Chapter 117 Heartbreak – Why Doesn’t Huo Zongzhuo Like Him?

Chapter 117 Unrequited Love Why doesn’t Huo Zongzhuo like him?

Wang Chuang said a lot of comforting words, but Jiang Luo didn’t listen—even if he tried, he couldn’t absorb them.

His mind was filled with one thought: I like Huo Zongzhuo, but Huo Zongzhuo doesn’t like me.

I like him, but he doesn’t like me.

Wang Chuang had work to do and left at some point, unnoticed by Jiang Luo.

Alone, Jiang Luo sank deeper into his thoughts, growing increasingly distressed—he had truly believed that when he realized his feelings for Huo Zongzhuo, he had a gut feeling that Huo Zongzhuo must have felt something different for him too.

But apparently, there was nothing to it.

Just thinking about it made Jiang Luo let out a heavy sigh, his heart sinking like a stone.

As he sank deeper, he gradually calmed down and quickly sorted through his thoughts:

Wang Chuang was right about one thing—in this world, men who like men are, after all, a minority.

Being gay was his own business; how could he expect Huo Zongzhuo to be the same?

Huo Zongzhuo is a straight man.

Whether in his previous life or this one, he had never detected any signs of anything unusual about Huo Zongzhuo’s orientation.

Since he’s a straight man, how could he possibly like men? Let alone like him?

Jiang Luo raised his hand to wipe away the emotional tears he had just shed and took another deep breath, pulling himself together.

He had read too much into it.

Yet, against his will, many scenes played out in Jiang Luo’s mind, and his feelings grew more tangled.

He thought: I like Huo Zongzhuo, but he doesn’t like me. What am I supposed to do?

Should I go after him?

Is it even possible? And how would I do it?

If Huo Zongzhuo found out about his orientation and feelings, what would he think?

Would he be disgusted, like Zhao Guangqian was in his previous life?

Would Huo Zongzhuo eventually find a woman he likes or wants to marry, someone from a compatible background?

Even if he remained unmarried until nearly 40 in his previous life, it's hard to say for sure in this life.

If he got married, they could no longer live together on Wukang Road anymore.

Huo Zongzhuo would have a family, children…

Stop!

Jiang Luo quickly cut his thoughts short, refusing to let his racing thoughts spin out of control.

He was afraid he might actually break down in tears.

Taking another deep breath, he sat up and prepared to get some work done. Jiang Luo thought to himself: Who can I blame? I'm gay, that's all, and I like Huo Zongzhuo.

He couldn’t blame anyone, especially not himself.

He understood all too well that as a gay man, he shouldn’t develop feelings for straight men or get emotionally involved with them.

Even in his previous life, the crowd he ran with were all in similar situations.

But what could he do?

In this life, he just likes Huo Zongzhuo.

Jiang Luo tried to convince himself: Stop liking him. Huo Zongzhuo is straight; it'll only lead to heartache.

But he couldn’t control his feelings.

He had already fallen for him—how could he just stop?

Feelings aren’t like rubber bands that can stretch and snap back at will.

The hardest part, what made Jiang Luo feel the most miserable at that moment, was that he had asked Huo Zongzhuo directly whether he liked men or liked him, and Huo Zongzhuo had clearly and directly given him the answer: no.

Jiang Luo felt like a moth flying into a flame, burning with pain from head to heart.

Serves you right for liking men, he could only mock himself.

Now you’re in deep.

Jiang Luo grabbed his work, shoved his thoughts away, and threw himself into work.

Outside the window, Wang Junqing approached, holding a mobile phone to his ear. His gaze cut through the transparent glass, scanning into the office. After a glance, he walked away and replied to the person on the phone, “Jiang Luo is in the office.”

“Nothing much. He’s alone, probably busy.”

After listening to the other side, Wang Junqing replied, “No, since getting back from the airport today, he came straight to the factory.”

“Aside from stopping by your office twice earlier, he hasn’t gone anywhere else or met anyone.”

“Okay, okay.”

Before hanging up, Wang Junqing suddenly remembered something and said, “By the way, President Huo, there’s one more thing.”

He glanced toward the factory gate and added, “Zhao Guangyuan has been coming to the factory frequently lately, always bringing gifts for Jiang Luo.”

“Jiang Luo instructed the guards not to accept them, so they didn’t.”

“Right, got it.”

In the company office, Huo Zongzhuo, who had been standing by the window on the phone, hung up.

After ending the call, Huo Zongzhuo kept wondering who might have said something to Jiang Luo—or had Jiang Luo figured it out on his own?

Neither scenario was what he wanted.

Thinking about Jiang Luo making a point to come over twice and asking so directly, Huo Zongzhuo couldn’t help but feel somewhat worried.

He began to ponder what he should do if Jiang Luo had truly discovered the truth.

He wasn’t afraid of anything else—only that Jiang Luo might be revolted or disgusted.

Huo Zongzhuo had originally intended to return to work right after finishing the phone call, but he ended up standing by the window for quite a while, his mind completely occupied with thoughts of Jiang Luo and the potential scenarios that might unfold.

At Shengfei Factory, in the office, Jiang Luo sketched for a bit before suddenly tossing his pencil aside, slumped back dejectedly and agitatedly ruffling his hair.

Ah! He couldn’t focus on drawing at all!

His mind was filled with the scene of Huo Zongzhuo denying everything earlier—saying he didn’t like men and didn’t like him.

Ah!!

Jiang Luo felt extremely upset.

He pushed off with his feet, wheeled his chair back, and stood up.

So damn annoying! I'm done! Clocking out!

Just as Jiang Luo was about to reach the office door, it was pushed open from the outside, and Zhang Ningfu entered.

“What is it?”

Jiang Luo stopped in his tracks.

Zhang Ningfu hesitated for a moment.

“Spit it out or I’m leaving.”

Jiang Luo was clearly in no mood today and made to leave.

“It’s like this.”

Zhang Ningfu stood at the door, pulling it shut behind him as he spoke: “I mentioned before that I was getting a divorce, right?”

“Changed your mind?”

Jiang Luo got even more annoyed.

“No.”

Zhang Ningfu said quickly: “I am going through with it. I definitely am.”

“But the problem now is…”

Zhang Ningfu said with a troubled expression: “She won't agree to it.”

“Our son calls me every day trying to talk me out of it.”

“He even said that if we divorce, his wife will leave him too.”

“And she’ll take their daughter away, not leaving her with him.”

“This stalemate isn't helping anyone, so I came to ask…”

Jiang Luo, currently “heartbroken,” couldn’t help but wish the whole world would experience the same “marital disaster” as him.

He reached out to pull the door open and said bluntly: “Not going to work things out? Then get divorced already.”

“Tell your wife that if she doesn’t agree, I’ll have the police arrest her.”

“And that no-good son of yours—if he tries to talk you out of it, just tell him that if he doesn’t agree to the divorce, he won’t get a single penny from you in the future.”

“Let’s see if he keeps sympathizing with his mother then.”

He turned back before leaving and added: “I’ll find you a lawyer later. Make sure you get this divorce settled properly.”

“If you don’t get it done, you’ll have to deal with me.”

With that, he slammed the door shut and left.

Zhang Ningfu: ???

Wasn’t he the one getting divorced? Why did Jiang Luo seem madder?

Jiang Luo was indeed angry, because he was thinking: Damn it, I have looks, a good figure, brains, and money—what do I lack that women have?

Why doesn’t Huo Zongzhuo like me?

Is he blind?!

He walked outside toward the car, and as he turned, he glared at Lao Si.

Lao Si quickly spat out his toothpick, scurried over to the car, and obsequiously opened the car door, grinning as he called out, “Boss Jiang.”

Jiang Luo kept a stern face, taking his anger out indiscriminately: “What are you smiling at? Something funny?”

Lao Si: “…”

Jiang Luo got into the car, and the more he thought about it, the more upset he became. He angrily slammed his fist against the seatback twice—if he doesn’t like men and doesn’t like me, then he’s blind! Blind!

Lao Si had no idea what was wrong with Jiang Luo and started the car cautiously.

While turning the car around, he lowered the window and signaled with a look to Lao San and Wang Junqing, who hadn’t gotten in yet: Call Boss Huo! Call him! Hurry!

Lao San, who was pulling the car door, looked at Wang Junqing, who pulled out his mobile phone to dial.

Juxiang Town was pretty far from the city, so by the time Jiang Luo returned to Wukang Road, Huo Zongzhuo was already there, waiting in the front courtyard.

Jiang Luo was full of anger, but it all vanished the moment he saw Huo Zongzhuo—who could he blame? Blame Huo Zongzhuo?

Blame him for daring to lend him 100,000 kuai for playing the markets back when they didn’t even know each other?

Blame him for just giving him a factory in Shenzhen?

Or blame him for treating him so well that he made him fall in love?

Jiang Luo’s all his anger melted away.

Besides, he knew deep down that he liked men—previously, it didn’t matter whether Huo Zongzhuo knew or not, but now, Huo Zongzhuo absolutely mustn't find out too easily.

If he did, what awaited him would be anybody's guess.

Jiang Luo wasn't a gambler, didn’t believe in gambling, didn’t want to gamble, and didn’t know how to gamble.

He was no fool and wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t in his best interest.

So when he got out of the car, aside from showing some helplessness and fatigue, Jiang Luo showed no other emotion.

Huo Zongzhuo walked over: “What’s wrong? You just got back from Shenzhen and already seem in a funk?”

“Did something happen? You seem a bit off today.”

Huo Zongzhuo actually wanted to sound out Jiang Luo's attitude, to find out the real reason why Jiang Luo had come to his company twice to ask if he liked men or liked him.

"Nothing, just a bit tired."

Jiang Luo headed inside.

Huo Zongzhuo glanced at Jiang Luo’s back as he walked away, then turned to look toward the car.

Lao Si happened to get out of the car, standing by the vehicle, shrugging and spreading his hands to indicate he knew nothing.

Huo Zongzhuo shot him a look that said 'get lost'.

Inside, Jiang Luo didn’t even bother with slippers, walking barefoot into the living room, making his way to the sofa, and plopping down, leaning back, looking completely drained.

Huo Zongzhuo followed him in, came to Jiang Luo’s side, sat down, and looked at him with a concerned expression. "What’s wrong? Talk to me."

"Nothing."

Jiang Luo nestled into the sofa, then leaned closer to the man, snuggling up close, letting half the weight of his upper body rest on Huo Zongzhuo, just as he often did when they chatted.

Huo Zongzhuo’s expression softened, thinking that Jiang Luo probably hadn’t really noticed anything—otherwise, he wouldn’t be this physically close.

He breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Jiang Luo also sighed inwardly, thinking: Well, at least for the time being, Huo Zongzhuo has no girlfriend, no marriage, no family, no children—only him. They live together, sitting close like this.

Jiang Luo rested his head against Huo Zongzhuo—at least for this moment, Huo Zongzhuo was his.

Yes.

Jiang Luo thought to himself: It’s just that he himself likes men and likes Huo Zongzhuo. How could he expect Huo Zongzhuo to feel the same way and like him back?

After all, those who like men are in the minority.

Life is never a hundred percent perfect; even the moon has its phases and isn’t always bright.

He'd lived a good enough life so far, having everything he should have. What he doesn’t have, he shouldn’t force.

Jiang Luo was open-minded and didn’t dwell on things.

It’s just that, just…

He felt a little, just a tiny bit sad.

Alright, maybe more than just a tiny bit.

Jiang Luo thought again, maybe human emotions are just this prone to uncertainty and insecurity.

In the past, he didn’t understand, but now he somewhat gets it.

"Let’s go back to Suzhou."

Jiang Luo suddenly said.

"It’s June—Suzhou must be even more beautiful now, right?"

"Let’s go see."

Huh?

Huo Zongzhuo looked down at the person beside him.

"Okay."