Chà Chà Novel

Shang Jianli sensed Ji Shileng’s wariness. He took a step back, putting some distance between them.

Then he smiled at him and asked, “Are you a little happier today?”

Ji Shileng found the question baffling, so his answer came out rather sharp. “And? What does my happiness have to do with you?”

Unbothered, Shang Jianli said gently, “If you’re happy, then what I’ve done means something”

He was nothing like the man at the conference table earlier, whose expression had been icy and whose voice could have frozen the air.

“Buddy, ease up on the crazy” Ji Shileng slipped one hand into his pocket. He could still distinguish right from wrong. “I do owe you thanks for today, but we’re better off keeping our distance”

The second item on today’s agenda had gone so smoothly largely because of Shang Jianli’s position.

He had sided with the Federation and the Ji family. Most importantly, he had sided with Ji Shileng, leaving the others with little choice.

They might have connections with the director of Imperial Capital News, but with the man at the very top making his stance so clear, continuing to oppose him would have been foolish.

Hearing Ji Shileng thank him brought that sense of distance surging back.

Shang Jianli’s long lashes trembled, their shadows concealing his eyes. He said quietly, “These are things I should be doing. You don’t need to thank me”

“Mm” Ji Shileng did not argue.

Back when Imperial Capital News was still under the publicity department, Shang Jianli had often allowed it to fabricate stories.

Even when he had not ordered it himself, he must have known.

This really was his responsibility.

Everything he was doing now amounted to removing misplaced puzzle pieces and putting them back where they belonged.

They stood facing each other in a silent standoff. It felt as though nothing had changed, and as though everything had.

Ji Shileng actually wanted to leave, but Shang Jianli was blocking the doorway. The passage was so narrow that getting out would mean pushing past him.

He could do that, of course. But touching Shang Jianli annoyed him.

Simply being in this enclosed space, catching the familiar scent of him, had already stirred an irritation Ji Shileng could not quite name.

Shang Jianli noticed his impatience, but instead of moving aside, he asked, “Will you let me handle what comes next?”

Ji Shileng looked up, finally giving him his full attention.

He sighed. “Why bother?”

Then, puzzled, he added, “You’ll handle it? In what capacity? Do you really not want to keep your position as general?”

Three questions in succession.

After what had happened at today’s meeting, plenty of people were probably dissatisfied with Shang Jianli.

Who sided with outsiders so openly against their own people?

The director of Imperial Capital News, especially, had looked at him after the meeting as though his eyes might spit fire and burn straight through him.

“The two aren’t mutually exclusive,” Shang Jianli said stubbornly, tilting his head slightly.

Ji Shileng found it almost funny, yet his heart felt too heavy for him to laugh.

“I want us to part on good terms” He pulled his hand from his pocket, pushed back his sleeve, and checked his watch. “You take your sunlit road, and I’ll take my avenue of stars. Wouldn’t that be good?”

They both had bright futures ahead.

“Part on good terms?” Shang Jianli repeated softly. “We parted in misery. There was nothing amicable about it”

Falling from the sky, being forced apart—how could that count as an amicable separation?

“What else, then?” Ji Shileng folded his arms and leaned against the sink. “Should I keep being your scapegoat?”

“Shang Jianli, that was where our story ended. To put it plainly, we used up whatever fate brought us together”

“I don’t agree” Shang Jianli shook his head. “We can change things through our actions. I’m making amends”

Ji Shileng said nothing, but his eyes seemed to say everything.

The past was gradually gathering dust along with his memories.

Back then, he had been unable to grasp exactly what was making him suffer.

Could love make someone miserable? He had not believed it.

But he had been forced to.

He had wanted to walk a broad, promising road alongside Shang Jianli. Instead, he had faced the wind and rain alone.

“Shang Jianli, what do I have to say to make you understand?” Ji Shileng looked exhausted, several sighs escaping his pale lips. “How could you possibly make up for what you owe me?”

After all, wasn’t the person standing before him the very one who had hurt him most deeply, and most often?

He could no longer remember whether he had asked this question before.

It did not matter if he had. What mattered was now.

Fine red veins slowly crept across Shang Jianli’s eyes.

Ji Shileng continued, “To put it harshly, as long as you’re alive, I might carry that resentment for the rest of my life”

Setting everything else aside, surely that lost life had to be repaid?

Shang Jianli’s lips curved. “All right”

It sounded like a promise. His gaze was tender, his refusal to let go of the person before him almost obsessive. “Shileng, everyone will pay the price. Me included”

For a moment, Ji Shileng had nothing to say.

He suspected Shang Jianli had worked himself stupid.

That bunch of incompetents really did do people harm. Shang Jianli used to be so intelligent.

Three long knocks and one short one sounded outside. Ji Shileng lifted his chin slightly. “Thank you for this time. I have to go. Consider these few minutes of conversation my thanks for your help”

Ji Shileng was easy to talk to now, and difficult to talk to as well.

In subtle ways, he kept rejecting every kindness Shang Jianli offered.

He would not take advantage of him. Every favor received an answer in Ji Shileng’s own fashion.

He knew what Shang Jianli wanted.

Shang Jianli wanted to talk to him. He had obliged, so that settled one favor. Their accounts were even.

(Little Ji: My time is expensive. A little conversation with me cancels out the favor I owe you.)

“Shileng, are you in there?” Su Ke called, knocking on the door.

Ji Shileng touched his forehead and fell silent for a moment.

Could he stop shouting so loudly? This was getting embarrassing.

“All right, keep it down. I’m coming out”

Ji Shileng remained where he was, waiting for Shang Jianli to move aside.

Knowing how much he hated embarrassment, Shang Jianli shifted slightly and cleared the way.

“Then I’ll see you next time”

“Better if there isn’t a next time” Ji Shileng walked forward without looking back.

Waiting outside, Su Ke was sharp-eyed. Even though the door opened only far enough for Ji Shileng to pass through, he spotted a corner of silver-gray fabric behind him.

He frowned and held the door open. “Shileng, don’t tell me Shang Jianli’s in there too?!”

“What is it?”

Su Ke craned his neck, trying to move Ji Shileng aside for a better look. “Why did I see Shang Jianli’s uniform jacket in there?”

Ji Shileng draped an arm over Su Ke’s shoulders to stop him from pursuing it. “We just happened to be in there together. Come on”

His sister and brother were still waiting outside.

He had already kept the whole group waiting for a while.

He needed to drag Su Ke away now, or they would be waiting much longer.