Try Again chapter 48
Forced to Witness
When Jiang Lin opened the bathroom door, there was no one on the living room sofa anymore.
Cheese, the dog, was waiting at the door, and when he saw Jiang Lin come out, he rubbed against his legs. Jiang Lin went back to the room, put on gloves, and picked up Cheese. After taking a look around, he noticed that Shen Ran’s sneakers were no longer by the entrance.
Ji Minglun was mixing the sauce for sweet and sour ribs, and the smell of duck stewed with taro was wafting from the pressure cooker. Jiang Lin walked over and asked, “Did Shen Ran leave?”
“Yes,” Ji Minglun said, offering him a piece of fried rib dipped in sweet and sour sauce. After Jiang Lin took a bite, Ji Minglun asked, “How does it taste?”
Jiang Lin chewed, swallowed, and said, “It’s delicious.”
Ji Minglun smiled and quickly licked a bit of scallion from the corner of Jiang Lin’s mouth. Before Jiang Lin could react, Ji Minglun kissed him on the lips again.
Jiang Lin was still holding Cheese, and the dog’s wide-eyed, curious gaze made him feel awkward. He turned his head, wanting to go to the living room, but just as he took a step, Ji Minglun pulled him back. In an instant, Cheese was placed on the ground, and Ji Minglun pressed Jiang Lin against the wall, kissing him again.
The two of them shared a kiss that they couldn’t stop in the kitchen, with the smell of food all around them. When they finally had to pull away, Jiang Lin leaned against Ji Minglun’s chest to catch his breath, but his stomach growled in hunger.
Ji Minglun couldn’t help but laugh, cupping Jiang Lin’s flushed cheeks and planting several more kisses on his swollen lips before finally letting him go.
While they were eating, Ji Minglun’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Shen Ran.
Shen Ran: Senior, please keep what happened earlier a secret for me.
Ji Minglun replied, “No problem.”
Shen Ran’s name changed to “Typing…” on the screen. Ji Minglun placed the phone aside and continued deboning the fish for Jiang Lin, occasionally glancing at the screen. Shen Ran had been typing for a long time. Ji Minglun thought Shen Ran was about to send a long message, but by the time they finished eating and washing the dishes, all Shen Ran sent was a dry one word reply.
Shen Ran: Thanks.
In the afternoon, it started raining. The plants outside swayed in the increasingly strong wind. Jiang Lin was working on his thesis at Ji Minglun’s desk, while Ji Minglun lounged on the living room sofa, reading messages in his class group about the upcoming debate competition, while also answering Deng Feng’s questions about the cafe renovations.
Around 3 p.m., Xie Min called him.
As Ji Zhuosheng’s current wife, Xie Min had always been impeccably polite to Ji Minglun. This time was no exception. After some pleasantries, she asked him about his thoughts on immigration.
The moment Ji Minglun saw her name on the caller ID, he knew what she was going to ask. Sure enough, Ji Zhuosheng, having failed to convince him, had sent Xie Min to do the job.
Staring at the TV screen in silence for a moment, Ji Minglun didn’t feel like dragging things out. He cut straight to the point: “You can tell him that Cheng Yu already knows about this, and last time she even came over to give me a talking-to. If he still wants me to leave, he can talk to her himself.”
After saying that, he hung up the phone without giving Xie Min a chance to respond.
In the bedroom, Jiang Lin heard the commotion and came out to see Ji Minglun tossing his phone onto the sofa, picking up the remote to change the channel.
“Xie Min contacted you?” Jiang Lin asked.
Ji Minglun waved him over with the hand holding the remote. Once he was close, Ji Minglun pulled him onto his lap, wrapped his arms around his waist, and said, “You tell me, with how muddled my dad is, how is he still able to make so much money?”
“It seems making money isn’t directly related to intelligence.” Ji Minglun rolled his eyes and concluded before Jiang Lin could even respond.
Jiang Lin laughed, rubbing his face comfortingly, “Forget it. Your dad doesn’t know how much you dislike Xie Min. You can only blame yourself for being so good at pretending all your life.”
Ji Minglun said, “I wouldn’t be such a good actor if they hadn’t forced me.”
Jiang Lin had grown up with Ji Minglun, so he knew the ins and outs of his family. He understood that Ji Minglun wasn’t as easygoing as he appeared on the surface. After all, back in middle school when Ji Zhuosheng and Cheng Yu divorced, Jiang Lin had seen Ji Minglun hide away, upset, more than once.
Patting Ji Minglun on the back, Jiang Lin comforted, “Things will only get better. I’ll always be here with you.”
Ji Minglun tightened his grip around Jiang Lin’s waist, burying his face in his neck to take in his scent. A moment later, he simply lifted Jiang Lin and carried him to bed, where they spent their time passionately venting thoroughly.
This typhoon had hit further away than the last one, so after less than two days of rain, the skies in the city cleared. On the third day, while having breakfast, Jiang Lin mentioned wanting to visit his mother.
Jiang Lin’s mother, Tang Ying, had passed away on a typhoon night. Since her passing, Ji Minglun always stayed with Jiang Lin during typhoon nights. This time was even more comforting than before, with Jiang Lin sleeping soundly in his arms, not even disturbed by the sound of thunder.
Ji Minglun hadn’t visited Tang Ying for a while either. After breakfast, the two of them changed clothes and went downstairs together. The aftermath of the typhoon had left a mess, with the neighborhood’s cleaning staff busy sweeping up leaves and trash. Ji Minglun drove them out and first stopped by a nearby flower shop where Jiang Lin picked out a bouquet of white chrysanthemums. Then, they drove through the bustling main streets and took the highway to the outskirts of the city.
Tang Ying was buried in a beautiful cemetery on the outskirts. Every year during the Qingming Festival, Ji Minglun accompanied Jiang Lin for the visit, so he was familiar with the route and the procedures. When they arrived at the cemetery, Ji Minglun presented the reservation proof, signed in, and then parked the car in the garage. Together, they walked towards the western slope.
The slope was lined with rows of east-facing tombstones. Since it was a weekday and the typhoon had just passed, only three other families were there for tomb-sweeping.
Ji Minglun walked ahead while Jiang Lin followed behind, holding the flowers. When they reached Tang Ying’s row, Ji Minglun stopped, turned around, and extended his hand to Jiang Lin.
Jiang Lin hadn’t been in good spirits since arriving at the cemetery, so he didn’t think much of Ji Minglun’s gesture. He thought Ji Minglun just wanted to pull him along and said, “No need.” But then he saw Ji Minglun lean forward and firmly press his dry palm into his, locking their fingers together.
There weren’t many people around, and Jiang Lin stared blankly at their joined hands. Ji Minglun continued walking to the center and stopped in front of the tombstone. Jiang Lin refocused and looked at Tang Ying’s photo.
He had personally chosen this photo, one of Tang Ying and him when he was eight. Although his father, Jiang Jianchen, had vehemently opposed using this photo on the tombstone, it didn’t matter. By the age of 14, Jiang Lin could already make these decisions for himself. Unable to control him with money and unwilling to completely fall out with him, Jiang Jianchen reluctantly allowed all the Jiang family relatives to see what he considered an absurd tombstone picture.
Ji Minglun pulled out a pack of wet wipes from his pocket, crouched down, and began to carefully clean the dust off the tombstone.
Jiang Lin stood quietly beside him, holding the white chrysanthemums, occasionally glancing at the photo on the tombstone.
His features inherited all the best aspects of his parents, especially Tang Ying’s delicate facial features. Jiang Jianchen had fallen in love with Tang Ying at first sight—she had beauty, talent, and was the only child of her family. However, she was naturally introverted and reluctant to socialize, a fatal flaw that had once been the most attractive quality in Jiang Jianchen’s eyes. After pursuing her with all his might, he quickly proposed. But within two years of their marriage, he began using her personality as an excuse to cheat.
Tang Ying’s cancer was largely caused by the psychological stress Jiang Jianchen had inflicted on her. Jiang Lin had only learned this after meeting her doctors, but back then, he was too young to do anything for Tang Ying except harbor hatred. What he resented most about himself was that he couldn’t even hate his father thoroughly.
He had no grandparents from his mother’s side, and besides his mother, his father was his only real family. After his mother’s death, he both loathed Jiang Jianchen and couldn’t completely escape his concern.
But during those years from age 14 to adulthood, the person who truly gave him warmth and support was the one standing in front of him now.
Watching Ji Minglun carefully clean the tombstone, Jiang Lin bent down and placed the flowers in the center. Once Ji Minglun stood up, Jiang Lin reached for his empty left hand.
Ji Minglun glanced at him, and Jiang Lin said to Tang Ying, “Mom, Minglun and I came to see you.”
“We’re in this kind of relationship now.” Raising their interlocked fingers, Jiang Lin showed Tang Ying.
Ji Minglun looked at the woman in the photo, holding her son with a bright and carefree smile, and solemnly said, “Aunt Tang, Jiang Lin and I are together now. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him.”
A breeze blew by, gently shaking the tender petals of the white chrysanthemums. Jiang Lin gazed at the eight-year-old version of himself in Tang Ying’s arms, then finally rested his eyes on hers.
This photo had been taken right after Tang Ying had won the most important award of her life. She had taken Jiang Lin to Yunnan for a trip. During those days, Tang Ying had always been smiling, walking in the spring mountain winds with her bright eyes reflecting the light from Erhai Lake. She had been so radiant, completely different from the lifeless, sickly look she had in her final days.
Sensing the fingertips in his palm move slightly, Ji Minglun turned his head to look at Jiang Lin again.
After saying those words just now, Jiang Lin fell silent. Every time he came to visit Tang Ying, he would become this quiet. Ji Minglun knew that he was speaking to Tang Ying in his heart, so he didn’t disturb him. Instead, he tightened his grip on Jiang Lin’s hand, transmitting his warmth.
On the way back, Jiang Lin rested his head against the window, lost in thought.
The setting sun in the west illuminated his pale face, but his eyes appeared dull and lifeless. At the traffic light ahead, Ji Minglun hit the brakes, gently stroked Jiang Lin’s face, and asked, “What do you want to eat tonight?”
Jiang Lin had no appetite and said, “Anything.”
Every time after visiting Tang Ying’s grave, his mood would sink. Ji Minglun wanted to cheer him up, so he pulled out his phone to find a restaurant Jiang Lin liked. Just as the app opened, the screen switched to an incoming call from his university advisor.
Ji Minglun answered the call and heard his advisor say that they urgently needed some data, but some information was uploaded incorrectly. If Ji Minglun had time, they asked if he could help fix it.
After hanging up, Ji Minglun hadn’t said a word before hearing Jiang Lin say, “Go ahead, I’ll just go back on my own.”
After the visit, Jiang Lin had intended to pay the maintenance fee, but the staff mentioned that a document for Tang Ying was about to expire, and Jiang Lin needed to bring the death certificate to renew it.
Jiang Lin was thinking about this matter, and before leaving, he told Ji Minglun that he would go home to get the documents and handle it the next morning.
Since the route home passed both the university and Jiang Lin’s house, Ji Minglun said, “I’ll drop you off at home first and then head to the university. The professor won’t mind me being a bit late.”
Jiang Lin didn’t refuse, continuing to stare out the window. On the way, Ji Minglun considered stopping to buy him something to eat, but Jiang Lin had no appetite. When they arrived downstairs at Jiang Lin’s building, Jiang Lin unlocked the car door, ready to get out, but Ji Minglun grabbed his arm.
Before he could fully turn, Ji Minglun seized his breath.
Ji Minglun’s breath poured over him, not gentle as usual, but not rough either. It was as if he wanted to envelop Jiang Lin completely, pinning him against the seatback, half his body leaning over to lock Jiang Lin in place.
The kiss came suddenly, yet strangely enough, it was something Jiang Lin had wanted all along during the journey.
The cramped space of the car didn’t allow for grand gestures, but the limited range made their closeness even more intimate. Jiang Lin was overwhelmed by the sensation, the sadness in his heart gradually dissolving under the passion of Ji Minglun’s affection.
Lifting his arms, Jiang Lin embraced Ji Minglun’s neck, kissing more and more fervently, his eyes growing so wet they couldn’t stay open. At that moment, a soft “click” sounded, followed by a rush of wind from the right side.
A middle-aged man, tall and upright, looked at the two entangled in the car. His usual gentlemanly demeanor vanished when he saw his only son pinned against the seatback, blushing and panting. His anger erupted like magma.
“What are you two doing!”