Jiang Jinyue felt he had become a caged canary. Gu Xingye had stationed a lot of bodyguards at the door for fear that he would escape again, and if he wanted to go out, he could only do so with Gu Xingye accompanying him.
He had once found being inseparable like this sweet, but now he only felt afraid.
Fortunately, he could move around freely at home, and Gu Xingye had not taken his phone away.
The Jiangs had not come looking for him, though perhaps Gu Xingye had turned them away.
He did not treat Gu Xingye kindly, but neither did he lose his temper. They had argued too many times, and he was tired. If Gu Xingye wanted to keep him locked up, he could do as he pleased.
Today, he went to the study to find a book to read and happened to glimpse a form on the desk. Jiang Jinyue had no interest in Gu Xingye's company, but the form contained a lot of information about people, so he took a closer look.
Recognizing it as a list of residents in the residential complex where he had rented a place, Jiang Jinyue let out a cold laugh.
He picked it up and read through it, only to find Zhao Pingchuan's name on it. According to the apartment number, he lived directly opposite him.
He knew who Zhao Pingchuan was, so he was a little surprised. No wonder Gu Xingye had interrogated him that day.
Jiang Jinyue frowned. He did not want to implicate innocent people.
He searched the study again and, besides the form, found quite a bit of information about Zhao Pingchuan: details about his current company, people he frequently interacted with, and even a stack of photographs taken in secret.
Jiang Jinyue did not approve of Gu Xingye's methods. Gu Xingye was excessively obsessive when it came to his affairs and had lost his basic judgment.
He also spotted a somewhat familiar face in the photographs and could not help picking one up for a closer look. After thinking back, he remembered that it was the boy who had warned him at the entrance to the residential complex that day.
He was with Zhao Pingchuan in many of the photographs. Was he Zhao Pingchuan's boyfriend?
After checking the information, Jiang Jinyue learned his name.
His name was Ji Ran.
Jiang Jinyue could sense Ji Ran's goodwill toward him. Whatever the reason they had become neighbors, judging by the timing, he was the one who had disrupted the other man's life.
Ji Ran probably knew who he was and also knew about his relationship with Gu Xingye.
Even so, he had still spoken up to warn him.
That made it all the more important for Jiang Jinyue not to implicate them.
Jiang Jinyue silently memorized Ji Ran's contact information.
When Gu Xingye came home that evening, Jiang Jinyue did something rare and spoke to him first.
"Zhao Pingchuan had nothing to do with me running away from home."
Gu Xingye paused, narrowing his eyes slightly. Those deep eyes fixed on Jiang Jinyue for a moment before he suddenly chuckled. "He told you to say that?" he said knowingly.
Jiang Jinyue tried to explain patiently. "I don't even know him."
Gu Xingye's expression grew colder. "Then why are you speaking up for him?"
Jiang Jinyue thought he was being unreasonable. "Didn't you suspect he helped me escape? I'm telling you now that he had nothing to do with it, so you don't need to go after him."
But Gu Xingye did not believe him at all. Ever since he had brought Jiang Jinyue back, Jiang Jinyue had treated him as though he were invisible every day. Yet today he had taken the initiative to clear Zhao Pingchuan's name. Who would believe they did not know each other?
He must have put Zhao Pingchuan under pressure, forcing him to look for a solution through Jiang Jinyue.
"This has nothing to do with you," was all Gu Xingye said.
After explaining for so long, Jiang Jinyue realized that Gu Xingye would not listen at all. He let out a breath, gave up, and turned to go upstairs.
Gu Xingye unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down on the sofa in the living room. Looking at Jiang Jinyue's retreating figure, he said pointedly, "Zhao Pingchuan has someone in his life. They live together every day."
Jiang Jinyue stopped in his tracks.
Gu Xingye snorted inwardly. Sure enough, he had struck a sore spot.
Jiang Jinyue's voice was full of disbelief. "You suspect I'm involved with him that way?"
What kind of person did Gu Xingye think he was? Did he think Jiang Jinyue would get involved with just anyone? If that were really the case, he would not have remained entangled with Gu Xingye for so long.
Gu Xingye's gaze wavered for a moment, and he wondered if what he had said was too much. But Jiang Jinyue had hurt him, and he could not help wanting to make a few barbed remarks. In the end, he only said, "I didn't say that."
But that's what you think, Jiang Jinyue thought with a forlorn smile.
If this had happened before, he would surely have started arguing with Gu Xingye again. But after it had happened so many times, he was tired. Gu Xingye could think whatever he liked.
After all, Gu Xingye had never trusted him.
He could not help voicing the question in his heart. "Gu Xingye, since you hate me so much and refuse to believe me, why are you so determined to keep me here?"
Gu Xingye's pupils contracted. He did not answer the question, responding only with silence.
Jiang Jinyue did not dwell on his answer and went straight back to his room.
Gu Xingye sat alone in the spacious living room. Looking at the dazzling city nightscape outside the window, he could not help thinking about what Jiang Jinyue had just said.
A voice in his heart told him that he was taking his anger out on others. Because he could not bring himself to hurt Jiang Jinyue, he could only vent his rage on other people.
But the hesitation lasted only a moment before Gu Xingye resumed that cold, unassailable posture.
How could he let a few words from Jiang Jinyue shake him? If someone had not interfered, how could things have come to this between him and A-Yue? As long as he dealt with everyone in their way and no one was there to stir up trouble, they would surely reconcile and return to how they had been.