Chapter 9 Cooperation
Tears fell into Jiang Xia's heart along with his bitter smile.
Wu Ming had said this many times, sounding like a joke yet also like a promise, so much so that he had to carefully discern whether it was true or false.
Jiang Xia was both afraid of being disappointed and also afraid of missing out on Wu Ming's intentions.
At this moment, the two people are physically close, but they cannot truly open their hearts to each other.
Jiang Xia wanted to tell him: I like you.
For more than a decade, from school to society, from Wu Ming helping him drive away school bullies, to the two studying together late into the night, and then entering society without graduating, his feelings grew wildly amidst countless youthful memories.
However, the two are of the same gender but come from vastly different backgrounds. In fact, even without Xie Xingzhang, as long as Wu Ming did not take the first step, Jiang Xia planned to remain hidden for life.
Her own feelings of love should not become a source of distress for Wu Ming. Even if Wu Ming's views differ from hers in many ways, it is normal for everyone to have different views.
He looked at the sky, at the lights, at the distance, but dared not look at Wu Ming.
There were some residents' cars parked on the roadside not far away, but one car was different; the owner didn't get out.
The man in the car had the perfect angle to see the two young people under the streetlights, while Jiang Xia didn't notice him.
Inside the car, the man gazed at them and slowly lit a cigarette.
Smoke filled the air, making Wu Zhou's eyes appear unreadable.
An hour ago, after learning that Wu Ming had secretly left his residence, he knew that this guy had come to see Jiang Xia.
But when he drove over in a hurry, he only saw Jiang Xia standing alone under the streetlights, not Wu Ming. More than ten minutes later, his good younger brother rushed over from elsewhere and hugged Jiang Xia without any rhyme or reason.
Jiangxia was forced to tilt his head back and lean his waist backward.
Wu Zhou thought to himself: Too thin...
He couldn't hear the two people talking clearly.
At this moment, Jiang Xia hesitated for a moment, then smiled and pointed out his ridiculous idea word by word: "What if I get married?"
Wu Ming muttered to himself, "I really can't imagine what your wedding will be like. I'm sure I'll cry my eyes out."
Jiang Xia lowered her eyes, looking at Wu Ming's neck, unable to see his face, and said calmly, "You will get married too, won't you?"
He could have responded like he always did: "Sure, let's both be single."
But now, he's going to expose Wu Ming's nonsense. A man who's already talking about marriage with his girlfriend is here discussing single life with his friends. Doesn't he find that ridiculous?
Does Wu Ming think he should remain single for life because of his rigid views on love?
He also felt that marriage would be a burden to him, so he found all sorts of reasons not to think about the fact that he would get married.
"It's so cold, let me warm you up."
Wu Ming forcefully changed the subject. He was full of energy, and his hands were warm, like burning coals, as he gently placed them on Jiang Xia's face.
He deliberately changed direction to block most of the wind for the river gorge.
Jiang Xia was always afraid of the cold. When he was in school, during a random test in the first semester of his third year of junior high school in Duliang City, his hands were so cold that he couldn't hold a pen.
At that time, Wu Ming sat outside the examination room, rubbing his hands incessantly, warming them with his down jacket.
He is a very good friend.
Wu Ming then bent down slightly, shook Jiang Xia, and chuckled as he changed the subject: "Xing Zhang doesn't want to marry me either, so the biggest problem now is my family—my older brother."
"But my older brother will definitely pressure me to get married later. What do you think his motives are?"
Jiang Xia frowned slightly: "I don't know either."
Wu Ming gently pinched his cheek: "Jiang Xia, if you have the chance next time, could you ask him for me? My older brother isn't like you, so old-fashioned when it comes to relationships, insisting that dating means marriage, right?"
Jiang Xia shook his head again, tightening his coat: "It's too cold, let's go inside and talk."
He breathed a sigh of relief. Before going downstairs, he had tidied up the room, and there was a pot of tea that had just been brewed on the bay window.
It won't be too messy.
Wu Ming snapped his fingers: "No, I have to go back first. My older brother sent his assistant to keep an eye on things. It's too late, he'll probably start asking questions."
"Oh, right, I have a gift for you."
As he spoke, he took a gift from the car; the box contained only a photograph.
The background of the photo is an exhibition hall, the main subject is a landscape painting, and a young foreign woman is standing next to it, holding a pen.
The other party signed their name on the glass frame of the painting; their signature was: vvlula.
This is the foreign painter that Wu Ming mentioned last time.
"I'll take a picture of a painting for you and have it flown back to China by air. As for the autograph, I'll put another glass case over it later."
"She has an exhibition at the Solvay Museum in ten days, let's go see it together then."
Jiang Xia shook his head: "I'm going back to China in three days, maybe next time."
Helpless, Wu Ming had no choice but to leave first.
Jiang Xia watched him leave, then continued to contemplate life by the streetlight.
After some time, he suddenly heard the sound of a car again. He thought Wu Ming had returned, so he quickly looked over and saw a black minivan parked beside him.
The current on-the-road price of this model in China is over one million yuan. Since the country is not the location of the car company's headquarters, the price there is also not low.
The car owner probably didn't come to kidnap him.
Jiang Xia didn't rush to turn around and leave, but when Wu Zhou got out of the car, he regretted it.
He must have scrambled into the apartment.
Jiang Xia was heartbroken. President Wu was abroad, Assistant Xie wasn't around, so why was he coming to arrest his younger brother in person?
Jiang Xia took a step back, creating some distance, but she could still smell the cigarette emanating from the man. It wasn't strong; it was the smell of cigarettes he had just finished smoking.
He silently pointed to the left, forcing a smile: "Mr. Wu, Wu Ming just left..."
He glanced at the time: "Just left... twenty minutes ago."
Wu Zhou stood by the car, looking at him, and said in a low voice, "I know, aren't you going to sleep?"
Jiang Xia smiled awkwardly: "I'm not sleepy yet, I'll go to sleep in a bit."
He'd rather argue with Wu Ming than have an awkward chat with Wu Zhou here; he was genuinely afraid of Wu Zhou.
It's psychological fear.
To say that the eldest son of the Wu family had ever bullied him was not true. Not only had he not, but he had even tacitly allowed him to occasionally borrow the Wu family's reputation outside.
My understanding of him was limited to a few brief meetings, and most of what I learned came from Wu Ming.
For example, when a business partner stole a business plan, Wu Zhou chose a secluded spot without surveillance cameras, wrapped his fist in his clothes, and smashed the other person's nose until he was unconscious.
If Wu Zhou could gain a foothold in Mengcheng, a city where land is incredibly valuable and families are numerous, then the methods that this General Manager Wu could use, both openly and covertly, were beyond what I could withstand.
Jiang Xia prefers everything to be within the rules, but Wu Zhou clearly does things outside the moral boundaries of the world.
Wu Zhou approached, his gaze shifting. Jiang Xia's eyes were slightly red at the corners, her eyelashes were slightly damp, and her lips were also moist—the signs of tears.
"You cried?" he suddenly asked.
Jiang Xia's eyes twitched: "No, it's probably too cold. Mr. Wu, should I call Wu Ming?"
Wu Zhou frowned: "No need, you can go upstairs, I'm leaving."
Jiang Xia jogged upstairs and retreated back into his room. He hadn't originally planned to call Zhan Lintian, but the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
Wu Zhou was keeping a close eye on his younger brother, as if he was afraid the marriage would fall through.
Anxiety spread, and he continued to look for an outlet, with Zhan Lintian being someone who could help.
Zhan Lintian's WeChat profile picture is a landscape photo, which appears to have been taken when he climbed an active volcano.
Even though the other person wasn't in front of him, Jiang Xia felt a lot of pressure, and his fingers stiffly typed out a message.
"Mr. Zhan, thank you so much for today. If it's convenient, I wonder if I could treat you to a meal sometime in the future..."
After I sent it, the other person replied instantly: You're welcome.
"But... how about you treat me to dinner tomorrow?"
The next day, Jiang Xia went out again and sat down at the dining table to look at the menu.
The waiter introduced the restaurant's specialties in English. This restaurant was recommended to the author and is considered a well-established name in the country. There are many photos left by past customers in the restaurant.
He couldn't be sure if the food was good or not, and since he couldn't get a reservation at a high-end restaurant, the best option was this kind of relatively down-to-earth but story-filled place.
Stories are valuable too—as the old poet said.
The owner of this restaurant loved a girl when he was young, but unfortunately they didn't end up together. When he returned, the girl had already married someone else. In order to stay by her side and never remarry, he opened this restaurant near her home to be with her.
The boss passed away in the 1980s.
Jiang Xia asked one more question: Was the shop later sold to someone else?
The old poet: His grandson has taken over.
Jiangxia:......
That's unnecessary to ask.
The old poet wrote many melancholic essays and modern poems when he was young, but he became quite witty in his old age.
He told Jiang Xia that when telling stories to friends over dinner, he should only tell the first half.
Jiang Xia smiled wryly. He ordered a few dishes, chatted with the manager, and then went outside to pick out a bottle of red wine, also recommended by the old poet. It was an old brand that didn't sell well and was only sold locally.
However, when you drink a beverage with a story, the story can explain the bitterness of the beverage.
Jiang Xia looked at the dishes on the table in front of him, put his hands on his hips, and then pushed up his glasses. The older generation still had some tricks up their sleeves.
Hasn't Mr. Zhan arrived yet?
Jiang Xia sent a message to the other party, took a photo, and sent it to them.
At this moment, Zhan Lintian had already driven outside the restaurant. He was watching a video, which was of Jiang Xia attending an official event, and he appeared on camera as a simultaneous interpreter.
The young people in the lens are full of vigor and vitality.
The wind chimes at the door tinkled, and the river gorge turned back.
Zhan Lintian pushed open the door and entered, seeing the young man in the cramped restaurant.
He wore a gray-black top, the fabric of which looked rather thick, with a slanted collar that was crisp and stylish. He paired it with a beige turtleneck underneath and suit pants.
Compared to the formal attire I saw for the first time, this one has a more artistic vibe.
Zhan Lintian walked over and extended his hand.
Jiang Xia was still a little unaccustomed to it, so he extended his hand and shook hands with the other person.
The man's palm was burning hot; he squeezed it lightly before letting go.
"It's very quiet here."
Jiang Xia silently hid her hands behind her back and shook them; the man was too strong, and her hands hurt from his grip.
Subsequent exchanges were ordinary, and Jiang Xia did not seek any opportunity to curry favor with Zhan Lintian.
During his years by Wu Ming's side, he understood the gap between them better than anyone else. Perhaps only his own next generation could squeeze into their ranks and become their subordinates with his support.
but……
Jiang Xia hesitated before speaking, "May I ask about Mr. Wu's affairs? I'm also very curious, as he has never inquired about Wu Ming's affairs before."
Seeing that he hadn't eaten much, Zhan Lintian poured him some wine: "This wine is good, have a taste."
"I don't think Wu Zhou saw through your thoughts. If he had, he would have definitely driven you out of Mengcheng and wouldn't have caused trouble for the Wu family. So just express yourself boldly."
Jiang Xia felt a little upset upon hearing this and took a sip of his wine.
Will Wu Zhou do it? He'll probably kick me out.
"However, you are Wu Ming's good friend. What you are expressing actually represents Wu Ming's underlying resistance, and Wu Zhou will naturally understand this. You are the voice of Wu Ming's emotions."
Jiang Xia grunted, "Indeed, but I don't get to meet with Wu Zhou very often. Even if I want to speak up for Wu Ming, President Wu won't see it."
Zhan Lintian raised an eyebrow: "So I will help you."
He leaned slightly closer and lowered his voice: "It's a private dinner with some of our friends. Would you like to come? I happen to have a friend whose family is in the book business. I'll introduce you to them."
Jiang Xia paused, realizing that Wu Ming had never taken him to friends' gatherings before.
So much so that when he hears this now, his first reaction is not excitement, but fear: will he perform poorly and embarrass himself, will he be so nervous that he says the wrong thing?
But he agreed anyway.
"Thanks."
Jiang Xia smiled. The rich man in front of him was quite nice. He wished his social circle consisted entirely of people like him.
*
Three days later, Jiang Xia returned to China and first compiled the materials he had on hand into a booklet.
The next day, Zhan Lintian and Wu Zhou returned to China at the same time. It was normal for them to return after the project inspection was over, since they had gone abroad for the project.
Wu Ming was the only one who didn't return; the art exhibition he had arranged to attend wouldn't open for another few days.
Jiang Xia didn't have time to think about Wu Ming's mess. The night after he returned to China, Zhan Lintian sent him a message.
To celebrate the successful progress of the project, there will be a celebratory banquet, and he can bring Jiangxia along.
Jiang Xia didn't know what he was going to do, but when he arrived, the group of people were all a little tipsy.
Jiang Xia stood at the door of the private room, and as soon as he walked in, everyone looked at him.
Wu Zhou was in the main seat. He took off his coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves to reveal his muscular arms, and squinted at Jiang Xia.
A note from the author:
I'm so sorry for the late update because of revisions. I'll send everyone a small red envelope as an apology.
This story is a slightly different style from my previous works, so I hope you enjoy it. [Sprinkling flowers] Every time I see the smut in my drafts, I feel so tempted to share it, so I copied the first hundred words. Just wanted to sneak a peek. Jiang Xia stood there, stunned. He still didn't think Wu Zhou liked him.
But now he's confessing his love, a drunken declaration of affection.
He even tried to prove whether the other person had mistaken him for someone else, but to no avail. Wu Zhou called his name softly.
"Jiangxia... Jiangxia..."
Wu Zhou grabbed his chin with one hand, forcing him to raise his head.
The man drew closer, his breath brushing against her skin. The two were very close, their lips almost touching.
It's as if the expansion of the chest cavity with each breath is kissing the other person...
[The following one or two thousand words were not copied. [Sunglasses]]
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