Chapter 30
“Jiang Zhong is back,” his aunt was the first to laugh and reply, “I just asked about you.”
Jiang Zhong stopped his suitcase at the staircase and walked over to sit on the single sofa.
It was only then that he noticed his aunt’s face didn’t look too good, with a forced smile.
Jiang Zhong didn’t want to directly inquire about matters between the elders, so he pretended not to notice and smiled, “I went out to play for a while.”
“Your mom told me, you went on a trip with your girlfriend,” his aunt said.
Jiang Zhong smiled in response. Although his mom wasn’t exactly correct, there was no way to contradict it now.
“Ah,” his aunt suddenly sighed deeply, turning to Zheng Yinqiu and saying, “It would have been so much better if he had just found a girlfriend in the proper way. Why did it have to be…?”
Jiang Zhong’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. It seemed like he was about to hear some secret.
Zheng Yinqiu gently patted his aunt’s hand and softly comforted her.
Before Jiang Zhong could figure out what was going on, Zheng Yinqiu turned to him and said, “Jiang Zhong, go upstairs and change into something more comfortable. Come down for dinner in a bit.”
Jiang Zhong nodded and, after returning to the staircase, grabbed his suitcase and went upstairs.
After taking a shower and changing into comfortable home clothes, Jiang Zhong opened his suitcase and began taking things out, sorting and organizing them.
He and Xi Qin had been traveling and staying for nearly half a month, buying a lot of little things. Some of the items that were inconvenient to carry were sent back to Xi Qin’s place in advance. The small things he brought back in his suitcase only made up a small portion, but it still filled up his small suitcase.
After organizing about half of it, Jiang Zhong checked the time on his phone and smiled as he sent Xi Qin a message.
【Jiang Zhong: Are you home yet, boyfriend?】
Before he received a reply from Xi Qin, there were a few knocks on the bedroom door.
Jiang Zhong placed his phone on the bed and got up to open the door. Standing outside was his cousin, Bai Yuelang.
“Brother Jiang Zhong.”
“Yuelang,” Jiang Zhong asked in confusion, “Is something wrong?”
“No,” Bai Yuelang shyly smiled, “My mom and little aunt are cooking. They asked me to come up and talk to you. Is it okay if I come in?”
“Of course,” Jiang Zhong opened the door wide, “Come in, it’s a bit messy. I’m still tidying up.”
Bai Yuelang entered the bedroom and neatly sat down on the small sofa.
“I remember you’re in your senior year this year, right?” Jiang Zhong returned to his suitcase and continued organizing the small items.
“Mm,” Bai Yuelang nodded, “There are just over four months until the college entrance exam.”
“Just treat it like any other exam,” Jiang Zhong said, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
Bai Yuelang nodded again.
Suddenly, the phone on the bed rang twice. Jiang Zhong reached over and grabbed it.
【Xi Qin: Just arrived】
【Xi Qin: Boyfriend】
【Jiang Zhong: Okay, boyfriend】
【Xi Qin: I miss you】
Jiang Zhong smiled. They had only been apart for just over an hour.
【Jiang Zhong: I miss you too】
【Xi Qin: Are you free to take a call?】
【Jiang Zhong: I’m afraid not. My cousin is next to me】
“Is it my little sister-in-law?”
“Huh?” Jiang Zhong looked up at Bai Yuelang in confusion.
“Are you texting my little sister-in-law?” Bai Yuelang asked. “I heard from my aunt that you recently got a girlfriend.”
“Little sister-in-law…” Jiang Zhong repeated the term, holding back a laugh. “Yes, it’s him.”
【Xi Qin: Your sister?】
【Jiang Zhong: My cousin】
【Jiang Zhong: I feel like you’re scolding me】
“My mom really is something,” Jiang Zhong pretended to scold. “She tells everyone everything.”
“Aunt didn’t mean to,” Bai Yuelang explained. “It’s just that my mom talked to Aunt about my brother, and that’s how she found out about you.”
“Brother Xuyang?” Jiang Zhong asked. “What happened to him?”
“My brother…” Bai Yuelang lowered her gaze. “He found a boyfriend.”
Jiang Zhong: !!!
【Xi Qin: You go ahead, call me when you’re free】
Jiang Zhong was so shocked he forgot to reply to Xi Qin. He tossed the phone onto the bed. “How could that be?”
Bai Yuelang’s older brother, Bai Xuyang, was three years older than Jiang Zhong and had been out of college for over six months.
Jiang Zhong saw him a few times every year, but he never realized that Bai Xuyang was also interested in men.
At this thought, Jiang Zhong suddenly felt like laughing. He was clearly gay himself, but every time he found out someone he knew was the same, he was always surprised.
It was the same when he first learned that Xi Qin liked men, and now hearing about his cousin having a boyfriend.
“Do you also think it’s strange?” Bai Yuelang lowered her eyes and said, “My parents can’t accept it, and they locked my brother in the house for several days.”
“No, I just didn’t expect it,” Jiang Zhong said.
“My mom came this time to ask Aunt to talk to my brother,” Bai Yuelang’s voice suddenly choked. “Brother Jiang Zhong, can you help my brother? He…”
Jiang Zhong quickly handed her a tissue.
“My brother hasn’t eaten properly for days,” Bai Yuelang sniffed. “My parents think I’m just a kid and don’t listen to anything I say.”
“Don’t cry,” Jiang Zhong said. “I’ll try my best. Tell me exactly what happened.”
Bai Yuelang, with red eyes, told Jiang Zhong everything she knew.
The Bai siblings had always been well-behaved growing up, especially Bai Xuyang, who had no flaws in terms of studies or personal conduct.
While other boys went through rebellious phases during adolescence, Bai Xuyang had none of that. He studied quietly throughout middle and high school, never dated early or caused trouble. After graduating high school, he was accepted into a prestigious university.
Once in college, Bai Xuyang didn’t slack off. Every year, he won the national scholarship for his excellent academic results and extracurricular achievements.
In his senior year, Bai Xuyang received a recommendation for further studies, but instead of continuing his education, he started looking for jobs and internships. After graduation, he successfully joined a well-known company.
Jiang Zhong’s aunt and uncle had always been very proud of their son. However, a few days ago, a scene they accidentally witnessed left them deeply shaken.
Bai Xuyang worked in a city close to their hometown, but after starting his job, he didn’t live at home. Instead, he rented a place on his own.
That day, Jiang Zhong’s aunt received a gift from a friend and decided to deliver a portion to Bai Xuyang. Since it wasn’t a workday, she didn’t inform him beforehand. However, she unexpectedly saw Bai Xuyang talking and laughing with a man in the building’s parking lot.
Although they weren’t being overly intimate in public, their interaction was clearly very familiar and suggested a close relationship.
Jiang Zhong’s aunt had never seen Bai Xuyang like this and was filled with suspicions.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was off. So, she quietly returned home, made a call, and summoned Bai Xuyang back.
That evening, under questioning from both Jiang Zhong’s aunt and uncle, Bai Xuyang finally admitted the truth. He had been secretly dating the man for several years!
Furious, Jiang Zhong’s uncle kicked Bai Xuyang, took his phone, and locked him in the room he used to stay in, telling him that he could only come out when he broke up with the man.
But Bai Xuyang wouldn’t agree to that. He didn’t even want to lie to his aunt and uncle. He was locked in for several days, barely eating, spending his days lying in bed.
He was a completely different person compared to when he was a student.
Bai Yuelang only found out about this a few days ago during her break when she returned home. She was in her crucial senior year of high school, and Jiang Zhong’s aunt and uncle originally wanted to keep it from her, fearing it might affect her studies. But she wasn’t foolish, and quickly understood the whole situation.
However, what good did it do her to know? Her parents still treated her like a child and wouldn’t listen to anything she said.
“This is how it is,” Bai Yuelang choked up, “My brother has always been very sensible. I believe he knows what he’s doing.”
“Mm,” Jiang Zhong nodded. Although Jiang’s parents never compared him to “other people’s children,” he knew that they also thought Bai Xuyang was exceptionally well-behaved. “I believe so too.”
“Brother Jiang Zhong,” Bai Yuelang hesitated and asked, “Do you discriminate against homosexuals?”
“Of course not,” Jiang Zhong immediately responded. “Every sexual orientation deserves respect.”
He said this not just because he was gay, but because Jiang Zhong genuinely believed that love shouldn’t be divided by gender, sexuality, or orientation.
Even if he liked girls, he would still say the same thing.
“Then, can you come with us to my house tomorrow?” Bai Yuelang looked at Jiang Zhong with hope. “Come help talk to my brother.”
Before Jiang Zhong could reply, Bai Yuelang quickly added, “Aunt is going too, so you can just come with her.”
“Alright,” Jiang Zhong gently ruffled Bai Yuelang’s hair. “I’ll go. Don’t worry, Xuyang-ge will be fine.”