It took Lu Xingyan a long time to return to normal.
By then, Jiang Ji had already parked the car and gone back to his room. Lu Xingyan had been abandoned alone inside the car, facing the pitch-black garage. He suddenly shuddered and came back to himself. What exactly happened just now?
He had almost… kissed Jiang Ji.
Lu Xingyan slapped his burning cheeks, scrambled out of the car, and spent a long while in the garden trying to calm down. It did not work. His heart still felt wrong. His Apple Watch even issued an alert informing him that although he had not been exercising vigorously, an abnormally high heart rate had been detected…
Annoyed, Lu Xingyan took the watch off.
He had merely been startled by a gay man. Why was it measuring his heart rate? It made it look as though Jiang Ji had dazzled him into palpitations and left him completely bewitched. What a garbage watch. American products were terrible.
After silently cursing Cook a few times, Lu Xingyan was still not calm. Jiang Ji’s fragrance and the blue-gray smoke drifting from between his lips and teeth lingered around him, leaving his limbs weak.
Gay men are terrifying.
Fortunately, Lu Xingyan was straight and only pretending to pursue Jiang Ji.
So what now?
Jiang Ji had already realized Lu Xingyan was uncomfortable with homosexuality. Continuing the pursuit would be difficult. He had to think of something.
Distracted and flustered, Lu Xingyan remained outside for half an hour before finally going indoors.
By then, Lu Yong and Jiang Wanyi had gone to bed. The downstairs lights were off. Jiang Ji was presumably in his own room and might already be asleep.
Lu Xingyan silently went upstairs. Without even changing clothes, he fell stiffly onto the bed and spent another sleepless night.
That night, he must have rolled back and forth eight hundred times. He threw his pillow off the bed, picked it back up, then pressed it over his own face like a lunatic, thinking about Jiang Ji the entire time.
No. Thinking about how to deceive Jiang Ji.
Yet by the time dawn arrived, Lu Xingyan’s mind remained completely blank. He had no idea what exactly he had spent the entire night thinking about.
By the afternoon, he had recovered slightly. He opened WeChat and habitually inspected Jiang Ji’s Moments. As expected, there was nothing. That man never posted.
Lu Xingyan sighed, scrolled through his contacts, and found Sun Cheng.
Lu Xingyan: “Japan fun?”
Sun Cheng replied quickly: “Get lost. What does that have to do with you?”
Lu Xingyan: “…”
Lu Xingyan: “Your bro was just checking in on you. Ungrateful.”
Sun Cheng: “Go on. What did your brother do to you now?”
Lu Xingyan: “.”
Caught immediately, Lu Xingyan stopped pretending and went straight to the point. “He tried to kiss me last night.”
Sun Cheng: “?”
Lu Xingyan: “Seriously.”
Lu Xingyan: “You know how I’m pretending to chase him, right? To get closer to him, I told him I’m not sure about my sexuality either and asked him to help.”
Lu Xingyan: “My original intention was to have a heart-to-heart conversation and close the emotional distance between us. Who would’ve thought he’d just put his hands on me?”
Sun Cheng: “??”
Sun Cheng: “Are you serious?”
Lu Xingyan: “I already said I am. Why would I lie to you?”
Lu Xingyan: “He meant to help me determine my sexuality by testing whether intimate contact with another man gave me any reaction. I guess he meant well. I was scared at the time because I’m straight, but when I thought about it afterward, something didn’t add up.”
Sun Cheng: “What doesn’t add up?”
Lu Xingyan: “Do you think there’s a possibility he was using the ‘test’ as an excuse because he actually wanted to kiss me?”
Sun Cheng: “…”
Sun Cheng: “No. There is no such possibility.”
Lu Xingyan: “No. You don’t understand.”
Frowning, Lu Xingyan began sending voice messages. “Use your brain and think about it according to heterosexual logic, okay? If it were you, would you deliberately kiss some woman just to help her? Would you? Answer me loudly.”
It was difficult to remain unaffected after being friends with Lu Xingyan for long. Sun Cheng actually thought about it. “I wouldn’t, but how would I know whether gay people and straight people work the same way?”
Lu Xingyan said decisively, “They do. There’s no difference. And my brother isn’t the kind of person who fools around.”
As though he had not been fabricating sexual scandals about Jiang Ji just the night before, Lu Xingyan continued, “My brother has always kept himself clean and knows how to maintain boundaries. I’ve never seen him get especially close to anyone all these years. He hardly even has friends. So obviously, he really did want to kiss me.”
Sun Cheng: “…”
“Bro,” Sun Cheng said, genuinely bewildered. “I left for one day. How did the two of you progress this fast? I can’t keep up with the plot anymore.”
“I didn’t understand at first either, but I spent all last night thinking and finally figured it out.”
Lu Xingyan explained, “How did he discover he liked men? There had to be some kind of awakening, right? My brother is always studying or working, doesn’t chase celebrities, and doesn’t mess around with other guys. I don’t know whether he watches porn, but before realizing he liked men, he definitely wouldn’t have watched gay porn. I thought about it from every direction, and there’s one possibility—I’m the man closest to him. What if I’m the reason he became gay?”
Sun Cheng: “…”
Sun Cheng remained silent for a full three minutes while wiping the water he had sprayed onto his screen. Then he typed, “Your logic somehow looks logical at first glance, but I’m pretty sure it’s wrong.”
“Why?” Lu Xingyan humbly sought instruction.
Sun Cheng: “I don’t know. I just think it’s wrong.”
Lu Xingyan: “You don’t know shit.”
Lu Xingyan: “You didn’t see his eyes last night. His movements, his whole vibe… Luckily I’m straight. Otherwise he definitely would’ve had me completely wrapped around his finger.”
Sun Cheng: “?”
Lu Xingyan: “I mean, he was deliberately giving off hormones. He was trying to seduce me.”
Lu Xingyan: “It didn’t work.”
Lu Xingyan: “You know me. I’m uncomfortable with gay stuff.”
Sun Cheng: “…”
Lu Xingyan sent several more messages, only for a red exclamation mark to appear on the screen. Sun Cheng had blocked him.
Lu Xingyan grew angry. What kind of friend was this? At the most important moment of Lu Xingyan’s life, Sun Cheng was unwilling to lend him a hand. Apparently they could share good times but not hardship. What a flimsy friendship.
Lu Xingyan became melancholy.
His mind was full of thoughts with nowhere to put them. The instant he stopped doing anything, all he could see was Jiang Ji.
He did not even dare sleep. He was afraid of dreaming. The more someone feared something, the more likely they were to dream about it. What if he kissed Jiang Ji in a dream?
Although he had never kissed anyone before, he could already imagine that kissing Jiang Ji would probably make him dizzy…
No. He needed to desensitize himself in advance.
Since he had decided to pursue Jiang Ji, there would inevitably be physical contact between them. Holding hands and kissing would be minor things. Perhaps they might even have to go further, to that… He had to overcome his resistance. If he did not enter the tiger’s den, how could he catch the tiger cub?
After finishing this round of mental preparation, Lu Xingyan finally washed up and went to sleep.
His sleep schedule completely reversed itself. The next day at noon, Lu Xingyan unusually ate lunch on time and told the housekeeper he would not be coming back that evening, so there was no need to prepare his portion for dinner.
Then he returned to his room, washed up, changed clothes, carefully coordinated his outfit, took his car keys, and headed directly to Jiang Ji’s company.
Lu Xingyan’s car was new, purchased less than three months ago. At the time, Jiang Ji had bought a new car. Lu Xingyan had seen it, felt envious, and quietly bought one too.
But Jiang Ji had bought his car with his own money. Lu Xingyan still lived off his father and had simply swiped Lu Yong’s card.
Lu Xingyan sighed.
Being a rich second-generation heir was so humiliating.
Heavy with worry, he drove slowly and followed the navigation to Jiang Ji’s company.
The destination was inside a software park with a pleasant environment. Lu Xingyan had never visited before and did not know the roads, so after turning around in circles for quite a while, he finally found a parking space.
Most of the companies in the area were technology companies. Jiang Ji’s was too.
Sun Cheng had previously suggested, “Since you don’t want to work at your dad’s company, why not help your brother? His company is growing so fast, and isn’t he constantly hiring? You’re his junior and even studied the same major.”
Lu Xingyan had immediately rejected the idea. “No. I don’t want to work for him.”
Sun Cheng said, “Then invest some money and become a partner.”
Lu Xingyan had considered it and decided against that too. His relationship with Jiang Ji was terrible. How could they possibly work together?
He did not want to, and Jiang Ji would not want him either.
In any case, the subject had died there and was never discussed again.
Lu Xingyan entered the building.
He was dressed strikingly well and wore sunglasses. There was not a trace of office-worker exhaustion about him. Anyone could tell at a glance that he was not one of the corporate wage slaves working in the building.
The first two floors both belonged to Jiang Ji’s company. The receptionist did not recognize Lu Xingyan and smiled politely. “Sir, who are you here to see?”
Lu Xingyan gave his name and said he needed to see Jiang Ji.
The receptionist made a call to confirm with her superior, then let him inside. Unfortunately, Lu Xingyan had arrived at a bad time. Jiang Ji was too busy to see visitors and sent his assistant to receive him instead.
Lu Xingyan sat in a small reception room. Through the glass wall, he glanced toward Jiang Ji’s office in the distance. The door was firmly shut, so he could see nothing inside.
Lu Xingyan was in no hurry. He looked around with curiosity, finding everything interesting.
He looked more like someone on a company tour than someone with legitimate business. The female assistant remembered Jiang Ji saying, “My brother’s having another episode,” and wondered whether this was the brother he had meant.
She soon received confirmation.
Because Lu Xingyan started asking strange questions.
“Hi. What’s your name?” That was merely the opening.
“Jeanne,” the female assistant answered.
“Sister Jeanne,” Lu Xingyan said familiarly, “how long have you worked for my brother?”
“Exactly one year.”
Lu Xingyan nodded. “A year isn’t short. Do you know him well? Is there anyone strange around him?”
Jeanne froze. “‘Strange’ in what sense?”
“Someone who asks him out often and is always showing concern for him,” Lu Xingyan said. “Could be a woman. Could be a man.”
Jeanne: “…”
Was this really something a younger brother should be asking? Why did he sound like a jealous partner checking up on someone?
Whatever his reason, Jeanne was not going to gossip. She smiled faintly. “I’m not very sure. President Jiang’s personal relationships aren’t part of my responsibilities, so I have no right to ask about them.”
Lu Xingyan was dissatisfied with the answer and was about to continue questioning her when a man suddenly entered his field of vision.
The man wore a formal suit, looked respectable, and strode directly to Jiang Ji’s office. Without so much as announcing himself, he opened the door and walked inside.
Lu Xingyan’s internal radar started beep-beep-beeping. His brows furrowed. “Who’s that guy?”
Jeanne answered truthfully, “That’s President Li—Mr. Li Ling, President Jiang’s business partner.”
“Partner?”
“Yes.” The female assistant was extremely tight-lipped. Lu Xingyan asked one question, and she answered exactly one. She volunteered nothing else.
But she had not anticipated how endless Lu Xingyan’s questions would become.
“How come I didn’t know Jiang Ji had a partner? When did they meet?”
“Last year.”
“How old is Li Ling? Is he married?”
“Under thirty. I believe he’s unmarried.”
“Are he and Jiang Ji close?”
“That… I suppose they’re fine? I’m not really sure.”
Jeanne began sweating. She silently prayed for Jiang Ji to hurry up and finish whatever he was doing and take his brother away. Otherwise, if this conversation continued, she was afraid Lu Xingyan would trick her into saying something inappropriate and she would be fired tomorrow for stepping through the company doors with her left foot first.
Lu Xingyan reassured her. “Don’t be nervous. Everything we say is a secret. Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know.”
Jeanne: “…”
Seeing her relax slightly, Lu Xingyan continued. “Is Li Ling a business partner or an investor? Jiang Ji wouldn’t let other people interfere in management, would he?”
Jeanne nodded. “A bit of both, I suppose. Major decisions are mainly up to President Jiang.”
Lu Xingyan understood. “How does he normally act toward Jiang Ji? I mean, what’s the atmosphere like when they talk?”
“Pretty good,” Jeanne said. “President Jiang is more serious. President Li likes to laugh and often tells cold jokes to amuse him. He’s very charming.”
“…”
Lu Xingyan’s brows furrowed even more deeply. Just as he had suspected, Jiang Ji went around attracting bees and butterflies all day. When men threw themselves at him, he apparently had no idea how to keep his distance. Scumbag.
Lu Xingyan was full of anger. He had been waiting forever, yet Jiang Ji still had not come out. Why was that Li guy allowed into the office while Lu Xingyan was not?
Forget it. It was not as though he cared.
If not for the plan, he would have left ages ago. Who wanted to come here anyway?
Today’s endurance is for tomorrow’s comeback. A gentleman can wait ten years to take revenge.
Lu Xingyan sat cold-faced and upright, feeding himself a bowl of motivational chicken soup while continuing to wait.
Finally, about forty minutes later, Jiang Ji’s office door opened.
Four people emerged together. Apart from Li Ling, there was another man and woman, both carrying documents. They said goodbye to Jiang Ji and left.
Jiang Ji sensed someone looking at him and sharply raised his head, glancing in this direction.
Lu Xingyan still remembered his role. Resisting the urge to glare at him, he put on a pitiful expression, like a puppy whose owner had forgotten it outside the house.
The next moment, Jiang Ji said goodbye to Li Ling and walked toward him.
It had been two days since they parted inside the car that night.
Only two days. Jiang Ji was still Jiang Ji; there should have been nothing different about him. Yet Lu Xingyan somehow felt there was.
Jiang Ji seemed to have turned into a hormone-manufacturing machine.
Before Jiang Ji even reached him, Lu Xingyan imagined himself surrounded by a cloud of cologne mixed with cigarette smoke.
Except it was not simply the smell of cologne and cigarettes combined. It was something more abstract, perhaps something that did not exist at all…
Jiang Ji’s scent.
Lu Xingyan’s head began to swim as he watched Jiang Ji approach.
Black leather shoes. Smoke-gray suit. Crisp white cuffs. A hand suddenly extending toward him—
Lu Xingyan thought Jiang Ji was going to take his hand, but the hand passed over his shoulder and accepted the coffee Jeanne was holding out.
Lu Xingyan: “…”
“What are you spacing out for?” Jiang Ji took a sip of coffee and looked down at him.
Lu Xingyan disliked the angle and stood awkwardly. “Nothing. I waited too long and got sleepy.”
Jiang Ji dismissed Jeanne, then gave Lu Xingyan a sharp, scrutinizing look. “Didn’t we already settle this the other night? Why are you here again?”
Lu Xingyan had no idea how to explain, but he knew exactly what he wanted.
Reasoning with Jiang Ji was useless. Besides, Lu Xingyan did not have any reasonable argument to make.
He needed to be direct. From now on, whenever Jiang Ji saw him, Lu Xingyan wanted the thought flashing through Jiang Ji’s mind to be not younger brother, but a man within the range of my sexual orientation, someone I need to consider whether I like or should avoid.
Had Jiang Ji really never considered that before?
Lu Xingyan did not believe it.
Without saying a word, he snatched away Jiang Ji’s coffee, drained the entire thing in one gulp, then hooked an arm around his brother’s neck beneath Jiang Ji’s stunned gaze and kissed him directly.
A kiss that tasted like coconut latte.
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