulders, “If I did something wrong before, I hope you can forgive me.”
“What, have you done so many guilty things that you can’t remember which one?” Zhao Louyue said coldly.
Duan Chaosheng’s head shrank back again.
He really couldn’t remember!
“Alright,” Zhao Louyue said indifferently, “Your dad’s project had issues from the start. Ting’an had investments in it. I can’t let you guys waste it.”
These words were blunt. Duan Chaosheng couldn’t get any more out of him and left awkwardly.
After he left, Jiang Shen approached. Having overheard a bit, he couldn’t help but ask, “Did Duan Chaosheng provoke you?”
“Yeah,” Zhao Louyue replied. That day, if he hadn’t been there, Jiang Shen, in the dark, might have fallen off the steps and gotten seriously hurt. “By the way, the bamboo chair you wanted, I’ve made it for you. When do you have time to pick it up?”
Jiang Shen was quite surprised, “You really made it?”
“Yeah, didn’t I promise to make one for you?” Zhao Louyue’s voice was deep, and with the warm sun blending in, it fell into Jiang Shen’s ears with a different flavor.
Jiang Shen rubbed his fingertips, hesitated, and finally nodded, “Alright, thanks. Let me know if there’s anything you like.”
Duan Chaosheng stood in the shadows, clearly seeing the emotions flickering in Zhao Louyue’s eyes, and a terrifying answer was about to emerge.
Around four o’clock, Zhao Louyue took Jiang Shen back to the villa for a nap. With Cong Gaoxuan’s antics, there was no avoiding drinking in the evening.
As expected, when Jiang Shen woke up, washed, and came downstairs, the sunset was fading outside, and the cold wind was rising.
The tables in the hall were cleared and combined, filled with drinks in the middle. The aroma of barbecue wafted in the air. Only two windows were open for ventilation, the rest closed. The old-fashioned fireplace against the wall was burning, completely warding off the nighttime chill at the mountain top.
“Jiang Shen, come sit,” Fu Cheng called out.
“Brother Fu,” Jiang Shen responded, giving face.
Fu Cheng nodded, “If you want anything, just tell the kitchen, don’t be shy.”
“Okay.”
Cong Gaoxuan, true to form, got the party going. With him around, Lao Lin also joined in enthusiastically after having a bit to eat.
As they played, Jiang Shen was pulled to the table. Barely two minutes after sitting down, someone patted his shoulder. Looking up, he saw it was Zhao Louyue.
“Bro, switch places?”
“Sure, Brother Zhao.”
Zhao Louyue sat next to Jiang Shen.
Cong Gaoxuan was losing badly, downing a large glass of beer in one go, and amidst the crowd’s jeers, reshuffled the cards, “Watch closely, I’m winning this round.”
Winning was out of the question, yet he insisted on teaming up with Jiang Shen, playing such a bad hand that Jiang Shen had to drink along.
“Young Master Jiang, maybe you should split from Cong Gaoxuan. After three rounds, you’ll be lying down tonight.”
Jiang Shen chuckled, “Let’s play a couple more rounds.”
Even though Jiang Shen tried to turn the tide, with Cong Gaoxuan completely out of it, even blowing up with a single “K” from the opponent, he was successfully dragged down.
“Drink, drink, drink!”
“Alright,” Jiang Shen was up for it. He picked up the beer and took a sip; it was a bit cold.
Zhao Louyue discreetly placed his hand on Jiang Shen’s arm, speaking softly, “Can you handle it?”
Jiang Shen replied, “I can hold my liquor.”
Jiang Shen downed it in one go, while Cong Gaoxuan, being teased, struggled to swallow amidst laughter and spitting.
“Count me in,” Zhao Louyue suddenly said, “Just right for a three-on-three.”
Jiang Shen glanced at him.
Cong Gaoxuan, squatting on the chair, shouted, “Brother Zhao, you’re the man!”
With Zhao Louyue joining, the game became more balanced. Playing with three decks mixed together, after Zhao Louyue fed Jiang Shen, Cong Gaoxuan was left out, spitting out what he was fed. If it weren’t for these two big brothers dragging him along, he could lose all night.
Of course, there were times when luck wasn’t on their side, but no matter what, Jiang Shen didn’t touch another drop of alcohol.
Zhao Louyue drank another large glass, and Jiang Shen leaned over, “Can you handle it?”
Zhao Louyue said, “Isn’t this just plain water?”
Jiang Shen was silent for a moment, “I’ve realized, your mouth is the toughest part of you!”
Zhao Louyue, drawing a card, glanced at him with deep eyes, “Then you guessed wrong. There’s something even tougher.”
Jiang Shen: “…”
In an instant, Jiang Shen felt something roll over his face, causing the residual alcohol in his body to ignite, burning from his lungs to the top of his head.
But Zhao Louyue’s expression remained unchanged. Seeing this, Jiang Shen quickly scolded himself internally. Maybe Zhao Louyue was talking about his temperament, his drinking capacity! But no matter what, Jiang Shen felt a bit provoked. For the next two minutes, he didn’t feed any cards, even sabotaging a few times.
Zhao Louyue: “…”
Zhao Louyue chuckled, still accommodating Jiang Shen. If they lost, they drank. Their atmosphere was strangely harmonious, and after observing for over ten minutes, Cong Gaoxuan slapped the table, his tongue a bit thick, “Wait a minute, Brother Zhao.”
Cong Gaoxuan covered his forehead, thinking hard, finally grasping the key point, “We’re on the same team, so why do you drink for Jiang Shen but not for me?”
“You can handle it, bottoms up!” Zhao Louyue clinked glasses with Cong Gaoxuan, who went “oh oh oh,” drinking in a daze.
Jiang Shen shifted his position, feeling a bit embarrassed after being pointed out by Cong Gaoxuan.