Chapter 39 Your heart is the hardest in the whole world. ...

The regional competition ended, and finals week was fast approaching. Jiang Luo hadn't even caught his breath after the competition when he had to start preparing for the exams again. Both Jiang Luo and Gu Shiyue had been quite busy lately. Jiang Luo had only stayed at Gu Shiyue's house one night, and had been sleeping in his dorm ever since. It wasn't that he didn't want to stay at Gu Shiyue's, but he didn't have the self-discipline to concentrate on studying while with Gu Shiyue. Young people are full of energy; they'd be all lovey-dovey and affectionate when they met, and who could concentrate on anything else?

Jiang Luo went home for the New Year's holiday, and the final exams were only two weeks after she returned to school. Cheng Jiashu finished his exams two days earlier than Jiang Luo. After his exams, he didn't leave immediately but stayed at school for two more days before going home with Jiang Luo.

Gu Shiyue went out of town with his mentor these past few days, and Jiang Luo couldn't see him off at the high-speed rail station on the day he returned home.

Jiang Chen's holiday started later than Jiang Luo's. On the day he finished his exams, Jiang Luo picked him up from school, and the two of them went out for a nice meal. The next day, Jiang Chen slept until late morning. He had just been released from his holiday, and Jiang Luo wanted him to sleep a little longer, so she didn't wake him up for a run.

Jiang Chen didn't wake up until almost noon. After lunch, he did his homework in the study. Jiang Luo told him to balance work and rest, and not to bury himself in his papers whenever he had free time. So the two brothers watched a movie together at home in the afternoon.

As evening approached, the two brothers were discussing what to eat for dinner when Jiang Luo's phone suddenly rang. It was a call from his aunt.

"Hello? Auntie." Jiang Luo answered the phone and put it on speakerphone.

"Hey, Luo, is Chen on vacation after finishing his exams?"

Jiang Chen, who was standing to the side, frowned slightly.

"right."

"Okay, you two come to Auntie's for dinner later. I bought a lot of dishes, all of which are your favorites. Xiao Chen just finished his exams, he worked so hard, he needs to eat well."

Jiang Luo glanced at Jiang Chen and said to his aunt, "No need, Auntie, we can eat at home. It's no trouble for you."

"It's no trouble at all. I've already bought the groceries and started cooking them. I bought them especially for you two. It would be a waste if you didn't come and eat them. There are so many groceries."

Since they had already said all that, refusing would make them seem ungrateful, so Jiang Luo had no choice but to agree: "Um... okay."

"Hey, come over around five o'clock, don't be too late."

Jiang Luo hung up the phone and glanced at Jiang Chen with a hint of helplessness. Neither of them liked going to their aunt's house, especially Jiang Chen. He had lived there for a while and hadn't had a pleasant, even oppressive, experience.

Before her death, Jiang Luo's mother entrusted him and Jiang Chen to their uncle's care, and also gave the uncle's family a sum of money for their upbringing. The family took the money but didn't really take good care of the two brothers. Jiang Luo himself didn't care, but he couldn't bear to see Jiang Chen suffer. His uncle was easily influenced and had no say in the family; his aunt made all the decisions, big and small. His aunt was very good at sweet-talking and always appeared amiable. Even if you knew her character, you couldn't really break ties with her, especially since they were related as relatives.

My aunt rarely invites them to her house for meals, so her sudden enthusiasm today must mean something's up.

Jiang Luo guessed correctly; during dinner, his aunt indeed brought up "serious business" at the table.

She placed a chicken leg on Jiang Chen's plate and said with a smile, "I simmered this chicken soup for two hours. Xiao Chen, you should eat more. High school is stressful and you're working hard. You need to nourish yourself."

"Mom, I want to eat chicken gizzards." Zhou Hao stirred the casserole with a spoon. "Where are the chicken gizzards?"

My uncle's family has twins. The one speaking is the older brother, named Zhou Hao. The younger brother is named Zhou Han. The two brothers look alike and have similar personalities; they've been mischievous since childhood and aren't well-liked.

"I left it for you, under the pot. Look for it yourself," the aunt said.

Zhou Hao continued stirring, but after scooping for a while without success, he said unhappily, "Where is it!"

"Don't let your brother eat it."

"Damn it, you ate my chicken gizzards?" Zhou Hao glared at Zhou Han.

Zhou Han didn't take it to heart: "It's none of your business."

The two brothers would argue for no reason. Their aunt tapped the table with her chopsticks and said, "Hey, hey, hey—you two, stop it! You're going to start arguing again. You can even argue over a chicken gizzard. I'll make you some more tomorrow."

Perhaps because she was interrupted, the aunt was a little unhappy. When she turned to look at Jiang Chen, she put on a smile again: "Little Chen, Auntie wants to discuss something with you."

"Please speak."

Jiang Chen's aunt served him a bowl of chicken soup and said with a smile, "You, Zhou Hao, and Zhou Han are all on winter vacation, right? I was thinking if you had some free time, could you come over to our house and tutor them a little?"

"Mom, I don't want to have extra classes." Zhou Hao said with a mournful look. "We've only had a few days off, and we haven't even had enough rest."

"Shut up." His aunt glared at him, then smiled at Jiang Chen. "These two boys will be in their final year of junior high next year, and I'm worried about their grades. Xiao Chen, you're a good student, could you tutor your two younger brothers?"

Jiang Chen didn't speak for a moment. He was thin-skinned and soft-hearted. He looked cold on the surface, but he was actually more responsive to gentle persuasion than force.

Jiang Luo understood his brother and his aunt. His aunt was always like this—using people when she needed them and discarding them when she didn't. He couldn't let Jiang Chen suffer, so he spoke up before Jiang Chen, saying to his aunt, "Auntie, Xiao Chen is already in his second year of high school. High school studies are intense, and he works very hard at school. I want him to rest properly during this rare long holiday. You know how much homework they have in high school; it's always more than it gets. If he also has to come here to tutor Xiao Han and Xiao Hao, where will he find time for himself? You should find a private tutor for Xiao Han and Xiao Hao."

Jiang Chen turned and glanced at his brother.

Her aunt's smile froze on her face. She forced a smile and said, "It's just tutoring for an hour or two, it won't take up much time. You can just have Xiaochen eat here before going back, it'll save you trouble."

Jiang Luo put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Xiao Chen has always been very easy for me, there's nothing to worry about. I've made myself very clear, Xiao Chen needs to rest during his vacation, and I don't agree to him tutoring Zhou Han and Zhou Hao."

Jiang Luo is usually very easygoing and rarely takes a hard line. Her aunt's smile faded, and she was clearly a little unhappy: "Xiao Luo, I was asking Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen hasn't said anything yet."

“It doesn’t matter what he says. Even if he agrees, I won’t let him come.” Jiang Luo’s attitude was firm. “I said no, and that’s final. His agreement is useless.”

Her aunt's face fell, she suppressed her emotions, and asked Jiang Chen gently, "Xiao Chen, what do you think?"

Jiang Chen said, "I'll listen to my brother."

The meal was not pleasant, as expected.

"I knew it wouldn't be good." They went home after dinner, and as soon as they got home, Jiang Luo collapsed onto the sofa. "Every time I eat there, I'm exhausted... And those twins, are they ever quiet? Every time I go, they give me a headache. Why did the same demon have to give birth to two..."

Jiang Chen was amused by him: "I'm going to take a shower, bro."

"Go."

Jiang Luo lay on the sofa for a while. He heard the sound of water running in the bathroom and took out his phone to check it. Gu Shiyue seemed to be very busy these days. He always replied to Jiang Luo's WeChat messages very slowly, so Jiang Luo didn't dare to send them too frequently, afraid of bothering him.

The two haven't seen each other for more than half a month since the holiday started. If they wait until school starts to see each other again, it will be about a month and a half.

It's been a bit too long.

Jiang Luo sent Gu Shiyue a message: Have you had dinner yet?

Gu Shiyue: Hmm.

Gu Shiyue made a phone call, and Jiang Luo glanced towards the bathroom before taking her phone to the bedroom.

"Aren't you busy today?" Jiang Luo asked.

"Yeah, I just got back from my advisor, all done with work."

Jiang Luo sat on the bay window, drawing circles on her knee with her index finger: "What are you doing?"

"I'm talking to you."

Jiang Luo chuckled: "Then ask me what I'm doing."

"What are you doing?"

"I was thinking of you," Jiang Luo said with a smile, neither embarrassed nor bothered by the cheesy tone.

The person on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll come see you in a few days."

Jiang Luo paused for a moment, then suddenly stood up: "Senior, are you coming to my house?"

"Hmm, are you free these next few days?"

"Yes, yes, yes, it's available. Would you like to... stay at my place for a few days?"

"convenient?"

"Of course it's convenient."

Jiang Luo had to tell Jiang Chen in advance that Gu Shiyue was coming to their house in a few days. After Jiang Chen finished showering, Jiang Luo asked him to tell him about it.

"It's that senior, the one I told you about on the phone last time."

Jiang Chen nodded: "Oh."

"He's coming to stay at our house for a few days before he leaves."

Jiang Chen gave another "Oh," his reaction indifferent. Aside from Cheng Jiashu, none of his brother's friends had ever stayed at their house, which showed how close his brother was to that senior. Jiang Luo hummed a song softly as she went to the balcony to get clothes, seemingly anticipating the other's arrival.

Before Gu Shiyue arrived, Jiang Luo cleaned the house inside and out, and even bought some aromatherapy products online to place in the bedroom.

Jiang Luo's hometown is not far from the city where they went to university, so Gu Shiyue drove directly there. He told Jiang Luo that he would arrive around 6 p.m. on the day he came.

Jiang Luo waited expectantly. At 5:30, there was a knock on the door. Jiang Luo jumped up from the sofa and quickly went to the entrance to open the door.

He thought it was Gu Shiyue, but when he opened the door, a drunken Cheng Jiashu rushed in.

Cheng Jiashu reeked of alcohol, and Jiang Luo almost fell over when he tackled her. She quickly caught him, asking, "What's wrong with you?"

The drunkard lay limp and unsteady, completely unable to support him. Jiang Luo called into the house, "Xiao Chen, come and lend a hand..."

Jiang Chen was in the study when he heard the noise and came over.

"Brother Jiashu?" Jiang Chen was taken aback. "He's... drunk?"

"I don't know what's wrong, please help me support him, he's too heavy for me to hold."

Jiang Chen quickly went over to support him. Cheng Jiashu regained consciousness for a moment, then waved their hands away and said in a slurred voice, "No need to help me, I can walk by myself."

"What's wrong?" Jiang Luo still supported him. "What happened? What's going on?"

"They're all fucking idiots, Lin Yu is the biggest idiot, the absolute biggest idiot!" Cheng Jiashu leaned against the wall as he walked inside, cursing under his breath. "Get out of here, and don't ever come back!"

Lin Yu is Cheng Jiashu's childhood friend. He went abroad to study in high school and recently returned to China for a long break. Cheng Jiashu and Lin Yu grew up together, parting ways at the end of summer in their final year of junior high. Since then, they've seen each other less and less, but they've never lost touch. Today, Lin Yu told Cheng Jiashu that his family is immigrating next year. He said he's leaving, leaving this place. It's not a temporary separation anymore, but forever.

Lin Yu is an idiot, Cheng Jiashu thought bitterly.

"Did you have a fight?" Jiang Luo asked.

"What the hell are you arguing about? Am I stupid enough to argue with someone like him? Does he even deserve this? Huh? He's nobody." Cheng Jiashu was out of his mind. He walked straight into the living room by muscle memory, collapsed onto the sofa, and kept muttering "idiot" under his breath.

This was the first time Jiang Luo had seen Cheng Jiashu like this. Drinking in broad daylight and getting this drunk meant he must have had a big fight with Lin Yu.

"What's wrong with you two?" Jiang Luo squatted down and asked him.

Cheng Jiashu hummed softly with his eyes closed, saying nothing, as if he had fallen asleep. Jiang Luo wanted to go to the kitchen to make him some tea to help him sober up, but as soon as she got up, she heard him call out with his eyes still closed, "Lin Yu, I want some water!"

Jiang Luo said helplessly, "Okay, okay, I'll go get you some water."

Jiang Luo went to the kitchen to pour water, and Jiang Chen brought over the blanket next to the sofa and covered Cheng Jiashu with it.

Jiang Luo poured a glass of warm water and held it to Cheng Jiashu's lips: "Drink it."

Cheng Jiashu didn't open his eyes, but his lips moved slightly. Jiang Luo tilted the cup towards him, and Cheng Jiashu took a sip of water.

"Have some more," Jiang Luo said.

Cheng Jiashu opened his eyes, grabbed Jiang Luo's arm, and squinted, saying, "Don't you have a heart, Lin Yu?"

He was already disoriented and mistook Jiang Luo for Lin Yu. Jiang Luo sighed, "How much did you drink?"

There was another knock at the door. This time it must be Gu Shiyue. Jiang Luo tried to open the door, but Cheng Jiashu grabbed his arm and wouldn't let go.

"I'll go open the door, let go of my hand," Jiang Luo said helplessly.

"What the hell are you talking about! You're not allowed to go in. You stay here. If you dare to leave, I'll kill you." The drunkard was strong, and Jiang Luo couldn't break free. In the end, Jiang Chen opened the door.

Jiang Chen opened the door, and there stood a familiar, handsome face.

The two walked into the living room, and as soon as Gu Shiyue entered, he saw Jiang Luo being dragged by the arm and squatting next to the sofa.

Jiang Luo turned his head and glanced at Cheng Jiashu. He tried to pull Cheng Jiashu's hand away, but Cheng Jiashu was like a snake coiled around its prey. The more Jiang Luo moved, the tighter Cheng Jiashu gripped him.

"Senior—" Jiang Luo tried to stand up, supporting himself on the sofa.

"You fucking want to leave again!" Cheng Jiashu suddenly pulled, and Jiang Luo lost his balance and accidentally fell on him.

Cheng Jiashu said resentfully, his voice nasal, "You have no heart. Your heart is the hardest in the whole world."

Jiang Luo took a deep breath and looked up to meet Gu Shiyue's gaze.

Gu Shiyue looked at him, expressionless, his emotions unreadable.

Jiang Luo's heart wasn't hard, but it felt cold at that moment.

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Author's Note: It's a complete mess! Maybe Luo Baocheng should drink the hot soup now.