Try Again chapter 9
Is He Drunk?
Deng Feng didn’t drive that day, so he and Jiang Lin got into the back seat of Ji Minglun’s car together.
After closing the door, Deng Feng patted Jiang Lin on the shoulder and said, “Minglun, let me introduce you. This is the new employee at the café, Jiang Lin.”
Ji Minglun glanced at Jiang Lin through the rearview mirror. Jiang Lin was staring at him. Realizing he wouldn’t speak first, Jiang Lin finally managed to squeeze out a dry, “Hello.”
Releasing the handbrake, Ji Minglun turned the car around and headed towards the izakaya where Deng Feng and the others had arranged to go.
Deng Yi hadn’t seen him for several days, and now seeing him with tightly pressed lips and a bad complexion, she thought he was tired from the group assignment and tried to comfort him, saying, “Don’t frown! Just relax and don’t think about the assignment. I’ll order you some extra pork slices later.”
Ji Minglun didn’t respond. Deng Yi rarely saw him like this, so she turned to look at Deng Feng.
Earlier on the phone, Deng Feng had noticed that Ji Minglun really was tired, so he changed the subject: “Zhu Zhu, have you decided on your destination for studying abroad yet?”
Zhu Zhu, who had just turned 20 and was in her sophomore summer break, smiled and said, “I’m still discussing it with my teacher; it might be the UK or the US.”
Deng Feng said, “Jiang Lin just came back from Los Angeles; you can ask him for some advice.”
Zhu Zhu was the type of girl who lacked strong opinions and was somewhat reserved in nature. Upon hearing this, she looked at Jiang Lin expectantly: “Jiang Jiang, can you tell me about the situation over there? I’m also very interested in UCLA.”
Jiang Lin’s attention was focused on Ji Minglun, and it took him a moment to respond, so he could only answer her question first.
In the car, aside from him, the others had no study abroad experience. In the past few days, Zhu Zhu hadn’t dared to talk to him much because they weren’t familiar with each other, and he was quiet and aloof. But now, under Deng Feng’s lead, Zhu Zhu asked him more and more questions, filling the car with their voices. Deng Yi, sitting in the front seat, listened casually, her gaze occasionally drifting to Ji Minglun, who was focused on driving and gave her no response at all.
On the way, Deng Yi nudged Ji Minglun and said, “Let’s play a song.”
Ji Minglun didn’t touch the phone beside him and just stared ahead, saying, “Don’t listen, it’s too noisy.”
In the past, Deng Yi would play songs without any objections from him. However, considering his bad mood, Deng Yi leaned her elbow against the car door, tilted her head, and asked, “Who annoyed you? It can’t just be the group project; you look so furious you’re practically turning into a pufferfish.”
“Pufferfish” kept his attention on the road while still listening to the conversation from the backseat.
Since Jiang Lin returned, it was the first time Ji Minglun had heard him talk so much. He usually ignored unfamiliar people, but now he was carefully explaining the precautions for studying abroad to Zhu Zhu. However, Ji Minglun’s focus was still on his issue of coming for a part-time job interview.
If Jiang Lin wasn’t being deliberate, Ji Minglun absolutely wouldn’t believe it.
After turning at the intersection ahead, the car stopped in front of a Japanese-style izakaya with a beautifully decorated facade. The group got out, and Jiang Lin continued to follow Deng Feng. Deng Yi took an umbrella and linked arms with Zhu Zhu, while Ji Minglun went off to park the car alone and brought the cake inside.
The izakaya owner was an old friend of Deng Feng. Seeing Ji Minglun enter, he warmly accepted the cake, asked a nearby server to put it in the fridge, and then led him upstairs.
The private room they had reserved was the same one as before. As soon as Ji Minglun reached the door, he heard cheerful laughter coming from inside. When he opened the door, he saw not only Xiao Xu but also another staff member, Tang Yang, had arrived. The group seemed to be chatting about something, with Tang Yang pulling Deng Yi into laughter, making her bend over.
Ji Minglun’s gaze skimmed over Jiang Lin’s expressionless face as he casually walked over to sit beside Deng Feng. Deng Feng placed his arm over Ji Minglun’s shoulders and said, “Everyone who’s free tonight is here. Don’t sulk; let’s have a good meal. Whatever’s bothering you can be solved by getting drunk.”
Usually, Ji Minglun would heed Deng Feng’s words, but tonight was different. Jiang Lin was right there; if he got drunk, who knows what kind of trouble might arise.
Thinking back to that night a year ago, he shrugged off the arm resting on his shoulder. “I still have to continue researching tonight; I’m not drinking.”
“That won’t do,” Deng Feng noticed something was off with him and placed his arm over Ji Minglun’s shoulder again, saying, “Come on, let’s go out for a smoke.”
While they spoke, Jiang Lin kept staring at Ji Minglun. Feeling troubled by the unavoidable gaze, Ji Minglun complied with Deng Feng’s request and stepped outside.
At the end of the corridor on the second floor, Deng Feng offered his cigarette to Ji Minglun, who declined and pulled out a Bohem Mojito from his pocket.
Deng Feng leaned against the window beside him, with each of them standing on one side, watching the dazzling neon lights of the night. He asked, “What’s bothering you so much?”
“Nothing.” Ji Minglun frowned, hiding his emotions in the smoke, “What about the new guy? When did you hire him?”
“A few days ago. He interviewed for the part-time job and has decent skills; he just doesn’t talk much,” Deng Feng said, shaking off a bit of ash with a somewhat helpless smile. “In the past couple of days, customers have already asked me for his phone number.”
Jiang Lin had a face that easily attracted attention, and Ji Minglun was more aware of that than anyone. However, Jiang Lin had never liked socializing and was always indifferent to everyone. With him nearby blocking things intentionally or unintentionally, Jiang Lin had only received one confession up until he graduated.
Ji Minglun himself was also someone who received love letters. Each time he got one, he would wave it in front of Jiang Lin, never showing him the contents but always sneaking glances at Jiang Lin’s expression.
It was a pity that Jiang Lin never took it seriously and would seriously advise him not to keep receiving such letters, telling him not to give people false hope if he wasn’t interested.
He thought those past events had gathered dust and faded away in a corner without sunlight, but unexpectedly, just a single sentence had him recollecting those memories, brushing away the dust.
“Let’s talk about you,” Deng Feng interrupted his thoughts, “Is it your dad again, trying to interfere and make you switch majors?”
Ji Minglun scoffed, “He gave up long ago. I’ll graduate in a year; he doesn’t have much to say now.”
“That’s true.” Deng Feng took a puff of his cigarette and lightly kicked Ji Minglun’s calf. “So what’s really bothering you? You can’t even tell your best buddy? Stop pretending to be this deep and troubled person.”
Ji Minglun genuinely wasn’t in the mood, but he couldn’t help but chuckle at that. He sighed and placed an arm over Deng Feng’s shoulder. “It’s nothing; I’m just annoyed.”
Deng Feng wanted to retort, but at that moment, they heard Deng Yi calling from behind.
“Ge, Minglun, come in! The food is ready!”
After finishing their cigarettes, they went back to the private room together. This time, after Ji Minglun entered, Jiang Lin’s gaze was no longer following him but was instead focused on the screen of his phone.
Seeing Jiang Lin sandwiched between Zhu Zhu and Xiao Xu, it was as if the lively atmosphere around them had nothing to do with him. Ji Minglun lifted the sake cup Deng Feng handed him and downed it in one gulp.
He wondered how Jiang Lin had spent the year in Los Angeles. Would he have found it hard to adjust without him by his side?
Ji Minglun knew from experience that drinking when in a bad mood could lead to getting drunk easily, but tonight, the first one to get drunk was not him; it was the person across from him, who seemed not to have drunk much but was now slumped over on the table.
In the second half of the night, everyone had drunk too much, and the private room became noisy. Tang Yang, Deng Yi, and Xiao Xu turned the tatami space at the back into a dance floor, playing upbeat songs and jumping around, swaying their heads and bodies. Deng Feng watched them and laughed heartily. Zhu Zhu was still somewhat sober but leaned wobbly against the table.
Ji Minglun glanced several times at Jiang Lin, who remained motionless, before pulling his attention back. At the end of the night, Deng Feng reached out to touch Jiang Lin, but unexpectedly, Jiang Lin sat up straight, his cheeks flushed, and looked at him.
At that moment, when Jiang Lin glanced over, Ji Minglun’s hand, holding a teacup, became a little unsteady, afraid that Jiang Lin might say something he shouldn’t. Fortunately, Jiang Lin only refused Deng Feng’s offer to help and stood up by himself, supporting himself on the table.
As they went downstairs, Ji Minglun was right behind Jiang Lin, and Deng Feng was walking in front of Jiang Lin. Worried that Jiang Lin might lose his balance and fall, Ji Minglun walked slowly, which caused Deng Yi, who was behind him, to lose her balance as well, and she suddenly leaned against his back, holding on to him.
Without making any noise, Ji Minglun gently pulled Deng Yi’s arm away. He handed the intoxicated Deng Yi over to Tang Yang and, when he turned back, Jiang Lin had already reached the first floor.
After Deng Feng finished settling the bill, everyone left the Izakaya. Xiao Xu and Tang Yang had arrived by car, and since Zhu Zhu was heading in the same direction, the three of them took a taxi together. The remaining group returned to Ji Minglun’s car, where the designated driver was already in place. Deng Yi sat in the front passenger seat, Deng Feng and Ji Minglun sat on either side in the back, with Jiang Lin in the middle.
As soon as Jiang Lin got into the car, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Deng Feng called his name several times but got no response. Ji Minglun suggested dropping off Deng Feng and Deng Yi first, and then taking Jiang Lin home last.
Deng Feng had also drunk quite a bit, so after chatting with Ji Minglun for a while, he leaned back on the headrest and closed his eyes to rest. After driving for a while, Ji Minglun felt a weight on his shoulder – Jiang Lin had leaned over.
Raising his left hand, Ji Minglun gently straightened Jiang Lin’s head back onto the rear headrest. But no sooner had he lowered his hand than the weight returned to his shoulder, with Jiang Lin once again leaning on him.
Ji Minglun clenched his left hand, now resting on his leg, and stared out the window, though his mind couldn’t focus anymore.
After Jiang Lin leaned over, he didn’t move again. Even as the driver made a couple of sharp turns, Jiang Lin remained firmly pressed against him. Ji Minglun started to wonder if Jiang Lin wasn’t really drunk, but if he wasn’t drunk, wasn’t Jiang Lin worried about what this gesture might suggest?
When they arrived at Deng Feng’s apartment complex, Ji Minglun nudged Jiang Lin’s head straight and called out to wake Deng Feng. After a brief nap, Deng Feng felt better, got out of the car, and helped his groggy sister down from the front seat.
Ji Minglun reminded them to be careful. As Deng Feng helped Deng Yi walk a few steps, he turned back to remind Ji Minglun to make sure Jiang Lin got home safely.
After closing the window, Ji Minglun gave the driver Jiang Lin’s address.
The car started moving again smoothly, and this time, Jiang Lin didn’t lean back on Ji Minglun’s shoulder, keeping his head resting on the seat. When they arrived at his building, Ji Minglun nudged him, but Jiang Lin seemed to be really asleep, with no reaction.
Helplessly, Ji Minglun unbuckled his seatbelt and told the driver, “Wait here for a moment, I’ll take him upstairs and be right back.”
The driver nodded. Ji Minglun got out, leaned in, and shifted Jiang Lin to the outer seat. Just as he was about to lift him up by the armpits, Jiang Lin raised his arms and wrapped them around his neck.
Warm breath hit Ji Minglun’s face as Jiang Lin sighed, and a tingly sensation spread across the skin of Ji Minglun’s neck where Jiang Lin’s fingertips touched. Before he could react, Jiang Lin pressed his face against his and nuzzled gently.