Chapter 127 Pulling Oneself Together

Chapter 127: Pulling Oneself Together

“What? Going back already? It’s so late.”

After their time at the casino, Jiang Luo was about to take a car back to Shenzhen. Wang Junqing and the other two were waiting for him not far from the entrance.

Jiang Luo insisted on returning. Normally, it wouldn’t matter—staying a night at the hotel above the casino to rest before leaving the next day would be fine. But tonight, Huo Zongzhuo’s flight was landing in Shenzhen, so he had to go back to his home in Yinhu.

“You all stay.”

After saying this, Jiang Luo lowered his head and got into the car arranged by the casino.

“Alright, alright.”

Seeing that Wang Chuang was also leaving, Zheng Bin felt it would be boring to stay alone, so he got into the car as well and headed back to Shenzhen together.

By the time Jiang Luo returned to the Yinhu villa, it was already past 1 a.m.

As the car entered the villa, he noticed the lights were on both on the first and second floors. He knew Huo Zongzhuo, who had returned earlier, had been waiting for him.

He entered the house—no one was on the first floor. He went upstairs to the bedroom and saw Huo Zongzhuo wearing summer sleepwear, lying against the headboard, asleep. He had probably only meant to rest for a moment, as his feet were still on the floor, wearing slippers.

“Dad?”

Jiang Luo approached, calling out softly as he bent down to remove Huo Zongzhuo’s slippers, lifting his legs back onto the bed and settling him properly.

“Huo Zongzhuo?”

Jiang Luo turned off the overhead light, leaving only the bedside lamp. Under the lamp’s glow, Huo Zongzhuo’s face showed clear signs of fatigue, making Jiang Luo’s heart clench.

Jiang Luo didn’t wake Huo Zongzhuo further. Instead, he bent by the bedside and watched the man for a moment.

A warmth gradually rose in his heart, and affection surged through him like a swift stream.

He thought to himself that he shouldn’t let Huo Zongzhuo keep flying back and forth between Haicheng and Shenzhen so often. He was already busy with a pile of work and frequently had to travel for business. He should conserve his energy—it was exhausting.

He also regretted telling Huo Zongzhuo over the phone earlier that he would return to Shenzhen. If he hadn’t come back, Huo Zongzhuo wouldn’t have waited up so late for him.

It was all his fault.

Jiang Luo watched Huo Zongzhuo for a little longer before quietly moving to the bathroom to freshen up.

When he returned, he saw that Huo Zongzhuo was still sound asleep, unmoving. He slipped into bed, gently moved closer to the man, reached out to turn off the bedside lamp, withdrew his hand, closed his eyes, and fell asleep beside him.

Just as Jiang Luo was about to fall asleep, Huo Zongzhuo stirred. In the darkness, he stretched an arm around the young man and said in a low, slow voice, “You’re back?”

“Mhm.”

Jiang Luo adjusted his position.

“Sleep.”

Huo Zongzhuo gave him a couple gentle pats, as if soothing a child.

Jiang Luo closed his eyes, feeling at ease.

In the following days, Jiang Luo was busy—with work, with going out for fun, and with spending time with Huo Zongzhuo. He had long since put the chance encounter at the Macau casino and You Junyu out of his mind.

Unexpectedly, one day, while Jiang Luo was in the workshop inspecting a batch of newly made clothes, Lao Si ran over: “Jiang Zong, a man surnamed You, who says he knows you, is here to see you.”

“He’s in your office.”

You?

You Sen?

It couldn’t be You Junyu, could it?

Jiang Luo was busy and didn’t have time: “Tell him to wait a moment.”

When Jiang Luo returned to his office, he saw You Junyu standing by the wall, looking at the dress form displaying the clothing design he had pinned together with fabric and pins that morning.

“Well, well, look who’s here.”

Jiang Luo walked in.

You Junyu turned around and pointed at the clothes. “You designed this? So you really do understand fashion?”

Jiang Luo didn’t even close the office door. He walked straight to the tea service area, sat down on the sofa, poured himself some water, and got straight to the point: “Looking for me? What is it?”

You Junyu walked over and sat down as well. “At least pour me a cup of tea, won’t you?”

“Get to the point.”

Jiang Luo couldn’t be bothered to engage and wasn’t particularly friendly, knowing full well that You Junyu wouldn’t show up without a reason.

You Junyu leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, looked at Jiang Luo, and seemed to be thinking—perhaps organizing his words.

After a moment, You Junyu said, “I went to Haicheng a couple of days ago, and also to Jiangsu. I visited your two factories in Haimen and Haicheng.”

Jiang Luo lowered his eyes to drink water, not even glancing up.

You Junyu, unhurried and with much of his former confidence and calm, said, “I saw them. Those two factories of yours are really doing well.”

“Now, everywhere in Haicheng and the surrounding areas, clothes from your factories are all over the place.”

“I specifically went to take a look at those clothes. Even though I don’t know much about women’s fashion, I could tell they’re quite pretty and selling well.”

After finishing his water, Jiang Luo set the cup on the tea table and leaned back. “Done with the preamble? Get to the point.”

You Junyu stated his purpose: “I’m here to buy stock.”

“I’ve thought it over. You were right—it’s only been a year. What’s a setback? It’s nothing.”

“I have money, a factory, and a good father. I’m perfectly fine.”

Jiang Luo had no interest in hearing his declarations of determination and cut to the chase: “What are you ordering? How much?”

You Junyu sat up straight, his gaze confident and firm as he looked at Jiang Luo. “I want to choose styles from your factory and place an initial order to sell in Wuhan.”

“That’s where I was arrested before.”

“Now that I’m making a comeback, I want to get back on my feet right there.”

You Junyu added, “I don’t know women’s fashion or the clothing market, but I can learn.”

“Since I don’t know now, I’m here to place an order. You help me pick.”

"Pick a batch of clothes, fill three trucks, and I'll ship them to Wuhan."

"Sure."

Jiang Luo would never turn down business.

He and You Junyu had some past friction but no real enmity. With You Junyu coming to place an order—business delivered right to his doorstep—he naturally wouldn’t refuse.

"I’ll call Wang Chuang to take you over. Someone there will help you pick the clothes."

As he spoke, Jiang Luo stood up, walked to his desk, and picked up the landline to call Wang Chuang.

After hanging up, just as he set the receiver down, You Junyu suddenly spoke up behind him: "Thanks for Macau."

Jiang Luo turned around, hands in his pockets, expression unchanged: "You shouldn’t thank me. You should thank your dad."

"You have a good father."

"If he hadn’t brought you specially to apologize back then, the incident at the Haicheng small market wouldn’t have been settled so easily with me."

"I can’t be bothered to waste more words on you."

You Junyu rose from the sofa, walked over, approached, and extended his right hand to Jiang Luo. His attitude and expression were sincere, his tone earnest: "Boss Jiang, I genuinely mean it—let’s be friends."

Jiang Luo reached out, shook his hand, and said nothing.

You Junyu: "Looking forward to working together."

Jiang Luo finally gave a faint smile and said, "Pleasure working with you, Boss You."

Letting go of his hand, Jiang Luo returned to the main topic: "Are the trucks ready?"

"All set."

You Junyu: "Once you’ve got the goods ready, one call from me, and the trucks and loaders will be here immediately."

"I’m here."

Wang Chuang entered just then, saying, "We have a new client?"

He looked up, saw it was You Junyu, and froze.

Jiang Luo: "Take him to select the merchandise. Are Yu Dong and Wanzhen around? If they’re not busy, have them join to help select."

Wang Chuang was stunned, puzzled, and glanced again at You Junyu.

You Junyu walked over, casually put an arm around Wang Chuang’s shoulders, and they headed out together: "Let’s go."

"By the way, what’s your name?"

Huh?

Wang Chuang twisted his neck to look at Jiang Luo, his expression and eyes asking: What’s this jerk doing here?

You Junyu hooked an arm around his neck, steering him out: "Stop looking. The client is me, I’m the client."

"Where do we pick the clothes? How do we get there? Lead the way."

The two left.

Jiang Luo chuckled softly and shook his head to himself.

Life’s encounters and the paths of fate are truly mysterious.

Who would’ve thought he’d end up collaborating with You Junyu one day.

Later that day, Wang Chuang entered the office with a look of astonishment and said, "Damn, that You guy is loaded."

"Cash on delivery—he didn’t blink an eye paying cash."

Jiang Luo, designing clothes in front of the dress form, didn’t even turn his head, calmly replying, "Tell the workshop to speed up production."

Wang Chuang: "Can he really handle it? Shipping clothes all the way to Wuhan—that’s far."

Jiang Luo said unhurriedly, "Why do you think he got caught before?"

Wang Chuang: "What do you mean?"

Jiang Luo, busy with his work: "He expanded too fast, business got too big—that’s why he got noticed."

"Otherwise, with pirated tapes and knockoffs all over China, you think the police would’ve targeted him for no reason?"

Wang Chuang finally caught on: "So this guy’s really something, huh?"

Jiang Luo followed up with instructions: "Later, have someone look up the contact info for local daily and evening newspapers in Wuhan."

"Place ads there the same way we did in Haicheng—promote Shengfei and Vilanido."

"Also, get Yu Dong for me. She’s going to Wuhan too."

You Junyu’s appearance and collaboration were unexpected.

And it was precisely because of You Junyu that Jiang Luo set his sights on Wuhan’s clothing market.

So, soon after, as You Junyu got back on his feet and hauled three truckloads of clothes from Shengfei Factory to Wuhan, Yu Dong took a train to Wuhan. At the same time, calls were made to place ads in several Wuhan daily and evening newspapers.

Just then, You Sen called, profusely thanking Jiang Luo over the mobile phone, saying that if it weren’t for him, You Junyu wouldn’t have snapped back to life so suddenly.

As a token of gratitude, he specially sent a truckload of fruit and ice cream to the factory.

"Boss You, you’re too kind."

Fourth Brother and others were directing people to unload and distribute the fruit and ice cream to the factory staff. Jiang Luo smiled faintly on the phone and politely said, "I didn’t do much. Young Boss You is quick on the uptake and clever."

You Sen was delighted: "Boss Jiang, from now on, consider us friends."

"If you need anything, anything at all, just give me a call. I’ll provide funds and assistance, help you to the end."

Jiang Luo laughed: "If Boss You says so, I won’t stand on ceremony."

You Sen: "Don’t be polite, please, never be polite with me."

So, a few days later, when Huo Zongzhuo visited, the grapes Jiang Luo peeled for him in the office were specifically sent over again by You Sen.

Huo Zongzhuo sat on the sofa, listening as Jiang Luo talked about You Junyu and their chance encounter in the casinos in Macau. He smiled and said, "The connections between people really are unpredictable."

"Ah."

As they chatted, Jiang Luo peeled a grape and personally fed it to Huo Zongzhuo.

Huo Zongzhuo ate several in a row: "Why'd you give me all of them?"

Jiang Luo continued peeling: "These grapes are amazing. Heard they're a new variety, so they’re especially sweet."

"Mm."

As he spoke, he popped another one into Huo Zongzhuo’s mouth.

"That's enough."

Huo Zongzhuo stopped Jiang Luo from peeling. He grabbed his wrist, held it in his palm, and with his other hand grabbed a tissue and wiped Jiang Luo’s fingers one finger at a time. While wiping, he said, "Your hands are for designing clothes and signing documents, not for this kind of work."

"Then you peel them for me."

"Okay."

So Huo Zongzhuo took over peeling, handing the peeled grapes to Jiang Luo’s mouth.

But Jiang Luo was being difficult—he opened his mouth and purposely nibbled at his fingers near his lips with his teeth.

"Stop messing around."

Jiang Luo kept teasing him, gently biting the finger with his teeth before swallowing the grape.

Huo Zongzhuo watched as the young man’s crimson, glossy lips first closed around his finger, then took the grape along with it.

To him, Jiang Luo’s lips appeared even softer and more supple than the peeled grape flesh—parting, pressing, enclosing—each movement evoking all sorts of thoughts.

Huo Zongzhuo remained composed, his gaze deepened.

"Hmm?"

Jiang Luo noticed Huo Zongzhuo staring at his lips.

Huo Zongzhuo raised the hand he had extended earlier and gently wiped the corner of the young man’s mouth with his thumb.

Oh, right.

Jiang Luo instinctively raised his hand to wipe his mouth, then smiled at Huo Zongzhuo: "I want some more. Peel a few more."

Late that night, while holding the sleeping Jiang Luo from behind, Huo Zongzhuo tilted his chin up just enough until the tip of his nose brushed against the soft short hair in front of him.

He took a deep, silent breath, then recalled those thoughts he’d had while feeding Jiang Luo grapes in the office earlier that day. His heart stirred intensely, desire surging deep within like a fierce beast straining against its cage.

Jiang Luo had been sleeping soundly but later, perhaps sensing the absence of someone beside him, he started waking up. In his haze, he heard the sound of water from the bathroom and thought he was dreaming.

Some time later, he caught the scent of moisture and soap as he was enveloped in a familiar embrace. He was confused for a moment, lifting his neck with a soft "Hmm?" and opening his eyes groggily.

"It’s nothing, go back to sleep."

Huo Zongzhuo, his hair still damp, patted him gently.

Reassured, Jiang Luo closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

Once he was deeply asleep, lips gently pressed against his forehead, and a soft voice whispered to him, "Good night."