Chapter 11
“Mr. Liang, have you really lost your memory?”
Liang Xun impatiently furrowed his brows. “Assistant Qin, you’ve asked that three times already.”
Qin Zhu’s hand gripping the steering wheel paused. The corners of his lips curled into a perfectly standard smile as he effortlessly changed the subject.
“Mr. Liang, all the domestic projects have been signed and launched. Only one collaboration with Jian’s company needs your review.”
“Jian’s?”
The lenses of Qin Zhu’s glasses flashed with intelligence. “Yes, it’s the company owned by your good friend, Young Master Jian.”
“Mr. Liang, the contract.” Qin Zhu handed the contract to Liang Xun.
Liang Xun flipped through it, glancing it over quickly, his expression darkening slightly.
“If your brain isn’t getting better, Mr. Liang, this huge enterprise will be taken over by me.”
So Jian Huaiyi wasn’t just saying it casually.
The various clauses written in black and white on this contract clearly showed him that he had given this project to the Jian family as a gift.
Liang Xun had a bad feeling.
Qin Zhu, seemingly accustomed to this, kept his gaze lowered. “Mr. Liang, you frequently do such incredibly selfless things for Young Master Jian.”
The implication being: Don’t be too surprised, it’s standard operating procedure.
Liang Xun: …
“Too much talk.”
Under Qin Zhu’s guidance, Liang Xun visited his domestic company. However, because the domestic company had only recently been established, he didn’t recall any past memories.
…
Five minutes before the end of the workday, Jian Huaiyi closed his computer, counting down the seconds until he could leave.
As the clock struck the hour, Jian Huaiyi stood up, only to be stopped.
“Young Master Jian, the president wants you to go to his office.”
Jian Huaiyi paused, replying politely, “Mm.”
Damn it, why now? Why not sooner or later, but right at the end of the workday?
Jian Huaiyi went upstairs in the elevator, against the flow of people leaving.
He had been thrown into this branch company by his grandfather, Jian Laozi, right after graduating from university.
Working there was fine, but he thought his father would at least give him a manager position or something like vice president. But no, Jian Laozi remained as inhuman as ever.
Which other family’s young master works as a lowly employee? Truly worthy of the Jian family, they’re different.
Jian Huaiyi collected his thoughts, knocked on the door with his knuckles, and a voice from inside the office said, “Come in.”
Jian Huaiyi walked in, pockets in his hands, and said to the man sitting on the black leather sofa, “You called for me?”
“Little Jian ah.” The man cleared his throat, about to begin his speech.
“Scram.”
“Huaiyi, is this how you talk to your elder brother?” Elder Brother Jian dramatically clutched his chest.
Jian Huaiyi smiled faintly. “If you have business, report it; if not, step aside.”
The Jian family had three sons: the eldest was a smiling tiger, acting up constantly; the second was an ice lotus, cold and distant; and the third was suspected to have some kind of developmental disorder, perpetually in rebellion, barely missing an official diagnosis.
“What is it? I’m getting off work.” Jian Huaiyi remained unmoved.
Elder Brother Jian poured a cup of hot water from the water dispenser, blew on it, and handed it to Jian Huaiyi. “Little brother, you’ve worked hard today.”
Jian Huaiyi kept his hands in his pockets, lowering his gaze to the steaming hot water. Steam rose, clouding his cheeks.
Unnecessary kindness, there’s either a trick or a trap.
“Elder Brother Jian, just say it.”
“Oh my.” Elder Brother Jian feigned a delicate laugh, putting his arm around his younger brother’s waist, coaxing him. “Little brother, you’ve worked hard this month. Your salary has just been paid, so big brother will give you a week off, go out and relax for a few days.”
Jian Huaiyi lifted his eyelashes slightly. Elder Brother Jian felt a surge of hope: This is working.
Elder Brother Jian laughed, revealing his true intentions: “It’s just that, big brother has a blind date the day after tomorrow, and little brother, you could help big brother handle it, right?”
Jian Huaiyi frowned: “Blind date?”
Elder Brother Jian quickly raised his voice, “You know, Jian Laozi is so old, why did he suddenly want to be a matchmaker? He’s really bored out of his mind!”
“I can’t help with this.” Jian Huaiyi brushed off the hand on his shoulder.
Elder Brother Jian immediately panicked: “Little brother, you can’t abandon me! You know, your sister-in-law doesn’t trust me, and if she finds out that I’m going on a blind date…” Elder Brother Jian dramatically covered his face. “In short, little brother, whether my relationship with your sister-in-law works or not depends on you.”
Jian Huaiyi: …
What a huge hat to wear.
Ultimately, Jian Huaiyi still agreed to Elder Brother Jian’s request for help with the blind date; the week of vacation was too tempting.
Returning home, he found the villa empty. Jian Huaiyi guessed that Liang Xun had gone to the company and didn’t bother him.
Mrs. Zhao called, asking him to come home if he was free; otherwise, put things aside and come back first.
He hadn’t had dinner yet, so Jian Huaiyi grabbed his car keys and drove back to the Jian family home—to freeload a meal.
The Jian family home, aside from other things, definitely had a Michelin five-star chef-level cook. Jian Huaiyi had eaten there since he was a child and never got tired of it.
At the rectangular long table, Jian Laozi sat at the head. He still loved his grey Zhongshan suit, probably trying to look authoritative.
And to be fair, ignoring his graying temples, he did have a bit of his prime-time appearance.
With Jian Huaiyi and Elder Brother Jian absent, Jian Luo Jia became the sole target of “criticism.”
In just a few days, he had dyed his hair a rebellious white, standing between Mrs. Zhao and Jian Laozi like a husky.
“Jian Huaiyi!” Seeing Jian Huaiyi enter from the front door from afar, Jian Luo Jia, like seeing a lifeline, quickly lifted his head from his bowl.
Jian Laozi tapped the ground with his cane, scolding him, “What’s all this commotion, what kind of manners are these!”
Jian Luo Jia subconsciously shrunk his neck, then pointed at Jian Huaiyi and retorted, “Dad, you don’t say Jian Huaiyi is fooling around outside, but instead you say I dyed my hair, it’s completely upside down!”
The moment he spoke, Jian Luo Jia received two blows to the head from left and right, letting out a howl of pain.
“Mom, you’re also biased.” Jian Luo Jia tearfully covered his left cheek.
Mrs. Zhao elegantly raised her teacup, “Don’t be disrespectful to your second brother.”
Jian Huaiyi sat down opposite Jian Luo Jia, stifling his laughter. Jian Luo Jia’s eyes widened like poached eggs, looking at Jian Huaiyi resentfully.
“Missed your brother? Little brother.”
Jian Luo Jia angrily let out a sound, then buried his head in his food.
Jian Laozi looked at Jian Huaiyi, “Second son, where have you been galavanting these past few days?”
Jian Luo Jia gleefully curled his lips.
Scold him! Quickly scold Jian Huaiyi!
When he was little, Jian Luo Jia’s greatest pleasure was watching Jian Huaiyi get scolded. After so many years, this hobby remained unchanged.
“Big brother assigned me to a project for a few days.” Jian Huaiyi replied without blinking.
He believed that his older brother would help him cover it up.
“Mm.” Jian Laozi nodded in satisfaction, speaking earnestly, “At your age, you should focus more on the company, follow your older brother to gain experience, it will always be beneficial. Your mother and I have high hopes for you, the family company will depend on your older brother and you in the future.”
Jian Huaiyi outwardly accepted his words humbly, but inwardly muttered: Then why haven’t you given me a president position.
The atmosphere was quite harmonious, except for Jian Luo Jia, whose mouth was drooping into an inverted triangle. He seemed to have a mental breakdown, his gaze shifting between the several people in disbelief.
What’s going on? Why didn’t his father scold Jian Huaiyi? He even wants to hand over the family business to him, what about me?! What about me?!
Jian Luo Jia instantly exploded, his white hair standing straight up: “Dad, you’re going to give the company to big brother and second brother, what about me? You forgot about your third son. As people say, I’m really the most superfluous one!” With excitement, he slammed his chopsticks down into his bowl.
Jian Laozi’s cloudy eyes narrowed, and he then mercilessly struck Jian Luo Jia with his cane.
“Lao Liu, come and hold down the third son, and get someone else to shave off his white hair!”
Jian Luo Jia belatedly began to fear, flailing his arms: “Dad, you can’t take away my freedom to choose my hair color.”
Jian Laozi blew on his beard, “Hair and skin received from parents, I’m your father, your hair is mine.”
Jian Luo Jia turned to Mrs. Zhao with a glimmer of hope, but she was admiring her newly done manicure, not giving him a single glance.
Jian Luo Jia could only humiliatingly ask Jian Huaiyi for help, “Second brother, quickly persuade dad.”
Jian Huaiyi shrugged helplessly, saying vaguely, “White, doesn’t suit you.”
“Ah—ah——”
Jian Luo Jia was pressed onto the chair, unable to move, watching his “white hair” fall off in clumps before his eyes.
His hair—
His heart felt like it was bleeding.
Late at night, the Jian family home echoed with pig-like screams.
“Lao Liu, gag the third son’s mouth.”
When Jian Luo Jia was untied, his first reaction was to find a mirror.
The mirror reflected the light, shining directly on his bright head. His head position was perfect, seamlessly replacing the light bulb behind it.
Jian Luo Jia, with teary eyes, ran away from home, he had to run away from home—
After dinner, Jian Huaiyi thoughtfully gave Jian Luo Jia the baseball cap from the back seat of the car.
And he gave a vague evaluation of his new hairstyle: “Very… eye-catching.”
Jian Luo Jia angrily threw it on the ground and stepped on it several times: “Damn Jian Huaiyi.”
He would get revenge!
At nine o’clock that night, Liang Xun hadn’t returned.
Well, with his memory loss, he had to re-familiarize himself with everything in the company.
Jian Huaiyi didn’t think much of it; everyone has personal matters. Time to wash up, time to go to bed.
He slept soundly.
The weather was nice today. Jian Huaiyi went downstairs in slippers, an orange halo of light falling on the stairs, like a floor decoration.
He went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. As he walked, he took a sip, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a man in the living room.
Liang Xun was reading a magazine, his dark eyes falling from his nose bridge. He was wearing a grey high-necked shirt, his chest muscles slightly bulging, looking extremely abstinent.
Jian Huaiyi was stunned, taking small sips of coffee, suddenly agreeing with Zhao Yan Ting’s words.
Liang Xun’s type was simply a top-tier heartthrob in their circle.
Unfortunately…
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
“Did you go to the company yesterday?” Jian Huaiyi sat on the sofa opposite Liang Xun, his thick eyelashes drooping slightly.
Liang Xun avoided answering, saying to Jian Huaiyi, “Go out for breakfast?”
Jian Huaiyi shook his head, “I have something to do outside at noon, I don’t have time.”
Today was the day Elder Brother Jian had a blind date. Jian Huaiyi was preparing to go and help him refuse it.
Then he could enjoy his vacation carefree.
Jian Huaiyi leaned against the back of the sofa, his whole body relaxed.
Liang Xun stared at him thoughtfully, his dark brows lowering.
His lips parted slightly, then pressed tightly together.
After a long time, “Coming back tonight?” Liang Xun suddenly spoke.
Jian Huaiyi was startled, “Yes.”
The blind date shouldn’t take long, especially since he was just going to help refuse.
Liang Xun’s long eyelashes fluttered, hiding the fleeting emotion.
“Okay.”