Try Again chapter 32
Does He Like Him?
Jiang Lin must have wanted to sleep a bit longer, as he remained quiet after pressing close. Not long after, an arm slid out from under the covers and gently rested on Ji Minglun’s waist.
The person being supported at the waist felt a rush of emotions, nearly unable to contain himself.
Jiang Lin was already awake and had looked over at him; how could he possibly continue to maintain such an awkward position?
The words that Shen Ran had said last night echoed in Ji Minglun’s ears.
The subsequent fantasies were once again habitually denied, but this time he couldn’t fully suppress his impulse. If there was indeed a possibility, did it mean that Jiang Lin had come back hoping to take a step further with him?
Given Jiang Lin’s reserved personality, if he had feelings for him, it was unlikely he would express them openly. So what Ji Minglun should do now was turn over, grab Jiang Lin’s arm, and ask for clarification. However, his fully awake brain reminded him of the potential consequences of doing so.
What if he was mistaken?
What if Jiang Lin was just not fully awake and simply found it comfortable to sleep like this? After all, they had slept in each other’s arms more than once. If Jiang Lin were to ask why he was pretending to sleep after waking up, how would he respond?
Before he could make a decision, the person behind him moved again.
Jiang Lin quietly withdrew his arms and legs, lifted the blanket, and got out of bed, walking barefoot into the bathroom.
Hearing the “click” of the door locking, Ji Minglun turned over, rubbing his numb arms as he looked toward the bathroom.
He initially thought Jiang Lin had just gone to the bathroom, but soon the sound of running water could be faintly heard.
Thinking about what had been pressing against him earlier, Ji Minglun glanced down at himself, feeling frustrated as he flopped back onto the bed, his mind uncontrollably imagining the scene in the bathroom, until he was interrupted by the vibration of his phone on the bedside table.
Deng Feng called to ask if he was up and if he wanted to go have breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Given his current state, he couldn’t get up immediately, so he declined. Shortly after, another phone on the bedside table vibrated; Deng Feng was also calling Jiang Lin.
Turning off the incoming call vibration for Jiang Lin’s phone, Ji Minglun picked up a cigarette and lighter, opened the balcony door, and stepped outside.
The semicircular small balcony faced the bustling South Street. Unlike the vibrant night scene, the morning South Street revealed the solemnity of the ancient city, with congested traffic stretching from afar to the landmark bell tower in the center. The three major streets to the east, west, and north were partially obscured by mild haze, but the flags on the Ming City Wall in the distance flew neatly, and he could see many people exercising in the park below.
Lighting a cigarette, he gazed down blankly at the wide pedestrian walkway. Once he had smoked enough and calmed down, he returned to the room, and the sound of water in the bathroom continued.
Leaning against the headboard, Ji Minglun picked up his phone and started a game.
His thoughts remained preoccupied with the sounds from the bathroom, and he didn’t perform well in this round, frequently giving kills to the opposing team. Fortunately, it was a randomly matched team, and at the end, the system notified him he had been reported successfully, just as the bathroom door unlocked.
Jiang Lin emerged barefoot, still wearing the t-shirt and cotton shorts he had on before sleeping. His hair was dry, but his cheeks bore a suspicious flush, and his expression seemed unnatural. He didn’t look at Ji Minglun and walked toward the luggage area.
He didn’t ask Ji Minglun when he had woken up; Ji Minglun had to cooperate and pretend not to know why Jiang Lin had taken a shower so early. After Jiang Lin returned to the bathroom to change clothes, Ji Minglun also got up to wash up.
While washing his face, he struggled again, but Jiang Lin took the initiative to break the silence, walking to the door and asking, “Deng Feng just sent me a WeChat asking if we want to go down for breakfast. Did he look for you?”
Ji Minglun glanced at him. Seeing that his expression had returned to normal, he replied, “He did. I said I wouldn’t go down.”
“Then I won’t go either. What are we having for breakfast?”
“Should we call room service to bring breakfast up?”
“Sure,” Jiang Lin turned to the table, picked up the menu, and came back to hand it to him. “Take a look and see what you want to eat.”
…..
After finishing breakfast, it was about 9:30. Deng Feng made another phone call, urging everyone to gather downstairs. Jiang Lin and Ji Minglun left together, and while waiting for the elevator, they ran into Shen Ran, who had just stepped out.
Casually walking over to them, Shen Ran cheerfully said, “Good morning.”
Jiang Lin nodded at Shen Ran. “Morning.”
“How did you sleep last night, senior?” Shen Ran leaned slightly towards Ji Minglun, nudging his arm playfully with his hands in his pockets.
Ignoring the teasing, Ji Minglun adjusted his baseball cap and replied, “Slept well.”
Jiang Lin wasn’t sure how much Shen Ran knew about his relationship with Ji Minglun but felt that Shen Ran could see through a lot. This made it hard for him to relax around Shen Ran. Fortunately, Shen Ran didn’t say anything inappropriate, and when they reached the lobby, everyone else was already there.
Shi Xiaomin was discussing lipstick colors with Deng Yi, Wang Shi was resting on the sofa, and when Deng Feng saw them, he called everyone to go for breakfast.
Jiang Lin and Ji Minglun had already eaten, so when they got to the snack shop, they just picked at their food. Deng Yi noticed that Ji Minglun was eating very little and asked if the food wasn’t to his taste. Deng Feng also asked Jiang Lin if he didn’t like it.
Before they could answer, Shen Ran laughed from across the table. After drawing everyone’s attention, he coughed and pointed at his bowl of fragrant, hot noodles. “This is way too greasy; no one can eat something this heavy first thing in the morning. I don’t want it either.”
Compared to Minan’s lighter cuisine, Shaanxi’s food was heavier in flavor, and since it was summer, it was understandable that no one had much appetite. After finishing breakfast, they took a cab to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area.
The morning was relaxed, but since the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was outdoors, the temperature rose quickly, and it had reached over 40 degrees Celsius before noon. The air felt like an oven, and the large music fountain square couldn’t offer a breeze.
Deng Yi and Shi Xiaomin each held an umbrella, but even their portable fans were no help. Jiang Lin, who was still wearing his sun-protective clothing with the zipper fully closed, looked flushed from the heat. Ji Minglun noticed this and wanted to suggest they stop for lunch. Before he could speak, Deng Feng walked over, folded a pamphlet, and fanned Jiang Lin with it, asking if he felt unwell.
Jiang Lin waved his right hand without responding. Shen Ran chimed in, saying it was indeed too hot and no one was in the mood to continue. They should find a place to rest.
Everyone agreed and left the area to grab a cab. On the way, Deng Feng kept fanning Jiang Lin, who eventually took over the fan out of politeness. Deng Feng then borrowed an umbrella from Deng Yi, and they walked under it together.
Jiang Lin, feeling a bit nauseous from wearing the sun-protective clothing all morning, gave in to Deng Feng’s kindness. Meanwhile, Shen Ran glanced back at Ji Minglun twice, noticing that Ji Minglun’s gaze remained fixed on Jiang Lin, with an unhappy expression.
They arrived at a mall and went into a Korean restaurant. Deng Feng sat next to Jiang Lin, while Ji Minglun and Shen Ran sat across from them. As the others were ordering, Shen Ran leaned over and whispered to Ji Minglun, “Senior, don’t you think Feng Ge is a bit too attentive towards Jiang Lin?”
Ji Minglun hadn’t thought much of it before, but after going out, Deng Feng did seem more concerned about Jiang Lin, and it was even more obvious today.
However, it could be explained as just Deng Feng’s personality. He had been the same on previous outings, even carrying a colleague, Xiao Xu, who had sprained an ankle on a hike.
Ji Minglun took out his phone and distracted himself by checking WeChat messages. During lunch, he noticed Jiang Lin glance at him a few times, but he didn’t look up. After the meal, everyone strolled around the mall until 2 PM, then took a cab to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and walked around the Da Ci’en Temple Park.
By the time they came out, the sun was setting behind the mountains, and they caught a performance at the music fountain square at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Afterward, Deng Feng suggested going for dinner, so they headed to a nearby music-themed restaurant.
Unlike the previous night, when they had explored the local culture at Beiyuanmen Street, the music restaurant felt familiar. They sat by the window at an eight-person table on the second floor, enjoying seafood steam pots and beer while listening to music. At first, everyone was focused on eating, but eventually, they started chatting.
The lead singer performed four blues songs before switching to love ballads. When a familiar melody started, Ji Minglun glanced across the table, meeting someone’s gaze, but was interrupted by Deng Yi’s voice.
“Minglun, this is the last song from that concert on the lawn,” Deng Yi said with a smile, holding up a beer bottle. “What a coincidence.”
Ji Minglun gave a soft “Mm” and continued eating his crab. Not long after, he heard Deng Feng next to Jiang Lin say, “Do you want a fresh towel?”
Jiang Lin was wiping his fingers with a damp towel. “No need,” he replied, then sat still after cleaning his hands. Deng Feng asked, “Are you full?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Lin said, taking a sip of beer, though his eyes instinctively drifted toward Ji Minglun’s direction. Ji Minglun happened to be looking at him, and after their eyes met, Jiang Lin heard Deng Feng ask, “You ate very little. Want to order something else?”
After walking around all day, Jiang Lin wasn’t very hungry. Seeing his lack of enthusiasm, Deng Feng didn’t press further. Once everyone had nearly finished eating, Shi Xiaomin suggested they go to a bar.
Deng Yi agreed, and Shen Ran was up for it, but Ji Minglun didn’t feel like joining the crowd, using the excuse that he was tired after walking all day and wanted to rest.
Deng Yi was already upset after he declined the previous night, and now he was refusing again. Though she wasn’t happy, she didn’t argue in front of everyone and left with a sulky expression. Shi Xiaomin and Wang Shi followed.
Ji Minglun leaned back in his chair, pulling a cigarette from his pocket, but remembered that smoking wasn’t allowed in the restaurant. He stood up. “I’m going downstairs to smoke.”
Shen Ran went with him. In no time, only Jiang Lin and Deng Feng were left. Jiang Lin actually wanted to go down as well, but Deng Feng called the waiter over to settle the bill, and they left together.
Ji Minglun and Shen Ran stood under a decorative tree across the street, their faces blurred by the night and the smoke. When Jiang Lin and Deng Feng joined them, Deng Feng asked Shen Ran why he wasn’t going to the bar. Shen Ran replied that it didn’t seem fun with all the fuss anymore, and he’d rather go back to rest. So they all took a taxi and returned to the hotel.
On the way back, Shen Ran sat in the front seat, while Jiang Lin was squeezed between Deng Feng and Ji Minglun. Because Deng Feng was next to him, Jiang Lin didn’t feel comfortable talking to Ji Minglun, so he endured the awkwardness until they returned to the hotel. As they were entering, the front desk called out to Deng Feng, saying that a guest had just canceled a room and asked if they needed it.
Deng Feng looked at Jiang Lin and Shen Ran. Jiang Lin, afraid that Shen Ran might agree, quickly responded, “No need, let’s just stay as we are.”
“But the bed isn’t that big. It might be a bit cramped for you and Shen Ran to sleep together,” Deng Feng said.
“It’s fine, Feng Ge,” Shen Ran helped smooth things over, “Jiang Lin and I staying together is great, plus it saves money.”
Since both of them said so, Deng Feng declined the front desk’s offer. As they entered the elevator, Deng Feng asked Jiang Lin again, “My room is actually pretty big, and the sofa is very comfortable. If you feel cramped staying with Shen Ran, you can move to my room. I don’t mind sleeping on the sofa.”
Jiang Lin, grateful but unwilling to impose, politely declined Deng Feng’s kind offer. While they were talking, Shen Ran glanced again at Ji Minglun.
Ji Minglun was standing with his chin slightly raised, expressionlessly watching the elevator floor panel.
When they reached the fourth floor, Deng Feng said goodnight to them and stepped out. Just as the door was about to close, Ji Minglun pressed the open button and said he had something to talk about with Deng Feng, then also stepped out of the elevator.
As the door slowly closed behind them, Deng Feng asked, “What do you want to talk about? Is it about Deng Yi?”
“No,” Ji Minglun put his hands in his pockets and hesitated for a moment before asking, “Do you have feelings for Jiang Lin?”
Deng Feng quickly furrowed his brow, then asked, half laughing, “What are you thinking?”
“You seem very attentive to him,” Ji Minglun, now that the topic was out in the open, decided to ask directly, “Do you like him?”
“What are you talking about?” Deng Feng sighed helplessly. “He’s an employee at the cafe. Isn’t it normal for me to take care of him? Besides, his personality doesn’t mesh well with the rest of you, and since I invited him this time, I can’t just be cold to him, can I?”
Ji Minglun studied Deng Feng’s expression. Although Deng Feng seemed sincere, Ji Minglun couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Deng Feng returned the same question to him, “Why are you asking? Could it be that you have feelings for him?”
“Ridiculous,” Ji Minglun turned to press the elevator button again, his voice intentionally cold, “I just noticed how much you care about him, and thought maybe you had taken a liking to him.”
Deng Feng chuckled, draped an arm over Ji Minglun’s shoulder, and said, “Go up and get some sleep. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”
The elevator arrived, and after exchanging goodnights with Deng Feng, Ji Minglun returned to the seventh floor. He found Jiang Lin leaning against the wall by the door, lost in thought, and suddenly remembered that he had the room card.
He walked over and opened the door. After they entered the room, he asked if Jiang Lin wanted to shower first. Jiang Lin nodded, grabbed his pajamas and went into the bathroom, while Ji Minglun sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV.
He wasn’t interested in watching TV, but he needed the noise to distract him; otherwise, the sound of the running water from Jiang Lin’s shower would make his mind wander back to what had happened that morning. After Jiang Lin finished, Ji Minglun went to take his own shower. When he came out, Jiang Lin wasn’t lying on the bed as he had been the night before. Instead, he was sitting against the headboard, legs casually draped over the sheets, with a subtle curve visible at his crotch under the gray cotton shorts.
Seemingly unaware of his awkward posture, Jiang Lin looked at Ji Minglun, pursing his lips, “I’m hungry. How about we go out for a walk and grab some late-night snacks?”