Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Ling Sheng was two years older than Jiang Chen. He nodded slightly, “Yes, time really flies.”

Jiang Jian looked at his younger brother in the driver’s seat and sighed, “Ling Sheng, my foolish brother has suffered a lot these past two years because of what happened before. These past two years, my dad has been making me keep an eye on him and you as well. I know a lot about you, but Xiao Chen has never asked me a single question.”

Ling Sheng’s heart twinged; he could imagine it.

He still had friends who could bring him some news to comfort him, but Jiang Chen was strictly controlled by his father. Anyone who had ever been in contact with Ling Sheng, or even might have been, was forbidden for him to see. Jiang Chen, who used to have a lot of friends, had almost no friends to associate with in the past two years.

“Although what happened back then was done by my dad, Xiao Chen still took all the responsibility on himself.” Jiang Jian’s voice was low and sincere, “I know you wouldn’t blame Xiao Chen for what happened before. If your family… has any requests, I hope you can tell us truthfully, don’t blame him.”

When he first found out that Jiang Chen and Ling Sheng were together, although he didn’t interfere too much, he didn’t really take it too seriously in his heart. Even he himself had a brief relationship before getting married. Young people’s hearts are always fickle, and it’s uncertain how long it will last, so he didn’t take it too seriously.

However, fate played tricks, and the change of events exceeded everyone’s expectations, like a storm at sea that swiftly overturned everything, leaving no room for people to breathe. Now that everything is calm, he has witnessed the harm and persistence his younger brother has suffered in this storm. He has grown and matured, but his nervous look when looking at the gift just now seems no different from two years ago.

In that instant, he suddenly felt very relaxed and thought it was particularly good.

At this moment, Jiang Chen had already checked his appearance in the car’s mirror again. Seeing that Ling Sheng hadn’t gotten into the car yet and seemed to be talking to his brother, he lowered the car window and asked, “What are you talking about? Get in the car, I said we have to go back before noon, don’t let Auntie wait.”

He had become the most anxious one.

Jiang Jian bent down and asked with a smile, “Got it, are you coming back tonight?”

Jiang Chen didn’t know how to answer for a moment and could only say, “It depends on the situation.”

Ling Sheng opened the car door. Before getting in, he turned around and said to Jiang Jian, “Giving him to me is enough.”

The car door closed, and Jiang Jian came back to his senses. Ling Sheng was answering his question just now.

What requests?

Giving him to me is enough.

Jiang Jian looked at his silly younger brother who had just made a U-turn and was waving at him from inside the car. He raised his hand and waved as well. At this moment, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and saw that it was his mother calling.

He answered it. Jiang Chen had already closed the car window and driven away.

The two arrived home just before half past eleven. After stopping the car, Jiang Chen, as Jiang Jian had told him, first put the bracelet into his backpack, carrying a bunch of things in his hands. Ling Sheng wanted to help, but he refused, saying that he wanted to leave a good impression on Ling’s mother and not be a hindrance.

It took them almost an hour and a half to drive back. Ling’s mother timed it just right and had the meal ready. When she opened the door, she saw Ling Sheng with empty hands and Jiang Chen, who was a little taller than him, behind him, both looking nervous.

“Mom.” Ling Sheng called out.

Jiang Chen was already sweating nervously. Hearing Ling Sheng speak, he quickly followed suit, “Mom.”

His utterance startled all three of them.

Jiang Chen’s face flushed red. He quickly changed his words, and the things he was carrying in his hands swayed with him, “Auntie, Auntie, my slip of the tongue.”

Ling’s mother smiled, stepped aside to let them in, and didn’t mind. While taking the things from his hands, she said, “Come in, it’s hot outside.”

How could Jiang Chen dare to let Ling’s mother do anything? After Ling Sheng came in and changed his shoes, he put the slippers prepared for him next to his feet and reached out to take the things and put them inside the house. After Jiang Chen changed his shoes and came in, he saw four dishes and a soup on the dining table, and the soup was exactly what Ling Sheng had mentioned before, Ling’s mother’s best chicken soup.

His heart settled down a lot, and he was very grateful.

If she didn’t welcome him, she wouldn’t have put so much effort into making her best dishes to entertain him. It seemed that Ling’s mother didn’t intend to blame him for what had happened before.

Ling Sheng had said before that there was no need to worry, not just casually. Ling’s mother didn’t mention the previous events at the dinner table, but only asked about Jiang Chen’s current situation and work. Jiang Chen himself is actually the type that elders like very much—handsome, reliable, with a sunny and cute smile. He had good grades and a very clear plan for himself. Coupled with the accumulation of more than two years, when chatting with Ling’s mother, he incorporated Ling Sheng into everything, whether it was work or life. Ling’s mother listened patiently, and the two chatted very happily.

After the meal, he even wanted to wash the dishes to show off, but Ling’s mother drove him out of the kitchen to watch TV on the sofa.

Jiang Chen saw Ling’s mother busy in the kitchen and sat on the sofa, not daring to lean on the backrest. He nervously leaned over and asked Ling Sheng, “How did I do just now? Do you think your mother is satisfied? When I said I was going to join a law firm, your mother seemed to look away. Does she think lawyers are too busy to take care of you? Should I explain it again?”

Ling Sheng reached out and hugged his head, which was leaning on his shoulder. Jiang Chen struggled a little, his eyes busy looking towards the kitchen, “Don’t… what if your mother sees?”

“Be quiet, don’t be so nervous.” Ling Sheng kissed him on the forehead, “My mom was just picking up a dish, she didn’t show any dissatisfaction.”

Jiang Chen relaxed a little, feeling a little excited, “Then do you think your mom is very satisfied with me?”

Seeing his tail almost wagging, Ling Sheng’s eyes were full of smiles, and he said, “Whether she’s satisfied or not depends on whether I like you. It’s the first time I’ve brought a boyfriend home, she knows I’m serious, no matter how you perform, she will be satisfied.”

Jiang Chen immediately caught the key word, “First time bringing a boyfriend home?!”

His tail wagged completely. Ling Sheng “Mm”d, “Yeah, she always thought I was single.”

Jiang Chen couldn’t help it anymore. He was so excited that he couldn’t wait to press him directly on the sofa and kiss him, but considering that there were more than just the two of them in the house, he suppressed his excitement and whispered, “Before… she didn’t know? Didn’t she even know about Xiang Yang?”

Ling Sheng saw that his eyes were red with excitement and reached out his index finger to scrape his Adam’s apple, “I never said it.”

Xiang Yang asked him to keep it secret at the time. Besides Coco, no one knew they had been together. When he was with He Xiaoyun, he knew that He Xiaoyun wouldn’t be serious, so he knew that they wouldn’t last long, and naturally he didn’t tell his mother. He had thought about it when he was with Wu Xia, after all, he was almost thirty years old at that time, and he really wanted to settle down, but he quickly recognized his own thoughts, so he didn’t say it.

He is thirty-one this year, and for more than thirty years, he has only brought back a Jiang Chen.

Ling Sheng felt a little emotional, but also found it quite interesting.

And Jiang Chen was so excited that everyone said that Jiang Chen had become so cold and a little inhumane in the past two years, not as cheerful as before. But at this moment, he was so excited that he couldn’t sit still. He looked back and saw Ling’s mother still busy in front of the sink. He pressed the back of Ling Sheng’s head and kissed him, but he didn’t dare to be presumptuous, and finally could only lick his lips with lingering aftertaste, and his hands holding his waist couldn’t stop caressing his waist.

Ling Sheng smiled at him and deliberately imitated him, licking his lips.

Jiang Chen pressed his waist hard. Ling Sheng felt itchy and shrunk into the sofa. Seeing this, Jiang Chen pressed it again. The two didn’t dare to make big movements, but couldn’t stop, not even looking at what was playing on TV, just secretly making trouble there.

At this time, Ling’s mother finished cleaning up and came out with the washed fruit. Hearing footsteps, Jiang Chen quickly let go of Ling Sheng and coughed twice with a guilty conscience, standing up to take the fruit plate from Ling’s mother’s hand.

The fruit washed in the fruit plate was Ling Sheng’s favorite cherries and small fragrant pears. Jiang Chen looked for a topic, “Auntie, I heard Ling Sheng say that your birthday is in two days.”

Ling’s mother smiled and said, “Yes, I thought he wouldn’t be able to come back this year, but I didn’t expect him to be back just in time.”

Ling Sheng had actually told Ling’s mother the cause and effect of the matter simply, and also told Ling’s mother specifically before coming back that Jiang Chen had not been doing well these past two years. Compared to Ling Sheng, he had a bigger knot in his heart. Therefore, from the moment she entered the door, Ling’s mother didn’t mention the events of the past two years. With these words, Ling Sheng didn’t have much reaction, but Jiang Chen’s expression changed.

Ling’s mother saw it and was about to say something when Jiang Chen straightened his expression, sat up straight, and said seriously, “Auntie, I know you are concerned about my feelings and have not mentioned it, but I think I still need to tell you something.”

Ling’s mother glanced at Ling Sheng. A trace of helplessness flashed in Ling Sheng’s eyes, but he knowingly grabbed Jiang Chen’s hand by his side.

“When Ling Sheng and I were dating before, I was too naive and caused trouble. My family pushed all the consequences on Ling Sheng and made him leave his hometown to go to the United States alone. I will always owe him for this matter.” Whenever he mentioned this matter, Jiang Chen felt very guilty. Just when Ling Sheng wanted to comfort him, he grabbed Ling Sheng’s hand firmly and put it on his chest, like a fanatical pursuer eager to show his loyalty, “But don’t worry, I promise that this kind of thing will never happen again. He is willing to come back to my side, which is my greatest luck. I will listen to him in everything in the future, and I will treat him well for the rest of my life.”

Jiang Chen spoke a little quickly, so his speech was a little fast and a little straightforward and childish, but sincerity is the greatest weapon. Ling’s mother was a little surprised, but soon looked at him and smiled.

After Jiang Chen finished speaking, he felt like he was a bit silly. Seeing Ling’s mother smile, he grabbed Ling Sheng’s hand and put it down again, looking at Ling Sheng, meaning: Auntie doesn’t believe me, please say something for me.

At this time, Ling’s mother straightened her expression, first looked at Ling Sheng tenderly, and then said to Jiang Chen, “Xiao Chen, Xiao Sheng has told me about your affairs. When he decided to go to the United States two years ago, I did blame you and your family, after all, every family cares about their own children.”

Speaking of this, she paused. Before Ling Sheng could say anything, Jiang Chen took the lead and said, “No, Auntie, you are very good, really, it was our family’s problem two years ago.”

Ling’s mother smiled again and continued, “Xiao Sheng has told you, right? I gave birth to him when I was in college. Later, I got married once, mainly because Xiao Sheng needed a household registration, and I divorced soon after. Xiao Sheng and I are not as close as traditional parents, and we are not even a good example. I haven’t spent much time with him these years, and he has been passive and very independent. Later, he told me about his sexual orientation, and I just felt that marriage and children are not the entirety of a person’s life, or even a necessary path in life. Since some things can’t be changed, then don’t change them, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. I believe he has his own judgment, who he decides to be with and how he spends his life, that’s all his own business, so, I will bless you if you are together, but I’ll say something unpleasant.”

Ling’s mother always spoke very gently, a kind of gentleness that is not influenced by external forces, but at this time, her eyes seemed a bit sharp, a bit like Ling Sheng’s state at work, “If you break up in the future, I will also support him.”

Jiang Chen held Ling Sheng’s hand even tighter, “We won’t break up, Auntie.”

The sharpness in Ling’s mother’s eyes disappeared, and she smiled, “That’s naturally good.”

Ling Sheng smiled. He understood what his mother meant. No matter what choice he made, she would always stand by his side, just like these years, they may not be the kind of intimacy that is commonly defined, but they have always accompanied and supported each other along the way.

At this time, Ling’s mother’s phone rang. She skillfully picked it up and glanced at WeChat, then looked up and smiled, “Xiao Yang said that he happens to be on annual leave recently and will come over for his birthday the day after tomorrow. You haven’t seen each other for two or three years, so you can catch up.”