Try Again chapter 28
People Change
Ji Minglun brushed off the arm on his shoulder and looked at Deng Feng with displeasure, “Are you trying to organize a tour group?”
Deng Feng patted him on the shoulder, and then casually draped his arm over: “The more people, the more fun. They’re all familiar faces, so what’s there to worry about?”
Then he looked at Jiang Lin: “Jiang Lin’s been back in the country for about a month now. He’s been working part-time at our café, but his schedule is basically like a full-timer’s. After the typhoon hit the other day, he even showed up early to help clean. Such an outstanding employee deserves a reward.”
“Jiang Lin, I’ll cover your airfare and accommodation. It’s decided, you’re coming with us.”
With a wave of his hand, Deng Feng took charge of Jiang Lin’s travel expenses. Ji Minglun’s face darkened, but Jiang Lin immediately declined: “No need, I’ll pay for myself.”
Deng Feng insisted, but Ji Minglun interrupted: “As the boss, if you’re paying for his plane ticket and accommodation, what about the others who aren’t going?”
This remark woke Deng Feng up. He opened his mouth: “Then I’ll ask if anyone else wants to join. If they do, they can come along.”
“Enough,” Ji Minglun interrupted, clearly displeased, “Keep this up, and it’ll turn into a full-on tour group.”
Deng Feng didn’t really intend that, so he went along with it: “Then it’ll just be a few of us, and I’ll handle booking the tickets and hotels.”
This time, there was no objection, so Deng Feng headed to the back counter. Ji Minglun and Jiang Lin exchanged glances, but neither spoke. The silence was soon interrupted by a customer placing an order, and Jiang Lin had no choice but to get back to work.
After closing, Deng Feng locked the electronic shutters and turned to the two people beside him: “How are you getting home?”
Jiang Lin had taken a taxi that day, and his car was still parked across from Lao Yu’s porridge shop. Ji Minglun and Deng Feng both had cars, but upon hearing Jiang Lin needed a taxi, Deng Feng offered him a ride.
“No need,” Jiang Lin declined, “I can walk on my own.”
“It’s hard to get a taxi at this hour,” Deng Feng said, “I’ve got time, so I’ll drive you to pick up your car and then take you home.”
Jiang Lin was about to refuse again, but Deng Feng was already heading toward the parking lot. Jiang Lin glanced at Ji Minglun, who was silent for a moment before saying to Deng Feng: “I’ll take him.”
Deng Feng turned around in confusion, and Ji Minglun, hands in his pockets, explained: “Didn’t Deng Yi ask you to bring home some late-night snacks? If you’re late, she’ll get mad. I’m free, so I’ll take him.”
“She won’t get mad over just a little time, and taking him would be out of your way,” Deng Feng said lightly, waving at Jiang Lin, “Come on.”
Since Deng Feng was so insistent, Jiang Lin couldn’t refuse his kindness any longer, and Ji Minglun couldn’t find another reason to intervene. He just watched as Jiang Lin got into Deng Feng’s car, parked across the street.
After buckling his seatbelt, Jiang Lin took out his phone. Deng Feng reversed the car and pulled up next to Ji Minglun, rolling down the window to ask: “Still not leaving?”
“Just going to get some fried chicken,” Ji Minglun said offhandedly, glancing at Jiang Lin, who was focused on his phone in the passenger seat. As Deng Feng’s car drove off, Ji Minglun’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
A message from “Lin” popped up: “It’s still early tonight, want to go to Lao Yu’s for some late-night snacks?”
Ji Minglun smiled as he looked at the car disappearing at the intersection ahead, replying: “Sure, see you soon.”
As Jiang Lin looked at the reply on his screen, he hid a small smile by brushing his bangs aside.
Leaning back into the seat, he watched the storefronts pass by outside the window and heard Deng Feng say: “Mind if I play some music?”
“Go ahead.”
Deng Feng played a soft English song. As soon as the intro started, Jiang Lin froze. Seeing his reaction, Deng Feng smiled: “This song was pretty popular a while back. You’ve heard it too?”
It was Wish, a song Lu Zhe had played on loop in their dorm for several days. Jiang Lin had heard it many times when he first returned to China.
“Yeah, my roommate is from Hong Kong. He loves TVB dramas.”
Deng Feng, one hand on the wheel, shifted into a more comfortable position and asked: “Did you live in a dorm back there?”
“No, I was renting a place on my own at first, but the landlord reclaimed it unexpectedly. I couldn’t find a suitable single apartment, so I had to share.”
“Studying abroad isn’t easy,” Deng Feng sighed. “Was your roommate easy to get along with?”
Jiang Lin smiled at the mention of Lu Zhe: “Very easy to get along with. Great personality and also a fantastic cook.”
“Is it a girl?” Deng Feng asked.
“No, a guy.”
Deng Feng nodded thoughtfully: “Not many guys can cook.”
Jiang Lin felt grateful when Lu Zhe’s cooking was mentioned. If Lu Zhe hadn’t taken the initiative to share meals, Jiang Lin wouldn’t have recovered his stomach so quickly. Although, Ji Minglun’s cooking was also pretty good. It was a shame he hadn’t had the chance to try most of his recipes since coming back, and he wondered if there would be an opportunity before leaving.
After a brief silence, Deng Feng glanced at Jiang Lin, who was staring out the window, lost in thought, his delicate features softened by the light of passing street lamps.
Although Deng Feng wanted to learn more about Jiang Lin, he didn’t want to break the peaceful moment. It was only when they were nearing their destination that he spoke again: “Hungry? Want to grab a bite before heading home?”
“No need,” Jiang Lin unbuckled his seatbelt, “I didn’t sleep well last night, so I want to turn in early tonight.”
“Alright, then. Stay safe on your way.”
“Thanks a lot,” Jiang Lin said as he closed the door, and Deng Feng gave a helpless smile: “If you really want to thank me, just promise me one thing—don’t say ‘thank you’ again.”
Jiang Lin smiled and agreed, watching Deng Feng drive off before heading across the street to Lao Yu’s porridge shop. Inside, he immediately spotted Ji Minglun sitting in a familiar spot.
He hurried over, sat down beside him, and looked at the empty table. “You haven’t ordered yet?”
“Waiting for you,” Ji Minglun said, putting down his phone and pointing at the menu on the wall. “What do you want? The usual three dishes or something different?”
Without hesitation, Jiang Lin replied, “The usual.”
Ji Minglun went to order some salted porridge and brought back two fried dough sticks and six fried spring rolls. He handed a pair of chopsticks to Jiang Lin.
After taking a bite of a spring roll, Jiang Lin smiled with satisfaction: “Still tastes just like before.”
Ji Minglun poured some soy sauce into a small dish, picked up a youtiao (fried dough) and dipped it before eating. He didn’t say anything, so Jiang Lin put down his spring roll and asked, “About the trip, do you not want me to join?”
Ji Minglun chewed the youtiao, speaking indistinctly, “No.”
—Then why didn’t you mention it earlier?
Jiang Lin wanted to say more but remembered they had just reconciled, and Ji Minglun didn’t need to tell him everything like before.
The tender bean sprouts in the spring roll oozed golden oil. Jiang Lin hadn’t noticed earlier, but now it looked greasy. He stopped using his chopsticks and waited for the porridge to be served. Once it was, he scooped a bowl for each of them and began eating in small bites.
Ji Minglun pushed another youtiao towards him, saying, “It’ll get soggy if you wait any longer.”
Jiang Lin picked it up but didn’t dip it in the soy sauce. After they finished the youtiao and the salty porridge, Jiang Lin handed a napkin to Ji Minglun to wipe his mouth.
As they left the porridge shop, Jiang Lin asked where Ji Minglun had parked. Ji Minglun pointed with his chin in another direction. “There were no spots nearby, so I parked a bit far.”
“I’ll walk with you to get the car,” Jiang Lin offered.
“No need,” Ji Minglun stayed still. “Your car’s right across the street. You should head back.”
Jiang Lin’s fingers twitched slightly at his side, but he insisted, “I just ate. I could use a walk.”
His intent to be close was too obvious. After a brief pause, Ji Minglun relented, “Alright, let’s go.”
Jiang Lin quickly caught up and asked about the earlier topic, “When did you decide to take this trip?”
Ji Minglun kicked a small stone at his feet, “Before summer break.”
“Were you planning to go alone, like when you went to Qinghai?” Jiang Lin asked without thinking, then realized how abrupt the question was. Ji Minglun glanced at him, and just as Jiang Lin was considering how to cover it up, Ji Minglun smirked. “You seem to know a lot. Did Deng Feng tell you?”
“No,” Jiang Lin sidestepped a spilled drink in front of them. “I spoke with Chen Nidan after I got back.”
“And what else did you find out?”
“Not much.” Worried Ji Minglun might misunderstand, Jiang Lin lightly tugged his forearm. “Actually, the person I most wanted to find back then was you, but you probably didn’t want to see me.”
Ji Minglun didn’t respond, taking a few more steps before saying, “If you don’t want to go to Xi’an, don’t force yourself. I’ll tell Deng Feng, he’s easy to talk to.”
“No, I want to go.” Jiang Lin quickly explained. “I was just wondering why you hadn’t mentioned the trip.”
“Aren’t you not interested in Xi’an?” Ji Minglun asked in return. “I invited you once during high school summer break, and you said you didn’t want to go.”
Jiang Lin stopped, staring at Ji Minglun’s back in surprise.
Had he refused before?
Racking his brain for any memory related to this, he quickly recalled that Ji Minglun had mentioned it, but at the time, he had been in a bad mood for reasons he couldn’t explain, and he really wasn’t interested in Xi’an.
The sound of footsteps behind him stopped, and without turning, Ji Minglun could tell Jiang Lin had remembered. Sighing internally, he took his car keys from his pocket and unlocked a light blue SUV across the street.
“Go on home.” Ji Minglun waved the car keys at Jiang Lin and crossed the street. Just as he was about to open the car door, a hand reached from behind to stop him.
“Minglun, don’t misunderstand. Back then, it was because of my dad’s whole mess…”
Jiang Lin anxiously looked at Ji Minglun, eager to explain, but just then, a jeep’s headlights flashed from behind, momentarily blinding him. Before he knew it, Ji Minglun pulled him into his arms as a gust of wind swept past.
Ji Minglun had parked on a quiet side street. Cars lined the right side, leaving just enough space for two-way traffic. It would be dangerous if a driver sped through.
Still shaken by the near miss, Ji Minglun cursed at the passing car and checked Jiang Lin’s hands and feet. “Are you hurt?”
Jiang Lin, reluctant to leave Ji Minglun’s embrace, was disappointed when he was released so quickly. He shook his head. “I’m fine, thanks to you pulling me back.”
“Don’t stand here,” Ji Minglun, now in a sour mood, led him further away from the street. “Go back to your car.”
Jiang Lin didn’t budge, and as another car passed by, its headlights illuminated his hesitant expression. Remembering Jiang Lin’s unfinished words, Ji Minglun asked, “What were you going to say earlier?”
Jiang Lin no longer felt like bringing up the issues with Jiang Jianchen, afraid it would ruin the mood.
The night was deep, and the dark, unlit road was quiet, save for the rhythmic chirping of crickets. As he gazed at Ji Minglun’s slightly blurred face, he suddenly realized that Ji Minglun couldn’t clearly see him either.
A strange, unspoken emotion crept into his heart. Jiang Lin suddenly felt the urge to say something, to reveal the secrets he usually kept hidden.
His fingers clenched the seam of his jeans, and after swallowing, he stared into Ji Minglun’s faintly glowing eyes and said, “People change.”
“Just because I didn’t like someone or a place before doesn’t mean I don’t like them now.”