Reservoir Dogs chapter 31
Adding the Finishing Touches
The master bedroom’s bathroom had a bathtub, and the yellow bathroom heater cast a warm hue on the walls. Xiao Zhou washed his hands, adjusted the water temperature, and filled the tub.
Jiang Chengyuan immersed himself in the water, his injured arm resting on the edge of the bathtub, the warm water enveloping his body, creating a mist. His shoulders were broad, and the muscles on his back were clearly defined, soap foam sliding down his body.
Fingers traced the scars on his arms and thighs; Xiao Zhou could see they were knife wounds, but Jiang Chengyuan didn’t elaborate on how these wounds had come about.
The bathroom was hot, filled with steam and dampness, water droplets forming everywhere.
Clumped mud dissolved, and his skin quickly revealed its original color. His slightly long black hair clung to his cheeks, water droplets rolling down from the tips, tracing the sharp contours of his features before clinging to his chiseled nose.
No matter how many times Xiao Zhou looked, he always thought Jiang Chengyuan had the best nose. His facial features were naturally handsome, with balanced proportions. Yet his thin lips were sharp, and when curved into a smirk, they conveyed a playful arrogance. His eyes were deep and sinister, discouraging prolonged stares. Only his nose, with its straight bridge and slightly wide base, anchored his face with elegance and a hint of sophistication.
Just by looking at his face, Xiao Zhou could tell he was someone who could climb high in government circles and dominate televised discussions effortlessly, even if he spouted nonsense.
As Xiao Zhou stared at him in a daze, Jiang Chengyuan opened his eyes, a drop of water glistening on his eyelashes.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“About you,” Xiao Zhou blurted out without thinking.
Jiang Chengyuan tilted his head, a hint of amusement in his smile. “Thinking about me? What about me?”
Xiao Zhou regretted speaking so quickly; he wouldn’t tell Jiang Chengyuan about his admiration for his appearance. He was already arrogant enough; he didn’t need more flattery.
Not receiving an immediate response, Jiang Chengyuan didn’t really expect any praise from him.
Xiao Zhou remained half-kneeling, his clothes dampened by water splashing from the bathtub.
Suddenly, Jiang Chengyuan reached out, using one hand to unbutton his clothes.
Frowning, Xiao Zhou stopped his hand. “I don’t want to do it today.”
“So were you just thinking about that?” Jiang Chengyuan’s tone was suggestive, not stopping as he continued to unbutton, his movements slow and meticulous, like peeling a fresh bamboo shoot. Then he said, “We’re not doing it today. I just want you to clean up too.”
Perhaps due to the steam or a misunderstanding, Xiao Zhou’s face flushed slightly.
But it wasn’t really a misunderstanding.
He was stripped of his clothes and pulled into the bathtub, splashing water everywhere. When two grown men squeezed together, how could there not be a hint of misunderstanding?
With an arm around him, Jiang Chengyuan finally asked, “What are you doing?”
Xiao Zhou leaned against him, his hand stirring the water in the bathtub, the temperature no longer too hot, the water surface reflecting his face with a strange distortion.
“I found something,” Xiao Zhou said, wanting to prove it to him, suddenly remembering that all the evidence was gone.
The phone was gone, and naturally, so were the photos.
Those metal cans had long been buried under the mudslides.
He wasted his efforts, took risks, and it was all in vain.
He felt dejected and confused, feeling that fate was mocking him. Why could Zhou Jun escape punishment time and time again, while good people suffered unjustly?
The sparkle just left his eyes, and Xiao Zhou lowered his head wearily.
Jiang Chengyuan looked at him and placed a hand on his head, rubbing it gently. “It’s okay, just tell me what you saw.”
Following Jiang’s instructions, Xiao Zhou recounted the events and even gestured to describe the metal cans.
“So that’s why you went up the mountain so late in such a storm?” Jiang Chengyuan didn’t seem puzzled or surprised. After hearing the story, he even chuckled a bit, his chest vibrating, and Xiao Zhou could feel his amusement.
Jiang Chengyuan’s fingers moved up along Xiao Zhou’s torso, touching the bruises on his skin.
“Is it worth getting hurt like this for someone unrelated?” Jiang Chengyuan asked.
Xiao Zhou’s face was still pale from exhaustion, and small wounds on his body were washed by the water, spreading a bit of red, bringing a prickly sensation.
The warm water was very comforting.
After soaking for a while, Xiao Zhou began to feel tired. He sat quietly, speaking weakly, “I didn’t expect it to turn out this way. Besides, I want to know the truth. People shouldn’t die without a clear reason.” He sighed, “Life is too fragile. I’ve made a mistake before, and I don’t want to see such things happen again.”
“Even her own sister isn’t pursuing it, why are you getting involved? Maybe Xu Juan really did just commit suicide, then you would’ve done all this for nothing.”
Xiao Zhou was extremely tired, and Jiang Chengyuan’s hot and steady palm made him gradually relax. He closed his eyes, “Revealing the truth and deciding whether to punish are two different things. Xu Cuiping is not Xu Juan; she can’t forgive or choose not to pursue on Xu Juan’s behalf. No one can speak for someone else.”
Jiang Chengyuan lazily stroked Xiao Zhou’s wet hair, “There are so many wronged people in this world, and injustices happen all the time. That’s why we have the police and the law. You don’t have the power or the standing to handle everything. Can you manage it all? Or do you arrogantly think that only you can save others?”
Xiao Zhou opened his eyes, still calm, “That’s not what I mean. I don’t have such ambitions or noble desires. It’s just for my peace of mind, so I won’t be suddenly woken up by nightmares in the middle of the night and regret it later.”
His guilt was so overwhelming that it suffocated him. Everything he did now was merely to pry open a bit of the earth covering him, allowing him to breathe.
Jiang Chengyuan was silent for a while, then slowly moved his fingers downward, massaging Xiao Zhou’s temples leisurely, “So what do you plan to do next?”
“First, I’ll try to find the car and see if the things are still there. If they’re not, well, Zhou Jun definitely has something to do with this. Following him won’t be wrong. If I keep an eye on him, I might find some clues.”
Jiang Chengyuan smiled and said nothing more. His massage was moderate, making Xiao Zhou feel very comfortable and increasingly drowsy.
Jiang Chengyuan coaxed him softly, “If you’re tired, just sleep.”
His tone was so gentle it seemed almost indulgent.
The exhaustion of the whole night finally swept over Xiao Zhou like a tidal wave. He no longer had the strength to pretend. Initially intending only to take a short nap, he ended up falling asleep in Jiang Chengyuan’s arms in the bathtub.