Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Shang Zenian, after Jiang Cheng left, felt great. He took out his phone and took a photo of the sky outside his home to post on Moments, with no caption. But for someone like him, who rarely posted on Moments, this was already quite unusual.

When he returned to the engagement party, he saw that his Moments post already had 99+ likes and comments.

Well, he gave it a quick scan—no sign of a certain someone.

Just then, the bride and groom, arm-in-arm and beaming, came over to clink glasses with him.

If Jiang Cheng were there, he would definitely call Chen Pingzhou a big liar. What "business marriage, just going through the motions"? The couple was practically overflowing with love.

After the couple left, more people came up to chat with Shang Zenian. As the sole heir of the Shang family, even though he was still a student and wouldn't necessarily take over the family business right after graduation, many still flattered and praised him.

Shang Zenian hated this sort of thing, so he ducked into a lounge to get away.

Lu Xiyuan followed him. "Brother Shang, where did you go just now? I've been looking for you for ages."

A waiter brought in some food and drinks. Shang Zenian casually picked up a glass of red wine, took a sip, and then slowly said, "Can't explain it to a single guy like you."

Lu Xiyuan: "..."

What goes around comes around—even the king of being single was now calling someone else a single guy.

Lu Xiyuan clicked his tongue in amazement. "No wonder you, who never posts on Moments, suddenly did. What stage are you two at? Did you kiss her and mark the occasion?"

"..." Not even close to kissing, and he hadn't even gotten her yet. Shang Zenian silently made a mental note to get back at Lu Xiyuan for that comment.

That's what he gets for running his mouth!

Jiang Cheng had been quite excited about the exam results yesterday, and with so many people chatting with him, he went to bed late and got up late the next day.

Here, pretending to be Miss Chen, he had everything he needed. Even sleeping in, no one scolded him. He had to say, life was pretty comfortable.

Except... sigh.

He opened his phone and saw a message from Shang Zenian from an hour ago.

Shang Zenian: How are you feeling today? Still in a lot of pain?

Jiang Cheng took his time, brushed his teeth, washed his face, got dressed, and only replied when he was about to go downstairs.

Chen Yin: Yeah, that medicine of yours really works. I feel a lot less pain after taking it. Thanks!

Shang Zenian: (pat on the head .JPG)

"..." Again with the head patting!

He'd never grow to 1.8 meters tall because of Shang Zenian's head pats!

Shang Zenian: (image)

Shang Zenian: Talk to you later.

Jiang Cheng opened the image and saw a bunch of men in suits sitting around a conference table, apparently in a meeting.

Busy, everyone's busy. Busy is good!

Jiang Cheng immediately replied "Okay" and headed downstairs.

Perhaps because his granddaughter came back, the old man's health had been improving day by day. Today, with the help of a caregiver, he could actually get up and slowly walk under the trees in the yard.

"Grandpa," Jiang Cheng typed happily, "you can walk!"

"Yes, I feel a bit lighter today," the old man said, motioned for the caregiver to help him sit down. After drinking a little water, he looked at Jiang Cheng cheerfully and said, "Did that Shang boy come to see you last night?"

"..." Jiang Cheng felt a bit embarrassed. Why did it feel like he'd been caught sneaking around dating by a parent?

"No need to be shy, I'm just asking. Grandpa knows his time is limited. If I can see you settled down with someone good, I can leave in peace. Little Shang is a good kid; he'll treat you well."

Even though the person before him wasn't his real grandfather, talking about life and death was inevitably a bit sad. Jiang Cheng quickly typed, "Grandpa will live to be a hundred!"

The old man smiled, probably used to hearing such words too many times.

"I heard on the radio this morning that this year's college entrance exam results came out. Since you only finished middle school, I wanted to ask if you'd like to continue your studies?"

It seemed this question was unavoidable.

Chen Yin was already 22. Having her go back to high school for three years was clearly unrealistic. It was more likely that she would cram the high school curriculum and then take the exam, or take the usual path for rich kids: study abroad.

Either way, she'd definitely have to cram in middle and high school knowledge.

Jiang Cheng had just been freed and really didn't want to re-learn what he already knew.

After thinking it over, Jiang Cheng typed.

"I've always envied people playing piano on TV. That's what I want to be. Can I learn that?"

Learning this to cultivate his artistic side, the old man would certainly not object. For Jiang Cheng, it wouldn't hurt either—it'd be like taking a hobby class.

And if he was learning piano, he'd have even more reason to turn down Shang Zenian's dates, hahaha.

Probably imagining Jiang Cheng sitting in front of the TV, enviously watching a little girl dressed like a princess elegantly playing the piano, the old man's eyes involuntarily showed a hint of heartache and pain. Without any hesitation, he immediately nodded.

"Yes, my little Yin'er can learn anything she wants. There's a piano room at home. I'll have the best piano teacher hired for you right away."

"No," Jiang Cheng typed. "Learning at home would disturb Grandpa's rest. I want to go to a studio for lessons."

This was the truth. No matter how good the soundproofing in the piano room was, it couldn't fully isolate the sound. The old man was a patient after all; learning at home would be too disruptive to his peace.

The old man, worried that Jiang Cheng might be concerned about disturbing him, didn't insist. He immediately had someone find a good music school for him.

Jiang Cheng also reported this to Chen Pingzhou, though as long as he didn't do anything reckless, Chen Pingzhou let him be.

During the lunch break, Shang Zenian sent another message.

Shang Zenian: Meetings all morning. Exhausted.

Jiang Cheng thought to himself, "He wouldn't be tired if he were a waiter."

Chen Yin: Didn't you just finish your junior year? Are you already interning?

Shang Zenian: Sort of. Saving up to get married.

"..." Then I'm afraid you won't need it.

Shang Zenian: When you feel better, do you want to come visit the company?

Honestly, if it weren't for their complicated relationship, Jiang Cheng would definitely go. After all, the Shang family's company was a major enterprise. Without this opportunity, he'd never get the chance, so it would be a good chance to broaden his horizons.

Maybe getting an early feel for the big-company work culture could give him some ideas for his future career path.

Chen Yin: Not going!

Chen Yin: Just so you know, I'm not avoiding you, okay!

Shang Zenian, lounging in his comfy office chair with his legs crossed, looking totally relaxed, saw the message and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.

Even though Chen Yin was mute, he somehow could picture the way she would say it from the words she typed.

He typed back lightly: Hmm? Why is that?

Chen Yin: My grandfather found me a private piano tutor, and I'm starting lessons tomorrow!

Probably to prevent him from doubting, she also sent the registration information.

Shang Zenian glanced at the institution name and raised an eyebrow.

This training institution wasn't far from his home; in fact, it was a music school serving the wealthy area where he lived. Chen Yin, clueless as she was, definitely wouldn't understand, but the Chen family's choice of this school had an obvious intention.

Shang Zenian hated it when people tried to scheme with such things, but thinking about having that little fool right under his nose, and her acting all innocent like 'I'm learning piano now, so I won't have time to hang out, and you can't force me,' he found it amusing.

He replied calmly: That's good. You should socialize more; it also helps with your mutism.

Jiang Cheng blinked. Did he really just dodge that?

Haha, indeed, since he had things to do, Shang Zenian couldn't mess with him.

Now he had to take care of his grandfather, learn piano, and practice speaking—he was very busy. He could only squeeze out a little time to date Shang Zenian, and coasting through two months like that wasn't too hard.

Shang Zenian must have realized that, and the next message came.

Shang Zenian: It seems even harder to ask you out. I want some compensation.

Jiang Cheng immediately became alert.

Chen Yin: You said you wouldn't force me!

Shang Zenian: Yeah, I won't force you.

Shang Zenian: Asking for a selfie doesn't count as forcing, right?

"..." Selfie, selfie. He'd pretty much never taken a selfie before, and sending a selfie to another guy was so cringey.

Chen Yin: (Fidgeting with fingers) I'm not photogenic. Can I change it for something else?

Shang Zenian: Video works too.

Selfie it is then.

Jiang Cheng opened the camera, intending to take a random photo to get by, but then he thought, why should he do it just because Shang Zenian said so? That would be too obedient!

Besides, they had only met yesterday. He didn't even like Chen Yin. Why would he want a photo? To brag to his buddies that he'd already won her over in just a few days?

No, he couldn't give it!

Just as Jiang Cheng was about to close the camera, he noticed the rear camera was pointed at his feet. He was wrapped in a blanket with the AC on, and because he was a bit hot, his right leg was partially exposed. So he simply took a photo of his leg and sent it to Shang Zenian.

Hmph, a selfie doesn't have to be a face shot. Let him stare at a stinky foot!

However, Jiang Cheng, who grew up in a simple and plain environment, didn't know how nice and tempting his legs looked.

When the photo reached Shang Zenian, his gaze fell on the screen, and his fingers suddenly paused.

The leg in the picture had skin as cold white as porcelain, with delicate, well-defined ankles. The whole leg was straight, slender, and well-proportioned, without a single flaw. It looked so tender and soft that a light rub could leave suggestive red marks on it.

Most of the leg was covered by the soft blanket, clearly a casual shot. In that half-hidden state, it had this accidental seductiveness, especially captivating.

She really was...

A while after Jiang Cheng sent the photo, Shang Zenian finally replied.

He replied with a voice message.

Tsk, was he being blown off? Was a voice message more intimidating?

After hesitating, Jiang Cheng opened the voice message. His lazy voice, with a hint of hoarseness, came through: "Which of my words made you so happy that you'd give me such a big reward?"

Reward? Smelly foot photo? Was Shang Zenian out of his mind?

With doubt, Jiang Cheng opened his browser and searched, only then realizing that sending a leg photo to someone was a really suggestive, calculated move.

Especially since he was still in bed, playing hard to get like that, it was straight-up seduction.

Jiang Cheng blushed instantly with embarrassment. He quickly tried to recall the photo but found that two minutes had passed and it couldn't be recalled.

So annoying!

Jiang Cheng furiously typed.

Chen Yin: I sent it by mistake. That's an internet picture, not my leg!

Shang Zenian sent another voice message: "Sure, it's not."

"..." Aah, his tone totally said 'yes it is'!

Jiang Cheng decided to stick his head in the sand.

Chen Yin: I'm going to take a nap. You work hard!

Shang Zenian: Copy that.

Shang Zenian: I'll save up enough for the bride price before the legal marriage age.

Both Shang Zenian and Chen Yin were 22 in Chinese age. In fact, Shang Zenian wouldn't turn 22 until November. For people like them, with family backing, saving up a bride price in one summer vacation was nothing; even saving enough for regular people to blow until they're in the grave probably wasn't difficult.

But!!!

What he meant was: work hard and stop thinking about asking me out!

What kind of dirty thoughts was Shang Zenian having?!

Jiang Cheng really wanted to explain, but he felt that if he said it, Shang Zenian would be unhappy again. What if he thought he was avoiding him and came to his doorstep...

Forget it, let him misunderstand.

Jiang Cheng was already exhausted. He stuffed his phone under his pillow and closed his eyes.

When he woke up and went downstairs, the old man and Mrs. Chen were pruning a potted plant in the living room. The old man loved gardening; when he was healthy, he had planted many flowers in the yard, but now he was too weak to take care of them.

He must have been in a good mood today, so he had someone bring in a pot of flowers, eager to trim them himself. However, his hands were trembling so much while holding the pruning shears that he could no longer cut. He could only give directions as Mrs. Chen trimmed.

Jiang Cheng greeted them and sat down. Noticing leaves on the ground, he picked one up and deftly twisted it with his fingers. After a moment, the long blade was woven into a little bird.

He handed the bird to the old man, who examined it from all angles, beaming from ear to ear. “Yin'er is really skillful. With just a few leaves, you can weave such a lifelike little bird. Amazing—*cough*—truly amazing—*cough, cough, cough.*”

Maybe it was the excitement, but the old man started coughing. The caregiver quickly came over to pat his back and help him breathe, but his coughing didn't stop.

Not only that, the caregiver noticed traces of blood at the corner of his mouth. She looked at his palm and saw a pool of dark red blood. Everyone immediately panicked and hurriedly called for a doctor, found medicine, and arranged emergency treatment.

Soon, an ambulance arrived and took away the old man, who had already fainted.

Jiang Cheng, lost in the chaos, followed the ambulance to the hospital, pale and dazed.

Author's note:

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