Chapter 2
Unsure, Jian Huayi called the family driver and asked him to pick up Lu Yang from the back street.
The car was warm, so Liang Xun unbuttoned his trench coat. His long legs were crossed, and he spoke casually, teasing, “So affectionate?”
Jian Huayi turned off his phone, “It’s okay.”
Liang Xun chuckled, not taking Jian Huayi’s words to heart.
Today, Old Master Jian held a grand banquet at the old house to welcome Liang Xun back. Ironically, when Liang Xun left for overseas, no one had been optimistic about him. Only Jian Huayi and a few close friends had seen him off.
The outside world still saw him as the powerless adopted son of the Jian family. Who would have thought that five years later, Liang Xun would establish his personal brand overseas, with countless assets, returning to China to tap into the domestic market?
There’s a saying: “When I was nothing, you ignored me; now that I’m successful, you’re not good enough.” This perfectly describes Liang Xun.
“Dad, Mom.”
“Xiao Yi, Xiao Xun is back.” Madam Zhao, wearing a simple and elegant cheongsam, rushed over when she saw them return, taking the suitcase from Liang Xun’s hand, acting as attentive as possible.
Liang Xun nodded politely, acknowledging her nurturing grace, “Aunt Zhao.”
After running around all day, Jian Huayi was tired. After greeting Madam Zhao, he went upstairs to rest.
Knock, knock, knock. A knock came at the door.
Jian Huayi lifted his head from under the covers. His hair was slightly disheveled, with a few strands sticking up at the back of his head, making him look a little dazed. He happened to meet Liang Xun’s amused gaze at the door.
Liang Xun sat down on the sofa beside the bed and looked around. The room was still in light blue tones, the ceiling painted with a sky and clouds. He commented, “It’s the same as before.”
Jian Huayi hugged the quilt, rolled into a ball, and lay there lazily talking to Liang Xun, “Of course, I’m sentimental.”
Liang Xun lowered his eyelashes, silent.
“What do you want?” Jian Huayi’s face was half-buried in the quilt, his clear voice muffled, sounding inexplicably soft.
Outsiders only knew that Jian Huayi, the second young master of the Jian family, was cold and aloof. Only those close to him knew what a cute face was hidden beneath that cold mask. He was like a proud Persian cat, showing its claws to outsiders, but revealing its soft belly to those close to it.
Adorable.
As if an electric current ran through his heart, leaving a tingling sensation, Liang Xun’s palm tightened slightly, his face calm.
He took out a CD he had kept for a long time from his pocket, opened his palm, and presented it to Jian Huayi. Jian Huayi had been half-dozing but immediately sat up straight when he saw it.
“Where did you get this? It even has an autograph.” A blush rose on Jian Huayi’s face, and his usually flat tone was filled with excitement. He eagerly opened the bedside cabinet and put the CD inside. It was full of CDs.
“I happened to run into it on a business trip and asked someone for one.”
“So lucky.”
Liang Xun smiled.
Jian Huayi closed the bedside cabinet contentedly, turning his head to look at Liang Xun, “How long are you staying this time?”
“The same as before.”
Neither long nor short, about half a month. Too short to be reluctant to leave, too long to not be able to leave.
“Second Young Master.” The driver suddenly called Jian Huayi.
“Have you picked up Lu Yang?”
Liang Xun politely closed his mouth, his dark eyes falling on Jian Huayi’s pig-shaped slippers on the floor. His knuckles unconsciously curled, tapping his knees one after another.
“Second Young Master, when I got there, Mr. Lu had already been sent back by someone else.” The driver said, sending Jian Huayi a photo he had just taken.
Jian Huayi opened it. The photo showed the two in an intimate posture, Lu Yang hugging another petite young man and walking forward. The two were very close, their shadows under the streetlight even overlapping.
“Okay, I understand. Thank you for going, Uncle Liu.”
“You’re welcome, Second Young Master.” Old Liu, remembering the scene he had just witnessed, reminded Jian Huayi, “Mr. Lu seems to have a close relationship with that person.”
Jian Huayi frowned. After hanging up the phone, he sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes downcast in thought.
“Did your boyfriend cheat?”
Jian Huayi didn’t know how Liang Xun drew this conclusion from a few short words, but he had nothing to hide from him. He said honestly, “I don’t know. It might just be a coincidence.”
Liang Xun smiled, the corners of his lips curving up in a cheerful smile.
“A coincidence that he was picked up by his ex-boyfriend. That’s quite a coincidence.”
Although he knew Liang Xun was intelligent, Jian Huayi was still shocked that Liang Xun could deduce from his brief conversation with the driver that his boyfriend, Lu Yang, had gotten drunk and was picked up by his ex-boyfriend.
Jian Huayi said in a low voice, “Do you have mind-reading abilities?”
Liang Xun curved his lips, his dark eyes fixed on Jian Huayi, saying something ambiguous, “I wish I did.”
Jian Huayi didn’t take his words to heart, and lowered his head to send a message to Lu Yang. After waiting for a while without a reply, he threw his phone to the end of the bed and ignored it.
“Need my help?” Liang Xun asked, his hands clasped loosely.
“No.”
Jian Huayi didn’t want Liang Xun to interfere. First, Liang Xun was homophobic, disliking all homosexuals except Jian Huayi. Second, although he and Liang Xun were childhood friends, his boyfriend’s infidelity was embarrassing, and he still cared about face.
Although, in front of Liang Xun, maybe he’d already lost all face.
At the door, the housekeeper said to the two, one lying down and the other sitting, “Second Young Master, Master Liang, Madam is calling you down for dinner.”
Since they were at home, Jian Huayi wasn’t so particular. He put on his slippers and went downstairs with Liang Xun.
Old Master Jian, although over fifty, was still very spirited in his Zhongshan suit.
Catching sight of Jian Huayi’s slippers, he scolded sharply, “No manners.”
Just as the cane was about to fall on Jian Huayi’s shin, Liang Xun stepped forward to block him, his tall and upright figure completely shielding the person behind him. Old Master Jian could only retract his cane, which landed on the floor with a thud.
“Xiao Xun.”
In just a few seconds, his father seemed to change into a different person. Jian Huayi relaxed, and the thought of his father, at his age, having to act amiable in front of the younger generation he once looked down upon, made him want to laugh.
“Uncle Jian.”
It was supposed to be a welcoming banquet, but Liang Xun hadn’t had a moment’s rest at the table. Everyone was subtly inquiring about Liang Xun’s plans for this return. After all, the brand Liang Xun now held was a tempting piece of cake for everyone.
Jian Corporation could barely secure a place in the domestic market. To gain a foothold, they needed to have a long-term vision, and entering the overseas market was the best solution.
The reason Old Master Jian had called Liang Xun home for dinner and to get closer to him was precisely because Jian Corporation wanted a share of Liang Xun’s success, using their years of nurturing Liang Xun as leverage.
As expected of his father, even affection had a price.
Jian Huayi sneered silently. He understood what was happening, and everyone else at the table knew it too.
But Liang Xun wasn’t an easy person to talk to. Facing Old Master Jian’s high-level manipulation tactics, he remained calm and composed. In the end, Old Master Jian was the first to lose his patience, his stern face darkening, and he asked Liang Xun, “As long as Jian Corporation can have a stake, whatever you want, I will do my best to provide it.”
Liang Xun casually glanced at Jian Huayi, who was burying himself in his food. Old Master Jian saw this scene.
He remembered that when Liang Xun was still in the Jian family, he often hung out with Jian Huayi. His cloudy eyes rolled, and Old Master Jian calmed down again, “Xiao Xun, if you still have any concerns, I can arrange for you and Xiao Yi to get married, and we can include the contract in the prenuptial agreement.”
As soon as he said this, before Liang Xun could answer, Jian Huayi straightened up, put down his chopsticks, and looked coldly at Old Master Jian, “Dad, that’s going too far.”
Regardless of the fact that he currently had a boyfriend, even though they might break up soon, Liang Xun’s homophobia meant he couldn’t marry him.
His father was desperate, attempting to sell his son for a business opportunity. But his plan to use Liang Xun would definitely fail. Liang Xun wasn’t gay, and they only had a brotherly relationship.
Old Master Jian ignored Jian Huayi and pressed Liang Xun, “Xiao Xun, what do you think?”
“Uncle Jian is overthinking it.” Liang Xun smiled faintly.
Jian Huayi took a breath, turning his head along with the others at the table to look at Liang Xun, not understanding what he was hesitating about.
No way, Liang Xun. You wouldn’t actually sell yourself to repay the Jian family’s kindness. You’re homophobic, remember? Marrying a man is basically the same as going to jail.
Jian Huayi really didn’t want to see this “friends turning into enemies” scenario play out between Liang Xun and himself.
“I’ll have my assistant bring over the contract.”
Jian Huayi almost spat out the tea he had just drunk, then heard Liang Xun continue, “Marriage, however, is unnecessary.”
Old Master Jian laughed. Liang Xun’s actions were equivalent to handing them the opportunity directly without having to sell his son; it was a win-win situation.
After the family banquet, Liang Xun claimed to have company matters and didn’t stay at the old house.
Night fell, and the Jian residence was quiet. Old Master Jian, since retiring, had been keen on health preservation and went to bed before nine every night. Madam Zhao also went to sleep. Only three young people were still awake.
“Second Brother.”
Jian Luo Jia stood at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, his light brown eyes, identical to Jian Huayi’s, fixed on him.
After stopping him to look him over carefully, Jian Luo Jia frowned in curiosity, “I heard from Uncle Liu that your boyfriend cheated.”
Jian Huayi’s temples twitched; good news doesn’t travel fast, but bad news travels like wildfire.
Not seeing the angry expression he expected, Jian Luo Jia took a few steps forward, raising his voice, “Is Lu Yang really your boyfriend? You don’t even react to him cheating?”
Jian Huayi was bothered by him, frowning, “How do you know about Lu Yang?”
“Second Brother, you might as well ask who in the family doesn’t know that you’re dating a race car driver.”
Jian Huayi didn’t like that, “Don’t be prejudiced against his profession.”
Jian Luo Jia sneered, “Heh, Lu Yang is already in bed with someone else, and you’re still talking about professional discrimination.”
“Second Brother, do you have a habit of helping the poor?”
After all, no one had expected the always aloof and proud Jian Huayi to be with a reckless motorcycle rider, including Jian Luo Jia. But after thinking about it, whether it was the once powerless adopted son of the Liang family or a motorcycle rider, Jian Huayi seemed to always love “helping the poor.”
And as he got older, his taste got worse and worse!
Jian Luo Jia had investigated Lu Yang and found that this person not only had no education or family background, but he was just a scumbag and a small thug.
What exactly did Jian Huayi see in him?
Jian Luo Jia was quite incomprehensible. Why was his usually superior second brother so unselective when it came to relationships!
When Jian Luo Jia was finished venting, Jian Huayi stuffed a cherry tomato from the fruit plate downstairs into Jian Luo Jia’s hand and patted his hand, “Don’t stay up too late, kids; it will stunt your growth.”
Then he went upstairs, ignoring Jian Luo Jia whether he had finished speaking or not.
Twenty-year-old Jian Luo Jia angrily watched his back, “Pretend all you want. You’re only two years older than me!”
If Lu Yang had only been sent home by Fang Chengyi, Jian Huayi could have convinced himself it was a coincidence, but going to bed… that’s cheating.
A matter of principle, Jian Huayi wasn’t as calm as he appeared. He hugged his pillow and thought back to when he first met Lu Yang.
On the off-road track, Lu Yang was speeding ahead, attracting everyone’s attention. Jian Huayi was also looking at him, or rather, at the necklace around his neck. Lu Yang was wearing a helmet, and he couldn’t see his face, but paired with the necklace, a complete image appeared before him.
His usually calm heartbeat skipped a beat.