Chapter Sixteen: That... it's all in the wine!
At the time, Luo Muyang was chatting with several old friends in high spirits when he saw Jiang Qiming come in. He immediately perked up, straightened his tie, put on a fake business smile, and took the initiative to greet him: "Chairman Jiang, it's been a long time! You look great... Hmm, very much in line with your age."
Jiang Qiming turned around. He was nearly sixty years old, but maintained an excellent physique. His face was stern, his eyes sharp, and he exuded an aura of authority that came from someone who had long held a high position. He shook hands with Luo Muyang: "President Luo, you are still as dashing as ever." His tone was flat, making it impossible to tell whether it was a genuine compliment or something else entirely.
After chatting about industry trends for a while, Luo Muyang suddenly sighed, "Old Jiang, what do we strive for after all this time? Isn't it just to have obedient children and a harmonious family? Like my Yanyan, she passed the civil service exam and recently found a really great boyfriend. I'm so lucky as her father, I don't have to worry about her so much!"
Jiang Qiming tightened his grip on the wine glass; Luo Muyang had clearly hit a nerve.
It's common knowledge in the industry that Jiang Qiming and his son have a bad relationship; the two are more estranged than strangers.
"Yanyan is just like me, she has good taste. That young man is not only handsome, but also exceptionally capable and reliable! More importantly, he cares deeply for Yanyan!"
Luo Muyang became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyebrows dancing with excitement as he talked on and on. He even deliberately emphasized the words "good eye," his pride impossible to hide.
Jiang Qiming resumed his polite smile: "May I ask the name of this talented young man who receives such high praise from President Luo?"
"Jiang Sui! Speaking of which, we're from the same clan as Chairman Jiang, isn't that a coincidence?"
Luo Muyang patted Jiang Qiming on the shoulder, looking like two good buddies sharing their joy, completely unaware of the other's eyes suddenly darkening.
"It's quite a coincidence. Congratulations, Mr. Luo, on finding a satisfactory 'son-in-law'."
"Satisfied! He's practically..." Luo Muyang almost blurted out "He's practically the chosen son-in-law," but thankfully he stopped himself in time and changed his words, "He's practically a right-hand man! Unlike some people's children, sigh, they have strained relationships with their parents. Why do family members have to go through all that? Don't you think so, Chairman Jiang?"
Jiang Qiming's tone became even more indifferent: "Young people nowadays are not like we were back then. They have their own ideas, and we can't control them."
Luo Muyang was even more pleased to see that he had hit a nerve.
"Chairwoman Jiang, when it comes to raising children, you have to do it like me: communicate more and support more! Look at my daughter, we have a great relationship!"
Jiang Qiming gently brushed Luo Muyang's hand away. "Excuse me, I'll be right back." He nodded slightly and turned to leave.
Luo Muyang looked at that cold, hard back and clicked his tongue: "Tsk... He just left like that. Now you know I have such a good son-in-law, you must be so envious!"
A few days later, a light rain was falling, and the cemetery was unusually quiet and deserted.
Jiang Sui, dressed in a black suit, had just placed a bouquet of carnations in front of his mother's tombstone when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Jiang Qiming carrying a large bouquet of baby's breath, slowly walking over.
The two stood on either side of the tombstone. After a suffocating silence, Jiang Qiming spoke first, "Got a new girlfriend? Luo Muyang's daughter?"
Jiang Sui stiffened slightly. "You investigated me?"
"Is there any need for further investigation?" Jiang Qiming scoffed, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Luo Muyang is so eager to broadcast this to the whole world. With his nouveau riche attitude, what kind of daughter can he raise? Xingyao went abroad, and you've become so self-destructive?"
Jiang Sui said coldly, "My private matters are none of your concern."
Jiang Qiming knelt down and wiped the rainwater off the tombstone. In the photo, his still young wife smiled gently.
"I can't even ask about my own son's affairs now?"
"Since Mom's accident, when have you ever shown any concern for your son?"
Jiang Sui looked at his father with icy eyes: "Back then, I went to Feiyang because I was an eyesore at Mingsheng. That 'nouveau riche' you mentioned appreciated me, but you, my father, have hated me for so many years."
These words were like a sharp knife, instantly piercing Jiang Qiming's sore spot. His tone suddenly turned cold and hard: "Shouldn't I hate you?! Saying it in front of your mother, shouldn't I hate you?"
Jiang Sui suddenly felt weak. He closed his eyes and said nothing.
And so it always turns into a confrontation every time we meet.
The barriers and pain that lie in the past have never faded with the passage of time.
Jiang Qiming didn't say anything more. After a moment, he turned around and slowly left along the way he came.
On the drive back to the city, Jiang Sui watched the windshield wipers swaying back and forth, her mood even more damp than the rainy day.
The phone rang; it was Luo Yan.
"What's up?"
"Um... Mr. Jiang, what time is convenient for me to deliver the shirt to you this weekend?"
Jiang Sui was feeling agitated. Thinking of his empty apartment, he replied almost unconsciously, "I'll come and get it now."
Half an hour later, the car stopped downstairs at Luo Yan's house.
Luo Yan came down with an umbrella and handed the bag in her arms to Jiang Sui: "Here, it's washed and ironed."
Jiang Sui took the bag and threw it onto the passenger seat without saying a word; his face was even more gloomy than the sky.
Luo Yan noticed that his hair was slightly damp, and he looked dejected and exhausted, completely different from his usual self.
Is he still troubled by those rumors? It seems this has really caused him a lot of trouble.
Thinking about this, my guilt grew even stronger.
She asked cautiously, "It's seven o'clock. Have you eaten yet? How about... I treat you to dinner? It would be to repay the favor you did for me the other day. But the places you usually go... I probably can't afford to treat you."
Jiang Sui looked up at her. "Since you're returning the favor, it'll be more sincere if you do it yourself." He locked the car and looked up at the building. "Is it convenient?"
"Convenient...it is convenient."
Luo Yan was quite surprised by his suggestion. Why was he so impulsive? Was he tired of gourmet food and wanted to try instant noodles with pickled beans?
"I'm not very good at cooking, so I usually just eat instant noodles or takeout for dinner..."
Jiang Sui nodded: "Either is fine."
Luo Yan: "..."
Are you really that easy to fool, boss?!
The small living room was fairly clean. Jiang Sui sat at the folding dining table, on which were two very ordinary-looking home-style dishes: scrambled eggs with tomatoes and shredded pork with green peppers.
Luo Yan rubbed her hands awkwardly, "These are the only two things I know how to make..."
Jiang Sui didn't say anything, picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
The two ate their meal in silence. The only sound in the room was the raindrops hitting the window. Luo Yan felt the atmosphere was a little strange and tried to start a conversation.
"The weather is really nice today..."
"It's quite nice, the rain is really heavy."
"......."
Luo Yan thought for a moment, then tried to speak again: "President Jiang, are you... alright? Are you in a bad mood? Or is it because of the rumors? I really didn't mean to cause you trouble..."
“It has nothing to do with you,” Jiang Sui suddenly said, his voice hoarse. “Today is my mother’s birthday.”
Luo Yan paused, her hand still holding the food. "I'm sorry."
Jiang Sui sighed briefly, "Do you remember when I said that I was hated by the person closest to me for many years? That person... was my dad."
Luo Yan was stunned. Looking at Jiang Sui's lowered eyes, a certain string in her heart was gently touched.
“Sigh… As for parents, Luo Muyang still thinks I can’t live without him… You’re so amazing, your dad must be proud of you, he’s probably just being stubborn.”
Jiang Sui didn't say anything, but glanced at her, picked up the beer next to her, and was about to drink it.
Luo Yan reminded her, "You drove here."
A playful smile flashed across Jiang Sui's eyes: "You're quite principled and not a bad person, but you're not very good at comforting people."
"I am an upright civil servant, and my main principle is to adhere to principles!"
Luo Yan also opened a can and clinked glasses with him. "I've quit drinking, but I'll risk my life to keep you company today. Since I'm no good at comforting people, well... it's all in the drink!"
"The boyfriends my mom dated were all incredibly weird, but thankfully her interest wore off quickly..."
"Luo Muyang has terminal brain cancer from being obsessed with love; he might as well give up on treatment!"
"I used to like Wu Yuzhou... I studied like crazy for three years to pass the civil service exam because of something he said, thinking that was the only way I could be worthy of him... Turns out that this jerk had been secretly seeing Yang Xin all along. I know you want to laugh at me... Laugh away..."
"Director Zheng... is a good leader, and he's the leader's confidant, while I'm the leader's biggest worry... Liu Su is a good girl, busy every day doing data for her idol but still finding time to clean up my messes..."
“Every time Aunt Zhao sees me, she complains that I’m too thin and gives me a lot of food… She feeds me like she’s feeding a pig!”
"Wang Qiushi... I heard from Liu Su that his family was poor and he didn't go to university. The other day I passed by the car rental shop and saw him reading books for adult self-study... an ambitious young man!"
"As for me... I'm always getting caught up in petty romantic relationships... my revolutionary will isn't strong enough..."
Luo Yan becomes very talkative when she drinks, and once she starts talking, she doesn't give anyone a chance to interrupt. So most of the time, Jiang Sui is just a quiet listener.
“Actually, you’re a good person…” She looked at him, a sincere smile on her rosy cheeks, “Apart from your sharp tongue, you’re actually a nice person! We became friends through a fight, so from now on… hiccup… let’s be good colleagues!” After saying that, she tilted her head to the side and slumped onto the table, unconscious.
Jiang Sui looked helplessly at this scene that was "repeated from yesterday," resignedly got up, picked her up, and walked towards the bedroom.
Luo Yan leaned softly against him, mumbling indistinctly, "I want to take care of you for a month..."
Jiang Sui's face darkened. He strode to the bedside and threw her off without hesitation, then patted his hands to remove non-existent dust.
Luo Yan rolled around on the bed a few times without any regard for her image, and finally found a comfortable position and quieted down.
Jiang Sui pulled the blanket over her and then sat down on the edge of the bed. Perhaps due to the alcohol, he felt a bit stuffy, loosened his shirt collar, and heard the drunkard's ramblings behind him, which made him both laugh and cry.
“An honest civil servant, you can’t cover for me if you don’t embezzle or accept bribes.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
