After Being Mistaken for His Boyfriend by His Amnesiac Childhood Friend CHAPTER 5
Chapter 5
Jian Huaiyi froze, the gaze from behind him feeling tangible. He sat back down on the bed, a crack appearing in his usually calm demeanor. He glanced down at Liang Xun’s pajama pants, then at his own shirt – they unexpectedly matched.
Liang Xun sat up, propping himself up on his elbow. The two of them leaned against the headboard, a silence hanging in the air. After all, neither of them had expected this kind of accident to happen before last night.
“You…”
“I…”
Jian Huaiyi frowned, embarrassed by the atmosphere. Liang Xun remained gentlemanly and quiet, letting Jian Huaiyi speak first.
In those silent seconds, Jian Huaiyi thought of countless openings, ways to salvage his precarious brotherly relationship with Liang Xun.
He needed to appear nonchalant, casual, to show Liang Xun he wasn’t too concerned about last night, so that Liang Xun wouldn’t be so uncomfortable.
Jian Huaiyi tried to appear calm and collected, his voice steady despite being slightly hoarse from overuse: “Actually, nothing happened last night.”
Another silence fell.
Liang Xun pulled back the covers, his forearm exposed, showing two distinct red marks, evidence of the previous night’s intensity.
Jian Huaiyi rubbed his forehead, averting his gaze as if burned, a rare blush rising on his pale cheeks.
What a stupid opening line.
“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
Liang Xun’s cold voice broke the silence.
“…I’m fine.”
Jian Huaiyi shifted his weight subtly, his mind flashing back to a few moments from last night. He didn’t dare tell the truth, having completely lost the courage to confess to having drunkenly pounced on Liang Xun.
The curtains weren’t fully drawn, and sunlight streamed in, forming a circle of light at the foot of the bed.
After a long while, Jian Huaiyi took a deep breath and finally organized his words, speaking again to Liang Xun: “Liang Xun, it was my fault last night, but it’s already happened, and no apology can make up for the harm I caused you.”
Liang Xun looked at him quietly, his expression changing, his cold gaze filled with complex emotions. Jian Huaiyi, however, remained oblivious, continuing to talk.
Jian Huaiyi turned to look at Liang Xun, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, his large pajamas covering the marks on his thighs.
“Perhaps, we can pretend nothing happened last night.”
Liang Xun hesitated, looking at Jian Huaiyi’s furrowed brow, his eyes darkening before finally saying, “Okay.”
Jian Huaiyi breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Liang Xun valued their decade-long brotherhood and wasn’t willing to sever ties because of one accident.
After resolving the matter, they each got dressed. Liang Xun got out of bed in slippers and precisely picked up Jian Huaiyi’s clothes from the scattered pile of clothing. Jian Huaiyi reached out to take them, but Liang Xun glanced at him calmly and didn’t give them to him.
“They’re dirty.”
He then hung Jian Huaiyi’s clothes over his arm and walked out of the bedroom.
Jian Huaiyi sat still, his lips pursed, until the bedroom door opened again. He looked up to see Liang Xun fully dressed.
“If you don’t mind, wear these. They’re new and unworn.” Liang Xun placed a shirt and pants on the bed, explaining.
“Okay.”
The clothes were Liang Xun’s size, slightly large for Jian Huaiyi, but it didn’t matter; they’d look like a relaxed fit on him.
By the time they woke up, it was almost noon. After tidying up, they went to lunch.
Liang Xun drove, and Jian Huaiyi sat in the passenger seat, staring at the traffic lights, his head moving slowly, like an old radio. He tried to fully recall what happened last night, but his memory only went as far as him pouncing on Liang Xun and straddling him. Anything beyond that was a blank.
He probably hadn’t drunk that much alcohol in a long time, hence the blackout.
It was hard to imagine that his drunken self had been so “enthusiastic,” so desperate as to make a move on his brother.
Jian Huaiyi felt embarrassed again, the guilt towards Liang Xun mixing with other emotions.
A cool breeze blew against his chin, and Jian Huaiyi snapped back to reality, turning to see Liang Xun adjusting the air conditioning.
The light turned red, and Liang Xun looked at Jian Huaiyi: “You look hot.”
Jian Huaiyi blinked nervously, nodding to cover it up: “A little.”
He didn’t tell Liang Xun it was his first time. During his relationship with Lu Yang, they had only kissed and hugged, mostly initiated by Lu Yang.
Lu Yang would never have imagined he could pick such a cold rose like Jian Huaiyi. Jian Huaiyi’s liking for Lu Yang stemmed from a childhood crush. That necklace was a beacon of hope for Jian Huaiyi during a time of despair. Its owner was the only person Jian Huaiyi had ever had a crush on, leading him to accept Lu Yang’s proposal without hesitation when they reunited years later.
But memories are always beautified by the filter of time, something Jian Huaiyi was well aware of. After a moment of reflection, he told Lu Yang, “Let’s give it a try.”
He was similar to his younger self but not entirely the same. He no longer possessed the youthful arrogance to fear nothing. He had learned to consider the consequences.
After getting together with Lu Yang, he gradually realised he wasn’t the only one who had changed. Perhaps the filter of memory was too powerful. Upon reuniting after many years, everything was different.
Jian Huaiyi’s reason for breaking up was that their feelings had faded. He gave Lu Yang the apartment as compensation. Lu Yang knew that once Jian Huaiyi made a decision on important matters, no one could change his mind.
He stared intently at Jian Huaiyi, letting out everything he had been holding back: “Jian Huaiyi, I’m so damn sick of you.”
“You think those people who chased you genuinely loved you? They were just after your status as the Jian family’s young master. Without that status, do you really think you’re still a sought-after commodity?”
Jian Huaiyi looked at him calmly. It wasn’t as if he felt nothing at all. He looked at the frantic Lu Yang, completely unable to reconcile him with the gentle, encouraging person from years ago.
A ripple stirred within him, and Jian Huaiyi slapped Lu Yang.
Jian Luo was right; meeting in person did have risks.
After their separation, Lu Yang rode his motorcycle away from the apartment with Fang Chengyi on the back. The petite young man clung to Lu Yang’s waist, looking defiantly towards the car not far away.
A black Cayenne was parked on the roadside. Jian Huaiyi sat in the backseat, eyes closed. As their figures disappeared down the street, Jian Huaiyi knew that those youthful feelings were firmly left in the past.
Because of those unclear emotions, after dinner with Liang Xun, Jian Huaiyi took the initiative to pay the bill. Although a meal was insignificant for Liang Xun’s current status, Jian Huaiyi felt he should pay.
Liang Xun had a flight the next day. At their parting, Jian Huaiyi said to Liang Xun, “Have a safe trip,” and then got into the Jian family’s car.
Liang Xun, wearing a black coat, stood in the twilight. His figure seemed about to be swallowed by the darkness. The black Cayenne disappeared into the night. Liang Xun turned and walked in another direction.
He had some unfinished business at the company. After taking a call, his assistant arrived.
“Mr. Liang, the Zhen Corporation project is expected to start at the end of the month. They have already prepared the contract; it just needs your signature,” his assistant reported, glancing at Liang Xun in the rearview mirror.
“Mm.” The man’s voice was cold. Initially, there was nothing unusual, but…
His glasses shifted slightly. Qin Zhu cautiously withdrew his gaze. Mr. Liang’s corners of his mouth were slightly lower than usual today, and his cold tone held a hint of irritation…
“Qin Zhu, concentrate on driving.”
Qin Zhu’s brow twitched, his face resuming a polite smile: “Yes, Mr. Liang.”
Case closed. Mr. Liang was in a bad mood today, likely due to something personal.
The Wan Jia address wasn’t in the city center. Qin Zhu, as usual, took the nearest route. Only a few streetlights were on, making the road dark. This wasn’t the first time, so Qin Zhu didn’t make a fuss and turned on the headlights.
He was very familiar with this road, knowing every pothole and every curb.
When they reached the corner, Qin Zhu made a smooth turn, the car’s rear just avoiding a curb.
A few clunking sounds, like tires rolling over stones, made Qin Zhu frown. He looked in the rearview mirror and saw a white car approaching from behind. The driver was probably a novice, turning halfway onto a gravel road.
A harsh screech of scraping metal assaulted his ears, followed by a blinding white light from behind. Qin Zhu’s calm expression faltered. The white car was heading straight for them.
Bang—
Jian Huaiyi was reading in his study when his phone rang. The butler brought it to him.
“Hello, is this Miss Huiyi?”
Jian Huaiyi frowned, taking the phone away from his ear and looking at the screen again. The contact was saved under the name “Liang Xun.”
The name “Huiyi” was too reminiscent of another identity. The doctor on the other end paused, then said: “Mr. Huiyi, hello, I’m Song Chi from XX Hospital. The owner of this phone was in a car accident last night and is currently undergoing emergency treatment. Please come to XX Hospital immediately upon receiving this message.”
It took Jian Huaiyi about five minutes to process the call. Without time to put his book back, he called Butler Liu and drove to the hospital.
By the time he arrived, the surgery was over. Jian Huaiyi went to Liang Xun’s ward with the doctor. Liang Xun’s assistant was also sent to the hospital, in the next room. His family arrived earlier than Jian Huaiyi. As he passed, Jian Huaiyi saw a man around thirty years old taking care of him through the window. He was probably Qin Zhu’s brother.
Post-operative unconsciousness would last for 24 hours. Only Jian Huaiyi stayed by his side during that time. Liang Xun finally woke up early the next morning.
Jian Huaiyi came in with a food container and met Liang Xun’s gaze.
“You’re awake.”
Liang Xun didn’t answer, just staring at Jian Huaiyi, his eyes filled with inquiry and a hint of confusion.
Jian Huaiyi placed the food container on the table, making a soft thud.
“The doctor said you can only eat bland food after waking up. I had Butler Liu buy some porridge. If you have an appetite, you can have some,” Jian Huaiyi said, “A Yue and Yan Ting will visit you this afternoon.”
Hearing this, Liang Xun’s expression finally relaxed, but it was a confused relaxation. His deep dark eyes fixed on Jian Huaiyi: “A Yue, Yan Ting? Your suitors.”
Jian Huaiyi paused, finally realizing something was wrong. He turned to look at Liang Xun, reading something different in his indifferent eyes.
