Chapter 52

Chapter 52

The next day, Jiang Chen went to the He Corporation’s branch in Jiang City. There was a Starbucks downstairs, and Jiang Chen waited for He Xiaoyun there.

He Xiaoyun still looked lazy and flippant. He sat down in front of Jiang Chen, looked around, and said critically, “Jiang, this is my first time in this kind of coffee shop. Let’s meet somewhere else next time.”

Jiang Chen had something he wanted to ask him, so he said, “Where does Director He want to go? We can go now.”

He Xiaoyun refused, “No need, I have to go look at houses later. I don’t have much time.”

Look at houses?

Jiang Chen asked him, “Are you going to live in Jiang City for a long time?”

He Xiaoyun smiled frivolously, “Yes, if Ling Sheng is willing, this might be our new home in Jiang City, so I naturally have to put some thought into it.”

Jiang Chen didn’t sleep all night. He was slowly becoming immune to He Xiaoyun’s words. “Director He, since you’ve already decided to bring us together, you don’t need to say these sanctimonious words anymore.”

He Xiaoyun laughed, “When did I say I was going to bring you together?”

Jiang Chen looked at him calmly, “You don’t need to tell me that.”

He Xiaoyun still had that mocking look, “I just want you to give up.”

Jiang Chen didn’t see it that way. If he really wanted to separate them at all costs, he could have directly exposed him in front of his family. With his family’s disapproval, he wouldn’t have to go to so much trouble to drive him away.

Nor would he test him once or twice, reminding him of Ling Sheng’s unresolved issues.

“Perhaps it’s not for me, but for him,” Jiang Chen said, “But I’m still very grateful that you told me this.”

He Xiaoyun ignored him and turned to look at the glass window next to him. This was on the first floor, and because it was working hours and it was cold outside, there were very few pedestrians on the road, making it feel desolate.

He remembered the day he seriously told Ling Sheng that he was serious about him.

But Ling Sheng’s expression didn’t change as he replied, “I don’t care if you’re serious or not, it’s the same to me. There’s no possibility for us.”

His innate advantages were there. He had hardly met anyone who rejected him in love. Ling Sheng was the most special lover he had ever met. During those three months, when Ling Sheng gradually blossomed in front of him, he felt like a gambler who had obtained an uncut gemstone.

He knew it was a treasure at first sight, and after carving, it revealed even more brilliance.

At that time, he really felt that perhaps this relationship could continue.

So he proposed to take him back to America, and Ling Sheng directly refused.

Maybe it wasn’t enough time, or maybe, as Ling Sheng said, they might have liking and passion, but they hadn’t reached the level of love. He also had his pride and couldn’t make a second request to a lover who had rejected him. That would be too degrading.

But for three years, he hadn’t met a second Ling Sheng. Seeing him again after returning to China, he still wanted to continue their previous relationship, but he was met with an even more direct and decisive refusal.

But he wasn’t the type to pester. He had personally witnessed the brilliance of the gemstone blooming little by little, so he naturally couldn’t bear to see him fall into the hands of someone with poor taste. He really wanted to test Jiang Chen.

He Xiaoyun turned back to look at Jiang Chen, the frivolity on his face lessened a bit. “I don’t know much either. He didn’t tell me everything. I only know that he had a boyfriend in college. He probably liked him for four years, and it probably didn’t end well, even causing him to develop mild depression. He hadn’t fully recovered until he met me that year.”

Jiang Chen hadn’t heard Ling Sheng mention it. He even thought about asking someone to investigate yesterday, but he didn’t.

He thought Ling Sheng wouldn’t like him investigating him behind his back, and he would rather hear it from him personally.

He came to see He Xiaoyun today because he realized that He Xiaoyun didn’t have malicious intentions, so he came to see him.

“Then what does it mean that I’m the same type?” Jiang Chen asked.

He Xiaoyun smiled, “It means exactly what it says.”

Ling Sheng had said that He Xiaoyun wasn’t his type. People in their line of work often deal with models and have seen countless handsome men. Ling Sheng once joked that he would only be attracted to this one type.

Tall, sunny, handsome, full of hormonal energy, and a simple and straightforward personality. As he got older, Jiang Chen also gained a growing maturity and stability.

Jiang Chen sat there silently.

He Xiaoyun saw his depressed look and felt much better. “Anything else you want to ask? Information about that person? Photos? If it’s inconvenient for you to investigate, do you want me to help you?”

Jiang Chen glanced at him, “Why are you suddenly being so kind?”

He Xiaoyun shrugged, “For fun.”

Jiang Chen didn’t know what he found fun about it, “What’s so fun about this?”

For He Xiaoyun, he felt more regret for Ling Sheng. He felt good when he was with Ling Sheng before, and he thought Ling Sheng was someone he admired from his appearance to his personality. If he really had to choose someone to spend the rest of his life with, he would be a good choice for now.

It was a pity that he wasn’t willing.

He Xiaoyun had never been rejected by the same person twice, but if that person was Ling Sheng, he reluctantly accepted it.

“It’s my first time being a matchmaker, and it feels pretty good.” He Xiaoyun tapped his fingers on the chair twice. “I want to be at the main table at your wedding.”

Jiang Chen nodded seriously, “Okay.”

He Xiaoyun looked at him and found his serious demeanor quite interesting. He said, “You haven’t even come out of the closet yet, and you can be so sure?”

Jiang Chen looked at him frankly and suddenly said, “I’m going home today to come out to my family.”

This surprised He Xiaoyun, “Today?”

“That’s right.” Jiang Chen said firmly without hesitation.

He thought about it all night yesterday. Ling Sheng said that he had come out to his family when he was 18, so he wasn’t worried that Ling Sheng’s family wouldn’t accept it.

He didn’t want to delay any longer. The source of all his anxiety was simply because he was afraid of losing Ling Sheng.

Whether it was Wang Ming’an, Wu Xia, He Xiaoyun, or that person he had never met, there might be more, but he couldn’t control so much. He wanted to come out and openly announce to everyone that they were together.

“Have you thought it through?” He Xiaoyun knew very well that for families like the Jiangs, money was secondary. Reputation was more important. Even if society was more tolerant of homosexuality, it didn’t mean that the Jiangs could accept it.

Jiang Chen didn’t answer him. He never thought about a way out. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to get his family to accept it, but for him, it was only a matter of time, not a question of whether or not it would happen.

One He Xiaoyun was already making him feel intensely insecure, and he didn’t know where the person Ling Sheng had liked for a long time, who occupied his youth, and who He Xiaoyun even called a rival, stood in Ling Sheng’s heart. He didn’t even dare to ask.

He had never been so insecure.

In this mood, he could only find some security from the outside. He couldn’t even control that anymore, even though Ling Sheng had stopped him before.

He Xiaoyun saw that he didn’t mean it as a joke at all and suddenly seemed to understand the difference between him and Jiang Chen.

For him, Ling Sheng was the best choice compared to others. For Jiang Chen, Ling Sheng was the only one he had to get at all costs.

Did it take that much to be called love?

He Xiaoyun lowered his eyes and thought about it, then smiled very lightly. When he looked at Jiang Chen again, there was a playful look in his eyes. “I’ll give you another piece of information. That person and Ling Sheng have known each other for more than ten years. Even now, they’re still in contact.”

Jiang Chen’s always calm face finally cracked. Because he was clenching his teeth too hard, He Xiaoyun even saw his cheeks tense up and fall.

But in the end, he didn’t say anything. He just said to He Xiaoyun, “Don’t tell Ling Sheng about today.”

In the end, He Xiaoyun didn’t even drink a sip of coffee. After Jiang Chen left, He Xiaoyun thought about it and sent a message to Ling Sheng: [Your little wolfdog came to me to ask about opening the light.]

Soon after, Ling Sheng called directly.

He Xiaoyun answered the call, leaned back in his chair, and said leisurely, “Hello, Director Ling, why do you have time to call me?”

Ling Sheng ignored his teasing and went straight to the point, “What did you tell him?”

Jiang Chen clearly hadn’t mentioned this matter anymore. How could he suddenly remember it again? And he didn’t come to him directly, but went to He Xiaoyun. Who knew what He Xiaoyun’s mouth had said?

He Xiaoyun heard the nervousness in his tone and finally realized the difference between himself and Jiang Chen.

When Ling Sheng was with him, he had never used this kind of nervous or questioning tone to ask him. They had tacitly not mentioned their relationship and never exposed it in public. He used to think that Ling Sheng was very sensible and that they had a good understanding.

But now it seemed that it was only because he didn’t care.

If it was exposed, it would end. It would be a pity if it ended, but it didn’t seem to matter.

But he wouldn’t do that to Jiang Chen. He was nervous, he was worried, and all these emotions came from caring.

He Xiaoyun lowered his eyes, but his tone didn’t change, “I told him what you told me. I’m reporting to you, aren’t I?”

“He’s already insecure. Don’t stimulate him anymore.” There was a bit of a sigh in Ling Sheng’s voice, “I’m begging you, He Xiaoyun.”

He Xiaoyun paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, “Ling Sheng, do you really love him?”

Ling Sheng didn’t answer him.

He Xiaoyun said slowly, “Then why don’t you dare to tell him?”

Ling Sheng was silent for a while, then said, “It’s not that I don’t dare, I just don’t think he needs to know.”

“I don’t think there’s a difference.”

“Whether there’s a difference or not is something I know myself! I don’t need you to think!”

Ling Sheng on the other end was already a little angry. His voice was deep, and he was worried about how much Jiang Chen knew and what he would think. He naturally didn’t have much patience with He Xiaoyun.

Since returning to China, He Xiaoyun had already faced enough setbacks with Ling Sheng. If he didn’t really like him, he wouldn’t have tolerated so much with his personality.

But in the end, he still wanted to give him another push.

Because he also wanted to see if Jiang Chen could really do what he hadn’t been able to do.

Or perhaps, it was because he had really liked him.

He wanted to see if Jiang Chen could really give Ling Sheng the kind of love he craved.

“Ling Sheng, instead of getting angry at me, why don’t you go ask what your little wolfdog is planning to do to come out of the closet.”