Part 2
“Dad,” his eldest brother said dutifully, taking a cup of tea from the butler and handing it to their grandfather. “Why don’t you sit down and have some tea? Liu Shu and I can handle things here.”
Grandfather Jian didn’t refuse. His body wasn’t what it used to be. He went to the tea room to have tea with some guests.
Jian Luojia was finally free. He immediately dropped what he was holding and collapsed onto the sofa.
“Thanks, big brother.”
His brother smiled. “Luojia, you really need to work on your stamina.”
Jian Luojia was too tired to argue, just grunting a few times. His gaze fell on Jian Huaiyi next to him, and he subconsciously looked behind him.
“You didn’t come with Liang Xun?” Jian Luojia sat up straight.
Jian Huaiyi raised an eyebrow and retorted, “Why would I come with Liang Xun?”
Jian Luojia gave him a strange look. Suddenly, he felt a slap on the back of his head. He yelped and turned around, clutching his head, to see his older brother’s teasing smile.
“Big brother, what did you hit me for?” Jian Luojia whined.
“You had some dust in your hair. I was just helping you clean it,” his brother smiled.
Jian Luojia didn’t believe him for a second.
Jian Huaiyi watched the two of them, a thoughtful expression on his face.
As evening approached, guests began to arrive at the Jian residence.
As the “birthday boy,” Jian Huaiyi had to stand by his grandfather’s side and accept congratulations from the guests.
He had to keep up appearances.
“Young Master Jian is truly a remarkable talent. Old Jian, you are truly blessed to have three such outstanding young men in your family.”
Grandfather Jian laughed heartily. “Your son is no less impressive.”
“How can my worthless son compare to Young Master Jian,” the middle-aged man said humbly.
“Hey, Old Lu, you’re being too modest,” Grandfather Jian said, his eyes fixed on the man as he played along. “I heard your son went to study in Switzerland for a few years and came back with a lot of knowledge. Your family’s stock has risen quite a bit because of it.”
“Not at all, not at all. Just a little, just a little.”
Jian Huaiyi smiled faintly, quietly watching the two old foxes dance around each other.
Finally done with his public appearance with his grandfather, Jian Huaiyi immediately looked for an opportunity to escape. Seeing that the staircase was empty, he was about to head upstairs to hide when his grandfather’s voice stopped him.
“Dad, what is it?” Jian Huaiyi asked calmly.
Grandfather Jian sized him up, his sharp, eagle-like eyes cloudy and pressuring.
“Second son, what are you going upstairs for?”
“To get something.”
Grandfather Jian didn’t press further. “Go to the backyard and get my cane for me.”
Since his father had spoken, Jian Huaiyi had to put his escape plan on hold. He nodded. “I will.”
The backyard was empty. A few scattered lights were on, and the wind rustled through the bushes.
Jian Huaiyi walked into the backyard and looked around, but he didn’t see his father’s cane.
“Young Master Jian.”
A man’s voice came from behind him. Jian Huaiyi turned around. It was no one he knew.
The man was wearing a sharp suit and holding a mahogany cane. He walked up to Jian Huaiyi.
Seeing the cane in his hand, Jian Huaiyi’s eyes darkened slightly. As expected, it wasn’t that simple.
The man, sensing his intention, held up the cane. “Is Young Master Jian looking for this?”
Jian Huaiyi’s hands were in his pockets. The pale moonlight streamed down from his eyelashes, enveloping him in a cold, unapproachable aura.
“No,” Jian Huaiyi said.
With that, he turned to walk back.
“Wait,” the man said, taking a few steps forward.
Jian Huaiyi politely stopped and looked up at the man, his chin tilted up slightly. “One minute.”
The man was taken aback.
“State your intentions clearly.”
The man looked at Jian Huaiyi and suddenly smiled. “Second Young Master Jian is truly as unique as the rumors say.”
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lu Cheng.” Lu Cheng put the cane aside, rubbed his wrist, and said to Jian Huaiyi, “Young Master Jian is a smart man. You should have already figured out my intentions.”
Jian Huaiyi looked down at the man before him, his face, so pale it was almost translucent, favored by the moonlight, his entire being coated in a layer of frost.
He said bluntly, “I’m not interested in you.”
Lu Cheng, who was used to having men and women fawning over him, had never been rejected so decisively.
A flicker of interest appeared in Lu Cheng’s eyes, his tone cooling slightly. “But it seems Grandfather Jian is interested in me.”
“That’s his business,” Jian Huaiyi said.
Every child of a prestigious family was born tied to the word “interest.” Unless their family was open-minded, their marriage would never be their own choice.
The more powerful the family, the more old-fashioned they were.
Grandfather Jian and Madam Zhao had a family-arranged marriage, but luckily, they had been in love when they were young. Plus, Grandfather Jian respected Madam Zhao and had no interest in fooling around. Otherwise, their family would never be as stable as it was now.
Jian Huaiyi let out a silent, cold laugh.
He suddenly remembered how his grandfather used to make him go on blind dates with young ladies from other families to cultivate relationships. It wasn’t until he came out publicly that his grandfather, in a fit of rage, made him move out for a month. But after he cooled down, he actually started setting him up with talented young men from other families.
His father was just such a contradictory person. You couldn’t say he was unenlightened, since he could accept that he was gay, but you couldn’t say he was enlightened either, since he still wanted him to marry for the family’s benefit.
“Jian Huaiyi, how about we cooperate?” Lu Cheng tried a different approach. “Look, you can’t escape an arranged marriage anyway. Instead of letting your grandfather set you up with someone else, why not be with me? And I promise I won’t interfere with any of your activities after we’re married. As long as you play the part of a good couple with me in public.”
Undoubtedly, what Lu Cheng was proposing was the best solution.
“How about it?” Lu Cheng’s eyes were full of confidence.
“No, thanks,” Jian Huaiyi said, not wanting to waste any more time with him. He turned and walked towards the main hall.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped and called out to the empty air beside him, “Jian Luojia.”
Jian Luojia flinched and looked up to meet Jian Huaiyi’s deep gaze.
He’d been caught.
He pushed aside the bushes and walked out from behind them, trying to act calm. “Dad’s trying to set you up on another blind date?”
“You already knew,” Jian Huaiyi’s tone was meaningful.
Jian Luojia cleared his throat. Seeing Jian Huaiyi’s lowered eyelashes, a thought struck him.
“Are you stupid?!”
Jian Huaiyi: ?
He turned and shot a cold glare at Jian Luojia.
Jian Luojia swallowed. Although he usually couldn’t stand Jian Huaiyi’s cold and dismissive attitude towards everyone, that didn’t stop him from being afraid of him.
“You-you could just tell Dad that you and Liang Xun are together!” Jian Luojia couldn’t hold it in any longer, deeply disappointed in him.
Jian Huaiyi frowned. “Who told you that Liang Xun and I are together?”
“Living together isn’t considered being together?” Jian Luojia was shocked.
His virgin worldview was beginning to crumble.
“Are you two friends with benefits?!”
Jian Huaiyi pressed his forehead. “Living together isn’t what you think. Liang Xun and I are not together. He’s just temporarily staying at my place.”
Jian Luojia still didn’t believe him, muttering, “Not together? That Liang Xun is really useless. He still hasn’t won over Jian Huaiyi after all these years…”
Jian Huaiyi: …
He couldn’t be bothered to argue with an idiot.
There were small lights hanging along the path beside them. Jian Huaiyi suddenly remembered something and, without hesitation, turned and walked down the path.
He remembered there was a gate in the backyard that led directly outside.
After walking around for a bit, he found the small gate. He took the key from the hook on the wall, and with a click, the iron gate opened. He had successfully escaped the Jian residence.
The streetlights were bright, a few stars twinkled in the night sky, and the air was fresh. Like a prisoner who had escaped his cage, Jian Huaiyi’s back relaxed. He was about to hail a cab back to his villa when a familiar voice reached his ears. “Jian Huaiyi.” The low voice cut through the darkness, growing clearer.
Liang Xun, rarely seen in a suit, had his chest muscles slightly bulging under his white shirt. His brow was sharp, and he was wrapped in the chill of the night, as cold and stern as ever.
Jian Huaiyi came back to his senses. “What are you doing here?” A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.
“A social engagement,” Liang Xun said.
Jian Huaiyi nodded in understanding, then his brow shot up in realization. “You came to the party.”
Right. I almost forgot. Liang Xun is now a “partner” with business ties to the Jian family.
“Mm.”
Liang Xun had his suit jacket draped over his arm. Seeing that Jian Huaiyi was only wearing a thin shirt, he lifted his hand and draped it over his shoulders.
Jian Huaiyi suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He pressed his lips together. “You don’t have to.”
But Liang Xun had already done it, and taking it off now would be too deliberate.
The jacket had a faint scent of old wood. Having shared a bed with Liang Xun every night, Jian Huaiyi quickly recognized it as his scent.
“Are you going in? I can wait for you outside,” Jian Huaiyi said.
He couldn’t go back in, or he’d never be able to leave tonight.
“No need. The gift has been delivered,” Liang Xun said.
He curled his palm, then familiarly took Jian Huaiyi’s hand, his thumb slowly tracing the space between his fingers before lacing them together, a perfect fit.
The car was parked on the other side of the street. The sidewalk was empty. Liang Xun led Jian Huaiyi across the road, their two shadows trailing behind them.
Jian Huaiyi’s arm was stiff, his attention completely focused on his burning palm. His thoughts were sluggish, like an old television, and he couldn’t think of a reason to pull away.
The scent of old wood filled his nostrils, and his heart gradually settled back into his chest.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Jian Huaiyi clutched the corner of the suit jacket, a grave expression on his face.
Liang Xun leaned over and buckled his seatbelt for him.
Jian Huaiyi’s expression grew even more solemn.
He couldn’t let Liang Xun’s “sense of responsibility” go on like this. Sooner or later, something was going to happen.
He had to think of a way.
The young man’s eyelashes were lowered, casting a small shadow, his cool face tinged with a hint of sadness.
A sour feeling welled up in Liang Xun’s chest, an emotion called “heartache” taking over his body.
He pressed his lips together, his dark eyes serious and determined as he looked at Jian Huaiyi. “I’m not homophobic.”
Jian Huaiyi: …
His heartbeat, which had been racing, suddenly fell silent. His expression gradually became blank. “No, you’re homophobic.”
He then covered Liang Xun’s mouth, forcibly cutting off the “babe” that was about to escape his lips.
Liang Xun: ?
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