Chapter 110Â
“Really?” Jiang Su pretended to study Jiang Zhishen. “It’s just a plain gray shirt. They don’t look exactly the same, do they?”
“And their builds look pretty similar, don’t you think?” Jiang Ying added.
Jiang Su shot Jiang Zhishen an I-can’t-help-you-with-this-one look. He couldn’t talk his way out of that. They had all grown up together; recognizing someone’s build was easy.
Jiang Ying’s comment made both Jiang Zhaoyu and Jiang Lichuan turn to stare at Jiang Zhishen.
Jiang Zhishen ducked his head and chugged a large glass of water. When he looked up, his face was a mask of innocence. “Why is everyone looking at me?”
Jiang Ying quickly found a photo of the man from the audience online, held it up for comparison, and then showed it to Jiang Zhaoyu and Jiang Lichuan.
Finally, Jiang Ying drew her conclusion. “You’re the scumbag who dumped Fu Jin?”
Jiang Zhishen was speechless.
Jiang Lichuan chimed in, “Third Brother, you told him you were getting married and then you bailed on him?”
Jiang Zhaoyu added, “Zhishen, what you did was wrong.”
Jiang Su said nothing.
The welcome-home party had turned into an intervention.
Jiang Zhaoyu and Jiang Ying were busy people. After the meal, they had to go home and rest for work the next day.
Before she left, Jiang Ying specifically called out to Jiang Su.
“Jiang Su.”
Jiang Su turned around. Seeing the hesitant look on her face, he asked, “What is it, Second Sister?”
The words she wanted to say reached her lips, swirled around, and came out as: “I hear you’re starting with your new film crew soon. Take care of yourself.”
Jiang Su didn’t suspect a thing. He smiled and said, “Yeah, after the show’s finale, I’ll officially join the cast of Crime and Punishment. I’ll be careful.”
Seeing his reaction, Jiang Ying knew that Huo Qingyan hadn’t contacted him.
Jiang Zhishen had had a lot to drink and didn’t want to go back to the old Jiang family residence, so he went home with Jiang Su.
When Jiang Su got out of the shower, he found Jiang Zhishen in his kitchen, having pulled another beer from the fridge.
Jiang Su poured him a glass of hot water. “You’re getting older. Drink less.”
Jiang Zhishen, still holding the beer, said quietly, “Huo Qingyan and I were born in the same year.”
Why did he have to bring up Huo Qingyan out of the blue?
Jiang Su turned and got a beer from the fridge for himself.
Jiang Zhishen clinked his bottle against his. “So, what’s the deal with you and Huo Qingyan?”
Jiang Su took a sip of beer. “We got married, then we got divorced. That’s the deal.”
Jiang Zhishen put his beer down and looked at Jiang Su seriously. “Are you really over him?”
Jiang Su let out a short laugh. “What do you think? You think I got divorced for fun?”
After a moment, Jiang Zhishen asked, “So, will you forgive him?”
“It’s not about forgiveness. It’s all in the past,” Jiang Su said, his eyes downcast as he took another large gulp of beer.
Jiang Zhishen sensed that Jiang Su didn’t want to talk about it, so he dropped the subject.
He stared blankly out the window, lost in thought, before suddenly leaning closer.
“Hey, Xiao Qi, for guys our age, what kind of cologne do you think is appropriate?”
Jiang Su was so startled he almost dropped his beer. “You’re going to wear cologne?”
He was starting to think that Fu Jin’s assessment of his third brother was spot on. This brother of his was usually so wrapped up in his research that he was a complete slob in his daily life. He’d wear clothes until they had holes in them and could live on a few steamed buns for a week.
And now he was asking about cologne…
“It’s not for me…” Jiang Zhishen mumbled.
“Oh…” Realization dawned on Jiang Su. “It’s for Mr. Fu?”
Mr. Fu was a man of taste, always particular about his clothes and style.
Jiang Zhishen nodded, looking a little awkward. “Yeah.”
Jiang Su couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll help you look into it.”
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” His laughter made Jiang Zhishen feel embarrassed. He abandoned his beer and went to his room.
Jiang Su looked at his own beer, which he’d barely touched, and decided to finish it before turning in.
Suddenly, he remembered something and shouted toward the bedroom, “Third Brother! Shower before you sleep!”
Jiang Zhishen often got so absorbed in his research that he’d forget to eat or sleep, let alone shower.
There was no sound from the room.
Jiang Su shouted again, “Your third sister-in-law doesn’t like men who don’t shower!”
This time, there was a response from inside.
Jiang Zhishen had returned this time because he’d applied for a transfer to the research institute here in Qingyang City. He wasn’t leaving again. He was also taking a vacation.
Jiang Su helped him pick out several men’s colognes. He told Jiang Zhishen to choose one, but his brother bought all of them.
To be honest, Jiang Su was a tiny bit envious of Fu Jin.
For the next few days, Jiang Zhishen stayed at Jiang Su’s place, leaving early and coming back late. Jiang Su had no idea what he was up to.
But Jiang Su didn’t have time to worry about it.
The production team for Crime and Punishment had called him in for a costume fitting and photo shoot.
When he arrived, a female actress was already having her pictures taken.
The studio was crowded. Before Jiang Su could even get a clear look at who was there, he heard someone call his name.
“Jiang Su!”
He looked over and saw Tang Juanzi not far away, waving at him with a beaming smile.
She pushed through the crowd and ran over to him.
“You’re here!”
Jiang Su glanced at the costume she was wearing. “You’re here for a fitting too.”
“Another actress had a last-minute scheduling conflict, so I filled in,” she explained. Her role was a minor supporting character with very little screen time.
Normally, she wouldn’t even consider such a role. It didn’t pay as well or as quickly as variety shows, and it wasn’t as easy.
Jiang Su remembered her character didn’t have many scenes. He was surprised she would take on such a role.
Tang Juanzi must have seen his surprise, because she explained, “I want to really work on my acting skills. There are no small roles, right?”
It was a lie. She was only here because she knew Jiang Su was.
Naturally, Jiang Su didn’t believe her. He could sense that ever since he’d saved her, her attitude toward him had improved significantly. People can change, but their fundamental nature rarely does.
After a short wait, it was Jiang Su’s turn.
As he was finishing up, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the crowd out of the corner of his eye.
But when he blinked, the person was gone.
Did I imagine it?
After two more shots, the photographer said he was done.
Jiang Su stepped down and walked toward the exit. Sure enough, he saw a familiar figure hurrying away.
“Huo Qingyan!”
Huo Qingyan, who had been rushing out, stopped at the sound of his name but didn’t immediately turn around.
“It really is you,” Jiang Su said, walking over.
Huo Qingyan looked even worse than the last time he’d seen him.
Jiang Su’s heart sank. “How is Aunt Duan’s recovery?”
Huo Qingyan’s voice was hoarse, as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time. “The doctor says she’s recovering very well.”
“Then why do you look so terrible?” He had thought his mother’s condition had worsened.
Huo Qingyan looked down. “I’ve been busy.”
Jiang Su felt something was off. “Why don’t you look at me when you talk to me?”
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