Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The food at the cliffside restaurant was visually appealing but not particularly filling, though Shen Jin had ordered an abundance.

Shen Jin was a picky eater. Despite ordering so much, he only sampled a few favorite dishes before setting his chopsticks down, leaving Jiang Linchuan to finish the rest alone.

"This is good." Jiang Linchuan slid the cream of mushroom soup over to him. "Have a few more sips."

Perhaps coaxed by the prospect of being pursued, Shen Jin played along. He obediently picked up the spoon, took two sips, then tossed it aside. "Done. Two sips."

"..." Jiang Linchuan sighed, took the bowl back, and drank it himself. A meal costing two hundred thousand yuan—he truly had found himself a sugar baby.

"Do you think my condition can be cured?" Jiang Linchuan, sensing a good mood, subtly steered the conversation toward the main topic.

"What condition? Erectile dysfunction?"

"..." Jiang Linchuan said helplessly, "Can we not say those two words out loud?"

"Oh, sorry. Forgot you’re sensitive about it." Shen Jin was all too pleased to see him like this, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes.

Jiang Linchuan knew he had hit on the right tactic this time—this was exactly what Shen Jin wanted to see.

"So, do you think it’s incurable?"

"I’m not a doctor. How would I know?" Shen Jin shrugged.

"If you were a doctor, how would you treat it?"

"If I were a doctor..." Shen Jin mulled it over, a smirk curling his lips. "I’d make you beg on your knees."

Jiang Linchuan: "..."

"Then, do you think there are men who can’t get it up, and also men who can’t put it down?" Jiang Linchuan asked again.

"Probably. Men who can’t get it up are insecure, but men who can’t put it down should be proud, right?" Shen Jin blinked, the fragmented light reflecting off his glasses, his expression utterly innocent.

He was projecting the emotions of those with ED onto a group of men people call "good men." Wasn’t that a reward?

Doing good deeds without seeking recognition—that was something he’d learned from TV.

"..." Jiang Linchuan finally understood. So that was the logic.

Jiang Linchuan crossed his arms and looked at him. Based on his understanding of Shen Jin, this was all just fun and games—no real malice. He couldn’t push too hard, or Shen Jin would deliberately do the opposite. This brat could only be handled with patience.

As for those men with ED... let them stay that way for now. They weren’t good guys anyway—consider it a service to society, like a folk hero ridding the world of scum.

"I’m tired. I’m going home." The folk hero yawned.

"I’ll take you."

"No need." Shen Jin stood up, came around from behind the chair, and stopped in front of Jiang Linchuan. He pressed a finger against Jiang Linchuan’s chest, pushing him back into his seat. Leaning forward with one hand on the back of the chair, he looked directly at Jiang Linchuan, a slight smile on his lips. "You’ll need to put some real effort into chasing me."

Jiang Linchuan was no fool. He knew Shen Jin could see right through his probing questions—he just couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge them.

Shen Jin had never deliberately hidden anything. If Jiang Linchuan could figure it out, that was his skill. If he couldn’t, that was his stupidity.

But!!!

If he dared provoke him, he’d better be prepared to face the consequences.

Otherwise, it would be the death of him.

*

When Jiang Linchuan returned home, the young man was already there. Yun Zheng was there too, helping the little one walk by holding the wheelchair and slowly backing up as the toddler moved forward. Shen Jin seemed to find it novel, so he gave the little one a light kick from behind, sending him tumbling to the ground with a thud. This time, however, the little one didn’t cry. Instead, he giggled and determinedly got back up.

"Little Treasure can walk now." Yun Zheng smiled at him. "Come take a look."

Jiang Linchuan set the car keys down on the entryway console, but his gaze remained fixed on the young man.

Sensing his stare, the young man lifted his drooping eyelids and shot him an irritated look. "What are you looking at?"

Someone who goes out looking for a side piece deserves to have ED.

Jiang Linchuan: "..."

Was he still not over it?

Did he need to go out and stir up more trouble?

"I’m hungry." Shen Jin ordered.

No wonder he was hungry after only taking a few bites of a two hundred thousand yuan meal. Jiang Linchuan washed his hands and headed toward the kitchen, but halfway there, he glanced back and saw Shen Jin giving another light kick with his foot to knock Little Treasure over again, a faint smile on his lips.

Jiang Linchuan raised an eyebrow. This brat used to ignore the little nuisance entirely. He must be in a pretty good mood now—he’d just been putting on an act earlier.

"Tomato and egg noodles okay?" Jiang Linchuan asked the two outside.

"Sure." Yun Zheng replied.

Shen Jin said nothing.

The emperor’s silence meant consent.

Jiang Linchuan cracked eggs into a bowl and whisked them, his mind churning just as vigorously.

Talking about pursuing someone was just a temporary solution, but once you started this, you had to see it through—otherwise, you might end up buried in it yourself.

So, how does one pursue an enigma?

And what happens after you succeed?

Two excellent questions indeed.

Jiang Linchuan’s mind buzzed like a blender.

He blanched the tomatoes in hot water, peeled them, and diced them into tiny pieces. He simmered them in a pot until they released their juices, then added a dash of light soy sauce, a spoonful of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Next, he stirred in the scrambled eggs, then tossed in the cooked noodles that had been shocked in cold water, coating them evenly in the sauce. This was how Shen Jin liked it.

"Why only two plates?" Yun Zheng asked, puzzled. "Aren’t you eating?"

"I..." Jiang Linchuan stared at Shen Jin. "I don’t deserve to eat. I only deserve to eat whatever His Majesty leaves behind."

Yun Zheng: "..." This dog food is truly nauseating.

Shen Jin, however, seemed quite pleased with this. After eating half, he graciously handed over the remaining portion to Jiang Linchuan.

Jiang Linchuan wasn’t very hungry—after all, he’d just finished a two hundred thousand yuan meal only half an hour earlier.

Hearing this, Shen Jin stopped in his tracks and gave him a dark look.

Jiang Linchuan cleaned his plate.

Yun Zheng: "..." Old man looking at phone (meme reference).

After dinner, Jiang Linchuan brought the little one to Yun Zheng's place, clutching a handful of indigestion tablets. He tossed them into his mouth as he paced behind Yun Zheng. "You're a writer; you've got more imagination than I do. Tell me, how does one go about pursuing someone?"

"Pursuing someone? Who are you trying to pursue?" Yun Zheng was shocked. "Aren't you already with your younger cousin? Did you two break up?"

"When did I ever get together with my younger cousin... I... You..."

"Even though your younger cousin has a bit of a temper, he's still young. You, an old cow eating tender grass (age-gap relationship), should at least not mistreat him."

Jiang Linchuan: "..."

Forget it, this isn't getting through. Time for a different approach.

"It's not for me. I'm asking on someone else's behalf."

"Who are you asking for?" Yun Zheng eyed him suspiciously.

"Zheng Jian," Jiang Linchuan said casually.

"Oh, you had me worried." Yun Zheng knew everyone in Jiang Linchuan's Special Operations Brigade. "Zheng Jian really doesn't have the brains for pursuing anyone."

"What kind of girl does he want to chase?" Yun Zheng’s eyes lit up, his imagination running wild. "Wait... is it... a guy?"

"Ah?" Jiang Linchuan cleared his throat. "Yes."

"..." Yun Zheng was stunned. Is this contagious?

If he's been hanging out with Jiang Linchuan for so many years, could he... also end up liking guys?

"So, what's the personality of the person he's pursuing?" Yun Zheng asked, still dazed.

"Him..." Jiang Linchuan thought for a moment. "He has a terrible personality—crotchety and difficult, always scowling and dissatisfied with everything. But he likes novelty items..."

Yun Zheng had a head full of questions. "Isn't that just your younger cousin? Did Zheng Jian take a liking to your younger cousin? Are you trying to pursue someone else and planning to pass your younger cousin off to Zheng Jian?"

"..."

This conversation is going nowhere. Jiang Linchuan tossed all the indigestion tablets into his mouth, picked up the little one, and left.

Better to rely on oneself than others.

Yun Zheng shrugged as he watched him leave. "I write horror novels, and you come to me for advice on pursuing someone? You're something else."

"Hey, don't mistreat your younger cousin," Yun Zheng called after him.

*

Jiang Linchuan stayed home for two days, and Shen Jin stayed home for two days as well. The person who had been going out every day recently now sat cross-legged on the sofa watching TV, his eyes following Jiang Linchuan around.

The bandage on Jiang Linchuan’s hand had been removed, leaving a large scar in the middle. Jiang Linchuan would occasionally clench his hand to move it around. The injury was healing much faster than he had expected.

Seeing Jiang Linchuan either cooking or fussing with his hand, Shen Jin couldn’t hold back any longer: "Don't you have anything important to do?"

"I'm on medical leave to recover," Jiang Linchuan said, sitting beside him and extending his hand. "Kid, look at my hand. Isn't it scary?"

Shen Jin glanced at it, then reached out a finger and jabbed the scar hard.

"Ouch—" Jiang Linchuan pulled his hand back, cursing himself for provoking him.

Geng Yang called to report on their progress.

Many of the men from the previous days had frequented the same adult entertainment venues, so they had set up surveillance at those locations. However, the sex offender hadn't shown up, seemingly having decided to lay low.

Jiang Linchuan glanced at the person beside him. Whether the sex offender would resurface depended on how well he was being "served."

Was this what it meant to offer oneself as bait to a tiger?

In the evening, Jiang Linchuan finally went out. Shen Jin watched him leave, unable to hide the excitement in his eyes.

That night, Jiang Linchuan didn't return home, leaving the little one with Yun Zheng. He didn't open the door until dawn.

As the door opened, he met the young man’s eyes.

In the morning light, the young man’s eyes were unusually bright. Jiang Linchuan paused for a moment, then shook the bag in his hand. "Hot wontons. Want some?"

"Yes."

Shen Jin sat at the table eating wontons (Chinese dumplings) while noticing that Jiang Linchuan was covered in mud from head to toe, as if he had been rolling around in dirt.

"Where did you go?"

"The Special Operations Brigade had an operation. I was on a mission."

"Oh..." Shen Jin blinked but said nothing more. After breakfast, he picked up his bag and left.

After taking a shower, Jiang Linchuan received a call from an unknown number.

A clear, cold voice came through the receiver: "Jiang Linchuan, it's time for you to pursue me."

Jiang Linchuan curled his lips. "Then let's meet at the cliffside restaurant."

"Cliffside restaurant again?" The voice on the other end clearly wasn't pleased.

What's so special about the cliffside restaurant? Another cliff jump?

*

The two met in the parking lot of the cliffside restaurant.

Shen Jin had changed his outfit this time: a beige shirt with dark floral patterns, paired with light gray trousers and white sneakers.

He still wore glasses, but this time they were glasses with chains, with slender silver chains falling along his cheeks, making him look refined and gentle.

Jiang Linchuan looked at him. Although Shen Jin had once bought a tacky grandpa shirt when he first went shopping, his taste in clothing was surprisingly sharp. Whether as a young man or an adult, his appearance was striking, each with a different charm.

"Not good?" Shen Jin glanced down. This outfit was newly put together by Tu Mi, guaranteed to look absolutely good. If there was any mistake, she'd hang herself (figuratively speaking).

"Good," Jiang Linchuan didn't hold back his praise, reaching out to adjust Shen Jin’s shirt collar. "I've never seen anyone as good-looking as you."

Shen Jin's smile appeared then vanished, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "What did you say?"

Jiang Linchuan instantly realized his mistake. His mind raced, but his expression remained unchanged. "To be precise, you're the best-looking adult man I've ever seen. As for the best-looking young guy, I have someone else in mind."

"Then who's better-looking, me or that youth you mentioned?" Shen Jin glared at him, his eyes threatening.

Under such a fierce gaze, Jiang Linchuan froze for a moment.

That same intensity was in his eyes. No wonder he wore glasses to conceal it.

"Speak."

Jiang Linchuan snapped out of it.

A life-or-death situation—this was truly a life-or-death situation. Answer poorly, and it would genuinely be the kind that gets you killed.

Jiang Linchuan reached out and grabbed Shen Jin's wrist: "Let's go. We're not going to the restaurant today. We're heading up the mountain, over there." He pointed to the tall mountain behind the cliffside restaurant, awkwardly changing the subject.

"What are we going there for?" Shen Jin's tone was heavy.

"I have a surprise planned for our date."

"Really? A surprise?" Shen Jin's gloom faded as he quickened his pace to catch up.

Jiang Linchuan: "..."

That was hard to say.

……

Shen Jin disliked walking because he never had to walk, yet here he was, forced to climb a mountain on two human legs.

Step after step, inching along.

Annoying.

A few more steps, and it became absolutely miserable.

Shen Jin stopped, scowling, and started heading back. "I'm not going. You've failed at chasing me today. Why don't you go jump off a cliff?"

"Hey..." Jiang Linchuan grabbed him. "You... don’t want to see the surprise?"

"No, I'm tired."

Jiang Linchuan: "..."

You’re a supernatural being, and you’re telling me you’re tired?

Is this supernatural being only interested in being a lecher and nothing else?

*Can’t even stand walking a few steps.*

"Don’t, don’t, don’t..." Jiang Linchuan sighed and knelt down in front of him. "Get on. I’ll carry you."

"You’ll carry me?" Shen Jin was taken aback.

"Yes, I’ll carry you. You’re like royalty to me." Jiang Linchuan thought for a moment and added, "I know I’m not worthy to carry you. Please, allow me the honor." He still had that imperial air about him.

That actually sounded quite pleasing to the supernatural creature.

But this human wanting to carry him was truly biting off more than he could chew.

Shen Jin arched an eyebrow faintly, then curved his lips and leaned forward to rest on Jiang Linchuan’s back.

A weight like a thousand pounds slammed down. Caught off guard, Jiang Linchuan stumbled and staggered to one knee, one hand bracing against the ground, the other reaching back to hold the person on his back to keep them from falling.

Shen Jin knew the wounds on his back hadn’t fully healed—scars remained on his back and hands from saving that good-smelling person.

With a mocking smile, Shen Jin wrapped his arms around Jiang Linchuan’s neck and leaned in harder, his lazy voice whispering in his ear: "Jiang Linchuan, you really think you can carry me? Are you actually able to carry me?"