Who's the Puppy? - Chapter 3

Once I started university, boys began pursuing me openly.

The one I remembered best was Wei Zhuo. He was generous, came from a good family, and liked to call me pretty.

At first, he asked what my type was. I fell silent and looked out the window at a large tree, its green leaves fluttering. Suddenly, I thought of Jiang Chenye.

Later, he asked if I’d give him a chance. Again, I thought of Jiang Chenye. Then I looked up and managed a small smile.

“Sure. Let’s try.”

Three months later, we broke up. The reason was simple: he wanted sex, and I refused.

Between my undergraduate studies and entering the doctoral program directly, I dated someone else. That breakup happened for much the same reason.

Holding hands was fine. Hugging was fine. Anything more made me want to back away.

“Jiang Yunsheng, you’re such a poser,” he told me.

I managed a faint smile and nodded, accepting the verdict.

After two attempts, I reached a conclusion: one person’s breath really could feel different from another’s. From beginning to end, I’d only ever craved one particular warmth.

The year I started the second year of my PhD, our high school class president arranged a reunion.

Maybe I was under too much academic pressure. Maybe I envied everyone who had someone. For once, I got drunk, and my emotions slipped out of my control.

I dialed that number. Neither of us spoke.

At the end of the long silence, I said, hurt and miserable, “Brother.”

At last, he answered. “Where are you?”

Jiang Chenye picked me up and drove toward the Jiang house. He was silent the whole way. I watched him the whole way.

I could barely walk straight. He escorted me through the front door, then patiently took me upstairs too. But I pushed my luck and caught his sleeve so he couldn’t leave.

“Brother, I’ve bought you lots of clothes.”

It was a nonsensical thing to say. Naturally, he didn’t answer.

My mouth twitched. I took another step toward him and lowered my head as tears fell.

“Brother, please don’t hate me.”

Still nothing.

So I looked up, letting my gaze linger on his face with all the attachment I couldn’t hide.

“Brother.” I smiled a little, reached up to his shoulders, and rose onto my toes. My breath trembled as I drew close.

I prayed he wouldn’t push me away.

He didn’t. But he didn’t respond either.

So this was what a kiss tasted like: salty and bitter. I didn’t like it.

I bit him hard enough to draw blood. Jiang Chenye didn’t even frown. He gripped the back of my neck and bit back harder, then pushed me away.

He lifted his eyes and directed a cold look past me.

I turned.

Dad was there.

Mingkai had called him over.

When my second brother found me at the hospital and showed me the photos he’d taken in secret, he looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

“What did I tell you? Jiang Chenye’s a pervert.”

I stood outside the hospital room, cold all over.

That night, Dad had called Chenye into his study first. I thought he meant to lecture us separately, so I just waited outside.

When Chenye came out, the back of his dark gray shirt was soaked with blood.

I rushed in to demand an explanation. Dad gave me one cold sentence.

“He’s your eldest brother.”

He was my eldest brother.

So what?

I turned and punched Jiang Mingkai hard.

Then I tried to push open Chenye’s hospital room door, but his secretary stopped me.

“Mr. Jiang is resting.”

Chenye spent seven days in the hospital. He wouldn’t let me in to see him once.

Each day, I could only stand outside for a while when his secretary wasn’t there. I stole glimpses of his bloodless face and saw the gauze soaked red in the kidney dish after the doctor changed his dressings.

Slowly, one thing became clear to me.

No kind of love should leave someone wounded all over.

I should have stayed far away from Jiang Chenye from the very beginning.