Intoxicated Friends
Translator: Jury
Editor: NomNom
First Published on Chaleuria
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22 – Jiang Luo’s Lover
When the trio got to Jiang Luo’s ward, he had woken up. The black-clad man keeping vigil was watching him with a berating expression. On seeing the three new visitors, the man’s gaze landed first on Su Mu and he smiled. “I never expected to meet Young Master Su here. Things will be much easier now.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve told them to keep the news quiet.” Su Mu understood his meaning. Now that Jiang Luo had been shot, the police would begin investigating the matter the moment they were made aware. Then there would be trouble.
“Young Master Su is a smart man.” The man shifted his gaze to Yao Yuan next. “You are Yao Yuan?”
“You are Ye Jun?” Yao Yuan asked a question in response.
“That’s right. You’re quite something, kid. You got Jiang Luo to ask me for a favor on your behalf? He very rarely asks others for help. Isn’t that so, Jiang Luo?” Ye Jun glanced at the man lying in bed. Seeing that Jiang Luo didn’t react, he continued, “That’s okay. Jiang Luo’s friend is my friend too. If anything else happens in future, just let me know. This is yours. Take it back.”
Yao Yuan took the item Ye Jun handed over; it was the account book he had surrendered to Ling Li several hours ago. He looked up at Ye Jun. “What happened with Ling Li?”
“The bastard. I can’t touch him for the time being, but one day I’ll make him pay.” Ye Jun still didn’t have enough influence to deal with Ling Li right now, but he disliked the man. Especially his eyes which lacked any trace of warmth. Ye Jun felt annoyed just looking at him.
“When that time comes, please let me know. I have a score to settle with him too.”
“Ha ha.” Ye Jun laughed out loud. “You’re something, kid. For that courage, I’m willing to consider you a brother. How about it? Do you want to follow me?”
“No!”
The others in the ward spoke up at the same time, but each had their own thoughts. Zhang Chen simpy didn’t want his chief to be someone else’s little brother. Jiang Luo and Su Mu didn’t want Yao Yuan to walk down this bloodstained path. As for Yao Yuan, he had never thought of going down this road. Even for his sister.
“You lot are very in step with each other.” Ye Jun was not annoyed. “But it’s a pity. Jiang Luo won’t help me, and neither will you. It’s a waste of your courage and talents.”
“Ye Jun, you know it won’t happen, so I suggest you don’t waste your breath,” Jiang Luo said with a smile. “You’d better go back and see if Ling Li has done anything.”
“If he dares to do anything else, I’ll goddamn cripple him.” Ye Jun looked around and smiled. “All right. It’s time for me to go. I’ll leave Jiang Luo to you all.”
After Ye Jun left, Yao Yuan finally walked up to Jiang Luo’s bed and looked him over. Jiang Luo smiled and let him look. After a long time Jiang Luo asked, “So, what do you think? Aside from my shoulder, have you found any other injuries?”
“I’m sorry, Jiang Luo.”
“What’s that? Do you consider me a friend or not? Such a small injury is nothing. Yao Yuan, if you feel guilty, when I’ve recovered, then let me teach you a harsh lesson, all right?” Jiang Luo smiled, his beautiful phoenix eyes curving. “You’re not allowed to retaliate.”
Yao Yuan followed suit and laughed. Jiang Luo could console others with simple words. “All right. You can hit me any way you want. Just spare my life.”
“In that case, let me reconsider.” Jiang Luo frowned as if seriously thinking.
“You…” Yao Yuan’s smile widened again, and Su Mu and Zhang Chen also started laughing.
The door to the ward was pushed open again. Everyone looked at the anxious man in the doorway. Jiang Luo’s smile immediately faded and a faint sadness shot through his eyes.
The man didn’t seem to notice anyone else. He walked straight to the bed and a reprimand left his mouth. “Can you behave yourself?”
“Sorry, Mr. Lei, but I don’t need your permission for anything,” Jiang Luo replied coldly.
Lei Che caught hold of his uninjured arm. “What did you say?”
“You said it. We have nothing to do with each other any more.” Jiang Luo’s voice remained cold.
“You…” Lei Che looked on with anger at the man who kept infuriating him. He had left an important competition to rush back, and this was all he heard? ‘Nothing to do with each other?’ “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll keep playing this game with you.”
“A pity, but I’m not interested.” Jiang Luo met his angry gaze. “You’re not the only one who has the right to end things.”
“End things?’ The anger in Lei Che’s eyes deepened. He caught hold of Jiang Luo’s arm forcefully. Who gave him permission to say those words?
“Ah…” Jiang Luo groaned softly, his face growing tight with a frown.
“…” Lei Che immediately let go of his arm, the anger in his eyes gradually replaced by heartache.
Yao Yuan and Su Mu exchanged glances, then pulled Zhang Chen who still didn’t understand the situation out of the ward, and carefully shut the door behind them. Let the two settle their own matters.
“Chief, Lei Che seems very angry. Are we really going to leave Jiang Luo there?” Zhang Chen looked with worry at the door, carefully listening for any unusual movements inside.
“Idiot!” Yao Yuan rapped him on the head. “Lei Che won’t hurt him.”
Seeing the anxiety and worry in Lei Che’s eyes that he could not hide, Yao Yuan finally knew who the lover Jiang Luo had mentioned was. Yao Yuan remembered the photograph in the papers from long ago, Jiang Luo leaning against the streetlamp and reaching for Lei Che’s sunglasses. Perhaps their fate had already been sealed beginning then.
“Exactly. I can tell that Lei Che has been completely ensnared by Jiang Luo, the little fox.” Su Mu sighed. With Jiang Luo’s physical abilities, he wouldn’t groan out loud in pain just from having his arm caught. He was just trying to make the other person hurt for him. Another fool who had fallen in love, like himself… He looked at Yao Yuan by his side. He could no longer deny his feelings for him, but he believed in himself and he would not be blinded or confused by love. He was not Su Yan, and he was not Lei Che. He knew what he wanted, and love was not within his plans for his life.