Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Ling Sheng returned home, took a shower, and the alcohol started to kick in, but he wasn’t sleepy.

This was the first time Jiang Chen had explicitly rejected him, wanting to withdraw from his side.

Ling Sheng hugged a blanket, suddenly recalling when they first started dating. Jiang Chen sat here and let him rest his head on his lap to sleep, not moving for two hours. When he leaned in for a kiss, his ears would turn red, and when Ling Sheng caressed him, the kiss would deepen, like a switch.

He smiled involuntarily.

In this relationship, he had always been enthusiastic, orbiting around Jiang Chen. Even when scolded or rejected, he was like a puppy that would still lean towards its owner after being hit. As long as Ling Sheng beckoned or even just gave him a look, he would obediently follow.

But this time, he had proactively left his side.

Ling Sheng tossed and turned on the sofa. He picked up his phone, opened WeChat, and clicked on Jiang Chen’s profile picture. Jiang Chen hadn’t set up his Moments; the latest post was still that family photo. Scrolling down, there were surprisingly few posts, only three of which were reposts for friends. Before October, he would occasionally update, mostly photos of friends and dogs, not many, but occasionally.

[Hua Shao’s ninth heartbreak, it’s okay, you’ll definitely find true love next time.]

The accompanying picture was of a boy in a jersey, with barbecue and beer on the table.

[Took my sister to work overtime again today, she’s as dedicated as ever, today’s sales champion.]

The accompanying picture was of his sister sitting at a night market stall, with several dog dresses placed on her.

[Crazy KTV, my ears are going to explode.]

The accompanying picture was a short video.

Ling Sheng clicked on the short video, and a burst of ghostly singing immediately filled the quiet house, startling him.

The singing was indeed crazy.

Ling Sheng was about to close the short video when a familiar voice came through the chaotic singing and accompaniment. Perhaps because the microphone was close to the phone, it was recorded clearly.

“Loving you is a lonely affair, I don’t understand the meaning of your smile, I can only be like a sunflower, silently persevering in the night.”

Ling Sheng paused. It was Jiang Chen’s voice. He was clearly laughing, being led off-key by the others, but the happiness in his voice was undisguised.

“Loving you is a lonely affair, I hope you’ll be honest with me, always loving you, in my own way.”

The video was only 30 seconds long, and after it finished playing, it started repeating. When Ling Sheng came back to his senses, it had played who knows how many times.

Just then, a message came in from Coco.

Coco: [What’s going on between you and He Xiaoyun? Rekindling old flames? What about Jiang Chen?]

Ling Sheng: [No, we’re just friends.]

Coco: [His attitude towards you since he came back has been seen by the whole company. Today, a lot of people asked me, we don’t do two-timing here.]

Ling Sheng: [Am I that kind of person?]

Coco: [You’re not, but what exactly are you thinking? Does Jiang Chen know about you and He Xiaoyun?]

Coco had been a good friend since university and was his most trusted friend. She knew his love life very well over the years. Ling Sheng hesitated and asked if she could take a call.

Coco called immediately.

“People in the company are all asking me today what’s going on between He Xiaoyun and you. Some people even heard him call you ‘Ling Baobei’. Didn’t you say you hadn’t been in contact since you broke up two years ago?”

He Xiaoyun was a very professional person. When he was with Ling Sheng, he never made their relationship public, probably preparing for a fleeting affair. This suited Ling Sheng’s wishes, so very few people knew about their relationship. And after Ling Sheng rejected He Xiaoyun’s proposal to go to the United States, the two had indeed not contacted each other again.

After all, He Xiaoyun also had his pride and wouldn’t try to keep him.

Ling Sheng was also clear about his attitude towards He Xiaoyun: “He and I ended a long time ago. I’ll find a time to talk to him properly.”

“Okay, just be mindful of your boundaries. Even if it’s not for the sake of work, being ambiguous isn’t good for Jiang Chen.”

Mentioning Jiang Chen, Ling Sheng sighed. He hesitated and confessed to his friend: “I told Jiang Chen about He Xiaoyun. He seems to mind a bit.”

“He minds your past with He Xiaoyun? He doesn’t seem like the kind of person who dwells on the past.”

Ling Sheng was also thinking about this question. He understood what Jiang Chen was struggling with. When you are with your lover, and every action, every look, every kiss might carry the meaning of being taught by someone else, how can you invest yourself?

What’s more, He Xiaoyun had been emphasizing this in front of Jiang Chen.

Ling Sheng slowly said, “Maybe He Xiaoyun brought him too much insecurity.”

Coco was silent for a while before saying, “Ling Sheng, you are Jiang Chen’s lover. He Xiaoyun can’t bring him insecurity. The only person who can make him insecure is you.”

Coco’s words gave Ling Sheng a small jolt.

He thought of Wu Xia. Jiang Chen wasn’t the kind of person who dwelled. When Wu Xia appeared, he didn’t seem as insecure as he was now. He even took the initiative to help Wu Xia solve the problem.

Why did Jiang Chen feel such strong insecurity after He Xiaoyun appeared?

Not because He Xiaoyun did anything, but because of what he did.

He did confess his past to Jiang Chen, but in the process of confessing, he kept emphasizing the importance of He Xiaoyun, the importance of that experience. There aren’t so many ties, if someone moves forward, someone else must move backward.

Ling Sheng suddenly understood. He thanked Coco, hung up the phone, and reopened the Jiang Chen’s chat: [I promised you a meal before. Come over tomorrow, I’ll cook for you.]

Jiang Chen originally wanted to buy some vegetables, but Ling Sheng didn’t let him buy anything. The pots, pans, and seasonings that Wu Xia left here were all complete. By the time Jiang Chen arrived, the aroma of chicken soup was already wafting through the air.

Jiang Chen went to the kitchen to help, but Ling Sheng seemed to have prepared everything in advance. There was nothing for him to do. Ling Sheng told him to go back to the living room and watch TV. He refused, and sat at the dining table watching Ling Sheng busy in the kitchen.

Ling Sheng bought a new apron, with a milky white background and a Cinnamoroll printed on the chest. He was wearing a creamy white knitted shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, holding a knife and slicing ginger, his technique seemed so professional to Jiang Chen, as if he had specially learned it.

The range hood was on, and the chicken soup simmering on the stove emitted a fragrant aroma. Ling Sheng would occasionally glance at it, then continue with his work, as effortlessly as when he was working.

Jiang Chen was a little mesmerized by his domestic appearance.

He had imagined what it would be like to live with Ling Sheng in the future. After the Wu Xia incident, he went to Fang Xing to learn how to cook, also because he thought that there would definitely be someone in the house who could cook in the future. If Ling Sheng was busy, he would do it.

Just like his mother, there were aunts and nannies at home, but his father, including his brother and him, still liked his mother’s cooking the most. Although she didn’t cook often, his mother would personally make dumplings for the winter solstice and a table of dishes for birthdays.

Ling Sheng had gotten up early in the morning. He didn’t go to the supermarket, but went to the market to buy the freshest vegetables, and then started preparing. Preparing the ingredients took the most time; cooking was easier.

He sensed Jiang Chen’s gaze, and while washing the knife, suddenly said “Ouch.”

Jiang Chen ran over anxiously and asked him, “What’s wrong? Did you cut your hand? Don’t do it, I’ll do it.”

Ling Sheng raised his head to him: “Water splashed in my eyes, wipe it for me.”

Jiang Chen carefully cupped his face, took a tissue and dabbed at his eyes, asking as he dabbed, “Like this? Is there still any?”

Ling Sheng gently shook his head, but still kept his eyes closed.

Jiang Chen paused, the hand holding the tissue moved away. This face in his palm was so beautiful, so beautiful that every time he saw him he couldn’t help but want to kiss him ten thousand times. He knew pretty well what Ling Sheng was implying.

He wanted a kiss.

Jiang Chen wanted to kiss him, but since that night, every time he encountered such a moment, he would think, was this also taught by He Xiaoyun?

This thought was like someone stuffing a bottle of peppermint oil into your nose when you’re drowsy, making you wide awake.

He Xiaoyun, he was a demon.

Jiang Chen swallowed, and finally walked away: “I’ll get you a wet wipe to wipe it.”

Ling Sheng was released, stunned there a little dazed.

Jiang Chen put the wet wipes on the counter, afraid to face Ling Sheng, and ran back to the sofa to watch TV, but he couldn’t focus on anything.

The warm and tender atmosphere suddenly became a bit stiff, but Ling Sheng quickly recovered. He picked up a spoon and ladled a little soup, and said to Jiang Chen, “Come over and help me taste it.”

Hearing the sound, Jiang Chen dropped the remote control and came over. Ling Sheng took a small spoon, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to Jiang Chen’s mouth.

Jiang Chen opened his mouth and drank it, immediately giving a thumbs up: “Delicious!”

Ling Sheng smiled and said, “Is it salty?”

“Not salty, just right.” Jiang Chen sincerely praised: “It’s really delicious.”

Ling Sheng handed him the small bowl, and Jiang Chen drank it all in one go. Ling Sheng reached out to wipe the soup stains from the corner of his mouth: “My mother is the best at making chicken soup. She has to make it for me every time before an exam. This is made according to my mother’s method.”

This was the first time Ling Sheng had mentioned his family in front of him, and Jiang Chen couldn’t help but listen attentively.

“My mother is a high school teacher. She and my father met in college. She got pregnant with me when she was a sophomore, studying while pregnant. Later, I was born. Until I was three years old, I lived with my grandmother. They agreed to get married after graduation, but when it came time to graduate, they broke up.”

Jiang Chen didn’t know he would hear this, and thought of how Ling Sheng wouldn’t let him come out to his family when they first started dating, and asked, “Are you worried that I… am just a passing fancy?”