Chapter 17
“My brother actually lives in this dump?”
Under the sun, Jian Luojia, still wearing his untucked college shirt, looked at the upscale apartment complex in the distance, expressing his disgust into the phone. “Uncle Liu, you’re not pulling my leg, are you?”
Uncle Liu responded respectfully, “No, Third Young Master.”
“Fine.” Jian Luojia hung up.
Ever since Jian Huaiyi’s “abandonment” and the instigation that led to his having his head shaved by their grandfather, Jian Luojia had held a deep grudge.
He’d been brooding over revenge.
Luckily, that night he overheard a conversation between his eldest brother and Jian Huaiyi.
It turned out that Jian Huaiyi’s absence from home recently wasn’t because of a project assigned by his eldest brother; he’d simply been gallivanting around!
Jian Luojia sneered. Today, he would expose Jian Huaiyi’s true colors and expose the truth to the Jian family.
Not only that, he would tell Grandfather that his eldest and second brothers were deceiving him. Only his most favored third son was pure and filial.
Then you’ll regret it, Grandfather!
Jian Luojia smirked, letting out a wicked laugh.
…
This morning, his bad mood lingered. Jian Huaiyi, with messy black hair, went downstairs, the scent of food wafting from the stairs.
“Awake?” a man’s voice rang out.
Jian Huaiyi’s narrowed eyes gradually returned to normal. He went into the living room and finally discovered the source of the aroma.
Two breakfasts were on the table: ham sandwiches, freshly fried eggs, and two steaming cups of milk.
Jian Huaiyi stood there. Liang Xun removed his apron and hung it on the cabinet. Their eyes met briefly.
Jian Huaiyi: …
Last night, he’d kicked him out of the bedroom, and this morning Liang Xun had gotten up early to cook breakfast, making him look like the villain.
Getting up early, how did he do that?
A pang of guilt hit Jian Huaiyi. “Your cooking’s good.”
Liang Xun didn’t react much. “Thank you.”
After breakfast, Jian Huaiyi went upstairs to change. When he came down, he found Liang Xun hadn’t left for the company yet.
“Aren’t you going to work today?”
Liang Xun closed his laptop. “I have to go to the neighboring city this afternoon.”
“Business trip?”
“Mm.”
Jian Huaiyi didn’t ask any more questions, not about what time he was leaving, how he was getting there, how long he would be gone, or when he would return.
As he passed Liang Xun, Liang Xun smelled a light fragrance. Jian Huaiyi’s hem brushed past his nose, the faint scent of small daisies filling his nostrils.
Liang Xun then noticed that Jian Huaiyi was wearing a somewhat formal light-colored small dress with a white suit underneath, and his hair was styled.
“I’ll be back the day after tomorrow,” Liang Xun said to the young man walking into the sunlight.
Jian Huaiyi glanced back at Liang Xun, nodding with slight confusion, the corners of his eyes curving slightly.
He waved his hand, saying, “Got it.”
Liang Xun’s jaw was tense; the huge villa suddenly felt empty. Ignoring the strange feeling in his heart, he got up to go to the company.
He had some time before his 2 PM flight. Qin Zhu was waiting at the entrance of the complex.
The Cullinan was parked on the side of the road. Liang Xun walked towards the car.
“Stop!”
A shout came from the side, and Jian Luojia emerged from the bushes, a leaf clinging to his buzz cut.
Jian Luojia had been squatting at the entrance for almost half an hour. Tired of squatting, he wanted to find a stone to sit on, and at that moment, Jian Huaiyi drove away. Jian Luojia missed him. He eventually emerged from the bushes, covered in leaves, only to see Liang Xun leaving his brother’s villa.
Jian Luojia removed his sunglasses, seeing Liang Xun about to get into the car. He ignored everything else and ran forward to stop him.
“Liang Xun! Stop!”
Liang Xun frowned impatiently and looked back at the boy in school uniform.
Qin Zhu spoke opportunely, “Sir, who are you?”
Jian Luojia lifted his chin, looking down at Qin Zhu. “You’re Liang Xun’s driver? It’s not your turn to speak.”
Qin Zhu smiled.
Liang Xun’s demeanor was slightly cold. Memories of Jian Luojia surfaced, and he said coldly, “What do you want? Jian Luojia.” The cold tone was as if laced with ice shards.
Jian Luojia’s heart skipped a beat, and the glint in his eyes, similar to Jian Huaiyi’s, wavered.
Oops, Liang Xun is different now, he’s not the illegitimate son who could be bullied.
Jian Luojia regretted his rashness; he had rushed to stop someone without even seeing who they were.
“Why did you come out of Jian Huaiyi’s house?” Jian Luojia’s demeanor weakened.
Although he sometimes bullied Liang Xun, it didn’t mean he wasn’t still intimidated by him.
Young Liang Xun was far more terrifying than he was now, especially those dark, turbulent eyes. When he looked at someone, it was always like a wolf on a leash, ready to attack if it had the chance.
He only showed restraint in front of his second brother. Jian Luojia sometimes thought Jian Huaiyi was the hunter, holding the leash to control Liang Xun.
Liang Xun frowned, not immediately addressing Jian Luojia’s rudeness. He was more concerned about something else.
Judging from Jian Luojia’s reaction, he seemed unaware of his relationship with Jian Huaiyi.
If Jian Luojia didn’t know, it meant the Jian family likely didn’t know either.
Liang Xun stared at Jian Luojia, his dark eyes filled with a night-like darkness, deep and obscure.
Either their secrecy was impeccable.
Or Jian Huaiyi had intentionally concealed it.
Jian Luojia swallowed. Although he was also 1.8 meters tall, he was overwhelmed by Liang Xun’s presence.
He was the Third Young Master of the Jian family; he couldn’t be intimidated by a foster son!
Jian Luojia encouraged himself, tapping his chin against Liang Xun’s. “I… my second brother hasn’t been home these days, are you two together?”
In the security booth, the guard curiously observed their interaction.
This apartment complex housed well-known wealthy young people. Anything that happened here was likely to make headlines. As the person handling all the information, the security guard ate a different kind of gossip every day.
The online persona of a pure and innocent girl who was secretly a mistress, a top idol who claimed to be single online but was seen entering an elevator with a young master…
Almost everyone living there had a “story.”
Except for Jian Huaiyi’s building.
The security guard was still observing…
The building had moved there recently. He had carefully observed them for so long, only knowing that Jian Huaiyi was a famous young master from the powerful Jian family in City A. The other man looked like a CEO. Logically, two people with such statuses living together must be a couple.
But these days he saw them leaving one after the other, rarely returning together. This kind of estranged relationship didn’t look like a couple, unless…
A business marriage!
The security guard suddenly understood.
Today, seeing another boy dressed like a student come to find Liang Xun, the security guard was even more convinced of his idea.
Sure enough, the rich had fun in ways they didn’t want to reveal.
“Get in the car.”
Jian Luojia was stunned, “Ah?”
G-get in the car? Was Liang Xun going to assassinate him?!
No, he couldn’t get in Liang Xun’s car.
“You’re not as bold as your second brother.” Liang Xun said mockingly.
Jian Luojia immediately exploded, “What did you say?! Get in, I’ll get in!”
Jian Luojia opened the car door and got in, then slammed the door shut, trapping Liang Xun outside.
Humph, know my power now.
Liang Xun didn’t bother with him and went to the other side to get in.
The interior of the Cullinan was spacious; the three people seemed a little sparse.
In some ways, Jian Luojia was somewhat similar to Jian Huaiyi.
Such as that insatiable curiosity that could suddenly erupt.
“Liang Xun, you still haven’t answered me, why are you living with Jian Huaiyi?” Jian Luojia crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed, his expression shrewd as he suspected, “As far as I know, you have a house in City A.”
Liang Xun’s side profile was cold, and he casually made up an excuse.
Although he didn’t quite agree with Jian Huaiyi’s actions, he still helped him cover it up.
Ultimately, it was their business and none of anyone else’s.
Jian Luojia was half-believing, “You’re not trying to trick my second brother out of money like that idiot Lu Yang.”
“Lu Yang?” Liang Xun finally reacted. “That race car driver.”
“Yeah,” mentioning Lu Yang made Jian Luojia angry, he couldn’t help but say more, “My second brother, such a lovesick fool, with such bad taste to choose such a scumbag, even buying him cars and houses…”
It was unclear if it was an illusion, but the temperature suddenly dropped several degrees, and the air pressure also decreased. Jian Luojia’s voice grew quieter and quieter until he finally shut his mouth.
He cautiously peeked at the rearview mirror.
A crack appeared on Liang Xun’s usually calm face, the darkness in his eyes surging, glancing faintly at Jian Luojia.
Jian Luojia felt a chill down his spine, “I want to get out…”
“Go to Jian Corporation,” Liang Xun said.
“Yes, Mr. Liang.”
Jian Luojia started to get scared, weakly saying, “Just drop me off on the side of the road…”
Liang Xun leaned back in the seat, closing his eyes and resting, ignoring Jian Luojia.
The car stopped in front of Jian Corporation. Jian Luojia eagerly opened the door and jumped out, taking a deep breath of fresh air under the blue sky.
It’s good to be alive.
Catching a glimpse of the person behind him, Jian Luojia grabbed his sunglasses and quickly ran away.
His collar was grabbed from behind.
“Go find Jian Huaiyi,” Liang Xun commanded.
Jian Luojia’s young master temper flared up, “I’m not going! If you want to go, you go yourself.”
Liang Xun narrowed his eyes, Jian Luojia felt a cold gaze from behind, and silently clenched his fists.
Damn it.
Thirty years of being at the bottom, don’t bully me because I’m down.
Jian Luojia secretly made up his mind that one day, he would step on Liang Xun.
And Jian Huaiyi.
He would step on one with his left foot and one with his right.
Jian Huaiyi, holding a freshly brewed cup of coffee, came down on the president’s elevator.
People came and went in the lobby. Liang Xun sat on the central sofa, his dark suit making him look noble and cold. The receptionist thought he was a business partner from another company and repeatedly wanted to approach him but was hesitant.
“Liang Xun.” Jian Huaiyi calmly walked up to him, looking down at Liang Xun, “Jian Luojia said you’re looking for me.”
Liang Xun seemed to notice him only then, slowly raising his eyes, his long eyelashes casting shadows over his dark eyes, which burned intensely as he looked at Jian Huaiyi.
A faint scent of daisies filled the air.
Jian Huaiyi’s mind clicked, suddenly understanding.
“Did Jian Luojia find out about our relationship?”
Liang Xun slowly straightened up, his suit pants perfectly tailored, his long legs crossed.
Jian Huaiyi lowered his eyes and took a sip of coffee.
Liang Xun replied, “I don’t know.”
Jian Huaiyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t figured out how to explain it to others. This was inherently a ridiculous thing that only harmed Liang Xun, and it was better for fewer people to know.
Liang Xun snorted coldly, “You really don’t want others to know about our relationship.”
Jian Huaiyi said sincerely, “…I’m doing this for your own good.”
Liang Xun sneered, “But your family knows about that race car driver.”
His legitimate boyfriend wasn’t even as good as Jian Huaiyi’s little lover.
Even if Liang Xun didn’t like Jian Huaiyi, he still couldn’t accept this.
Jian Huaiyi was speechless.