Chapter 17 Testing
Jiang Xia couldn't voice Zhan Lintian's guess; he couldn't very well say that his brother's personality had recently changed drastically. He could only manage a weak laugh and shake his head: "I don't know him."
Upon hearing this, Wu Ming put his hands behind his head and pouted impatiently: "Me too. That guy—he's got a real fatherly attitude. He manages the company and the family, and now he's even taking over my management for my grandfather. Even when I'm abroad, he arranges for an assistant to follow me around and report to me."
Jiang Xia didn't respond, nor was he in the habit of speaking ill of others behind their backs.
I'm just not used to being around him, but that doesn't mean Wu Zhou is a bad person.
Mr. Wu did not harm me and even sent his assistant to deliver things several times. The pastries last time were delicious.
The two walked out of the airport side by side.
The driver received orders and parked the car at the temporary passenger pick-up and drop-off point outside the airport.
Wu Ming reached out his hand to the black car, and the vehicle slowly stopped in front of them. This was the van that Assistant Xie occasionally rode in, and Wu Zhou had also taken this car to his home last time.
Last time, Wu Zhou sat on the left, and Jiang Xia instinctively wanted to avoid him.
It's a bit awkward, even though Wu Zhou isn't here.
Wu Ming had just opened the left rear door when he turned around and saw Jiang Xia walking around the back of the car to get in from the right side.
"Why?"
Jiang Xia explained, "I'm sitting on the right side. It'll be easier to see the river view from here when we get on the bridge."
Wu Ming chuckled, bent down to get into the car, and asked the driver, "Is my older brother at the company? Didn't he come over? He had people watching me so closely the other day."
This driver was occasionally sent to pick up Wu Zhou from the company, saying, "General Manager Wu is at the company."
Wu Ming felt relieved, leaned back in his seat, patted the seat next to him, and called Jiang Xia to come up.
"You've had a tough time these past few days. My older brother has such a deadpan face; people who associate with him will have their lifespan shortened."
The car started, and the river valley felt a bit stuffy, so I rolled down the window.
Zhan Lintian mentioned twice that Wu Ming's engagement banquet was imminent, but Wu Ming has not said anything yet.
Thinking of Wu Zhou's recent unusual behavior, he composed himself and said, "I didn't get much information, but your older brother is really eager for you to get married. He's brought it up several times. Maybe... he's already prepared your engagement banquet."
Inside the car, Wu Ming paused, then irritably ruffled his hair: "I'm not getting married. This is an arranged marriage."
He was somewhat angry and instructed the driver, "Go to Jiangxia's house."
After saying that, Jiang Xia felt a weight on his shoulder, and Wu Ming chuckled, "I'm going to your house to catch up on my sleep."
Wu Ming leaned to one side: "Being single is so much fun, no one cares. I really envy you, a single aristocrat. I don't think you'll get married easily. If you take a fancy to someone, you must tell me in advance. I'll help you vet them."
With that evasive remark, Jiang Xia couldn't tell whether he wanted to get engaged or not.
Is he unwilling to get engaged, or does he simply not want to tell me?
Jiang Xia lowered his eyes and saw the fluffy hair on his shoulder.
Wu Ming's hair is yellowish and he recently got it permed. He didn't take care of it much today, so it was all fluffy and looked like a stray little yellow dog, which made his skin itchy.
Unfortunately, Wu Ming isn't a puppy; he won't listen to me.
Jiang Xia reached out and pushed his large head away: "It itches."
No wonder the old lady downstairs said he looked like a loud, bratty young hoodlum; it's understandable that the old lady's eyesight isn't good.
Wu Ming wouldn't let go and asked, "You haven't called me much since you came back to China. Come on, tell me the truth, have you been having a lot of fun these past few days? My brother was even with you late at night."
Jiang Xia was annoyed and answered truthfully, "I just went to ask Mr. Wu for his opinion, but he's not available during the day."
"You must have had a really good time abroad these past few days."
Wu Ming gave an embarrassed smile.
"No, it's just a time difference. Every time I wake up and want to call you, I realize it's not the right time."
After Wu Ming finished speaking, he yawned, and then his phone rang; someone was calling.
It's a ringtone recorded by a girl: "Idiot, answer the phone! Idiot, answer the phone!"
Jiang Xia had watched many of Ms. Xie's vlogs, so he recognized her voice.
He looked at Wu Ming: "Aren't you going to answer?"
Wu Ming didn't answer the call and hung up immediately, but when he sent a message to the other party on WeChat, Jiang Xia couldn't see it and was looking out the window, not in his direction.
Wu Ming is typing.
"I'm too tired, I'll rest first."
"I'll come see you again tonight; I bought you a bag."
After a while, he put down his phone.
Jiang Xia thought to himself, "Has this been appeased?"
Wu Ming said, "Jiang Xia, I'm so sleepy, I'll go to your place to adjust to the time difference."
Jiang Xia closed his eyes to rest, letting it be, thinking to himself that there was nothing else at home anyway.
When the vehicle was halfway through its journey.
He suddenly woke up with a start. No way! Wu Zhou's clothes were still at home.
Or should I let Wu Ming go home? Forget it, I'll just have to make excuses later. I'd better find an excuse to go home first and fold up Mr. Wu's coat and put it in the closet.
Actually, it wouldn't matter if Wu Ming saw it; he could just tell the truth. But he didn't want Wu Ming to keep asking him questions.
Even though there's nothing wrong, I still have this feeling that my affair has been discovered by the other person.
Jiang Xia sighed, feeling even more annoyed.
Especially recently, he has been translating the works of poets. The old man is quite open-minded now. The poems he wrote when he was young were full of regret, remorse, and confusion.
Those emotions came crashing down on Jiang Xia decades later, and he's now trying hard not to think about them.
More than an hour later, the car arrived downstairs.
The old woman wanted to greet Jiang Xia, but when she saw Wu Ming getting off the car right after her, she silently shut her mouth.
Jiang Xia bought some bananas and apples from her stall and carried them upstairs.
Wu Ming was so sleepy that he swayed as he went upstairs first.
He knew the password to Jiangxia's house.
When Jiangxia arrived, he was already lying on the sofa snoring; he was really exhausted.
Jiang Xia first hid the suit, then took a blanket from the wardrobe to cover him, and then went to the kitchen to start cooking noodles.
There wasn't much at home, and he was too lazy to drive to the nearby supermarket to buy anything.
Wu Zhou had a good meal last time, but that was purely because he was lucky and happened to be there when he was on a big shopping spree.
Jiang Xia sent a message to Assistant Xie, asking if he was free to come over today to take away President Wu's clothes.
Assistant Xie replied in a businesslike manner: "Received."
About half an hour later, there was a knock at the door. Jiang Xia opened the door in her slippers, and Assistant Xie greeted her with a smile: "Hey, Jiang Xia."
Then he moved to the side, revealing Wu Zhou: "President Wu is here too."
Assistant Xie also took a lot of things and put them on the cabinet by the door: "These are Mr. Wu's thank-you gifts."
Wu Zhou looked at Jiang Xia, who was wearing an apron, and said, "Thank you for your help the day before yesterday."
Jiang Xia quickly waved his hand and ushered the two of them in. Wu Ming was sleeping like a log, with one leg sticking out of the sofa. He opened his eyes a crack and peeked out groggily. He immediately saw his older brother—it was unbelievable that he had actually seen his own brother. He was still half asleep.
It's impossible for my elder brother to be at Jiang Xia's house.
Wu Ming turned over, covered his face with his coat to block the light from above, and went back to sleep.
Wu Zhou glanced at him coldly but did not say anything.
Jiang Xia went to the bedroom first to get the suit that had been packed.
After sneaking inside, he was at a loss and wanted to find someone to give him some advice, but after thinking about it for a long time, he couldn't find a good friend to talk to.
It's even less likely that he'd ask his colleagues...
Jiang Xia saw Zhan Lintian's profile picture; it was his pinned post.
Mr. Zhan is indeed a kind-hearted person.
Jiang Xia hesitated for a moment, looked out the door, and finally decided to send a message: "President Zhan, how should I test someone?"
Zhan Lintian was looking at reports in his office when he heard the notification sound indicating special attention, so he picked it up and took a look.
He raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but chuckle. He knew from this question that the person asking was asking how to test Wu Zhou.
He typed: "Don't know?"
But it was deleted before it was posted.
When I first met Jiang Xia, his face and figure were quite different. His face was pale from the sea breeze, but his skin was fair, with only a faint blush at the corners of his eyes. He had a very delicate appearance, yet he also had a bookish air about him... He seemed to have no shortage of romantic opportunities.
However, after spending time together several times, he discovered that Jiang Xia was more accustomed to dealing with emotions by escaping.
It seems that not participating will prevent you from getting hurt.
A moment later, Jiang Xia received a reply.
"It's easy to test the waters with physical contact, like gently brushing your fingertips across his palm."
A note from the author:
Now, James: What are you so insecure about with that face?
...
later
James: [bursting into tears]
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