Chapter 58: Going Home
He tucked his phone away and headed toward the master bedroom. Jiang Limu and Su Lin had already applied the ointment as Xie Yunran had instructed. They were sitting by the bedside, looking a bit listless and uneasy. When Jiang Qing entered, they both raised their heads at the same time.
“Ge…” Jiang Limu spoke first, his voice still carrying a bit of hoarseness. “When are we going home?”
“We’ll go back after breakfast,” Jiang Qing’s tone was calm. “How are you feeling? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?”
Both shook their heads.
“Ge,” Su Lin spoke softly, “Last night… did we cause you a lot of trouble? And… about Doctor Xie…”
“Xie Yunran is one of us; don’t worry about it.” Jiang Qing interrupted his concerns. “What happened last night is over. You are the victims; there’s no need to feel guilty or ashamed. When we get home and Mom, Dad, and Big Brother ask, just say what I said earlier: someone added something unclean to the drinks, making you feel unwell and dizzy, and I found out and took you away early. Don’t mention anything else.”
Jiang Limu and Su Lin both nodded in agreement.
“As for Xu Xunsen and the people behind him,” Jiang Qing’s voice turned colder, “the Jiang family will handle it. Be careful lately; try not to go out alone, and pay attention to what you eat and drink.”
“Understood,” the two replied.
—————————
Breakfast ended in a tacit silence. The car Jiang Qing called had arrived downstairs. The three of them packed up and prepared to leave.
Just before stepping out the door, Jiang Qing suddenly stopped and turned to look at the two behind him.
“There’s one more thing,” he said. “About last night… everything that happened between the three of us, including any details, feelings, or…” He paused. “…any unconventional contact, stops in this room. After leaving here, it’s an accidental interlude that never happened. Understand?”
These words were spoken to Jiang Limu and Su Lin, but they felt more like a clear and cold cut through the blurry and ambiguous boundary that had been formed between the three of them due to the drugs and chaos.
Jiang Limu and Su Lin both froze. They understood Jiang Qing’s meaning—those messy huddles, the loss of control, and even those unspeakable palpitations and dependencies from last night were all categorized as “accidents under the influence of drugs.” They needed to be completely sealed and forgotten, never to be brought into real life, and certainly never to affect their “normal” relationship as brothers.
A mixture of disappointment, relief, and an inexplicable sourness quietly swept through both their hearts. But they both understood that this was the best way to handle it for now.
“Understood, Ge,” Jiang Limu was the first to nod, his voice sounding a bit muffled.
“…Understood,” Su Lin also replied in a low voice, lowering his eyes.
Jiang Qing didn’t say more; he turned and pulled the door open.
On the way back to the Jiang residence, the car was silent. Jiang Limu and Su Lin each stared out the window, looking as if they had suddenly developed endless thoughts overnight but didn’t know where to begin. Jiang Qing sat in the passenger seat, closing his eyes to rest, but his slightly knit brows showed that he hadn’t truly relaxed.
When the car drove through the gates of the Jiang residence, Jiang Yu was already waiting on the steps in front of the main house. He was wearing casual clothes, his expression seemingly calm, but a trace of worry was suppressed deep in his eyes.
“Ge,” Jiang Qing was the first to get out of the car, nodding to Jiang Yu.
“Big Brother,” Jiang Limu and Su Lin followed him out and said in low voices.
Jiang Yu’s gaze quickly swept over the three brothers. Jiang Qing looked a bit tired but remained composed; Jiang Limu had faint dark circles and looked a bit listless; Su Lin had his head lowered, his face even paler than usual.
“Let’s go inside first.” Jiang Yu didn’t ask further, stepping aside to clear the way. “Mom and Dad are waiting for you in the living room.”
Sure enough, both Father and Mother Jiang were in the living room. As soon as Jiang Yunxin saw her three sons enter, she immediately stood up. “A-Yu said you were unwell last night and left early? How are you feeling now? Should we call a doctor to check?”
“Mom, we’re fine.” Jiang Qing stepped forward, reassuring her in a gentle tone. “Someone at the banquet added something unclean to Limu and Su Lin’s drinks, making them a bit nauseous and dizzy. I found out early and took them away, and we rested at the hotel for the night. They’re much better now.”
Jiang Shuchen said in a deep voice: “Have we found out who did it?”
“That kid from the Xu family, Xu Xunsen, is highly suspicious.” Jiang Yu took over, looking at Jiang Qing. “Jiang Qing, what exactly happened?”
Jiang Qing briefly explained the conflict at the banquet, omitting the part where Jiang Limu was cornered in the restroom and the part where he fought. He only said he noticed they were in a bad state and took them away immediately.
“The Xu family…” Jiang Shuchen’s gaze turned serious. “It seems they haven’t given up yet and want to find trouble elsewhere. A-Yu, I’ll leave this matter to you. Investigate thoroughly; give them a warning where needed, and end what needs to be ended.”
“Dad, I know what to do,” Jiang Yu replied in a low voice.
After Mother Jiang instructed the three to get some good rest, she left with Father Jiang.
Only the four brothers remained in the living room.
Jiang Yu then looked at Jiang Qing. “Jiang Qing, are you sure it was just ‘something unclean’? What did Xie Yunran say?”
“Xie Yunran checked them. It was a relatively strong hallucinogen mixed with excitatory components. The dosage wasn’t large, but the reaction was intense. It mostly caused nausea, dizziness, and mood swings. They’ll be fine after enough rest.” Jiang Qing replied, downplaying the details. “He’s taken samples back for analysis and will let us know if there’s further news.”
Jiang Yu stared at Jiang Qing for a few seconds, seemingly judging whether there were any hidden details in his words. Ultimately, he didn’t press further and simply nodded. “As long as everyone is fine. You two,” he turned to Jiang Limu and Su Lin, “get some good rest these few days. Let the butler know if you need anything.”
“Understood, Big Brother,” Jiang Limu and Su Lin replied.
“Go and rest then,” Jiang Yu waved them off.
The three each returned to their own rooms.
Closing his door to block out the outside world, Jiang Qing finally shed his calm and composed disguise, rubbing the bridge of his nose in exhaustion. Dealing with his family’s concern and his big brother’s scrutiny was no easier than taking care of two out-of-control younger brothers last night.
He walked to the window, looking at the familiar scenery of the courtyard outside.
Xu Xunsen… was only the beginning.
[Author’s Note: Let me explain something here. If Qingqing really wanted their relationship to be purely that of brothers, he could have pushed them away from the start, thrown each of them into a bathroom, sprayed them with cold water, and waited for a doctor. Don’t think for a second that Qingqing’s heart is completely pure. Qingqing knows that the primary responsibility for this matter lies with him. He gave them a tacit answer, so he must bear all the consequences that follow. When he made that decision, he had already considered all the results and consequences. On the surface, he only made one move, but in reality, he thought about many, many things. However, doing so might make the two kids a bit sad. But use your little brains and think about it! Does your Gege really want to just ‘put on his pants and pretend nothing happened’ like this?! Everyone, feel free to guess—does Jiang Yu actually know?]
Recommended Reads
