Chapter 44: Truth

Chapter 44: The Truth Comes Out

After hanging up, Jiang Xun received a message from Ms. Jiang.

Ms. Jiang: "Though I don’t know why you’ve suddenly taken an interest in that childhood riddle again, I can give you a little hint."

"Prove step by step that mermaids don’t exist—that’s the answer to that painting."

"But you won’t get a hundred million with just that answer. You need to know the ‘why’ behind it."

"Think about it."

Jiang Xun could practically picture her smug expression as she typed.

Setting his phone aside, he didn’t plan to invest much energy into this—he had long learned to temper his curiosity when necessary.

...

The next day.

Jiang Xun came downstairs to find Xiao Jin and A Yu behaving oddly.

They kept glancing at him as if wanting to say something but ultimately slipped away guiltily.

Weird.

Deciding to use Xiao Jin as his target, Jiang Xun suddenly appeared behind her and asked, "Is there something on my face?"

"Ahhh—!"

Predictably, Xiao Jin shrieked and dropped her phone.

Jiang Xun caught it effortlessly and glanced at the screen—only to see yesterday’s photo of him and Liu Hai.

Jiang Xun: "...Why do you have this photo?"

"Uh." Xiao Jin rubbed her nose sheepishly. "Ms. Jiang posted it on social media… and also on the Jiang Jiang Group’s official homepage."

Jiang Xun: "..."

He should have seen this coming.

Xiao Jin cautiously reached out. "Boss… can I have my phone back?"

Jiang Xun silently returned it, then asked, "Roughly how many people have seen it?"

He still clung to a sliver of hope.

Corporate sites rarely get visitors outside of job applications, and while his mother was somewhat famous, a late-night post shouldn’t have spread that far…

"Uh." Xiao Jin lowered her voice. "Well… let’s just say the fan groups have already made it their profile picture. That level of viral?"

Jiang Xun: "Fan groups?"

Xiao Jin’s eyes darted away. "You know… the ones who are big fans of both Liu Hai and you, Boss!"

"You two are so good-looking—it’s only natural!"

"She’s lying." A Yu walked over with a bottle of milk, calling her out. "It’s the kind of fan community that draws fan art and writes fan fiction about you and Liu Hai. She joined under the excuse of ‘going undercover.’"

He pointed at Xiao Jin. "But it’s just an excuse. I’ve caught her giggling over them multiple times."

"N-no way!" Xiao Jin vehemently denied it. "I’m literally with the real people! How could I get swayed by fan content?! Boss and Liu Hai are clearly just… *purely*…"

She hesitated, tapping her chin. "A researcher-subject relationship?"

*That didn’t sound quite right either.*

Boss’s attitude toward research subjects wasn’t what you’d call gentle. With past subjects like fish or shrimp, he’d never played favorites like other researchers did.

Of course, Liu Hai was different—more human-like…

But *perhaps a little too* special.

Jiang Xun treated Liu Hai better than a typical research subject—and clearly better than most people. *Did that mean…?*

A Yu said matter-of-factly, "See? That look means she’s imagining nonsense again."

"I’m not!" Xiao Jin denied vehemently, then held up yesterday’s photo. "If anything… Boss! Weren’t we all supposed to have split up to rest by then?! Why were you dressed this way after a shower?!"

She zoomed in on the image, pointing at Jiang Xun’s slightly open bathrobe collar. "Look! Here! We’ve known you for years and never saw you reveal this much skin!"

"Visiting someone dressed that way in the middle of the night… If Liu Hai were human, he’d definitely see it as flirting!"

Jiang Xun looked like he’d just heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable. "Me? Flirting?"

"Yeah!" Xiao Jin hid behind A Yu to avoid blame but nodded firmly.

Jiang Xun: "I just didn’t think of him as…"

Before he could finish, Liu Hai pushed the door open and stuck his head in. "Why did you all wake up and not come find me to play? What’s everyone doing in here? The sun’s really nice outside today!"

Jiang Xun’s words were interrupted.

"Yeah, we’ll be right out." A Yu smirked. "After Xiao Jin’s done getting scolded—*Ow!*"

Xiao Jin punched him without hesitation. "I just hadn’t gotten to you yet! You’ve been egging us on this whole time!"

"Don’t fight." Liu Hai tilted his head. "Weren’t we supposed to help Jiang Xun and Dr. Kong Tela patch things up today? What if you two arguing ruins it?"

"It’s fine." Xiao Jin grinned, slinging an arm over A Yu’s shoulder. "We bicker all the time—it’s normal!"

"Liu Hai, aren’t you used to it by now?"

"I’m used to Xiao Jin and A Yu fighting." Liu Hai pointed at Jiang Xun. "But Jiang Xun joining in is a first."

Jiang Xun tried to deny it. "No, I wasn’t going to fight. A Yu was the one who—"

"Really?!" Xiao Jin exclaimed dramatically. "Does this mean we’ve gotten closer to Boss?"

Jiang Xun: "..."

"I guess." A Yu nodded seriously. "Boss has been teasing us more often lately. Before, he’d just stare at us with that… ‘poor you’ look."

"After all these years..." Xiao Jin wiped imaginary tears. "I thought Boss was an emotionless ice block who’d never warm up to us. *Who knew…* we’d actually reach the point of bonding like this."

"Sigh." Jiang Xun sighed. "I don’t understand why you measure closeness this way… but fine, *whatever*."

"When you think about it, it's just a photo."

He seemed to be convincing himself, "Originally, I avoided being on camera just to avoid trouble, but when I appeared on that TV show with Liu Hai, I was already mentally prepared for it."

"Meanwhile, you two are freaking out over one photo."

He walked to the glass door to open it for Liu Hai, glancing back at the two of them, "Even though coming to the north means less work—it's practically a semi-vacation—you two seem way too free."

Xiao Jin scratched her head sheepishly, "Hehe."

"Alright, alright." Liu Hai gently nudged him with his head, "Don’t stay mad."

Jiang Xun averted his gaze, "I wouldn’t get angry over something so trivial."

Liu Hai muttered under his breath, "That's what you say..."

Jiang Xun smiled, "Hmm?"

Liu Hai put on his best innocent look, "As long as you're not mad."

He smoothly changed the subject, "I thought of a way to help you patch things up with Dr. Kong Tela yesterday!"

"Get your phone out."

"Open Dr. Kong Tela’s chat."

"Now give it here."

Jiang Xun complied with Liu Hai’s instructions, while Xiao Jin and A Yu curiously leaned in to see how Liu Hai planned to use his legendary charm to smooth things over with Dr. Kong Tela.

Liu Hai tapped the camera button, aimed the lens at the group behind him, and spoke, "Dr. Kong Tela—we’re in the north, and we've missed you! How much longer are you stuck on that ship? Why don't you come up and visit? We’ll treat you to Grandma's famous smoked [dish]!"

He finished recording and tapped send.

Jiang Xun asked uncertainly, "That’s it?"

"That’s it!" Liu Hai nodded confidently, "It’s not that hard. Just say what’s in your heart."

With complete confidence, he added, "Trust me, once Dr. Kong Tela sees this, he’ll definitely reply."

He patted Jiang Xun’s hand earnestly, "Just remember to write back when he replies."

Jiang Xun reluctantly agreed, "Fine."

"So today..."

He looked out at the ocean, "Do you want to go for a swim, Liu Hai?"

"Yes!" Liu Hai responded eagerly, "Are you coming with me? Want me to give you a ride?"

"I already took A Yu swimming last time! I think I can manage all three of you!"

"Wait!" Xiao Jin couldn’t help but imagine, "How would carrying three work? Would we pile up like pancakes? Or drape over me like seaweed?"

Either way, the mental image wasn’t exactly normal.

"No need." Jiang Xun declined politely, "We’ll follow alongside in the boat to make sure we can pick you up whenever."

"Oh—" Liu Hai looked a little disappointed, "You’re not swimming with me?"

"I could take you fishing."

"Oh no, buddy, stop talking." Xiao Jin clutched her chest, "You're tempting me now. That sounds so fun… Oh! I recently saw someone collecting sea urchins in this area!"

"Liu Hai, do you like sea urchins?"

Liu Hai answered honestly, "Never had them before."

"Heh heh heh." Xiao Jin rubbed her hands together, eyes pleading as she turned to Jiang Xun, "So hey, boss… maybe we should bring two sets of diving gear?"

Jiang Xun sighed, "...At least one person has to stay and watch the boat."

"Yay!" Xiao Jin excitedly high-fived Liu Hai, "Hold up, Liu Hai! I’ll go get the wetsuits on board!"

Jiang Xun gave a small, resigned smile.

Liu Hai looked at him, "Jiang Xun, don’t you want to go sea urchin gathering with me?"

Jiang Xun met his gaze, then suddenly reached out and covered Liu Hai’s eyes.

"Huh?" Liu Hai patted his hand, "What’s wrong? Why the hand eclipse?"

"Because I have observations to do today." Jiang Xun’s eyes held a warm amusement, "To prevent a certain someone from throwing off my schedule with those sad puppy-dog eyes, I have to cover them up."

Liu Hai pried his fingers open just a crack, his big, dark eyes shiny like black grapes, "How long is the observation? Can’t we play even for a little bit?"

Jiang Xun, "...It's too much trouble suiting up just for a quick dip."

Liu Hai pouted, "Then we'll stay longer!"

Jiang Xun chuckled, "Do you know what ‘give an inch, take a mile’ means?"

"No." Liu Hai tilted his head playfully, "Haven't learned that idiom yet."

Jiang Xun chuckled, "Fine, I’ll play with you after the observation."

"Great!" Liu Hai immediately brightened up victoriously, "See? What'd I tell you!"

"This kind of thing is simple, just speak your mind!"

Jiang Xun, "..."

Author’s Note:

Jiang Xun: Got this nagging feeling I’m being played.

Liu Hai: Not just a feeling—it's fact.