SABA Chapter 62

Jiang Tiao has been acting strange recently. Jiang Tiao doesn’t know what good thing has happened to him, but he’s been happy and sweet every day, as if he’d fallen into a honey pot. Even his weekly hospital check-ups are filled with joy.

Jiang Tiao: [I’ve arrived at the garage~]

As soon as Huo Shen stepped into the elevator, he saw Jiang Tiao’s message: [Here, I’m in the elevator.]

Not long after he sent the message, the elevator reached the basement. The elevator doors slowly opened, and he saw Jiang Tiao parked at the elevator entrance in a flashy sports car.

Jiang Tiao has been taking on the role of driver recently. As long as there are no out-of-town announcements, he’ll drive Huo Shen to the company early in the morning. Then, he’ll pick Huo Shen up at the right time in the evening, finding a delicious and beautiful restaurant, almost never repeating the same place.

Tonight is the Chu family patriarch’s birthday banquet. The Chu patriarch is a man who values ceremony. His birthday banquets are always grand, like red carpet events. Naturally, close friends and family, as well as business partners, are invited. Even many top celebrities and influencers in the entertainment industry receive invitations.

Jiang Tiao is unusually dressed in formal wear today. The silver-white fashion suit perfectly complements his noble young master demeanor, like a little peacock with its tail feathers fanned out, his smile bright and soaring.

Huo Shen’s eyes were momentarily dazzled.

Jiang Tiao, like a gentleman, opened the car door for him and smiled, making a gesture of invitation.

In the passenger seat is a bouquet of velvet-textured Black Baccara roses.

Huo Shen calmly picked up the bouquet and sat in the passenger seat. Jiang Tiao has been bringing him a bouquet of flowers every time he picks him up recently. He found it a bit strange at first. However, Jiang Tiao has always liked giving him flowers since childhood, all sorts of varieties. He used to carefully arrange them in his room, but now he just gives them to him directly. He doesn’t know what new whim Jiang Tiao has taken up, but it’s possible it’s because he’s been staying with him lately and doesn’t have a garden to pick from.

Huo Shen looked down at the red roses with their black velvet texture in his arms. The flower language of red roses is passionate and ardent love. If this is Jiang Tiao’s intention, he doesn’t know how happy he would be. However, if the flower language has meaning, Jiang Tiao has given him so many flowers symbolizing love since he was a child. At first, he could still deceive himself into happiness, but later, he couldn’t even deceive himself anymore.

Jiang Tiao is not used to using smart driving. To make Huo Shen more comfortable, he drives much more cautiously and steadily than he usually does, but this also means he has to pay more attention to driving. He sees Huo Shen’s silent, downcast expression in the rearview mirror, which is also different from the reaction they had all anticipated for him.

Are those guys in the group chat reliable?

What about “boiling a frog in warm water,” “gradual progress,” and “moistening things silently”? It’s been more than half a month, and he feels like there’s been no progress at all.

Jiang Tiao’s eyes are filled with a smile, and he nervously and excitedly grips the steering wheel, deliberately testing, “Do you know what the flower language of red roses is?”

Huo Shen looked confused: “I love you?”

Those three words were like a blunt-tipped arrow wrapped in cloth, hitting Jiang Tiao’s heart. They made his heart pound, his hands and feet go numb, and his ear tips turn red. He was like a miser who had just been struck on the forehead by a windfall, his mind blank, losing all ability to react.

The green light had been on for more than ten seconds, and there was a burst of impatient honking from behind.

Jiang Tiao quickly braked and accelerated, swiftly leaving the intersection.

With this delay, the best time to continue the conversation was missed.

Jiang Tiao felt a little regretful but not overly remorseful. Those three words carried too much weight, like a vow of lifelong commitment. In his plan, he wanted to choose a more formal occasion in the future to tell Huo Shen seriously and earnestly.

Huo Shen saw Jiang Tiao’s silly, happy demeanor, his eyes almost overflowing with smiles, and he was slightly confused. His knowledge of flower language was indeed not as deep as Jiang Tiao’s. “Isn’t it?”

Jiang Tiao’s eyes curved. He neither confirmed nor denied it, naturally changing the subject. “Uncle Chu isn’t sixty yet, is he? Does he hold such a grand celebration every year?”

Huo Shen shook his head. “I wasn’t in the country in the earlier years. I just sent a gift and didn’t attend.”

While answering Jiang Tiao, he couldn’t let go of his curiosity about Jiang Tiao’s reaction. He took out his phone and looked it up. The flower language of Black Baccara is sincerity and deep affection, often used to express unwavering friendship or love to a lover or close friend.

Close friend…

Huo Shen’s face went slack, and he turned off his phone.

Jiang Tiao didn’t know why Huo Shen’s mood suddenly dropped. He glanced at the passenger seat from the corner of his eye. Huo Shen was looking at the fleeting neon lights outside the car window, his chiseled profile appearing even more profound in the shifting light and shadow.

Did he recall things from the past four years?

Jiang Tiao pursed his lips slightly, and the excitement that had colored his face from Huo Shen’s earlier words receded significantly. Although he still hadn’t figured out why he had done what he did during those four years, those actions were indeed his own.

The past is the past, and it’s meaningless to dwell on the reasons. He had pondered for a long time recently and felt the only thing he could do was to get back the money that Jiang Mingyan and Huo Shen had to spend on Chu Xu because of him.

Suppressing Chu Xu through means of commercial competition, snatching projects, making him lose money… This wouldn’t be considered having contact with Chu Xu, right?

Jiang Tiao felt he wasn’t violating his agreement with Huo Shen.

…

The silvery sports car smoothly drove into the Chu family’s old mansion. Calling it an old mansion is an understatement; it’s an artistic estate covering over five thousand square meters. The overall design is predominantly white, integrating the essence of Baroque architecture, a typical European castle style. Before Chu Qingchao’s mother passed away, their family of three lived here. After Chu Qingchao and his father moved out successively, it gradually became a place to store the Chu father’s private art collection.

Perhaps to showcase it to everyone, the Chu father mostly held his birthday banquets here. Jiang Tiao had been here many times since childhood and was very familiar with it. So, instead of handing the car over to the valet, he took a slight detour and found a parking spot himself.

Jiang Tiao parked the car. Huo Shen pulled on the car door, but it wouldn’t open.

Jiang Tiao held onto the sleeve of Huo Shen’s suit jacket, tugging it, then tugging it again, his frequency similar to when he was a child doing homework and couldn’t sit still, wanting to drag Huo Shen out to play, so he’d pull on Huo Shen’s clothes.

Huo Shen couldn’t help but let out a laugh, the gloom on his face completely giving way. He grabbed the lapel of his suit, which was about to be pulled askew by Jiang Tiao, “Get out, go get the gifts.”

“Got it!” Jiang Tiao, having gained an advantage, didn’t press his luck. He solicitously circled around to the passenger side to help Huo Shen open the car door, then carried both their gifts from the back, acting exceptionally obedient and well-behaved.

Huo Shen sighed when he saw Jiang Tiao’s puppy-dog eyes. Who could he blame? He couldn’t blame anyone but himself… He took the two gifts from Jiang Tiao’s hands. “Let’s go.”

Jiang Tiao, having appeased Huo Shen, seemed exceptionally happy. He happily followed beside Huo Shen, leaning in, “It’s too hot, a sheep got its wool sheared, and after that, it could never sleep again. Do you know why?” [Note]

Huo Shen: “……”

Jiang Tiao: “Because it lost its wool!”

Huo Shen couldn’t help but show a hint of a smile.

Jiang Tiao: “The little animals were having a meal. Do you know why only the little elephant was very angry?”

Huo Shen: “Why?”

Jiang Tiao: “Because it was a weather bureau!”

Huo Shen’s eyes curved. He helplessly and dotingly squeezed the back of Jiang Tiao’s neck, his eyes holding a smile that he himself hadn’t realized.

Jiang Tiao lagged a step behind, blankly touching the back of his neck, which felt inexplicably tingly. Under Huo Shen’s questioning gaze, he quickly caught up, his smile even brighter.

…

In the center of the front courtyard was a massive European-style fountain. Surrounding it, guests in evening gowns or formal wear bustled about, creating a lively scene. Besides the Chu family’s relatives and business partners, Jiang Tiao even spotted many big stars and well-known directors and producers from the entertainment industry in the crowd.

However, it was understandable. The Chu family had deep roots in the fashion industry and held significant status in the entertainment circle. The Chu patriarch was the chairman of ELEGANT. Whether to build connections or to meet investors or influential figures at the banquet, many people were willing to attend and show their support.

The Chu patriarch stood at the entrance, cheerfully receiving guests and accepting congratulations.

The Chu patriarch’s full name is Chu Hongzhen. He is fifty-six years old. Years of indulgence in alcohol and women had made him a bit portly. Despite meticulous care, signs of aging were appearing on his face, with the flesh on his cheeks starting to sag, forming layers under his chin, giving him a wealthy and plump appearance.

Jiang Tiao had seen photos of the Chu patriarch when he was young. He was quite good-looking, thin and tall, refined, with a poetic aura.

One couldn’t help but sigh at the ruthlessness of time or how easily indulgence in pleasure wears a person down.

Jiang Tiao didn’t see Chu Yanhao or Chu Qingchao but unexpectedly saw Chu Xu. He was busy around the side, helping the Chu patriarch entertain guests, acting as if he were the host.

Jiang Tiao was puzzled. When did Chu Xu become related to the Chu family? He realized today that they all seemed to have the surname Chu?

Chu Xu saw Jiang Tiao from afar. He saw him walking side-by-side with Huo Shen, unhurriedly, as if they had their own protective bubble in the passing crowd. He saw Jiang Tiao tilting his head slightly to look at Huo Shen, talking non-stop, his face radiating a proud and bright smile.

He had seen such a scene countless times from afar when he was younger.

It felt as if a raging fire had ignited in his heart, as if something that belonged to him had been occupied. Anger made him lose his reason, and it wasn’t until the Chu patriarch called him out with displeasure that he realized he had unconsciously crushed the gift box handed to him by a guest.

Although the guest didn’t blame him, he still felt as if he had been slapped in public.

It was all because Jiang Tiao was disobedient!

Jiang Tiao took his gift back from Huo Shen’s hand. After all, Chu patriarch was an elder, and Jiang Tiao couldn’t neglect basic courtesy. He treated Chu Xu as if he were transparent, smiling and exchanging pleasantries with the Chu patriarch, which made the Chu patriarch beam with joy.

The Chu patriarch cheerfully pointed to Chu Xu beside him, “Let me introduce you, this is Chu Xu…”

“No need,” Huo Shen’s expression was unreadable. He glanced at Chu Xu with the same disgust as if he were seeing something dirty, then shifted his gaze back to the Chu patriarch, saying expressionlessly, “We know each other.”

The Chu patriarch’s smile froze for a moment at being interrupted, but it quickly recovered, showing no displeasure. He found a way to save face and cheerfully changed the subject, praising Huo Shen for his early success.

There were many guests coming and going, so they didn’t linger at the entrance for long. Jiang Tiao handed the gift to the Chu patriarch. Chu Xu, who was beside them, deliberately reached out to help.

Huo Shen grabbed Jiang Tiao’s wrist, preventing him from handing over the gift. He took the gift box from Jiang Tiao’s hand, handed it to the butler who was designated to receive gifts, and, expressionlessly, pulled Jiang Tiao along. After greeting the Chu patriarch, they entered the banquet hall.

Chu Xu’s eyes were dark, like two pools of stagnant water filled with hatred. He deliberately tried to pull the Chu patriarch to his side, “No matter what, he’s still a junior in front of you. He’s far too arrogant.”

“Shut up,” the Chu patriarch interrupted with a somber expression, “Don’t provoke him.”

Although their industries were different, they were still in the same circle. The Chu patriarch had heard about Huo Shen’s methods in the business world over the years. He often wondered if Huo Shen’s father had half of Huo Shen’s ruthlessness and vindictiveness, perhaps his father wouldn’t have met such an end.

“Times are different, and trends are different. It won’t hurt to have a good relationship with him.”

Chu Xu snorted disdainfully in his heart. He always felt that Huo Shen was merely lucky to have been born into a good family. If he had Huo Shen’s background, his achievements would surely surpass Huo Shen’s. Chu Xu thought this way, but his outward demeanor remained respectful.

“Information technology, ever since you mentioned it once, I’ve been striving to operate in this area. I previously invested in a social sharing app, and it’s doing quite well, with over a hundred thousand daily active users, targeting users who pursue fashion. I was thinking that one day I could help ELEGANT.”

Chu Xu’s words were both thoughtful and respectful, and the Chu patriarch felt a rare sense of gratification. However, before he could express praise, he remembered his defiant son, Chu Qingchao, and his face immediately darkened. Chu Qingchao’s sexual orientation remained a thorn in his throat. He inexplicably recalled Huo Shen grabbing Jiang Tiao’s wrist just now. He hadn’t paid much attention at the time, but now that he thought about it, it felt a little strange. He hesitantly asked, “Huo Shen, towards Jiang Tiao…?”

Chu Xu knew that the Chu patriarch detested homosexuality and even found it disgusting deep down. He deliberately appeared hesitant, as if torn between his principles and pleasing the Chu patriarch, “It should be… what you’re thinking.”

The Chu patriarch looked up in shock, the sagging flesh on his cheeks shaking. He really couldn’t understand what was wrong with the young people of this generation. They didn’t like good girls, so why did they all run off to like men!

He looked at Chu Xu with a somber expression, a warning in his eyes. “The relationships in the entertainment industry are always chaotic. You wouldn’t also like men, would you?”

Chu Xu’s eyes flickered, but his respectful smile remained unchanged. “Don’t worry, of course not.”

…