Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Jiang Nian was in a good mood as he took a taxi back to the hotel. The receptionist at the front desk told him with a playful suggestiveness that his things had been brought back to the room by Cheng Jing.

After thanking her, Jiang Nian got on the elevator and headed upstairs, thinking about how he’d figure out how to ask for more money later.

The door to the room was open—Cheng Jing was on a phone call. Not wanting to interrupt, Jiang Nian went straight to the bathroom after grabbing some clothes. He felt gross after a long day.

Halfway through showering, Cheng Jing knocked on the door:

“Have you eaten yet?”

Idly playing with bubbles in the bathtub, Jiang Nian replied,

“Nope, I feel like something spicy today. Thanks, Brother Jing.”

He needed to borrow money, so he had to keep it sweet—his ex with dad-like tendencies totally ate this up.

“…”

Cheng Jing walked away. When Jiang Nian finished washing up, room service showed up right as he came out. There were mild and spicy dishes, cold appetizers, fruit, and drinks.

Though the portions were small, the table was loaded—it was kinda fancy for two people to have dinner like this.

Cheng Jing called him over and started eating.

Jiang Nian gushed thanks before digging right in. Everyone knows deals go down over drinks, but without alcohol, he couldn’t work up the nerve to mention borrowing money. So he asked quietly:

“Hey, Brother Jing, can I get a bottle of wine?”

Without looking up, Cheng Jing shot him down:

“No way.”

Just as Jiang Nian was about to argue, Cheng Jing put his chopsticks down and gave him a look.

“You don’t remember what a lightweight you are? No antics when we’ve got serious stuff to talk about.”

This brat barely ate anything all day and already wants wine? No surprise he’s all skin and bones.

“…”

Jiang Nian stiffened, then ducked his head. Fair enough—he didn’t drink much, and the times he really lost control could be counted on one hand, most of them in front of Cheng Jing.

Back when they were crazy about each other, he'd come home drunk from hanging out with friends and cling to Cheng Jing like crazy. When *he* acted out, Cheng Jing would get mad; when *Cheng Jing* really got going, Jiang Nian wouldn’t be able to get out of bed the next day…

Whatever. Wine wasn’t that big a deal anyway.

Cheng Jing watched as Jiang Nian was practically faceplanting into his bowl, his ears bright red. A quick rush of fondness flickered through him before he said,

“You can have some after we’re done talking.”

Fine. If he wanted to make a scene in front of him, whatever—just not around anyone else.

Holding his bowl, Jiang Nian shook his head,

“No no, I’m fine. I was just messing around—you don’t have to take it seriously.”

Getting drunk and clinging to someone else’s boyfriend would be totally trashy.

After the meal, the waiter cleared the table and left. Cheng Jing was already on the sofa watching TV, where the broadcast showed a serene and harmonious scene.

Jiang Nian grabbed a pillow and sat down beside the calm man. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke softly:

"Um, Brother Jing... have you thought about lending me the money?"

Money, money—he needed money now!

Cheng Jing shifted his gaze to him and asked,

"How much do you want to borrow? And what for?"

"Renting a place, buying things... the more you can give, the better."

Jiang Nian answered truthfully, though the things he wanted to buy were just a *little* excessive.

Cheng Jing pursed his lips.

"I thought it was because of your mom... that you needed money to pay off debts."

Since the other had brought it up, he had to lend the money. He wasn’t stingy, but he just wanted clarity.

"I sold my house to pay off my mom’s debts... so now I’m flat broke."

Jiang Nian rested his chin on the pillow and lowered his eyes. He had considered using this reason to borrow from Cheng Jing, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He didn’t want to deceive Cheng Jing by exploiting his mother’s situation.

Cheng Jing wanted to ask why he hadn’t turned to him during those difficult times, but blaming him seemed pointless. He could only sigh to himself before asking again,

"You mentioned before that your mom was sick for two years... was she already ill when we were still together?"

"Yeah."

Jiang Nian hugged the pillow tighter.

"I wanted to tell you, but then you brought up joining the military, so I didn’t mention it... I was a wreck back then... telling you would’ve only weighed you down. Plus, I didn’t really want you to go, so I acted a bit childish... and that’s how it ended up."

His mother’s illness and his boyfriend leaving—it hit him twice as hard. At the time, he had no idea how to handle his emotions.

Cheng Jing snapped.

"So that’s why you broke up with me? You decided all by yourself that it’d affect me and just ended things without saying anything?!"

Great. Now the truth just pissed him off more. In his opinion, anyone who broke up without falling out of love was just out of their mind! Even in college, he could still be this immature!

"I messed up."

Jiang Nian apologized sincerely, glancing up at him before continuing,

"If you hadn’t joined the military, I would’ve told you, and you would’ve stayed by my side... But you’d already made up your mind. Long-distance comfort would’ve drained us both... At the very least, my gloom would’ve been too much—sometimes even I couldn’t stand myself..."

"So... I figured it was best for both of us. I could focus on school, work, and taking care of my mom, and you could focus on your future. And look at you now—killing it..."

He didn’t think his decision was noble or anything. It was just how he felt at the time. All that helpless longing adds up—it can break you.

Cheng Jing held his gaze for a long moment before finally lowering his eyes in silence. His anger began to fade with Jiang Nian’s words. Yeah... he had a point.

Sigh... Anyway, Brother Jing, I’m sorry.

Jiang Nian apologized with a choked voice, then pressed his face into the pillow before getting up and walking into the bathroom. He sighed helplessly at his red-rimmed eyes in the mirror.

He had rehearsed these words many times on the way here, trying to say them calmly. But as he spoke, his throat clenched and tears fell despite himself.

A bitter mix of regret and helplessness surged through his chest, overwhelming and impossible to contain. If given another chance, he would never act that way again.

As Cheng Jing approached, Jiang Nian didn’t want him to see his messy state. He reached out to turn off the light, bent down to wash his face under the running water, then braced his hands on the sink and cleared his throat:

"I didn’t say all this with any hidden motive—I just wanted you to know what I truly felt back then. I know it’s over between us, and it’s my fault… Don’t worry, unless it's absolutely critical, I won’t bother you. And I won’t say anything inappropriate in front of your boyfriend either."

He wasn’t some tactless person. He knew he didn’t deserve to be forgiven anymore. After two years since the breakup, as the one who was wrong, he didn’t even have the right to ask for forgiveness. Cheng Jing had already been too kind.

Coming here and everything he had planned were all based on his own wishful thinking—to survive the coming apocalypse. There was nothing he regretted. Now, all he needed was money to prepare for the end of the world.

"He’s not."

Cheng Jing stepped inside and closed the bathroom door behind him, shutting out most of the light.

The bathroom darkened again, and Jiang Nian’s heart lurched as he turned to look at him.

"Wh-what’s not?"

"Yang Kai and I aren’t actually in a relationship."

Cheng Jing took a step forward, pulling Jiang Nian into his arms and explaining in a low voice by his ear:

"He’s a security assignment from the company—an undercover agent. We’re pretending to be a couple to maintain our cover and help him complete his mission."

"..."