PEU Chapter 14

Jiang Jin gave the fruit basket to Wang Chen, “Then we won’t disturb your work any longer. I hope you get well soon.”

“Won’t you guys come in and sit for a bit?” Jiang Xinghao looked at Jiang Jin, timely revealing some vulnerability; wet eyes and a pale face that could easily stimulate a woman’s maternal instincts.

But, contrary to expectations, Jiang Jin was unaffected by those things.

“No, your work is more important. Goodbye,” Jiang Jin answered in an irrefutable tone and turned around to press the lift button, her actions straightforward and decisive.

Jiang Xinghao stiffened in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chi took the opportunity of the time before Jiang Cheng could be pulled inside the ward to say in a hurry, “Wait a moment. Is it alright if we exchange contact information? Or will that inconvenience you?”

Jiang Cheng took out his phone, “No problem. This is my WeChat.”

“Awesome!” Jiang Chi felt satisfied.

Jiang Xinghao watched the Jiang brother and sister enter the lift with grievance in his heart, then subconsciously glanced at Jiang Cheng’s phone– the latter actually managed to get the contact details of the Jiang family’s second young master in this manner? Could this be the mysterious power of kinship?

Jiang Xinghao pursed his lips hard and, before Jiang Cheng received the other party’s WeChat friend request, he said, “Ah-Cheng, as a professional artist, you shouldn’t just randomly give out your contact details to a stranger like that. It can be really easy for others to harass you.”

Jiang Cheng glanced over. Who would even believe that these words were truly spoken out of consideration for him? With a fake smile, he said, “Oh, I get it. How’s your leg? Is it okay for you to stand for so long? Maybe you should go lie down again, yeah?”

Just then, his phone made a “di di” beeping sound. It was Jiang Chi sending him a friend request.

Before Jiang Xinghao’s eyes, Jiang Cheng lifted a finger and approved the request without a single shred of hesitation.

On the side, the media reporters who saw this scene looked at each other. It seemed that this duo really didn’t have as good a relationship after going solo as what their agent had claimed.

Jiang Xinghao’s expression was unpleasant. Wang Chen wanted to smooth things over and brought him back to the bed, saying, “Then let’s start the interview, shall we…”

He barely had time to finish his words when a series of “di di di” sounded.

The beeping from new notifications coming in from the phone was so incessant that one might think it was a person who had forgotten to mute their group chat.

Everyone looked at Jiang Cheng. The latter lowered his head without any guilt, then looked at his phone before muting it. “Sorry about that. Would it be possible to do my part of the interview first? I’m a bit busy.”

Wang Chen and Jiang Xinghao, “…”

The media reporter, “…That’s fine. Then let’s begin, Mr. Jiang.”

“Mhm.”

///

Jiang Cheng’s interview was actually just a few questions long, and it concluded by asking him to cooperate to take some photos.

After he was done with the work, Jiang Cheng resolutely left. He then conveniently took out his phone to look at the messages—

[Genius Designer Ah-Chi Eats Eats Eats: Jiang Cheng? This is Jiang Chi.] (T/N: Ah-Chi chi chi chi)

[Genius Designer Ah-Chi Eats Eats Eats: Wow, we have the same surname. What are you doing right now? Are you free tomorrow? How about we meet for a drink?]

[Genius Designer Ah-Chi Eats Eats Eats: I can be considered half an insider in the industry. I heard what you said earlier and thought that we could maybe help a bit.]

[Genius Designer Ah-Chi Eats Eats Eats: Ah, don’t think of me as a weirdo. I don’t have any ulterior motives, I’m just a kind person.]

[Genius Designer Ah-Chi Eats Eats Eats: Hello? Are you there?]

Jiang Cheng’s mouth twitched. He had thought it was strange that his WeChat that never had any activity suddenly became active like this– it turned out it was all because of that person he met a moment ago.

With just a few clicks, Jiang Cheng first changed the other’s lengthy ID and placed a note next to it before then sending a reply:

[Jiang Cheng: I’m here. I was just in an interview. Thank you.]

[Jiang Chi–Stranger: Oh oh, I forgot about that, oops. Sorry. But, also, can you think about what I said about us meeting up? Are you free tomorrow?]

[Jiang Cheng: Free. You can pick the location, I’m not too familiar with these things.]

[Jiang Chi–Stranger: Okay! Then at 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon! I already booked a place. See you there! (share address)]

Jiang Cheng clicked on the link to see. It was a place in the centre of Lin City, surrounded by office buildings, and was always full during the afternoon breaks. One needed to make a prior reservation to get in.

Jiang Cheng put away his phone in a good mood. What he was afraid of wasn’t running into a fraud, but rather that he could only rely on Wang Chen to find work.

“A kind person?” Jiang Jin couldn’t help but sneer as she glanced at Jiang Chi’s chat interface. “How come I haven’t once seen this kindness you speak of during these past twenty plus years, then?”

“Depends on who the person is,” Jiang Chi raised his brows as he gently tapped on Jiang Cheng’s profile picture. It was completely black, as if the other person had cancelled their account, and was so depressing to look at that he couldn’t help but frown slightly.

“In Uncle Jian’s words, it’s just that Jiang Cheng and I have some fate,” he added.

Jiang Jin looked thoughtful. “Then how do you plan on helping him tomorrow?”

“Isn’t Ah-Sui’s agent quite idle these days? I also heard he’s looking for a new talent to raise. Well, in that case, he can just take on Jiang Cheng.” Jiang Chi suggested.

Jiang Jin, “…Could it be that you can’t remember just what kind of rumours Jiang Cheng and Ah-Sui have together?”

“I don’t think the rumours are believable anymore. Just look at the live broadcast. Jiang Cheng didn’t seem to have any thoughts towards Ah-Sui at all,” Jiang Chi said as he shrugged. “I’ll go ask what he thinks. If he doesn’t mind, then it’s settled.”

Jiang Jin rubbed her forehead. She thought that if Jian Suizhi really wanted to stay in the circle, he definitely had to disagree with this absurd request from this brother of hers.

Meanwhile, on Jian Suizhi’s side–

“Have my agent take on Jiang Cheng? That’s fine. I’ll go talk to him.”

“I’ve long been thinking that Jiang Cheng’s agent has some issues. It turns out that what happened before really was that agent’s fault; a change is long overdue.”

Jiang Jin thought that, in this world, she was probably the only one who was somewhat normal.

“Sis, will you be coming with me tomorrow?” Jiang Chi proposed.

“I’m not as free as you are,” Jiang Jin snorted lightly, focusing on driving. For some reason, though, the way Jiang Cheng looked at them before being pulled away by Wang Chen flashed in her mind.

Seemingly quite pitiful, as if there was nobody he could rely on in this world.

A moment later, Jiang Jin said, “Send me the address. I’ll drop by if I have time.”

Jiang Chi’s mouth curved into a smile; his sister had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

The next day, at noon, Jiang Chi called Jiang Jin to ask, “Are you going? If you are, I’ll pick you up.”

Jiang Jin looked at the time in surprise. “It isn’t even one o’clock yet.”

“Coming to pick you up and drive there, won’t it take about half an hour? Better arrive early and not let him wait. This way, we can show that we’re well-mannered and courteous,” Jiang Chi said.

Jiang Jin, “…Yesterday, who was it who wore clothes stained with paint to visit a patient? Who waited until I came over to remember that they had to go out?”

Jiang Chi choked. Then, after three seconds of silence, he asked, “So, are you going or not?”

“…Come pick me up,” Jiang Jin grumbled.

Jiang Chi drove over in a Land Rover.

After Jiang Jin got in the car, she noticed that Jiang Chi seemed to have paid extra attention to the way he dressed today. His whole body seemed to exude the words “very reliable” and “successful person”.

“Aren’t you overdoing it a bit too much today?” Jiang Jin raised her brow.

“Am I? I think it’s just right. Don’t I look good?” Jiang Chi asked in response before smoothly pulling the car mirror to take a look, then straightened his hair a few times.

Jiang Jin, “…Be honest, do you like him?”

Jiang Chi inhaled sharply and immediately clarified, “What I feel towards Jiang Cheng is pure admiration and friendship between men! I’ll admit I paid a bit more attention, but it’s only just a tiny bit, and it’s so I can leave a good impression!”

“Well, alright.” Jiang Jin’s apology for misunderstanding was not sincere.

Once they reached their destination, the huge and imposing Land Rover was parked on the roadside next to the store.

Needless to say, when Jiang Chi, who had a tall and slender physique, got off the big Land Rover, it created quite a striking and contrasting effect that it attracted the attention of passersby.

The tables of this store were in the open air, so Jiang Chi could immediately spot Jiang Cheng who was already seated. “You’re quite early.”

“I just arrived. You’re also here ahead of time,” Jiang Cheng nodded slightly in greeting, then looked at Jiang Jin who was by Jiang Chi’s side. “I’ve also seen you before; hello.”

“Hello, I’m Jiang Jin,” Jiang Jin answered.

“Well, let’s order something to drink. There’ll be someone coming over in a while– it’s a friend of mine who’s an agent.” Jiang Chi called over a waiter to place their order. “I believe he should be able to help you out.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Cheng didn’t expect the other party to get straight to the point and was slightly surprised.

They barely had time to make small talk before the agent Jiang Chi mentioned came over. Soon enough, it became a casual conversation between four people who then exchanged contact information.

“You can contact me once your contract expires,” the agent in charge of Jian Suizhi, Wu Ge, said.

Jiang Cheng nodded and thanked him, then said, “I’d like to go to the restroom.”

Jiang Chi immediately followed with, “I’ll come with you.”

Jiang Jin couldn’t bear to look at it and had to cover her eyes. Only kindergarten children would go to the restroom together like this, right?

There was the sound of flushing in the restroom. Jiang Cheng and Jiang Jin both washed their hands side by side.

Jiang Cheng looked at the delicate man through the mirror and said, “I didn’t expect that, for our encounter this time, you would really just help me out. Why is that?”

Jiang Chi paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re quite straightforward. I only helped you in passing, it isn’t a big deal. If I had to say a reason, it would be because I think you’re quite interesting.”

“Don’t think too much. I’m going out,” Jiang Chi waved his hand and took the lead in leaving.

Jiang Cheng wiped his hands before staring at himself in the mirror for a moment, uncertainty in his gaze— this was the first time he came across such unsolicited kindness and good intention, could it really be trusted?

For some reason, he was actually impulsive to the point that his emotion overwhelmed his rationality and had the thought that the other party would not harm him.

Jiang Cheng turned the faucet again and splashed cold water on his face, then tidied himself before going out.

In the narrow corridor was a waiter carrying a tray with four glasses of iced Americano filled to the brim walking right towards him.

He was just trying to turn sideways to dodge, but didn’t expect that the other party’s tray would tilt off balance and make the four completely full glasses about to pour on him!

Jiang Cheng’s pupils contracted– there was simply no space to avoid it at all, both sides were filled with guests. It was inevitable that he would get drenched from head to toe.

“Watch out!” A man’s voice came from behind him and, at almost the same time, the shadow of a body flashed by. The figure crossed a table and firmly and securely stabilised that waiter’s tray.

“Wow!” It was a false alarm. The surrounding guests erupted in applause and cheers, and some foreigners even cried out “Kung fu!”.

The waiter, who was also stunned, subconsciously thanked him before walking away while holding the tray more carefully.

Jiang Cheng looked at that man– he had striking facial features; his brow ridge really high and nose bridge prominent. Along with his sharp and penetrating eyes, he perfectly matched the current beauty standards for a handsome man.

There was a long and deep scar on his brow ridge that was terrifying to look at, but it still didn’t lessen his attractiveness.

Jiang Cheng subconsciously wondered what kind of situation could have possibly resulted in such a scar.

“Are you okay?” the handsome guy asked in a deep voice that was very pleasant to hear.

Jiang Cheng snapped back to reality and, from the proximity, realised that the other party was quite tall, had broad shoulders, and had a wide back; at a glance, it could be seen that this build was from exercise.

He nodded gratefully at the man. “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to avoid it at such a distance.”

The man looked at Jiang Cheng, his gaze slightly changing.

“Are you okay?!” Jiang Chi and the others came over, surrounding Jiang Cheng to look, then subconsciously turned to the “good-hearted” person who had eagerly helped. “Ah, thank you…Uncle Jian?!”

Jian Xingce nodded slightly, his gaze still lingering on Jiang Cheng. “What a coincidence.”

Jiang Cheng realised that the other party seemed to know him and couldn’t help asking, “You…know me?”

“But of course! Uncle Jian has also watched your live broadcast,” Jiang Chi interjected.

Jian Xingce, “…”

“Thank you for your support. Our live broadcast will resume tomorrow, so remember to come watch,” Jiang Cheng immediately said, trying to shorten the distance between himself and his small fanbase.

The few number of fans had to be cherished.

Jian Xingce raised his brow slightly. This time, he’s pretending not to know him?

Amused, he gave Jiang Cheng a profound look before saying, “Well, then, see you tomorrow.”