Chapter 75 Relentless Pursuit
Jiang Xia was stunned, hesitating briefly.
Wu Zhou narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice to reiterate, "Jiang Xia, let me in."
As soon as he let go, Wu Zhou pushed the door open.
Jiang Xia staggered backward and fell, but Wu Zhou caught him in his arms.
Wu Zhou squinted, staring at the redness and swelling on his lips...
The two of them were pressed close together.
Jiang Xia stepped back, and Wu Zhou used his arm to pull him forcefully into his embrace.
Wu Zhou hunched over, pressing his face close to Jiang Xia's ear, his voice hoarse: "Jiang Xia..."
The chill of snow lingered on him, seeping into the river gorge, adding a touch of vulnerability and fear to his otherwise tough exterior.
"You and Zhan Lintian are together, is that right?"
Wu Zhou tightened his grip slightly, suppressing his anger, until Jiang Xia softly explained, "No."
Wu Zhou's anger dissipated instantly, and he realized that he had hugged Jiang Xia too tightly. But the next second, he hugged her tightly again as if protecting a precious treasure.
Overjoyed, Wu Zhou hugged Jiang Xia tightly with both hands, wrapped his arms around Jiang Xia's thighs, and before anyone could react, he lifted him up forcefully, making him clamp his waist.
Jiang Xia leaned back, her waist almost giving way, so she could only half-wrap her arms around his neck.
Wu Zhou looked into his eyes, a smile playing in them: "Jiang Xia..."
He lifted the young man's waist and hips high in his arms, holding him even tighter.
The river gorge was immobilized.
Compared to passionate kisses, this silent embrace, this intimacy that makes us want to merge into each other's bodies, is more like an endless love confession.
Jiang Xia couldn't see his face, but she could seem to feel the other's frantic heartbeat... or perhaps it was her own.
The man murmured softly, "I just want to hold you."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xia looked down and saw that Wu Zhou's hair was damp.
Jiang Xia lowered his head and said softly, "Your hair is wet. Put me down and I'll get you a clean towel so you can dry it off first."
He brushed away the snowflakes that hadn't yet melted from Wu Zhou's head.
Wu Zhou chuckled softly, but did not reply.
"If you don't dry it, it will get cold, and you might catch a cold," Jiang Xia whispered to him.
Wu Zhou hugged him tightly, his voice hoarse: "Jiang Xia, I just want to hold you."
Wu Zhou carried him into the bedroom and sat him on the edge of the bed.
Jiang Xia straddled him, just like Zhan Lintian had restrained him in the car earlier, and Wu Zhou held him tightly with both hands.
But this time, he had his back to Wu Zhou.
Unlike inside a car, this place is much larger, and Jiang Xia could struggle to escape, but that would be too unsightly.
Wu Zhou rested his head on his shoulder from behind and murmured softly, "I originally wanted to watch a movie with you tonight, but something came up, so I can only treat you to dinner first."
He affectionately stroked Jiang Xia's cheek: "Thinking about it later, it's too cold, so watching a movie with you at home is not bad."
Wu Zhou made no attempt to conceal his affection: "I originally thought Zhan Lintian would be here."
Jiang Xia explained softly, "No..."
Wu Zhou nodded and closed his eyes to rest: "I've been working hard these past two days, and I only have time tonight, but I'll have plenty of time to spend with you later."
His words sounded more like those of a boyfriend apologizing than a suitor.
Jiang Xia didn't know how to respond.
So Wu Zhou pressed his advantage, speaking in a languid tone: "Jiang Xia, I'm staying the night..."
Jiang Xia tried to get up: "Then I'll go next door and make your bed."
Wu Zhou grabbed him, hugged him, and said, "No need, Jiang Xia, I'll sleep with you tonight."
"Jiang Xia, I'm so tired."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xia met the other's gaze and saw the weariness in their eyes.
Wu Zhou hugged him tightly: "I barely slept last night... Jiang Xia."
His every word was very clear in its direction and intention.
Jiang Xia hesitated, realizing that Wu Zhou wasn't exchanging opinions with him, but simply informing him.
Wu Zhou was in a much worse mood than usual tonight.
Jiang Xia couldn't guess at first, but when she went to the bathroom to get toiletries for Wu Zhou, she saw his red and swollen lips and faint pink eyes in the mirror.
Jiang Xia rubbed his forehead, realizing he'd forgotten about it once his lips stopped hurting.
But Wu Zhou should be angry with President Zhan, what's the point of him staying here?
After washing up, Jiang Xia sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the dappled light and shadows in the bathroom. Her figure was reflected in the glass door, and although there was no leakage, every inch of her body was clearly visible.
There was a curtain in the bathroom, which he usually kept drawn while showering.
But since it was Wu Zhou's first time taking a bath, he probably didn't know about this and didn't draw the curtain.
Jiang Xia saw him washing his hair, raising his hands to rub it.
This posture accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, allowing him to see the river gorges clearly.
He hesitated, about to ask Wu Zhou to close the curtain, when the man showering in the bathroom suddenly turned to grab the shower gel.
He turned to the side, and the hazy lines of his body instantly became clear, as if he were reacting; Wu Zhou was picking it up with his hand.
Jiang Xia glanced at it quickly.
good……
He quickly turned away and stopped looking, without offering any further advice.
Many embarrassing things are best left unsaid, so let's just pretend they don't exist. It's best not to tell Wu Zhou about the reflection in the bathroom glass door.
Wu Zhou took a long time to shower before coming out, and he changed into pajamas—pajamas he had brought from home.
The pajamas were in the car, and Jiang Xia just came downstairs to get them for him and ironed them.
He even brought his pajamas, so he was clearly prepared.
The room was very warm. Jiang Xia, dressed in her pajamas, sat on the edge of the bed, watching the man walk up to her step by step until their toes touched.
Wu Zhou squatted down, and Jiang Xia pulled his feet back: "What's wrong?"
Her ankles were gripped tightly by the man, his burning body heat penetrating her skin and seeping into her veins.
Wu Zhou slowly took off his slippers: "Do you want to take off your socks?"
Jiang Xia tried to pull his foot away, but the grip tightened even more: "Your feet are a bit cold, don't take them off..."
He thought Wu Zhou would let go of him.
But Wu Zhou slowly took off his socks, revealing snow-white skin beneath the fabric that had hardly ever seen the sun. "I'll warm them up for you later. Wearing socks will make your feet stuffy and uncomfortable."
It didn't feel like a normal night of sharing a bed; it felt more like a wedding night, with the bride gently undressing.
Jiang Xia finally forced his foot away, kicking back twice to distance himself from the other man.
Wu Zhou went around to the other side, helped turn off the light, and then lay down on the bed.
Wu Zhou pulled Jiang Xia into his arms. As Jiang Xia listened to Wu Zhou's heartbeat, which pounded wildly, his own heart seemed to race as well.
Wu Zhou seemed to be really exhausted, and his breathing gradually became steady.
Jiang Xia crawled out of his arms and tilted her head back to breathe.
The two were very close, and he looked at the man's face in the dim light from the window.
Wu Zhou and Wu Ming are indeed brothers; upon closer inspection, they bear a striking resemblance.
In a quiet corner late at night, more than a decade ago, I counted Wu Ming's eyelashes by the moonlight...
Wu Zhou's eyelashes should be straighter, so that when his eyes are closed, a small shadow is cast under his eyes.
Wu Zhou really worried a lot about his younger brother. Although Wu Ming didn't like his older brother, he would still acknowledge Wu Zhou's good qualities.
Jiang Xia originally wanted to get away a bit, but then he thought that this was the only time it could go on like this, and besides, the other person had already gone to sleep.
Jiang Xia suffers from a kind of skin hunger. For example, when someone touches his seal, he feels like a kitten being stroked, and he wants to chase after them and let them pet him.
But adults are supposed to be reserved, so he never said it.
Just avoid touching your sensitive thighs.
At this moment, Jiang Xia secretly nestled in Wu Zhou's arms...
He closed his eyes to rest, and in the darkness, the man above him smiled faintly.
*
The next day, Jiang Xia got up early to cook two bowls of noodles and put two eggs on top, but Wu Zhou grabbed his waist and wouldn't let him get up.
Jiang Xia pressed her ear against his chest, carefully counting his heartbeats.
Wu Zhou's voice was hoarse from the early morning: "I arranged for someone to deliver breakfast at 7:30 last night, don't worry."
Wu Zhou tapped his fingers lightly, feeling Jiang Xia's presence: "Jiang Xia, I will not give up on you... Good morning."
Jiang Xia sighed helplessly; he could see through it.
The two of them dawdled until 7:20 before getting up. The assistant laid out a large breakfast on the table. Jiang Xia closed his eyes, feeling a little hopeless, as he couldn't possibly finish it all.
When will Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian realize that they are normal people, not gluttons?
Jiang Xia picked out a few of her favorites, including a semi-solid dessert that resembled soy milk. It had a soy flavor but wasn't too sweet, and it also contained smooth mashed sweet potato.
"What is this?" Jiang Xia asked Wu Zhou.
Wu Zhou pondered for a moment: "I don't have a name, I just guessed you like tofu, and you probably also like soy milk. Sweet potato would add sweetness, but it would still be within your usual range."
Jiang Xia lowered his eyes and continued drinking: "Thank you."
Wu Zhou didn't like him saying thank you; it was too polite and distant, not like someone who wanted to date him. Instead, it seemed to be pushing him further away.
Is it because he wants what's best for his future that he can't agree?
Wu Zhou learned of Jiang Xia's thoughts from Zhan Lintian; he already knew about it.
Back when Wu Ming wasn't completely rotten to the core, Jiang Xia was the same way, taking every step very carefully.
He had finally achieved a stable life, and he didn't want to ruin Wu Ming's life as a wealthy young master because of a little romance.
The more he acted in his own best interest, the less likely Wu Zhou would let go.
Just before leaving, Jiang Xia had finished tying his tie when he suddenly swayed and was picked up by Wu Zhou just like last night. He had only changed half of his shoe, and the leather shoe was dangling precariously from his foot.
Jiang Xia opened his mouth: "You... um..." The long-awaited kiss landed.
The man kept licking the lingering sweetness on her tongue, wanting to savor every last bit of the aroma.
Wu Zhou only put Jiang Xia down when he was panting heavily, and then licked his lips.
Jiang Xia gently pushed him away.
Wu Zhou preemptively said, "You can kill me."
Jiang Xia glanced at him; he was tall and strong, how could he possibly be killed...
Wu Zhou said softly, "From now on, I will call myself your boyfriend and do many things that couples do together. I will only let go of your hand if you say you hate me, despise me, loathe me, never want to see me again, say I'm a terrible person, and humiliate me in every way you can think of..."
He took Jiang Xia's hand in his and kissed her fingertips: "Only ruthlessness can sever ties. Otherwise, I won't give up. Before you completely reject me, I'm afraid that every time you soften your heart or feel moved, it's a cry for help from me..."
"Jiang Xia, I'm afraid you're just saying one thing and meaning another, so you have to hurt me deeply when you reject me."
Wu Zhou offered a solution, but Jiangxia was unable to implement it.
He simply couldn't bring himself to lash out at the two people who had been kind to him...
Since revealing their cards, Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian have stopped hiding their intentions. They realized that Jiang Xia didn't intend to choose anyone, and the two of them felt more like brothers in arms than just rivals.
Zhan Lintian truly didn't understand why the Wu family had given birth to Wu Ming.
They should have fought back then.
Jiang Xia's conflicted personality is partly due to his naturally sensitive nature, and partly due to the misdeeds committed by Wu Ming.
When someone has been manipulated for too long, even if they manage to get out of the mire, they will still be afraid of every rainy day.
Moreover, Jiangxia has its own logic, an impenetrable fortress that no one else can squeeze in.
The problem now isn't that Jiang Xia has to choose whomever she loves; it has become that if Jiang Xia doesn't like someone, she won't choose that person; but if she really likes someone, she's even less likely to choose that person.
No one can penetrate Jiang Xia's mindset without forcibly changing it, not even Wu Ming fourteen years ago.
Finally, Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian realized this and stopped trying to reason with Jiang Xia.
Anyway, the matter has been made clear. Whether Jiang Xia agrees or not is his business. It can't be changed in a short time. We can only try to delay the process and give each other a buffer.
They would always wait for him every morning, noon, and evening, taking him to try new things and to eat.
If Jiang Xia ignores them, he will attack them from both sides.
He was shy and afraid of being seen in public, so he could only agree to the request and quickly left with the others.
On this Sunday, Jiang Xia was resting at home, originally planning to look at some documents and order takeout for all three meals. However, Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian arrived at his door one after the other.
The once peaceful home was suddenly filled with the sound of a drop of water falling into a frying pan of oil. The kitchen was filled with clanging and clattering sounds, and the aroma wafted out the window.
Hearing the commotion and smelling the aroma, the old lady selling fruit downstairs called out to him from outside, "Xiao Jiang, your house is unusually lively today."
Jiang Xia was embarrassed. Standing at the window, he looked down at the old woman and stammered a reply.
He wanted to kick the two men out, but they were both tall and strong.
Jiang Xia felt that it would be faster for him to get out of there.
However, Wu Zhou and Zhan Lintian would often make him taste the dishes. As soon as he walked towards the door, he would feel a chill on his neck and be dragged into the kitchen by his collar to taste the dishes.
Zhan Lintian pinched the shrimp tail and stuffed it into Jiang Xia's mouth: "Is it good?"
Jiang Xia blinked, which was a sign that he greatly approved of his craftsmanship.
During this time, he had completely figured out Jiang Xia's tastes. Rather than not liking sweet dishes, Jiang Xia preferred slightly salty and spicy soft yet chewy dishes.
For example, shrimp and pork tenderloin.
In the dead of winter, several plates of elaborate dishes were laid out on the table at home, making Jiang Xia feel like he was eating a grand feast every day.
There will also be late-night snacks...
Zhan Lintian tasted the soup and said, "Then I'll make some prawn stew for your birthday."
Jiang Xia couldn't answer, only saying, "This year, I want to go back to Duliang to celebrate the New Year and visit my elders."
The reason was impeccable; he wasn't lying. He hadn't returned home for holidays since graduation, only rushing back for funerals. He had long since lost all affection for that place, and the younger generation in his family didn't even know he existed.
Anyway, it doesn't matter. He's just going back to hide and think things over.
After calming down, the holiday will be over, and I'll probably figure things out by then and decide whether I want to go back to Montreal... My recent work focus has shifted to simultaneous interpreting, and even without this incident, he would probably be changing jobs anyway.
Editor-in-Chief Sun privately indicated that he could offer a referral opportunity... Simultaneous interpreting jobs pay well, but to earn more, one naturally cannot limit oneself to Montreal.
Jiang Xia, living alone, naturally didn't care about being on business trips all over the country year after year...
Even if I don't return to Montreal, I can settle in another city.
Jiang Xia chewed on the shrimp meat while thinking.
Wu Zhou moved a step closer, precisely seeing through his pretense: "You should go back after your birthday, right?"
Jiang Xia nodded.
Ten days before the Spring Festival, the company had not yet given us a holiday, so it wasn't really possible for me to leave early.
Wu Zhou stood beside him, looking into his eyes, and said softly, "If possible, I'll celebrate your birthday with you this year."
Zhan Lintian neither confirmed nor denied, but added, "Unless you're celebrating your birthday with other friends?"
Jiang Xia hesitated, realizing he had no other friends at all.
There are a few acquaintances in the company with whom I have a good relationship, but it's not to the point of celebrating birthdays together.
However, there is a Wu Ming who lives thousands of miles away...
He counted them all and concluded that this was the best place.
People tend to get things done when they're in a panic. Jiang Xia swallowed the shrimp meat in his mouth, and while wiping the stove with a rag, he said, "If you come, I'll certainly welcome you..."
Wu Zhou held his hand, gently tapped his fingertips, and comforted him, "Okay, let's not clean up yet, let's get ready to eat."
A note from the author:
Grandma: Your food smells so good every day.
Some time later, the old woman's children came over for the holiday and were surprised to find that she had gained weight.
Grandma: I don't know. It seems like two chefs who studied abroad came to Xiao Jiang's house upstairs. Their cooking is incredibly delicious.
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