Chapter 144
Cheng Sheng arrived at the agreed location an hour early and sent a message to Jiang Rao. After waiting for a long time without receiving her reply, he simply reclined his chair, opened the skylight and looked at the night view.
The clouds are like her
Inside the Whale Restaurant, Jiang Rao was holding a glass of red wine and clinking glasses with Jiang Zongyuan. He drank with a slightly red face and said, "I'll leave the case to you, Senior."
Jiang Rao forked a piece of steak to suppress the churning in his stomach. Jiang Zongyuan smiled again and again, looking very happy: "I'm surprised that you can come to me, and I'm happy to help. Don't worry, I will do my best on this case."
Jiang Rao paused, his face slightly embarrassed, and he nodded and chuckled, "When it comes to criminal cases, you're the first person I think of. No one in Jianghuai City is more professional than you."
Jiang Zongyuan shrugged and smiled, then poured another glass of wine: "You give me such a high evaluation, I must do this case as you wish."
"Cheers"
Jiang Rao didn't want to drink anymore, but because he had something to ask of him and couldn't refuse Jiang Zongyuan's face, he had to raise his glass and say: "Cheers!"
After three glasses of red wine, Jiang Rao could no longer eat the food. Seeing that it was approaching nine o'clock, he wanted to end the dinner early. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Jiang Zongyuan ask, "Are you still alone?"
"Um"
Jiang Rao knew it well and didn't want to expose it.
Jiang Zongyuan put down his wine glass and brought up the old topic again: "I am also alone. After being rejected by you in college, I have never been moved by anyone else. I thought that with your personality, you would never look for me again. Today, I am really surprised."
Jiang Rao smiled warmly and said nothing.
She recalled that when she was a sophomore, Jiang Zongyuan made a big scene in the school playground to confess his love to her. Because she knew that she was a woman, she decisively rejected him. However, she did not tell Jiang Zongyuan why.
"Jiang Rao..."
"Um?"
Jiang Zongyuan's eyes were burning hot. Jiang Rao saw it and quickly changed the subject. He raised his glass and said, "One last drink, senior."
"Okay, one last drink." Jiang Zongyuan drank it all in one gulp. After hesitating for a moment, he still didn't want to give up. He continued with what he had just said: "You know, my feelings haven't changed. If you are willing..."
"Sorry, my feelings haven't changed."
After being ruthlessly interrupted, Jiang Zongyuan shook his head and smiled bitterly: "You are still the same as before, rejecting people without leaving any room for negotiation."
“…”
After finishing his last glass of wine, Jiang Rao paid the bill. When he was paying, he saw Cheng Sheng's message. It was sent over an hour ago. She had already arrived when he sent the message...
After getting the bill, Jiang Rao walked over to reply to Cheng Sheng's message.
"Why don't you go sit in the cafe for a while? It's still early."
Jiang Zongyuan followed her and asked. Thinking that Cheng Sheng was still waiting for her, Jiang Rao shook his head and refused: "No, I have a case to discuss tomorrow, I have to go back and prepare."
After leaving the restaurant, the familiar car was parked quietly across the street. It belonged to Gu Cunxi. Jiang Rao was stunned for a moment, then realized that Cheng Sheng must have borrowed her car.
After saying goodbye to Jiang Zongyuan in a hurry, Jiang Rao was about to leave when he pulled her back. Under the influence of alcohol, Jiang Zongyuan's breathing became rapid, and his chest rose and fell obviously, which made Jiang Rao very uncomfortable. She struggled with her hands, trying to avoid him.
"I'm leaving first. Regarding the case..."
Before she could finish, Jiang Rao was pulled by Jiang Zongyuan and fell into his arms unexpectedly. Jiang Zongyuan's deep voice poured directly into her ears: "How about we try it together?"
Jiang Rao frowned and refused while pushing: "I have made it very clear!"
Jiang Zongyuan remained silent and tightened his grip. Jiang Rao gave up struggling, lowered his hand, and said calmly, "No matter how much time passes, my decision will not change. I cannot accept this. Let me go first!"
"From my senior year to now, I haven't changed at all. Can't you just try to accept me once? If you really don't like me after trying, I'll give up!"
Cheng Sheng was holding his phone and replying to Jiang Rao's message. He got out of the car after sending the message and wanted to go to the door to greet her. As soon as he took a step, his eyes accidentally swept across the opposite side, and his body suddenly lost strength.
Jiang Rao was wearing a white suit, which made him stand out under the light. Cheng Sheng squinted his eyes, focused his sight, and saw everything clearly. Jiang Rao was standing there in the arms of a man.
Her heart felt like it was being stabbed with a needle. Cheng Sheng retracted her foot and leaned weakly against the car door. For a few seconds, Jiang Rao did not struggle and let the man hold her. Cheng Sheng didn't know whether she should go forward...
This scene made her heart feel bitter and swollen.
The traffic passed by her, and her sight was alternately of cars and Jiang Rao. Cheng Sheng stood there for a long time.
As if sensing something, Jiang Rao felt someone's gaze was directed at her. The moment she turned her head, the girl opposite her fell into her sight. Jiang Rao was startled and a little flustered. She subconsciously struggled to break free and pushed Jiang Zongyuan away fiercely.
When she turned around again, the girl had turned her back, opened the car door, and stood there, not getting in, nor turning around to walk towards her.
Thinking Cheng Sheng was leaving, Jiang Rao wanted to chase him, but was stopped by Jiang Zongyuan: "Sorry, I lost my temper, don't be angry."
Jiang Rao rubbed her swollen forehead, feeling a dull pain. She wanted to talk to Jiang Zongyuan all at once. She was silent for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a girl's soft voice calling her from a distance.
"elder sister!"
She didn't know when Cheng Sheng had crossed the street and walked over to her. He took small steps and walked in front of her, smiling brightly, but there was a hint of melancholy in his eyes. Cheng Sheng turned his head to look at Jiang Zongyuan and nodded, then said to Jiang Rao, "I was afraid you'd finish late, so I came to pick you up!"
The girl's smile softened her heart. Jiang Rao raised his lip, pulled Cheng Sheng to his side, gently clasped her hand, lowered his head and asked softly, "Are you anxious?"
Cheng Sheng was stunned. He hooked his fingers but didn't shake them back, letting her hold his hand. Jiang Zongyuan stood aside, a little dazed. It was the first time he heard Jiang Rao's tone so gentle, and his eyes were different.
"Who is this?"
"My little friend" Jiang Rao smiled with pursed lips
Cheng Sheng turned around and looked at her in a daze. Jiang Rao also looked at her and smiled back with a very gentle look.
Jiang Zongyuan didn't understand what Jiang Rao meant by the child, nor did he think much about it. Seeing Cheng Sheng here, he didn't say anything else. His tone instantly returned to the professionalism of a lawyer, and he said seriously: "I will prepare for the case when I get back. I will sort out the details and communicate with you."
"good!"
After Jiang Zongyuan left, Cheng Sheng put away his smile, broke free from his hand, distanced himself from Jiang Rao, and said lightly: "The car is on the opposite side..."
Jiang Rao looked down at her hands blankly, empty. The burning heat just now disappeared. She noticed Cheng Sheng's emotions. It was obvious that she was rejecting herself with anger.
Cheng Sheng walked in front, and Jiang Rao followed and sat in the passenger seat. They were both depressed all the way, with a clear sense of low pressure. Cheng Sheng held her breath. She felt uncomfortable when she thought of the man hugging her just now, but she couldn't say anything. She was not related to Jiang Rao...
The more she thought about it, the more she felt suffocated. She unconsciously stepped on the accelerator, and the car roared. Jiang Rao wanted to explain what had just happened, but as soon as she opened her mouth, her stomach started to churn, and she felt a little carsick. She wanted to ask her to drive slower, but seeing Cheng Sheng's angry look, Jiang Rao held back his words and let her vent.
The two of them were silent all the way. The car stopped at the gate of Mingjiang Garden. Jiang Rao quickly unbuckled her seat belt, got out of the car, leaned against a tree, and began to retch. Cheng Sheng was worried that she was uncomfortable, so he got out of the car with a bottle of water and patted her back gently.
"Is your stomach upset? Will it feel better if you vomit?"
Jiang Rao took a long time to straighten up, rolled his eyes at her and asked, "Where did you get your driver's license?"
"Driver's license?" Cheng Sheng was stunned. He unscrewed the bottle cap and handed it over, saying, "I got it at a driving school..."
"That coach must have been a bumper car driver..." Jiang Rao took a deep breath, grabbed the water from Cheng Sheng's hand, took a gulp, stared at her and asked, "Are you angry? Driving the car like this..."
Cheng Sheng realized that she had been driving too fast and hadn't considered that Jiang Rao had been drinking, causing her to feel carsick. Realizing this, Cheng Sheng immediately blamed herself and said with her lips pursed, "I'm sorry, I..."
"Who asked you to apologize..." Jiang Rao sighed: "I'm asking you, are you angry?"
Cheng Sheng was silent for a long time, then he said with a determined heart: "Yes..."
The tone is very low
A smile flashed in Jiang Rao's eyes. He took a step forward and asked, "What are you angry about?"
"I hugged you..."
Cheng Sheng muttered softly, although the voice was very low, but Jiang Rao heard it clearly, not knowing whether it was shyness or embarrassment. Her cheeks were stained with a light blush under the moonlight, and her delicate and pretty face looked somewhat moving at this moment. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and her face was blushing and she lowered her head to avoid her, which made her heart soften.
Jiang Rao pretended to be confused and tempted her to repeat herself: "What did you say?"
"he…"
"Um?"
"He hugged you!!" Cheng Sheng bravely looked her in the eye. Jiang Rao couldn't hide the smile in his eyes. He raised his eyebrows and said, "So... are you angry that he hugged me?"
She seduced him step by step, wanting to hear Cheng Sheng tell the truth
"Hmm..." Cheng Sheng blushed, and pinched herself with her hands hidden in her pockets. She thought that since she had come to this point, she might as well make it clear. Even if Jiang Rao didn't accept it and didn't like her, at least she knew her feelings.
Jiang Rao took another step closer: "So, you were angry that he hugged me because..."
"because…"
"Um?"
"Because I like you! So... I'm angry"
The moment he said it, Cheng Sheng felt relieved and nervous at the same time. His heart was burning like fire. He snatched the water from Jiang Rao's hand and took a big sip.
"That's what I drank." Jiang Rao looked at her with a wicked smile.
Cheng Sheng took another sip and said nothing. She was waiting for Jiang Rao's answer, but after drinking a bottle of water, Jiang Rao said nothing and just stood there in silence. Cheng Sheng's heart gradually sank, and she also had the answer.
Silent rejection, she understood...
After drinking the last sip of water and throwing it into the trash can, Cheng Sheng turned around and looked at her, pouring out all the words in his heart.
"I know I'm not your type. I'm not mature enough, nor am I as pretty and outstanding as Sister Cunxi. I'm saying this just to give myself an explanation. After all, it's not easy to meet someone you like. I don't want to be stuck in a corner forever, and I don't want that person to be unaware of my feelings."
"I like you, I can't tell you why I like you. I obviously hated you at the beginning, but when I saw you crying by the window and drinking, my heart ached. Unconsciously, I began to care about you and pay attention to you. I couldn't help but want to comfort you, but I knew you liked someone else."
Jiang Rao listened quietly, feeling sad.
"I didn't have any expectations for my life. Running a coffee shop and living a peaceful and comfortable life would have been great. But because of you, I began to feel that I didn't have enough. But I'm just an ordinary person..."
Cheng Sheng choked up as he spoke, turning his back to her without looking at her, sadness welling up in his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to say "I'm not worthy of you." Compared to Jiang Rao, she was too insignificant. If it weren't for Xiao Peiyin, she might not even have a coffee shop. She was willing to work hard, but how much good time could Jiang Rao waste?
Admitting you are ordinary in front of love, admitting you can't give, makes people feel powerless and sad...
Jiang Rao had never expected Cheng Sheng to say such words. After hearing them, she was drunk and felt very sad. She just wanted to hear her truth, but she never thought that it would make her cry. Seeing Cheng Sheng with his back to her, his shoulders shaking as he tried to suppress his tears, Jiang Rao walked forward, put his hand on her shoulder, and gently turned her so that she would face him.
Cheng Sheng lowered his head and sobbed, avoiding Jiang Rao and not wanting to face her. He cried and said, "I'm fine. I'm done. Let me take you home. You drank and got carsick. It's all my fault. Go back and get some rest."
"good…"
Jiang Rao nodded, released his hand on her shoulder, and walked forward. Cheng Sheng followed behind him, tears welling up in her eyes again. She avoided answering, knowing full well that she could no longer hope.
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