Chapter 51: Guan Yingjun Likes Him

Chapter 51 Guan Yingjun Likes Him

In the darkness.

Guan Yingjun’s jaw was clenched, his mind a complete mess. He remained silent for a long moment.

Jian Ruochen gripped his shoulder, feeling the incredible heat from the thigh beneath him—so hot it practically made him jump. "You..."

Just as he began to speak, a familiar voice echoed from the corridor outside the A-team office: "Huh?"

"Why is the backup light in the A-team office off?"

It was Chen Jincai’s voice.

Even after work hours, the police station always left a backup light on in the office to deter any thieves looking at files.

Even a small light could make the entire office visible.

If someone flipped the lights on outside, they would see everything inside the A-team office.

And if that happened…

Jian Ruochen tightened his fingers, gripping Guan Yingjun’s shoulder firmly. He tried to stand, but his legs felt weak, as if pinned to Guan Yingjun.

In the quiet office.

Breaths and heartbeats intertwined, forming a heavy, humid rhythm.

Pounding and loud.

Not far outside the door, Chen Jincai tsked. "Aw man, the A-team’s power's out. What’s going on?"

*Click.*

The door of the D-team office across from A-team opened, and a head poked out. "Sorry, Sir Chen. We were using a hot pot. The last one was confiscated by madam, so this time we bought a higher-wattage one. Didn’t mean to knock out A-team’s breaker."

The A, B, and C teams were in one row, while D, E, and F were opposite.

A and D shared the same circuit.

Chen Jincai: "Hey, you guys know how to live. Let me get some."

As he spoke, he reached out and flipped the A-team’s circuit breaker back on.

The overhead light flickered on.

The dark office was suddenly lit up.

In that instant, two faces, nose-to-nose, were clearly revealed to each other, completely exposed.

At that moment, their heartbeats nearly matched.

They both shuddered at once.

Jian Ruochen let out a breath, a little dazed.

Outside, Chen Jincai was wholly preoccupied with the secret hotpot in the D-team office, completely unaware of what his buddy was doing inside.

He glanced back, muttering to himself, "Guan Yingjun, why didn’t you turn off the lights before leaving?"

He reached out and turned the office lights off again.

Darkness fell again.

The thrill of possibly being caught, like in a secret rendezvous, gave them shivers.

Jian Ruochen suddenly relaxed, settling fully onto Guan Yingjun’s thigh.

The young man wasn’t particularly meaty, but where there should be softness, there was plenty. The soft flesh of his thigh, bearing all his weight, pressed down in the darkness.

Guan Yingjun’s breath caught heavily, his vision even blurring slightly.

He couldn’t bring himself to let go of Jian Ruochen, yet he couldn’t figure out Jian Ruochen’s current attitude or the intention behind his question.

If he said he wasn’t angry—Jian Ruochen hadn’t been angry to begin with, he just hadn't wanted to pay him any mind.

If he said he liked him—how could Jian Ruochen possibly like him so quickly?

He had just messed up.

The scent of beef and seafood drifted from the crack under the D-team’s door, making his mouth water.

Jian Ruochen, receiving no answer and feeling hungry, asked impatiently, "Detective Guan, do you like me?"

Guan Yingjun paused for a moment before quietly denying it: "No."

Jian Ruochen frowned.

No?

Impossible.

His psychology skills were too good to be wrong.

If only Chen Jincai didn’t have the habit of flipping lights off so carelessly—otherwise, he could see Guan Yingjun’s microexpression right now and determine whether he was lying!

How could it not be?

It couldn’t be that his first mistake was with Guan Yingjun.

How could he possibly be wrong?

Jian Ruochen pursed his lips, thinking: Guan Yingjun is lying.

As a police officer, how could he lie to someone?

He really wanted to hear the truth.

He wanted to use psychological techniques to push for an answer.

At this moment, the best choice…

Jian Ruochen’s palms were sweaty, his breathing slightly hurried.

He gently withdrew his hand, leaning back on Guan Yingjun’s lap, waiting quietly for a moment before slowly leaning close to Guan Yingjun’s ear and whispering, "Really?"

The grapefruit-scented breath brushed against his neck and ear, making Guan Yingjun nearly crazy. His eyes half-closed, the veins on his neck bulging, his hands clenched into fists, knuckles digging harshly into his palms.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say the opposite, to tell Jian Ruochen he didn’t like him.

But as if dumbstruck, he couldn’t get a single word out.

Jian Ruochen's eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness; he could see Guan Yingjun's struggling expression and found it amusing.

Acting on impulse, he reached out and touched Guan Yingjun's jaw, his fingertip sliding down to press against his Adam’s apple. "If you say it's true, I'll back off."

Guan Yingjun's eyes darkened, desire and restraint warring in his gaze.

"Jian Ruochen," his voice was low and hoarse, heavy with desire, "are you trying to kill me?"

Jian Ruochen swallowed, his instincts screaming danger.

But Guan Yingjun's expression left him frozen for a moment, forgetting to push away.

Guan Yingjun took a sharp breath, throwing his head back to compose himself before asking quietly, "You..."

He reached out and suddenly gripped the back of Jian Ruochen's neck. "In December, you loved Lu Qian so much you would have died for him. Do you still like him now?"

Before Jian Ruochen could speak, he felt the hand on his neck pull him forward, his weak spot in the other’s grip, forcing him to move with the momentum.

From Guan Yingjun's knees, shifting and moving, he ended up straddling Guan Yingjun’s hips.

Guan Yingjun let reason slip away.

He rested his forehead against Jian Ruochen's shoulder. "Are you so in love it turned to hate now?"

If Lu Qian came back, what would Jian Ruochen choose?

If Lu Qian died, would this Jian Ruochen, who seemed to exist only to rebel, just disappear like the "second personality" or "soul transfer" Uncle Li mentioned?

Jian Ruochen was stunned by such intense emotions. As his wrist twitched slightly, it was caught by a burning-hot hand.

The hand wasn’t holding tight, as if giving him a choice.

Guan Yingjun said, his voice low, "Why must you insist on getting an answer from me?"

Jian Ruochen was speechless; he didn't know himself.

Guan Yingjun gently pressed his thumb against Jian Ruochen's palm. "Whether you want to destroy me or take revenge for making you angry, do it now."

How could it be that serious?

Jian Ruochen tried to pull his hand back, confused, but didn't withdraw it completely.

Guan Yingjun led Jian’s dazed hand, bringing his right hand to his lips and tentatively kissing his fingertips.

Jian Ruochen stared wide-eyed in shock.

Then the kisses moved forward inch by inch, the burning lips landing on his palm, leaving behind a trail of scorching breath.

Jian Ruochen's fingers curled slightly, as if he could grasp this fiery, almost dragon-like breath.

His mind went blank, and he suddenly felt something burning hot even through two layers of clothing against his thigh.

Jian Ruochen's voice grew hoarse. "Guan Yingjun..."

Outside Group A, the corridor lights flickered briefly.

Just a wall away.

Chen Jincai's voice rang out again: "Wow, this chicken soup is delicious! Your team eats such good late-night snacks, watch out or Madam will show up!"

"Sir Chen, hey. Take this king crab and share it with your team, hurry up and go."

"Chen Jincai, why are you so greedy? Your top three teams just had a big bust, you'll have money soon. When you do, you have to treat us to a meal!"

When they mentioned their achievements, they inevitably brought up Jian Ruochen.

"Hey, has Group A's Little God of Wealth left for the day? If not, invite him to have some."

"He must have, Group A's lights are off."

"Let's eat quickly, then go mess with Lu Qian and the Jiang family!"

Chen Jincai asked, "How do we mess with them?"

"By paying them a 'visit', of course. We might not find anything by searching, but we can distract them while they're trying to deal with it!"

"Haha, that’s evil!"

Outside, it was lively and noisy, but Jian Ruochen felt as if his soul had left him, unable to hear clearly.

He wrenched himself free from Guan Yingjun's grasp.

There was no need to hear any answer.

Wasn't it obvious enough?

Guan Yingjun was into him.

Jian Ruochen listened as Chen Jincai's footsteps faded away, then immediately launched himself off Guan Yingjun and dashed out of the Group A office. He bolted down the dark emergency staircase, breathless.

Guan Yingjun stood upstairs, watching Jian Ruochen's figure—straight as an arrow, darting into a cab like a startled rabbit—and closed his eyes.

In his heart, he whispered: Yes, I do like you.

...

Jian Ruochen jumped into the taxi but wasn’t ready to head home right away, nor did he know where else to go.

He glanced at the window and saw his reflection—his face was flushed, hot to the touch.

Oh, stupid hormones.

Thanks, biology.

Jian Ruochen remained stony-faced and silent for a long moment before saying under the taxi driver’s teasing gaze, "Driver, take me to Central Mall."

He needed a place to clear his head.

Spend money!

Central Mall had been the biggest and priciest mall in Hong Kong before the Global Trade Center was built.

Jian Ruochen headed straight to a watch shop. He smiled at the handsome clerk behind the counter and pointed to the gold watches inside. "One of these gold watches for women, and eight for men."

"And this emerald ring... make that three."

The clerk blinked.

Ran into the Money God?

Oh, the first big sale of the year!

A little tycoon!

The male attendant poured a glass of water. "No rush, sir. Let me get you a brochure to look through. Would you like to head to the VIP lounge?"

Jian Ruochen waved him off. "No, I'm in a hurry."

He thought for a moment, then pulled five HK$1000 bills from his pocket and handed them over. "I can't carry all this alone. Could you clock out early and help me with the bags? This is a HK$5000 tip—it's all the cash I have on me."

The male attendant accepted it with both hands: "Of course, Daddy, no problem at all, Daddy."

HK$5000—that was a month's salary for him!

Meanwhile, Jian Ruochen was shopping at Central Mall, briefly forgetting about that incident where someone grabbed and kissed his hand earlier.

·

Meanwhile, Guan Yingjun drove home but didn't go in.

He locked himself in his Toyota, unusually refraining from drinking to numb his urges. Instead, he leaned in the car, one hand holding a lit cigarette out the window, breathing heavily, while the other hand hastily grabbed a tissue to take care of himself.

His usually cold and restrained eyes were slightly narrowed, his neck tilted back.

The glowing tip of his cigarette flickered in the darkness as desire raged within him.

Guan Yingjun remembered Jian Ruochen’s finger touching his Adam's apple.

*Breaking my abstinence just once…*

He thought to himself, *just this once.*

…

On the other side.

River Pavilion Estate.

Jiang Hanyu looked at Lu Qian’s face and was suddenly disgusted.

800 million.

Even though his original intention for selling the electronics company was to appease Lu Qian, to calm him down and help stabilize the Jiang family’s crumbling empire.

But honestly, didn’t that 800 million help Lu Qian solve his urgent financial problems?

Didn’t that money help keep afloat Tianquandu Entertainment City, which had been losing money for days due to above-board operations?

Jiang Hanyu blinked lightly, shedding a single genuine tear.

Of course, he had loved Lu Qian once. This man had once fulfilled all the fantasies of his youth.

Wealthy, powerful, devoted, and deeply affectionate—he had once been almost entirely obedient to Jiang Hanyu, immune to even someone as gorgeous as Jian Ruochen.

But ever since Jiang Mingshan was imprisoned and the Jiang family began to crumble, Lu Qian’s ambition and true nature had become alarmingly clear.

"...Lu Qian." Jiang Hanyu’s expression shifted instantly, looking at him with sorrow. "Do you not like me anymore?"

Lu Qian stammered.

Jiang Hanyu reached out, took a tissue from the box on the table, unfolded it completely with both hands, and buried his face in it. "I don’t understand these things either. That electronics company was something Dad wanted to sell anyway. You were so short on money before, and I was so worried—I wanted to help you."

He broke into loud sobs. "I didn’t know it would make money. Personal computers are so bulky, and hardly any companies in Hong Kong use them. I really had no idea they had any future!"

Jiang Hanyu’s shoulders shook as tears quickly soaked through the tissue. "I didn’t know the buyer was Jian Ruochen either. He didn’t come in person. I’m sorry."

It was the first time Lu Qian had seen him cry so hard.

When Jiang Mingshan was sentenced to death, Jiang Hanyu had only shed a few quiet tears.

Jiang Hanyu crumpled the tissue, tossed it aside, and pulled out another, wiping his tears as he said, "I couldn’t help you. I’m sorry, I’m sorry."

Lu Qian felt both moved and irritated by the crying.

He stood up and walked over to comfort Jiang Hanyu. "It’s not your fault."

*He had picked an airhead, after all.*

Lu Qian ran his fingers through Jiang Hanyu’s hair, gently smoothing the soft black strands as he watched him sob and gasp for breath.

Jiang Hanyu leaned his head against Lu Qian’s abdomen, following the guiding pressure.

*He had misjudged Lu Qian.*

*This man’s devotion was real, but not because Lu Qian actually cared for him—it was so he could boast about his "love" to others.*

*In reality, Lu Qian only loved himself. He was selfish and would never truly love anyone.*

*No wonder…* Jiang Hanyu suddenly laughed silently. *No wonder Jian Ruochen had left Lu Qian without looking back, preferring to date a broke cop with a monthly salary of just fifty grand rather than having anything to do with Lu Qian.*

*Jian Ruochen was always like this.*

*Always comes out on top.*

*Why should he get to win all the time?*

*He would win too.*

Jiang Hanyu lifted his head, his chin resting against Lu Qian’s belt buckle, and smiled up at him.

*Since Lu Qian didn’t truly cherish him, he couldn’t blame Jiang Hanyu for using him as a stepping stone.*

Jiang Hanyu rubbed the engagement ring on his middle finger and said softly, "Ah-Qian, don’t be angry. If you’re facing any difficulties, you can talk to me. Even if I can’t help much, I can show you the Jiang family’s documents. You can decide which ones to sell, okay? I won’t carelessly sell off anything again."

Lu Qian looked down at Jiang Hanyu’s docile, upturned face and felt his heart skip a beat. The buyer's remorse he'd been feeling over choosing Jiang Hanyu instantly balanced back.

Even when Jian Ruochen had loved him the most, he had never pampered him like this.

Lu Qian gently brushed aside Jiang Hanyu’s bangs, looked into his red-rimmed eyes, leaned down, and kissed his lips, undoing his belt with one hand.

Jiang Hanyu almost gagged. He pushed against Lu Qian, but the man didn’t budge.

Just as he thought Lu Qian was about to take things too far, the doorbell rang. The intercom transmitted a cold, stern voice: "Police calling. Is Mr. Jiang home? Your fiancé, Mr. Lu Qian, is involved in a drug trafficking case. We’d like to speak with you."

Jiang Hanyu had always disliked the police, but at this moment, he was profoundly grateful that Hong Kong still had a police force as efficient and dedicated as the Kowloon Region Police Station!

He nudged Lu Qian, urging, "Cops are here."

Lu Qian had no choice but to fasten his belt again and go to open the door.

These damn cops—they don't give you a moment to breathe.

...

Jian Ruochen shopped like crazy until the middle of the night, nearly clearing out everything that caught his eye in the mall.

When things don’t go well, spend money.

Money really can fix everything.

As soon as he got home, he passed out.

Slept like a log until the next day.

The following morning.

The doorbell of the hilltop villa rang, and the valet on duty jumped awake. Upon opening the door, he met a pair of piercing dark eyes.

He flinched back slightly, "Hello? Mr. Guan?"

Guan Yingjun handed over a bouquet of daisies and tulips, "I made an appointment with Jian... your young master to exercise at five. Go get him up."

The valet, a British man, didn’t accept the flowers, just gave a slight bow and invited Guan Yingjun inside. Then, in halting Chinese, he said, "The young master didn’t get home until three last night. He’s been asleep for less than two hours. I think he’s too worn out to get up and work out."