On the return trip, Lawyer Luo said he’d drive.
Jiang Mian gave him the Car keys.
This Car was the firm’s shared vehicle, not Lawyer Luo’s personal one.
Jiang Mian sat in the Passenger Seat, still debating whether to just throw away the hair tie in his pocket.
Thus, he didn’t speak. After the first traffic light, Lawyer Luo couldn’t hold back anymore. “Little Jiang, I had no idea you knew Teacher Chen.”
Jiang Mian paused. “Don’t worry.”
His tone was as even as ever, showing no fluctuation. “I’m not close with him. This is only the second time we’ve met.”
Lawyer Luo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Mian fiddled with the “little bunny” in his pocket, unsure even himself what prompted him, and added flatly, “It’s just that I’m very close with his younger brother. He’s a childhood friend.”
Lawyer Luo’s relieved breath hitched higher than before.
He felt stifled, but then considered Jiang Mian’s background and didn’t say anything further.
After returning to the firm, they didn’t communicate much more.
Until five in the afternoon. Those with nothing to do could clock out, like Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian was in Li Yue’s office. Li Yue had a short meeting to attend. Before leaving after packing up, he glanced at his watch. It was already 5:15, and Jiang Mian still hadn’t moved.
So he reminded Jiang Mian as he opened the door. “Off work, Little Jiang.”
Jiang Mian looked up, just in time to see Lawyer Luo passing behind Li Yue. “Okay.”
He answered, but didn’t move.
He was reading the case files Li Yue had given him when he first arrived.
These things couldn’t be taken out; they could only be viewed on the company’s computers.
He planned to take the Bar Exam this year, which was precisely why he’d asked to do this part-time internship—to accumulate more experience.
By the time Jiang Mian slowly finished reviewing one file, it was already past six o’clock.
The “Do Not Disturb” mode he’d set automatically turned off, and Chen Yishen’s message popped up.
[Chen Yishen: Come play basketball! We’re short one!]
[Chen Yishen: And don’t say no. If you don’t exercise more, you’ll fail PE again next semester!]
Jiang Mian had already typed the letter “N” when, seeing this line from Chen Yishen, he remembered the extra summer PE assignments he’d gotten because of failing the Physical Fitness Test.
He was silent for two seconds, then typed back: “Who’s there?”
Chen Yishen, currently gathering people at the court, found it a bit strange, because Jiang Mian usually didn’t ask that. But he didn’t overthink it.
[Chen Yishen: Just Song Wen and the others]
Jiang Mian hesitated, his eyes falling on the Hair Tie he’d taken out and placed on the table. Finally, he asked, “What about your brother?”
He deliberately chose his words carefully, not letting Chen Yishen feel he didn’t want to see Chen Gu, lest Chen Yishen started asking questions.
It was best for a simple, happy-go-lucky guy like Chen Yishen to stay that way forever.
Especially since he cared about his brother a lot.
Chen Gu wouldn’t hurt Chen Yishen. There was no need for him to go destroying their fraternal bond.
[Chen Yishen: My brother?]
[Chen Yishen: He moved out yesterday. We’re not together. He’s not here. Why?]
[Jiang Mian: Nothing. Wait for me to eat dinner first.]
[Chen Yishen: okk, a few others are still on the way too]
Jiang Mian turned off his computer and unhurriedly tidied his desk.
Just then, he heard voices from outside, muffled because the office was mostly empty at this hour, making them exceptionally clear.
“Some people just rely on their dad being powerful and act all high and mighty. You talk to him, and all you get is ‘Mm’ or ‘Okay.’ Barely a few other words. So superior-acting.”
“You mean that part-timer? Yeah, a real young master. I heard it’s not just his dad who’s impressive, his mom’s also very successful.”
“He’s impressive too.”
Lawyer Luo’s sinister voice joined in. “Took him to meet a client today. He deliberately didn’t tell me he knew the client, just to watch me make a fool of myself. Honestly, if Partner Wang hadn’t told me to bring him along, I wouldn’t want to deal with someone like that.”
“What’s all this talk?” Li Yue’s voice cut in. “If you’ve got nothing to do, clock out. If you do, get busy. Stop treating the firm like your living room.”
He paused, adding a half-warning. “And don’t wag so many tongues. Disaster comes from the mouth, you know?”
Lawyer Luo still sounded somewhat defiant. “No, but, Partner Li…”
“Lawyer Luo.” Li Yue tapped his name badge. “Don’t ‘no, but’ me. I’ve been meaning to tell you this: speak less, do more, and work towards Senior Lawyer sooner, doesn’t that sound good?”
Lawyer Luo read the room, seeing genuine displeasure, and dropped it, laughing to smooth things over. “Partner Li, you surf the net too?”
Li Yue snorted a laugh. “Think I’m a fossil?”
They chatted a few more random things. After Lawyer Luo left, Li Yue sighed, shook his head, and opened his office door.
The moment he opened it, he saw Jiang Mian finishing packing up, locking his drawer.
Li Yue froze slightly.
Jiang Mian looked at him. “Partner Li.”
Li Yue said, “Little Jiang, you were still here…”
“Was reviewing case files,” Jiang Mian answered honestly. “Want to take the Bar Exam this September.”
Li Yue looked a bit surprised. “You’re only going into your junior year next semester, right? So early?”
“Just trying it out.”
“You can do it! If you have any questions, just ask me.”
Jiang Mian said okay and thanks.
Li Yue looked at him, truly unable to read any particular emotion on his face. He stirred his lips. “Little Jiang, just now…”
He stopped there, but Jiang Mian tilted his head slightly, genuine confusion between his brows. “What?”
Li Yue smiled. “It’s nothing. Are you clocking out? Go ahead.”
Jiang Mian nodded. “Goodbye, Partner Li.”
Jiang Mian slung his backpack on, clocked out, and found a nearby rice noodle roll shop.
While waiting for his food, he received a call from his Dad, Jiang Liaoyi.
“Dad.”
Jiang Liaoyi’s Mandarin was very standard, his voice refined and mature, sounding like someone with excellent upbringing and manners. “Mm. You’re outside?”
Jiang Mian said, “Waiting for dinner.”
Jiang Liaoyi said, “What a coincidence, so am I.”
He paused briefly, then continued. “You’ve been interning for over half a month now. How’s it feeling?”
Jiang Mian gave an honest answer. “Alright.”
Jiang Liaoyi half-jokingly asked, “No one giving you a hard time?”
“No.”
Jiang Mian truly didn’t feel bullied—he hadn’t taken Lawyer Luo and the others’ words to heart at all.
“Good, tell me if anything comes up.”
Jiang Liaoyi continued. “Speaking of which, that kid from the Chen family, Chen Yishen, right? He didn’t plan to do an internship with you?”
Jiang Mian said, “I didn’t ask.”
Jiang Liaoyi wasn’t surprised. He flipped through his documents, sighing inwardly.
Jiang Mian was never very enthusiastic about people or things. If asked for help, he’d do it. If not asked, he rarely took the initiative.
Because of this, Jiang Mian hadn’t made many friends.
The first time Jiang Liaoyi saw him hanging out with Chen Yishen, he was a bit surprised. After meeting Chen Yishen a few times, he understood why.
Chen Yishen was simple and pure-hearted, didn’t overthink, had no temper—anyone could be his friend.
Jiang Liaoyi said, “Though, I guess so. After he graduates, he’ll probably go help at his father’s company. Won’t think about joining a firm.”
Can’t get Chen Yishen in there, can’t find a peer, a familiar friend, to look out for Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian, for some reason, first thought of Chen Yishen’s biological father, who was also Chen Gu’s biological father.
Chen Gu followed his father.
…That side also did business?
The thought just surfaced when Jiang Mian belatedly remembered that Chen Yishen’s stepfather did business in South Boundary.
Jiang Mian didn’t speak. Jiang Liaoyi continued, “Also, your mom will fly to South Boundary next month. She said she wants to see you, give you a surprise. Don’t tell her I was the one who told you.”
Specifically reminding Jiang Mian was to prevent Xiang Wei from showing up and finding him away on a business trip or something.
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Jiang Mian stared at the rice noodle rolls just set before him, fiddled with the Hair Tie in his pocket again, internally debated for a whole half minute whether to throw it away. Finally, under the Boss Lady’s strange gaze, he silently picked up his chopsticks.
After dinner, he took the subway to that Gymnasium.
Jiang Mian didn’t rush to find Chen Yishen. Instead, he followed a staff member’s directions to the locker room first.
This Gymnasium was open to the public, but only the outdoor areas. The indoor basketball courts required a fee.
Jiang Mian and Chen Yishen were members here and kept several sets of change-out clothes in personal lockers.
He changed into a light blue T-shirt and white casual knee-length shorts, then went to the indoor court.
Walking in, he saw Song Wen and the others sitting around chatting with two people wearing identical hats and looking exactly alike.
Even their outfits were identical—both in light orange T-shirts and casual trousers. Only one wore black sneakers, the other white.
The one in black sneakers waved vigorously upon seeing him, flashing a brilliant smile. His voice was bright and clear. “Jiang Mian!”
Jiang Mian paused.
He pursed his lips and nodded slightly, but his gaze was fixed on the other one. He couldn’t help himself. “Didn’t you say you were only short one person?”
Why was Chen Gu here?
Before Chen Yishen could reply, Song Wen blurted out a curse. “Holy crap?! Jiang Mian, how can you tell them apart??”
A classmate reflexively added, “Hey, don’t swear. What if it becomes a habit, and you accidentally do it to a Judge or Prosecutor? They could charge you with Contempt of Court, personal attack, and you could be detained.”
Song Wen choked.
While they were still reeling, Chen Yishen answered Jiang Mian. “Well, you asked me where my brother was, right? Just so happens Meng Hao’s mom told him to practice his spoken English, so he couldn’t come out. I got my brother to fill Meng Hao’s spot.”
Jiang Mian: “…”
That one question he didn’t have to ask.
He looked at Chen Gu, sitting next to Chen Yishen, who’d already taken off his hat to reveal his tied-back hair. His smile was still brilliant, but it no longer had the same flavor.
Chen Gu caught his gaze yet again. Their eyes met, and Chen Gu’s eyebrows curved even more noticeably.
The interest in his eyes was barely veiled, or perhaps he simply didn’t bother to hide it. In any case, Jiang Mian knew he’d been targeted.
Especially when Chen Gu chuckled lightly. His voice didn’t even try to mimic Chen Yishen’s, reverting to his own lazy, casual drawl. “Chen Yishen didn’t tell me. I had no idea you missed me so much. We just saw each other this morning.”
Jiang Mian: “…”
He seemed to understand what “can’t wash clean even if jumping into the Yellow River” meant now.
Jiang Mian lowered his eyes, not wanting to speak. Yet Chen Yishen had to add fuel to the fire beside him. “I didn’t even know you and my brother were this close already. Then next weekend, when you’re off, let’s all go to the Agritainment Farm together. Huihui is coming too. You two haven’t seen each other in a while either.”
Jiang Mian shot him a look.
He thought maybe he should let Chen Yishen know the ugliness of the world after all.
Chen Gu just watched that “I want to die” vibe emanate from Jiang Mian again, making his smile deepen.
Song Wen was still in disbelief. “No, seriously, I really want to know. Jiang Mian, how exactly do you tell them apart? Honestly, when Chen Gu called your name just now, I thought he was Chen Yishen. That story about telling us he’s Chen Gu was just a prank. They’re way too alike. I’ve never seen twins this identical.”
Hearing this, Jiang Mian glanced at Chen Gu again, meeting his gaze once more.
Alike?
Clearly, from head to toe, they were completely different.
