Chapter 19
“Lu Yang,” Liang Xun’s knuckles tightened as he tapped the armrest of the sofa, his voice cold, “Qin Zhu, I want all his information within three days, including when he met Jian Huaiyi and what they did together.”
Qin Zhu, usually imperturbable, showed a hint of excitement. “Yes, Boss!”
Liang Xun: ?
Liang Xun glanced at him curiously. Qin Zhu immediately understood, his lips returning to their usual curve, “Boss, to be honest, I’ve been by your side for so many years, this is the first time you’ve spoken like this.”
It was like the butler’s line in a domineering CEO novel, “Young Master, you finally smiled.”
After Liang Xun had very CEO-like said, “Within three days, I want all of Lu Yang’s information,” Qin Zhu also wanted to say, “President, leave it to old Qin.”
But he dared not.
He was afraid of being sent to Africa to mine.
Qin Zhu pushed up his glasses, dismissing the chaotic thoughts in his head, and returned to a serious demeanor, “Boss, someone from Jian Corporation is again urging about the contract. Should we continue to stall them?”
“Agree directly,” Liang Xun said calmly.
Qin Zhu was puzzled.
Liang Xun had previously shown some regret about the project with the Jian family. After all, the cooperation was disadvantageous for them, akin to letting the Jian family leech off them. Businessmen always seek profit, unless…
A clever glint flashed in Qin Zhu’s glasses. Unless he’s smitten.
“Yes, I’ll immediately notify the team to start the project.”
Qin Zhu turned to leave, but was stopped by Liang Xun.
“Don’t let Jian Huaiyi know about the investigation.”
“Yes.” Qin Zhu showed understanding.
Liang Xun furrowed his brow, pausing, “Forget it, just investigate Lu Yang, don’t investigate Jian Huaiyi.”
Qin Zhu blinked, now even more confused.
According to rumors, Lu Yang was Young Master Jian’s ex-boyfriend.
Since the boss wanted all of Lu Yang’s information, it meant he wanted to know all his past experiences, how could he possibly avoid investigating Young Master Jian?
Liang Xun emphasized again, “Don’t investigate Jian Huaiyi.”
Fine, he’ll try to understand.
Qin Zhu offered a standard smile, “Yes, President.”
…
“Huaiyi, you mean Liang Xun now considers you his boyfriend?” Jiang Yue was shocked, almost doubting his ears, “Isn’t he homophobic? Did he hit his head?”
Jian Huaiyi took a sip of plain water, appearing much calmer than Jiang Yue.
Could he not be calm? He was prepared to break off his relationship with Liang Xun.
Jiang Yue calmed down, “You can’t say that, Xun really did hit his head.”
Jian Huaiyi: …
“Does he know about Lu Yang?” Jiang Yue suddenly became curious, “According to you, Huaiyi, Xun thinks you’ve been together since high school, so how do you explain Lu Yang?”
“Ex-husband? Cheating little white face?”
Jian Huaiyi sighed silently. Sure enough, no matter who heard this, the first thing they thought of was his past relationship.
This was unsolvable. Telling the truth might send Liang Xun to the hospital again, but his fragile head couldn’t handle another shock; but without a reasonable and acceptable explanation, it was a ticking time bomb, he didn’t know when it would explode, and after the explosion, it might send Liang Xun to the hospital again.
It’s unsolvable either way.
“I haven’t figured out how to explain it to him,” Jian Huaiyi rubbed his forehead, remembering that day, “I wanted to use Lu Yang as an excuse to ‘break up’ with Liang Xun, but it sent him to the hospital.”
Jiang Yue was speechless. What kind of shock could send him to the hospital?
“Huaiyi, forget Lu Yang for now, are you sure Xun only has brotherly feelings for you?”
Jian Huaiyi blurted out, “And classmate feelings?”
Jiang Yue: …
Something’s wrong.
Very wrong.
Jian Huaiyi belatedly understood Jiang Yue’s meaning, “A Yue, Liang Xun isn’t gay.”
Jiang Yue was half-believing, his index finger tapping his chin as he looked at Jian Huaiyi.
There’s a saying in the wealthy circles, no man is more beautiful than Young Master Jian.
The young man before him had skin as white as porcelain, long, thick eyelashes, bright peach-blossom eyes, and a slightly pursed thin lip under a tall nose.
Jiang Yue was even more convinced of his idea.
“Orientation isn’t fixed. What if Xun gets bent?” Jiang Yue raised an eyebrow, teasing, “Huaiyi, you should be confident in your looks.”
Although he said so, Jian Huaiyi still didn’t take Jiang Yue’s words to heart.
Even if only Liang Xun and he were left in the world, Liang Xun wouldn’t be with him.
Straight, and homophobic.
Even if he were an angel, he couldn’t be bent.
“A Yue…” Jian Huaiyi sighed helplessly.
Jiang Yue stopped smiling, immediately turning serious to help Jian Huaiyi think of a solution.
A flash of inspiration.
“Hey, Huaiyi, how about this…”
After listening, “Is it possible?” Jian Huaiyi doubted.
Jiang Yue smiled, raising his eyebrow, “Whether it’s possible or not, you won’t know until you try, right?”
With no other ideas, Jian Huaiyi decided to try this long shot.
In the evening, Liang Xun returned home on time.
As he entered the villa, a rush of footsteps approached. Liang Xun retracted his foot, standing still, quietly watching Jian Huaiyi run from the living room.
His gaze lowered, he wasn’t barefoot this time.
“You’re back,” Jian Huaiyi, wearing pig slippers, looked intently at Liang Xun.
Liang Xun subtly curled his fingertips, “Mm.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday, are you going to the company?” Jian Huaiyi asked.
If he was, he would postpone his plan by a day.
Liang Xun paused, saying, “No.”
Jian Huaiyi’s eyes lit up, but he cautiously asked again, “Are you going on a business trip?”
“No business trip.”
Perfect, time, place, and people.
The corners of Jian Huaiyi’s lips curled into an alluring, subtle smile.
“I made dinner, how about we eat at home tonight?”
Liang Xun felt like he’d walked into a trap, but he couldn’t help but fall for it.
“Okay.”
Liang Xun was very cooperative; Jian Huaiyi gave him an approving look.
He hurried back to the kitchen, transferring the food from the takeout containers into bowls, bringing it and the wine he’d pulled from the cabinet into the living room.
Liang Xun took off his jacket and placed it on the sofa, unbuttoning his cuffs with his left hand, rolling them up to reveal his muscular forearm.
The feeling intensified, but his expression remained unchanged. He lowered his gaze to the food from that particular restaurant and the unopened wine, his lips pressed together.
Quite a carefully laid trap.
Jian Huaiyi poured himself a glass of red wine.
After careful consideration, he chose red wine.
Red wine doesn’t make you drunk easily, and he had a decent tolerance, so a few glasses should be fine.
Jian Huaiyi took another glass, Liang Xun was about to say he’d do it himself, when he saw Jian Huaiyi bend down, pick up the sparkling water, place it on the table with a clink, unscrew the cap and pour a full glass into the glass, then hand it to Liang Xun.
Liang Xun lowered his eyes, the transparent drink bubbled.
…
“You can’t drink alcohol with your current health condition,” Jian Huaiyi explained.
Liang Xun eventually accepted the full glass of lemon-flavored sparkling water.
As usual, they didn’t talk much while eating.
…
“Liang Xun.”
Liang Xun put down his chopsticks, looking directly at Jian Huaiyi.
Finally.
Jian Huaiyi’s tone was casual, “How about we play a game?”
“Game rules?”
Jian Huaiyi pulled out two dice Jiang Yue had given him, placing them on the table, his cold eyes fixed on Liang Xun.
“Two dice, we take turns rolling. Whoever rolls the highest number can ask the other a question. The other must answer truthfully; if they don’t want to answer, they drink three glasses of wine.”
Liang Xun’s dark eyes flickered; he saw the red wine next to Jian Huaiyi, “Okay, but first replace my drink with red wine.”
“No.” Jian Huaiyi frowned, lifting his eyelashes, “No negotiation. You drink the drink; I can handle the wine, it’s low alcohol, it’s almost the same as a drink for me.”
Liang Xun felt rationally that Jian Huaiyi’s words were questionable, especially the “decent alcohol tolerance,” which wasn’t very believable.
“So, are we playing or not?” Jian Huaiyi urged.
“Playing.”
The plan continues.
Jian Huaiyi went first, picking up the two dice and throwing them on the table.
No skill, pure luck.
The luck was good, a four and a five.
“Your turn,” Jian Huaiyi lifted his chin.
Confidently calculating which question to ask Liang Xun.
Liang Xun silently curled his lips, his hand curled, his long fingers moving slightly.
A crisp sound, the dice hit the table.
Jian Huaiyi leaned forward; one was a six, the other was also a six.
Jian Huaiyi: ?
He looked up at Liang Xun incredulously, Liang Xun was still calm, not excited at all about rolling two sixes, as if it was expected.
His dark gaze fell slightly, meeting Jian Huaiyi’s.
Wrong.
Jian Huaiyi vaguely felt something was wrong.
But he had to abide by the bet. He said to Liang Xun, “What do you want to ask?”
Liang Xun’s expression faded; his thin lips parted, “Who is Lu Yang?”
Jian Huaiyi’s breath hitched, then quickly resumed its rhythm.
This game was meant to solve this.
It was sharp, but right on target.
“Ex-boyfriend,” Jian Huaiyi said truthfully.
Liang Xun frowned quickly.
Next round, Jian Huaiyi’s luck wasn’t as good as before, rolling a two and a six, but it wasn’t a small number either.
After rolling, he handed the dice to Liang Xun.
This time he shouldn’t be so lucky.
He leisurely stared at Liang Xun, watching the dice fly from his hand, rolling a few times on the table.
Two sixes.
Jian Huaiyi’s face changed.
As far as he knew, Liang Xun had no experience with gambling.
Did he learn it abroad?
“Second question, when did you get together with Lu Yang?”
“Two years ago.”
…
“Third question, how did you meet?”
Jian Huaiyi pursed his lips, under Liang Xun’s intense gaze, he said, “Online.”
Liang Xun chuckled, coldness in his eyes, “Online dating?”
“…Almost.”
“Heh.”
…
The intention was to use this opportunity to understand Liang Xun’s current psychological state, but instead, it turned into Liang Xun questioning his romantic history, a particularly dark period.
“Tenth question, when you were with Lu Yang, did we break up?”
This was impossible to answer truthfully.
Liang Xun saw his hesitation and didn’t press him; he would find out the answers anyway.
“Drink?” Liang Xun raised an eyebrow.
“Mm.” Jian Huaiyi nodded.
He picked up the glass and drank the red wine in one gulp.
A few drops of deep red wine flowed from the corner of his lips, down his slender neck, and into his collar, staining a small patch on his white collarbone.
Liang Xun’s eyes darkened. Jian Huaiyi put down the glass; his clear voice was hoarse.
“Let’s continue.”
Liang Xun had no objection.
The game ended with Jian Huaiyi losing miserably.
He lay on the table, his light-colored pupils clouded with mist, tilting his head to look at the man opposite him.
“Did…did you learn this?”
Liang Xun said truthfully, “I saw others play it.”
No wonder.
“Damn it,” Jian Huaiyi’s cheeks were flushed, he said word by word, “Liang Xun, you, won unfairly.”
Liang Xun didn’t refute. He looked at Jian Huaiyi, the heart that had been burning all night suddenly cooled down, reducing the agitation.
“Can you still stand up?”
Jian Huaiyi blinked, “Of course… I can.”
He added, “I have a good alcohol tolerance.”
He lifted his chin, propped himself up on the table, and slowly stood up from his seat.
Then he stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud.
“It hurts…” Jian Huaiyi covered his bottom, tears welling up from the pain.
Liang Xun sighed silently, strode forward, lifted Jian Huaiyi’s waist, and pulled him up from the ground.
“Thank you,” Jian Huaiyi politely thanked him, repeating, “I have a good alcohol tolerance.”
Liang Xun: …
He looked at the young man’s profile, his heart instinctively tightening, a dense sourness spreading from his chest, his throat choked.
He hated cheaters the most, yet he could forgive Jian Huaiyi again and again.
Was it because he didn’t like him?
Maybe.
But even if he didn’t like him, as long as they weren’t broken up, they should be faithful to each other.
Taking advantage of the fact that neither of them was completely sober tonight,
“Will you always…” he stopped himself, Liang Xun’s tone was heavy, he changed his words, “Be faithful to our relationship?”
Not yet drunk enough to lose consciousness completely, Jian Huaiyi understood after a minute.
Faithful to the relationship? He should be considered faithful to relationships.
“Yes.”
Liang Xun’s palm felt hot, his breath involuntarily quickened, as if his nerve endings had been touched, the aftershocks reverberating through his body.
After a long while, he whispered, “I will too.”
Even if he didn’t like him, he would be faithful to Jian Huaiyi while their relationship lasted.
A ringtone suddenly rang, a light and cheerful tune, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
It was Jian Huaiyi’s phone.
Liang Xun reached out and picked it up, politely not looking at it, and handed it to Jian Huaiyi.
The contact showed “Yan Ting”. Jian Huaiyi, without thinking, pressed the answer button.
“Honey!” A loud voice came from the receiver; Zhao Yan Ting cried, “Baby, are you there? I miss you, woohoo.”
The surroundings fell silent; the sparkling water bubbled, the silence lasting for several seconds.
Jian Huaiyi subconsciously looked up, meeting the man’s suddenly turbulent dark eyes.
His heart skipped a beat.
_____________