41. He Gu's Family Banquet
Surprise! Happy Birthday!
As soon as the door opened, Lin Jiang was seen happily waiting outside with a birthday cake.
He Gu opened the door and stuffed the gift into his hands, still carrying the chill of the morning air. "Why are you here so early?"
"Didn't you say you had no one to celebrate your birthday with? I wanted to come and be with you as soon as possible."
Lin Jiang sat down opposite him, placed the cake on the table, solemnly handed the gift box to him, and waited expectantly for him, "Open it and see!"
It all feels so unreal.
He unpacked the box, revealing brands he had never bought before and colors he would never wear.
She picked up the tie and asked him, "Will such a brightly colored tie look good on me?"
"Looks good!" Lin Jiang got up, took the tie, and put it on him manually. "You should wear other colors more often. Always wearing a black suit with a black tie makes you look old-fashioned."
The ginger-yellow striped tie did make him look younger, but it still didn't quite match Lin Jiang's youthful energy.
He Gu asked him with some concern, "Will there be a generation gap between us?"
Lin Jiang smiled, his eyes filled with a captivating brightness, and took the initiative to straighten his tie. "You're six years older than me, isn't it normal to have a generation gap?"
He straightened up and looked in the mirror. "Ah-Hu, how about I buy you a suit next year? And I'll celebrate your birthday with you every year from now on..."
Their reflections were in the mirror, and they looked so well-matched.
He Gu looked at the mirror with a lingering sense of longing, not wanting to miss a single detail.
The warm scene gradually darkened, and he could no longer see clearly. No matter how hard he tried, the world around him slowly sank into darkness.
The person who had reached out let go, disappearing into the darkness. He Gu finally panicked: "Lin Jiang! Where did you go?"
There was no response in the empty room; it was as if countless invisible hands were pulling him down into the depths of hell...
He Gu suddenly woke up from his dream.
My forehead was covered in cold sweat.
He didn't know why he dreamed about these things; it was like some kind of premonition. The first thing he did after getting out of bed was to call Lin Jiang.
"Beep—beep—"
"Hello."
"...Lin Jiang."
A surge of relief, like something lost and found, welled up in his chest. Before he could speak, Lin Jiang's voice came from inside: "He Hu, did you send someone to follow me?"
The moment Lin Jiang saw the photo, he guessed whose work it was.
He was indeed raised by his mother, and no matter how much he struggled in the process, he would eventually slowly become the same kind of person.
Lin Jiang suppressed his emotions and asked, "Why did you have someone take pictures of me? What exactly do you want?"
He Gu's movements were slightly stiff, and he swallowed the words he was about to say. He swallowed hard, and the phone was slightly hot to the touch.
He lowered his head, still shaken by the dream. Even his tone of voice softened as he spoke to Lin Jiang: "I'm worried about you. I need to know what you're doing now that you've left KUG."
Lin Jiang laughed after hearing this. "You're worried about me, so you had someone follow me? What's the difference between you and your mother now? She's monitoring you, and you're monitoring me? Did she also tell you she was worried about you? How do you feel about that? Can you please try to put yourself in my shoes?"
They know each other best, and they know exactly where to stab each other to hurt the most.
When He Gu finished speaking, his eyes turned red.
He didn't want to become like his mother, but in fact, he had the same stubborn blood flowing in his veins as she did, and that was all she taught him.
He will eventually become the kind of person he hates.
He gripped the phone tightly, then slowly released it, then gripped it tightly again. "I won't do that to you."
Lin Jiang took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. "Take down the articles online. Don't drag Shen Ju into our business."
He Gu didn't understand. "What article?"
He clicked on the link Lin Jiang sent him and realized why Lin Jiang was so angry.
The comments under the post were all negative. If Lin Jiang really went to OT because of Shen Ju, then KUG has been taking the blame for Lin Jiang during this period, and KUG's fans naturally wouldn't be happy about that.
Insults, attacks, and cyberbullying followed one after another.
They demonized Lin Jiang online, and even Shen Ju was not spared.
"Wait for me a moment."
He Hu hung up the phone and immediately turned on his computer to send a message to the KUG manager, asking them to handle this public relations incident.
He had just made the announcement when online opinion suddenly changed again.
Shen Ju posted a message online: Listen up, you orphans who spread rumors, I've contacted a lawyer. If you have the guts, keep fighting me.
At first, the commenters thought he was bluffing, but then a well-known lawyer in charge of criminal cases posted a lawyer's letter, and netizens realized that Koma was actually serious.
He's rich and has connections; if he really gets angry, he might bite many people to death.
The blogger who spearheaded the attack deleted the post on the spot, and the netizens below dared not discuss the matter. A cyberbullying incident was nipped in the bud.
It turned out that Shen Ju had already taken care of it for him.
He Gu paused for a long time before telling the person in charge: No need.
He shut down his computer, a suffocating feeling spreading through the air. He gripped his phone tightly and solemnly dialed Lin Jiang's number again.
"I took the photos, I didn't upload them. I will find the person who uploaded the photos and give you an explanation."
Lin Jiang on the phone had calmed down. "I made myself very clear to you last time, and I'll make it even clearer this time. I have nothing to do with you anymore. Don't try to use your family's methods against me. If you hurt the people around me, I'll fight you to the death..."
He Gu rubbed the phone screen hard, his nails turning blue from the effort.
"Lin Jiang, today is my birthday."
He paused for a moment, clearly having forgotten, and after a long while, he said to him, "Happy birthday."
Congratulations on traveling through time and space to be by his side again after so long. He Gu felt a heart palpitation that was so touching that he felt like he was going to suffocate.
He bowed his head and said, "Thank you."
Lin Jiang remained as gentle as ever. After thinking for a moment, she said to him, "Buy a cake yourself. I have something to do, so I'll hang up now."
"Beep beep beep—", the world fell into a silent, deathly stillness.
He Gu slowly lowered his hand and dialed his assistant's number to ask him to handle the matter.
Articles are easy to remove, and trending topics are easy to suppress.
The assistant hesitated before telling him, "Alike obtained the photos, but it seems that your mother was the one who posted them, Young Master He. Perhaps we shouldn't investigate any further."
He Gu gripped the screen tightly. "I understand."
The screen went out, reflecting his disheveled appearance. After extreme restraint, the screen shattered with a "crack," revealing two cracks.
He took a deep breath and slowly let go.
The pent-up frustration in his heart finally found some relief.
I got up and looked at myself in the mirror.
Numbly changed into clean clothes, washed and tidied herself up, and prepared to attend a suffocating family dinner.
9 o'clock was the arrival time his mother had arranged for him, and 9:10 was the time his mother had the greatest patience for.
The car slowly drove into the garage, and before I even went upstairs, I heard my mother's disgruntled voice: "You're one minute late. Don't you even have a basic sense of time anymore?"
He Gu loosened his tie slightly and walked numbly up the stairs, his mind replaying the first time he had Lin Jiang accompany him to choose a watch.
He was two minutes late because of traffic, and his first reaction was to apologize.
Lin Jiang looked at him in shock: "What's there to apologize for in 2 minutes? We're not attending an international conference."
For the first time, He Gu realized that being late could be forgiven, and that there were people who would tolerate his carelessness.
As I climbed the stairs, I looked at my dignified and poised mother.
He Gu looked tired. "Mom, I'm going upstairs to rest for a while."
"Have you forgotten what I told you on the phone yesterday? Go see your grandma first." His mother reminded him sternly, then straightened his body and looked him up and down like inspecting goods. "Who picked out this tie for you? It doesn't match your clothes at all. Come to my room, I'll get you a new one."
He Gu wanted to say there was no need, but when he looked up, his mother had already brought over four or five ties, her movements full of control, and helped him replace the inappropriate tie.
He suddenly asked her, "Can't I choose what I like?"
“What you like? What you like is not important. What you need to cater to is the tastes of the business world. We hired so many etiquette teachers for you, why are you returning them?” His mother straightened his collar and then his sleeves, striving to make every part as proper as hers. “Today is a family banquet. Not only are your uncle and aunt coming, but the old man is also coming. How can we be so perfunctory?”
He Gu lowered his head. "I'm going to go find Grandma."
“Wait a minute,” his mother frowned when she saw his watch. “Didn’t I tell you to change to this watch? The color doesn’t suit you at all; it makes you look frivolous.”
Without even asking his opinion, she reached out and took off the watch from his wrist, saying, "I'll buy you the one I bought for you. You didn't take it last time, and it's just been gathering dust at home..."
The suffocating atmosphere of this family is innate; no matter how successful he is outside, he remains at the bottom of the family structure when he returns home.
He could no longer hold back. He turned around, took his mother's hand, straightened it, and solemnly told her, "I should go see Grandma."
Ten o'clock is the time to chat with my grandmother, eleven o'clock is the time to go upstairs to listen to my mother's teachings, and at noon lunch is served on time.
Everyone in this family seems to be a pre-programmed robot, not allowing anything to go off-plan.
Even He Hu, as the master, cannot have it.
The only sound at the table was the clinking of knives and forks against plates. The principle of not speaking while eating or sleeping was deeply ingrained in He Hu's bones.
After the meal, the maid tidied up the table.
Next, I listened to my mother's teachings.
My mother came from a political background and possessed an undeniable toughness beneath her dignified and proper demeanor.
She gently wiped her mouth and gracefully put it down. "Are you still working on your team? I heard from Awen that you've been going there a lot lately."
He Gu hummed in response, without saying anything more.
This attitude greatly displeased her mother, but her upbringing prevented her from expressing her anger. "I thought you would mature in a couple of years, so I didn't interfere much. Now it seems you really don't understand. You're 27 now, the most precious age of your life. How can you waste such an important stage on a lousy team? It's fine to be young and playful, but it's a problem if you forget your roots while having fun."
She took a sip of warm water and continued her admonition: "I gave up my political position to come home and teach you, and I've poured so much effort into you. I don't ask for much in return, but I just hope you won't become like those rich kids who just loaf around and bring shame to the family. Your father's family are also prominent figures. Do you know that they look down on what you're investing in now?"
She slammed her hand on the table when she got emotional, which was her greatest expression of anger.
After her anger subsided, she regained her composure and dignity.
Her voice was as cold as a knife: "I'll give you a week to withdraw from the team's equity."
He Gu looked at the transparent cup in front of him and thought of the butterfly specimens in the shop window, which reflected a lifeless beauty under the cold light.
“Today is my birthday.” He gently put down his glass. “From 9 a.m. until now, you have said a lot. I thought I would hear you say ‘Happy Birthday’.”
His mother paused noticeably, but she wouldn't allow such weakness to appear in him.
“Ah-hu, birthdays aren’t important. You’re still young. If you hold a birthday party now and people ask about your achievements, what am I supposed to tell them? You should use all your time wisely. When you achieve the same success as your father, I will invite prestigious figures from both the business and political circles to celebrate your birthday every year.”
He Gu lowered his head and laughed.
He laughed at himself for indulging in unrealistic fantasies again.
“Mom,” he looked up at her, “you’re right. I really don’t deserve to celebrate my birthday with you, nor do I deserve to eat a piece of cake on my birthday.”
A family without love will only raise monsters.
He Gu understood.
He's just a monster disguised as rationality.
He got up, picked up his coat from the doorway, and slowly put it on. His mother questioned him, "Where are you going?"
"Go back to the company. When I'm old enough to have dinner with you all, I'll come back for the family dinner."
Behind her came her mother's incredulous voice: "Do you know what you're doing? Your father isn't even back yet. If you leave now, won't you make your uncle and aunt laugh at you? And what about the old man? How is your father going to explain this to him? Are you trying to embarrass us?"
He Gu calmly put on his coat and shoes.
Standing at the doorway.
He had a lot to say.
He meant that he didn't like family dinners and didn't like being forced to make arrangements.
He also dislikes being stared at like a monkey at banquets and dislikes accepting things he doesn't like.
She may not agree with his achievements, but please don't tie him to the dining table and subject him to the stares and torture of others.
He also wanted to ask her about the photos, hoping she would stop.
But what came out of his mouth was: "Something came up at the company, so I won't be able to attend the family dinner today."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he was met with a slap.
The mother was trembling with anger. "What could possibly happen at your company? If anything happens, Xiao Cheng will tell me. Don't make excuses for your behavior! Do you think you're all grown up now, that you can disrespect us? Have you ever thought about me and your father? Have you ever thought about the old man? Without you, can this family dinner still be complete?!"
"From ancient times to the present, family banquets have been a test of a family's rise and fall. In the old man's eyes, family banquets are of paramount importance! Only when everyone is present can the family business prosper, do you understand!"
"I won't allow you to become like this! Take off your shoes and put your clothes back!"
He Gu didn't move. He remained in the position of leaving, looking at her with self-abandon. "Mom, aren't you going to give me an explanation about the photos?"
His mother was so angry she could hardly breathe. She didn't think she had done anything wrong at all. "Just for Lin Jiang, you ruined the family dinner I carefully prepared? Now I think I was right. If I hadn't stopped you, would you have turned the whole family upside down for him?"
He Gu's eyes were slightly red.
Even now, just thinking about it still causes a lingering pain in my heart.
If given the chance to choose again, he might make a completely different choice.
"What are you still standing there for?" His mother saw that he didn't move and raised her hand to strike him again. "I didn't publish this article to target him, but to remind you! He has a better sense of propriety than you. If you continue to overstep the line and can't tell what's important, don't blame me for dealing with all your unsavory things!"
The opponent's force was heavy, but when it hit my face, it had a numb, dull sensation.
From age 7 to age 27.
He worked hard for 20 years, but he never actually stepped out of the cage.
This cage will keep him trapped for another ten or twenty years, or even for his entire life.
Perhaps only when there is nothing left in this world that he can hold onto will he be able to leave without any worries.
Take a deep breath, then obediently take off your shoes and neatly put your clothes back in their place.
He's always done it this way, and he can do it very well.
Although the butterflies in the shop window have wings, they have long lost the ability to fly and are merely beautiful decorations.
At 4:30, his father came home and he went downstairs to greet him.
At 5:40, his uncles and aunts arrived, and he chatted with them.
At 6 o'clock sharp, the old man arrived, and he accompanied his parents downstairs as a background figure.
At 6:20, the family dinner started on time.
Not a single minute belonged to him.
The old man and the father would say some opening remarks, the same every year, and then it would be his turn, as the youngest member of the family, to open the wine for them.
The red wine was poured into the decanter, the scarlet liquid blending with the joyful atmosphere.
He Hu suddenly felt...
I might be sick.
Otherwise, why would he be unhappy while everyone else was having a joyful family dinner?
At 10 o'clock, the suffocating banquet finally came to an end. He saw off each member, and it was finally his turn to leave.
"Don't drive if you've been drinking. I'll have Lao Chen drive you."
He Gu nodded obediently, got into the car, and looked at the neon lights outside, as if he were taking in his own life.
"Young master, shall I take you back to your apartment or your residence?"
"An apartment, please."
The vehicle was parked on the side of the road, and He Gu got out of it.
He didn't go back to his apartment. Instead, he bought a leftover cake from a roadside vendor and hailed a taxi whose cleanliness was questionable.
"To OT headquarters."
He wanted to see Lin Jiang at the end of the day.
The apartment was very close to Lin Jiang's team, and it didn't take long to get there.
He Gu staggered out of the car, his coat draped over his shoulders. He looked like an ordinary person, utterly dejected, a far cry from his former high spirits.
He stood downstairs, gazing at the lights upstairs, dialing his number again and again, tirelessly.
Lin Jiang missed the first few calls, but when he finally answered, his first words were: "Have all the photos been removed?"
He Hu hummed in agreement, then looked up at the window, his voice involuntarily pleading: "Lin Jiang, can you come down? I want to see you."
People you once thought you could see just by turning around, you might not even see now even if you look up. Such a disparity can really drive a person crazy.
Lin Jiang took a while to reply: "My training isn't over yet."
“It’s alright,” He Gu sat down on the flower bed next to him. “I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes.”
He knew Lin Jiang too well; he simply couldn't bring himself to make anyone wait for him, not even a complete stranger.
In less than ten minutes, Lin Jiang came downstairs.
He saw He Gu sitting dejectedly by the flower bed, with a cheap cake box beside him, and his pace slowed down.
"Your family went bankrupt?"
The moment Lin Jiang opened his mouth, he suddenly felt like he was back four years ago.
He Gu laughed, got up, brushed the dirt off his clothes, picked up the cake, and replied as usual, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. My family is doing very well. We even had a family dinner today."
He didn't say anything more about what happened next, but Lin Jiang knew that this family dinner was bound to be difficult. Who would have thought that his birthday party would coincide with a family dinner?
Lin Jiang sighed, looking at the cake in his hand, "What exactly did you come to see me for?"
During those four years, Lin Jiang celebrated his birthday twice with him.
The first time, Lin Jiang was completely unprepared. She bought a small cake from a roadside cake shop, picked it up, and asked him, "Want some cake? It's on me."
The second time, Lin Jiang got up early and carefully ordered a cake and selected a gift for him, promising to spend every year with him and saying that he would give him a suit next year.
Later, he broke his promise.
He Gu's eyes were a little red. He wasn't good at these kinds of emotional scenes. He looked around and said, "Let's find a coffee shop to sit down and talk."
"Where are the coffee shops at this hour?" Lin Jiang showed him his phone. "It's already 11:30. What's so urgent that you have to say it?"
The street was pitch black except for that convenience store, all the other shops had turned off their lights.
He Gu lowered his head, tears welling in his eyes. He smiled and pleaded, "Could we go to my apartment? I want to treat you to cake. My birthday is in half an hour..."
"I really don't have the energy to celebrate your birthday with you."
Lin Jiang rarely saw He Gu in such a disheveled state. He didn't know what had happened to him, but it was none of his business anymore.
He lowered his head, hesitated for a moment, and then told him his thoughts: "My training is not over yet, and I have a final match in two days. Everyone is waiting for me. I thought you were going to talk about the photos, so I came down. Since that's not the case, I'll go back up."
Lin Jiang was a soft-hearted person, and when he raised a sharp blade against himself, the pain was far more intense than that of bullets.
The cheap cake in his hand, like him at that moment, was hardly presentable.
He Gu didn't know why things had turned out this way between the two of them, and he didn't know where things had gone wrong.
He was like a headless fly, frantically searching for an exit, but in the end he crashed headfirst into the glass and died.
"Today is my birthday, can you chat with me for a bit? I'll give you an explanation about the photos."
He Gu held a cheap cake and begged for cheap concern, his former spirited self long gone.
Seeing how pitiful he was, Lin Jiang glanced at the time and said, "I'll only give you half an hour."
"Okay." He Gu finally smiled.
The two sat down at the supermarket entrance. Lin Jiang looked around and asked, "Didn't you drive?"
He Gu shook his head. "I came by taxi."
It's strange that someone who never eats cream cakes went and bought one, and someone who always complained about taxis being dirty actually took a taxi here.
Lin Jiang chose to sit opposite him, keeping her distance. "Go ahead and tell me. I want to hear about the photos first."
He Gu unbuttoned his shirt, rolled up his sleeves, and clumsily opened the cake box. "I took the photos. My intention was just to see if you were doing well, not to spy on you. Once I saw that you were doing well, I removed the person. I kept those photos in the cabinet in my office, but I didn't expect Awen to take them."
He awkwardly cut a piece of cake from the inside, knowing that Lin Jiang liked sweets, and deliberately left the red cherry on top for him.
"The article... was posted by someone my mom hired." He pushed the cut cake in front of him, like a criminal awaiting his judgment. "You can't fool her about having a girlfriend. I can find out, and she definitely can too. She probably thinks I came back to China because something happened between you again..."
Lin Jiang looked at the cake in front of him but didn't touch it.
He Gu's mother was definitely the most difficult woman in the world.
She naturally exudes a sense of pressure; just sitting there, without even saying a word, she exerts pressure invisibly.
Lin Jiang still remembers the scene of her sitting across from him, slowly stirring her coffee. She didn't say much, but it was enough to make him feel ashamed and his self-esteem shattered.
At that time, he really wanted to know what He Gu was thinking.
So he asked him, "What is our relationship?"
He said, "Let's just be ordinary friends."
Yeah, it's fine to just be ordinary friends...
Lin Jiang calmly asked him, "So how do you plan to resolve this?"
He Gu continued, "Don't worry, I won't let her disturb your life anymore. Awen won't come into my office again, and I can explain my return to China to her..."
"No need to explain, just tell her the photos are real and that I'm with Shen Ju."
Lin Jiang looked at him calmly.
At that moment, even the wind felt biting.
A cold wind blew in the night, and suddenly a torrential downpour began.
He Gu stared at him, his face slowly losing color.
His pale lips moved slightly, and it took him a long time to find his voice: "Are you serious, or are you lying to her?"
Lin Jiang didn't answer the question. He opened his phone, which showed a message from Shen Ju: Captain, it's raining. I'll come down and pick you up.
Lin Jiang replied, "Mm."
Then, putting down her phone and displaying the chat history face up without any attempt to hide it, she said, "Chen Ju is here to pick me up, let's stop here."
His voice was so cold that He Gu had the illusion that there was no turning back.
As he looked at their chat history, his heart felt as if it were being slowly tortured, and the blood flowing out continued to corrode his flesh.
The rain was getting heavier and the wind was getting colder.
He Gu reached out and uncertainly grasped Lin Jiang's wrist, finally unable to maintain his composure any longer.
He asked him in a trembling voice, "Lin Jiang, did you ever really like me? Last year on the streets of Los Angeles, the whole world forgot that it was my birthday. I kept waiting for your birthday wishes, but you never called."
Lin Jiang hit him that day.
He mustered all his courage to make that call.
But the moment she dialed, the words He Gu's mother had said flashed through her mind: "Two men together, what will you rely on to maintain your relationship? Can you have a child for him?"
In the face of power, all delusions are nothing but self-inflicted humiliation.
Lin Jiang finally hung up the phone, completely severing his delusions, but he maintained his dignity.
Even now, Lin Jiang has never regretted his decision.
“He Gu, you’re the kind of person who takes a step back for every step someone takes towards you. Unless someone can keep walking towards you, no one can keep up with your retreating steps. Unfortunately, I can’t keep chasing you. If you take a step back, I won’t move forward anymore. I don’t think we’re a good match.”
The rain grew heavier, dampening my mood.
They used to be so compatible and happy together, but when he came back, everything changed.
He Gu asked him, "Is it because of Shen Ju?"
Lin Jiang couldn't explain it to him; saying more would only lead to mutual dislike.
He stood up. "I'm going upstairs."
He Gu grabbed his wrist, applying pressure uncertainly, "Did you really go to OT because of Shen Ju? I checked, you had many teams to choose from at the time, why did you choose OT?"
Should I tell him that I have no other options and that working overtime is the only thing I can do?
Lin Jiang tried to pull his hand away but failed. He took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I came to OT for him. Take my words back and explain to your mother."
He Gu held him tightly, so hard that the veins on his wrists bulged, and refused to let go.
He seemed to clearly realize that Lin Jiang had already left him.
Looking at the cake on the table, her rationality finally crumbled, "...You didn't eat a single bite of the cake."
"You can eat slowly by yourself."
Lin Jiang forcefully broke free from his grasp, leaving bruises on his wrist. He turned and left without looking back.
On the long, dark road, he stepped into the rain, letting the rain pelt his body, as if that dream had completely left him.
Shen Ju happened to be coming downstairs with an umbrella, and immediately ran over to help him shield himself from the rain.
Lin Jiang appears gentle, but he is actually extremely cold-hearted.
He only uses his kindness on people he trusts.
When Shen Ju handed it to him, his first reaction was to pull Shen Ju under the umbrella as well, so that he wouldn't get wet in the rain.
The two huddled under the same umbrella, both getting soaked to varying degrees. Chen Ju instinctively tugged at his sleeve to wipe the water from his face.
Lin Jiang seemed used to it and showed no resistance whatsoever.
A person's truest reaction cannot be faked.
He Gu knows Lin Jiang too well.
He won't let anyone touch his face unless it's a very close relationship.
Thunder rumbled all around. He Gu stood in the dim light, his eyes dark as he watched until their figures completely disappeared from sight.
The suffocating pain crept up his limbs and bones belatedly, and his fingertips were numb. When he came to his senses, his index finger had already been pinched raw by his fingernails.
The ten fingers are connected to the heart, and the pain is excruciating.
He numbly picked up his phone and dialed Lin Jiang's number again, but this time the call was immediately disconnected.
Lower your arm forcefully.
That numb, sluggish feeling came back.
He slowly sat back down, looked at the untouched cake, picked up a spoon, and began to eat it in large bites.
His phone rang, reminding him that it was midnight.
Outside, the wind and rain whipped him up, leaving him covered in dust. He looked at the disheveled table, ultimately unable to achieve his wish.
Despite all efforts to control herself, a single tear trembled and fell.
...
On the other side, Shen Ju, who was pulled under the umbrella by Lin Jiang, immediately tried to break free, but was then firmly held by Lin Jiang.
Lin Jiang warned him, "Try getting wet in the rain! If you get a fever and miss the finals, I'll be the first to kill you."
Shen Ju had witnessed Lin Jiang's power before, so he obediently stayed under the umbrella with him. They were so close that they could feel each other's heat, and Shen Ju's ears quickly turned red.
To accommodate Lin Jiang, he bent his neck slightly, his voice sounding as if he were right next to Lin Jiang's ear: "Captain, how did your conversation with him go?"
Lin Jiang felt a little uncomfortable in his ears. He hadn't noticed it before, but when Shen Ju leaned in close, his shoulder felt hot, which immediately reminded him of the jade Guanyin pendant around Shen Ju's neck.
"Not very good."
"Captain," Shen Ju leaned closer and said seriously, "Next time KUG asks for your help, call me along. If you can't win an argument with them, I'll help you roast them."
Lin Jiang felt that he was too close, so he moved forward slightly. Shen Ju then clung to him again and accidentally touched his ear.
Shen Ju was stunned for a moment, then immediately straightened up.
Even under the same umbrella, he tried to keep his distance from Lin Jiang.
Lin Jiang is starting to wonder if he's a born gay man, otherwise why did he start feeling increasingly strange after seeing Shen Ju shirtless that day?
He must have been single for too long; even a dog looks handsome to him.
The two entered through the gate, and Shenju took the umbrella away.
Seeing the water droplets on his face, my first reaction was to pull my sleeve to wipe them for him. "Captain, don't move."
He knew Lin Jiang didn't like others touching him, so he was very careful the whole time, not touching him at all. After wiping, he saw Lin Jiang staring at him, and Shen Ju was momentarily distracted.
Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded outside. Lin Jiang looked away and said, "Let's go up quickly, they're still waiting."
As you enter the elevator, the heat continues to rise.
Lin Jiang didn't know what was wrong. He looked at Shen Ju beside him. Half of Shen Ju's body was wet and his clothes were sticking to his skin. He couldn't help but think of the feeling of Shen Ju leaning against him earlier.
He thought to himself that Shen Ju was really different from the person he remembered. He was no longer the child who needed him to stand up for him, but someone who could protect him instead.
Are Song Zhixu and the others training?
"Yes, we're chatting too."
"What did you talk about?"
"We talked about the tickets."
"Captain," Shen Ju suddenly asked him, "Have you given out your tickets for the finals?"
Each participant will receive two free tickets. Lin Jiang hasn't decided who to give them to yet. "I'll see who's available. If you have a friend who wants one, I can give it to them too."
Chen Ju subconsciously asked him, "Isn't your girlfriend coming to watch your game?"
Lin Jiang forgot about that, "She..."
"Ting—", the elevator doors opened.
Lin Jiang walked into the training room, which was full of night owls who were slumped over and relying on coffee to keep going. Song Zhixu had been working so hard that he was dizzy, but he still insisted on fighting on the front line.
Li Qian complained, "You're back? Look at this bunch of idiots, they don't have the slightest bit of awareness of the finals."
Lin Jiang slammed his hand on the table twice. "What's wrong? It's only midnight and you're already exhausted? Cheer up! You can't rest until 2 a.m. today."
The teammates quickly rallied their spirits and cooperated with Li Qian's grueling training.
Chenju sat back down and continued his training. After finishing with Kalista, he began training on the next devilish AD: Nera.
Before we knew it, it was 2 a.m.
Shen Ju wanted to try again, but Lin Jiang, who was next to him, held down his paws. "Go upstairs and take a shower. After you shower, come to my room to apply the medicine."
Between "starting a game" and "Lin Jiang applying medicine," Shen Ju chose the latter without hesitation.
He followed Lin Jiang upstairs, whispering with a hint of protest, "Captain, you haven't applied the medicine to my wound for days."
"I've been so busy these past few days that I've been completely out of it. If I forget again next time, just ask Song Zhixu to help me out."
Between "Song Zhixu applying the medicine" and "not applying it," Shen Ju once again chose the latter.
Back in his room, Shen Ju ripped off his clothes and quickly went to the bathroom to take a shower, emerging in less than ten minutes.
Song Zhixu was hit by a blast of cold air. He grabbed his clothes and muttered, "Why are you washing so quickly? What are you planning to do?"
Chen Ju wiped the cold water from his head, casually pulled off a clean set of clothes and put them on. "Lin Jiang wants me to come over."
Upon hearing Lin Jiang's name, Song Zhixu's DNA kicked in. "What does the captain want you to do?"
Shen Ju wouldn't tell him.
It's all because he acts like a peacock displaying its feathers every day, constantly talking about Lin Jiang. Shen Ju has been annoyed with him for a long time.
Song Zhixu wanted to ask more, but Shen Ju had already gotten dressed and went to knock on the door next door.
"Captain, may I come in?"
Lin Jiang was still taking a shower and replied, "The door isn't closed, come in yourself."
Shen Ju pushed open the door, still feeling a little uneasy at the sound of water in the bathroom. "Is the captain not finished showering yet? Maybe I'll come later."
"It's okay, I'll be done washing soon."
Shen Ju sat down with peace of mind, then fiddled with the stress-relieving ornaments on the table. Lin Jiang's phone, which was charging on the table, suddenly lit up; it was that woman.
Lin Jiang saved her contact as "Baby".
Baby: What are you doing?
Baby: Ah Jiang, I'm so angry today!
Baby: Waaaaah, I'm so angry...
Shen Ju's eyes darkened slightly.
Why do you call yourself a puppy but others your baby?
He looked away, his mind still on the messages. The woman hadn't responded and soon called again.
Shen Ju glanced at it, then quickly withdrew it.
The screen flickered, and even the screensaver was a picture of that woman.
Shen Ju turned his face away, saying, "Captain, your phone is ringing."
Who is it?
"Your baby."
The shower noise inside stopped immediately.
Lin Jiang opened the door, having only had time to put on a pair of shorts, his body still damp with water.
He answered the phone while getting dressed. "Hey, honey, still on set so late? What's wrong now, my little princess? Okay, okay, I'll buy you a bag to cheer you up, alright?"
Lin Jianglai seemed to have lost some weight at OT; his body was slender, and his shoulder blades were more prominent. The rose tattoo on his waist added a touch of ascetic allure to his otherwise aloof demeanor.
Shen Ju glanced at it, his throat moved, and then he quickly turned away.
Lin Jiang's gentle voice came from behind her. No matter how unreasonable she was on the phone, he always answered her calmly: "Okay, okay, which brand do you want? Send me the link. I can't come back this weekend, the finals are coming up, and there's a lot of stuff to do with the team. What's wrong now... Heh, my dear lady, it's already two o'clock and you're still making a fuss."
Shen Ju felt angry for Lin Jiang just listening to it.
As his girlfriend, she not only didn't know he was going to the finals, but she also called him at 2 a.m. asking to be comforted.
If it were me, I would never have treated Lin Jiang like that.
Shen Ju squeezed the ointment on the table tightly, making it bulge, as if he wanted to crush it.
Lin Jian patiently coaxed the other person until the very end before bringing up his own matter: "Well, I have two tickets here, do you want to come? I can save them for you... Oh, it's okay, it's alright if you can't come, I'll give the tickets to someone else, okay... Now? It seems a bit late, I'm not sure if I can come."
Shen Ju checked the time; it was already 2:20. Even a god would be asleep by now. Humph, Lin Jiang would definitely refuse.
After a while of sweet-talking and pleading on the phone, Lin Jiang couldn't resist anymore: "Okay, okay, I'll come see you for half an hour, alright?"
Shen Ju was stunned. He immediately put down the ointment and stood up. "Are you still trying to coax her at this hour?"
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