Try Again chapter 31

He Stuck Close to Him

While they were wandering around Huimin Street close to nine o’clock, they arrived at the entrance of the city wall on South Street.

This section of the city wall in the center of Xi’an was built during the Ming Dynasty and has since been repaired and opened to the public. Deng Feng purchased tickets for everyone through an app and led them up the city wall from Yongning Gate.

The Ming City Wall was illuminated by Chinese lanterns under the night sky. Once on the wall, the wind picked up significantly. Many tourists and citizens were leisurely walking, with some children running and playing, and security guards patrolling, reminding everyone to be careful and to take photos politely.

As soon as Deng Yi arrived, she was captivated by the charming night view of the city wall, pulling Shi Xiaomin, who was also wearing Hanfu, to take pictures. She initially wanted Ji Minglun to help take photos, but he happened to be on the phone, so she handed her camera to Deng Feng.

Jiang Lin walked along the city wall for a while. Not far away, the bell tower was fully lit, the brilliant colors shining like pearls in the night. He stopped and took out his phone to capture a few landscape photos.

Unbeknownst to him, Ji Minglun’s voice had unconsciously come close. When he turned to look, a gust of wind blew his bangs to the corner of his eye. He raised his hand to push them aside, just as he met Ji Minglun’s gaze, who was looking down at him.

The call was from Ji Minglun’s mother, Cheng Yu, asking how the trip was going. Upon learning that Jiang Lin was beside her son, Cheng Yu wanted to have a few words with him.

Ji Minglun covered the phone and whispered, “If you don’t want to answer, I’ll just say you went to the bathroom.”

“No need,” Jiang Lin said with a smile, extending his hand. “I haven’t talked to your mom in over a year; just give it to me.”

The phone was passed over, and Ji Minglun listened to Jiang Lin talking to Cheng Yu. The familiar tone was just like before, and he couldn’t help but recall what Shen Ran had just reminded him.

But could it really be possible?

He glanced sideways at the people around him.

Shen Ran wasn’t aware of how they had interacted before. Although he thought carefully and felt that Jiang Lin’s return this time involved some boundary-crossing actions, it could be explained as Jiang Lin wanting to repair their relationship.

Looking at the row of hotels with distinct appearances across from him, Ji Minglun turned around, leaned comfortably against the city wall, and continued listening to Jiang Lin on the phone.

Not far away, Deng Yi and Shi Xiaomin had finished a round of photos, both took out their makeup bags to touch up. Deng Feng checked the photos they had just taken and turned to see Ji Minglun lazily leaning against the city wall, so he called out, “Minglun, come help. The ones I took are a bit bright.”

Ji Minglun didn’t want to move but even less didn’t want anyone to find out Jiang Lin was using his phone, so he had to walk over. After chatting with Cheng Yu for a while, Jiang Lin hung up and realized Ji Minglun and the others were still taking pictures, so he put away the phone, thinking about what Cheng Yu had said to him.

Besides asking about his studies, Cheng Yu also inquired about Ji Minglun’s plans after graduation.

In Cheng Yu’s eyes, he and Ji Minglun still had that kind of relationship where they could talk about anything, and he knew that both Cheng Yu and Ji Zhuosheng hoped Ji Minglun would take over the family business.

If Cheng Yu knew Ji Minglun planned to immigrate, she would likely pressure him to stay.

Just a moment ago, he almost let this slip because of his own selfishness, but fortunately, he stopped in time.

He didn’t want to upset Ji Minglun, nor did he want to create trouble for him.

But what was Ji Minglun really thinking? It’s been more than ten days.

He stood alone by the city wall, lost in thought, when Deng Feng noticed and walked over, leaning beside him to admire the bustling night scene below, even taking the initiative to start a conversation. After chatting for a bit, he realized that Jiang Lin seemed distracted and asked if he was tired. Jiang Lin pretended he was, so Deng Feng suggested, “I didn’t sleep well last night either; how about we head back to the hotel and rest?”

Jiang Lin wanted a chance to be alone with Ji Minglun, so he agreed. Deng Feng approached the few people still taking photos and suggested they go back to the hotel.

Shen Ran was indifferent, but Deng Yi didn’t want to go, saying it would be boring to go back to sleep so early when they rarely got to go out.

Deng Feng then asked Shi Xiaomin and Wang Shi, and they shared the same sentiment as Deng Yi. Deng Feng looked at Ji Minglun, who immediately said without thinking, “I’m not going. Let them go.”

Upon hearing he wasn’t going, Deng Yi looked a bit unhappy but didn’t really force him. She pulled Shi Xiaomin and Wang Shi down from the city wall. Seeing his sister’s back, Deng Feng felt uneasy about her going to a bar in a strange city, so he said he would accompany her. In the end, only Shen Ran and the two of them walked back to the hotel together.

Since it was just the three of them, Shen Ran thoughtfully walked ahead while chatting casually on the phone with a friend. Ji Minglun and Jiang Lin lagged a few steps behind. Facing the lively yet unfamiliar streets, Jiang Lin could no longer wait until they got to the hotel and asked him how he was considering immigration.

“Does my mom know?” Ji Minglun countered.

“No, Auntie just asked about your plans after graduation, and I said I wasn’t sure.”

“If Auntie knew, she’d probably stop it, right?”

“Yeah, so let’s not mention it for now.”

Jiang Lin pressed his lips together, the corners of his mouth turning down slightly: “Have you thought it through?”

Ji Minglun didn’t answer. He took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and then said, “So what are your plans after graduation?”

Gripping the strap of his sports chest bag, Jiang Lin said, “I don’t know.”

“Have you thought about staying in Los Angeles?”

“I want to come back to Xiamen for work.”

After walking a few more steps, Ji Minglun’s voice was interrupted by a passerby talking loudly on the phone, and Jiang Lin only heard clearly the second time.

He said, “I thought you hadn’t thought about coming back.”

Jiang Lin shook his head, his head slightly bowed, his delicate eyelashes obscuring the emotions in his eyes. After walking a few more steps, Ji Minglun said, “Do you think it would be better for me to go?”

“Not really,” Jiang Lin stopped, and when Ji Minglun turned to look at him, he blurted out, “Actually, I don’t want you to immigrate.”

“Because I won’t be able to see you when I want to in the future.”

By the end, Jiang Lin’s voice was somewhat hoarse. Ji Minglun stood sideways, the spark from his fingertips producing curling smoke. The bright lights of the luxury store beside them were too dazzling for Jiang Lin to see Ji Minglun’s expression clearly, but soon, Ji Minglun walked over to him.

When he reached him, Ji Minglun reached out his right hand from his pocket and patted Jiang Lin’s head, tousling his hair. When Jiang Lin raised his hand to fix it, he heard Ji Minglun’s voice filled with laughter say, “Let’s go back and rest.”

Receiving an ambiguous answer in the end left Jiang Lin feeling quite frustrated, but he also understood he had no standing to insist on a definitive answer. Back in the hotel room, Ji Minglun told him to shower first. Jiang Lin, not in the mood to soak in the obviously comfortable bathtub, just took a quick shower and came out.

He hadn’t brought any toiletries on this trip, and the hotel’s scented products had a gardenia scent. When Ji Minglun walked past him, he noticed it and found it quite pleasant, but when he entered the bathroom again, he realized the scent was somewhat overpowering.

While undressing, his mind kept picturing Jiang Lin after he showered, wearing a T-shirt and cotton shorts, his long legs white and clean. The shorts were loose-fitting, and any improper sitting posture would reveal more than it should; he couldn’t help but wonder if he would show too much while sleeping at night.

Thinking about these inappropriate things, his body quickly reacted. Considering they had an entire night together, he turned the water flow to the maximum, using the sound of the water to cover up his release. When he came out, Jiang Lin was already in bed, lying on the left side.

The room lights were off, leaving only the soft glow of the bedside lamps on either side, creating an atmosphere that was somewhat ambiguous.

Ji Minglun walked to the right side, checking Jiang Lin, who was facing away from him, before lifting the covers.

Jiang Lin had just finished drying his hair, and the fine, soft ends scattered on the pillow, with slightly longer bangs covering his eyes. Watching him remain motionless, Ji Minglun walked to the wall and adjusted the air conditioning to his usual 26 degrees before turning off the bedside lamp.

Lying back down, Ji Minglun stared at the ceiling, but soon found himself involuntarily turning to look to the right. Jiang Lin remained still, as if he were asleep. The outline of his body in the darkness rose and fell slightly with the rhythm of his breathing, very regular.

After watching for a while, Ji Minglun gently turned over, closed his eyes with his back to Jiang Lin.

He held this position until half of his body felt numb, and finally, Jiang Lin moved, turning to look at Ji Minglun’s back. After lying like that for more than half an hour, he also felt very sleepy, so he quietly leaned closer to Ji Minglun, burying his face in the back of Ji Minglun’s neck.

Inhaling the familiar scent of sandalwood and cedar from Ji Minglun’s hair, Jiang Lin fell asleep peacefully. Neither of them woke up during the night. In the morning, Ji Minglun opened his eyes first and discovered a chest pressed tightly against his back. Jiang Lin’s breath brushed against the back of his neck, and one of his legs was squeezed between his.

Due to the close proximity, a part of Jiang Lin that reacted was pressed two inches below Ji Minglun’s waist, a position that made Ji Minglun feel inexplicably embarrassed. He thought how nice it would be if they could switch positions.

But thinking was one thing; he couldn’t possibly do that. So he closed his eyes again, wanting to feel the warmth of Jiang Lin’s embrace once more. He lay there for an unknown amount of time, and just as he began to drift off again, the person behind him stirred, and then Ji Minglun heard Jiang Lin’s breathing become slightly hurried.

He couldn’t turn to look, only judging by his instincts that Jiang Lin must have woken up. Not only was he awake, but the mattress behind him also sank slightly. Jiang Lin propped himself up to peek at him, saw he was still asleep, and then lay back down.

Feeling a little empty inside, Ji Minglun waited for Jiang Lin to retract his arms and legs, but there was no movement behind him. After a while, Jiang Lin’s chest pressed against his back again, with his cheek rubbing against his warm neck, and then he stopped moving.

With his eyes open, Ji Minglun stared at the brown leather sofa a few steps away, feeling as though the skin at the back of his neck had been touched by static electricity, becoming both tingling and numb.