TCWSITD – Chapter 41.3

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Chapter 41.3 – The He Family Banquet

Lin Jiang looked at him calmly.

And in that moment, the wind around them turned bitingly cold.

A chilly gust swept through the night, and suddenly, a torrential downpour began.

He Gu stared at him, frozen, the color slowly draining from his face.

His pale lips trembled slightly, and it took him a long moment to find his voice. “Are you serious… or just saying that to trick her?”

Lin Jiang didn’t answer the question. Instead, he unlocked his phone, which displayed a message from Shen Ju.

[Shen Ju: Captain, it’s raining. Should I come down to get you?]

Lin Jiang typed back—

[Lin Jiang: Yeah.]

Then he put down his phone, completely unhidden, placing the chat interface face-up. “Shen Ju is coming to pick me up. Let’s end the conversation here.”

His voice was cold—so cold that He Gu felt an illusion that this was a point of no return.

Looking at their chat history, He Gu felt as if his heart were being sliced apart inch by inch, the blood still corroding his flesh.

The rain poured heavier and he wind grew colder.

He Gu reached out and, uncertainly, grasped Lin Jiang’s wrist, finally unable to keep his composure anymore.

His voice trembled as he asked, “Lin Jiang… did you ever really like me? Last year, on the streets of Los Angeles, the whole world forgot it was my birthday. I waited all day for your birthday wishes, but you never called.”

That day, Lin Jiang did call.

Lin Jiang had gathered every ounce of courage he had and pressed the button to call him.

But in the instant he dialed the number, his mind flashed back to the words He Gu’s mother had said: “Two men being together—how are you going to sustain that kind of relationship? Can you give him a child?”

In the face of power and status, all delusions were nothing but self-inflicted humiliation.

Lin Jiang ultimately ended that call—severing the delusion in his heart, and also preserving his dignity.

Even now, Lin Jiang had no regrets about his decision.

“He Gu, you’re the type of person who takes a step back the moment someone takes a step toward you. Unless someone is willing to chase you endlessly, they’ll never be able to keep up with how far you pull away. Unfortunately, I can’t keep chasing after you. The moment you step back, I won’t move forward anymore. I just think we’re not suitable for each other.”

The rain fell harder, matching the heaviness in his heart.

They used to be so in sync, so happy together. But by the time He Gu returned, everything had changed.

He Gu asked him, “Is it because of Shen Ju?”

Lin Jiang couldn’t explain it to him. Saying more would only breed mutual resentment.

He stood up. “I’m going upstairs.”

He Gu grabbed his wrist, his grip uncertain but tight. “Did you really join OT because of Shen Ju? I looked into it. You had plenty of teams to choose from back then. Why did you go to OT?”

Should he tell him that he had no other way out, and OT was the last choice?

Lin Jiang tried to pull his hand free but failed. He took a steadying breath, then said, “Yes, I joined OT for him. Take my words and explain them to your mother.”

He Gu held onto him tightly. His grip was so forceful the veins on his wrist bulged, but he still refused to let go.

He seemed to realize with painful clarity that Lin Jiang was already slipping away from him.

Looking at the cake on the table, his rationality finally collapsed. “…You didn’t even take a bite of the cake.”

“Enjoy it by yourself.”

Lin Jiang forcefully broke free from his hand, leaving bruises on his wrist. He turned and left without looking back.

Under the endless stretch of night, he walked into the rain, letting the cold drops soak him—like the figure in his dreams who had vanished from his life for good.

Shen Ju happened to be coming downstairs with an umbrella and immediately ran over to shield him from the rain.

Lin Jiang appeared gentle, but his temperament was icy.

His kindness was reserved only for those he truly trusted.

When Shen Ju handed him the umbrella, Lin Jiang’s first reaction was to pull Shen Ju under the umbrella as well, not letting him get wet.

The two of them squeezed under the same umbrella, both partially drenched. Shen Ju instinctively tugged at his sleeve to wipe the water off Lin Jiang’s face.

Lin Jiang seemed used to it, showing no rejection at all.

A person’s truest reactions cannot deceive others.

He Gu knew Lin Jiang too well.

If they weren’t so intimately connected, Lin Jiang would never allow anyone to touch his face.

Thunder roared around. He Gu stood under the dim light, his dark eyes fixed on them until their figures completely disappeared from sight.

The suffocating ache crept slowly through his limbs and bones, fingertips numb. By the time he regained his senses, his index finger was already bleeding from how hard he’d dug his nails into it.

Ten fingers connected to one heart, the pain was piercing.

Numbly, he picked up his phone and dialed Lin Jiang’s number again, but this time it was directly hung up on.

His arm dropped heavily to his side.

That numbness returned, clouding his thoughts with dull heaviness.

He slowly sat back in his seat, staring at the untouched cake before picking up a spoon and eating it in large mouthfuls.

His phone rang, reminding him it was midnight.

Outside, the wind and rain danced wildly, covering him in dust and dampness. Looking at the mess on the table, he realized he still couldn’t get what he wanted.

Despite all the efforts to hold back, a single tear trembled and fell.

***

Meanwhile, when Lin Jiang pulled Shen Ju under the umbrella, Shen Ju instinctively tried to pull away—but Lin Jiang firmly held him in place.

Lin Jiang warned him, “Try getting wet. If you catch a fever and miss the finals, I’ll be the first to chop you to death.”

Shen Ju had witnessed Lin Jiang’s temper before. He obediently stayed under the umbrella with him, standing so close that they could feel each other’s warmth. Shen Ju’s ears quickly turned red.

To accommodate Lin Jiang, Shen Ju leaned in slightly, his voice a whisper just near Lin Jiang’s ear. “Captain, how was your talk with him?”

Lin Jiang felt his ears grow warm. He hadn’t noticed before, but when Shen Ju leaned in, his shoulder burned against him, instantly reminding Lin Jiang of the jade Guanyin pendant around Shen Ju’s neck.

“Not really great.”

“Captain,” Shen Ju leaned closer again, seriously saying, “Next time KUG comes for you, call me. If you can’t argue with them, I’ll scold them for you.”

Lin Jiang felt he was getting too close and took a small step forward, but Shen Ju immediately closed the gap again, accidentally brushing against his ear.

Startled, Shen Ju quickly straightened up.

Even though they shared the same umbrella, he still tried his best to keep some space from Lin Jiang.

Lin Jiang was starting to wonder if maybe he was born gay—otherwise, why did he feel all kinds of weird after seeing Shen Ju’s bare upper body that day?

Probably just been single too long; even a dog looks handsome now.

They stepped inside, and Shen Ju pulled the umbrella away.

Seeing water droplets on Lin Jiang’s face, his first instinct was to tug his own sleeve to wipe them off. “Captain, don’t move.”

He knew Lin Jiang disliked being touched by others, so he was extra careful avoiding any contact. But when Lin Jiang’s eyes locked onto him afterward, Shen Ju found himself momentarily lost in thought.

Suddenly, a loud thunderclap sounded outside. Lin Jiang withdrew his gaze. “Let’s hurry upstairs. They’re waiting.”

They stepped into the elevator, and the warmth between them seemed to grow.

Lin Jiang didn’t know what was wrong with him. He glanced at Shen Ju beside him—half of his body was soaked and his clothes clung to him. He couldn’t help but think of the feeling of Shen Ju leaning on him just now.

Lin Jiang thought to himself that Shen Ju was nothing like the boy he once knew—he was no longer the kid who needed him to step in, and he could now protect Lin Jiang in return.

“Is Song Zhixu and the rest still training?”

“Yeah, but they’re chatting for now.”

“What were you guys chatting about?”

“About the tickets.”

“Captain,” Shen Ju suddenly asked, “Have you given away your finals tickets yet?”

Every player gets two free tickets. Lin Jiang hadn’t made up his mind on who to give them to. “I’ll see who’s available. If you have friends who want them, I can give them to you.”

Shen Ju then asked without thinking, “Isn’t your girlfriend coming to watch the match?”

Lin Jiang had forgotten about that. “She—”

Just then, the elevator doors slid open with a soft ding.

He stepped into the training room where exhausted night owls slumped over, fueled only by endless cups of coffee. Song Zhixu was barely conscious but still pushing through on the frontlines.

Li Qian complained, “You’re back? Look at these zombies—where’s the slightest hint of finals spirit?”

Lin Jiang banged his fists on the table. “What’s going on? It’s only midnight and you’re already checked out? Get your act together—we won’t rest until 2 AM today!”

The teammates hastily straightened up, enduring Li Qian’s brutal training regimen.

Shen Ju sat back down and continued his training. After practicing Kalista, he started the next brutal AD training: Nilah

Before they knew it, the clock struck 2 AM.

Shen Ju wanted to queue for one more game, but Lin Jiang clamped down on his “dog paws” and said, “Go shower first. Once you’re done, come to my room so I can put some ointment on your hand.”

Given the choice between “one more game” and “Lin Jiang’s care,” Shen Ju didn’t even hesitate to pick the latter.

Shen Ju trailed behind Lin Jiang upstairs, grumbling just loud enough to be heard: “Captain, you haven’t put ointment on me for days.”

“I’ve been too busy lately. Next time I forget, just ask Song Zhixu for help.”

Faced with a choice between “Song Zhixu applying ointment” and “just skipping it,” Shen Ju decisively picked the latter—again.

Back in his room, Shen Ju yanked off his shirt and rushed into the shower, emerging less than ten minutes later.

Song Zhixu walked in and was hit by a rush of cool air. Grabbing a shirt, he shot him a look. “That fast? What are you rushing off to now?”

Still drying his dripping hair, Shen Ju threw on a clean shirt and replied casually, “Lin Jiang told me to come over.”

The moment he heard “Lin Jiang,” Song Zhixu perked up like his instincts had kicked in. “What does the captain want you for?”

Shen Ju didn’t bother answering.

Song Zhixu had been strutting around like a peacock lately—always going on about Lin Jiang this, Lin Jiang that. Shen Ju had been annoyed for a while.

Song Zhixu tried to press further, but Shen Ju was already dressed and knocking next door.

“Captain, can I come in?”

Lin Jiang was still showering and replied, “The door’s unlocked. Just come in.”

Shen Ju pushed the door open, feeling slightly uneasy upon hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom. “Captain, you’re not done yet? Should I come back later?”

“No need. I’ll be done in a minute.”

Settling into the chair, Shen Ju casually picked up a stress toy on the desk and fiddled with it. Just then, Lin Jiang’s phone—left on the desk to charge—lit up with a new message.

It was from that woman.

Lin Jiang had saved her contact name as “Baby.”

[Baby: What are you doing?]

[Baby: A’Jiang, I’m so mad today!]

[Baby: Wuwuwu I’m gonna die from anger…]

Shen Ju’s gaze grew a little colder.

Calling me “puppy,” but calling someone else “baby”?

He pulled his gaze back, still stuck on those messages. That woman, having received no reply, quickly called again.

Shen Ju glanced at the screen and immediately looked away.

The screen blinked, and even the screensaver was a photo of that woman.

Shen Ju turned his face, refusing to look. “Captain, your phone’s ringing.”

“Who’s calling?”

“Your baby.”

The sound of the shower stopped instantly.

Lin Jiang opened the door—he only had time to put on a pair of shorts, with water still dripping on his body.

He answered the phone while getting dressed. “Hey, Baby, still on set this late? What’s going on, our dearest young lady? Alright, alright—I’ll buy you a bag to make you feel better, okay?”

Since joining OT, Lin Jiang seemed to have slimmed down. His slender frame made the butterfly bones on his back stand out even more, and the rose tattoo on his waist gave him a cool, almost forbidden allure.

Shen Ju glanced at him, his throat moving slightly before he quickly turned away.

Behind him, Lin Jiang’s gentle voice continued, responding with steady patience no matter how unreasonable the demands on the other end of the line. “Mm, okay, okay, which brand do you want? Send me the link. Weekend… I can’t come back this weekend, the finals are coming up, and there’s still a lot of things to deal with in the team. What’s the matter.. Haha, our dearest young lady, it’s already 2 AM and you’re still making a fuss.”

Just hearing this, Shen Ju couldn’t help but feel annoyed for Lin Jiang.

As his girlfriend, not only did she not know about his upcoming finals, but she was also calling at 2 AM demanding to be pampered.

If it were him, he would never treat Lin Jiang like this.

Shen Ju clenched the tube of ointment on the table, squeezing it until it bulged, as if he wanted to crush it.

Lin Jiang continued patiently coaxing her, only bringing up his own matters at the very end. “Mm, I have two tickets here, do you want to come? I can save them both for you… Oh, it’s fine if you can’t make it, I’ll give them to someone else. Okay, okay… Right now? It’s a bit late, I’m not sure if I can come over.”

Shen Ju deliberately checked the time. It was already 2:20 AM. At this hour, even gods should be asleep. Hmph. Lin Jiang would definitely say no.

Yet after some coaxing and whining over the phone, Lin Jiang finally gave in. “Alright, alright, I’ll come see you for half an hour, okay?”

Shen Ju stiffened. He immediately set down the ointment and stood up. “You’re still going to coax her at this hour?”

— — — —

strawberrypoptl: I’m actually torn if I’m gonna use “baobei” but ended up using “baby” at the last minute.