Heartbeat Command - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: You should just hire me 

After finishing the cake and hanging out a bit longer, the group dispersed. Qi Xueying had her friends take her home, and Gu Yue was responsible for driving Jiang Luo and Cheng Jiashu back to campus.

Cheng Jiashu opened the door and sat in the car. It felt a bit impolite for both of them to sit in the back—it would make Gu Yue, who was dropping them off, look like a professional chauffeur. So, Jiang Luo walked to the window and asked, “Senior, can I sit in the passenger seat?”

Gu Yue nodded.

Jiang Luo got in the car. While fastening his seatbelt, he heard Gu Yue say, “You can just sit there, why ask me?”

Jiang Luo smiled. “What if you don’t like people sitting next to you? I have to ask for your permission beforehand.”

Gu Yue replied, “Then why didn’t you sit in the back? You wouldn’t have had to ask my permission for that.”

Actually, Gu Yue knew perfectly well why Jiang Luo wanted the passenger seat; he just wanted to see what Jiang Luo would say.

“Sitting in the back feels so distant,” Jiang Luo chuckled. “It’s not convenient for talking to you.”

Jiang Luo was naturally friendly, and his good impression of Gu Yue motivated him to close the distance even more. When the distance shortened, his speech became a bit more unrestrained. While Jiang Luo was quite outgoing, he wasn’t like this with everyone. He felt Gu Yue was a good person and clicked with him, so he was willing to be close. Like just now—and even now—he spoke to Gu Yue with an unconscious sense of familiarity.

Cheng Jiashu had drunk quite a bit today. He wasn’t drunk, just very clear-headed, though his tongue was a bit loose, and he was more talkative than usual. Sitting in the middle of the back seat, he leaned over the headrest to chat with Gu Yue, detailing his and Jiang Luo’s majors before asking what Gu Yue studied.

“Aerospace Design,” Gu Yue said.

Cheng Jiashu didn’t quite catch it. “What?”

“Flight Vehicle Design and Engineering,” Gu Yue provided the full name.

Cheng Jiashu paused for a second before reacting, “Damn, that’s awesome.”

That was the university’s top-tier major—high value, high entrance requirements, and notoriously difficult to get into.

Jiang Luo turned his head to look at Gu Yue. “That’s so impressive.”

Gu Yue glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Jiang Luo was looking at him with bright, shining eyes. The “natural professional booster” was back at it again, heaping praise on his senior—and doing it entirely from the heart.

Cheng Jiashu was just too talkative. Midway through the trip, afraid that he would distract Gu Yue, Jiang Luo said, “Give it a rest for a while, stop talking to him. The senior is driving, it’s not safe.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop.” Cheng Jiashu settled back.

Jiang Luo had said he sat in the passenger seat to make it easier to talk to Gu Yue, but he hadn’t said much; Cheng Jiashu had been the one doing all the talking.

“Oh right,” Cheng Jiashu suddenly remembered something and said to Gu Yue, “Brother Yue, could you drop me off at Jinyuan Residential Area? It’s the one near our school. If you keep driving this way, we’ll be there in a second. I’m not going back to campus tonight.”

Gu Yue gave a hum of acknowledgment.

“Sorry for the trouble, Brother Yue.” As Cheng Jiashu said this, he patted Jiang Luo on the shoulder. “Come over to my place tonight, let’s play games.”

Jiang Luo said, “What time is it? You still want to play games?”

“Just kidding. Tomorrow is Saturday—I shall not sleep tonight, I will fight until dawn!”

Jiang Luo was truly defeated by this gaming addict. “I’m not going. I have to get up early to work tomorrow.”

“Why are you working again? Aren’t you off from the coffee shop this week?”

“I’m idle anyway, so I picked up a gig.”

“I really admire you,” Cheng Jiashu said, reaching out to pat him on the forehead. “You really should let yourself breathe sometimes.”

Gu Yue dropped Cheng Jiashu off at Jinyuan and then took Jiang Luo back to campus. It wasn’t much trouble for him as they were on the way, but by the time he reached home, it was already 12:30 AM.

Gu Yue entered and changed his shoes. Miantuan heard the commotion and waddled over, sticking its butt up to give a massive stretch. It was a Ragdoll cat his mother had raised before she passed away. It was old but healthy and plump. After she passed, Gu Yue had been the one looking after Miantuan.

Gu Yue leaned down to scratch the cat under the chin. Miantuan squinted, flipped over, and lay on the floor, paws up in the air asking for more rubs. Gu Yue perfunctorily swiped a bent index finger against its belly before heading straight into the living room.

Gu Yue wasn’t exactly a “cat person”; his treatment of Miantuan was purely a case of “love me, love my cat.” The cat’s clinginess was like casting suggestive glances at a blind man—a couple of pets were enough.

The old, chubby cat struggled to roll over, then followed Gu Yue, meowing the whole way.

Gu Yue went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water when his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a call from Qi Xueying.

“Brother, did you make it home?” Qi Xueying asked.

“Yeah.”

Qi Xueying had already contacted Jiang Luo and Cheng Jiashu; she only called because she had messaged Gu Yue earlier and he hadn’t replied.

“Glad you’re home,” Qi Xueying smiled. “Oh, I heard from Jiang Luo that you two played games together before? When did you and your junior become so close?”

“He tells you everything, doesn’t he?” Gu Yue took a sip of water, eyebrow arched slightly. “Are you two very close?”

If he hadn’t run into Jiang Luo at Qi Xueying’s birthday party today, Gu Yue wouldn’t have even known they were friends. He had assumed their relationship was at most that of a “client” and “service provider.”

“We are.” Qi Xueying laughed. She hadn’t mentioned to Gu Yue before that she and Jiang Luo had known each other for a long time. “Our relationship isn’t just about money. Luoluo is my friend.”

Thinking about how every time he ran into Jiang Luo, he was either at work or on his way to work, Gu Yue asked casually, “Is he very short on money?”

The question was abrupt, and Qi Xueying almost didn’t react. “You mean Jiang Luo?”

“Yeah.”

Qi Xueying replied, “He is, quite.”

She didn’t tell Gu Yue the specific reasons; that was Jiang Luo’s private business, and she couldn’t just tell anyone.

Gu Yue sensed she was only telling half the story, but he didn’t press.

“Why the sudden question?” Qi Xueying asked.

“Every time I see him, he’s working.”

Qi Xueying smiled first, then sighed, her voice soft. “He works very hard.”

Miantuan walked over and flopped down by Gu Yue’s feet, letting out a “meow.” Gu Yue looked down at the cat. He didn’t know what he was thinking—maybe it was because he found Jiang Luo’s personality likable and agreeable, or maybe it was a flash of sympathy. He was silent for a moment before saying to Qi Xueying, “I’m going to Beijing for a lecture the next two days. There’s no one to look after the cat. Could you ask Jiang Luo if he’d be willing to come over and feed him? I’ll pay him.”

Qi Xueying was stunned. “…What?”

She held the phone, dazed for a moment before confirming, “You mean, let him come to your house to feed the cat? Miantuan?”

“Yeah. I’d have to hire someone to come over to feed him anyway while I’m gone,” Gu Yue said. “I’ll pay per visit, 300 per session.”

“My god… 300 per visit? You really are a saint.” Qi Xueying laughed. “Brother, are you serious? Not joking? If you’re serious, I’ll tell him.”

“Do you think I have time to joke?”

Qi Xueying chuckled. “Alright, hang on. I’m asking him now.”

Qi Xueying hung up and went to find Jiang Luo. Jiang Luo had just finished showering. It was Friday, and his roommates hadn’t slept yet—some were on their phones, others were playing games below the bunks. Jiang Luo was lying on his bed and sat straight up when he saw the message, startling his roommate across from him. “What’s wrong? Are you playing dead? You scared the hell out of me!”

Jiang Luo sat cross-legged and replied: What do you mean, Boss Ying?

Qi Xueying: Exactly what it sounds like. Qi Xueying: Senior Gu wants you to help him feed his cat. Qi Xueying: 300 per visit.

Jiang Luo: 300???

Qi Xueying: Yep.

Jiang Luo: Are you serious?

Qi Xueying sent Gu Yue’s WeChat contact card: Why don’t you ask him yourself if it’s real or fake.

Jiang Luo: Why did he suddenly think of asking me to feed his cat?

Qi Xueying: Don’t know. He just suddenly asked me if you were short on money, saying every time he meets you, you’re working.

Jiang Luo stared at the screen, stunned for a moment, then gripped his phone and smiled.

So that’s why.

Jiang Luo: Your brother is such a good person.

Qi Xueying: Yes, he is very good. Qi Xueying: He seems extra nice to you.

Jiang Luo: Huh?

Qi Xueying: I feel like he really likes you.

Jiang Luo choked while looking at the screen: Boss Ying, you can’t just say things like that…

Qi Xueying: Haha, I don’t mean ‘that’ kind of like. Look at how scared you got.

Jiang Luo: [Facepalm] I know. Even if it’s not that, don’t say things like that. It wouldn’t be good if the senior heard.

Qi Xueying: Don’t worry, it’s fine. Even if he knows, it’s okay. He’s not as scary as you think. Qi Xueying: I sent you his WeChat, go chat with him yourself.

Jiang Luo: Okay.

Gu Yue took a shower. When he came out, there was a friend request on his phone from Jiang Luo.

After accepting, Jiang Luo immediately messaged him: Senior!

Gu Yue lay on his bed, typing with one hand: Hmm.

Jiang Luo: I thought you were asleep.

Gu Yue: Just finished showering.

Jiang Luo: I see. Jiang Luo: So, Boss Ying told me to message you directly.

Gu Yue: Hmm. Gu Yue: Are you afraid of cats?

Jiang Luo: Of course not!

That was true. If he were afraid of cats, why would he have added him? The question was a bit redundant.

The door wasn’t fully closed. Miantuan squeezed through the gap, meowing as it walked to the side of the bed. It looked up at Gu Yue and stretched out a paw to claw at the sheets, its desire to sleep on the bed clear as day.

Gu Yue didn’t allow it, gesturing toward the door with his chin: “Sleep by yourself. Get out.”

Having been raised for nearly ten years, the old cat understood human nature well and understood what Gu Yue meant. It clawed at the edge of the bed and meowed once more, but seeing Gu Yue was unmoved, it could only twist its butt and walk out with a pitiful look.

Usually, when Gu Yue was away, he had a housekeeper come to look after Miantuan. He had never hired anyone to come over for this before; he wouldn’t just let a stranger step into his residence.

Even he felt today’s impulse was inexplicable—how did he come up with the idea of letting Jiang Luo feed his cat?

Jiang Luo confessed: But I haven’t raised a cat before. I have zero experience. Are you still willing to hire me? I’m going to binge-watch cat-raising videos tonight to cram.

Gu Yue: No need to cram. It’s not as complicated as you think.

Jiang Luo: So, are you hiring me or not?

What a question.

Gu Yue countered: What if I said no?

Jiang Luo: Then I will walk away, feeling very flat.

Gu Yue let out a scoff.

Jiang Luo: Hahaha, just kidding. Jiang Luo: You should just hire me [Pleading]. I’ll do a good job.

Gu Yue: Fine. I’ll hire you.

Jiang Luo: Thank you, Boss!