Chapter 42: Probing
At the Volunteer Association’s regular meeting, Lu Yuanbai explained some matters regarding the anti-fraud publicity event. They needed some hands, and those who wanted to participate were to sign up with Jiang Yunian. Since Zhang Hao took a leave of absence, Jiang Yunian had been temporarily acting as the team leader.
The sign-up sheet was spread out on the table. Jiang Yunian propped his chin on his hand, his mind wandering, clearly not having heard the content clearly.
Lu Yuanbai glanced at him but said nothing.
Members came over one after another to fill out the form. Jiang Yunian didn’t react much; instead, he gave up his seat and retreated to the corner, lowering his head to look through his phone. His fingertips slid over Jiang Yan’s WeChat dialog box, then clicked open Weibo and text messages, his brows slightly furrowed.
Is it like him?
Like… but also unlike.
Although both held some kind of fantasy about him that he found impossible to accept, merging a perverted stalker with A-Yan based solely on a vague remark from Zhou Shu was simply a profanation of their brotherly affection.
A-Yan liked him so much that even after being rejected, he couldn’t bear to make things difficult for him. How could he have the heart to hurt him? If he knew Jiang Yunian was suspecting him, how sad would he be?
Jiang Yunian buried his head on the table, his thoughts in chaos, even more conflicted than when he had first brought Jiang Yan home.
“Not going?”
Lu Yuanbai walked down from the stage, interrupting his thoughts.
“Huh?”
Jiang Yunian looked up to see the other standing in front of him with the sign-up sheet. The others had already left. Only then did he realize he was being asked if he was participating in the activity. “Oh.”
He took the form and started filling in his information.
“So unserious?” Lu Yuanbai feigned sternness. “Looks like I’ll have to deduct credits.”
“Ah…” The hand holding the pen paused. Jiang Yunian was a bit nervous and wrote slower. He pleaded for himself, “Don’t, please.”
Seeing that he obviously took it seriously, Lu Yuanbai curled his lips slightly, coughed lightly, and decided to “abuse public power for private revenge.” “Eat with me, and I’ll consider it.”
It was rare for the Senior to ask him to dinner, but Jiang Yunian had no appetite and couldn’t agree. That person was definitely still monitoring him. If he was seen with the Senior again, who knew how he would exact revenge?
It was too risky.
“Tonight, I have something to do…” he murmured.
Lu Yuanbai didn’t force it, letting him off easily. “Then help me fill it in too.”
This anti-fraud publicity was just a small-scale event in the school square. Jiang Yunian picked up the pen again. “Senior is coming too?”
Lu Yuanbai nodded. He dictated, and Jiang Yunian wrote. The characters written were beautiful, delicate, and neat. Lu Yuanbai’s lips quirked up; for the sake of this good handwriting, he forgave his carelessness.
[Image jpg.]
[Not allowed to wear such a short skirt out]
Jiang Yunian’s pupils constricted slightly, and he abruptly covered the screen. This pervert even had this kind of photo! He had only tried on this skirt; because the quality wasn’t good, he didn’t take the promotion job. He didn’t expect even this to be seen by him. Also, it clearly reached his kneesāwhere was it short?
Lu Yuanbai noticed his abnormality and cast an inquiring look. Immediately after, the phone vibrated a few more times. Jiang Yunian didn’t dare check. Lu Yuanbai asked, “Not replying?”
vibrating several times in a row seemed like an urgent matter. Jiang Yunian had to turn on his phone. Seeing it was a message from Jiang Yan, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
[A-Yan: Class over?]
[A-Yan: I’m on the first floor]
[A-Yan: It’s a holiday today, I’ll make something delicious for Ge tonight]
Jiang Yunian typed a quick “Okay” and told Lu Yuanbai that Jiang Yan was waiting downstairs, so he had to leave first.
Lu Yuanbai understood and said with some regret, “Let’s meet another time.”
Jiang Yan waited in the lobby downstairs of the teaching building. Seeing two people coming down from upstairsāhis Ge walking side by side with a manāhis gaze darkened slightly. After Jiang Yunian said goodbye to Lu Yuanbai and walked over quickly, Jiang Yan stared at the person behind him, his voice a bit cold. “Was he the one who sent Ge back that night?”
There was a faint acidity in his tone, sounding like an interrogation of a love rival to the listener’s ears. Hearing this, Jiang Yunian’s expression became complicated. Too many similarities made it impossible for him not to think of LG. The same persistence, the twisted emotions, not accepting him being with women, and not allowing him to be close to other men. The feeling was so familiar that he was unwilling to believe it, clinging to the lucky hope that it was merely a coincidence.
But the look in Jiang Yan’s eyes as he looked at the Senior, the interrogating tone, and the strong jealousy alarmed him. He unconsciously used his body to block the other’s line of sight.
He didn’t reply, only wanting to pull the person away quickly. Seeing him deliberately avoid the topic, as if trying to avoid suspicion, Jiang Yan muttered unhappily, “Even if you don’t say, I have ways to know.”
Jiang Yunian suddenly stopped, letting go of his hand, his face solemn. “What ways?”
Meeting his vigilant gaze, Jiang Yan’s eyes dimmed. He turned his head and glossed over it casually, “Just saying. If Ge doesn’t want to say, I won’t ask.”
He held Jiang Yunian’s hand again, but the other avoided it without a trace, looking serious as he defended that wild man in front of him.
“He’s just a Senior I ate with before, from the same association. We’re not very close.”
Not close?
Heh. Eating together, serving food, drinking from the same milk tea, hugging on a joyride, a seaside date, rubbing his hair both times he was sent home… this is called not close?
That man’s eyeballs are practically glued to him. Does Ge really not know, or is he pretending not to know?
Jiang Yan stared at the hand that had escaped his control, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes before returning to normal in an instant. He pulled the corner of his mouth into a faint, loose smile. “Ge doesn’t need to explain deliberately. I understand.”
Jiang Yunian looked at his elusive smile. It didn’t look like he didn’t care as appearing on the surface, which made him feel uncomfortable.
The sun was setting, and the road to the school gate seemed exceptionally long. The two who were usually stuck together were surprisingly silent at this moment. If they weren’t walking side by side, others would probably think the two handsome guys didn’t know each other at all. Jiang Yunian turned to look at the person beside him. The other was looking down at his phone. He glanced closer at the screen; it seemed he was replying to WeChat. Jiang Yan was as perfunctory as ever to others, typing pitifully few words. In a moment, he put away his phone and looked up at the sky.
Approaching the school gate, twilight quietly flooded over the brick walls. The golden soft light brewed a bit of poetry in the mottled cracks. Passing students stopped one after another to take pictures with their phones. Jiang Yan, who had always been indifferent to his surroundings, actually stopped too, standing at the gate to take a close-up of the sunset.
The sunset was beautiful every day; Jiang Yunian didn’t feel anything special about today. If it were a few days ago, he might have joined in, taking nice landscape photos to share on Weibo. But today he wasn’t in the mood. Unlike his heavy-heartedness, Jiang Yan was very relaxed. Not far away, a young couple was hugging and taking photos, very intimate. He watched quietly for a few seconds and whispered, “I haven’t taken a photo with Ge yet…”
Jiang Yunian’s heart felt like it had been scratched lightly by a claw. When he came back to his senses, the other had already found a passerby to help take the photo.
The person took them for two brothers coming to check in. Recently, Nandah University restricted outsider access, so they probably hadn’t grabbed a visit reservation and rushed to the gate for a quick check-in photo.
The two stood in the center of the school gate, gold edges sprinkled on their shoulders, backs leaning against the twilight. Jiang Yan was half a head taller, naturally putting his arm around Jiang Yunian’s shoulder, a faint smile on his lips.
“Brother, give us a smile?” the passerby taking the photo asked.
Usually, Jiang Yunian was always cooperative. Being out of it today was truly rare. He forced the corners of his mouth up, revealing a dry smile, somewhat unnatural. Jiang Yan said it looked good, the sunset complementing the beauty.
Jiang Yunian was embarrassed. “No way.”
Jiang Yan handed over the phone. “See for yourself if you don’t believe me.” Jiang Yunian looked at this second-hand phone he had personally given him, his eyes flickering slightly. Under Jiang Yan’s calm gaze, he hesitated and took it.
The passerby who took the photo returned and asked if Jiang Yan could take a few for him too. Jiang Yan, who was never enthusiastic toward outsiders, actually agreed and walked with him to the stone lion a few meters away.
Jiang Yunian stared at his open back, gripping the phone case tightly, struggling internally.
If there were no traces left by LG on the phone, it would prove Jiang Yan was innocent, right?
Perhaps only this way could he completely eliminate his suspicions. Jiang Yunian took a deep breath and tried inputting his own birthday. It unlocked on the first try. The phone didn’t have much memory and didn’t have Weibo downloaded. He clicked on the photo album and quickly scanned it. Aside from his own old photos, there were only some random snaps. The text messages only contained ads, without even an extra contact.
Seeing this, Jiang Yunian breathed a sigh of relief for the moment. He took out his own phone and sent a message to LG.
[Not wearing it]
The other party replied immediately.
[Wear it for Hubby to see]
Then came several pictures. The skirts inside were boldly designed, the fabric thin as cicada wings, backless with cutouts, the hems extremely short, barely covering anything. At a glance, they weren’t decent skirts!
[Wifey has white skin, looks good in lace]
[Spaghetti straps are nice too, falls off with a gentle tug]
[Whatever Wifey wears is good, anyway it will all be taken off by me in the end]
Jiang Yunian’s ears burned, his fingertips trembling as he replied: [Stop talking…]
LG was relentless:
[Don’t be afraid, I’m not forcing you to wear it now]
[When Wifey agrees, Hubby will put it on for you personally]
[Slowly, piece by piece, even tying the ribbons will take a long time]
Jiang Yunian bit his lip. How could he possibly agree!
LG seemed to see through his thoughts. [You will be willing]
Jiang Yunian turned off his phone directly; out of sight, out of mind. Turning to look at Jiang Yan, he saw him bowing his head sideways, looking at photos with the passerby, his lips moving as if asking for the other’s opinion.
And Jiang Yan’s phone lay quietly in his palm, without receiving any text messages. Jiang Yunian covered his slightly heaving chest, the stone in his heart suddenly landing.
It wasn’t Jiang Yan.
It wasn’t him… fortunately it wasn’t, otherwise he really wouldn’t know how to face it.
Thinking carefully, it was impossible. How could anyone use their own reputation to threaten him? Besides, Jiang Yan liked him so much.
Relieved, Jiang Yunian also felt despicable.
What am I doing?
Actually suspecting the person closest to me…
He stared blankly at the selfie Jiang Yan used as the lock screen. For a moment, guilt drowned him like a tide.
Jiang Yan turned his head slightly, taking in his current expression fully, then calmly turned off a device and put it away.
“Finished looking?”
His shoulder was suddenly tapped from behind. Jiang Yunian shivered, subconsciously pressing the screen off. Meeting Jiang Yan’s calm gaze, he said guiltily, “Screen went black.”
“Ge’s birthday,” Jiang Yan told him.
“Oh, okay.” Jiang Yunian opened the album again. This time he looked seriously, not noticing Jiang Yan sticking very close. Eyes slightly lowered, his gaze wantonly roamed over Jiang Yunian’s snow-white nape before falling onto the screen to look with him.
The passerby had taken quite a few photos of them just now. He swiped through one by one. Jiang Yan said they were taken well, but he felt his expression was stiff, the corners of his mouth hooked up but showing no smile, looking forced. In contrast, Jiang Yan, who clearly didn’t love smiling, looked exceptionally gentle when he did, the arm-around-shoulder gesture revealing a natural intimacy toward him.
He hadn’t taken a photo with him properly.
Jiang Yunian thought with disappointment, flipping through a few more where his expression didn’t improve. Sliding further back, halfway through, he was stopped by Jiang Yan. He only caught a glimpse of pinkāit seemed to be a dessertābefore the phone was snatched away.
Jiang Yunian turned to look at him. “When was that made?”
Jiang Yan stuffed the phone into his pocket and casually mentioned a date. It happened to be the day of the award ceremony, but Jiang Yunian hadn’t eaten it.
That day, didn’t Jiang Yan say he made pudding for him? Not only did he not get to eat it, but Jiang Yan also didn’t show up, and they even had an unpleasant moment that night…
Jiang Yunian rubbed his nose and asked if he came that day. He had looked for a long time on stage but didn’t see anyone.
Jiang Yan didn’t seem to feel that missing an ordinary ceremony was an important matter, indifferent to the point of coldness. “Forgot.”
“Oh…” Jiang Yunian said, “Was it delicious?”
Seeing his regret over missing the food, Jiang Yan’s tone softened. “If you want to eat, I’ll make it for Ge again.”
Jiang Yunian’s eyes lit up, then slowly dimmed. He whispered, “Forget it… I’ll feel even more guilty.”
“?”
“No, nothing. Next time.”
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