Chapter 13
Since they had talked about Shici and her brother, the conversation naturally continued in that direction.
Jiang Chaochao learned that because Xiang Shici’s parents were always busy and often left her at her grandparents’ house, she practically grew up with her uncle.
That’s why they were so close.
Jiang Chaochao actually also had an uncle.
But it was as if he didn’t.
Jiang Chaochao’s family situation seemed complicated, but it was actually very simple, so simple that he rarely interacted with relatives from either his mother’s or father’s side.
Xu Hengzhi always said he envied him for this, saying that visiting relatives was the most annoying thing in the world, bar none. His relatives were incredibly annoying, and he also said that Jiang Chaochao was truly free.
Jiang Chaochao didn’t understand the kind of life where one needed to visit relatives, so over the years, he could only temporarily agree with Xu Hengzhi’s statement.
But today seemed different. Today he saw a different kind of uncle-niece relationship, one outside his understanding.
It didn’t seem so bad.
Later, because of the music playing in the car, they talked about the music they liked.
Jiang Chaochao shared a singer he liked, and, rather presumptuously, insisted on making Xiang Ye listen to a song by this singer right then and there.
He also asked what songs Xiang Ye liked, and directly browsed through Xiang Ye’s playlist in the car.
“We have so many songs in common,” Jiang Chaochao said as he scrolled. “Hey, I know this one, I was looking for it last time, but I couldn’t remember the name.”
Jiang Chaochao took out his phone: “I’ll save this too.”
Hearing this, Xiang Ye turned his head and glanced at him: “Since you’ve already opened it…”
Jiang Chaochao: “Hmm?”
Xiang Ye: “Follow me.”
Jiang Chaochao pursed his lips: “Okay.”
Since he had already followed him, Jiang Chaochao browsed through Xiang Ye’s playlist on his phone.
Not bad, he didn’t know why it was good, but it was very good.
“These are the ones you listen to while driving,” Jiang Chaochao started categorizing Xiang Ye’s playlist. “These are the ones you listen to while working at home, these are the ones you listen to when you’re bored and want to listen to music, right?”
Xiang Ye: “All correct.”
Jiang Chaochao: “I’m so awesome.”
Xiang Ye laughed: “You are.”
Jiang Chaochao continued to be presumptuous, clicking on a song: “I want to listen to this one.”
Xiang Ye: “Go ahead.”
Seeing that they were nearing his complex, a strange feeling arose in Jiang Chaochao’s heart. He asked Xiang Ye, “Where do you live?”
Xiang Ye: “Rongyu.”
Jiang Chaochao gave an “oh.”
Since he already had his phone in his hand, Jiang Chaochao casually searched: “Five kilometers from my place.”
Xiang Ye: “Yes.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Pretty good.”
Xiang Ye: “Good in what way?”
Jiang Chaochao had just said it casually, so he was naturally stumped.
“Good because,” Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment, “it’s not far.”
Xiang Ye made a low “mm-hmm” sound, then said, “What do you want to do because it’s not far?”
“Not far, so…”
Jiang Chaochao hadn’t thought of doing anything, but since Xiang Ye asked: “We might bump into each other.”
Xiang Ye nodded: “Makes sense,” he asked Jiang Chaochao, “Do you usually go out?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Actually, not really, it’s so hot outside now.”
Xiang Ye: “Then how would we bump into each other?”
Jiang Chaochao also: “Makes sense.”
Xiang Ye asked again: “Will we bump into each other?”
Jiang Chaochao’s emotions were stirred, he paused for half a second.
But frustratingly, just as they reached this point in the conversation, Xiang Ye’s car stopped in front of Jiang Chaochao’s building.
It also seemed deliberate, after asking the question, Xiang Ye didn’t give Jiang Chaochao a chance to reply.
So the moment the car came to a complete stop, Jiang Chaochao’s heart felt like a piece was suddenly missing.
However, he was very good at hiding his emotions, and he genuinely put on a cheerful expression: “I’m leaving, thanks for dinner.”
After saying that, he unbuckled his seatbelt, turned, and opened the door.
Just then, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Jiang Chaochao turned around and saw Xiang Ye holding something out, seemingly about to give it to him.
Jiang Chaochao’s heart skipped a beat, and his mind told him that it might be the brooch.
The brooch?
No way.
Jiang Chaochao lowered his gaze and extended his hand.
Xiang Ye opened his fist over Jiang Chaochao’s palm, and something with a slightly rough texture fell into his hand.
Seeing what it was, Jiang Chaochao blinked.
“Candy.”
Jiang Chaochao said.
“Candy.”
Xiang Ye also said.
Jiang Chaochao: “Where did this candy come from?”
Xiang Ye: “I conjured it.”
Jiang Chaochao chuckled: “Okay.”
He might as well accept it, so Jiang Chaochao opened the car door.
“Let me know when you get home,” Jiang Chaochao said.
Xiang Ye: “Okay.”
A certain someone pretended to walk casually towards the entrance of his complex, while in reality, all his attention, except for his eyes, was on the road.
After estimating that Xiang Ye was about to drive away, Jiang Chaochao turned around and watched until the taillights disappeared at the end of the road.
Back in the complex, Jiang Chaochao’s expression was calm for the first part of the walk. Reaching the pebbled path through the grassy area, he suddenly smiled.
Smiling, he felt a bit silly, so he immediately stopped, but after less than a second, he smiled again.
No one was around, why couldn’t he smile, he would smile.
He would.
Smiling at Xiang Ye’s “Fine.”
Smiling at every piece of steak Xiang Ye cut for him.
Smiling at the hesitant but still spoken “a bit cute.”
Also smiling at the unanswered “Will we bump into each other?”
Jiang Chaochao’s steps were light, the surrounding air feeling soft and fluffy because of Xiang Ye.
He was still holding the two candies, even though he didn’t understand why Xiang Ye gave him candy at the last moment.
But it was candy.
Of course, he told himself not to overthink it.
He could treat everything tonight as platonic.
He could very much treat it as platonic.
And straight men, this species, were really scary sometimes.
So he told himself, just be happy for a while, that was enough, don’t drag it on.
So this emotion was packed away by Jiang Chaochao the moment he got home.
But it didn’t last long. Not long after he returned to his room, he received a message from Xiang Ye.
He said: “I’m home.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Okay.”
XY: “Someone seems to have left something behind again.”
Someone sat up straight, realizing that his hands were empty.
He then remembered that in order to prevent Shici from discovering that Xiang Ye had bought Poupou, he had hidden the bag by his feet.
And then he forgot it when he got out of the car.
Jiang Chaochao now felt guilty for seemingly rejecting Xiang Ye’s thoughtful gesture, he lowered his head and typed.
Jiang Chaochao: “Hear me out.”
XY: “So you knew I would be hurt?”
Jiang Chaochao’s suppressed emotions were instantly ignited.
Jiang Chaochao: “I…”
XY: “Go on, I’m listening.”
Jiang Chaochao: “I was wrong.”
The next message XY sent was a voice message.
Jiang Chaochao immediately clicked to listen, and at the same time turned up the volume.
Xiang Ye said: “It’s okay, how could I blame you, I’m not sad at all.”
Jiang Chaochao burst out laughing. He sat down on the nearby rolling chair, his feet on the floor, moving back and forth.
Jiang Chaochao: “Sorry.”
After sending this message, Jiang Chaochao clicked on Xiang Ye’s voice message again.
This time he could hear some beeping sounds in the background, and he guessed that Xiang Ye was opening his door with a keypad.
So he parked the car and immediately messaged Jiang Chaochao that he was home.
Right?
Probably.
And after the beeping sound was Xiang Ye’s sentence, How could I blame you, I’m not sad at all.
His voice was already pleasant, and now it was coming from his phone.
It sounded like he was whispering, like he was being wronged, and even more like he was… teasing Jiang Chaochao.
Soon, XY’s message came: “What to do?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Should I send a courier over now? Is it convenient?”
Having reached this point, Jiang Chaochao hesitated whether to add, Why don’t you just give me the brooch as well?
XY’s status changed to “typing…”
Don’t say it, just pretend he forgot about the brooch.
But what if Xiang Ye remembered the brooch?
If he remembered, then so be it.
Why was he still typing, what was taking so long?
Jiang Chaochao stared at the changing “typing…” status, and after a while, the message finally arrived.
But only two simple words.
XY: “Not giving.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Hey?”
XY: “You can interpret this as it’s not convenient right now.”
Jiang Chaochao pursed his lips.
Jiang Chaochao: “Fine.”
Jiang Chaochao didn’t blame him.
Right?
Then, since that was the case…
Jiang Chaochao sent the question he had earlier: “Why did you give me candy?”
XY: “Would you have thought it was the brooch?”
Jiang Chaochao paused, his heart feeling warm again.
How could this person ask such a question?
Jiang Chaochao: “I did think about it.”
XY: “Then did you hope it was the brooch?”
Jiang Chaochao froze.
Of course he didn’t hope it was the brooch.
But could he say that?
He, he…
Jiang Chaochao felt that his hesitation wasn’t just about the brooch anymore.
Xiang Ye, you…
If Xiang Ye wasn’t gay, Jiang Chaochao would go to his house with a knife right now and kill him.
