SABA Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 Huo Shen caught Jiang Tiao’s embrace as if catching…

Huo Shen lived in the most prosperous area of Yun Jing. The entire complex had only two residential buildings and one high-end clubhouse, with one apartment per floor, ensuring extreme privacy.

Jiang Tiao’s mood was not great on the way over. He didn’t know why he was feeling conflicted, just a little uncomfortable. However, this discomfort completely vanished after following Huo Shen into the apartment. The reason was simple: Huo Shen had only found one pair of slippers, not even a disposable spare.

Huo Shen gave the only pair of slippers to Jiang Tiao: “I haven’t had guests here before, so things aren’t fully stocked. You wear these first. I’ll have the building manager send another one up.”

Huo Shen lived on the thirty-ninth floor. The apartment wasn’t large, about 400 square meters, a single-level unit. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, one could overlook the Jing River and the most prosperous core area of Yun Jing.

Jiang Tiao wandered around the living room. The kitchen and study were open-plan. The kitchen had not a trace of oil smoke on it, indicating it had never been used. The study, however, had many things. A full wall of bookshelves was filled with books, and there were many company files and documents on the desk.

Huo Shen found it somewhat amusing. He felt Jiang Tiao was like a cat being brought into a new environment, sniffing every corner. Cats do this to observe for danger and leave their scent; he didn’t know why Jiang Tiao was doing it.

Jiang Tiao noticed that half of the books on Huo Shen’s bookshelf were professional texts on the brain and nervous system, including many English original research papers. Jiang Tiao felt a pang of unease, “When did you start being so interested in these? Is it because of your doctor friend?”

Huo Shen had met too many doctors over the years; he paused for a moment before realizing whom Jiang Tiao was referring to. He said with a wry smile, “You’ve got the cause and effect backward. I became interested in these things first, and then I met Frank.”

Oh, his name was Frank. Jiang Tiao remembered.

“Have you been living here most of the time these past few years?”

Huo Shen paused. He did go back often, to spend time with Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, chat, and eat meals, but he rarely stayed overnight.

Every plant and tree there was related to Jiang Tiao; memories of Jiang Tiao were everywhere. It was fine during the day when he was with his aunt and uncle, and he had things to distract him. But at night, when he was alone in the rooms still imprinted with Jiang Tiao’s presence, it was too difficult to bear.

Seeing Huo Shen hadn’t answered, Jiang Tiao looked at him with confusion.

Huo Shen said, “Since you haven’t been home much these past few years, it wasn’t much fun for the few of us to just stare at each other.”

Jiang Tiao could almost imagine that scene and laughed, “It still has to be me, the atmosphere regulator. My brother always complains about me, hmph!”

Huo Shen laughed, “Yes, if you lived at home, I would move back too.”

Jiang Tiao became happy. He stretched and comfortably stood by the large floor-to-ceiling windows of the living hall.

It was already 11 PM, and the Jing River Bund was still lively and brilliant. The dazzling neon lights, the glittering decorations, and the well-dressed people coming and going all spoke of a decadent lifestyle.

Jiang Tiao stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window and admired it for a long time. It was indeed difficult to gather a terrifying atmosphere in such a place, but…

“You actually chose to live in a place like this?” Jiang Tiao found it very strange because, in his memory, Huo Shen didn’t really like overly lively places with a lot of people. He had expected Huo Shen to choose a quiet villa district even if he lived in the city center.

“Could it be that my brother forced you to buy it because his property development project wasn’t selling?”

Jiang Tiao felt that this was exactly the kind of thing his brother would do.

Huo Shen smiled. He really didn’t know what kind of image Jiang Mingyan had in Jiang Tiao’s mind.

“No,” Huo Shen stood beside Jiang Tiao, looking at the bustling city scene outside the window, recalling his own thought process when he decided to move here.

Perhaps because a piece of his heart had been hollowed out, he needed the external liveliness to numb himself.

Jiang Tiao was very sensitive to Huo Shen’s emotional changes. He sensed a distant, intangible sadness enveloping Huo Shen. He didn’t understand why, but he couldn’t bear to ignore it.

His dark eyes rolled, and he suddenly leaned close to Huo Shen, “Do you know how many ways ants can laugh?”

Huo Shen: “How many?”

“Four,” Jiang Tiao said earnestly, counting on his fingers as he sang, “Ants ya hey! ~ Ants ya ha! ~ Ants ya ho! ~ Ants ya haha! ~”

Huo Shen couldn’t help but laugh at the last one, like ice and snow melting away.

Jiang Tiao spread his arms and gave him a big hug, “So you see, even ants laugh so much, how can you lose to ants?”

“Mhm.”

Huo Shen caught Jiang Tiao’s embrace, as if catching the piece of flesh that had been dug out of his heart.

…

Jiang Tiao looked around Huo Shen’s place. It was still a minimalist style with cool colors, mainly black, white, and gray. The entire living hall had been opened up, leaving only one room as a bedroom.

Jiang Tiao clicked his tongue as he toured the place.

Huo Shen smiled, “What’s wrong? Any problems?”

Jiang Tiao replied, “To say the least, it’s definitely your room—simple, clean, not like a place a living person would inhabit.”

Huo Shen said, “It’s just a place to sleep.”

Just as Huo Shen said this, Jiang Tiao happened to be touring his bedroom. Jiang Tiao opened the door. Black bed, black bedding, black curtains…

Jiang Tiao was incredulous. He turned to Huo Shen, “Are you trying to experience what it’s like to sleep in a tomb in advance?”

Jiang Tiao’s expression was too exaggerated, and Huo Shen was amused.

“I didn’t pick the style much,” Huo Shen explained, “The housekeeper probably thought I liked this, so no matter how many times she changed it, she kept using the same color.”

“No, your room is too terrifying,” Jiang Tiao’s entire demeanor screamed resistance. He was about to close the door, but halfway through, he realized that Huo Shen only had one room, a design clearly meant for personal use and not for overnight guests.

Jiang Tiao remembered Huo Shen’s firm refusal to sleep with him a few days prior. He leaned against the doorframe, looking a bit proud, as if expecting Huo Shen to beg him. He dragged out his words, feigning difficulty, “Your place… seems to only have one bed.”

Huo Shen was surprised, “What are you thinking? Of course, you’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“Huo! Shen!” Jiang Tiao let out a yell and pounced towards him, intending to tease him.

Huo Shen caught him, laughing heartily, “I’m kidding. You go take a shower first, and I’ll change.”

Jiang Tiao huffed, grabbed his things, and opened the bathroom door. Oh wow, it was pure black marble style again. He finally understood why the housekeeper thought Huo Shen had a penchant for black.

“Can I wash with you?”

As soon as Jiang Tiao closed the door, he felt uneasy. Bathrooms were the most common scenes in horror movies, and the cold, oppressive blackness amplified the atmosphere.

Huo Shen, holding his cup, was relieved he hadn’t taken a sip of water yet.

“No.”

He refused heartlessly.

Jiang Tiao hugged his clothes and stood at the bathroom door, his face pouty, looking as pitiful as possible.

Huo Shen sighed. He walked over and stroked Jiang Tiao’s head, “Leave the door open, and I’ll wait for you outside after you finish.”

Jiang Tiao pouted, looking displeased.

Huo Shen said, “Hurry up. You’re Jiang the Mighty Man, what are you afraid of about taking a shower?”

“Ahhh! Ahhh!” Jiang Tiao’s ears turned red, “You’re making fun of me!”

Huo Shen couldn’t help but smile as he ushered him into the bathroom, “No, I’m reinforcing your image.”

Jiang Tiao gave him two middle fingers before going in.

…

The sound of rushing water from the bathroom was particularly noticeable. Steamy hot air continuously leaked from the half-open door, mingling with the dry air inside. The two chatted intermittently, mostly Jiang Tiao talking, and Huo Shen listening.

Young Master Jiang, whether he was looking for conversation or retaliating for Huo Shen’s refusal, went through every aspect of the bathroom, from its layout to the toiletries, complaining about each. One moment he found the shower gel’s scent unpleasant, the next he disliked the shampoo’s effectiveness. Just listening made one imagine which step of his shower he was on.

Huo Shen felt it was too stuffy. He wanted to lower the air conditioning a few degrees but was afraid Jiang Tiao would catch a cold when he came out, so he irritably unbuttoned two buttons.

“What do you think?” Jiang Tiao asked from inside.

Huo Shen, uncharacteristically unable to concentrate, replied, “What did you say?”

Jiang Tiao thought the water noise had obscured his voice, so he raised his voice by two decibels, “Aren’t you going on a business trip to City B tomorrow? Since I have nothing to do, I’ll go with you. If you’re busy, I’ll just read in the hotel.”

Huo Shen knew Jiang Tiao didn’t want to be alone. He could also sense that Jiang Tiao seemed more clingy after his recovery than he was four years ago.

Amnesia could cause subconscious insecurity, and being around familiar places and people would give him a sense of security. Huo Shen had consulted doctors, so he knew the reason for Jiang Tiao’s behavior.

He was very clear-headed, which is why he had to restrain himself even more.

He didn’t want to be as shameless as a unscrupulous psychologist inducing a patient.

Jiang Tiao came out after getting dressed and drying his hair. He saw Huo Shen leaning by the window.

He held a lit cigar in his hand, his expression unclear.

Jiang Tiao had never seen Huo Shen smoke, let alone a cigar.

Upon seeing Jiang Tiao emerge, Huo Shen immediately extinguished the cigar. He turned up the fresh air system by two gears and walked over to pick up the towel Jiang Tiao had placed on his head, “Go in, I’ll help you dry it.”

Jiang Tiao sniffed his collar and deliberately said, “What does a cigar taste like? I want to try it too.”

Huo Shen paused and gently pushed his head, “Don’t mess around.”

He paused again and then added, “I won’t smoke anymore.”

Jiang Tiao was satisfied. He looked at Huo Shen seriously, “Smoking is harmful to your health.”

Before Huo Shen could even speak, Jiang Tiao added solemnly, “Although cigars aren’t inhaled into the lungs, they aren’t much healthier.”

Huo Shen was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

“Your brother also smokes, why don’t you say anything about him.”

Jiang Tiao stuck out his tongue, “I don’t care about him, I only care about you.”

“Alright, alright.” Huo Shen had no temper with him.

Jiang Tiao was content. After being pampered and having his hair dried, he lay down on the bed.

Huo Shen changed into a celadon bedsheet and duvet cover, Jiang Tiao’s favorite color. Jiang Tiao happily rolled around on the bed clutching the quilt before remembering he had forgotten someone.

He took out his phone. Chu Yunhao had sent him several messages.

Chu Yunhao: [Forget it, considering I’ve scared you badly before, I’ll go help you open a table.]

Chu Yunhao: [But I have plans tonight, I can only stay with you until midnight at the latest. You’ll have to deal with the latter half yourself, but absolutely don’t ask for anyone at my place, I don’t want Huo Shen to kill me.]

Chu Yunhao: [Where are you? I’ve already had two drinks, when are you getting here?]

Chu Yunhao: [I’m leaving. I’ve saved your seat for you. Don’t call me tonight if anything comes up, I’m busy.]

Jiang Tiao: “Heh heh.”

The four messages were so dense with points to mock that Jiang Tiao didn’t know where to start.

Jiang Tiao: [Oh, sorry, I forgot to message you. I’m not coming tonight. Kneel and withdraw.]

Chu Yunhao replied quickly, likely before his “plans” began: [? ]

Jiang Tiao: [Huo Huo isn’t on his business trip tonight. He specifically changed his schedule to accompany me.]

[Look at others, then look at yourself, heh heh. Do you know why your partners always break up with you?]

Chu Yunhao: [Damn it, get lost!]

Jiang Tiao was feeling triumphant and didn’t care, “Look at you, if having a bad temper wasn’t enough, you’re also so vulgar.”

Chu Yunhao was extremely annoyed. He turned off his phone, sat in his car, and looked at the skyscrapers outside, his brow furrowed, thinking about something.

……