Chapter 83: Shame and Indignation
Jiang Yunian stood at the door, the books in his arms nearly slipping. He looked at the familiar figure on the balcony and the small piece of fabric in the other’s hand, looking as if he couldn’t believe it, and looked again.
“You… what are you doing with my underwear?!”
Hearing the voice, Jiang Yan turned his head. Seeing his Ge’s embarrassed face, a trace of a smile flashed in his eyes before he returned to normal. He shrugged. “What could I do?”
His matter-of-fact attitude made Jiang Yunian involuntarily think of the old shoebox hidden deep in the closet, filled with his personal items. An emotion, unclear whether it was annoyance or shame, welled up in his heart. It made him unconsciously carry a small temper he wasn’t even aware of when facing Jiang Yan. In the other’s eyes, this instead had an ambiguous flavor of pettishness, like refusing while welcoming.
He pursed his lips, speaking with shame and indignation, “You aren’t allowed to hide my things again.”
Jiang Yan was slightly stunned, then realized. “You saw it all.”
Jiang Yunian turned his face away, reaching out his hand with a stiff tone: “Give it back.”
He had only brought three pairs of underwear to change; he didn’t have extras for this guy with a special hoarding fetish to ruin.
Looking at the pink fingertips reaching over, Jiang Yan swallowed maliciously. Not only did he not return it, but relying on his height advantage, he raised his arm, lifting the small piece of fabric higher. Like teasing a kitten baring its claws, he leisurely watched Jiang Yunian having to stand on tiptoes, climbing on his arm, trying hard to snatch it because he couldn’t reach.
The soft body pressed tightly against him. The sensation transmitted through the thin clothing was simply sweet torture for him.
The held-up hand shook deliberately. In the narrow balcony space, Jiang Yunian was already unstable on his tiptoes. With this shake, he stumbled and fell easily into the embrace that had long been open for him.
Jiang Yanâs lips curled into a successful smile. His arms tightened, firmly hugging that thin waist. He lowered his head close to the reddened ear, speaking in a low, teasing voice: “Is Ge… throwing himself into my arms?”
Jiang Yunianâs cheeks burned terribly. His hands pressed against the firm shoulders, his strength soft and carrying pink annoyance. “You… let go!”
Jiang Yanâs eyes darkened. He used a little force, pinching his waist neither lightly nor heavily, warning in a low voice, “Don’t move.”
The person in his arms indeed dared not move anymore. That familiar sense of oppression instantly enveloped him completely, making him instinctively feel a trace of fear.
Jiang Yan held him quietly for a while, his chin gently rubbing against the soft top of his head, deeply inhaling the scent on him as if recharging energy. His palm separated by thin clothing, carefully and greedily rubbing the thin back of the person in his arms. Everything was just as he remembered, unchanged.
“Ge,” the voice that spoke was much deeper than before, “don’t avoid me. Let’s start over.”
Jiang Yunian didn’t expect him to say this suddenly. His heart jumped off guard, trembling uncontrollably. The memories of mixed joy and abuse from the past came flooding back, leaving only bitterness in his heart. If he hadn’t plotted and lied, if Jiang Yan was just Jiang Yan, if he didn’t have a frighteningly prominent background, perhaps they could have had a relatively equal relationship.
But now, no matter how you looked at it, they were worlds apart.
He lowered his eyelashes, hiding the emotions in his eyes. “Stop joking.”
“Joking?” Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow. He reached out to cup his face, forcing him to look up. His eyes held unprecedented seriousness, his deep pupils reflecting his Ge’s slightly panicked shadow. “I’m not joking. Every word I say is sincere.”
The heat rolling in there almost burned him. Jiang Yunian turned his head away, unable to bear it, and whispered, “I’m just an ordinary person. There’s no possibility with Qi Sheng.”
“With me here, nothing is impossible,” Jiang Yanâs tone was decisive, carrying unquestionable firmness.
Jiang Yunian listened in a daze, clenching his fingers.
“You don’t believe me?” Jiang Yan asked.
He didn’t know how Jiang Yan had the face to ask this. Which of the things he did was worthy of trust?
He took a deep breath and asked back, “Even if I believe, then what? Do I have to agree?”
“Ge is still blaming me.” Jiang Yanâs eyes dimmed, revealing a trace of humble pleading. “Didn’t Ge say you forgave me?”
“You…” On the day he fell into the river, the words he shouted on the verge of collapse. So… he heard them.
“Yes, I heard it all.” Jiang Yan looked at him deeply, his gaze gentle and persistent. “At that time, I heard Ge say you forgave me. As long as I lived, Ge would agree to anything.”
“At that time, I was thinking, I absolutely cannot die. I must survive and be with Ge properly. Look, didn’t I survive? We are destined to be together.”
Listening to these words that were tantamount to a confession, Jiang Yunianâs heart felt like it was being roasted over a slow fire, boiling uncontrollably. He found he couldn’t face this matter calmly at all. That was the most primal desire at the juncture of life and death, stemming from the deepest fear in his heart.
Jiang Yan sensed his wavering and his attitude softened completely. Like a big dog trying to please its owner, he nuzzled intimately against the tip of his nose, sticky and clingy. In the end, he even bit lightly, leaving a string of wet saliva.
“I heard everything,” Jiang Yan said. “Is Ge going to go back on his word?”
Jiang Yunianâs mind was in chaos. He didn’t want to admit he was going back on his word, but he couldn’t accept it calmly so quickly. The chasm of problems between them wasn’t something that could be solved with one sentence.
Jiang Yan saw through his thoughts. “Everything Ge is worried about, I will solve.”
That’s not necessarily true, Jiang Yunian retorted silently in his heart. He sighed, pushing the distance between them open a bit. “You leave first.”
A clear disappointment flashed in Jiang Yanâs eyes. He knew this couldn’t be rushed; pushing too hard would scare his Ge away.
“Wait.” The person behind him suddenly called him back.
Jiang Yan turned back immediately, a dark light igniting in his eyes.
He saw his Ge’s cheeks puffing out with soft flesh, the pink on them clearly visible. He reached out his hand. “Give it back to me.”
The light in Jiang Yanâs eyes faded again. Just when Jiang Yunian thought he would obediently return it, the other party made a move that left him dumbfounded. He quickly stuffed the underwear into his own trouser pocket!
Jiang Yunian was simply dumbfounded. He knew it; this person hadn’t changed at all! His chest heaved slightly with anger, pointing at Jiang Yanâs pocket, his lips trembling, unable to speak for a moment.
Jiang Yan didn’t dare truly provoke the rabbit. He immediately put on a pitiful expression, looking at him, his voice dropping low: “Ge, just leave one thing for me. I have nothing left…”
Playing the victim again. Jiang Yunian was already very familiar with this act and told himself he absolutely couldn’t be soft-hearted and fall for it. But he also knew well that he couldn’t push this person too hard, otherwise, he didn’t know what excessive means he would use to force him.
Holding back a breath, he said with a hint of compromise, “Give it to me first.”
Jiang Yan pinched the soft fabric in his pocket, his face written with reluctance. But seeing Jiang Yunianâs insistent gaze, he finally took it out.
Jiang Yunian snatched it away, quickly stuffing it into his own pocket as if afraid he would rob him. He lifted his chin and glared at him softly. That look had no lethality, scratching lightly across the heart. As if to retaliate for the teasing just now, he pushed him unsatisfactorily.
Jiang Yan was defenseless and was pushed back two steps, his back hitting the door frame. This push wasn’t heavy, but it was enough to unsettle his mind.
Jiang Yunian didn’t look at him anymore. He turned around, took his own umbrella from the shelf behind Jiang Yan, and stuffed it into his hand, his tone hard: “Go.”
Taking the ordinary umbrella, fingers rubbing the handle, eyes still staring straight at his Ge. “If I take it, what will Ge do?”
Jiang Yunian said grumpily, “Borrow a roommate’s.”
“Ge is afraid I’ll get wet.” Jiang Yan successfully convinced himself, a cheap smile appearing on his face. “I knew it, Ge still can’t bear to see me suffer.”
“Don’t overthink it. I’m afraid Qian Cheng will blame me for letting you get caught in the rain if he finds out. It’s bad for dorm harmony.”
Jiang Yan watched him saying one thing but meaning another and laughed low, letting him have his tough talk.
Jiang Yunian was silent for a moment. It seemed what he was about to say next was difficult to utter, his cheeks flushing red again, and his threatening voice became smaller: “You… if you dare use it to do bad things, I… I won’t talk to you anymore.”
This threat sounded devoid of deterrence, the price pitifully small. Under normal circumstances, no one would fall for it, but for Jiang Yan, it was enough. The smile on his face vanished instantly, and he promised seriously, “Don’t ignore me. I will definitely protect it intact, just like… just like I treat Ge.”
The last sentence was meaningful. Jiang Yunian thought of something and his cheeks turned even redder, feeling the other party was doing it on purposeâknowing his meaning but twisting it to tease him. Angry and shy, he couldn’t be bothered to say more and drove him directly out of the dormitory.
In class, the professor was lecturing on the podium.
Qian Cheng wore headphones, burying his head under the desk playing games. Jiang Yunian and Xu Zhiyuan sat beside him, listening seriously and taking notes.
Seeing the professor’s gaze sweep over their side several times, Jiang Yunian couldn’t help but nudge Qian Cheng gently with his elbow, whispering a reminder: “Better listen a bit.”
Qian Cheng didn’t lift his head, fingers moving non-stop, perfunctory: “What’s there to listen to about stuff I’ve already learned? I’m about to win, just keep watch for me.”
Seeing him like this, Jiang Yunian shook his head and simply stopped persuading him, turning back to focus on his studies.
When the professor finished the main content and announced self-study, Qian Cheng just happened to finish a game, stretching proudly. His phone vibrated; it was a WeChat message from his mom.
ăMom: Did you remember what I told you before? I heard that child from the Qi family doesn’t have a good temper. Endure it more, don’t offend him.ă
Qian Cheng curled his lips, recalling his contact with Jiang Yan. He didn’t think he was that hard to get along with; on the contrary, he gave him, this cousin, quite a bit of face. He replied casually: ăDon’t worry Mom, Cousin and I get along great. We even agreed I’d visit his company when free. It’s just an internship; arranging a subsidiary for me to play around in is just a matter of one word from him.ă
ăMom: That’s good, that’s good. Pay attention in class, don’t always play games.ă
No one knows a son like his mother.
Qian Cheng rolled his eyes. Seeing the notebook densely packed with writing next to him, he reached out and snatched it.
“Hey…”
Qian Cheng ignored him, took a photo of the notebook, and sent it to his mom. ăWould your son slack off on something as important as studying?ă
After sending it, he tossed the notebook back to Jiang Yunian and shook his phone proudly.
After school at noon, after lunch.
Jiang Yunian hesitated and asked Qian Cheng, “Will they… still come to the dorm?”
He naturally referred to Jiang Yan and Zhou Shu.
Qian Cheng had a toothpick in his mouth and mumbled, “Yeah, agreed to play games together. Why?”
Jiang Yunian lowered his head, looking at the tips of his shoes. “Then I won’t go back for now. I still have some homework, going to the library first.”
Qian Cheng stopped walking and sized him up suspiciously. “Hey, why do I find that you seem very afraid of them? Never mind the guy named He courting death, but you too. Why does every one of you look like a mouse seeing a cat when meeting them? Are they that scary?”
Jiang Yunian was silent for a few seconds and whispered, “Maybe… we aren’t from the same world.”
Qian Cheng nodded in realization, patting his shoulder with innate superiority. “True, the Pingjing circle indeed isn’t something just anyone can blend into.” His tone shifted, carrying a bit of generosity. “But don’t worry, I’m his cousin after all! If I have a share, naturally you’ll get a slice of the pie too. In the future, follow Ge, and you’ll know how awesome this kind of life is.”
Jiang Yunian gave a perfunctory “En,” said “I’m leaving first,” and turned to walk towards the library.
Qian Cheng watched his back, shook his head, and with an expression of “everyone is drunk but I alone am sober,” sighed and muttered to himself, “Sigh, seems this overwhelming wealth can only be enjoyed by me alone…”
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