"Well, I just had something to do." She said defiantly, dissatisfied with his perfunctory tone.
"Why are you so competitive?" Jiang Haozhe was always puzzled. He didn't think he had done anything heinous to Cheng Yongxin, but she was just so serious about him.
"I didn't!" she stubbornly insisted.
"It clearly exists."
"No!"
"If it's true, it's true. Don't deny it."
"No, no, no, no, no—" someone started acting like a child, throwing a tantrum.
Jiang Haozhe rolled his eyes speechlessly. Sometimes he really couldn't understand her. She could be very mature and steady, but at other times she was as unreasonable as an ignorant child.
Alas, women, whether seventeen or seventy, all share a common name: unfathomable.
Cheng Yongxin secretly glanced at Jiang Haozhe, making sure he hadn't noticed her peeking at him and was staring blankly into the distance. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, and her anxious heart gradually calmed down.
It was a strange feeling. Although they didn't talk at all, just sat there quietly, she felt an extraordinary peace. Her anxious heart seemed to be soothed by a warm hand, gradually settling down, like a migratory bird returning to its nest, filling the emptiness in her chest...
This sudden realization startled her, and her heart, which had just calmed down, jumped again. Cheng Yongxin felt somewhat bewildered.
Is she...is she indirectly seeking dependence? She's unnaturally becoming dependent on Jiang Haozhe? How...how is this possible?!
This sudden thought startled her; she hadn't expected to have such a thought, but...
Every time she was sad, he would "coincidentally" appear beside her. Whether he deliberately spoke harshly to her or simply sat quietly beside her like now, he was always there for her...
How could this be! She's always loved Brother Jiang! And she's never doubted her feelings. How could she... how could she—
Could it be because of his striking resemblance to Brother Jiang's facial features and appearance that I unconsciously feel the urge to rely on him?
Cheng Yongxin felt horrified. If that were really the case, then she… then she was truly despicable. How could she use him like this, making him a substitute to alleviate her sadness and loneliness? How could she…
"Hey, what's wrong?" Noticing the strange look on her face, Jiang Haozhe looked at her with some concern and asked.
She was behaving terribly today. It was already unusual that she had offered to go shopping with him earlier, but now she had a blank stare, as if her soul had left her body...
"Hey, Cheng Yongxin! Did you hear me?" Jiang Haozhe walked up to her and waved his hand in front of her face, but received no response. He started to panic.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Say something! Don't scare me!"
Cheng Yongxin raised her eyes blankly, her usually bright eyes now appearing as if veiled in mist, hazy and indistinct.
Was he...worried about himself? Why was he so worried about her? She...she was using him—
She didn't deserve his care, nor did she deserve Brother Jiang's love... She was so despicable, she didn't deserve it, she had no right to...
Her eyes stung, and she felt like crying... She covered her face and bent over, unwilling to let him see her weakness and her insignificant sorrow.
"Go away..." Her voice trembled like a withered leaf about to fall in late autumn, "Don't look at me... don't look... at me..."
Don't let her humble appearance fool you; she doesn't want to expose her shame to anyone, especially not in front of him...
Jiang Haozhe was visibly taken aback. His calm eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at her silently, somewhat puzzled, but filled with a deep sense of heartache.
To what extent can love change a person?
She used to be so cheerful and bright; her world seemed forever bathed in sunlight, without a single shadow. But now, she's like this…
Cheng Yongxin buried her face in her hands. After a long while, she heard a soft sigh from above her head. Then, her whole body suddenly stiffened because she was being embraced. Her forehead touched something warm, and a refreshing scent, like that of a forest, filled her nostrils.
His voice was low and soft, like a gentle breeze brushing past my ear.
"Go ahead and cry, I won't see you."
The tears she had been holding back with all her might finally burst forth like a torrent after those words. The tears finally flowed out, overflowing from her eyes and wetting his clothes.
Jiang Haozhe simply stood there, like a statue, letting her cry her heart out against his chest. He silently held her close, as if offering the warmest comfort to a wounded child.
However, none of them noticed that behind them, a pair of clear eyes had taken everything in, a knowing glint in their eyes, and a meaningful smile slowly crept onto their faces…
test
Jiang Haozhe opened the wardrobe, took out a clean pullover sweater, and put it on. He stared blankly at the clothes he had just changed out of. There was a large water stain on the chest area, which was her tear stain, shaped like a broken heart.
Thanks.
She said this to herself in front of her house, and as she said it, a weak smile appeared on her face, like a flower about to wither, fragile and vulnerable.
However, after crying, she felt much better. She smiled again, looking more energetic.
"What...are you going to do?" he asked softly, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
She smiled, though some tear stains remained on her face, she had regained her usual spirited and bright self as "Cheng Yongxin".
"I'm truly heartbroken this time," she said with a smile. "Although I'm a little unwilling, there's nothing I can do. You can't always dwell on the past. I have to look forward. Even though I'm heartbroken, the earth still keeps turning, doesn't it?"
Giving up... is that it?
Faced with her feelings, she had made her decision, whether it brought joy or pain... She chose to bring it to a close, despite the heart-wrenching pain and devastation. Yet, her smiling face seemed to tell him: even with such a tragic outcome, she had no regrets... But what about him? He remained standing there, watching, just like that Christmas Eve years ago, when he initially watched in the same way, hesitating for a long time before finally mustering the courage to approach her and speak to her...
When it came to love, she was more honest and braver than him. At least, she dared to be true to her heart and face her fate head-on—even though she was wounded beyond repair, she still found joy in it. But what about him? He simply stood there, watching over her, and watching over himself, afraid that taking a step would shatter the peace and stability between them, and they would become strangers, with nothing left...
What a useless Jiang Haozhe—a self-deprecating smile appeared on his thin lips, a smile tinged with loneliness and bitterness.
"Coward!" he cursed himself inwardly.
Knock knock.
He knocked lightly on the door twice, and quickly gathered his thoughts, casually setting aside the sweater in his hand before going to open the door.
"……elder brother?"
Jiang Haozhe was somewhat surprised that someone who usually worked overtime until one or two in the morning was back so early today. His face betrayed his astonishment. "You're back?"
"Hehe, yes, it's rare to have a free day today." Jiang Chenjun smiled lazily, his tie casually untied and hanging only on his collar, a stark contrast to his usual meticulous and rigorous demeanor.
"What's up?" Jiang Haozhe raised an eyebrow. After all, they had been brothers for seventeen years, and he knew his older brother's personality well. He wouldn't come to the temple without a reason, and his older brother wouldn't be so free as to come to chat with him to kill time.
“Ah, I came to see if I left a book here with you.” Jiang Chenjun’s eyes glanced around his room, his gaze landing on the sweater casually placed on the sofa, a meaningful smile appearing on his face. “It’s Malthus’s ‘An Essay on the Principle of Population’.”
"No, I don't read that book." Jiang Haozhe was somewhat wary of Jiang Chenjun's sly smile.
Everyone was deceived by Jiang Chenjun's composed face! Because he seemed so reliable, many people naturally assumed that Jiang Chenjun was the kind of person who was both composed and capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. In fact, that was a complete illusion!
Only the Jiang family members truly understand Jiang Chenjun's "evil" nature!
Jiang Chenjun is nothing like the gentle and harmless person he appears to be. In fact, he's a complete wolf in sheep's clothing. His smiling face always makes people think he's kind and approachable, but that's not the case at all! He's very playful and loves to play pranks on people, then put on a compassionate face to comfort them, making others thank him profusely even after they've suffered at his hands... He suffered too many losses at the hands of this older brother when he was young before finally realizing his mistake and never letting him interfere in anything again. Jiang Chenjun is the kind of person who seems calm and cautious, but is actually lazy and self-centered. In this respect, Jiang Chenjun and Cheng Yongxin are very similar.
Whenever he flashes that cunning, fox-like smile, it means that Young Master Jiang is plotting some scheme, so it's always better to be cautious now.
"Brother wants to chat with you... Can't you let me in first?" This kid is getting less and less fun as he gets older! Jiang Chenjun sighed inwardly. His vigilance was so high that it was difficult for him to make a move.
So, when his mother gave birth to this younger brother, he was actually a little disappointed. If it were a younger sister, she would be much cuter. For example, she would be like Yongxin, clinging to his clothes and following him everywhere, depending on him so much. Instead, this kid is silent all day long, with a cold poker face, and he's as annoying as can be.
Forget about clinging to him. Jiang Haozhe became incredibly independent after he turned eight, handling his own affairs and not allowing his older brother to interfere. This left him, as the older brother, with no chance to show any brotherly concern, and he even had to swallow his pride and ask for help occasionally... What older brother would be as unsuccessful as him? He was practically begging his younger brother to let him help him.
He was really acting strangely... Jiang Haozhe stared at his older brother without moving, seemingly trying to see some clues in his eyes, while Jiang Chenjun remained expressionless, maintaining an innocent smile as he looked at him. After a long while, he reluctantly stepped aside to let him in, so much so that he missed the fleeting smug smile on Jiang Chenjun's face as he turned away.
Hehe, how could his naive younger brother possibly outmaneuver this shrewd old fox in the business world? When it comes to acting skills, you're still far behind! Jiang Chenjun laughed heartily.
"What do you want to talk about?" Sitting in the chair, Jiang Haozhe stared warily at the adult man who was lounging on the sofa in an unsteady position. His expression was more like an interrogation than a conversation.
"Anything is fine to talk about." Jiang Chenjun leaned his head back on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest. Hmm, this angle is good, comfortable and not tiring...
"I don't have time to chat with you." Turning away, leaving him with his back, Jiang Haozhe began to flip through his book to prepare for his lessons, too lazy to pay attention to the boring person on the sofa.
"Well... let's talk about... um, the changes in girls."
Behind him, Jiang Chenjun's lazy voice rang out, and Jiang Haozhe's alarm bells immediately went off.
“…You’re being silly.” He replied in a nonchalant tone, but his heart was already pounding.
"I was bored anyway." Jiang Chenjun frankly admitted this. He was getting tired of working overtime every day, and he had finally found some fun, so how could he let it go so easily?
“…I suddenly realized that girls are truly amazing creatures. They become so womanly after a short time apart.” Jiang Chenjun smiled brightly as he looked at the back of the girl who was facing away from him, pretending to be calm but actually stiff. “Take Yongxin for example. She still seems like a little girl, but in the blink of an eye, she has grown up so much, and she’s getting more and more beautiful. She’s only seventeen years old.”
"What do you mean?!" Turning around abruptly, he realized that his actions were somewhat inappropriate, and Jiang Haozhe asked, pretending to be "calm."
"You brat, ha! You've been exposed!" Jiang Chenjun thought to himself, secretly gloating, but his face remained calm. He blinked his beautiful eyes and gave Jiang Chenjun a look of "pure innocence." "Is that what you mean? Xiao Zhe, don't tell me you don't understand Chinese."
Seeing Jiang Haozhe's face stiffen, Jiang Chenjun chuckled inwardly: Heh, kid, old ginger is spicier!
Jiang Haozhe was stunned for a moment before realizing that his words had been rather obvious. He turned his face away somewhat embarrassedly and said, "I can't be bothered with you!"
"Oh? This kid's actually blushing? The guy who always has that annoying poker face is actually blushing? He thought Jiang Haozhe had facial paralysis because his facial nerves weren't fully developed, which was why he always had that icy expression... He didn't expect him to have normal nerves after all!" Jiang Chenjun's playful side was immediately aroused. His beautifully shaped eyebrows lifted slightly, and his clear eyes filled with laughter. So he pressed on, saying:
"Disliking something now doesn't mean you won't like it in the future; disliking it in the past doesn't mean you'll dislike it in the future..."
Talking to himself like a tongue twister, Jiang Chenjun looked at the increasingly tense figure behind him and smiled to himself.
Ignore him? No problem, he can keep talking on his own.
"...Ah, Yongxin is already so beautiful now, in a few years—tsk tsk, she'll definitely be a stunning beauty. Just thinking about it makes my heart flutter—"
"Girls like this are probably getting harder and harder to find these days. It's definitely better to act quickly and settle things sooner rather than later—"
This guy! What on earth is he implying?! Jiang Haozhe glared at his older brother without hesitation, but the man remained unmoved, still smiling at him, his eyes seeming to say, "Ask me, if you've figured it out, just ask me honestly, maybe I'll tell you if I'm in a good mood—"
"I can't be bothered to talk to you!"
Jiang Haozhe snorted, stood up, and prepared to go out to get a drink of water.
"Moreover—in my heart now, Yongxin is no longer a child."
A slow, leisurely voice came from behind. Jiang Haozhe turned around in surprise and saw Jiang Chenjun leisurely turn over, find a more comfortable position, and smile unhurriedly.
"If she's willing, I can treat her as a romantic partner."
What--
As if struck by something heavy, Jiang Haozhe clenched his fist, threw down a sentence, and slammed the door shut without looking back.
"Whatever!"
That kid is really dishonest!
Watching Jiang Haozhe's retreating figure, Jiang Chenjun smiled, his good mood still lingering. If he likes someone, he should just say it honestly. He wouldn't say anything, at most he would just make a little fun of him. Why is he being so stubborn?
However, there's definitely going to be some good stuff to watch! We've been living a boring life for too long; it's time for some new excitement.
Jiang Chenjun stroked his chin meaningfully, smiling smugly.