Chapter 82: Mutt from the Countryside

It was actually obvious who he had offended, but Jiang Shi hadn’t expected Jiang Kaile to be so ruthless.

Sun Tianyu said, “I wanted to tell you before, but you’re still a student, and studies should come first, so I didn’t. I have a friend who’s a talent agent. The first time he saw your photo, he thought you were perfect for being a star. His company isn’t one of the huge ones, but it’s relatively well-known in the industry. Do you want to consider it?”

Jiang Shi never thought he’d be scouted one day. He smiled, “Forget it. Being a star is so tiring, it’s not for me.”

Sun Tianyu could see it too. Jiang Shi was lazy most of the time. Rather than making money, he seemed to be just finding something to do to keep himself from being too idle.

Therefore, he wasn’t too affected by losing the job. He just went to class, played games in his dorm after class, and was treated like a little ancestor by Cheng Ye on the weekends.

Jiang Kaile had thought he would be so worried he couldn’t eat or sleep, and might even come crying and begging him later.

As a result, two weeks passed, and Jiang Shi had gained three pounds.

Cheng Ye stared at the number in contemplation.

His company had recently launched a new competitive game, which became a sensation in just under two months.

It was only then that many people noticed this little-known company and its boss, who was only in his early twenties.

Cheng Ye instantly became a hot commodity, with countless invitations and gatherings every day. Between business collaborations, company affairs, and his classes, he wished he could split himself into three.

But even so, he still noticed Jiang Shi’s weight gain.

Jiang Shi didn’t gain weight easily. Any little bit of flesh he managed to put on would disappear with a bit of exercise or even just a cold.

Gaining three pounds in two weeks didn’t mean Cheng Ye was taking good care of him; it could only mean that a certain little ancestor hadn’t moved at all for two weeks, doing nothing but eating and sleeping.

The weather was getting colder. Jiangcheng was a bit further north than Lincheng, and it started snowing in December.

The rented apartment was in an old residential complex. Although it had an elevator, the overall facilities were somewhat dated. Cheng Ye planned to move.

Jiang Shi was used to the place and didn’t want to change.

If he said no, then no it was. Cheng Ye was saving up money, planning to buy a house directly.

Outside was a vast expanse of white, while the air conditioner was running inside. The washing machine was broken. The much-sought-after CEO Cheng was wearing an old-man-style tank top, squatting on the balcony with a wrench, fixing the washing machine. Jiang Shi ambled out to go to the bathroom and saw the scale on his way back, so he casually weighed himself.

“Cheng Ye!” he shouted. “I’ve gained three pounds.”

Cheng Ye came over, wrench in hand. He looked down at the number and fell into deep thought.

After weighing himself, Jiang Shi left and went back to playing games on the sofa.

He had become a loyal fan of Cheng Ye’s company’s new game, playing so engrossed that he lost all sense of the world around him.

A new weapon had been released two days ago, and the update came with a free ten-pull. Jiang Shi had updated but hadn’t done the pull yet, thinking he’d wait until the boss was around today to borrow some of his good luck.

He rubbed his hands together, but before he could tap the button, he was scooped up from the sofa by the boss.

“Jiang Shi, you need to exercise.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

“Cheng Ye, what’s gotten into you so early in the morning?”

Cheng Ye said, “You’ve gained weight.”

Jiang Shi’s eyes widened. “Are you saying I’m fat?”

“No, you’ve just gained weight too quickly.”

“So you mean I’m eating too much, right?”

Cheng Ye: “…”

He tried a more tactful approach. “Have you not been moving much lately?”

The more Jiang Shi heard, the more it grated on him. “So you’re saying I’m lazy and gluttonous, huh? Well, well, Cheng Ye, you’ve started getting picky now that you have a little money.”

With that, he slapped Cheng Ye’s hand off his waist and turned to leave.

Cheng Ye followed behind him. “That’s not what I mean. I just think it’s not good for your health.”

Jiang Shi ignored him.

He reached out and grabbed Jiang Shi’s hand. “Didn’t you used to do magazine shoots occasionally? How come you haven’t been going recently?”

Jiang Shi’s eyes flickered. “I just don’t want to go. It’s so cold, isn’t it nice to stay comfortably at home?”

Cheng Ye was extremely perceptive. He noticed something was wrong with just one look. He turned Jiang Shi around to face him. “What happened?”

Jiang Shi didn’t want to say. “Nothing happened.”

Cheng Ye said, “I’ll have Wang Zhuo set the drop rate for equipment on your phone to the lowest.”

“…”

Jiang Shi kicked him. “Listen to yourself. Are those the words of a human being?”

Cheng Ye patted his pants. “Since you like this game so much, I’ll just put a time limit on it. A forced logout after two hours.”

Jiang Shi glared at him.

Cheng Ye met his gaze with lowered eyes.

A few seconds later, Jiang Shi was defeated. “What else could it be? It’s just that day…”

He didn’t finish, but it was enough for Cheng Ye to guess. “That person from that day?”

“Yeah.”

Jiang Shi said nonchalantly, “Anyway, it’s not like I’m out of money. It’s just a small part-time job. If it’s gone, it’s gone. It’s so cold now, I don’t want to go out and suffer.”

Cheng Ye was already busy, and Jiang Shi didn’t want his own affairs to affect his mood. He changed the subject. “Forget it, let’s not talk about this. Quick! Lend me some of your good luck, let me get a one-shot wonder.”

He found the prize draw interface, grabbed Cheng Ye’s hand, squinted his eyes, and pressed down with great deliberation.

Ten pulls, and nothing happened.

Cheng Ye: “…”

The bulging muscles on his arm seemed very helpless at this moment. “Want to top up some more?”

Jiang Shi said, “And then that money gets taxed, and comes right back to you?”

He put his phone away. “Did you fix the washing machine?”

When he actively asked if Cheng Ye was done with his work, it usually meant he was hungry.

A wire inside the washing machine had come loose. Cheng Ye reconnected it, tightened the screw, and lifted the machine back to its original position with one hand.

Jiang Shi, disgusted by the mess he had made on the balcony, poked his head out from the doorway. “The light on the balcony seems to be a bit broken too, it’s flickering.”

Cheng Ye looked up. “I’ll fix it tonight. I’ll go make dinner first.”

He went to cook, wearing his old-man-style tank top and an apron.

Jiang Shi shuffled around the living room in his slippers for a couple of rounds. Maybe it was what Cheng Ye had just said that spurred him on, because he uncharacteristically came to the kitchen doorway.

“Need my help?”

If he were to really ask him to do something, Cheng Ye wouldn’t have the heart. After picking and choosing for a long time, he found a washed potato and handed it to him. “Help me peel this.”

While Jiang Shi peeled the potato, Cheng Ye even found a low stool for him to sit on. He had already finished stir-frying one dish, and Jiang Shi was still peeling away.

As he peeled, he watched Cheng Ye cook. “Aren’t you busy lately? I saw Wang Zhuo complaining that he’s been working overtime every day.”

Cheng Ye said, “It’s alright.”

He was busy. Just for the work he had pushed off today, he didn’t know how much overtime he’d have to put in to catch up. But busy was busy; he had to spend time with Jiang Shi.

Neglecting Jiang Shi for work would be getting his priorities backward.

Cheng Ye was still concerned about his lack of exercise. “How about you go for a run with me tomorrow morning?”

Jiang Shi, sitting on the stool, looked up at him. “What time?”

Cheng Ye pushed the time back by half an hour. “Six-thirty.”

“…”

Jiang Shi threw a potato peel at his back.

Running was impossible, but Jiang Shi didn’t stay degenerate for long. The department was organizing a New Year’s Eve party, and as the prettiest of the “three golden flowers,” Jiang Shi was pushed forward.

But he really had no talent to speak of. Without any talent to show, he could only accept the class president’s arrangement.

Jiang Fei said, “We’re planning a gender-bent version of Snow White.”

Jiang Shi had a bad feeling. “So?”

Jiang Fei stood in front of him. “So of course, you’ll be the princess.”

Jiang Shi struggled a bit. “Are there perhaps other roles?”

“The evil stepmother has been taken by Zuo Hui. Qu An is shy and begged me to let him play the magic mirror.”

Obviously, none of them were to Jiang Shi’s liking. Of course, Jiang Fei wasn’t here to negotiate with him. She said, “Time is tight. We only have two weeks, so we have to hurry up with rehearsals.”

Jiang Fei was a decisive person. As soon as class was over, she would grab the “three golden flowers” and drag them to the rehearsal room.

Zuo Hui brought his own props. He held an apple and cackled at Qu An, “Magic mirror, oh magic mirror, tell me, who is the handsomest man in the world?”

Qu An said expressionlessly, “Jiang Shi.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

Zuo Hui ferociously stuffed the apple into Jiang Shi’s mouth. “I’m going to poison you!”

Jiang Shi took the apple and bit into it. “This one is mealy. I like crisp apples.”

Jiang Fei stood on the stage with a script. “Stop playing around and get over here!”

After two days of rehearsing like this, the little bit of weight Jiang Shi had gained was gone again.

Two more days passed, and Jiang Kaile came looking for Jiang Shi.

The winter nights in Jiangcheng were very cold. Jiang Shi was afraid of the cold and, forgetting all about style, wrapped himself up like a dumpling.

Jiang Kaile stood opposite him. His clothes were the latest new arrivals. Wearing thick layers underneath would make him look bulky, so he wore very little. After standing for less than two minutes, his lips were already purplish from the cold.

His complexion was even uglier.

Jiang Shi, bundled in his coat, asked, “What do you want?”

Jiang Kaile gritted his teeth, his fists clenching and unclenching. Finally, he stiffly bowed before Jiang Shi. “I’m sorry. I was too impulsive that day. It was also wrong of me to have someone get you fired afterward. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Jiang Shi found it strange. “You’re actually apologizing to me?”

Jiang Kaile didn’t speak, but his face looked even worse.

Jiang Shi enjoyed his expression for a while. After seeing it enough, even the way these people changed faces became boring.

He turned to leave.

“Jiang Shi,” Jiang Kaile called out to him. “I really underestimated your abilities.”

His expression was somewhat twisted. “Before, Huo Ji and the Song family protected you, so no one in Jiangcheng dared to mess with you. Now you’re no longer part of the Song family, and Huo Ji has gone abroad, but there’s still someone protecting you…”

As he spoke, he took a step forward, staring intently at Jiang Shi. “How long has it been since Huo Ji went abroad, and you’ve already latched onto a new thigh? You really are…” He laughed. “Never one to waste that face of yours, are you?”

“Who is it this time? A new rich second-generation you’ve met? The Huang family’s Huang Xuyao? Or some CEO you met somewhere?”

Jiang Shi stood and waited for him to finish. He wasn’t angry; he even smiled, his eyes holding the arrogance that came from being spoiled. “Is this your attitude of apology?”

Jiang Kaile stiffened.

Jiang Shi said, “No matter who is behind me, since you’ve come to apologize, it seems you were forced, right? Your apology isn’t even sincere. What, do you think saying sorry is the end of it?”

“Jiang…” Jiang Kaile took a step forward, but before he could finish his sentence, he was grabbed by the back of his collar and pulled backward.

Cheng Ye was wearing a black jacket, bought not long ago at a clothing store’s clearance sale. The style was plain and rustic, held up entirely by his face.

He held Jiang Kaile with one hand, his eyes cast down. “What are you doing?”

Faced with his tall and sturdy physique, Jiang Kaile was subconsciously intimidated but still struggled. “Who are you? Let go of me!”

Cheng Ye let go and glanced at him. “Jiang Kaile, right? Did no one teach you how to apologize?”

Jiang Kaile rubbed his shoulder. “What’s it to you?”

Cheng Ye said, “Quite a bit of backbone. In that case, I’m sure your dad will be very curious about what you’ve been up to outside.”

Jiang Kaile’s face changed again and again. “It was you?”

Cheng Ye was dressed in a black jacket and black pants, his shoes stained with mud. In his hand, he held the fried potatoes Jiang Shi wanted to eat. The zipper on his backpack was broken, leaving a small opening.

If it weren’t for his overly handsome face, dressed like this and standing next to Jiang Shi, he looked exactly like a mutt from the countryside.

“It was me.”
He said.