When Jiang Wang was discharged from the hospital, the news quickly spread both within and outside the circle. Invitations poured in from all directions, each one an opportunity for people to curry favor and flatter him.
Before the incident, Jiang Wang had already been regarded as something of an enigmatic figure in the city.
He could know if someone was cheating, identify health issues like thyroid problems from a distance, dabble in feng shui, and offer financial advice that connected the dots for people from all walks of life. Starting from nothing, he had built a network that spanned high and low places, earning respect from everyone.
As soon as this news was broadcast, the entire city of Hongcheng was buzzing.
“What? That madman was actually caught by Jiang Wang?”
“And he can fight too? I heard he took down a guy wielding a machete half the length of an arm!”
As a businessman with extensive connections, Jiang Wang couldn’t avoid attending all the banquets and gatherings held in his honor.
But, such gatherings were the same no matter which restaurant it was held.
No matter where he went, there would be rounds of toasting, intrusive gossip, and even beautiful women throwing themselves at him. Everything unfolded as if on a predetermined script.
By the time Jiang Wang made it home after attending back-to-back events—one at noon, another in the evening, and even a late-night session—his newly purchased jacket reeked of smoke and alcohol, so much so that it was beyond salvage.
Feeling slightly guilty, Jiang Wang paused before entering the house. He sniffed his collar, then his cuffs, and eventually decided to take off the jacket before stepping inside.
The scent of gardenias filled the air. The flowers, in full bloom this May, carried a strong and radiant fragrance that mingled with the evening mist.
When he moved here last year, the courtyard was already full of gardenias. Now, when he returned home at night, he could find the door even in complete darkness by following the scent alone.
The scent was fresh and bright, yet not overwhelmingly so. Just smelling it was enough to help him sober up a little.
Turning the key, Jiang Wang entered the house. The light in the dining area was still on, and Ji Linqiu was buried in a mountain of papers.
“You’re back?”
“Yeah. Brother Sun and the others wouldn’t let me leave; I got held up for an hour.”
Jiang Wang chuckled, liking how their conversation sounds like that of an old married couple’s. “Were you waiting for me?”
Ji Linqiu refused to let him take the upper hand. He stood up, grabbed the jacket from Jiang Wang, and sniffed it. Instantly, he frowned. “Wash this one yourself.”
Jiang Wang, slightly buzzed, gazed at him under the soft lighting, smiling like a fool. Even getting scolded felt oddly satisfying.
Ji Linqiu blinked, wiped the tip of Jiang Wang’s nose lightly, and then caught a glint of clarity in the man’s eyes. “You’re not drunk.”
“Nonsense,” Jiang Wang replied with mock seriousness. “I went to three different events today. How could I not be drunk?” He opened his arms, pulling Ji Linqiu into a hug and burying his face in Ji’s shoulder. “I’m so drunk. I can’t even walk straight. Please have pity on me.”
Ji Linqiu realized that Jiang Wang’s way of acting spoiled was strikingly similar to Peng Xingwang’s.
There was an undeniable air of deliberate indulgence, but Jiang Wang had a knack for staying just shy of crossing the line, making his antics hard to resist.
It made people want to spoil him, and after that spoiling, it made people want to beat him.
Ji Linqiu sighed, rubbed his temples, and took Jiang Wang by the hand, leading him toward the bathroom.
Jiang Wang obediently followed, like a child being led around. After a few steps, he stopped suddenly. “Wait, I haven’t changed my shoes yet.”
He quickly shuffled back to change his shoes and then returned, extending his hand again to Ji Linqiu with an expectant look.
Ji Linqiu reevaluated the situation.
Not drunk. This bastard was just being a spoiled brat.
“You’ve had a lot to drink today,” Ji Linqiu said, staying calm. “No hot showers for you. Just brush your teeth, wash your face, and soak your feet.”
Jiang Wang nodded obediently but then stood motionless by the sink.
Ji Linqiu, who was also preparing to brush his teeth, glanced over and asked, “What are you waiting for?”
“I’m drunk,” Jiang Wang declared confidently. “I can’t brush my teeth.”
Ji Linqiu raised an eyebrow. “Say that again?”
Realizing he’d overdone it, Jiang Wang pouted and grabbed his toothbrush.
“Hey, what happened that day?”
“Which day?”
“That day with the tennis balls.” Jiang Wang was indeed just being a spoiled brat. After a while, he decided to stop and switch to a more serious, sober tone. “You nailed all three shots perfectly. Looks like you’ve had training.”
Ji Linqiu, ever the meticulous one, brushed his teeth thoroughly for the full three minutes before rinsing. This was probably his teacher-side self discipline.
“I played baseball in college. I was both a pitcher and a second baseman.”
He paused for effect and added, “Both positions require excellent core and waist strength.”
Jiang Wang, his interest piqued, bit his toothbrush and grinned. “Better than me?”
“You seem confident,” Ji Linqiu countered with a smirk. “Don’t underestimate me. I may look lean, but I won multiple first-place medals at university track meets. Even ran a ten-kilometer race recently without breaking a sweat.”
Jiang Wang squinted at him but chose not to respond, silently conceding the point.
Feeling victorious, Ji Linqiu finished his nightly routine in high spirits and said goodnight as he prepared to leave.
But before he could go, Jiang Wang grabbed his arm. “You’re not sleeping with me tonight?” Jiang Wang asked casually.
“Sleep together?” Ji Linqiu shot him a sideways glance. “What are you thinking?”
“I drank too much. Yet, you refused to take care of me.” Jiang Wang lamented, sighing dramatically. “Our relationship feels so shallow.”
“But… what do you think I’m thinking?”
Ji Linqiu tried to hold his ground, but before he could respond, Jiang Wang tugged him closer, tilting his chin up for a kiss.
Their kiss was unpracticed and playful, like two cats batting at each other—quick licks, soft pecks—until their lips and tongues were saturated with the faint bamboo salt flavor from the toothpaste.
His lips were so soft. No matter how many times he kissed them, it felt perfect.
Jiang Wang felt far from satisfied. He wanted to take it further, but unsure how, he simply nestled closer, rubbing against Ji Linqiu as he murmured, “The Peng Jiahui situation is resolved.”
As Jiang Wang recounted the chain of events at the hospital, Ji Linqiu listened, his heart tightening with unease.
It was a relief that the outcome wasn’t worse, but still, the situation had been dangerously close to spiraling out of control.
Ji Linqiu could somewhat understand Guan Hong’s frustration.
She had always been the superior one in her relationship with Peng Jiahui, agreeing to date him only after persistent pursuit. Yet, in the end, he’d broken things off so decisively.
Add to that the blow from her previous failed relationship, and it was clear her pride had taken a severe hit.
In the end, it has nothing to do with “love”.
Jiang Wang washed his face and pressed a hot towel to it, the warmth relieving some of his headache.
He had indeed drunk too much that evening.
“As for Xingwang’s mom, I thought about telling her. But she just had a baby and it’s been only a few months. She’s busy enough as it is.”
The newborn was still crying through the night, leaving her overwhelmed with endless problems. Jiang Wang figured it would be better to wait until things stabilized before broaching the topic. Otherwise, it would just add more chaos to her life.
While soaking their feet, the two exchanged reminders about being mindful not to act overly affectionate around Xingwang. Before parting for the night, they exchanged a few more kisses and said their goodnights.
Back in his room, Jiang Wang collapsed into his bed, sinking into the soft, enveloping comfort of the blankets.
But he can’t sleep.
His mind felt split — half of his soul was still stuck on Ji Linqiu, clinging to the sweetness of the moment, while the other half was tangled up in thoughts of Peng Xingwang.
There was one truth Jiang Wang had never been able to express.
And he still couldn’t figure out how to tell this little boy.
It was as if he were watching a dull knife slowly carve into his younger self, over and over, powerless to stop it.
Peng Xingwang would never truly return to his parents or fit seamlessly into any family.
He was destined to become a lone star adrift in the vast sky, much like Jiang Wang himself, resigned to an unchangeable reality.
Du Wenjuan had remarried and was now raising another child. For the next several years, her focus would inevitably be on nurturing her newborn.
Peng Jiahui’s polished demeanor thrived on reduced responsibility. Even he must have realized that staying close but not too close was the key to preserving his image as a dutiful father.
Curled up in his blanket, Jiang Wang covered his head.
He rarely encountered problems that money couldn’t solve.
But this was the most difficult one yet.
—How could he teach a child that life is inherently full of disappointments, and the moon will always have its phases of shadow?
It felt too cruel to tell the boy this truth. But he couldn’t stand in front of his seven-something-year-old self and take the blows on his behalf.
Peng Xingwang was the child who had cried uncontrollably upon discovering his mom’s pregnancy. If he ever realized the full truth… it would be so much harder to console him.
His dad was no longer a constant presence, and his mom now has already been someone else’s mom.
The more Jiang Wang saw perfect, happy families during the day, the deeper his attachment grew at night.
The thought looped endlessly in his mind until he finally concluded, thankfully, that this little boy had encountered him and Ji Linqiu.
They couldn’t replace Xingwang’s parents, but they would always be behind him, ensuring he could grow up as lively and carefree as possible.
Jiang Wang rarely thought about life in terms of “forever.” It felt too naive.
But at this moment, he genuinely hoped he could watch over this child for a lifetime.
And he wished for a lifetime with Ji Linqiu too – long, steady, and lasting until their hair turned gray.
The next day, Jiang Wang was recharged and in high spirits. He filled up the car and took both Ji Linqiu and Peng Xingwang to the city to look at houses.
Ji Linqiu initially tried to excuse himself, as his new tutoring program in Hongcheng had just started and required his attention. But Jiang Wang wouldn’t take no for an answer and whisked him into the car. Peng Xingwang, of course, was ecstatic. He was always up for an excuse to go on a long trip to play.
Ever Fang Quanyou found out that his elder brother was going to develop in Yuhan, he changed his job without hesitation and went to the provincial capital to continue working as a real estate agent. He already found some properties. Armed with detailed notes, he guided them from one viewing to the next.
“A spacious 180-square-meter flat with river views, clear zoning, and ample natural light!”
Ji Linqiu shook his head lightly. “A bit too flashy.”
“A four-story duplex with a private garden and dedicated European-style housekeeping services!”
Jiang Wang vetoed it. “Too far from my office. Commuting would waste too much time.”
After observing for a while, Peng Xingwang raised his hand to Fang Quanyou. “Uncle Fang, do you have anything with an elevator, a garden, near a bookstore, with a river view, and space for a swing?”
Fang Quanyou mentally chanted “clients are gods, clients are gods”1This phrasing is localized. The OG went something like: Party A (clients) are his ancestors and forced a smile. “Give me a moment!” He hurried back to the office to mobilize his colleagues in a frantic search—and miraculously, they found something.
—A sixth-floor unit in a high-end neighborhood. The mid-floor location avoided excessive sunlight, and it featured an open-air garden, dual balconies, excellent natural lighting, and premium furnishings. It was also just a ten-minute drive to the bookstore.
“This unit was originally the developer’s private residence, and it’s the only one of its kind in the entire complex. They’re only selling it now because they’re relocating for retirement!” Fang Quanyou didn’t dare to tell them the prince. He rubbed his hands for several seconds, preparing himself before mumbling, “Yes, it’s a little expensive.”
Jiang Wang, accustomed to the astronomical property prices of two decades later, didn’t even blink. “How much?”
Fang Quanyou nervously handed him the pricing sheet.
“This is… the best price I could negotiate. But it’s still 15% above market value.”
“Buy it.” Jiang Wang pulled out his bank card with a casual flourish. “And don’t forget to install a swing for this little rascal.”
T/N:
Seeing Jiang Wang just hand out his bank card to pay for an expensive house… God, when can that be my turn? Please I don’t need a fancy house, I just want a small apartment unit!!
