Why Don't You Just Make Me Kneel?

The call connected quickly. Before Jiang Nian could speak, Cheng Jing asked:

"Where are you?"

"At my rental. I'm about to go to the hotel to get my things."

Jiang Nian answered honestly, then asked:

"Um, Cheng Jing, could you lend me some money?"

Cheng Jing ground his teeth.

"You're using my full name to borrow money from me? Why don't you just make me kneel!"

Jiang Nian immediately corrected himself.

"Brother, that was rude of me! Sorry, sorry, I was too loud just now..."

He had called him "Brother Jing" when they were dating. It was a sweet, intimate name, and he had thought that since they were completely over, he should stop using it. But Cheng Jing was used to it. Tsk, men.

Only then did Cheng Jing ask:

"How much? What do you need it for?"

Jiang Nian thought for a moment before answering:

"I wouldn't turn down tens of thousands, and a hundred thousand or more wouldn't be too much. The more the better. I'll repay you. I guarantee you won't lose out or get cheated by lending it to me..."

"How will you repay me?"

Cheng Jing laughed at his conman-like sales pitch.

A pang of bitterness crossed Jiang Nian's heart, and he deliberately said flippantly:

"Giving myself to you is out of the question. I'm afraid your boyfriend would beat me up. But I'll thank you some other way. You'll find out when the time comes. You'll definitely get more than your money's worth."

No one had ever borrowed money like this, but he truly didn't know what to say, so he could only make up for it with a thick skin.

After a moment, Cheng Jing answered:

"I have the money, but we need to talk in person. I'll wait for you at the hotel later, in the same room as before."

The little bastard had disobeyed him, run off, and now wanted to borrow money from him, without the slightest concern for either the old scores or the new ones. Heartless little bastard!

"Okay, thanks, Brother Jing~"

Jiang Nian nodded. Given how well he knew Cheng Jing, he figured he could borrow at least some money.

In a good mood, he took a taxi back to the hotel. The young woman at the front desk told Jiang Nian that Cheng Jing had taken his things back to the room. As she spoke, her expression held a hint of gossipy suggestiveness.

Jiang Nian thanked her and took the elevator upstairs, wondering what he should say to borrow more.

The room door was open, and Cheng Jing was on the phone. Jiang Nian didn't disturb him after entering. He found some clothes and went into the bathroom. After a busy day, he smelled sour all over.

Halfway through his bath, Cheng Jing knocked on the door from outside.

"Have you eaten?"

Jiang Nian, who was soaking in the tub and playing with the bubbles, answered lazily:

"No. I feel like something spicy today. Thanks, Brother Jing."

He was about to borrow money, so he had to be sweet. His daddy-type ex ate that up.

"..."

Cheng Jing walked away. Just as Jiang Nian finished washing and came out, room service arrived. There were meat and vegetable dishes, half mild and half spicy, as well as cold dishes, fruit, and drinks.

Although the portions were small, the full table made for quite a spread. It was a little extravagant for a dinner for two.

After calling Jiang Nian over, Cheng Jing started eating.

Jiang Nian thanked him profusely, then dug in without standing on ceremony. People said business was easier to discuss over drinks, but without alcohol, he couldn't bring himself to ask. So he asked quietly:

"Brother Jing, can I order a bottle of wine?"

Cheng Jing refused without looking up.

"No."

Just as Jiang Nian was about to argue his case, Cheng Jing set down his chopsticks and gave him a long look.

"Don't you remember how badly you behave when you drink? We have serious business to discuss, so don't even think about going crazy."

Had the little bastard developed a drinking habit after two years without Cheng Jing to keep him in line? He'd barely eaten a few bites and already wanted a drink! No wonder he was so thin.

"..."

Jiang Nian froze, then buried his head like an ostrich. Well, he hadn't drunk much, and the times he'd gone crazy were even fewer. Those few times had all been in front of Cheng Jing.

Back then, they could be considered to have been in the honeymoon phase. He would come back from drinking with his classmates and cling to Cheng Jing, making a fuss. Cheng Jing would get angry when he went crazy, but when Cheng Jing went crazy, Jiang Nian couldn't get out of bed the next day...

Forget it. It wasn't as if he had to drink.

Cheng Jing looked at the man who had nearly buried his face in his bowl, his ears red to the roots. A fleeting, amorous feeling passed through him, and he said:

"You can drink after we've finished talking."

Forget it. It was harmless enough for Jiang Nian to go crazy in front of him, as long as he didn't do it in front of anyone else.

Holding his bowl, Jiang Nian shook his head.

"No, no, I won't drink. I was just saying it. Don't take it seriously."

If he actually drank and went crazy clinging to someone else's boyfriend, it would be unseemly.

After dinner, the server cleared the table and left. Cheng Jing was already on the sofa watching TV. The national news was on, showing a scene of peace and harmony.

Jiang Nian grabbed a cushion and sat down beside the composed man. After choosing his words for a moment, he spoke quietly:

"Um, Brother Jing... have you thought about lending me the money?"

Money, money-he needed money now!

Cheng Jing turned his gaze to him and asked:

"How much do you want to borrow? What for?"

"Rent, buying things... If it's convenient for you, then of course, the more the better."

Jiang Nian answered truthfully. He just had a billion little things to buy.

Cheng Jing pursed his lips.

"I thought it was because of your mother... that you needed money to pay off debts."

Since Jiang Nian had asked like this, he was going to lend him the money. He wasn't stingy; he just wanted to understand the situation.

"I sold the house and got just enough to pay off my mom's debts... That's why I'm out of money."

Jiang Nian rested his chin on the cushion and lowered his eyes. He had considered using that as a reason to borrow money from Cheng Jing, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn't say them. He didn't want to use his mother to deceive Cheng Jing.

Cheng Jing wanted to ask why Jiang Nian hadn't come to him when he was in trouble, but at this point, blame seemed pointless. He could only sigh inwardly and ask:

"You said before that your mother was sick for two years... Was she already sick when we were still together?"

"Mm."

Jiang Nian hugged the cushion tighter.

"I was going to tell you, but you told me first that you were joining the army, so I didn't bring it up... My feelings were a mess at the time... Telling you would only have affected you. And I didn't really want you to join the army, so I was a little upset... That's how it happened."

His mother falling ill and his boyfriend leaving had been a double blow. Back then, he hadn't known how to deal with his feelings at all.

Cheng Jing was exasperated.

"Just because I spoke first, you hid something that important? You didn't tell me anything, just decided it would affect me and made the decision yourself! I-!"

Fine. Knowing the truth only made him angrier. As far as he was concerned, someone who proposed breaking up without falling out of love had to be sick in the head! He was already in college, yet he was still so childish!

"I'm sorry."

Jiang Nian apologized sincerely, then looked up at him and continued:

"That was what you wanted to do. If you hadn't joined the army, I would have told you, and you would have stayed with me through it... But you went, and comforting each other from thousands of miles away would have turned into wearing each other down... At least, I definitely would have had a lot of negative emotions. Sometimes even I couldn't stand myself..."

"So... rather than have that happen, it was better to break things off. I could focus on school, working, and taking care of my mom, and you could focus on working hard for your future. I thought that would be better for everyone. Look, aren't you doing well now..."

He didn't think what he had done was noble or anything. It was simply how he had felt at the time. Once enough helpless longing built up, it could break a person too.

"..."

Cheng Jing looked at him steadily for a long time before finally lowering his eyes in silence. His resentment slowly dissipated as Jiang Nian spoke. Yes, there was some truth to that too.