RIACMET chapter 10

After chatting for a while, Jiang Nian took the opportunity to ask,

“Brother Jing, does he still live in the same house we rented before?”

Cheng Jing reached out and held his hand tightly. He admitted honestly,

“Yes, I wanted to buy it, but the owner refused to sell.”

“Oh~”

Jiang Nian was in a good mood, so he took the initiative to confess.

“I went there looking for a place to live and asked the property manager about renting that house, but he said it was already rented.”

After saying that, the two exchanged smiles. Some things were understood silently—only the two of them knew.

Ah, the feeling of falling in love again! One must admit, love hormones are one of the most healing things in the world.

There was a moment of silence. Jiang Nian leaned toward the person next to him. Cheng Jing held him in his arms while they watched TV together, occasionally discussing the news, just as they used to.

But Jiang Nian was a little anxious. He glanced at the time—it was nearly eleven. He placed his thumb to his lips and bit it lightly, pretending to ask casually,

“Brother Jing, do you want to stay over tonight? I just had a nightmare, and I want you to stay with me.”

Could a boyfriend really be this calm when trying to rekindle a lost love?

This quiet, stoic man had become even more composed after serving in the military, as if he were from a different generation.

The earlier declaration about not sleeping together no longer applied. All right, let’s be honest. He wanted to sleep with Cheng Jing—right now!

“…”

After hesitating for a moment, Cheng Jing shook his head.

“No. Although the mission is considered complete, I can only rest at ease after sending Yang Kai away. Don’t overthink it. If you can’t sleep, we can take some medicine…”

A lack of sleep can be exhausting for the soul, and it can be difficult to recover from mental fatigue over time.

“Fine, forget the medicine…”

Jiang Nian sighed. Then, he suddenly straddled his lap. He placed both hands on his shoulders, pressed his forehead to his, and asked,

“When are you leaving? If you have time, will you comfort your anxious boyfriend? Maybe I won’t have bad dreams tonight.”

After all, he used to be the more shameless one when they were together, so he wasn’t embarrassed now. His boyfriend was so handsome—he’d be a fool not to take advantage of that.

“…”

Cheng Jing stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. He raised his hand to gently stroke the back of his neck.

“I’m worried you’ll think I’m taking advantage of you just because we made up. Besides, I can’t stay long.”

“No way. Clearly, I’m the one trying to take advantage of Brother Jing.”

After Jiang Nian finished speaking, he leaned in and gently bit Cheng Jing’s lips, his voice slightly trembling.

“It’s okay if you can’t stay. Just comfort me for a while. Brother Jing, I missed you so much.”

Negative emotions built up over two lifetimes couldn’t be soothed with just a few words and a hug.

Seeing his anxiety, Cheng Jing kissed his cheek and asked:

“Want something to drink?”

Jiang Nian smiled.

“No, I only wanted alcohol to give me the courage to ask you for money, but now I don’t need it. I can go crazy without alcohol.”

Though they were a bit awkward at first due to their long separation, things improved once the mood was right.

“Yeah.”

Cheng Jing whispered in his ear, held him close, and warned,

“Jiang Nian, now that you’re back, stay with me and behave. If you run off again, I’ll break your legs and lock you in a cage!”

Jiang Nian snorted.

“If you don’t run, I’ll cling to you until I die.”

“Okay.”

Cheng Jing was deeply satisfied. He gently stroked his ring finger, thinking about buying a ring to symbolize his possession of Jiang Nian.

He could also receive a certificate after the mission ended during the holidays.

It would be hooliganism[mfn]violent, aggressive, or destructive behavior[/mfn] if they didn’t get married after being together so long.

Cheng Jing waited until Jiang Nian fell asleep before leaving. He left the car and keys behind and contacted the hotel.

It was after two in the morning when he returned home. Yang Kai hadn’t slept yet. He was sitting on the sofa, smoking and watching TV. When Yang Kai saw him, he glanced at him cautiously.

“Where did you go tonight, Brother Cheng?”

“It’s late, and you’re still up. You should smoke less. You’re still young.”

Cheng Jing didn’t answer. He turned on another air purifier. This guy had been living here for several months, and the entire house reeked of smoke.

Fortunately, he had firmly forbidden Yang Kai from entering his bedroom. Otherwise, Jiang Nian would have definitely been disgusted if he had come over.

“I was waiting for you. Even though the mission is over, I was worried when you didn’t come back so late.”

Yang Kai said as he stubbed out his cigarette. Yang Kai stared at him for a moment, then his expression changed.

“You smell like hotel soap. Did you just come back from a hotel?”

Cheng Jing sat across from him.

“You’ve still got a sharp nose despite drinking and smoking. You secret agents are something else.”

“Brother Cheng.”

Yang Kai looked straight at him and asked.

“Where did you go?”

Cheng Jing frowned.

“It smells like a hotel. The mission’s over. I needed to relax.”

Yang Kai curled his lips and asked jealously.

“With a partner?”

That was his professional instinct.

“…”

Cheng Jing didn’t answer. No need. He didn’t want the people around him, especially someone like Yang Kai, to know about Jiang Nian. However, since the others already suspected it, he didn’t bother denying it.

He was ecstatic to reunite with Jiang Nian.

Yang Kai realized he had guessed right and felt inexplicably irritated. He couldn’t help but light another cigarette.

“Jiang Nian, right? You’ve been acting strange ever since you saw him today. I thought maybe you two had a past, but it turns out you’re still together. However, his reaction when he saw me wasn’t that of a legitimate partner. Is he your kept man?”

Jiang Nian’s reaction had been too natural, and with his trained eye, he couldn’t detect anything.

Cheng Jing denied it.

“He’s been mine all along. He’s just cooperating with our work. He’s my legal partner. I have no lover but him.”

If only he could have a lover, he wouldn’t be so obsessed with that brat.

Yang Kai understood.

“But I heard from Sister Huang Qian that you had a ‘white moonlight’… Someone you lost and could never forget.”

Cheng Jing nodded.

“Well, the one I lost has come back to life.”

He had just updated his marital status. Let’s see who dares to laugh at him now!

“Huh?”

Yang Kai was stunned at first, then suddenly realized.

“So that’s it. I was wondering…”

Then, with slight frustration, he looked at him.

“Brother Cheng, I like you—you must know that—but during the mission, we both had our own roles. Now that the mission’s over, do I still have a chance?”

Jiang Nian’s most striking features were his peach blossom eyes, soft brows, and constant smile. He really seemed like the kind of person who could string someone along without remorse. He didn’t expect Cheng Jing to be that type, either. He basically had no hope.

While Huang Qian was talking nonsense, Cheng Jing had already prepared for Yang Kai to rip open the “paper window.” So, he wasn’t surprised and didn’t experience much emotional turmoil. He looked directly into Yang Kai’s eyes and replied seriously:

“Yang Kai, we are collaborators. If someone only gets one real shot at love in this life, then there’s no place in mine for anyone else. To be honest, I don’t like men. No one, except him.”

Did Jiang Nian turn him gay?

Of course not. After all, something like that requires mutual effort. He had always been the more passive one.

He couldn’t resist when Jiang Nian chased him. He couldn’t do anything when the little bastard dumped him. He couldn’t even stay angry when Jiang Nian came back. The moment Jiang Nian shed a tear, he wanted nothing more than to kiss him, hold him, and love him.

It had become an instinctive habit—his body and heart were hardwired to respond to Jiang Nian.