69. Awards Ceremony
The event Lin Jiang was going to attend was the official annual gala, and both he and Shen Ju were on the invitation list.
Lin Jiang got up as soon as it was light, put on the suit he had prepared beforehand, and tied a tie. Shen Ju's throat bobbed as he looked at him, and the more he looked, the hungrier he became.
He hadn't slept much last night. Staring at his messy hair and dark circles, he wondered why he had let Lin Jiang off the hook yesterday. Even if he had to attend an event, couldn't he have just been a little more careful?
Just as he was getting distracted, Lin Jiang glanced at him in the mirror. It was the first time he had seen Lin Jiang in a suit, and he couldn't help but get up and put his arm around Lin Jiang's shoulder. "It's still so early, why don't we sit down?"
Lin Jiang chuckled softly, then looked away. His gaze was so captivating it could steal Shen Ju's soul. He took Lin Jiang's hand and kissed it. Lin Jiang's voice came from above: "Alright, if you don't get up, I'll make you unable to get out of bed. That will be perfect for those outside who are curious about who's on top and who's on the bottom to see clearly."
This issue concerns dignity. Shen Ju has already lost in every aspect. If he can't hold onto his position, he's genuinely worried that Lin Jiang will run away.
He jumped up with a start, quickly washed and dried his hair, put on a suit, and instantly exuded the air of a noble young master.
Lin Jiang looked at him and it was as if he had returned to the first time he met him offline. He looked so noble and aloof, and just standing there he was as precious as a young nobleman who was not accustomed to worldly affairs.
Indeed, the aura of the wealthy is different.
Even though Shen Ju is only 19 years old, he looks very proper in his bespoke suit, and there is no sense that he is a child wearing an adult's suit.
Lin Jiang admitted that He Hu was indeed partly responsible for his initial attraction to Shen Ju. At first glance, Shen Ju resembled the boy he had once been infatuated with, but after getting to know him, he realized that the two were nothing alike.
He Gu wouldn't be so shameless.
As Lin Jiang straightened his tie, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. Chen Ju looked at his tie, then at him, and asked, "What's wrong? Did I choose a bad color?"
"Looks good," Lin Jiang patted his shoulder and looked at him with a smile, "Blue suits your youth."
Shenju: ?
She's already very young, okay?
He was quite confident in this regard. He rubbed his half-dry hair and suddenly tilted his head to ask him, "Lin Jiang, you seem to really like blue? I see that the decoration of your house is mostly blue."
Lin Jiang paused for a moment, then suddenly realized that the decoration here was designed according to He Gu's preferences, and he had been wanting to change it, but he always forgot.
He glanced around. "What color scheme do you like?"
"I like warm colors; they make living here more comfortable."
Lin Jiang nodded. Indeed, blue was too cold. No wonder he always felt empty when he lived at home.
After he finished packing, Lao Mao called, urging him to hurry up and come over. The party didn't start until 7 p.m., and urging him to come at this time was probably just to gossip about him.
Lin Jiang verbally agreed, but in reality, he took Shen Ju out for a nice meal. It was almost five o'clock when they finally arrived at the scene with his men.
As soon as he arrived at the scene, Lao Mao grabbed him and shouted, "Lin Jiang, why are you hiding from us! Did you bring your little boyfriend out?"
Then they saw Shen Ju following Lin Jiang, dressed in a suit and looking quite presentable. Old Mao looked him up and down and suddenly couldn't find anything wrong with him. "Lin Jiang, you're really something! You dare to take on such a fierce dog!"
As soon as Lao Mao finished speaking, Shen Ju glared at him. "Look, look, he's glaring at me too! How disrespectful!"
Lin Jiang couldn't help but laugh, "Don't scare him, he's still young."
Mao: ?
Lin Jiang, you're such a womanizer who neglects your friends!
Lin Jiang chose the perfect time; his friends hadn't even started teasing him and Shen Ju before he was about to enter.
Everyone had a fixed seat. Lin Jiang and Du Lun sat together, while Lao Mao and his group could only sit in the two rows behind them and stare blankly.
The phone beeped; it was Lao Mao gossiping remotely. Shen Ju glanced at his constantly vibrating phone and asked, puzzled, "Does he really want to know that much about me?"
Lin Jiang smiled and patted his head, then suddenly leaned down and whispered in his ear: "They're not curious about you, they're curious about my boyfriend."
That voice was so alluring that it made Shen Ju's ears turn bright red in the crowd.
In front of everyone, please be mindful of your image...
The reporters behind them were snapping photos like crazy; they even had the headlines ready: "The young couple whispering sweet nothings, how could they possibly be so saccharine!"
The awards ceremony began quickly and lasted a long time.
Lin Jiang won the Best Mid Laner award again after two years, making countless people sigh that their youth had returned.
Just by looking at the screen, you can feel that Lin Jiang is in excellent condition. It's as if he has really climbed out of the mud pit and will never fall back down again.
After the host finished introducing the guests, the award presenter came up on stage to present the award. Lin Jiang never expected that the person who came up to present the award would be He Hu...
He Hu's appearance instantly sparked a lot of discussion, as this was his first time participating in an event in public!
Reporters snapped photos frantically, their minds racing with countless explosive topics: a mysterious investor from the industry appearing at the gala, Lin Jiang, KUG's former employer, presenting an award, and the first public appearance of the He family heir...
Any one of them could easily trend on social media!
Moreover, news about Lin Jiang and He Gu has been circulating online recently. He Gu personally presented him with an award, which is quite sensational news!
[Ahhhhh, Young Master He really hasn't let go!]
[He's so in love! Lin Jiang has already gone public with their relationship, and he still went up to present him with the award!]
[They came all this way just for Lin Jiang, to present the award only to him.]
[This is so touching, He Shao and Lin Jiang look so well-matched...]
Why did my strong-willed couple's relationship end badly?
[Aren't puppies nice too? They're obedient and can make you laugh.]
[However, He Shao and Lin Jiang have known each other for almost five years!]
[I suddenly feel like it's not over between them yet.]
Actually, it had been more than five years. Lin Jiang lowered his head to accept the trophy without looking up at him. When the hand with the blue watch reached out, Lin Jiang hesitated for a moment.
In his heart, he and He Gu were a thing of the past, but for He Gu, who had no memories of his past life, this relationship would never be over.
The flashbulbs went off on him, and Lin Jiang generously shook his hand.
He Gu exerted a little force, and the wristwatch reflected a bright light under the lamp, which reminded Lin Jiang of everything that had happened between the two of them.
In a daze, He Gu had already let go.
He is a very proper person. Even if he hasn't let go, he wouldn't embarrass him in public. But it is precisely because of this that people on the internet are going crazy for him.
He delivered his congratulatory speech on stage with composure and strength, showcasing his impressive presence at the press conference. It must be said that he is indeed a very respectable businessman.
After five years of relationship, their reunion was merely to present each other with an award; there was not a trace of ambiguity in their words, only blessings.
Lin Jiang smiled and looked at the audience below the stage. Although he didn't look at He Gu, he still thanked him for giving him a final moment of dignity.
Let's cut ties completely from here.
May you each shine in your respective fields from now on.
After Lin Jiang received his award and left, the next award was for Best AD, which was given to Shen Ju.
When he went on stage, Lin Jiang had just gone back home and had dropped his certificate. He specially ran back to pick it up for Lin Jiang and safely escorted him home before going on stage to receive the award, which gave the host two minutes of improvisation.
This scene immediately brought netizens who were shipping Lin Jiang and He Gu back on track.
[I, Chen Ju, will always live outside the rules.]
[This is great! I've always felt Lin Jiang lives too tensely; a rule-breaking puppy suits him perfectly!]
[Haha, I was suddenly caught in a public display of affection.]
[Who would have thought Shen Gou was waiting for us here? I'm so angry!]
[I still ship my favorite pairing, Dog Sister and Sister He. He Shao is too rational; I prefer blatant favoritism.]
[He Gu is very good, but Chen Ju is not bad either.]
Shen Ju, who was initially facing widespread criticism online, suddenly turned public opinion around by making a dramatic turn of his head during an awards ceremony.
This made many people who didn't understand Lin Jiang gradually understand his choice.
Actually, if you think about it carefully, Shen Ju is really quite good, especially today when he wore a suit. Many people are amazed that Lin Jiang is secretly enjoying good food.
After the party, Lao Mao treated Lin Jiang and the others to dinner. The group got quite drunk, and Lao Mao put his arm around Lin Jiang's shoulder, telling him in the tone of someone who's been through it all: "I think you made the right choice. When it comes to life, you should choose the one that makes you comfortable. Shen Xiaogou is clearly the right person for you. You won't go wrong by being with him. I support you!"
Lin Jiang smiled and drank the wine in his glass. He saw Shen Ju sobering up on the balcony and would turn back to look at him every now and then, as if afraid that he would run away.
He could sense that Shen Ju really cared about him.
He poured wine for Lao Mao, saying, "Shen Ju can't hold his liquor, so I'll toast you on his behalf."
Old Mao muttered, "Even if you can't hold your liquor, you shouldn't be toasting him for him. I can hand you over to him; I've even vouched for you to the whole internet, guaranteeing he'll treat you well. But that kid doesn't seem like the type to stick with you. If he bullies you or betrays you, tell me, and I'll take care of him for you!"
Lin Jiang smiled, downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, and looked at Shen Ju on the balcony through the glass. "Don't worry, Shen Ju is a very loyal person."
That transparent jade Guanyin was a gift from his maternal grandmother. Over the years, it has become worthless, and he has never thought of taking it off.
Perhaps it was from that worthless jade Guanyin that Lin Jiang's feelings for Shen Ju began to spiral out of control.
Lin Jiang is a very anxious person. He is dispensable at home and can be replaced at any time in his career, so what he needs is long-term companionship.
Sure enough, the amazement of youth is only temporary. If you think about it carefully and calmly, you should understand that someone like He Gu, who takes everything lightly, is not actually suitable for me.
What he needs is someone who is always by his side, someone who always keeps him in their heart.
Just like that worthless jade Guanyin statue, perhaps no one would value it anymore, but many years later, there are still people who are willing to take good care of it.
After finishing her last drink, Lin Jiang put down her cup and stood up. "I can't drink anymore. You guys drink. If I keep drinking, my boyfriend will start to worry."
"Lin Jiang, you left so early? You were more free when you were single."
"Haha, just get out of here! We don't want to know the stench of romance!"
Amidst the teasing of the crowd, Lin Jiang stood up and went to Chen Ju's side. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's go, I'll take you to have your favorite late-night snack."
Shen Ju's eyes lit up instantly. He quickly stood up and held Lin Jiang's hand tightly with his cold fingers. "I thought you had forgotten me..."
Something happened to He Hu in the beginning of this timeline, which will be revealed in the extra chapters. There are about two more chapters left before the main text ends and we enter the extra chapters from He Hu's perspective in his past life. This part mainly reveals some things that happened in Lin Jiang's past life.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com