Jiang Tongyan had experienced many joyful moments in his life. Or rather, apart from those unsuccessful love stories, he was like a fish in water in every other aspect.
Though it might sound shameful to say, he had grown up in a wealthy and loving family, where family members cherished one another. With such a background, there was hardly anything that could suffocate him with worry—happiness, on the other hand, was plentiful.
Especially for Jiang Tongyan. His grandfather had taught him from a young age to be grateful, to respect and appreciate everything. With that mindset, he had lived most of his life quite well.
But if he were to name his ‘happiest’ moment…
Nowadays, advertisements weren’t even allowed to use the word ‘most’. People, especially cautious businessmen like Jiang Tongyan, avoided using those words whenever possible, lest they left themselves open to criticism.
He wouldn’t casually label anything or anyone as ‘the most’ either—making absolute statements so easily was a foolish thing to do.
However, the moment Qian Xiaoke asked him to recall the happiest time of his life, his rationality was immediately shattered by a flood of memories. The scene that popped into his mind was that day when he and Qian Xiaoke had been tangled up naked in bed.
Well—only the first half. Because the second half was one of the most painful memories of his life.
After thinking carefully for so long, this ‘most’ was the conclusion he came to.
Jiang Tongyan subconsciously recalled that afternoon when Qian Xiaoke was lying naked on the bed, completely at his mercy.
At that time, he hadn’t yet known that Qian Xiaoke’s name was Qian Xiaoke, nor did he know that this guy was Cheng Sen’s employee. And he definitely hadn’t known that, not long after, they would experience something utterly suffocating.
At that time, he just thought that this guy was soft and seductive—if only his mouth could be sewn shut.
As Qian Xiaoke continued his ‘treatment’, he was muttering, “Relax, relax. The more nervous you are about this kind of thing, the greater the psychological pressure, and the greater the psychological pressure—”
Qian Xiaoke stopped.
His voice and movements stopped together.
Jiang Tongyan was still lost in his memories. The first encounter was always beautiful. Back then, Qian Xiaoke didn’t seem as annoying as he was now.
“Jiang Tongyan.”
Jiang Tongyan didn’t respond. He was busy blushing.
“Jiang Tongyan!”
Still no response—he was too busy savouring the Qian Xiaoke in his memory.
“Jiang Tongyan, for god’s sake!” Qian Xiaoke’s sudden sharp cry finally yanked Jiang Tongyan’s soul back into his body.
“Look!” Qian Xiaoke excitedly grabbed Jiang Tongyan’s arm and shook it. “There’s a reaction! Holy shit, Big bro, you’re finally working again!”
Jiang Tongyan looked down and saw that his ‘brother’, who had been in a state of depression, seemed to have straightened up slightly. At the same time, he heard Qian Xiaoke beside him wiping away non-existent tears and saying, “Look at it; it opened its eyes happily.”
Jiang Tongyan had never been to school in China and had never studied Chinese well, so naturally, he didn’t know what the ‘opened his eyes happily1comes from the famous Chinese essay Spring (春) by Zhu Ziqing. In the original text, it describes the way the earth and nature wake up joyfully as spring arrives’ was.
He only knew that he seemed to have really reacted.
“Go on!” Jiang Tongyan was excited, “Hurry up, strike while the iron is hot!”
Qian Xiaoke felt that he was right, and this kind of thing must be done while the iron was hot!
He reached out his hand again, but the other party stopped again.
“…Why is this?” Qian Xiaoke frowned.
The surge of male confidence Jiang Tongyan had just felt was instantly shattered into dust. The moment Qian Xiaoke spoke, it was like a breeze blowing out a flickering candle.
Jiang Tongyan looked down, his face full of sadness and disappointment.
This was like someone giving him a piece of candy—just as he took a bite, they snatched it away and smacked him across the face.
Honestly, it would have been better if they hadn’t given him the candy in the first place.
The room, which had just been filled with excitement, now fell into heavy silence again.
Qian Xiaoke felt this was not okay, so he said, “No worries, this is a good sign. The fact that it lifted a little proves there’s hope!”
Jiang Tongyan frowned slightly, feeling heavy-hearted.
“Come on, we got this!” Qian Xiaoke was full of energy, leaving Jiang Tongyan speechless.
“Hey, don’t make that face!” Qian Xiaoke really couldn’t stand Jiang Tongyan like this. He was used to them constantly bickering, used to Jiang Tongyan strutting around with his arrogant attitude, nitpicking everything. This dejected version of him was unfamiliar and unsettling.
“Don’t be like this, don’t be like this.” Qian Xiaoke helped tie his bathrobe back up and coaxed him like a child. “Don’t be sad. These things take time, you know?”
“…Qian Xiaoke.” Jiang Tongyan looked at him with a pitiful expression. “Do you think maybe that was just a last flicker before death?”
“…Hey!” Qian Xiaoke slapped Jiang Tongyan on the back, “What nonsense are you talking about? Pah pah pah!” Seeing him like this, Jiang Tongyan suddenly laughed.
“Why are you so confident?” Jiang Tongyan still felt depressed, and he felt that his future was hopeless.
“Do you not have confidence in yourself?” Qian Xiaoke wiggled his fingers at him. “Look, the situation isn’t great, but it’s not completely useless either!”
Qian Xiaoke smiled, “I just realised—my hands really are magical.”
Jiang Tongyan shot him a sidelong glance. “Saying all that, you were just praising yourself, huh?”
Qian Xiaoke let out a goofy laugh, then smacked him hard on the back again. “Friend, stop being so gloomy. If there’s a problem, we solve it. And if we can’t, there’s always a doctor.”
Jiang Tongyan really didn’t want to see a doctor.
That would be humiliating.
If he went, people would ask: Handsome guy, what’s wrong with you?
He replied: Doctor, I can’t get hard anymore.
It was so embarrassing. If words got out—Jiang Tongyan might as well just disappear from the world.
“I just think that no matter how bad things are, they always get better eventually,” Qian Xiaoke said. “Everyone has hurdles in life. You just have to get past them.”
Jiang Tongyan wasn’t sure why, but something about what this guy said actually comforted him.
“Qian Xiaoke, I just realised…”
“Ah? What?” Qian Xiaoke blinked at him with a completely innocent face.
Jiang Tongyan chuckled, reached out, and ruffled his hair. “Nothing.”
Qian Xiaoke pouted, “Crazy.”
It’s true, wasn’t this a mental illness?
Jiang Tongyan thought to himself—he was definitely sick in the head.
“By the way, I have something to tell you.” Jiang Tongyan said, “I suggested to your Chairman Cheng that they should arrange for you to move into a company-provided dorm soon.”
“Huh?” Qian Xiaoke was shocked.
“Don’t huh me,” Jiang Tongyan said, “Go home and pack your things. It should be in the next few days.”
After he finished speaking, he stood up and straightened his twisted robe, “Just go, go. Do what you need to do; don’t disturb my sleep.”
“Huh? Why didn’t I know about this?”
Jiang Tongyan stuffed Qian Xiaoke’s small backpack into his arms. “There are plenty of things you don’t know. Now go, go, go home!”
Qian Xiaoke was practically shoved out of the hotel by Jiang Tongyan. Standing at the door, he clutched his small backpack with both hands, looking utterly bewildered. To passing strangers, he probably seemed quite pitiful.
However, Qian Xiaoke was only dazed for a brief moment before snapping out of it, then nearly cheered as he ran out of the hotel.
Since Qian Xiaoke left, Jiang Tongyan had been leaning against the door, peering through the peephole to watch him. He observed Qian Xiaoke’s changing expressions and saw the guy flitting away like a little swallow. He couldn’t hold back a laugh.
He walked to the window and soon saw Qian Xiaoke running out of the hotel and running towards his home.
Qian Xiaoke was truly a fascinating person. When he was happy, it had a contagious effect—just watching him could make others happy, too. This was what Jiang Tongyan thought at this moment.
Seeing Qian Xiaoke leave so joyfully, all his previous gloom vanished. He felt like he was floating on a cloud of color.
He picked up the phone and called Cheng Sen.
“Calling me this late, what do you want?”
“What are you up to?” Jiang Tongyan asked, “Do you have time now?”
“I’m having dinner with my Baby,” Cheng Sen said, “I’m busy.”
“…Do me a favour,” Jiang Tongyan said, “Help me find two apartments next to each other.”
Cheng Sen burst into laughter, “Got it.”
“I haven’t explained it yet. What do you get?”
Cheng Sen laughed, “Your intention is written on your face.”
He said, “I thought Qian Xiaoke was not your type.”
“…Cheng Sen! What’s wrong with you?!” Jiang Tongyan roared, “Who said that? What does this have to do with Qian Xiaoke? Stop talking nonsense!”
Cheng Sen laughed so hard he nearly fell out of his chair. Zhou Mo came over and muttered in disgust, “Who is that on the phone? Sounds like they’re on drugs or something.”
“Jiang Tongyan,” Cheng Sen said, He’s fallen for Qian Xiaoke but won’t admit it.”
Zhou Mo let out a surprised, “Ouch”. He leaned over to the microphone and asked, “Old Jiang, you are not pursuing Suo Yang anymore?”
Suo Yang?
Who is Suo Yang?
Jiang Tongyan was in a trance for a moment, and then he remembered that Suo Yang was his ideal blind date partner!
“I’m too busy recently,” Jiang Tongyan lied, “I haven’t had time to make an appointment with him.”
“I don’t think you need to make an appointment,” Zhou Mo said, “He’s busy too and has no time to deal with you.”
Jiang Tongyan pouted, deciding he didn’t want to waste any more words on this couple.
“Cheng Sen, please arrange the rental for me as soon as possible, preferably in the next two days, fully furnished and ready to move in.”
“So urgent?” Cheng Sen said, “Even if you’re coming, it won’t be until the end of the year, right?”
“It’s just… ugh, don’t ask so many questions. I’ll pay. Just help me out.”
Cheng Sen, who had seen through everything, agreed, and after hanging up the phone, he contacted a familiar real estate agent.
Jiang Tongyan stood by the window, contemplating for a long while before lighting a cigarette.
He found that he hadn’t been smoking much lately—because he hadn’t been feeling stressed.
Although rich people were much happier, they occasionally had ‘little melancholy moments’—like when someone else snatched their crush away. Usually, at times like that, Jiang Tongyan would smoke.
But since he met Qian Xiaoke, he almost quit smoking.
It was good, amazing even.
Qian Xiaoke was really an amazing person.
Jiang Tongyan chuckled with the cigarette between his lips. Ash fell onto the windowsill, and he casually blew it to the ground.
This time, he wasn’t smoking because he was upset. As for why?
That’s a secret.
He wasn’t about to let anyone know what he was thinking.
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