CEG Chapter 6

Zhu Yu had been learning tattooing from Cheng Yan for over a year. While that wasn’t a short time, he was still considered a newbie. Yet, this newcomer had earned Cheng Yan’s appreciation and favor. Everyone in the studio knew the boss wasn’t talkative, and was only close to Zhu Yu. That closeness wasn’t the intimacy through his actions, but the ease and tenderness that emanated from his eyes.

 

Lin Weijing is a kind person, except for his cold attitude towards Zhu Yu. Every time he comes to the studio, he puts on airs in front of Zhu Yu, which makes Zhu Yu confused. He can’t figure out how he offended this guy.

 

Cheng Yan treated Zhu Yu as his own son. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that he treated Zhu Yu even better than his biological brother Lin Weijing, as if Zhu Yu was his brother from the same mother, and Lin Weijing was the one given to him for free when he topped up his phone bill.

 

This is indeed one of the reasons why Lin Weijing dislikes Zhu Yu, but it is not the main reason.

 

He is not a child anymore, so he won’t get angry just because his brother favors outsiders more.

 

Lin Weijing looked down on Zhu Yu simply because he felt that this man had character problems and was not as simple as he appeared.

 

Lin Weijing had seen Zhu Yu at Beicheng University. At that time, he was walking with a junior classmate of Lin Weijing. Lin Weijing and that junior classmate were in the same debate club. At that time, a student in the club mentioned the handsome boy who often came to the school to look for that junior classmate. The junior classmate explained that the handsome boy was his boyfriend.

 

Lin Weijing finally understood.

 

However, not long after, one day when Lin Weijing went to the studio to find Cheng Yan, he saw Zhu Yu being held in the arms of another man at the end of the street where the studio was located.

 

He was so shocked at the time that he just took a quick glance and ran into the studio.

 

Since then, Lin Weijing completely changed his opinion of Zhu Yu, thinking that he was just a little fox who would pretend to be good in front of Cheng Yan.

 

Even though Zhu Yu reminded Lin Weijing that “Cheng Yan is your brother, not my brother”, it did not resolve the real conflict.

 

Later that day, Zhu Yu brought Lin Weijing a can of iced Coke, which Lin Weijing considered a “cheap form of flattery,” but accepted it to show his good manners.

 

He was very thirsty at the time and his favorite drink was Coke.

 

Zhu Yu might have learned this information from Cheng Yan. Anyway, what he(ZY) is best at is pleasing people.

 

 

 

Li Sizhi hadn’t come to the studio for a long time after getting a tattoo. He suddenly visited one day and brought a friend who also wanted to get a tattoo.

 

The sky was gray and the air was stuffy, as if it was about to rain.

 

In the workshop, Cheng Yan was designing a client’s draft with a pencil. A muffled thunder sounded outside the window. He stopped what he was doing and looked out the window.

 

Knock knock knock—someone was knocking the door.

 

“Enter.”

 

Maomao pushed open the door, “Cheng Laoshi, Miss Li is here.”

 

Li Sizhi walked out from behind Maomao, followed by a very young lady.

 

“I haven’t been here for a few days. Luckily, the little girl didn’t forget me.” Li Sizhi looked at Maomao with a smile, “Thank you for opening the door for me, little beauty.”

 

Maomao waved her hand quickly “You’re welcome.”

 

Li Sizhi’s friend whispered, “What do you mean by opening the door for you?”

 

“You have to make an appointment to get a tattoo done here. You’re having an advantage because of me today, so you have to treat me to a meal later.”

 

“No problem.”

 

Li Sizhi walked towards Cheng Yan, “Are you busy?”

 

Cheng Yan put down his pen and said, “I’m working on a commission from a client.”

 

“The friend I mentioned to you before who wanted to get a tattoo,” Li Sizhi pointed to the person behind him, “I brought her here today.”

 

“If you have any requests, tell him.” Li Sizhi said to her friend.

 

Cheng Yan sorted through the drafts on the table and asked, “Do you want to bring your own drawings, or do you want an original design?”

 

The person laughed and said, “I specifically asked Li Sizhi to come to you, so it’ll be original.”

 

“My original designs are very personalized. You can take a look before you decide.” Cheng Yan instructed Maomao, “Show them the album.”

 

“OK.”

 

Li Sizhi’s friend sat on the sofa and flipped through an album filled with Cheng Yan’s work. She didn’t seem to like the style, and halfway through, she muttered, “This style doesn’t seem to suit me.”

 

She raised her head, looked at Cheng Yan and smiled, “I like something softer. These are too cool and hard.”

 

Cheng Yan said, “We have a tattoo artist here who has a soft style.”

 

“I think the tattoo you gave to Li Sizhi is very good and gentle.”

 

Cheng Yan understood her implication. They had chosen him and didn’t want to replace him with anyone else.

 

“Have you decided on a tattoo?” Cheng Yan asked. “What’s the theme or the emotion you want to express, and what elements do you want?”

 

My friend was stunned, “It’s so complicated.”

 

Cheng Yan was having a headache. He dreaded encountering clients who impulsively got tattoos, simply looking for something new, without a clear idea of why or what they wanted. In the early days, when Cheng Yan was short of money, he’d accepted any mediocre work. Now that he had the capital and skills, he’d become more discerning.

 

He doesn’t just take on complicated jobs, he also takes on simple ones. What he’s picky about are those who don’t even know why they’re getting tattoos.

 

If this person was not Li Sizhi’s friend, she should have been sent away by Cheng Yan by now.

 

Cheng Yan was tired of explaining and said, “Think about what you want to get tattooed first.”

 

Li Sizhi couldn’t bear to listen any longer, “Xiao Jiejie, you have to tell him what kind of tattoo you want, so he can give you the design.”

 

My friend was feeling confused,”Let me think about it.”

 

About five minutes later, the friend had an idea, “Li Sizhi’s tattoo is a whale—”

 

Li Sizhi corrected, “Orcas are dolphins.”

 

Her friend looked at her and said, “Then I’ll get a whale tattoo too.”

 

“I already said it was a dolphin…”

 

Her friend couldn’t help but laugh, “How about humpback whales?”

 

Cheng Yan said, “You decide for yourself.”

 

“That’s it.”

 

“You are so spontaneous.” Li Sizhi said sarcastically.

 

“Do you need to draw a design first?” the friend asked Cheng Yan. “How long will it take?”

 

“It depends on the design. Yours will take about three or four days.”

 

“So quick.” The friend was a little surprised.

 

“Leave me your contact information, and I’ll let you know when the time comes for you to come to the studio to review the design.”

 

“Can you send it to me on WeChat? I’m going on a business trip in a few days and may not have time to come over.”

 

Cheng Yan shook his head, “That won’t work. You have to come to the studio in person to see it.”

 

“Why?”

 

Li Sizhi explained, “It’s a rule to prevent leaks.”

 

Cheng Yan said, “If you don’t have time, come back when you get back from your business trip.”

 

At 5:10 p.m., there was a knock on the door of the criminal law professor’s office at Beicheng University.

 

“Come in.” Jiang Muping was reading a document and said without raising his head.

 

The person who came in was Lin Weijing. He called out “Professor” and walked to the desk.

 

“This is the paper I didn’t submit before.” Lin Weijing put the paper on the table.

 

Jiang Muping nodded, but still didn’t look up.

 

“Then I’ll go out first.”

 

Jiang Muping seemed to feel that the voice sounded familiar, and finally raised his head. He bent his index finger, pressed his knuckles against the bottom of the lens, and gently lifted up his glasses.

 

“Lin Weijing?”

 

“Yes, Professor.”

 

Jiang Muping put down the documents and picked up Lin Weijing’s paper.

 

“I was sick and went home to rest that day you assigned the paper, so I submitted it later.”

 

Jiang Muping nodded and put down the paper again. He held the pen and pondered for a while without saying a word.

 

Lin Weijing couldn’t guess what he meant, so he asked hesitantly, “Then, Professor, I’ll be out first.”

 

Jiang Muping held the pen between his index and middle fingers, gently pressed his hand on the table, and said, “Wait a moment.”

 

Lin Weijing stopped hesitantly.

 

“I want to ask you something.” Jiang Muping said.

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“Your brother’s name is Cheng Yan…”

 

“Yeah, that’s right.” Lin Weijing became excited when he heard Jiang Muping talking about Cheng Yan, his eyes shining.

 

“Is he your biological brother? Why do you two have different surnames? Did both of you father’s and your mother’s surname respectively?”

 

Lin Weijing was silent for a moment, then said, “Professor, my former name was Chengjing, and Chengyan is my biological brother, from the same father and mother.”

 

Jiang Muping looked at him, as if waiting for him to continue.

 

“Are you really curious about him?” Lin Weijing asked somewhat awkwardly.

 

Jiang Muping told him, “Cheng Yan is my high school classmate.”

 

Lin Weijing was a little surprised.

 

“So I was concerned about what happened to him after he left school.

 

“He didn’t continue his studies, did he?”

 

Lin Weijing lowered his head gradually, “Yes.”

 

Cheng Yan left school at the beginning of his senior year. In Jiang Muping’s long-standing memory, Cheng Yan’s grades were very good.

 

He was just a little withdrawn, so his presence in the class was very low. Jiang Muping remembered that he had a bad temper, and the few times his presence increased were because he got into fights and was criticized by the school.

 

Jiang Muping sensed a trace of pain in Lin Weijing’s expression. He frowned and didn’t want to ask any more questions. Before he could open his mouth, he heard Lin Weijing say:

 

“My original name is Cheng Jing. When I was a child, I was adopted by my current parents, so I took their surname and changed it to my current name.

 

“When I was a child, my mother tried to commit suicide by jumping into the river while holding me. I survived, but she didn’t. After that, there was no one left in our family, and my brother dropped out of school.

 

I was still young at that time and don’t remember much. My brother raised me for two years and then sent me to be fostered by my current parents.”

 

Jiang Muping looked at him speechless.

 

Lin Weijing stood still for a moment, then suddenly sighed and said frankly, “Actually, I remember a lot of things, but I can’t say that. My brother will feel bad.”

 

How can one easily forget the memories of death?

 

“Professor, my brother is a very nice person.” Lin Weijing smiled. “He has suffered a lot and is very caring. He was not financially strong before, but he is quite wealthy now and he is also good-looking.”

 

Jiang Muping laughed, “What are you trying to say?”

 

Lin Weijing blinked and said bluntly, “I would say he is a good candidate for marriage.”

 

Jiang Muping thought to himself, You really dare to say that.

 

Jiang Muping’s phone on the table vibrated. The caller ID showed Li Sizhi. He picked up the phone and answered it.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Mu Ping, are you going to get off work?”

 

Jiang Muping looked down at his watch and said, “Yes, It’s almost time.”

 

“It’s raining outside. I’m not driving. I’m going back to aunt’s today. Can you give me a ride?”

 

“Where are you?”

 

“I’ll send you the location.”

 

Jiang Muping hung up the phone.

 

“Then Professor, I’m leaving first.”

 

“Well, it’s raining outside. You don’t have an umbrella.”

 

Lin Weijing shook his head.

 

Jiang Muping pointed to the umbrella bucket at the door and said, “You can take my umbrella.”

 

“Won’t you use it?”

 

“I don’t need it.”

 

“Thank you, I’ll return it to you another day.”

 

Jiang Muping followed Li Sizhi’s location to a familiar street. When he looked back at the chat history, he found that Li Sizhi’s address was Cheng Yan’s tattoo studio.

 

Jiang Muping finally found a parking space. It was drizzling and he walked into the studio in the pouring rain.

 

“Hello, do you have an appointment?” the assistant came over and asked.

 

Jiang Muping wiped the rain off his eyelashes and said, “No.”

 

“Do you want a tattoo?” the assistant asked again.

 

“No, I’m looking for someone.”

 

“Um… who are you looking for?”

 

The studio has two floors, with tattoo studios on both the first and second floors, where tattoo artists are working. Jiang Muping took a look inside and saw a familiar figure walking out of a studio on the first floor and then into the bathroom next to it.

 

“I’m waiting for someone.” Jiang Muping turned his head and said to the assistant.

 

“Okay, then you sit on the sofa for a while.”

 

Jiang Muping sat down on the sofa. A moment later, the person from the bathroom emerged, his face wet with water, his curls pulled back, and water droplets clung to his eyebrows. He walked over to the floor-standing potted plant at the entrance to his workshop and shook his hands, sprinkling the water onto the lush green leaves.

 

Cheng Yan may have caught a glimpse of the figure over here out of the corner of his eye, and suddenly turned his head and took a quick glance.

 

In Jiang Muping’s eyes, Cheng Yan looked a little anxious, even his expression was tinged with anxiety. He had been walking hurriedly and looked very busy, but he was still dressed so smartly, with a well-made hairstyle and exquisite clothes.

 

Cheng Yan nodded at Jiang Muping, an

d the corners of his mouth raised slightly with a slight smile.

 

Lin Weijing said that Cheng Yan had suffered a lot, but Jiang Muping felt that Cheng Yan seemed to cherish the gifts of life more than anyone else around him.

 

He seemed to enjoy life and love it freely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sorry for the late update!! I was sick 🙁

Anyways what do you guys think about today’s chapter. I think LWJ and ZY have got quite the chemistry…

Many interesting things are coming…….