SABA Chapter 64

Jiang Tiao felt he should find time to visit a Taoist temple to change his luck. How could his romantic life be so bumpy? It was one thing to spend over ten years recognizing his feelings, another for the person he liked to like someone else, and even more so that his pursuit had been completely ineffective. But now, he was being mistaken for liking someone else too?

No! He absolutely could not allow such a melodramatic thing to happen to him!!

“Can you stop being so self-absorbed! No one noticed you! I was…” Jiang Tiao blushed, his face turning red, unsure if it was from anger or embarrassment. “I was thinking about Huo Shen!”

If Huo Shen hadn’t been there, Jiang Tiao could have argued properly. But in front of Huo Shen, Jiang Tiao felt embarrassed. He couldn’t tell Huo Shen that he was smiling foolishly because he remembered Huo Shen playing the piano! That would make him seem like such a pervert!

What if he ruined his image in Huo Shen’s eyes?! He still wanted to pursue him!

Jiang Tiao felt that this person with a problem was like a man-made obstacle set by heaven on his path to love. Before letting go of Chu Xu’s hand that he was gripping, Jiang Tiao secretly punched him again, unable to quell his anger.

Chu Xu stumbled a few steps before steadying himself. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked up in disbelief, only to see Huo Shen. He tidied his messy clothes, concealing his emotions, presenting himself as dignified and arrogant. He could be disheveled in front of anyone else, but not in front of Huo Shen.

Because Huo Shen’s presence always reminded him of those accusing and disdainful gazes when he was caught lying and framing Chu Yanhao as a child. That kind of embarrassment was like a thorn stuck in his heart; even after so many years, even though he was now radiant, those pointing fingers and Chu father’s disappointed and disgusted eyes followed him like a shadow.

He had framed Chu Yanhao to hit him and push him into the pond, but was that what he wanted? If he had their background, if he had Chu father’s favor, why would he need to step on Chu Yanhao to get ahead?

When everyone believed him, why did Huo Shen stand up to speak for the defenseless Chu Yanhao? Was it just because Chu Yanhao was Jiang Tiao’s friend? If it weren’t for Huo Shen, Chu father might have taken him back to the Chu family long ago, and he might have become a successful person by now!

He admitted that he had spent so much effort making the amnesiac Jiang Tiao dependent and trusting him. Besides the fact that he was the young master of the Jiang family and would surely be of use to him, it was also because he wanted to make Huo Shen suffer.

To make the usually flamboyant and indifferent young master dote on him hopelessly, like a sycophant with no dignity, giving him whatever he wanted; and to make the proud and seemingly disdainful favored son suffer because he couldn’t have what he wanted. He felt that his life had never been so exhilarating and satisfying.

Before Huo Shen could speak, Jiang Tiao had already retreated to his side, acting innocent and making a face at Huo Shen.

Huo Shen’s gaze softened slightly. He looked at Jiang Tiao with a hint of a smile, his eyes deep, like an unfathomable fog. “You called me up here to watch this?”

?!

Jiang Tiao looked up in shock, gazing at Huo Shen a few times, then suddenly burst into laughter. He leaned into Huo Shen’s ear, his hot breath falling on Huo Shen’s neck.

“You should have stood more hidden. If I hadn’t seen you, I would have started beating him after he finished speaking.”

Huo Shen raised his eyebrows slightly.

Jiang Tiao took a step back, creating distance, and rolled up his sleeves, ready to step forward. “Or should I still beat him up?”

That way, everyone could vent their anger.

Huo Shen grabbed Jiang Tiao’s forearm.

Chu Xu had intended to step forward to pull Jiang Tiao, but under Huo Shen’s icy gaze, he felt a sense of timidity, as if he were bound by a thousand-pound sandbag, unable to move his feet.

He had already achieved such a high status, so why did he still feel timid in front of Huo Shen? What was there about Huo Shen that made him so proud? Why was he always so condescending and disdainful towards him?!

As long as tonight passed, he would be able to enter ELEGANT company legitimately. He would slowly take back everything, starting with the Chu family, and then through Jiang Tiao, he would get the Jiang family’s… He would trample everyone who looked down on him!

Huo Shen let out a sneer, his gaze falling on him was faint, yet it was like a bottomless abyss, making people shiver without reason.

As if looking any longer would hurt his eyes, Huo Shen quickly shifted his gaze. He took Jiang Tiao’s hand and placed it on Jiang Tiao’s wrist, rubbing his wristbone, and said in an ambiguous tone, “Next time. He still has to appear tonight, and it wouldn’t be good if he was disfigured.”

Huo Shen’s subtle mockery and ambiguous sneer sent a jolt through Chu Xu’s heart, like a gust of wind passing through his heart, causing him to break out in a cold sweat, his hair standing on end.

How did Huo Shen know?

It must be because Chu father had asked him to entertain guests outside just now. It wasn’t surprising to guess something from this. No need to be nervous! Chu Xu replayed the process in his mind, confirming that there would be no accidents before he finally relaxed his worried heart.

Hmph, all this pretense was just because he didn’t want him to stop him from taking Jiang Tiao away. Chu Xu’s lips moved, but in the end, he didn’t say anything, watching Jiang Tiao leave with Huo Shen. How could Jiang Tiao not love him? He knew that Huo Shen was just collecting some information for him. What a little fool.

……

Jiang Tiao suppressed his curiosity and allowed Huo Shen to lead him into another corridor before asking strangely, “Isn’t tonight Uncle Chu’s birthday banquet? What’s going to happen?”

He hadn’t paid attention just now, but before Huo Shen came, Chu Xu also seemed to have said something like, “After tonight, they won’t be able to do anything to me anymore.”

Huo Shen pushed open a carved dark door in the Baroque style. The interior of the restroom, designed with avant-garde artistic elements deeply rooted in the fashion industry, was like a sculpture and painting exhibition.

“If there are no accidents, Chu father should formally acknowledge and announce Chu Xu’s status as an illegitimate son during the birthday banquet tonight. And he will announce his appointment as the Digital Content Director of ELEGANT.”

?????

Jiang Tiao’s eyes widened in shock.

What? Chu Xu was the illegitimate son of the Chu family?! Then he and Chu Yanhao were brothers? No, that couldn’t be said in front of Chu Yanhao, or he would definitely get beaten. What did Chu father mean by appointing Chu Xu as director of ELEGANT? Was he planning to support Chu Xu in a power struggle with Qingchao ge? Even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs; was Chu father crazy? Jiang Tiao could hardly imagine Chu Qingchao’s feelings when he knew about this.

Huo Shen saw Jiang Tiao’s expression change from shocked to emotional, and then full of worry. The ice in his eyes melted slightly. He reached out and stroked Jiang Tiao’s hair, blushing not at all, and cited Jiang Mingyan, “So, stay away from him. Don’t get involved with him. Be careful your brother gets angry.”

“Indeed,” Jiang Tiao agreed wholeheartedly. Other things were easy to say, but when it involved Chu Qingchao, his brother would definitely take it seriously.

No wonder his brother disliked Chu Xu so much. There was this connection.

Then his brother had given Chu Xu quite a bit of resources for his sake. No wonder Chu Qingchao had spoken sarcastically to Jiang Mingyan and Huo Shen at the airport. Jiang Tiao’s heart sank slightly.

Huo Shen led the frowning Jiang Tiao to the sink. He turned on the faucet on the marble countertop, and the clear, slightly cool water flowed onto Jiang Tiao’s hands, bringing his wandering thoughts back.

A drop of milky white hand sanitizer landed on Jiang Tiao’s fair hand. Huo Shen’s fingertips slowly rubbed it in, and the foam bloomed like fresh snow, enveloping their intertwined fingertips.

Huo Shen lowered his gaze, his fingertips tracing Jiang Tiao’s slender finger joints, slowly working out the foam. Jiang Tiao’s fingers were gently spread apart, the delicate foam covering every inch of skin, and the scent of freesia and iris slowly diffused into the air.

Jiang Tiao let Huo Shen wash his hands as if they were delicate porcelain objects. He raised his eyebrows slightly, giving a questioning look.

Huo Shen took a clean tissue from the side and meticulously wiped the water off his hands. After doing so, he looked up, his gaze on Jiang Tiao’s face as gentle as ever. “Just disinfecting.”

Jiang Tiao watched Huo Shen crumple the tissue into a ball and throw it into the trash can with some force.

Jiang Tiao felt like crying and laughing. He tilted his head to look at Huo Shen’s face for a while. Seeing that Huo Shen was ignoring him, he simply leaned closer to Huo Shen.

“What’s wrong? Are you angry? Or unhappy?”

Huo Shen didn’t speak.

Jiang Tiao became anxious, “It was really his own imagination. I was really just thinking of you at that time.”

“Like the first time we met, your ninth birthday banquet. Remember? You were playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor on stage, and you immediately caught my attention. Later, you taught me. I was thinking at that time…”

Jiang Tiao paused. The scene from that year became vividly clear in his mind as he spoke: a little boy in a black tailcoat sat before the piano, his fair fingers dancing on the black and white keys… Some things, once understood, changed the taste of many scenes from back then.

So, he had fallen for Huo Shen the first time he saw him?

Huo Shen saw that Jiang Tiao had stopped talking midway, his ear tips suddenly turning red, even spreading to his cheeks. Huo Shen was inexplicably confused, “What were you thinking at that time?”

Jiang Tiao lowered his eyes, suppressing the churning sweetness in his heart.

“I was thinking…” Jiang Tiao playfully lifted Huo Shen’s chin, hiding tenderness and affection beneath the jest, “I’ve never seen such a handsome little brother.”

Huo Shen grabbed Jiang Tiao’s outstretched hand and took control, pinching his chin. His gaze fell on Jiang Tiao’s slightly moist lips, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and the pad of his thumb covered them before reason could stop him. He gently stroked them, the warm and soft touch slowly smoothing out his agitated emotions, making his entire heart feel soothed yet restless.

Reason, deliberately left behind, finally caught up. He looked at Jiang Tiao’s slightly confused eyes, which showed no defense, and let go. He cursed himself inwardly for his shamelessness.

Jiang Tiao’s heart fluttered slightly. “You…”

Huo Shen lowered his eyes, his tone casual, “You have wine stains on the corner of your mouth.”

“Oh…”

Jiang Tiao’s heart sank back down.

He stroked his lower lip, which had just been touched by Huo Shen, and felt as if ants were crawling inside his heart. He quickly caught up with Huo Shen’s steps, tilting his head to look at him. He tentatively asked, “Are you unhappy just because Chu Xu is someone you really dislike?”

Huo Shen’s gaze met Jiang Tiao’s. His eyes were like a lake deep in a moonlit forest, calm on the surface, but with countless undercurrents beneath. He looked deeply at Jiang Tiao and reached out to brush away the shadow his eyelashes cast on his eyelids. “It’s not just that.”

?

Jiang Tiao was left standing there. He didn’t understand until Huo Shen pushed the door open and left the restroom.

What did he mean?

……