The apartment faced the street, and just fifty meters uphill was a 24-hour convenience store run by an auntie from Hong Kong.
Pei Zi[mfn]Finally! Here it is, “the roommate’s” name[/mfn] had been standing downstairs for twenty minutes, but hadn’t heard any unusual sounds coming from the apartment. In the end, he decided to head to the store to buy a pack of Marlboros, and while he was there, to pick up the throat medicine Jiang Cenglan had requested. Though he doubted he really needed them.
Honestly, it was just an excuse to give himself some space. Pei Zi knew that perfectly well.
Living abroad required social tact. Jiang Cenglan was an excellent roommate, and the two of them maintained their friendship, built on the foundation of cohabitation, with a quiet, mutual understanding. But Pei Zi probably cared more about the stability of Jiang Cenglan’s personal life than he did himself.
Maybe I should head back up early, he thought, glancing at the expensive watch on his wrist. Then, he politely declined the Hong Kong auntie’s request to help her kid with a math worksheet, a thing that became customary in the neighborhood.
Walking back, he lit a cigarette, his head slightly bowed. The Marlboros without flavor beads were sharp and acrid, but he was used to the harshness. Pei Zi’s movements were practiced and casual, as smoke curled around his long, loose hair.
When he returned to the apartment building, he finally took the cigarette from his mouth and gave it a flick. The plan was to finish one, then head back upstairs. But suddenly, his expression sharpened…
Wasn’t there a black car parked at the corner across the street just now…?
Pei Zi’s face changed instantly at the realization as he turned on his heels and rushed upstairs.
Taking the stairs two or three at a time, he dashed back into the apartment and, sure enough, it was already empty.
The place was neat and undisturbed, with no signs of a struggle.
Jiang Cenglan had left with Zhang Ruien willingly.
“Fuck!” the long-haired man cursed through gritted teeth, his face darkening.
…………….
The car had already been driving for a while when Jiang Cenglan finally realized… it seemed they were heading toward Uptown. Focusing his breath, he asked coldly: “Are you planning to take me to the Steinway Tower?”
The man driving glanced at him through the rearview mirror and asked: “He took you there?”
Jiang Cenglan, seated in the back, raised a leg and kicked the back of the seat.
Only then did Zhang Ruien answer: “Not there. We’re going to the Intercontinental. I have a suite on the top floor.”
Jiang Cenglan reluctantly nodded and turned his head back toward the window.
He couldn’t be bothered to spare another look at that impotent bastard!
Of course, he wasn’t going along with Zhang Ruien to get a room. The only reason he agreed to follow him was because the man promised to buy the design drafts from Jiang Cenglan’s last award-winning competition piece, including the earlier works he had previously stolen.
He was also willing to pay in cash, well above the market price.
Jiang Cenglan had initially wanted to reject the offer. He already had enough saved for next semester’s tuition and living expenses, and he didn’t particularly want to reconcile with Zhang Ruien like that, though he hadn’t come up with a better plan yet.
However, Zhang Ruien then stated that if Jiang Cenglan refused, he would immediately make public the fact that he and Li Que were legally married.
If that happened, if Zhang Ruien really did that now, then in the court of public opinion, Li Que, whose relationship had just gone public, would instantly become the “cheater,” and Jiang Cenglan would go from being a misunderstood third party to a real homewrecker.
“You’re despicable!” Jiang Cenglan’s hands were shaking with rage.
“I don’t have any other choice,” Zhang Ruien said. “Cenglan, I really did call you earlier. If you still don’t believe I came from Toulouse, from the home Richard and I share, then I’ll have no choice but to show everyone our marriage certificate…”
Zhang Ruien looked at Jiang Cenglan calmly, unfazed by the sparks in his eyes.
As for Jiang Cenglan, he finally forced himself to calm down. He could see it clearly now: Zhang Ruien had no intention of letting him go. He would settle this, but only in his own way.
And Li Que still wasn’t reachable. Jiang Cenglan had tried calling the number back earlier, but guessed Li Que must be on a flight right now.
Zhang Ruien probably knew that too. That’s why he was pushing Jiang Cenglan to make a decision on the spot.
What should he do? He couldn’t let Li Que’s reputation be damaged. In that damned love triangle, Li Que was the only true victim. He had done nothing wrong, and he couldn’t be the one on trial.
So Jiang Cenglan could only make up his mind, going with the plan he’d originally considered: demand compensation from Zhang Ruien, possibly sell him a few more drafts. Anything that would let him keep studying in peace. In the end, Jiang Cenglan shot him a fierce glare, ran back to the bedroom to grab his portfolio, and, while putting on his shoes, snapped, “Let’s go!”
They had to talk somewhere else. If Pei Zi came back, he’d definitely try to stop him.
Jiang Cenglan knew this might not be the ideal solution, but right now, to him, Li Que’s reputation mattered more.
And Li Que himself was the most important.
The two of them quickly went downstairs and drove off.
About twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Intercontinental’s top-floor suite, just as Zhang Ruien had said.
“What are the contract terms?” Jiang Cenglan asked coldly, hugging his portfolio.
“Sit down first.” Zhang Ruien hung his coat on the rack, rolled up his sleeves, and went to the mini fridge to get Jiang Cenglan a bottle of water. Then he explained: “Things are moving quickly on my end, so let me go over it again.”
“Cenglan, I need to apologize for what I did in the past. I hope we can reconcile today, before Li Que returns.”
“Once I buy your design this time, I won’t do what I did before. I’ll credit it as a joint work between us.”
“I’ll send you the money first, then you give me the draft, and I’ll trace it. I already have someone preparing the contract. Can you agree to that?”
Jiang Cenglan thought for a moment and nodded.
The terms weren’t bad, so he handed over his portfolio. It was clear this was one of Zhang Ruien’s long-term residences. On the writing desk, which would’ve been just a decorative piece for a short-stay guest, there was a decent collection of professional drafting tools.
Zhang Ruien quickly got to work.
Jiang Cenglan’s mood had calmed a lot by now, and he began mulling over Zhang Ruien’s strange behavior.
The way he looked at him, resentful, unwilling, but still courteous…
Suddenly, a flash of intuition struck Jiang Cenglan, making him ask: “What did Li Que do to you?”
Li Que had actually given him a chance to ask about Zhang Ruien before, but back then…
A few images flashed through his mind. Jiang Cenglan didn’t blame himself for being too weak. Who could possiblystay rational in front of Li Que?
Only someone truly impotent.
So no, it wasn’t his fault that his attention had been completely on Li Que.
Hearing his question, the man’s hand froze mid-trace as Jiang Cenglan looked at him curiously. After a long pause, the man finally raised his head, stared at Jiang Cenglan, and said flatly:
“You seem to be doing quite well lately.”
Jiang Cenglan nodded.
Compared to Zhang Ruien’s face, which looked like he was down on his luck, Jiang Cenglan’s cheeks had clearlyplumped up a little lately, thanks to good food and rest.
“Congratulations in advance on marrying into a rich family,” Zhang Ruien said mildly.
With that, he lowered his head again and resumed tracing.
“Weirdo…” Jiang Cenglan muttered.
He gave up on continuing to provoke Zhang Ruien, mostly because he could tell that behind Zhang Ruien’s facade of calm, his nerves were stretched taut.
He was worried that if he pushed too far, Zhang Ruien might break and spill everything.
Seeing that his ex-boyfriend was ignoring him, Jiang Cenglan simply helped himself to the Switch that had been left on the table and started playing.
The entire time, Zhang Ruien didn’t say a word.
Outside, the night had deepened. In New York, only by standing high enough could you feel the quiet of nighttime; otherwise, under the haze of light pollution, you were just another beast of burden working overtime for tomorrow’s cheap burgers and extra-large sodas.
Jiang Cenglan played absentmindedly.
Of course, he understood. What Zhang Ruien had really wanted to ask just now was whether he had really slept with Li Que or not. Was it possessiveness?
Coming from a man who was their mutual ex?!
What a ridiculous, impotent man… Jiang Cenglan curled his lips.
But he couldn’t stop himself from remembering that day, back in the bedroom of Steinway Tower, steeped in Li Que’s scent. After being thoroughly taken care of twice, Jiang Cenglan had completely lost himself in the moment, desperate to soak up the older man’s warmth and scent.
His eyes were blurred by involuntary tears. Like a puppy, he sniffled and dove straight into Li Que’s sweaty chest, his cheek rubbing against those abdominal muscles, sliding downward, and clearly wanting more.
But the man, still holding on to his self-control, easily lifted him by the chin.
“You want me?” Li Que asked.
Jiang Cenglan nodded messily. “Yeah.”
He wanted something real, something warm…
“You can’t,” Li Que said with a smiling squint. “I forgot to tell you my rules, but baby…”
“…No penetration allowed.”
