Chapter 159: How to Love You

Chapter 159: How to Love You

Shen Zhixue choked for a long time before finally managing to speak, "Can you stop acting out?"

"Did you go to see Lu Qingyan alone?" Jiang Huizhou grumbled, "You don’t really like me anymore, do you? You’re only with me now to help with Chen Yin’s problems, right? You're using me."

Shen Zhixue laughed in exasperation, "Oh, if we’re talking about using each other, we’ve got plenty to talk about."

Jiang Huizhou reached over to turn off the sound system and followed Shen Zhixue into the dark villa. He sat on the wool rug beneath the sofa, head down, silently shedding tears.

Shen Zhixue walked over and gave him a light kick, "Get up."

Jiang Huizhou whispered, "You went to see Lu Qingyan."

"I brought Jiang Xingliu along, didn’t I?" Shen Zhixue said helplessly, "Don’t you know more about my relationship with Lu Qingyan than I do?"

Jiang Huizhou glanced sideways at Shen Zhixue. Seeing that he wasn’t furious, he tentatively moved closer, holding Shen Zhixue’s ankle, kneeling before him like a sad, oversized dog, and pleaded, "Can you take me along when you see them next time? Just as long as I can see you, okay?"

Shen Zhixue frowned, slightly displeased, "I’ve never asked you to bring me along when you meet people."

"I wish we could spend every waking moment together," Jiang Huizhou said smoothly, "If you’d like, I’ll even take you to see Jiang Yingshan."

Shen Zhixue rolled his eyes and turned to ask Jiang Xingliu, "Where’s Chen Yin?"

"She should be back soon," Jiang Xingliu stood upstairs, holding a cup and drinking water.

The cup’s shape was downright ugly, twisted and crooked, and the color of the cup was unrecognizable, with a logo that resembled a pile of poop. In short, it looked quite bizarre.

Jiang Huizhou glanced at it and quickly looked away, "What a hideous thing."

"..." Jiang Xingliu didn’t say anything, turned around with the cup, and walked back into the room.

Shen Zhixue said, "That’s Du Du’s mug."

Jiang Huizhou showed a look of disbelief, "Why would that kid grab someone else’s old cup?"

Shen Zhixue didn’t respond. It was the only thing Jiang Xingliu brought back from the Jiang household.

Though it wasn’t exactly elegant, it must have held some special meaning for Jiang Xingliu.

Du Du was gone, and no one knew when they’d see him again.

At this thought, Shen Zhixue’s mood grew somber.

Around 8 PM, Chen Yin came home right on time. Spotting Shen Zhixue and Jiang Huizhou in the living room, she quickly masked her exhaustion and smiled, calling out, "Uncle Shen, Uncle Jiang."

Shen Zhixue said, "You’re back? Come and eat."

Jiang Huizhou sat on the sofa, fiddling with something, not even giving her a glance.

Chen Yin walked over and sat at the dining table, obediently finishing the meal Shen Zhixue had prepared for her.

Shen Zhixue got up and cleared her dishes, "The bathwater is ready. Life at the military academy must be exhausting. Take a bath and rest. Tomorrow, Xingliu will take you back to the academy."

Chen Yin sweetly hummed in agreement but remained seated.

After Shen Zhixue left, Chen Yin jumped off the stool and ran over to Jiang Huizhou, saying obediently, "Uncle Jiang, can you take me to school tomorrow?"

Jiang Huizhou scoffed, "No way."

"But brother is always so distant with me, I want Uncle Jiang to take me instead," Chen Yin said. "Back when I went to school, Dad was always the one who took me."

Jiang Huizhou finally looked up from the glowing screen, the cold blue light glinting in his eyes. "You want me to go with you?"

Chen Yin nodded. "Because brother always drops me off at the school gate, and it's tiring for me to walk in alone."

Jiang Huizhou tilted his head. "And you think I’d actually walk you in?"

Chen Yin blinked, then suddenly said, "Uncle Jiang isn’t like brother Jiang Xingliu. Uncle Jiang is an adult, and adults don’t pick fights with kids, right?"

"Not necessarily," Jiang Huizhou said, crossing his legs. "I enjoy messing with bratty kids."

Chen Yin’s eyes filled with tears, and as soon as Shen Zhixue was about to come out of the kitchen, the tears started to fall. "Uncle Jiang, I don’t get why you and brother Jiang Xingliu both seem to dislike me, but I really didn’t mean to. I just miss Dad so badly. When Dad was around, he’d always tell me what to do, wuwuwu..."

Right on cue, Shen Zhixue’s annoyed voice immediately rang out from behind. "Jiang Huizhou, do you have to pick on a kid?"

Jiang Huizhou frowned and sneered. "Did you see me pick on her?"

"If you didn’t upset her, why’s she crying?" Shen Zhixue’s voice also turned cold, with an unusual firmness. "Haven’t I already told you? Those things were done by Chen Zhe. Chen Yin’s just a kid, what does she know? And you, Jiang Xingliu!"

Jiang Xingliu paused and turned his face.

"The doctor already said the hormone imbalance is normal, how can it all be blamed on Yin Yin?" Shen Zhixue scolded the two Jiangs, big and small, with righteous indignation. "Since Chen Yin is living with us now, she is part of our family. Don’t mess with Chen Yin, got it?"

Jiang Xingliu scoffed, turned on his heel, and stormed back to his room, slamming the door loudly.

Shen Zhixue hissed. "You little..."

Jiang Huizhou stood up and also turned to walk back to his room, but was quickly thrown out by Shen Zhixue along with the blanket.

"You’re sleeping out here tonight!"

Jiang Huizhou stood at the door. "Shen Zhixue, don’t be ridiculous, let me in."

Shen Zhixue’s response was to slam the door shut.

Jiang Huizhou had no choice but to sit on the sofa in the living room downstairs with the blanket.

Chen Yin stood on the stairs on the second floor, tilting her head to look at Jiang Huizhou, a weirdly smug smile on her face. "Uncle Jiang, I thought you and Uncle Shen had a good relationship. How could you argue because of me?"

Jiang Huizhou laughed. "You overestimate yourself, little girl."

Chen Yin said, "Take me to school, Uncle Jiang. You probably don’t want to keep arguing with Uncle Shen, do you?"

Jiang Huizhou didn’t say anything and lay down on the sofa.

Chen Yin turned and went back to her room.

The large villa suddenly became quiet.

Jiang Huizhou pretended to sleep on the sofa, and suddenly felt someone walk over from behind and stand in front of him.

He didn’t move.

The scent of information had already told him who it was.

Shen Zhixue tugged at Jiang Huizhou’s blanket, squatted down, and gently poked his face. "Jiang Huizhou?"

Jiang Huizhou let out a soft breath.

"Are you really asleep?" Shen Zhixue stood up and touched his face, "You fell asleep so fast."

Just as he turned to leave, Jiang Huizhou grabbed his wrist and pulled him into his arms with a forceful tug.

Shen Zhixue let out a small cry, ultimately muffling the exclamation in his throat.

Jiang Huizhou pinned him down, chuckling softly, "You just came out to check on me? You're so heartless, Zhi Zhi."

"..." Shen Zhixue, with his hands restrained and unable to escape, could only whisper, "I shouldn't have come out to see."

"What, did I not act well enough?" Jiang Huizhou frowned and thought for a moment, "I think it was fine. That kid is more careful than you think. It's been so long, and there's still no trace of that person. Without faking a family breakdown to lower her guard, it would be tough to lure her out."

"I understand the reasoning, but your reaction today was way over the top," Shen Zhixue said, "How did you know I met with Lu Qingyan?"

"I told you," Jiang Huizhou buried his head in Shen Zhixue's neck, nuzzling and sniffing lightly, "You smell like him."

Shen Zhixue, "...Really? I didn't smell it."

"Only someone who loves you deeply can smell it."

"Stop pretending. Did you put something on me?"

Jiang Huizhou was silent for two seconds, then whispered guiltily, "I didn't put anything on you, just a sharing feature. Your light brain can share status with me, and of course, remotely control some functions and facilities, like the recording function."

Shen Zhixue said helplessly, "Jiang Huizhou."

Jiang Huizhou paused, then cautiously said, "You can hear mine too, anytime you want."

"That's not the issue," Shen Zhixue grumbled, "If you want to know something, just ask me. I never hide anything from you, but not in this way."

"Would you actually tell me?" Jiang Huizhou bit Shen Zhixue's collarbone, forcing a small moan from him, "If I asked you, would you really tell me exactly what Lu Qingyan said to you today?"

Shen Zhixue panted lightly, "Don't bite so hard... Of course, I wouldn't hide anything. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you."

"Because I love you, that's why."

Jiang Huizhou's movements stopped. He looked up, and in the darkness, his eyes seemed filled with doubt.

Shen Zhixue whispered, "Let me go first, okay?"

Jiang Huizhou released the hands that were restraining Shen Zhixue, cautiously asking, "What did you say?"

"I said, because I love you," Shen Zhixue raised his hand, gently tracing Jiang Huizhou's nose bridge with his fingertips, "So, whatever you want to know, I'll tell you. You don't have to control me like this, Jiang Huizhou. It's not right; it just makes me feel like I'm losing my freedom. In my world, love is equal and free."

"How can love be free?" Jiang Huizhou gripped Shen Zhixue's waist, his voice hoarse, "I need to know what you're doing every second. Every moment I can't see you is torture. I'm afraid someone else will take you away. In your heart, Lu Qingyan and Wan Chenghan are both better than me. At least they haven't deceived you, and they both like you... You're already upset with me. If you leave with them, what should I do?"

"Even if it comes to that, you can't keep me with these methods, can you?" Shen Zhixue chuckled, "Besides, with our little Jiang's face, you're still way ahead."

Jiang Huizhou's forehead pressed against Shen Zhixue's, whispering, "Zhi Zhi, teach me."

Shen Zhixue smiled, "Little Jiang is so smart. What do you want to learn from me?"

Jiang Huizhou swallowed, "How to... love you normally."