### Chapter 20: Let’s Just Be Friends
The fun came to an abrupt halt when someone dragged Duan Chaoshen into the mix. After a brief silence, Zhao Louyue’s gaze met Cong Gaoxuan’s in the air, and Cong Gaoxuan flashed a wicked smile. Zhao Louyue, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, slightly raised his chin and reshuffled the cards.
Jiang Shen held a Joker card, skillfully flipping it between his fingers so fast that it was hard to see what it was. After watching for a few minutes, Jiang Shen leaned back in his chair, knowing that Duan Chaoshen was in trouble.
Even if Cong Gaoxuan was drunk to the point of dizziness, if you called him to do something mischievous, he could still squeeze out some fierce clarity from his soft rationality.
After losing three rounds in a row and drinking until he couldn’t help but cover his mouth, Duan Chaoshen realized he was being targeted. Getting messed with at the card table wasn’t a big deal, but Duan Chaoshen used to be the one messing with others. Now the tables had turned, and he was surrounded by onlookers, making him feel uncomfortable. Especially with Cong Gaoxuan, that jerk, laughing and mocking him on the side.
Duan Chaoshen, fueled by alcohol, threw down four twos with great momentum, but it was useless. Zhao Louyue said, “You’re out.” After Duan Chaoshen felt he had regained some face and played two more cards, Cong Gaoxuan let out a hum, followed by a barrage of attacks, leaving Duan Chaoshen dumbfounded, while Jiang Shen still held a handful of cards.
Jiang Shen didn’t play simply because he felt sorry for him. Duan Chaoshen’s two teammates saw Zhao Louyue and Cong Gaoxuan’s intentions and didn’t dare to get involved.
“Ha!” Cong Gaoxuan, not satisfied after playing his cards, snatched the cards from Jiang Shen’s hand and played them in a flurry, simultaneously shattering Duan Chaoshen’s shaky rationality.
“You lost!” Cong Gaoxuan filled Duan Chaoshen’s glass, “Drink up!”
Duan Chaoshen gritted his teeth, “You did it on purpose!”
“Yeah,” Cong Gaoxuan admitted openly, “But I didn’t cheat. All the brothers around saw it. I played by the rules and took your cards. Is that not okay?”
Duan Chaoshen clearly wanted to curse, but at the last moment, he held back, his face turning red. He drank half a glass of beer before covering his mouth and rushing to the bathroom.
Cong Gaoxuan laughed heartily. Duan Chaoshen, that scoundrel who colluded with Yu Bai, felt aggrieved and embarrassed? Previously, when the Jiang and Yu families were tied in business, Jiang Shen had to endure the disgust and deal with them.
“I’m done playing. Who’s taking over?” Jiang Shen looked up, “I’m going to get something to eat.”
Jiang Shen overestimated himself; that glass of cold beer made him somewhat uncomfortable. But he maintained a calm demeanor and drank a bowl of hot soup.
Zhao Louyue glanced in his direction, played a couple of rounds with Fu Cheng, who had just joined the table, and then got up to go to the bathroom.
Zhao Louyue, feeling a bit numb from the alcohol, walked with a slight sway. After relieving himself, he came out to wash his hands, only to see Duan Chaoshen standing behind him.
Duan Chaoshen looked like he had just cried, his eyes red and filled with resentment. Zhao Louyue couldn’t be bothered to deal with him, tossed the paper towel into the trash, and tried to walk past Duan Chaoshen.
“I never actually offended you,” Duan Chaoshen’s hoarse voice echoed in the empty space. “You’re targeting me, targeting my dad, because of Jiang Shen!”
Zhao Louyue raised an eyebrow and turned to look. Duan Chaoshen seemed to confirm something from this action, and his emotions flared up instantly, “You are! Jiang Shen must have said something to you, and you’re busy avenging him! Zhao Louyue, your intentions are too obvious!”
Zhao Louyue didn’t care about his accusations and asked seriously after listening, “Is it really that obvious?”
Would Jiang Shen notice?
Duan Chaoshen was at a loss for words, feeling inexplicably exposed. The alcohol hit him, and he spoke mockingly, “Zhao Louyue, your taste isn’t great. Do you know why Yu Bai broke up with Jiang Shen? That guy only cares about money and profit, never putting any emotion into anything. Jiang Shen is a heartless person!”
Zhao Louyue’s face turned cold, “There’s a reason you and Yu Bai get along, two idiots!”
Duan Chaoshen’s blood pressure soared with anger, and in the chaos, he suddenly grasped something and, as if possessed, asked, “Does Jiang Shen know you’re interested in him?”
Zhao Louyue didn’t respond. Duan Chaoshen’s face lit up with triumph, but the next second, he was slightly stunned.
Zhao Louyue’s eyebrow twitched, and he suddenly turned around. Jiang Shen was standing at the bathroom door. His expression was calm, his dark pupils staring intently at Zhao Louyue.
Duan Chaoshen: “Ha, you guys…”
“Get lost!” Jiang Shen’s voice was icy. The sharpness pierced through Duan Chaoshen’s reckless boldness, and Zhao Louyue’s overwhelming presence forced Duan Chaoshen to flee in embarrassment.
The surroundings fell into a stagnant silence. Jiang Shen moved first, walking past Zhao Louyue and washing the juice off his fingers at the sink. He acted as if nothing had happened, washed up, dried his hands, and was about to head back the way he came.
As they brushed past each other, Zhao Louyue grabbed his arm. Jiang Shen stopped. Zhao Louyue’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he finally asked, “Did you hear everything?”
Jiang Shen replied, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
Zhao Louyue lowered his gaze, “Is that all you want to say?”
What else? Jiang Shen thought. He wasn’t entirely oblivious, because Zhao Louyue often didn’t hide his feelings, bright and passionate. Before the window paper was torn, Jiang Shen had plenty of excuses to convince himself.
The repeated invitations after misunderstandings were cleared, the excuse of Chang Junfei bridging the gap, Zhao Louyue’s private domain that he was brought into, including avenging him by making things difficult for Duan Chaoshen. A casual mention, and Zhao Louyue personally took action. At the drinking table earlier, he blocked one round after another for him. All of this, he stubbornly categorized as “friendship.”
But Duan Chaoshen’s words, “You’re interested in him,” echoed in Jiang Shen’s ears, making it impossible to deceive himself any longer.
“Zhao Louyue,” Jiang Shen took a shallow breath, and the words that followed were more of a spur-of-the-moment decision than something prepared, not wanting to regret it later, “I don’t plan on dating. Let’s just be friends.”
A long silence followed, and Jiang Shen could feel that intense gaze still on him.
“Jiang Shen, do you really have no feelings for me at all?”
Jiang Shen closed his eyes briefly. How long had he known Zhao Louyue? This sudden rush of affection was beyond what Jiang Shen, who was used to taking things step by step, could handle.
Wang Xiuyu loved him, but she would also tearfully remind him to take care of Jiang Mao when Jiang Erkun wasn’t around. Tian Lu liked him because he was excellent and perfect. His upbringing forced Jiang Shen to be mature and sensible, and every step was achieved through sweat and effort.
He never imagined something falling into his lap, but one day, Zhao Louyue boldly stood in front of him. Jiang Shen didn’t dare to accept it for free.
Zhao Louyue saw a slight sorrow spread across Jiang Shen’s brows and eyes, making his already handsome features appear somewhat compassionate. His sensitivity was like dust floating in the air, a slight movement causing a flurry of panic and helplessness.
Too soon, Zhao Louyue realized. In a moment, he would go out and strangle Duan Chaoshen.