Chapter 108 But I Won’t Tell You

Chapter 108: But I'm Not Telling You

Jiang Shen and Zhao Louyue left the hospital.

He knew Jiang Erkun’s temper; seeing them now would surely make him explode.

He’d wait a couple of days before explaining.

“I’m sorry,” Zhao Louyue said in a low voice. “I was too impatient.”

Jiang Shen shook his head, knowing it was bound to happen sooner or later. He asked Zhao Louyue, “Do you have a cigarette?”

Seeing Jiang Shen’s downcast expression, Zhao Louyue offered him one.

The car was parked in an open area. The night wind was strong, quickly dispersing the smoke Jiang Shen exhaled. A moment later, a heavy coat was draped over his shoulders, carrying Zhao Louyue’s familiar scent and warmth.

The chill rising from deep within was instantly dispelled.

Jiang Shen raised an eyebrow at Zhao Louyue, who was only wearing a thin wool sweater.

Zhao Louyue stated matter-of-factly, “I’m not cold.”

Jiang Shen offered a slight smile. “Let’s go.”

Zhao Louyue drove Jiang Shen home first, parking the car downstairs. “If your dad calls you these next couple of days, talk it out with him. Oh, and about going to Mengshan the day after tomorrow—want me to pick you up?”

Jiang Shen hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah.”

He took off the coat and handed it to Zhao Louyue. As Zhao Louyue reached for it, their fingers naturally brushed against Jiang Shen’s hand.

It felt as if his soul had been cleansed by holy water. Jiang Shen’s hand was slender yet well-defined, not only visually appealing but also smooth to the touch, like fine jade. Zhao Louyue’s fingers pressed against the back of Jiang Shen’s hand, his expression dazed, almost infatuated. Finding it amusing, Jiang Shen slowly withdrew his hand, leaving the coat securely in Zhao Louyue’s grasp.

“I’ll head up now.”

Boss Zhao snapped back to reality. “Yeah, okay.”

The next two days were busy with work. Jiang Shen hired a high-end caregiver to assist at the hospital. Wang Xiuyu called once, her words hesitant, as if she wanted to ask something but didn’t dare. Jiang Shen guessed she had a pretty good idea of what was going on, but everything would have to wait until Jiang Erkun recovered.

Jiang Shen assured her not to worry.

The day they decided to go to Mengshan was clear and sunny. The early spring air was growing warmer, carrying the scent of reviving grass and trees.

Zhao Louyue had already become familiar with the security guards at the upscale residential complex. Driving a car worth millions, he addressed them as “uncle” and offered cigarettes politely. By the time he picked up Jiang Shen, the guards recognized his car from afar and waved him through.

Jiang Shen asked, “Don’t you have to pay for parking?”

Zhao Louyue replied, “When you’re out and about, everyone’s a brother. Talking about money hurts feelings.”

“…”

“We’re heading out, Uncle,” Zhao Louyue said, rolling down the window.

“Ah, have a safe trip!”

Jiang Shen: “…”

The drive to Mengshan took about two hours. Zhao Louyue knew a shortcut past the lake district. Soon, vast stretches of winter jasmine mixed with the last fading plum blossoms came into view outside the window—a beautiful sight.

“Want to stop and take a look?” Zhao Louyue asked.

Jiang Shen said, “Let’s get some water.”

After parking the car, Zhao Louyue noticed Jiang Shen replying to a message from Wang Xiuyu. Both men had striking figures and looks, attracting a few lingering glances from onlookers.

Jiang Shen disliked the attention. After a couple minutes of fresh air, they set off again.

They didn’t arrive early. Those who knew how to have fun, especially Cong Gaoxuan, had already stayed at the manor at the foot of Mengshan the previous night.

Jiang Shen met Fu Wang, Fu Cheng’s younger brother, who was making waves in Lin Du’s political circles. Unlike Fu Cheng’s aloofness, Fu Wang always wore a gentle, appropriate smile, yet he exuded a strong sense of distance.

Many new faces were present. With Fu Cheng’s introductions, Jiang Shen greeted almost everyone. Amid the crowd, he unexpectedly spotted Luo Zaicheng.

At first, he didn’t recognize him, only finding him familiar. It took a moment to place him.

Luo Zaicheng had changed drastically. Gone was his once lean, sharp, and agile demeanor. His spine seemed weighed down by an immense burden, his face sagging with an almost palpable decay. Only the movement of his eyes showed he was still alive, his entire expression one of suffering.

Though Jiang Shen had heard rumors of Zhao Louyue’s relentless torment of Luo Zaicheng, he had always believed the man still had some fight left. But now, he seemed like a grasshopper in late autumn—barely hanging on.

Luo Zaicheng had held a grudge against Jiang Shen over the Lin'an Xu project shutdown, ordering a driver to cause a collision with Jiang Shen and Zhao Xiangting.

His final act of pushing Zhao Xiangting as a scapegoat was meant to violently shatter the bond between Jiang Shen and Zhao Louyue.

He had arrogantly and mockingly planned to toy with these young men.

Though he achieved his ultimate goal, he underestimated Zhao Louyue’s madness.

Heartbroken, Zhao Louyue was determined to make Luo Zaicheng live like a dog. With relentless creativity and energy, he had driven Luo Zaicheng to his current state.

“Why did you even invite him?” Zhao Louyue’s hands itched with impatience.

Fu Cheng replied, “He’s connected to someone whose face I have to respect. Behind the scenes, I’ll help you however I can, but publicly, I have to consider the bigger picture. Don’t go punching him—consider the setting.”

“Of course. I didn’t even hit Qin Zhumiao.”

Qin Zhumiao, not far away, seemed to sense something and glanced over warily. When he saw Zhao Louyue’s face, he immediately looked annoyed, disgusted, and unable to bear the sight.

Zhao Louyue snorted. “Still asking for a beating.”

Jiang Shen was speechless. In the entire Lin Du business circle, Zhao Louyue was the only one who dared to resort to outright physical violence so openly.

With so many people around, Zhao Louyue was called away. Jiang Shen stood by the window with a glass of juice. Wang Xiuyu sent a video of Jiang Erkun; according to the nurse, his blood pressure was high again. Jiang Shen felt a pang of sadness, typing and deleting messages repeatedly.

No matter what, it was an impossible situation.

“Jiang Shen.” Qin Zhumiao approached.

Jiang Shen glanced at him but didn’t respond.

“You know where Song Zhouchuan is, don’t you?”

“I do,” Jiang Shen said, putting away his phone. “But I'm not telling you.”

Qin Zhumiao’s eye twitched, his expression shifting unpredictably as if lost in some unfathomable fantasy. Then he murmured softly, “You can even forgive Zhao Louyue…”

Implying that Song Zhouchuan should be able to forgive him too.

Jiang Shen laughed coldly. “Because Zhao Louyue never said hurtful things to me, never told me to die. He never locked me in a basement until I broke my leg, nor did he blacklist me across the industry, making it impossible for me to stay in Lin Du. Qin Zhumiao, I really think there’s something wrong with you. Maybe you should find an exorcist. Do you really think what you did to Xiao Zhou is acceptable?”

Qin Zhumiao’s hand holding the glass trembled slightly.

“Do as you please, President Qin,” Jiang Shen said coldly before walking away to the garden.

A bench near the flowers was empty. Jiang Shen sat down to review some files Song Lin had emailed him.

Twenty minutes later, he stood up, leaning on his knees, and gazed at the vast lawn outside. At the edge of the lawn, a river meandered down from the mountaintop, flanked by swaying white winter jasmine. Unconsciously, Jiang Shen walked toward it.