Lu Linjiang and the guard watched as Jiang Langmin held Jiang Cheng for a full minute before Lu finally couldn't help but let out a light cough.
Jiang Langmin released him with a look of delayed realization. Jiang Cheng was clearly dazed and quickly took a step back. "Senior Jiang..."
"I was just so worried about you that I got a bit carried away. My apologies." Though Jiang Langmin said this, there wasn't a hint of apology on his face. To Lu Linjiang, he even looked a bit smug.
Lu Linjiang suddenly felt like he was in the way. Just as the thought occurred to him, Jiang Langmin draped an arm over Jiang Cheng’s shoulder. The movement was so natural and fluid it seemed as if he had done it a hundred times before.
Jiang Langmin led the younger man over to Lu Linjiang. "Captain Lu, since everything is cleared up, I’ll be taking Jiang Cheng now."
Lu Linjiang gave a perfunctory nod. This wasn't the first time he had released a suspect from this place; not everyone who had to cooperate with an investigation left expressing relief at being cleared. Lu Linjiang had heard his fair share of threats and curses in this hallway, but compared to those, today’s experience felt somehow worse. If Jiang Langmin hadn't bothered to come over and acknowledge him, he would have almost thought he’d been forgotten entirely.
"Thank you, Captain Lu."
Lu Linjiang’s hard-won sense of presence vanished in an instant. He watched the two walk out together in an intimate manner, failing to see the look of bewilderment on Jiang Cheng’s face.
While Jiang Langmin was waiting for the elevator, Jiang Cheng took a few steps to the side, putting some distance between them and slipping out from under Jiang Langmin’s arm.
"Senior?" Jiang Cheng looked at him, confused. While he and Jiang Langmin were usually on good terms, such intimate gestures left him stunned, especially that sudden hug upon his release. Jiang Cheng still couldn't make heads or tails of it—since when had he and Jiang Langmin become so close?
Jiang Langmin gave him a mischievous wink and ushered him into the elevator, a sly smile playing on his lips. He leaned in and whispered, "Before I came here, I heard a bit of gossip."
Jiang Cheng had never gone out of his way to hide his past. People at the institute rarely gossiped, but those who knew, knew. When Jiang Langmin mentioned "gossip," Jiang Cheng immediately understood what he was referring to, but he still didn't see the point of Jiang Langmin’s earlier display.
"So I thought I should stage a bit of a counterattack."
Jiang Cheng looked at him in disbelief. "Senior, isn't this a little... childish?"
Jiang Langmin shook his head in disagreement. "How can you call this childish? In any romantic relationship..." He realized his slip of the tongue and corrected himself. "In any relationship, the one who is loved always feels a sense of superiority—especially those blockheaded straight men. They instinctively think they’re the light, the electricity, the very air you breathe—utterly indispensable. Even if they occasionally feel regret, it’s always tinged with a bit of condescending charity and defensiveness."
"Trust me, giving them a bit of a blow helps them see themselves clearly. Unless..." Jiang Langmin looked at Jiang Cheng. "Unless you still have lingering feelings."
Jiang Cheng shook his head instinctively. "I’m not a masochist."
"Then that’s that!" Jiang Langmin’s tone lightened as he led him to the car. "Don't you feel even a tiny bit of satisfaction?" Seeing Jiang Cheng’s still-blank expression, he sighed in defeat. "Fine, it seems our junior is truly too kind-hearted to bother with such petty things."
Since joining the Hughes Institute, Jiang Cheng had received a great deal of help from Jiang Langmin. Academically, Jiang Langmin was an excellent partner and mentor who could pinpoint the heart of a problem instantly, but Jiang Cheng hadn't had much personal contact with him. His various projects consumed most of his energy; to keep up with his colleagues, he worked as if every second counted. His interactions with Jiang Langmin had always been strictly professional.
While Jiang Langmin’s lively private persona wasn't entirely shocking, it was still unexpected for Jiang Cheng. He stared at Jiang Langmin with a touch of wonder. Catching the look out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Langmin turned toward him openly. "What is it?"
Jiang Cheng realized he was staring and said apologetically, "I’m just a bit surprised. I didn't think you would do things like this..."
Jiang Langmin didn't respond immediately, focusing on driving the car out of the lot. Just as Jiang Cheng thought he had said something wrong and was about to apologize, Jiang Langmin suddenly spoke. "I usually don't do things like this."
Jiang Cheng looked at him, puzzled.
"Though the timing isn't ideal, since we're on the subject, I might as well be honest: I’m actually pursuing you."
Jiang Cheng felt as if he were listening to a tall tale. He instinctively shifted further away in his seat.
Even while driving, Jiang Langmin didn't miss the small movement. He couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "I suppose if I didn't say it, you would probably never have known."
Jiang Cheng didn't know what expression to make. He had barely slept during his days in detention, and he had only just been cleared. Before he could even ask about the details of the case, Jiang Langmin had dropped this bombshell on him. He felt as if the passenger seat were suddenly covered in thorns, making him so restless he wanted to jump out of the moving car.
"I know saying this now is sudden, but I hope you’ll give it serious consideration." The car reached a crosswalk, and Jiang Langmin brought it to a stop for a pedestrian.
"I... I’m sorry." Jiang Cheng looked at him cautiously.
"You don't have to give me an answer so quickly. I didn't tell you this to put pressure on you," Jiang Langmin said, looking at him earnestly. "I really do hope you’ll think about it."
"No," Jiang Cheng insisted. "I spent over a decade loving someone. His self-righteous kindness and his failure to give me a clear, absolute rejection were actually the greatest cruelties. Rather than leaving things ambiguous, it’s better to be decisive and clear."
Jiang Langmin sighed. "Not even a chance?"
"I’m sorry," Jiang Cheng said with genuine regret. "When you love someone, your entire world revolves around them. I lived for over ten years without a sense of self. Right now, my priority is dragging my life back onto the tracks after it spiraled so wildly out of control. This period of recovery will be very long. I have no right or reason to drag you along while you wait for an uncertain answer."
The pedestrian finally finished crossing, and Jiang Langmin released the brake. "It’s alright. I can wait. When it comes to feelings, one can afford to be a bit selfish. That goes for you, and certainly for me as well."
Jiang Cheng opened his mouth to say more, but Jiang Langmin cut him off to end the topic. "Anyway, we still have quite a few issues left behind by Luo Jia to deal with."
Only then did Jiang Cheng remember what he most wanted to know. "What exactly happened? Why would Luo Jia..."
"For money, I assume." Jiang Langmin gave him a brief overview of the situation. "In any case, all we can do now is pray that Luo Jia wakes up soon. It would be best if he’s the one to explain everything to Madam Tao."
Jiang Cheng couldn't fathom why Luo Jia would do such a thing for money. He was about to ask more when a phone started ringing. He instinctively reached for his pocket before remembering his phone had been confiscated long ago.
Jiang Langmin pulled over to the side of the road, fished a phone out of his overcoat, and handed it back to him.
"Thank you." Jiang Cheng took it. It was an unknown number. "Hello?"
"Little Orange! You worried your big brother to death!" Wang Ling’s voice came through the line.
Jiang Cheng smiled involuntarily. Aside from Lu Linjiang, Wang Ling was the person he was closest to in the world. Wang Ling continued relentlessly, "You didn't even tell me you were back! Then you run into such a mess and have no one to back you up! That useless Lu Linjiang only just told me you were okay! I don't care what you say—tonight, you're following my lead. I'm going to help you wash away this bad luck!"
Because of Lu Linjiang, Jiang Cheng hadn't planned on contacting Wang Ling; he had intended to return to Denmark immediately after his meetings. But everything had been thrown into chaos. Tao Minxing was gone, the culprit was apparently Luo Jia, he had repeatedly run into the one person he didn't want to see, and then there was Jiang Langmin... To Jiang Cheng, being able to see Wang Ling now felt like an unexpected blessing.
He readily agreed to Wang Ling’s plan and opened the navigation to the address sent over. Seeing that the distance wasn't too far, he suddenly realized he had forgotten something. "Um, Senior Jiang, do you have other plans for today?"
Jiang Langmin gave a wry smile. "I had originally booked a place for dinner, but since you have an appointment, let’s make it another time."
Jiang Cheng felt a secret wave of relief. Having just rejected the man, putting some distance between them was for the best. He bid Jiang Langmin a polite farewell and, without even waiting for an offer of a ride, hailed a taxi as quickly as he could.
Jiang Langmin watched Jiang Cheng’s retreating back—which could almost be described as fleeing—and let out a long, low sigh. "I've been rejected, haven't I..."
