As Zhao Xiangting tried to step back, he was blocked by a leg, and someone even gave him a push on the arm. Several people snapped photos with flashes.
“Excuse me, make way.” A lazy, indifferent voice sounded.
The noise stopped, and everyone turned their heads.
The moment Zhao Xiangting saw Jiang Shen, he felt a bit hopeless. Was this what they called “when it rains, it pours”?
That night, Jiang Shen said they should “move on,” but Zhao Xiangting still had his doubts.
These people didn’t recognize Jiang Shen, or rather, they couldn’t get close enough to him. Zhao Xiangting whispered, “Young Master Jiang.”
“Oh, Young Master Jiang,” the person who had been teasing Zhao Xiangting mimicked mockingly, “Is this the person you’re here to pick up?”
Not really. Zhao Xiangting’s roommate had messaged him saying he felt too dizzy and had left with a ride when these people caught him.
Jiang Shen ignored everyone and asked Zhao Xiangting, “Finished talking?”
Zhao Xiangting blinked, then understood something from the question, his eyes lighting up as he nodded vigorously, “Yes, yes!”
Jiang Shen said, “Then let’s go.”
“Go? Go where?” The other person persisted.
In the next second, Jiang Shen stepped past Zhao Xiangting, hands in his pockets, and kicked up a foot. The square table made a loud “bang” under the force, and half of the empty bottles on it toppled over, surprising everyone.
“Hey, you son of a…” The other person instantly got heated.
But the high-end bar’s security wasn’t just for show. Almost as soon as the commotion started, seven or eight black-clad bodyguards strode over from all directions.
Seeing this, the other person got a bit scared and quickly complained to the manager, “Brother Zhang, he started it!”
Manager Zhang’s expression changed when he saw Jiang Shen, “Young Master Jiang, are you in trouble?”
The other person was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
Jiang Shen was a regular at this bar, having three gold cards. To Manager Zhang, these freeloaders following Jia Xinjue were nothing.
“It’s no trouble now that you’re here,” Jiang Shen said, “Put the table on my tab.”
“No need for that.”
Jiang Shen tilted his head slightly, signaling Zhao Xiangting to follow.
Zhao Xiangting eagerly followed, breathing a sigh of relief.
This Young Master Jiang, he’s really righteous.
Outside the bar, it was still drizzling. Jiang Shen stopped under a shelter and asked Zhao Xiangting, “Did you drive here?”
“No, I took a cab.”
Jiang Shen thought of something, “A student?”
“Yes, at A University, third year.”
Jiang Shen glanced at his watch, “It’s past curfew now.”
“No worries, I’ll just get a room outside…”
Jiang Shen gave him a look.
Zhao Xiangting instinctively fell silent, feeling that this look was just like his brother’s.
“I picked you up. It’s late, and if something happens, what will your brother do if he comes looking for you?”
Zhao Xiangting said, “My brother won’t.”
“Yeah, right. He didn’t hesitate to make a move that day.”
Zhao Xiangting: “…” He knew it wouldn’t be easy to get away with it!
“Call your brother and have him pick you up.”
Zhao Xiangting said, “My phone’s dead.”
Seeing Jiang Shen’s disbelief, Zhao Xiangting quickly took out his phone, pressing it several times to show it was indeed off.
Jiang Shen shook his head, took out his own phone, and said, “Give me the number.”
It was a commanding tone. Zhao Xiangting, having just been rescued, didn’t dare to resist and recited a string of numbers.
“But my brother might not pick up. He usually doesn’t answer unknown numbers,” Zhao Xiangting said.
However, coincidentally, Zhao Louyue was resting his eyes in his office at that moment. Hearing the phone ring, he didn’t check the caller ID and answered it smoothly.
“Hello?” His tone was lazy, very clear in the quiet night.
Jiang Shen paused for two seconds before speaking, “Your brother is here with me.”
Zhao Louyue’s eyes snapped open, and he sat up straight. His mind was foggy, not quite catching up, and he blurted out, “Your voice…”
“It’s me, Jiang Shen.”
Zhao Louyue’s palms instantly became sweaty.
“Ah, Young Master Jiang, what made you think of calling me so late?” Zhao Louyue’s tone was incredibly natural.
“Were you not listening to me?” Jiang Shen repeated, “Your brother is here with me.”
Zhao Louyue’s exhausted brain system rebooted, and within seconds, he was back to normal. He got up, grabbed his coat, and asked, “Where are you guys?”
Jiang Shen gave him the address.
Ting’an Technology wasn’t far from there, just a ten-minute drive.
In the meantime, Jiang Shen smoked and scrolled through his phone, not interacting much with Zhao Xiangting, making Zhao Xiangting feel uncomfortable. He hated this kind of atmosphere the most.
Before he finished his cigarette, car headlights suddenly illuminated the area. The car turned its headlights away to avoid blinding them and stopped.
It was indeed Zhao Louyue.
Zhao Louyue held an umbrella, with another one in hand. As he approached, he handed the spare umbrella to Jiang Shen, who didn’t refuse. After all, he had helped his brother, so borrowing an umbrella wasn’t too much.
“What happened?” Zhao Louyue asked.
Zhao Xiangting felt the whole situation was a misunderstanding and didn’t know where to start explaining.
Jiang Shen, ever helpful, chimed in, “Seems like your brother got blocked by friends of his ex.”
Zhao Louyue’s face instantly darkened.
“Ex! Ex!” Zhao Xiangting emphasized, “I was there to pick up a roommate. I didn’t expect to run into them. Brother, I’ve really moved on!”
“Really?” Jiang Shen added, “I remember you saying you still had feelings for him.”
Zhao Xiangting: “…”
I’ll die for you.
Zhao Louyue grabbed his brother by the back of the neck, pulling him close, “Come on, what’s the story?”
Zhao Xiangting was on the verge of tears, “That was a lie, really!”
Jiang Shen asked, “So what’s the truth?”
Zhao Xiangting’s gaze was full of grievance.
Jiang Shen almost laughed.
“I said it because they wouldn’t let me leave…” Zhao Xiangting explained in a low voice.
“If they wouldn’t let you leave, why didn’t you call me?!”
“My phone was dead…” Zhao Xiangting whined, “Young Master Jiang helped me make the call.”
Zhao Louyue found himself unable to argue.
“You better have moved on.” Zhao Louyue lowered his voice, “If you get lovesick again, that scumbag will die by my hand.”
“I don’t care if he lives or dies,” Zhao Xiangting said, “I still want to live well. Brother, I’m so tired. Let’s go home.”
Zhao Louyue ignored him and turned to Jiang Shen, “Thanks a lot tonight, Young Master Jiang. Sorry for the trouble.”
Jiang Shen admitted, “I enjoyed it.”
Zhao Xiangting took a deep breath.
The shadow in Zhao Louyue’s eyes faded, and he smiled, “Young Master Jiang, are you hungry? Let me treat you to a late-night snack.”
“No need.” Jiang Shen shook the umbrella in his hand, “Consider this my thank you.”
“Not enough,” Zhao Louyue said.
Jiang Shen didn’t respond, opened the umbrella, and walked down the steps, quickly disappearing around the corner.
Zhao Louyue stood still.
Suddenly, a hand waved in front of his eyes like a windshield wiper, “Brother, what are you looking at?”
Nothing, just that when Jiang Shen passed by, the scent of pine mixed with tobacco, and the gray suit really suited him, his waist was so perfect.
“Thinking about where to bury you,” Zhao Louyue said irritably.
Zhao Xiangting: “…”