Chapter 17.1: “Learning how to serve you”
The moon hung in the sky, and the sea surface shimmered with ripples, reflecting broken silver fragments.
Bai Wenjun leaned against the railing, gazing at the endless sea. The sound of the wind howled in his ears, and a grayish nightfall enveloped the deck, the air filled with the salty scent unique to the ocean.
After a moment, he heard footsteps.
Jiang Chi had arrived.
Bai Wenjun lifted his face, and the sea breeze brushed his cheek like a gentle hand.
He didn’t turn around, and his voice was soft, almost breaking: “I don’t need you to come here and pretend to comfort me.”
Jiang Chi walked over and stopped at a distance, not too close nor too far: “Who hasn’t met a few jerks when they were young?”
Bai Wenjun sneered: “You still have an accurate sense of self, so what is it that you want to express by following me?”
Jiang Chi’s gaze was deeper than the sea, and also gentler.
He leaned against the metal railing, his tone casual and easy: “I upset Young Master Bai, shouldn’t I come to apologize?”
Bai Wenjun wiped the corner of his eye, brushing away the tears that hadn’t fully fallen: “I don’t need your apology, I just don’t understand…”
“Don’t understand what?” Jiang Chi asked.
Bai Wenjun lowered his eyes, staring at the dark sea, biting his lip, and with one breath, said: “How can you be so devoted now?”
Jiang Chi was surprised by this answer, his mouth moving before his brain could catch up, replying bluntly, “When have I been devoted?”
Bai Wenjun: “???”
He had finally gathered the courage to say it, only for Jiang Chi to come back with such a response. He couldn’t keep his composure and angrily rushed over to punch Jiang Chi.
“Jiang Chi! Do you have a heart!”
Bai Wenjun clearly looked like a well-behaved child with little experience in fighting. His punches were off-target, hitting Jiang Chi’s shoulder rather than his face or stomach. He didn’t actually want to hurt Jiang Chi; he was just venting his emotions.
But after putting so much effort into it, even those light punches were enough to feel uncomfortable.
Since learning that the original owner was a “sea king,” Jiang Chi had expected that one day he would be beaten. Of course, he couldn’t fight back; he could only dodge backwards, raising his arm to brace the blows.
“It hurts a bit, it hurts a bit.”
Jiang Chi grabbed Bai Wenjun’s wrist, explaining, “Bai Wenjun, Bai Wenjun! Just listen to me first.”
Bai Wenjun’s hands were held down by Jiang Chi. He struggled a few times but couldn’t break free, growing even angrier. He lifted his knee and aimed a low blow.
Jiang Chi had at least learned some sanda. He lightly blocked the attack with his hand, defusing the force, and muttered, “Ancestor, are you trying to tear down my family shrine?”
Bai Wenjun couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
He looked up at Jiang Chi, as if trying to discern something: “You’re not the same as before…”
Jiang Chi released Bai Wenjun’s wrist. “Yeah, I bumped my head a while ago, and now I can’t remember a lot of things clearly.”
Bai Wenjun frowned, staring intently at Jiang Chi: “Do you think I’m a fool? You can come up with this kind of excuse? It’s too fake.”
Jiang Chi thought to himself, ‘Does this excuse sound fake? I haven’t even mentioned the part about being in a book.’
“It’s true. I have no reason to lie to you.”
Jiang Chi lowered his gaze, looking at Bai Wenjun, his eyes gentle and sincere.
Moonlight bathed the earth, casting a soft shadow beneath Jiang Chi’s lowered eyelashes, softening the sharpness of his brows and adding a touch of warmth to his handsome face.
Jiang Chi’s eyes were like stars, even the shimmering light on the sea seemed to pale in comparison.
In that moment, Bai Wenjun suddenly felt an urge to cry.
He had never been so acutely aware that Jiang Chi in front of him had indeed changed.
Whether it was due to amnesia or simply because he had grown, Jiang Chi was no longer the person Bai Wenjun had once known. Only Bai Wenjun remained in the same place, the boy he had once loved and been close to would never come back.
At dinner today, when Bai Wenjun saw Jiang Chi, those distant, fading memories suddenly became clear. He remembered how Jiang Chi had picked him up from evening self-study in the heavy snow, sent him to his tutoring classes, and waited for him outside the school every day after class.
From the day Bai Wenjun started dating Jiang Chi, he knew that Jiang Chi was fickle. However, time and distance acted as the best filters. Over the course of two years, he had forgotten all of Jiang Chi’s bad qualities, leaving only the sparkling, sweet memories.
In youth, love that ends without a reason doesn’t need much embellishment—it is, in itself, a huge and irreversible regret.
The cruise ship silently sailed forward, leaving behind water ripples and foam.
When Bai Wenjun was young and read the story of “carving a boat to seek a sword,” he thought the person in the story was very foolish. Only after growing up did he realize that, in fact, he was also a fool, trapped in the old times and unable to move on.
Bai Wenjun averted his gaze, collapsing weakly into the deck chair. His voice was filled with sorrow: “Why does everything have to change?”
Jiang Chi crouched beside him and looked at Bai Wenjun: “You’ll meet better people in the future.”
Bai Wenjun furrowed his brow, disappointed: “Actually, you’re not good at all. You’re domineering and always so mean, flirting with my classmates, and so macho, with no patience and a big ego.”
Jiang Chi rested one hand on his knee: “Then why are you still upset?”
Bai Wenjun pushed Jiang Chi away: “Scumbag! I was too young back then and you tricked me!”
Jiang Chi laughed lightly: “Alright, alright, I’m the scumbag. I’ve done ten thousand wrongs, deceived Young Master Bai’s feelings. What should I do now? Should I let you beat me up to vent?”
Bai Wenjun huffed angrily: “But when I hit you, it doesn’t even hurt!”
Jiang Chi smiled: “It still hurts.”
Bai Wenjun stood up and slowly walked toward the cabin: “Now I’m starting to believe that you really have amnesia. If it were the old you, you would have gotten angry by now. You wouldn’t be so patient, explaining things to me. Anyway, congratulations on finding true love.”
“Huh?” Jiang Chi turned around, looking confused. “What true love?”
Bai Wenjun spoke slowly: “Fang Sizhe said so. He said you’ve found true love, that you’re devoted and don’t have time to hang out with them anymore.”
Jiang Chi: “Fang Sizhe is talking nonsense, just trying to stir up trouble.”
“Ah, Fang Sizhe is definitely doing it on purpose. He’s deliberately watching me make a fool of myself,” Bai Wenjun paused, irritably rubbing his hair. “When you came out, were they all talking about why I was angry?”
Jiang Chi hummed in acknowledgment: “But they definitely didn’t guess that you were angry because of Fang Sizhe. So, you’ve already won.”
Bai Wenjun looked at Jiang Chi in shock: “Is this about winning or losing? If you can’t comfort someone, then don’t, but why are you acting like such a straight guy? My filter for first love is shattered!”
Jiang Chi also realized that his focus had gone off track.
It was all Qin Yan’s fault.
Jiang Chi was a person with a calm and indifferent personality, not concerned with winning or losing. However, Qin Yan had a strong desire to win.
After spending so much time with Qin Yan, Jiang Chi inevitably developed a sense of competitiveness. Without thinking much about it, he instinctively focused on the idea of winning or losing.
Jiang Chi repeatedly apologized: “Sorry, sorry.”
Bai Wenjun muttered, “It’s like you’ve turned into a completely different person.”
Jiang Chi changed the topic: “Anyway, they’re already guessing. Why don’t we just say it’s a pre-arranged murder mystery game?”
Bai Wenjun crossed his arms, speaking in a mock-serious tone: “So, you’re saying your boyfriend won’t get mad about this?”
“He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my roommate.”
Jiang Chi couldn’t detect the fragrant tea aroma, but he gently pushed Bai Wenjun toward the banquet hall, speaking as they walked: “He won’t get mad. He’s playing more seriously than anyone else.”
Bai Wenjun’s legs felt unresponsive, as if he were being pushed forward by a bull.
The attendants waiting at the entrance to the banquet hall saw the two return and quickly opened the doors for them, one on each side.
As soon as the others saw Bai Wenjun, they all fell silent.
Bai Wenjun awkwardly dug his toes into the ground, reluctantly saying the excuse he had agreed upon with Jiang Chi.
The people in the room were all sharp-minded. Whether they believed it or not, they all acted as if they suddenly understood and even praised Bai Wenjun’s acting skills.
Hong Zixiao somehow managed to find a bell, drawing everyone’s attention: “It’s time to vote. Let’s see who is the culprit behind making our Young Master Bai angry.”
Fang Sizhe seemed to ponder: “This is the moment to test one’s social skills.”
Someone asked: “Is there a punishment for the person who gets chosen?”
Hong Zixiao grinned: “Of course! Just like before, the loser has to jump into the pool.”
Fang Siyue and Li Youyou exchanged a look and excitedly squeezed each other’s hands.
“Vote! Vote!”
Fang Siyue was so excited she nearly jumped up.
Hong Zixiao lifted the bell: “One, two, three, vote!”
With the light chime of the bell, everyone made their choice.
Except for Qin Yan, the other six people all unanimously pointed at Jiang Chi.
Qin Yan showed a hint of confusion.
Jiang Chi: “?????”
“It definitely can’t be me,” Jiang Chi spread his hands, looking innocently at everyone. “If it were me, what’s there to guess? No need to discuss it.”
Fang Siyue was extremely excited: “Brother Chi, I know it’s not you. I just want to see you go into the pool.”
Jiang Chi: “……”
Bai Wenjun seemed to take pleasure in Jiang Chi’s predicament, giving him a half-smile: “Looks like you’re not very popular.”
Jiang Chi quickly understood what was going on.
This group of troublemaking friends! Their tricks and schemes were all aimed at him!
It was like the mantis catching the cicada, with the yellow bird waiting behind. Jiang Chi had really gotten himself onto a pirate ship!
As soon as he realized what was happening, Jiang Chi turned and bolted.
Chasing prey was an instinct for animals.
Jiang Chi would’ve been fine if he hadn’t run, but as soon as he did, almost everyone started chasing him. They rushed out of the restaurant in a massive group, and Jiang Chi felt like he was back in middle school, running around during gym class, being chased by classmates, knowing that whoever got caught would be carried off by the gang to a big tree.
Unfortunately, two fists were no match for four hands. Hong Zixiao was the first to catch up, pouncing on Jiang Chi like a fierce tiger and hanging onto him. Jiang Chi reflexively performed a shoulder throw, tossing Hong Zixiao aside, but he couldn’t bring himself to throw him to the ground.
Just that slight hesitation allowed the others to quickly catch up. They surrounded Jiang Chi and, in no time, lifted him up.
In an instant, the crowd went wild, erupting into loud cheers.
“We’ve caught Jiang Chi!”
“Into the water, into the water!”
“Toss Jiang Chi in! Toss Jiang Chi in!”
Someone shouted, “Take his clothes off too!”
Before Jiang Chi could react, his jacket was pulled off by seven or eight hands.
“We haven’t even announced the real suspect yet,” Jiang Chi tried to regain control of the situation, but just as he said one sentence, the attention was already diverted: “…Who’s touching my stomach?”
Fang Siyue screamed: “Ahhh! I touched Brother Chi’s abs!!!”
“Fang Sizhe! Control your sister!” Jiang Chi was held by several people, unable to move, and gave up struggling. He just wanted someone to back him up: “At least announce the correct answer! Whoever gets it wrong should be punished too!”
Who cared about the correct answer!
Except for Hong Zixiao, most of the group hadn’t seen Jiang Chi in years.
They had heard that Jiang Chi had changed, but after meeting him, they realized he was still the same as before—handsome, responsible, and with a good temper. This was still their Brother Chi. Who on earth started that rumor about him changing?
The group laughed and joked without restraint, as if they had gone back to their childhood, gathering together to play noisily.
At this point, the situation was completely out of control.
A group of twenty-something young men had transformed into childish troublemakers, yelling and screaming, with no one able to hear what anyone else was saying, frantically carrying Jiang Chi toward the pool.
It was like zombies surrounding a city.
Jiang Chi felt like he was about to throw up from being jostled around, and could almost understand a little of what Qin Yan must have felt when Jiang Chi had carried him before.
Truly, the cycle of cause and effect—karma was real.
The moment he was tossed into the air, Jiang Chi only had one thought in his mind: Finally, it’s over.
With a “plop,” Jiang Chi hit the water.
Water splashed up, shattering the moonlight reflected on the surface.
Jiang Chi held his breath, pushed off with his feet, and stretched his arms to swim upward, breaking through the water like a dragon.
Water droplets streamed down from his chest, glistening with silver light, as majestic and strong as an ancient warrior.
“So handsome!” Fang Siyue murmured.
“Then go down and take a look!”
Fang Sizhe mischievously pushed Fang Siyue into the water.
Li Youyou instinctively reached out to grab her best friend but ended up being pulled into the water along with her.
“Ah!!!!!!!!!!”
Fang Siyue was furious. All the makeup she had spent two hours on was ruined!
She stood up from the water, extending her finger toward Fang Sizhe like a vengeful queen: “Brother Zixiao, push this beast into the water for me!”
Without Fang Siyue having to say anything, Hong Zixiao had already stretched out his hand.
For an hour, the shore descended into chaos. You push me, I pull you, everyone falling into the water one after another, and then starting a water fight.
Qin Yan stood far away, unaffected by the chaos.
Jiang Chi dived into the water, avoiding the battlefield, and swam over to Qin Yan’s side. He lifted his hand to wipe his face.
Qin Yan half-squatted by the poolside, looking down at Jiang Chi in the water: “The answer is Fang Sizhe, right?”
Still thinking about the answer?
Jiang Chi chuckled helplessly: “Yes.”
A hint of a smile appeared in Qin Yan’s eyes, his mischievous gaze slightly shifting, brighter than the moonlight in the water.
Qin Yan said confidently: “I knew it. I’m never wrong.”
“Yes, you’re the smartest…” Jiang Chi couldn’t help but smile as well. He reached his hand out toward Qin Yan: “Come on, pull me up.”
Qin Yan leaned back slightly, cautiously saying: “No, you just want to pull me in.”
Jiang Chi’s cunning plan was exposed, and he was frustrated: “How are you so sharp?”
Qin Yan raised an eyebrow, his demeanor full of confidence: “You already said I’m the smartest, and you’re the fool.”
Jiang Chi placed his hands on the poolside, preparing to get out and teach Qin Yan a lesson: “You’re getting bolder and bolder! Don’t let me catch you!”
Qin Yan, maintaining his dignity, wasn’t willing to chase Jiang Chi around in front of everyone.
He took the initiative to hold Jiang Chi’s hand: “Alright, you caught me.”
Suddenly, Jiang Chi’s heart skipped a beat.
His reflexes were faster than his thoughts. Before he even understood what was happening, he twisted his wrist and had already pulled Qin Yan into the water.
This damn reflex!
Qin Yan fell into the water, and due to inertia, he kept sinking.
The cool water wrapped around him, feeling as light as floating on a cloud, effortless.
The water in the pool was very clear, and through the water, one could see the moon hanging high in the sky.
And then, Jiang Chi broke through the water, swimming towards him.
Jiang Chi wrapped his arm around Qin Yan’s shoulder and lifted him up as they swam toward the surface.
With a splash, both of them surfaced at the same time.
Jiang Chi supported Qin Yan: “You can’t swim?”
Qin Yan spit out some water: “No.”
Jiang Chi pulled Qin Yan towards the shallow end: “Then why did you come down?”
Qin Yan replied flatly, with no trace of accusation, even his rhetorical question sounded more like a statement of fact: “Wasn’t it you who pulled me down?”
Jiang Chi: “…”
He knew he was in the wrong and didn’t continue the conversation.
Amid the noise and clamor, Jiang Chi and Qin Yan leaned by the pool, looking at the stars.
On the other side of the pool, the chaos escalated, and before long, the group split into several factions, entangled in playful struggles.
Somehow, Hong Zixiao had managed to get his hands on a water gun and started spraying everyone, which quickly drew the ire of the others, and he was soon surrounded.
Fang Sizhe said, “Take his gun!”
Hong Zixiao was pinned underwater by a few people, but then sprang out of the water like a water ghost, pulling anyone he could grab back under.
Fang Siye and the other girls formed their own team, kneeling on inflatable loungers, using inflatable hammers to play whack-a-mole, hitting anyone who popped up.
Qin Yan, drawn by the laughter and noise, looked over at them: “Your friends are really good people.”
Jiang Chi occasionally found Qin Yan’s way of speaking a bit strange, but he didn’t pay much attention to it.
In the port city, people speak Cantonese, and since Cantonese and Mandarin are already a bit different, the grammatical quirks can be overlooked, so Jiang Chi just thought that Qin Yan wasn’t very familiar with the grammar of Mandarin.
It must be said that, although the process of solving the problem was completely wrong, the answer Jiang Chi gave was actually correct.
Qin Yan really wasn’t very familiar with Mandarin grammar.
When he lived abroad, he mostly spoke English, and after returning to China, he had to readjust to his mother tongue’s environment, overcoming the issue of knowing a word but not being sure how to express it in Chinese.
…
Fang Siye got a bit tired after playing for a while and was discussing with Li Youyou about taking a break.
As soon as she turned around, she happened to see Jiang Chi and Qin Yan hiding in the corner.
Fang Siye, Li Youyou, and another girl named Niao Niao climbed out of the pool and ran over to chat with Jiang Chi.
Their clothes were wet, and the fabric was slightly see-through. The three girls, all very slim, had their wet skirts clinging to their bodies, showing their graceful curves and delicate beauty.
Fang Siye and Li Youyou were completely unguarded around Jiang Chi, crouching by the poolside to talk to him.
Jiang Chi pulled Qin Yan back a little, distancing themselves from the three girls, and called a server to bring towels for them.
Fang Siye put on a towel and then realized what Jiang Chi was avoiding, immediately bursting into laughter with Li Youyou.
These small details were especially moving, making him appear gentle and upright, not at all like a frivolous young man.
Jiang Chi looked at the sky, looked at the ground, looked at Qin Yan, but didn’t look at the three girls.
Niao Niao was a third-tier small celebrity, usually spending time with rich people, and it was rare not to be taken advantage of. This was the first time she had met a gentleman like Jiang Chi.
Niao Niao sighed, “Young Master Jiang is so much of a gentleman, no wonder…”
No wonder his reputation as a flirt and a heartbreaker echoed throughout the prestigious circles of Wuchuan, and he still had such good relationships with everyone.
Li Youyou wrapped the towel around herself, her arms gracefully folded, and pressed up close to the beauty: “What can you even see this late at night?”
Fang Siyue laughed, “Brother Chi wouldn’t dare look, so what’s there to talk about seeing clearly? Look at his expression, so determined, it’s like he’s about to join the (political) party.”
Even though there were only three of them, Fang Siyue and the others chatted back and forth, the conversation chattering on like a thousand horses running.
Qin Yan wasn’t good at interacting with young girls and was getting a headache from the noise. He wanted to go back to his room to rest. He originally intended to tug at Jiang Chi’s sleeve as a hint, but Jiang Chi’s shirt had already been taken off.
After a moment of hesitation between pulling his pants or his hair, Qin Yan chose to grab his hair.
Jiang Chi noticed Qin Yan’s small movement and got out of the water with him.
Qin Yan’s clothes were soaked through, his trousers sticking to his legs, faint marks from the shirt clips that held his shirt in place on his thighs visible.
He really wore that thing!
Jiang Chi averted his gaze, grabbing a towel to wrap around Qin Yan’s waist and pulling him toward the guest room.
Qin Yan: “???”
“What’s wrong?” Qin Yan turned his head to look at Jiang Chi. “Why are you wrapping a towel around me? You’re shirtless, aren’t you cold?”
Jiang Chi said, “I’m not cold.”
Jiang Chi’s shoulder and chest pressed directly against Qin Yan’s wet shirt, the two of them sharing body heat.
Even though it was a summer night, stepping out of the pool, the sea breeze still made it feel cold.
It felt very comfortable, snuggling together like that, hard to say who felt warmer.
