Jiang Shengyan was the epitome of an upper-class individual. He never expected to find himself in a situation where he would grab an oily steamed bun with his bare hands and drink beer from a bowl.
That was a bowl meant for eating rice and drinking soup and now being used for beer.
The weather was indeed hot; although a slight cool breeze blew in the evening, once the hot dishes hit his stomach, a layer of sweat immediately surfaced. Zong Yuan set down his chopsticks and rolled up his shirt at the abdomen, revealing a set of well-defined, sexy, and firm six-pack abs, glistening with fine beads of sweat, reminiscent of a model preparing for a hard photo shoot.
Jiang Shengyan caught a glimpse and nearly dropped his bun. “What are you doing?” He was revealing skin in public!
Zong Yuan continued picking at the dishes. “Cooling off.”
Chen Hongmei shot Zong Yuan a reproachful look. “Son, put your clothes back on; we have guests.”
Jiang Shengyan suddenly felt displeased, but he had no time to delve into this emotion as Zong Yuan scrutinized him up and down. “Boss Jiang, aren’t you hot?”
Jiang Shengyan wore a black top and pants, with a pair of leather boots on his feet, looking fresh without a trace of sweat. “Not hot; I’m heat-resistant.”
Zong Yuan sighed. “That’s good.”
The hardest part about being here was enduring the heat.
It was an unbearable heat.
After eating and drinking to his satisfaction, Jiang Shengyan felt quite happy. He pulled out his wallet and took out a thick stack of bright red bills. “Ms. Chen, my nanny hasn’t come these past few days, so I came over to mooch a meal. Here’s the money for it. Is that okay?”
Chen Hongmei and Zong Xiaomo exchanged glances. “That wouldn’t be right, Boss. We grow all our own food; it’s not worth anything. If you want to eat, just come over anytime. No need to pay, especially since you already gave us a bottle of perfume.”
Jiang Shengyan replied, “A deal is a deal.”
He placed the money on the edge of the table, but when he pulled his hand back, he accidentally knocked over a plate of buns, sending the golden-brown buns scattering all over the floor, with one landing squarely in Zong Yuan’s lap.
Jiang Shengyan was momentarily stunned and instinctively reached down to pick it up, saying, “Sorry.”
Zong Yuan grabbed his hand, his fingers almost touching the bun’s oily surface. Zong Yuan’s forehead twitched with rage. “Can’t you just sit still for once?”
Jiang Shengyan finally registered what was happening. He bent down, trying to pick up the bun from Zong Yuan’s lap, his hand nearly brushing against the now greasy fabric.
Chen Hongmei and Zong Xiaomo exchanged puzzled glances at their awkward position.
Jiang Shengyan’s face alternated between shades of green and red from embarrassment. “Can’t you just speak properly?”
His fingertips curled, struggling against Zong Yuan’s grip. “Let go of me!”
Zong Yuan released him, standing up with a cold expression. The bun slid off him, leaving a clear, rectangular grease mark on his pants.
Jiang Shengyan stared at the oil stain for several moments, his lips pressed tightly together.
The two women nearby were confused, wondering what had suddenly happened.
Zong Yuan sensed Jiang Shengyan’s bad mood; this outburst was a clear case of misplaced anger. He brushed his hand over the stained area, frowning. “I’m going to change my pants; wait for me so I can take you back.”
Jiang Shengyan replied, “I don’t need you to take me back.”
He impatiently kicked the floor with his heel, casting a sidelong glance as Zong Yuan entered the room, still not getting up to leave directly.
When Zong Yuan came out in new pants, he said, “Let’s go.”
Jiang Shengyan followed him with a stern expression.
Zong Yuan said, “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I apologize.”
Jiang Shengyan held back, “It’s not my fault.”
For such a big person who had such a successful first half of his life, he had never felt as much frustration as he had in the past few days.
Zong Yuan pressed his temples. “I’m sorry.”
The country road was very muddy; it had rained heavily a few days ago. Jiang Shengyan trudged along behind Zong Yuan, stepping in deep puddles, and his shoes were getting heavier with mud. He suddenly stepped on a stone hidden in the muck and lost his balance, falling forward.
He landed solidly in Zong Yuan’s arms, who frowned tightly. “Can you watch where you’re going?”
Jiang Shengyan tried to regain his footing, but the mud was as thick as a brick, almost causing him to fall again. “How am I supposed to see a stone buried in the mud?”
Zong Yuan looked ahead; the muddy stretch was about ten meters away. He instructed Jiang Shengyan, “Hold on tight.”
Then, he bent slightly and, taking advantage of Jiang Shengyan’s moment of distraction, effortlessly hoisted him onto his shoulder.
Jiang Shengyan flailed his long legs. “Put me down, you bastard!”
His face was right against Zong Yuan’s back, with Zong Yuan’s V-shaped muscles swaying before him, making him dizzy and flushed. “I’m feeling light-headed!”
Zong Yuan firmly secured Jiang Shengyan’s thighs. “Shut up; we’ll be there soon.”
After a brief ten seconds, Jiang Shengyan was ready to kill Zong Yuan. As he was set down, he didn’t even take a moment to catch his breath before glaring at him and threatening, “You’d better watch out.”
Zong Yuan glanced at him. “You’re spewing curses left and right; who do you want to curse?”
Jiang Shengyan choked. “What’s it to you?”
Zong Yuan looked at him but said nothing. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and continued walking. “Did you come to Pear Village alone?”
Jiang Shengyan scoffed. “What, just because I’m alone, you think I’m easy to deal with?”
Zong Yuan continued asking, “Who is the nanny you mentioned?”
“Aunt Lin,” Jiang Shengyan replied. “What, are you checking my household registration?”
There were quite a few people with the surname Lin in the village and Zong Yuan casually replied, “Just getting to know, making a friend.”
He angled a cigarette toward Jiang Shengyan, his fingers long and calloused, which sent a ticklish sensation when they brushed against Jiang Shengyan’s hand.
Jiang Shengyan’s expression softened a bit. “I don’t make friends with people who are unpredictable.”
With the cigarette butt between his teeth, Zong Yuan said, “So you don’t even like yourself?”
Jiang Shengyan was taken aback, frowning. “What do you mean?”
How did this guy become a CEO?
Zong Yuan suppressed a laugh. “Nothing; you only have Aunt Lin coming in a few days.”
Jiang Shengyan replied, “And an Uncle Wang who buys electrical supplies for me in Y Town.”
Zong Yuan thought for a moment about the Wang family. “Do you know anyone else in this village?”
Jiang Shengyan stopped in his tracks, looking at him with a strange expression. “What else do you want to ask?”
A gust of wind suddenly blew by, sending leaves flying into Jiang Shengyan’s face. He spat out the sand that had blown into his mouth, his expression dark as he faced a mess of hair.
Zong Yuan kindly reached up to brush the leaves off his head, surprised at how soft Jiang Shengyan’s hair was, considering his temper was so volatile.
A passerby hurried by. “Ah Yuan, what are you doing here?”
Zong Yuan let go of Jiang Shengyan. “Uncle Zhang, I’m escorting Boss Jiang home. He doesn’t know the way.”
Jiang Shengyan rolled his eyes.
Uncle Zhang approached hunched over, rubbing his rough hands together, with bits of chives stuck in his teeth. “Hey, so this is the big boss who just arrived today.”
A foul, fishy smell wafted from him, invading Jiang Shengyan’s nose. He felt nauseous, nearly retching. Zong Yuan tugged him back behind him, maintaining a calm demeanor. “Uncle Zhang, we’ll head out first.”
He placed a hand on Jiang Shengyan’s shoulder. Since he was already taller, when Jiang Shengyan looked up, he bumped directly into Zong Yuan’s armpit.
He tried to push Zong Yuan away, but Zong Yuan, feeling a headache coming on, whispered sternly, “You better behave; can’t you see he’s still staring at you?”
Hot breath mixed with the scent of sweat wafted toward Jiang Shengyan.
Jiang Shengyan misinterpreted the situation. “Are you showing off that you don’t have body odor?”
He raised his own arm, pushing his armpit toward Zong Yuan’s prominent nose, a proud glint in his eyes. “Ha, didn’t expect that, did you? I don’t have it either.”
Zong Yuan was momentarily stunned, forcing out a curse. “Damn.”
Jiang Shengyan smirked. “Be serious. Why is he staring at me?”
He turned to look, noticing a vague shadow lingering nearby, seemingly still watching them. Remembering the nauseating smell, Jiang Shengyan’s expression turned disgusted. “I know him.”
Zong Yuan promptly released him. “Just a lecherous old man who steals and causes trouble. You’d better keep your distance next time.”
Jiang Shengyan snorted. “He wouldn’t dare.”
Zong Yuan escorted him to the front of Jiang Shengyan’s old house. “Don’t come out tonight.”
Jiang Shengyan was about to get angry at Zong Yuan’s commanding tone when he saw Zong Yuan turning to walk away.
With broad shoulders and narrow hips, his tall figure was striking and his pants hung loosely around his waist, each step radiating a confidence others couldn’t match.
So alluring.
Jiang Shengyan took out the cigarette Zong Yuan had given him, dryly holding it in his mouth. A strong wave of smoke surged down his throat, causing him to cough several times.
This cigarette was truly potent.
