He's Really So Hard to Pursue - Chapter 8

“Does it feel good?”

Despite Jiang Yanci’s direct flirtation, Boss Jiang remained unfazed. He withdrew his hand with composure, rounded the car to the driver’s seat, sat down, and buckled his seatbelt. The small white car soon pulled out of the neighborhood and merged into the flow of traffic.

For a while, Jiang Yanci was very quiet.

His face was slightly pale, and the pain in his wrist was intensifying in waves. In a daze, he seemed to fall into a nightmare.

In the dream, he returned to that unwelcome home as usual, seeing his mother come forward to greet him with a rare smile.

She was full of care for him, completely different from before.

Even his father, who usually rarely stayed home, was waiting for him there.

And then…

His younger brother cried. He cried heart-wrenchingly.

Immediately following that, a club swung down toward his head, brutally breaking his wrist.

The agony from several years ago crawled up once more. Jiang Yanci frowned deeply, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

“Jiang Yanci? Jiang Yanci?”

Jiang Yi shook him a few times but couldn’t wake him.

Jiang Yanci seemed trapped in a night terror. Just as Jiang Yi was about to call for a doctor directly. 

Jiang Yanci gasped, pulling himself out of the nightmare. “Are we at the hospital?”

Jiang Yi opened the car door. “Yeah. Get out.”

Jiang Yanci cursed under his breath, “Damn it, this hurts like hell!”

Jiang Yi had signed him up for the emergency department. The doctor on duty today was a chief physician who looked quite old, with graying hair at the temples and a “Mediterranean” bald style.

Seeing Jiang Yanci’s wrist, the doctor asked, “What happened?”

“Dr. Zhou.” Jiang Yanci hadn’t expected to run into his former primary surgeon. “Sorry about this.”

The aging Dr. Zhou clearly knew the history of this wrist. He quickly wrote out an emergency examination slip. “Go get an X-ray immediately and come back right after. It looks like a serious injury. I need to see the condition of the bone inside before deciding whether to perform surgery again.”

Jiang Yi took the slip without a word to pay the fees, then escorted Jiang Yanci to the imaging department.

Fortunately, being an emergency order, Jiang Yanci got his X-ray quickly and received the film.

Dr. Zhou scrutinized the results and let out a sigh of relief. “The situation doesn’t look too bad for now. We’ll put it in a cast, keep it well-rested, and come back for a check-up every half month. Don’t move your right hand; use your left hand for everything during this period.”

By the time the cast was finished, it was past noon.

Jiang Yanci rubbed his stomach. He had only eaten one brown sugar red bean bun from Xiao Zhao this morning; he was truly hungry now.

Jiang Yi carried the prescribed ointments and Western medicine. “Dr. Zhou prescribed some traditional Chinese medicine for you. The hospital will decoct it; come pick it up tomorrow.”

Jiang Yanci: “…I have to drink TCM too?! Old man Zhou must be taking revenge on me.”

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow and shot him a glance.

“He always said the surgery he did back then was a masterpiece, a huge success within controllable limits that saved my right hand. Now I’ve gone and reinjured the hand he painstakingly pieced together. Tsk, the old man really holds a grudge.”

Jiang Yi remained unmoved, already accustomed to his occasional rambling.

He started the car and opened the windows on both sides for ventilation. “Having hotpot for lunch, want some?”

Jiang Yanci chuckled. Knowing his wrist wasn’t a total disaster had lightened his mood considerably.

Hearing the offer, he leaned back lazily against the seat. “I’m in! It’s not about what we eat but who I’m eating with. With you there, Jiang-ge, I’d eat raw Yunnan mushrooms if you asked me to.”

Jiang Yi stepped on the gas.

The old street had a designated parking lot on the outskirts. Except for scooters and bicycles, all cars had to be parked outside.

Jiang Yi’s shop was a bit far from the parking lot. Because it had been raining for days, the bluestone road was full of ruts and puddles, making it easy to step into a trap.

Jiang Yanci, with his arm in a sling, felt entirely relaxed. Jiang Yi was carrying everything.

As he stood at the entrance of the tattoo shop, looking at his dirty white shoes, he let out a soft “tsk.” “Is there a pair of slippers I can change into?”

Jiang Yi glanced down and pushed open the door. “Xiao Zhao, get a pair of disposable slippers.”

Xiao Zhao was at the front desk, head down, eating snacks and watching videos. Suddenly hearing her boss’s voice, the girl jumped; a bag of Mimi shrimp strips scattered across the table. “I’ll go right now… Jiang-ge! What happened? Your hand is hurt? How did it happen? You were fine before you left this morning!”

As she asked, she didn’t forget to hand over the disposable slippers. Seeing that it was inconvenient for Jiang Yanci, the girl kindly intended to help him.

Jiang Yanci quickly stopped her. “Xiao Zhao, I heard we’re having hotpot for lunch?”

Xiao Zhao nodded. “Yes, the boss had me buy the base and ingredients.”

Jiang Yi placed the medicine on the front desk. “Go prepare lunch.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhao’s eyes darted between the two of them. The more she looked, the more she felt something was up. She turned around, covering her mouth with a sly grin.

Although Jiang Yanci had injured his hand, he wasn’t so incapacitated that he needed help changing shoes. He kicked off his shoes and slipped into the disposable ones before walking into the shop.

Xiao Zhao had ordered Haidilao, so everything was ready-made. Regarding the soup base, she was a bit dejected. “We usually eat spicy, but today the boss said we can only have the mushroom broth. But what flavor does mushroom broth have? It’s basically just clear soup. How can you call that hotpot?”

Jiang Yanci had already walked up behind her. “Did you order chili sauce?”

Xiao Zhao turned around. “I did, I did.”

Jiang Yanci raised an eyebrow. “Then I’ll mix a bowl later.”

While the two were huddled together discussing the hotpot, Jiang Yi finished putting away Jiang Yanci’s things. Then…

The three of them heard a voice coming from Room 1, which was slightly ajar: “Holy shit! Jiang-ge, I’ve been lying here for hours. If you don’t come finish up my tattoo soon, I’m going to die of hunger smelling that Haidilao.”

Jiang Yanci’s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners.

Xiao Zhao sat down and whispered, “Someone called the shop. I picked up, and the person said…”

She trailed off.

Jiang Yanci looked over. “Said what?”

Xiao Zhao: “That Jiang Yanci was about to die and told Jiang Yi to get on the phone.”

Jiang Yanci: “…”

That sounded exactly like something Qu Yehui would do.

Xiao Zhao recalled the scene. “The boss took the call. After hanging up, he told me to keep the customer comfortable, then grabbed his car keys and walked out.”

As she spoke, she wagged a finger. “He didn’t delay for a second. Jiang-ge, I think the boss definitely cares about you, at least he treats you as a friend. Just keep at it, and you’ll definitely catch him.”

Jiang Yanci nodded in agreement. “Coincidentally, I think so too.”

Jiang Yi still needed to finish the work. Before putting on his gloves and entering the room, he turned back. “You are only allowed to eat light food.”

With that, he entered Room 1.

Jiang Yanci knew those words were meant for him. Old Man Zhou hadn’t mentioned any dietary restrictions; besides, since there were no external wounds this time, there was generally no need to avoid certain foods.

Xiao Zhao had already started putting meat and meatballs into the pot.

Jiang Yanci paused. “Aren’t you waiting for your boss?”

Xiao Zhao took a piece of crispy fried pork. “No need. I saved some meat and veggies for him. Besides, that design is quick. He’ll be done and out in about ten minutes.”

To appease the waiting customer, Xiao Zhao had ordered some light lemonades from a certain four-yuan-a-cup chain plus milk tea from an alley for herself and the boss. She hadn’t drunk hers in front of the customer, keeping them in the fridge. Now she brought some out. “Jiang-ge, want some milk tea?”

“Better not.” Jiang Yanci mixed a bowl of sesame dipping sauce. His right hand was out of commission, and he still wasn’t used to his left. He had long since forgotten the habits from years ago. Now his hand kept shaking when he tried to pick up food; he could only use the hotpot ladle to scoop things up and then switch to a spoon to eat.

Eating like this was truly inconvenient.

And… his mouth felt as bland as paper. Remembering Jiang Yi’s warning, he asked, “Is there anything light to drink?”

Xiao Zhao: “Yeah, a giant cup of lemonade for four yuan. Want some?”

It was good for cutting through the grease, so Jiang Yanci asked for a cup.

He ate slowly, and Xiao Zhao wasn’t rushing either; it looked like they were both intentionally waiting for Jiang Yi.

Ten minutes later, the door to Room 1 opened, and the customer walked out while getting dressed. “Jiang-ge, I’ll come back in a few days to see if the coloring is perfect.”

Jiang Yi was inside washing his hands. “Watch your diet. No drinking, no smoking, no spicy food, and keep it away from water.”

“Got it. It’s not my first time getting inked by you; I know the drill.” The customer caught a whiff of the aroma and smacked his lips. “That hotpot smells amazing. Can I have a bite?”

Xiao Zhao and Jiang Yanci didn’t mind.

But once the customer saw the pot, he turned right around without hesitation and headed for the exit. “A broth that bland? No thanks.”

Jiang Yanci: “…”

Xiao Zhao: “…I hadn’t even said no yet!”

To be snubbed like that.

Jiang Yi finished cleaning up, grabbed a can of Coke from the fridge, and sat down next to Jiang Yanci. “Didn’t eat much?”

The plates of food hadn’t gone down by much.

Xiao Zhao beat him to the punch. “Jiang-ge said he wanted to wait for you.”

Jiang Yanci couldn’t help but chuckle; the girl was truly a natural at this.

He followed her lead. “Yeah, waiting for you. Are you sure I can’t have a little spice?”

“I don’t have an open wound. Even if it takes a hundred days for bones to heal, I need proper nutrition; otherwise, I’ll recover slowly.”

“So… I feel like in order to eat more, I should mix a dipping sauce I actually like so I can finish more meat?”

Jiang Yi played the role of the impartial judge perfectly. “I just remembered something.”

Jiang Yanci: “What?”

Jiang Yi tilted his head, his eyes scanning him. “You haven’t paid yet.”

Jiang Yanci choked for a second. “I’ll give you the money for the hospital. Tell me how much it was; I’ll transfer it now.”

Jiang Yi fished out a slice of meat. “The hospital bill is small change; I don’t care about that.”

His gaze landed on Jiang Yanci’s midsection. “The tattoo from last night. You haven’t settled the bill yet.”

Realization dawned on Jiang Yanci as he remembered. “Then calculate it all together; I’ll send it all at once.”

Xiao Zhao froze. Her mouth hung open.

Jiang Yi spoke before she could. “Your tattoo hasn’t healed yet. Are you sure you want to eat spicy food?”

Jiang Yanci went silent and obediently turned back to his clear soup pot.

To make matters worse, Jiang Yi leaned in and murmured, “Actually, hotpot causes internal heat. It’s not really suitable for you at all.”

Jiang Yanci: “…Are you trying to starve me to death so you can inherit my two-story building?”

Jiang Yi placed two slices of meat into Jiang Yanci’s bowl. “Then make sure to write a will before you go. Remember to transfer the title of this building to my name. It’ll save me from paying you rent in the future.”

With his right hand out of commission, Jiang Yanci used a spoon to eat the meat.

Once finished, he tilted his chin toward the pot. “Beef ball.”

Jiang Yi ladled a beef ball out for him.

After eating that, he wanted sweet potato slices. Jiang Yi didn’t say another word, resignedly serving the landlord like a dutiful waiter.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zhao was practically vibrating with shock.

She needed a moment to process this.

It took her until the very end of the meal to finally piece it together.

Jiang Yi poured some water and handed the water and the medicine to Jiang Yanci. After watching him take them, he asked, “Do you need that car of yours driven back?”

Satiated and drowsy, Jiang Yanci blinked his eyes open. “Yeah. I’ll send Qu Yehui a message.”

Seeing he had a plan, Jiang Yi didn’t press further.

“Oh my god! I thought the Boss was the rich one. Turns out it’s the landlord using ‘hidden rules’ on the tenant!”

Xiao Zhao’s reflex arc was incredibly long, but she had finally reacted.

She covered her face with both hands, the corners of her mouth nearly reaching her ears. “I have to go gossip with Jiang Xi. I never imagined Jiang-ge was our landlord. Jiang-ge, if you actually catch the Boss, does that mean our rent is free?”

Amused, Jiang Yanci teased, “No way. You can’t mix business with pleasure. I’m a man of the world. I want the money and the man.”

Xiao Zhao blurted out, “Can’t the Boss just pay the debt with his body?”

Jiang Yi’s narrow eyes flickered as he swept a glance toward her. Xiao Zhao immediately ducked her head like a frightened quail.

Jiang Yanci looked at Boss Jiang with a half-smile. “Paying with his body, huh… I’ll have to consider that.”

To avoid another warning look from the Boss, Xiao Zhao whispered, “Consider what?”

Jiang Yanci didn’t want to say too much in front of her, remaining vague. “Your Jiang-ge has very high standards.”

He’d have to inspect Boss Jiang’s “skills” first before deciding if he could settle the rent that way.

Before the girl could respond, he stood up and headed for the second floor. After a few steps, he turned back. “Can I crash here?”

Jiang Yi didn’t even look up. “Mhm.”

When he didn’t hear footsteps following the response, Jiang Yi took his eyes off his phone and looked up, puzzled. “What is it?”

On the stairs, Jiang Yanci pointed to the cast on his right arm. “Aren’t you going to help me get out of these clothes?”

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