Cong Gaoxuan was quite the talker, and the atmosphere quickly became lively, as if the little spat between Jiang Shen and Zhao Louyue never happened.
“Hey, weren’t you looking to collaborate with a tech company before?” Cong Gaoxuan gave Jiang Shen a knowing look, speaking in a low voice, “This is such a good opportunity.”
Jiang Shen understood what he meant but shook his head.
Having not eaten since going out in the evening, Jiang Shen felt a bit hungry and grabbed a small pack of cookies to munch on.
“Jiang, Young Master Jiang.” A clear voice tinged with a bit of apology.
Jiang Shen turned his head to see Zhao Xiangting holding a cup with both hands, raising it towards him as if toasting with tea instead of wine, “About what happened at the elevator earlier, it was my fault. I hope you won’t be mad.”
Jiang Shen raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised.
He didn’t say anything, which made Cong Gaoxuan a bit nervous, thinking it shouldn’t be like this. Jiang Shen was never one to hold grudges; there had been plenty of times when he laughed things off. Why did it seem different today?
Zhao Louyue also looked at Jiang Shen, and after a moment, Jiang Shen took the teacup, “Alright, I accept your apology. Let’s move on from this.”
Zhao Xiangting breathed a sigh of relief, “Young Master Jiang is so magnanimous.”
Zhao Xiangting had always been protected by his brother, but before his brother made it big, they both went through tough times together, often eating whatever they could find. The difference was that if there was a white bun, it would definitely end up in his stomach. So, the happiness they had now wasn’t easy to come by, and Zhao Xiangting was quite afraid of causing trouble for his brother. He noticed Cong Gaoxuan’s constant efforts to mediate and was worried about delaying his brother’s business.
But Jiang Shen had his own thoughts.
Can I really refuse? Jiang Shen smirked. Zhao Louyue was the ultimate brother protector, and anyone who messed with his brother would face his wrath without question. His shoulder still hurt from it.
“But be a bit more careful in the future, don’t just start cursing people out of nowhere,” Jiang Shen casually added.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Louyue suddenly turned to Zhao Xiangting, “You cursed someone?”
Zhao Xiangting was caught between laughter and tears, “Young Master Jiang already said to move on.”
“Moving on is one thing, but still,” Cong Gaoxuan joined in the scolding, “You’re so young, why such a temper?”
Zhao Xiangting couldn’t handle his brother’s stern questioning gaze, and in a moment of panic, blurted out, “I just broke up…”
Zhao Louyue couldn’t sit still anymore, “When did you start dating?!”
Zhao Xiangting: “…”
“Wow.” Jiang Shen showed his first genuine smile of the night and directed someone, “Hey, pour me a drink.”
To liven things up.
Cong Gaoxuan chuckled, “Just recovered from gastritis and you’re drinking again?”
Zhao Louyue seemed really upset, grabbing the last half bottle of wine on the table and downing it in one go.
Jiang Shen: “…”
Cong Gaoxuan laughed, “Drink tea, drink tea, the wine’s gone, and I wasn’t planning on getting more.”
Zhao Louyue grabbed Zhao Xiangting and left in a hurry, Zhao Xiangting’s face full of “I’m doomed.”
The words Jiang Shen had stuck in his throat were swallowed back down due to Zhao Louyue’s timely exit. He knew it! The moment he saw that guy, every alarm in his body went off for a reason!!
Jiang Shen drank three cups of tea, filled up on cookies, chatted with Cong Gaoxuan for a while, then got up to go to the restroom. When he came out, he saw the empty terrace outside through the window.
Jiang Shen leaned on the railing, feeling the breeze, and took out a cigarette to bite on.
He stared at the dark sky in the distance for a while before taking out his lighter.
Jiang Shen wasn’t addicted to smoking; he just suddenly craved a puff, so he didn’t notice when his lighter broke.
“Click, click,” several times, but not a single spark.
Jiang Shen felt a bit unlucky and was about to take the cigarette out when he heard from beside him—
Click.
A flame was shielded by a long, strong hand, very politely brought to him.
Jiang Shen had been offered cigarettes by many, but now the person was Zhao Louyue.
They had just had a disagreement, and in terms of strength, “Ting’an Technology” was on the rise. Jiang Shen knew it would take some effort to compete.
But he didn’t think much of it. After all, he had promised to move on, so he tilted his head, took a light puff, and lit the cigarette.
The light from the corridor barely reached here, and Zhao Louyue’s wild, fierce aura spread freely in the night.
Jiang Shen knew from the first glance that this man was dangerous.
When “Ting’an Technology” first emerged in Lin Du, it was suppressed in every way by the giant “Kangqi.” Everyone thought “Ting’an” wouldn’t last long, but in the end, Zhao Louyue not only broke through, but the once arrogant old chairman of “Kangqi” ended up heavily in debt and utterly defeated.
“Where’s your brother?” Jiang Shen asked.
“Sent him home.” Zhao Louyue might have just finished scolding Zhao Xiangting, as his tone was still cold. He lit a cigarette too, then softened, “Sorry again, I’ve been busy lately and haven’t been able to keep an eye on him. I brought him out to relax, but he kept a lot from me.”
Jiang Shen chuckled, “Your brother’s in his twenties, and you still treat him like a kid?”
“He never grew up.” Zhao Louyue’s voice had an unusual gentleness, like warm sand rolling over the heart, “It’s cold at night, let’s head back.”
“Yeah.” Jiang Shen stubbed out his cigarette.
Cong Gaoxuan was drinking and singing, living it up. Jiang Shen sat for another half hour, then checked his watch, got up, and said goodbye to Cong Gaoxuan.
Cong Gaoxuan insisted on seeing him to the hotel entrance.
“Same old rule, let me know when you get home.” Cong Gaoxuan leaned against the doorpost, eyes hazy.
Jiang Shen nodded, took the car keys from the valet, waved goodbye, and drove off.
It was already 1 AM when he reached the Jiang residence.
Opening the door, the living room was pitch black. Jiang Shen turned on the entryway light, not expecting to see Jiang Mao standing at the kitchen door, looking panicked, with half a crab stick in his mouth.
Jiang Shen: “…”
Before his senior year, the “real and fake young master” script seemed absurd to Jiang Shen, who was busy with work-study. But once it happened to him, it became a 100% reality.
After the Jiang family took Jiang Shen back, they didn’t kick Jiang Mao out.
It wasn’t entirely out of reluctance; they were just used to it. The Jiang family was big and wealthy, not lacking in food.
It wasn’t like the online or novel depictions of being at each other’s throats. On the contrary, the relationship between Jiang Shen and Jiang Mao was excessively cold and calm.
When they saw each other at home, they’d nod lightly as a greeting, then retreat to their own rooms. If they couldn’t avoid eating at the same table, they’d occasionally exchange a few words.
The so-called jealousy, suppression, scheming, none of it existed. Jiang Shen even felt that Jiang Mao was a bit afraid of him.
“Hungry?” Jiang Shen broke the awkward silence first.
Jiang Mao’s cheek twitched slightly, quickly suppressing some emotion, then replied softly, “Yeah, I overslept in the evening.”
Jiang Shen understood. The Jiang family had strict rules; if you missed mealtime, you had to fend for yourself.
“Alright, I’m heading upstairs to sleep.” Jiang Shen changed his shoes and brushed past Jiang Mao.
It wasn’t until Jiang Shen’s figure disappeared and the soft sound of a door closing echoed that Jiang Mao snapped out of his daze.
The emotions he had been suppressing began to spread in the empty surroundings, filled with a helpless envy.
Jiang Mao could never be as calm and carefree as Jiang Shen. He had lived his life with his head down, trying to minimize his presence amidst the Jiang parents’ self-deprecating jokes about their “own bitter melon.”
Because he wasn’t perfect.