Chapter 75: Ability is far from enough

Jiang Shi gave him a shove.

While the other students were fighting for food in the cafeteria, Cheng Ye took Jiang Shi around the dormitory building to a secluded grove behind it.

He took off his jacket and spread it on the ground for Jiang Shi to sit on, then took out a Chinese-style hamburger from his pocket.

The meat-stuffed bun was still steaming, and it was heavy in his hand.

Jiang Shi, in a huddle, first took a bite of the outer bun. “Where on earth did you get this stuff?”

Cheng Ye plucked a blade of grass and held it in his mouth, using his hand as a pillow and leaning against the tree, his head tilted to look at him. “Money is all you need.”

“Tsk,” Jiang Shi pouted. “Do you have a lot of money?”

“Not much, just enough to support a little young master.”

He handed him the water he had placed on the side. “Drink some water, be careful not to choke.”

At this time, the cicadas were still chirping, their voices hoarse. The birds had been silenced by them, and the sky was cloudless for miles.

Jiang Shi had eaten half of it when he moved closer to Cheng Ye, not looking at him. “By the way, do you remember you gave me a fountain pen before?”

Cheng Ye, who was next to him, had his eyes closed as if he had fallen asleep. He only lifted his eyelids a long while after hearing the words. “Hmm?”

Jiang Shi fiddled with the plastic bag in his hand. “Is that pen expensive?”

“It’s alright, not expensive.”

Cheng Ye tilted his head towards him and opened his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Uh…” Jiang Shi continued to fiddle. “It’s just… I accidentally lost it.”

“If it’s lost, it’s lost…” The blade of grass was held in Cheng Ye’s mouth, and it swayed when he spoke, his voice mixing with the wind. “It’s not worth much. If you like it, I’ll buy you another one when we get back.”

Jiang Shi lowered his head and took a bite of the meat-stuffed bun. “Forget it…”

Cheng Ye sat up straight, reached out and held Jiang Shi’s chin, forcing him to face him. “Are you unhappy again?”

Meeting his dark gaze, Jiang Shi’s eyelashes trembled. “No, I’m not.”

“No, you’re not…” Cheng Ye said lazily. “Your mouth is downturned enough to hang a bottle of soy sauce from it.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

The person opposite him, without any warning, said, “Jiang Shi, want to kiss?”

“I haven’t tried kissing you in a grove before. The thought is quite exciting.”

Jiang Shi slapped his hand away. “Have some shame, Cheng Ye.”

Cheng Ye wanted a wife, not face. He took the grass out of his mouth and bent down to lean over. Jiang Shi froze, not knowing whether to accept or refuse.

Just as the two were about to touch, a voice suddenly sounded not far away.

Jiang Shi was startled and abruptly pushed Cheng Ye away, even kicking his leg.

His right leg was kicked and he staggered a little. Cheng Ye frowned, then the next second, he grabbed Jiang Shi’s hand and pressed him under him. “Why is the young master as timid as a rabbit?”

Jiang Shi tried to struggle, but he didn’t know how Cheng Ye was pressing him, and he couldn’t move at all. He glared at him. “Do you think everyone is as shameless as you?”

The voice was getting closer. Jiang Shi gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, “Let go of me.”

Cheng Ye didn’t move, rubbing against his leg. “I won’t let go. If you have the guts, break free yourself.”

“…”

The weather was dry and things were flammable.

Jiang Shi’s face was red. “Let go, someone is coming.”

Cheng Ye still didn’t move.

Jiang Shi could only struggle on his own, but Cheng Ye’s strength was frighteningly great. Pressing him was as easy as pressing a little chick.

After struggling for a while, not only did he not break free, but Jiang Shi was also covered in sweat.

Cheng Ye squinted and propped himself up, looking down at him, speaking nonchalantly, “That night when the young master hit me, his moves were so decisive. I thought you had practiced before?”

Jiang Shi was tired and lay on the ground, panting. His face was scratched with a few red marks by the grass next to him. Cheng Ye hadn’t done anything yet, but he already looked as if he had been ravaged.

Hearing his question, he evened out his breathing before saying, “I did learn. I only took three days of classes before I… Song Jian’an’s parents found out, and they stopped my classes.”

His eyelashes were damp, it was unclear if it was from the heat or something else. His voice sounded calm. “I only learned one or two moves…”

As he said this, Jiang Shi reached out and grabbed Cheng Ye’s shoulder, wanting to flip him over like he had flipped over Wang Zekai. But Cheng Ye was not on the same level as that embroidered pillow, Wang Zekai. His base was unbelievably stable. At most, he only moved a little.

Cheng Ye watched him struggle for a while, then he simply lay there without moving, giving up.

He laughed.

“I’ll teach you how to do it.”

He grabbed Jiang Shi’s hand. “There’s a pressure point here. Pressing it will paralyze a person. When you grab someone, don’t just grab hard. You have to learn to use your strength to your advantage, like this…”

He grabbed Jiang Shi’s shoulder with his hand and, with a push of his knee, instantly flipped him onto him. He bent his knees and rubbed against him ambiguously. “Men’s weaknesses are all the same. When necessary, kick where you need to kick.”

Jiang Shi arched his back in discomfort from being pushed, letting out a soft cry. The corners of his eyes were also red, hooking Cheng Ye like a hook.

Cheng Ye’s gaze gradually became hazy. The smell of grass and sunlight mixed together, but he could still capture the sweet scent on Jiang Shi.

He was so bewitched by this scent that he lost his soul. His body leaned forward, his breathing heavy.

Closer and closer, until…

“Don’t move, if you still want to live.”

Cheng Ye lowered his head.

“I taught you something, and you’re using it on me so quickly?”

Jiang Shi raised his eyebrows, his lips curving into a very bold smile. The next second, his lips were bitten.

Some people would risk their lives to be a hooligan. Jiang Shi had no choice but to let go.

Jiang Shi was a mascot in the class during the day. At night, when no one was around, he would sneak to the school infirmary to catch up on sleep, and Cheng Ye would feed him every day. Except for the living hell at the beginning, the days after were not bad.

In the blink of an eye, the military training was over. One second, the students were tearfully bidding farewell to the instructor, and the next, they were sleeping soundly on the bus. When he saw the still somewhat unfamiliar gate, Jiang Shi was in a daze for a long time.

Compared to the large common bunk at the training camp, the four-person room at the school was simply paradise, even if there was a very annoying person in it.

After the incident at the school infirmary, Jiang Shi treated Wang Zekai as if he were air whenever he saw him. Wang Zekai didn’t talk to him either, just occasionally looked at him with a sinister gaze.

Jiang Shi pretended not to see.

Compared to Wang Zekai, the full schedule of classes was what gave him a headache. But there was also good news.

Sun Tianyu called him and said that the magazine had sold very successfully, especially the shirt Jiang Shi had worn, which was sold out directly.

When he went back to Xiliu Village before, Sun Tianyu had called Jiang Shi once and said that the magazine had been published and asked if he wanted him to send a copy.

For Jiang Shi, the photo shoot was just a job. He was not interested in anything outside of work and was not curious about how he would look in the photos, so he refused.

Sun Tianyu asked him again, “There’s another photo shoot here that’s more suitable for you. The price is definitely not as high as before. Do you want to come?”

Cheng Ye had also been busy with something recently, and he couldn’t see him on weekends. Since he was free anyway, Jiang Shi agreed.

The weather was gloomy that Saturday morning. Knowing that he was going to do a part-time job, Zuo Hui advised, “I think it’s going to rain. Remember to bring an umbrella.”

Jiang Shi didn’t even know where the umbrella was, and he was too lazy to look for it. He just put on a jacket and left.

This time, the clothes were more youthful and fashionable, and didn’t require too much emotion. He just had to stand there and pose.

After the photo shoot, Sun Tianyu stood behind the photographer to check the final photos. He asked Jiang Shi, “Are you really not considering developing in this direction?”

Jiang Shi scratched his face. “We’ll see. I still have to go to class. I don’t have time.”

His classes were as full as in high school. Just attending classes was very tiring, and he really didn’t have time for anything else.

The most important thing for a student was to study. Sun Tianyu immediately stopped persuading him and just said, “You can consider it in the future.”

Jiang Shi put on his jacket and was about to leave when a few rumbles were heard outside, and a heavy downpour immediately began.

“…”

Just what he was afraid of.

Sun Tianyu also saw the heavy rain.

“Didn’t you bring an umbrella? I have one in my office.” He called his assistant, “Xiao Liu, can you help me…”

Before he could finish, a tall figure entered the door.

Cheng Ye closed his umbrella and stood at the door. “Let’s go, Jiang Shi, let’s go home.”

Jiang Shi suddenly smiled. The corners of his mouth formed two very shallow dimples. He walked with a light pace and, after running two steps, remembered to turn back to Sun Tianyu and say, “Someone is here to pick me up. No need, thank you, Director.”

Seeing him like that, Sun Tianyu smiled and waved his hand. “Same old rules. I’ll pay you after the final photos are okay.”

Jiang Shi didn’t hear him. He ran to Cheng Ye’s side in two or three steps. “Why are you here?”

Cheng Ye said, “To pick you up.”

He held the umbrella, shielding Jiang Shi under it, and sent him to the car.

Jiang Shi fastened his seat belt and watched Cheng Ye sit in the driver’s seat. The fastened seat belt suddenly became unsafe.

“You’re driving?”

Cheng Ye sat there with his legs spread wide, his posture imposing. He glanced at Jiang Shi out of the corner of his eye. “What?”

“No… do you have a driver’s license?”

Cheng Ye reached into his pocket, took out a booklet, and threw it into Jiang Shi’s lap. “Freshly baked.”

Jiang Shi opened it and looked. He found that it was real. “When did you get your driver’s license? How come I didn’t know?”

Cheng Ye started the car and slowly drove into the rain.

“The vacation after the college entrance examination. I’ve learned to drive before, but I didn’t practice much, so I just signed up.”

A master of time management.

Jiang Shi asked again, “Did you buy the car too?”

“No, it’s Wang Zhuo’s.”

Wang Zhuo was also doing well, he even had a car.

Cheng Ye said, “The company has moved. We rented a bigger place. They said they’re celebrating tonight.”

The two had seen each other less these past two months, and Jiang Shi was too lazy to ask about Cheng Ye’s affairs. He didn’t expect that Cheng Ye’s studio had already moved in this short time.

“Why move, all of a sudden?”

“For now, you can understand it as an expansion of scale.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

Cheng Ye said again, “I have to meet a client after dinner. I might not be able to go home with you.”

Jiang Shi knew he was very busy. He couldn’t help much, so he could only make sure not to cause him any trouble. “I know. I’ll just take a taxi later.”

Cheng Ye was unhappy that he was so understanding. “We haven’t seen each other for a week, and the young master agreed so readily.”

Jiang Shi said, “Then don’t go.”

Cheng Ye was silent.

“See? You’re not happy when I say it.”

“…”

No matter how unhappy he was, he still had to meet the person he had finally managed to schedule a meeting with.

After dinner, the heavy rain stopped, but there were still some fine raindrops falling. Wang Zhuo repeatedly assured Cheng Ye that he would safely send Jiang Shi home before Cheng Ye let him get into his car.

In mid-October, it was autumn. When it rained, the temperature dropped sharply. Cheng Ye put on his jacket and went to another place.

There were many teahouses in Jiangcheng, but the most famous one was probably the one by the river.

On the other side of the river were fluttering willow trees. Leaning against the window, you could see the bustling city life on the other side.

When Cheng Ye arrived, Huang Xuyao had already finished a cup of tea. He stood at the door, shaking off the raindrops on his body. As soon as he moved, he heard the person inside speak. “What a big shot. No one has ever made me wait this long.”

Cheng Ye’s expression was blank. He sat down in front of him with his eyebrows lowered. “Your time is tight, and my time is also tight. If it weren’t for the fact that President Huang is leaving tomorrow morning, I wouldn’t have come to see you in the middle of the night.”

Huang Xuyao laughed and leaned back. “Try his new tea from this year. It’s not bad.”

“I’m a bull chewing on peonies. I don’t know how to drink it. I’ll leave after we’re done talking.”

“In such a hurry?”

Jiang Shi was waiting for him at home, so of course Cheng Ye was in a hurry.

“I’ve seen your proposal. We can talk about cooperation, but I have a request.”

It was always people begging Huang Xuyao for cooperation. This was the first time he had seen someone negotiate terms with him. “What do you want?”

Cheng Ye said, “It has nothing to do with work. I know the Huang family’s status in Beijing. I just want to borrow your power to help me deal with a person.”

“Borrow my power?” Huang Xuyao raised his eyebrows. “What kind of person is worthy of you borrowing my power?”

“The person is not important.”

Cheng Ye’s eyes darkened, and his face was expressionless as he said this.

“It’s easy to pull out an ant’s teeth, but what I want is for the ant to never be able to jump up for the rest of its life.”

But with his current ability, it was far from enough.