Reservoir Dogs chapter 96
The Ring
The first time Xiao Zhou woke up, he didn’t see Jiang Chengyuan. Only Xiao Ping was by his side. When Xiao Ping saw that Xiao Zhou was conscious, he shouted for the doctors and nurses. After being thoroughly examined, Xiao Zhou was finally left in peace and could take a breath.
In the evening, Jiang Chengyuan arrived. Having already received the news that Xiao Zhou had woken up, he felt relieved. He even went back home to wash up and change his clothes, so he still appeared neat and handsome when he entered the room. He wasn’t in a hurry; instead, he found it amusing that he cared about his appearance while getting ready in front of the mirror. When had he started to care about such things?
Xiao Zhou stared at him for a moment without saying anything, and Jiang Chengyuan sat down by the bed, touching his forehead and cheeks. He found it incredible that despite taking care of Xiao Zhou for so long, he seemed even thinner than when he had just been released from prison. His jaw was so sharp, and his face was deathly pale. If he looked like this, it meant he hadn’t been good to Xiao Zhou.
Jiang Chengyuan took out a box from his pocket, silently grabbed Xiao Zhou’s hand, and slipped a string of Buddhist beads onto his wrist. The dark brown beads were smooth and round, contrasting with Xiao Zhou’s fair and slender wrist.
He pulled Xiao Zhou’s hand to his lips and gently kissed the back of it. “I’ve never believed in Buddhism, but for the first time, I’m afraid of karma, so I did this.”
Xiao Zhou frowned, slowly withdrawing his hand from Jiang Chengyuan’s grip, awkwardly staring at the beads. “Is this for me?”
Jiang Chengyuan smiled. “Yes, when you wear it, I feel more at ease.”
Xiao Zhou touched the beads. The wooden beads were cool, but the texture was warm. His feelings were complicated. “Jiang Chengyuan, saving you doesn’t mean I can accept you.”
Jiang Chengyuan interrupted him. “Do you know why that person was targeting me?”
Xiao Zhou’s expression became serious, sitting up. “Why? Did you send him to the police? I heard from the security guard that he had been watching you for a long time. There must be a reason; you can’t just let him go.”
Jiang Chengyuan smiled again, pressing Xiao Zhou’s shoulder to make him lie down. “Be careful not to strain your wound.” He said this while opening Xiao Zhou’s hospital gown to check, ensuring everything was fine before closing it. Xiao Zhou felt slightly uncomfortable, uneasily moving back a bit but not too noticeably.
Jiang Chengyuan’s hand lingered, playing with Xiao Zhou’s hair before he continued, “He’s been caught and is at the police station. Don’t worry.”
Xiao Zhou felt a bit more at ease, although Jiang Chengyuan’s hand on him made him feel ticklish. He didn’t move this time, waiting for Jiang Chengyuan to continue.
Jiang Chengyuan said, “I told you before that I made a mistake in a wrongful case. But I didn’t tell you that the wrongful case drove a police officer to suicide. Because all the officers involved in the case were to be prosecuted for coerced confessions, the captain, to prove his innocence and protect his subordinates, committed suicide during his suspension. It was later proven that he was right.”
Jiang Chengyuan paused slightly. “He had a child who was about to take the college entrance exam at the time. Because of the incident, the child gave up the exam, following his mother around to seek justice for his father, wasting his best years. Later, his mother died of illness, and he, losing hope, knowing there was no way to seek justice, came after me for revenge. The first time he appeared, I knew who he was. I gave him three chances, and the last time, when he came at me with a knife, I sent him to jail. He was released and came after me again this time.”
After Jiang Chengyuan finished, Xiao Zhou took a sharp breath, not knowing which side to hate more. A young man who watched his father die unjustly, his mother die with hatred, wasted his prime years seeking justice to no avail, and became extreme, seeking revenge, or Jiang Chengyuan himself. It was hard to say if he was at fault.
Jiang Chengyuan slowly withdrew his hand. “So I’m a bad person. I’m neither just nor innocent. I’m burdened with countless sins and have a ruthless heart. What you said about me was right. I always use people as tools and don’t know how to love.”
Xiao Zhou frowned, increasingly finding Jiang Chengyuan’s behavior today strange.
Jiang Chengyuan said, “I’ve told you everything. Now it’s your turn to decide.”
He suddenly stood up, took a step back, pulled out the ring he had once given Xiao Zhou on the deck and had been returned, and knelt on one knee, looking up at Xiao Zhou. “If I say I love you, would you accept this ring?” He said it seriously, his eyes gentle, deep as the sea.
Xiao Zhou was shocked, not expecting such a grand gesture right after waking up. He was momentarily frozen, unable to speak to refuse or accept. The two of them stayed in this tense silence for a while, before Xiao Zhou reached out and tugged at Jiang Chengyuan’s clothes. “Don’t do this. Get up first.”
Jiang Chengyuan sighed, stood up from the ground, and smiled bitterly. “I knew you wouldn’t accept it.”
Xiao Zhou felt embarrassed, not knowing what to say.
Jiang Chengyuan held the ring in his hand, walked past Xiao Zhou’s bed to the window, and opened it.
Xiao Zhou was puzzled. “What are you doing?”
Jiang Chengyuan turned to look at him, shook his head. “Since you don’t want it, there’s no point in keeping it. It would only make me sad.” With that, he threw the ring out the window.
Xiao Zhou’s pupils dilated in surprise. He instinctively jumped out of bed, trying to stop Jiang Chengyuan, but he was too late. He could only watch the ring fall to the ground. He stared at the bushes below, feeling anxious, wanting to jump down and retrieve it. “How could you be so reckless? No matter what, you can’t throw it away. It’s a family heirloom.”
Jiang Chengyuan coldly withdrew his hand and said, “No one else can wear it except you. If I keep it, it will only make me uncomfortable and won’t be passed on. It’s better to throw it away and see if someone fated finds it and makes use of it.”
Xiao Zhou’s eyes turned red with anxiety. Knowing that Jiang Chengyuan’s point was valid, he couldn’t find a counterargument and said almost impulsively, “But that was given to me by your mother; it’s mine now. How can you just dispose of it like that?” Saying this, he shoved Jiang Chengyuan hard and was about to run downstairs barefoot to retrieve the ring.
Just as he turned to leave, Jiang Chengyuan held him by the waist and dragged him back. “What did you just say? It’s yours?”
Xiao Zhou tried to pry Jiang Chengyuan’s arm off, but it was as tight as a vice. Fearing that someone else might find it if he delayed, he shouted, “Yes, it’s mine! You can’t just give it away, take it back, or throw it away as you please! How can you do this?” His voice trembled with urgency, not considering how flawed his argument was.
Jiang Chengyuan hugged him tightly and nuzzled his head into his neck. “I didn’t take it back. You returned it to me; I don’t want it.”
Xiao Zhou’s body stiffened for a moment, feeling as if he was being petted by a large dog. He could feel that the arm holding him wasn’t tight, but his chest was trembling, and his heartbeat was loud. He could easily push Jiang Chengyuan away if he raised his hand, escaping from this suffocating embrace.
Xiao Zhou closed his eyes, raised his hand, and slowly placed it on Jiang Chengyuan’s hand. “Alright, stop this. I didn’t intend to return it; Just let me go retrieve it. If it’s too late, it will be truly lost.”
Jiang Chengyuan was still uneasy and emphasized again, “If you retrieve it, will you keep it?”
Xiao Zhou sighed helplessly, “Fine, let me go, and I’ll keep it, okay?”
Jiang smiled slightly, magically producing the ring he had just thrown and placed it in Xiao Zhou’s hand, “No going back on your word.”
Xiao Zhou was momentarily stunned, realizing he had been deceived again. He felt a mix of frustration and amusement, holding the ring tightly in his hand. Looking at the beautiful ruby, he found that the sense of relief from recovering it overshadowed the frustration.
He liked Jiang Chengyuan and was always indulgent towards him, unable to truly harden his heart.
Despite his aversion to Jiang Chengyuan’s controlling behavior, his first instinct was still to protect him when he was in danger; though he resented Jiang Chengyuan’s disdain and disrespect, hearing him profess love and affection threw him into emotional turmoil. He knew this was a significant step for Jiang Chengyuan, and he shouldn’t demand more.
Xiao Zhou sighed, feeling pitifully spineless, thinking that maybe those who fell in love first always ended up at a disadvantage, and that loving too deeply tipped the scales.
Comforting himself this way, he finally said, “You can’t deceive me again in the future.”
Jiang Chengyuan smiled and kissed him. “Okay.”
During the commotion, blood had seeped from his wound.
Jiang Chengyuan turned him around and, seeing the blood, frowned, regretting his haste and not waiting for Xiao Zhou’s injury to heal before acting.
But he thought, some decisions needed to be made decisively. If the matter dragged on, Xiao Zhou’s wounds would heal, his heart would harden, and he might reconsider the pros and cons. It was better to coax him back while he was still disoriented and acting on instinct. Once he softened, everything would be easier to discuss.
Thinking this, Jiang Chengyuan felt his approach was appropriate.
He called the nurse to reapply medicine and change the bandages. Xiao Zhou removed his shirt, and the nurse treated his wound while Jiang Chengyuan sat beside him, watching intently. Xiao Zhou, feeling self-conscious under his gaze, quickly put his shirt back on as soon as the nurse left.
Jiang Chengyuan, being quite gentlemanly, only helped him lie down again, not touching any inappropriate areas.
After Xiao Zhou was settled, Jiang Chengyuan suddenly took off his shoes, climbed onto the bed, and lay down in the remaining space.
Xiao Zhou, startled by the sudden proximity, turned his head in surprise. “What are you doing?” He stammered, “My injury isn’t healed yet…”
Xiao Zhou tensed up, causing Jiang Chengyuan to chuckle, gently pinching his nose. “Relax, do you think I’m a pervert? You’re still a patient; no matter how shameless I am, I wouldn’t do anything.”
Embarrassed, Xiao Zhou felt he was the one being improper.
Jiang Chengyuan wrapped his arms around him, carefully avoiding the injury. “Sleep on your side; don’t worry about me. I just want to lie down with you for a while.”
His voice was low and tired.
Xiao Zhou turned his face, seeing Jiang Chengyuan close his eyes and relax. The proximity allowed him to notice the exhaustion and haggardness on Jiang Chengyuan’s face—dark circles under his eyes, a dull complexion, and pale, cracked lips, signs of sleeplessness and stress. Xiao Zhou couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy and reached out to touch him. “You should go get some sleep at home. You won’t rest well like this. I’ll be fine alone.”
Jiang Chengyuan kept his eyes closed. “It’s okay. I want to stay with you.”
Xiao Zhou’s heart warmed, and he adjusted his position slightly, carefully moving closer into Jiang Chengyuan’s embrace without disturbing his injury.
Jiang Chengyuan felt a warm bundle snuggle into his embrace, causing him to smile. His hand traced down from Xiao Zhou’s shoulder, slowly sliding down his arm until it touched Xiao Zhou’s hand holding the ring. He suddenly opened his eyes and asked, “Why haven’t you put it on? Do you want me to put it on for you?”
Xiao Zhou stiffened, shook his head without a word, and clenched the ring tightly in his palm, refusing to put it on.
Jiang Chengyuan knew he still had concerns, so he didn’t force it. He sighed, hugged him gently, kissed his cheek, and said, “Alright, let’s sleep. Get some good rest and let your wound heal.”
Xiao Zhou, half fearful and half sweetly content in his arms, felt like everything was resolved, yet something still remained uncertain.