Jiang Shiyan silently recited in his heart that their friendship was as strong as the Peach Garden Oath, and such a situation was impossible. His gaze couldn’t help but flit over her lips, slightly red, slightly moist, slightly parted.
Confess? Impossible. Kiss her? Impossible.
Confess, kiss her, kiss her…
Just as Jiang Shiyan was about to drive himself crazy, Tang Yang finally spoke with a hint of a smile, “It seems our friendship isn’t as shallow as imagined.”
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
A bucket of cold water poured over Jiang Shiyan’s head.
What did she mean by their friendship wasn’t as shallow as imagined? Did this mean that he, Jiang Shiyan, was just a superficial friend in Tang Yang’s heart?
Successfully deducing the equivalence, the usually unflappable Boss Jiang, who could climb a mountain of knives or dive into a sea of fire, laughed from anger: “Tang Yang.”
Tang Yang: “The emotion is real.”
Jiang Shiyan’s expression softened slightly.
Tang Yang thought for a moment, then eagerly leaned closer: “I’m willing to share half of my Sichuan pepper beef instant noodles with you.”
The gentleness from a second ago vanished into thin air.
Jiang Shiyan smiled: “I thought you remembered I like tomato and egg flavor.”
Tang Yang: “Of course.”
Jiang Shiyan was speechless: “…”
“But I prefer Sichuan pepper beef,” Tang Yang said without hesitation. “Although the result of painfully parting with something you love might not be as ideal as catering to someone’s preferences, the former contains more sincerity.”
Tang Yang said: “So, what I mean is that I’m willing to share what I like with you.”
Her voice lifted slightly at the end, like a sticky rice ball coated with powdered sugar.
Tang Yang felt something was off about this conclusion, but couldn’t put her finger on what exactly, her delicate brows furrowing.
Jiang Shiyan watched the expressions on her face change from feeling wronged to contemplative, extraordinarily vivid.
The one who could make him angry was her, and the one who could make his anger disappear was also her.
You know you’re annoying?
Jiang Shiyan chuckled inwardly, his gaze moving downward to her small chin, her smooth neck, the curve that he usually mocked as non-existent but was quite obvious when hugging her, and then, her soft breathing.
Jiang Shiyan coughed unnaturally, wanting to turn his head away a bit, but that warm breath seemed to have eyes, teasing his nose tip. Occasionally, a wisp would sneak into his heart, accompanied by her soft voice from earlier, taking shape, swelling in his chest like cotton candy fluff.
Jiang Shiyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and Tang Yang watched, the roots of her ears growing hot, lowering her gaze.
Tang Yang secretly licked the corner of her lips, Jiang Shiyan’s throat went dry, feeling like something was about to spiral out of control…
In the silence.
“Feeling better?” Jiang Shiyan’s voice was slightly hoarse.
“Mm.” Tang Yang wanted to get up from his embrace.
Jiang Shiyan let her go.
Tang Yang adjusted her collar, not noticing the R8 parked a meter away, and asked: “Did you drive here? I’ll give you a ride.”
“No,” Jiang Shiyan stood next to his beloved car, his expression unchanged, “Okay.”
Tang Yang’s ear shells were flushed red as she went to open the driver’s door.
Suddenly, Jiang Shiyan raised his hand, as if possessed but gently and slowly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
His fingertips were slightly warm, her skin slightly cool, and the spot where they touched turned red.
“It’s windy,” Jiang Shiyan said, one hand in his pocket, the other casually pointing in a direction.
Tang Yang let out a tiny “mm” and darted into the car like a rabbit.
Both of them were lost in their thoughts.
On the way to the Jiang family’s old house, the hyperactive Jiang sat in the passenger seat like an elementary school student waiting for a “Three Goods” award.
Meanwhile, Deputy Tang, with ten years of driving experience, drifted countless times.
At the first corner after Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan left Ziwei Pavilion.
A black sedan was parked under a tree, with its roof light on.
Zhou Mo, the instigator of this embrace, sat quietly in the back seat, calmly watching the two hugging each other.
He had an open box of cookies on his lap and was eating one.
The cookies were fragrant and crisp.
One after another.
Only when Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan got in the car and left did Zhou Mo take out the car key and black gold card from the middle of the cookie box, put them in his briefcase, then close the lid and throw the unfinished cookies, box and all, out the window.
“Plop,” it fell with a crisp sound.
The vehicle started.
Zhou Mo dialed the top floor of the Jiujiang Group, his voice utterly calm: “Tell CEO Wei that Deputy Tang really enjoyed the black chicken soup at Ziwei Pavilion, and she also accepted the pastries.”
The other side asked about the follow-up.
Zhou Mo’s fabricated details were lost in the vast night.
With just two days until New Year’s Eve, A City’s streets were decorated with lanterns and festive ornaments.
After driving for about twenty minutes, Tang Yang saw their destination.
The Jiang family’s old house was a quadrangle-style building, with paper-cuts on the walls and couplets on the door pillars, looking festive and auspicious.
In previous years, Tang Yang and Jiang Shiyan would take turns visiting each other’s families for New Year greetings, but they had been too busy these past two years and had neglected it.
At the entrance, Tang Yang stopped the car: “Is it okay if I come on the fifth day of the New Year? Your family seems to invite guests on the fifth day of every year.”
“Sure,” Jiang Shiyan finally spoke, “I hope you’ll dress a bit shabbily and act a bit uncouth then, otherwise my mom might directly introduce you as,” Jiang Shiyan imitated in a falsetto, “Oh my, this is my eldest daughter Tang Yang.”
Tang Yang chuckled: “Thanks for the compliment.”
Jiang Shiyan made a gesture of exemption: “Also, no need to bring anything, it’s too much trouble. They’ll be happy just to see you.”
Tang Yang let it go in one ear and out the other.
As he spoke, Jiang Shiyan got out of the car and walked to the driver’s side: “But if Deputy Tang has time, you might consider changing cars or driving mine,” Jiang Shiyan looked at the pink car body with a complex expression, “Every time I get out of your Mini, I doubt my identity as a domineering CEO.”
“Then should I switch to a Harley next time?” Tang Yang clicked her tongue, “Getting out of a pink Mini, or cuddling up to my waist on the back of a motorcycle,” Tang Yang raised an eyebrow, “Which image does Mr. Jiang think is more impactful?”
“Then people will think I’m the motorcycle prince, with a kid sitting in front,” Jiang Shiyan said nonchalantly, plucking a small flower from a nearby winter sweet branch and throwing it at her.
“How childish are you,” Tang Yang got a whiff of fragrance and laughed angrily, “If I had known, I should have poured that whole pot of chicken soup down your throat tonight. It was full of walnuts and ginkgo nuts for brain nourishment, what a waste to throw it away.”
Jiang Shiyan turned and pointed: “Then should I go in and get you a little stool, so you can stand on it to pry open my mouth?”
Tang Yang picked up the pale yellow petal from her clothes and threw it back at him in mock anger.
One in the car, one outside, they chatted about long and meaningless topics.
Tang Yang liked to tease Jiang Shiyan, then watch him get angry but not dare to vent his anger at her. Jiang Shiyan enjoyed provoking Tang Yang until she was red-faced and wanted to scratch him, then dodging when she reached out, finding endless amusement in it.
It was almost ten o’clock when Zhang Zhilan called Tang Yang.
Jiang Shiyan asked with his eyes who it was, Tang Yang mouthed “Nanjin Street” to him, Jiang Shiyan understood, and Tang Yang answered the call.
Perhaps because it was quiet all around, or perhaps because Tang Yang’s phone volume was high, Jiang Shiyan could hear the content.
In the approach to the New Year, the woman carefully said “Happy New Year, Deputy Tang.”
Tang Yang replied “Happy New Year.”
Zhang Zhilan, afraid of disturbing Tang Yang, briefly described the situation, saying that people from the external liaison department of Yixiu Media had approached her, wanting her to be the protagonist in a documentary called “The Forgotten Pearl.” She didn’t understand terms like “lead role,” but the pay was generous. Zhang Zhilan had looked it up and found that Yixiu was a company with an excellent reputation. But she felt unworthy and incapable, such an opportunity seemed too good to be true, and she couldn’t be sure of their intentions or whether it was trustworthy. The only cultured and reliable friend she had was Tang Yang.
Tang Yang didn’t give an opinion right away, but first asked: “Do you want to do this? What about your two children?”
She didn’t think Zhang Zhilan was the type to be blinded by money. If they were afraid of their lives being disturbed and didn’t want to do it, then the authenticity of the offer wouldn’t matter.
Tang Yang had considered everything thoroughly.
Zhang Zhilan felt the same way. She wanted to agree, out of remembrance.
“With two children, I’m not planning to remarry. Sometimes when I’m alone, I wonder if it was all just a dream…” Zhang Zhilan smiled. “It’s been less than two years since he passed. I hope that in ten or twenty years when I’m old, I’ll still remember him.”
Recalling what the staff at Yixiu had mentioned, Zhang Zhilan asked, “They said the CEO’s name is Jiang something. I wrote it down but forgot the note. Do you know him? They also said…”
Zhang Zhilan repeated many details, but Tang Yang didn’t show any impatience. He carefully explained the situation to her before giving a simple “Mm.”
“Jiang Shiyan,” Tang Yang said, gripping the steering wheel and looking ahead.
Jiang Shiyan watched as Tang Yang pronounced his name syllable by syllable, feeling his heartstrings stir.
Then Zhang Zhilan lowered her voice, saying she had seen online that this big shot was quite good at retorting, with mixed reviews.
Jiang Shiyan couldn’t hear clearly, but he saw Tang Yang’s eyes crinkle with laughter.
Then.
“Haha, yes,” Tang Yang paused, then said softly, “You can trust him as you trust me.”
Tang Yang spoke naturally and then continued discussing the loan issue with Zhang Zhilan.
Meanwhile, the cotton candy that had been building up in Jiang Shiyan’s heart at Ziwei Pavilion seemed to burst with a final increase in pressure.
She told others to trust him as they trusted her.
A sweet warmth flowed from his heart to his limbs. As it flowed, Jiang Shiyan couldn’t tell if it was an itch or sweetness.
Jiang Shiyan didn’t want to stare at Tang Yang, but his eyes wouldn’t obey. He watched her fiddle with the steering wheel, her suppressed smile, her biting her lip…
It seemed she had made the same gesture earlier when she wanted a hug.
As if under a spell, Jiang Shiyan gently bit his lip.
Just then, Tang Yang turned her head. Jiang Shiyan felt like he’d been caught doing something naughty. His ears grew hot, and his throat tightened…
He felt he was too tired today and needed to calm down.
Tang Yang didn’t want Jiang Shiyan to stand for long, so she ended the call after discussing what needed to be discussed.
She turned to him with a smile, about to say something.
“It’s late. Remember to message me when you get home,” Jiang Shiyan said rapidly. “Good night.”
Tang Yang’s words caught in her throat: “Good night, rest early—”
Suddenly, Jiang Shiyan reached into the car and zipped up Tang Yang’s jacket that had slid down to the middle: “Good night.”
Tang Yang was surprised. Jiang Shiyan rushed inside like the wind, scattering plum blossom petals on the ground.
Behind the door, Jiang Shiyan forgot to greet everyone and hurried upstairs.
On the cold winter night, he took a cold shower, then buried himself under the covers, rolling around, trying to calm down, rolling again, trying to calm down again…
Meanwhile, at the car, when Jiang Shiyan had zipped up her jacket, he accidentally touched Tang Yang’s skin at the end of her collarbone.
There was a slight tingle.
Tang Yang, blushing, carefully raised her hand, but pulled back as soon as she touched it, as if burned.
“That was close…”
Tang Yang swallowed. Was Delay Dog’s hand made of a lighter?
She steadied herself on the car, waiting for the tremor to pass and her blood to calm before driving away.
After getting home, Tang Yang chatted normally with her parents before going upstairs.
She forgot what she wanted to do before going upstairs, and after a long pause, she called Jiang Yanan.
Tang Yang’s room was a combined bedroom and study, spacious with a grandfather clock and waiting audio system.
The call connected in seconds.
Tang Yang’s voice was light: “I always felt I’d be single forever, that I wouldn’t find anyone suitable even through matchmaking. But now, it seems like just a hug and I’m a bit…” She played with an eyebrow pencil. “Out of control…”
Jiang Yanan, having shared confidences with Tang Yang for years, instinctively guessed what was coming and glanced upstairs.
Through the receiver, Tang Yang’s voice was barely audible as she pondered, “Do you think it’s because I’ve been single too long and want to date, or is there something else…”
Jiang Yanan’s first thought was that the person was Jiang Shiyan, but wasn’t her older brother with Cheng Siran and the others?
Then, thinking of something, Jiang Yanan asked, “Did you have dinner with Zhou Mo tonight?”
Tang Yang: “Yes.”
Those two words instantly made Jiang Yanan’s heart leap to her throat.
Jiang Shiyan was her brother. His feelings for Tang Yang might not be clear to him, but the whole family could see it.
Tang Yang was her best friend, true. She knew everything Tang Yang did, true. Tang Yang had said Jiang Shiyan was just a friend, impossible for more, true.
However, Jiang Yanan didn’t have a good impression of Zhou Mo. She didn’t know where she got the idea that “Zhou Mo has a secret crush on Yang Jie,” but she wasn’t trying to obstruct her friend’s pursuit of happiness. She just wanted to help stabilize things for her brother, to reasonably guide her friend. That’s okay, right?
After some thought, Jiang Yanan chose her words carefully: “From a married person’s perspective, it’s because you’ve been single too long and want to date. It’s not about having feelings for that person. If someone else hugged you, it would be the same.”
Like my brother, for instance.
Someone else? Not Jiang Shiyan?
Tang Yang frowned.
Jiang Yanan continued, “You’re not old, but there’s still some pressure to marry. Didn’t you go on a blind date before?” Jiang Yanan said, “But the more pressure you feel, the more clear-headed you need to be. People change, especially classmates. If you weren’t close in school, then after entering society, who knows what kind of person he’s become.”
Tang Yang said softly, guiltily, “It’s not like that…”
Jiang Yanan’s implication about Zhou Mo was clear: “If you were close in school, but the friendship didn’t progress forward, taking a step back…”
Jiang Shiyan hadn’t broken through this barrier yet, so naturally, Jiang Yanan didn’t want anyone else to get ahead.
But this statement hit Tang Yang’s sore spot.
In the silence.
Jiang Yanan understood and felt guilty: “Yang Jie, I don’t mean anything else. Just that matters of the heart should be approached carefully. Once the new year starts and you get busy, these feelings will probably fade,” Jiang Yanan gave an example, “Although Feng Weiran and I argue all the time, our relationship is still good. So knowing someone well is important. In that case…”
Jiang Yanan looked up at Jiang Shiyan’s room again, planning for the long term: “You could try blind dates. Those introduced by parents and relatives will at least have a stable background. Of course, you might meet some with odd personalities, but many couples who met through matchmaking are loving and happy.”
This wasn’t the guidance result she wanted.
Tang Yang sighed: “I’m going to wash up now. You go take care of Chengcheng. I’ll come give the little one New Year’s money another day.”
“Okay,” Jiang Yanan advised, “Really, don’t rush because of pressure. Good fate might be waiting later…”
She went on for quite a while.
After hanging up, Tang Yang’s shoulders slumped. She leaned on the dressing table, muttering dejectedly: “It’s because of marriage pressure, I’m rushing, rushing. Need to calm down, calm down…”
But the more she repeated it, the more confused she felt.
The more she repeated it, the more she thought of the places Jiang Shiyan had touched – behind her ear, her neck. Those small patches of skin began to burn again with her breath.
Her two slender index fingers twisted together like a braid as Tang Yang mumbled gloomily: “We all understand the logic, but, but…”
Jiang Shiyan said “But I won’t,” Jiang Shiyan laughed “Let me find you a small stool,” he said the wind had ruffled her hair, her hitting him and him dodging, but then obediently zipping up her jacket…
The air conditioning seemed a bit hot.
Tang Yang patted her burning cheeks with the back of her hand and lowered the temperature on the wall.
After a loud whirr, it was still hot.
Tang Yang flopped onto the bed, pulled the covers over her head, and rolled around going “Ah ah ah.”
She had forgotten that they had just installed central air conditioning at home. Adjusting it anywhere would change the temperature on both floors.
Downstairs.
Tang’s father had received a duck raised in the countryside as a New Year’s gift from a construction site worker. Tang’s mother was preparing to stew an old duck soup.
When Tang Yang adjusted the air conditioning temperature the first time, Tang’s mother thought her daughter was hot and didn’t mind.
The second time Tang Yang adjusted the temperature, Tang’s mother endured it.
The third time, while she was working hard in the kitchen to make soup for her, her daughter was still howling and disrupting her vegetable-cutting rhythm.
Tang’s mother paused with her knife and shouted upstairs: “What are you yelling about? Do you want me to drag you down here and stew you with the duck!”
Tang Yang, full of pent-up emotions, suddenly channeled a drama heroine. She yelled back very loudly, clearly, and fearlessly: “Mom, come on then! Come on!”
Tang’s mother covered her temples, feeling a headache coming on: “…”