Jiang Xun found a part-time job over the weekend at a café not far from school.
He wasn't short of money, nor had he fallen so low that he needed to work for a living. He was only there because Lin Jian worked part-time at that café.
To complete his mission, he had to keep an eye on Lin Jian at all times and prevent him from getting too involved with the men in his dating pool.
At this point, only the Third Male Lead, Bai Lian, had yet to appear.
This area was part of City A's business district. The café was surrounded by upscale office buildings, and most of its customers were white-collar workers.
On his first day at work, Jiang Xun received a call from Jiang Huaijin.
"Why did you suddenly go get a part-time job? Isn't the money we give you enough? Anyone who didn't know better would think the Jiang Family was mistreating you."
Dressed in the café's black uniform, Jiang Xun cleared cups and saucers from a table with his phone wedged between his head and shoulder. He gave a faint, mocking smile. "Big brother, doesn't the sight of me annoy you? Now that I'm not coming home on weekends, you should be happy."
Jiang Huaijin's voice sank. "I'll give you however much money you want. Stop embarrassing us out there."
Jiang Xun couldn't be bothered to argue. He put the cups and saucers into the sink, freed up a hand to hold his phone, and said, "Busy. Hanging up now."
"You..."
Jiang Huaijin stared at the disconnected call, gritting his teeth in anger.
One look at his expression told Jiang Zixing how it had gone. "Well? Is Second Brother still refusing to come home?"
"If he won't come back, then fine," Jiang Huaijin said. "Saves me getting annoyed every time I see him."
"Don't be angry, big brother." Jiang Zixing stood behind Jiang Huaijin and massaged his shoulders. "Actually, working part-time outside of classes is pretty good. Didn't I work part-time over summer break too?"
Jiang Huaijin leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes comfortably. "That's different."
Zixing had worked part-time as a piano teacher. Jiang Xun, on the other hand, had gone to a café to carry cups for people.
Well, what else could he do besides carry cups? He didn't know how to do anything.
"Zixing, if he were even half as sensible as you, our family would have to thank our lucky stars."
Jiang Zixing smiled without saying anything.
Meanwhile, at the café.
During a quiet stretch that afternoon, Jiang Xun was learning latte art. Lin Jian came over to look and frowned in confusion.
"Jiang Xun, what pattern are you making?"
Jiang Xun set down the cup and admired his work with satisfaction. "A pile of poop. Can't you tell?"
"Poop art. How fitting."
Hey, I'm pretty good with my hands.
Lin Jian: "..."
He could tell. He just couldn't believe it.
As the two were talking, a sudden sound came from outside. A customer had arrived.
This customer was rather unusual, seated in a powered wheelchair.
His body beneath his white shirt was thin and frail. His finely sculpted face held little color, yet his thin lips were so red they looked almost uncanny. His skin had a sickly pallor that made him look as though he didn't have long to live.
Jiang Xun narrowed his eyes slightly. Ji Yuntian.
The scene in the hotel room resurfaced in his mind-that sinister, slimy snake flicking out its tongue.
That ungrateful, lawbreaking bastard. Jiang Xun's fist was already itching. He might not remember everyone who had done him a favor, but he never forgot anyone who had wronged him.
Ji Yuntian's gaze shifted from Lin Jian to Jiang Xun. He had clearly recognized him too.
He behaved as though he had completely forgotten what happened that night. Even in a wheelchair, he remained elegant and poised, giving Jiang Xun a slight nod as his rosy lips curved into a friendly smile.
Heh. That two-faced guy really knows how to put on an act.
"Ji Yuntian, what brings you here?"
Delight appeared on Lin Jian's delicate face, and he hurried over to greet him.
Ji Yuntian pressed his lips together in a slight smile. His light brown eyes overflowed with tenderness as he looked at Lin Jian, his smile innocent and harmless.
"I happened to have something to do nearby, so I came to see you."
"I brought you a little cake. I remember you loved it when you were young."
Ji Yuntian lifted the paper bag from his lap and held it out to Lin Jian.
Lin Jian was flattered, but he hesitated, embarrassed to accept something from someone else. Ji Yuntian simply pressed the bag into his hand.
"You don't have to be so polite with me. Aren't we good friends?"
"Yes... we are. Thank you, Ji Yuntian." Lin Jian smiled shyly. "Did you come alone? Why didn't you bring your bodyguards?"
Ji Yuntian's voice was gentle. "They're nearby. I wanted to come see you on my own."
A short distance away, Jiang Xun wiped a cup while giving Ji Yuntian a death stare.
When Ji Yuntian glanced over, Jiang Xun gave him a slight smile, then set down the cup and walked over.
"Yuntian, long time no see."
Ji Yuntian looked at him as though nothing had happened, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Long time no see."
Then he silently mouthed, "Little Black."
Lin Jian was quite surprised that Jiang Xun knew Ji Yuntian. Ji Yuntian casually explained, "Jiang Xun and I met at a banquet once. We hit it off right away."
Jiang Xun pushed Ji Yuntian's wheelchair farther inside, desperately wanting to shove him straight into the road and let a car run him over. He nodded with a smile that never reached his eyes. "Yes, we hit it off right away."
Ever so considerate, Jiang Xun let Lin Jian and Ji Yuntian catch up while he went to make coffee-and added a lethal dose of wasabi.
Finally, he topped it with a pile-of-poop latte design, carried it over with a smile, and set it in front of Ji Yuntian.
"Yuntian, try it," Lin Jian said. "Our café's coffee is really good."
"All right." Ji Yuntian looked at the latte art, one eyebrow lifting slightly. Then, under Jiang Xun's smiling gaze, he took a sip without a change in expression. His fingers quietly tightened on the wheelchair's armrest, the veins bulging on the back of his hand betraying his restraint.
"It really does taste good."
"Right?" Lin Jian said. "Then have some more."
"All right." Ji Yuntian smiled, casting a sinister sidelong glance at Jiang Xun.
Jiang Xun answered with a radiant smile, revealing a dazzling row of straight white teeth.
After finishing the coffee, Ji Yuntian said goodbye to Lin Jian and prepared to leave.
"I'll walk you out," Lin Jian said.
"Lin Jian, you've been working for hours. You must be tired," Jiang Xun said. "Take a break. I'll see Yuntian out."
Suspecting nothing, Lin Jian smiled and agreed.
Jiang Xun pushed the wheelchair outside. The man seated in it remained composed, tapping his fingertips idly against the armrest.
"I told you to stay away from Lin Jian." Ji Yuntian paused, then slowly continued, "Little Black, it seems the surprise I gave you last time wasn't enough."
"Oh, it was. More than enough."
A luxury car was parked a short distance ahead. Two tall, burly men in black stood beside it, clearly Ji Yuntian's bodyguards.
Without stopping, Jiang Xun kept pushing the wheelchair and bent down to the sickly pale young man's ear. "So this time, it's my turn to give you a surprise, Young Master Ji."
Ji Yuntian's expression shifted slightly. Before he could react, Jiang Xun abruptly lifted his foot behind him and kicked the wheelchair's backrest hard.
Off you go!