My Nemesis Has Finally Gone Bankrupt Chapter 109

Chapter 109:

This was Jiang Yunjian’s first time lying on Cheng Peng’s bed, just sleeping and doing nothing else.

He had been looking forward to this night. They hadn’t seen each other for half a month, and Cheng Peng had seemed pretty busy recently. He didn’t know when their next meeting would be, so he was determined to savor this time together.

But his eyelids refused to cooperate, heavy and hot. He could only try hard to keep himself from falling asleep too quickly, still trying to listen to the sound of water from the bathroom.

Soon, the bathroom door opened again, and the scent of shower gel filled the air. Jiang Yunjian was a bit slow to react. When he blinked his eyes open, Cheng Peng had already lain down next to him.

The bed was large, so even with two grown men lying side by side, they didn’t necessarily touch.

Once Cheng Peng’s breathing became steady, Jiang Yunjian opened his eyes, shifted a little toward the edge of the bed, and let the blanket press into his back.

Then, little by little, he moved toward Cheng Peng.

He wanted to sleep closer to Cheng Peng, but he was worried about infecting him, so he had to use the blankets as a barrier. As he heard Cheng Peng’s breathing growing closer to his ear, Jiang Yunjian gently exhaled and was about to move again when Cheng Peng made the first move.

Cheng Peng lifted the blanket between them and placed his cool hand on Jiang Yunjian’s waist, pulling him back toward him.

Jiang Yunjian’s chest pressed against Cheng Peng’s back. Cheng Peng had just finished his shower and wasn’t wearing a shirt. His body felt cool, and even with just the thin shirt between them, Jiang Yunjian found it comforting.

Cheng Peng spoke with a smile in his voice. “What are you doing?”

He hadn’t fallen asleep at all, watching as Jiang Yunjian cautiously moved closer.

Jiang Yunjian’s breath became heavier. “I…”

“Cold?” Cheng Peng asked again.

Jiang Yunjian replied, following his lead. “A little.”

Cheng Peng tightened his embrace and placed his palm on Jiang Yunjian’s forehead. “If you still have a fever in the morning, we’ll go to the hospital.”

Jiang Yunjian obediently answered, “Okay. But please let go of me, being this close really might infect you.”

Cheng Peng closed his eyes and asked, “Then why did you move closer just now?”

“…I was behind the blanket.” Jiang Yunjian explained. “Sorry.”

 iang Yunjian was burning with fever, his body feeling scalding hot, but Cheng Peng’s embrace was comfortable. “It’s fine, I’m not upset. Go to sleep,” he said.

His voice was so close that it made Jiang Yunjian’s ears buzz.

…How could he sleep like this?

When Cheng Peng woke up, the sky had just begun to brighten.

He hadn’t woken up naturally; his phone on the bedside table was vibrating, buzzing loudly and giving him a headache.

He glanced down and noticed that Jiang Yunjian had changed positions sometime during the night, now facing him with his face pressed against Cheng Peng’s chin. His skin still felt warm. It had to be said, Jiang Yunjian’s face was truly beautiful, and no matter the angle, it was always pleasing to the eye.

He was also very well-behaved, seemingly without any temper, though Cheng Peng couldn’t help but wonder if anyone had ever taken advantage of this personality in their circle.

Cheng Peng lowered his head and gently pressed his forehead against Jiang Yunjian’s. His fever hadn’t fully subsided, but it seemed to have gone down a bit.

The phone on the bedside table buzzed again. Cheng Peng furrowed his brows, half-sitting up and reaching over Jiang Yunjian to grab the phone.

The phone was Jiang Yunjian’s, and the caller ID read “Brother Bo.”

Cheng Peng hung up, but the caller was persistent, dialing again before Cheng Peng could turn the phone off.

Worried there might be something urgent, Cheng Peng answered.

“Where are you?!” Bo Zhen’s voice was loud and hoarse. It was no surprise, given that he had received a call from the assistant early in the morning, telling him Jiang Yunjian had disappeared, not answering calls or responding to messages. He had been so frightened, he was already on his way to the police station. “Are you okay? Are you still at the set? I’m coming to find you!”

Cheng Peng lowered the volume on the phone. “He’s with me.”

Bo Zhen froze for a moment, his first thought being that Jiang Yunjian had been kidnapped. “… How much ransom do you want? Where is he?”

Cheng Peng rubbed his temples and calmly stated his name.

A few minutes later, Bo Zhen had calmed down.

“Sorry, President Cheng, I truly apologize. I was in a panic when I couldn’t find him this morning,” Bo Zhen said, pulling over to the side of the road. “Which hotel are you at? I’ll come pick him up right now.”

“He’s at my place,” Cheng Peng replied. “It’s the weekend, and it’s only 7:40 AM.”

Bo Zhen immediately understood. “President Cheng, the crew doesn’t have weekends off. He has a scene at 8:30. If we rush now, he’ll be late.”

Cheng Peng frowned. “He has a fever.”

“It’s fine, today’s not a water scene—”

“A water scene?” Cheng Peng glanced at the sky outside. The temperature had dropped recently, and there was a chilly breeze at night. “You want him to go in the water in this weather?”

“We can’t help it… it’s part of the job. Don’t worry, today’s scenes are all indoors, no wind.”

Cheng Peng reached out to touch Jiang Yunjian’s face, lightly tapping his cheek to check his temperature. It was still high. “He’s taking the day off.”

Bo Zhen looked troubled. Didn’t Cheng Peng want Jiang Yunjian to take the day off? It wasn’t just about whether Jiang Yunjian wanted to, it was also about Director Wu not being easy to talk to. “But… he…”

“I’ll talk to the director,” Cheng Peng said succinctly, ending the conversation.

When Jiang Yunjian woke up, he learned that he had been “given the day off.”

“Don’t worry, Director Wu didn’t say anything,” Cheng Peng said, seeing Jiang Yunjian sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. He pinched his ear. “When you’re sick, rest. The crew won’t fall apart without you for a day.”

Normally, Jiang Yunjian wouldn’t have wanted to take a day off. With so many people in the crew, even a small delay in progress would be a waste of everyone’s time. If it wasn’t a serious illness, he would have pushed through.

But right now, he couldn’t focus on that.

Before Cheng Peng could pull his hand back, Jiang Yunjian grabbed his wrist. “Can I not go back to the set today?”

Cheng Peng paused, raising an eyebrow. “Want to stay?”

“…I want to,” Jiang Yunjian said.

Cheng Peng hadn’t planned on making him leave, so he smiled upon hearing that. “Lie down. I’ve ordered breakfast. I’ll call you when it arrives.”

Jiang Yunjian shook his head. “I’m not sleeping anymore.”

He went into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on his face.

He had actually stayed, and now he could spend the whole day with Cheng Peng.

This realization made him feel inexplicably excited, and the last bit of discomfort from the fever was completely overshadowed by the happiness he felt.

After washing up, he returned Cheng Peng’s call and briefly explained the situation. When he went back to the living room, he found Cheng Peng sitting on the sofa, looking at his laptop.

“I’m dealing with a few things, make yourself at home,” Cheng Peng said without looking up.

Jiang Yunjian nodded and quietly sat next to him.

Today, Cheng Peng wasn’t working; he just had a contract that had arrived early and needed to go over it quickly. He finished reading the document in no time, glanced over at Jiang Yunjian, and noticed that the latter was holding his phone, scrolling through fan comments.

As he looked over, he saw that Jiang Yunjian had just opened a direct message from a hater, calling him a “plastic monster.”

It seemed like Jiang Yunjian was used to this. With one swipe, he deleted the message without even furrowing his brows, clearly not bothered by it at all.

It was much stronger than Cheng Peng had imagined.

In fact, they didn’t do much that day. At noon, Jiang Yunjian took his temperature again—still a mild fever. Cheng Peng, unable to bring himself to touch him too much, had tried twice to check his temperature by reaching under his collar, but both times he quickly withdrew his hand.

Jiang Yunjian was fine, but Cheng Peng had made him uncomfortable. His face would flush hot and cold, making it harder for him to bear.

Cheng Peng felt that this couldn’t go on. He had a desire for Jiang Yunjian, otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken him again the previous night. He couldn’t even remember how he’d gotten through last night. If this continued, he’d be nothing but an animal.

So, in the afternoon, when he received an invitation from Ji Ran, he accepted without thinking.

“Playing basketball?” Jiang Yunjian blinked, sitting on the sofa in confusion.

“Yeah, your manager will pick you up later. Remember to take your medicine before you leave.” Cheng Peng took off his pajamas and changed into his sports clothes.

“I can come along and watch?” Jiang Yunjian asked.

“You’re still running a fever,” Cheng Peng replied.

“I’m not running a fever anymore,” Jiang Yunjian stood up from the sofa. “I’ll just watch, I won’t disturb you guys.”

“It’s cold outside, and we’re going to an outdoor court,” Cheng Peng frowned.

Jiang Yunjian opened his mouth to argue but saw Cheng Peng’s expression and thought he was getting annoyed. He quickly stopped and didn’t dare to insist any further.

“…When will you be back?” After a long silence, Jiang Yunjian couldn’t help asking. “If it’s early, I’ll wait for you to return before I leave.”

Cheng Peng paused in the action of putting on his coat. “Wait for me to come back?”

“Mm,” Jiang Yunjian replied. “I’ll say goodbye to you before leaving.”

“…”

Cheng Peng lowered his head and zipped up his coat. After a long moment, he sighed, pulled a down jacket from the wardrobe, and tossed it into Jiang Yunjian’s hands. “Put this on.”

Jiang Yunjian was stunned and didn’t dare to ask further, quickly putting on the jacket and fastening it.

“You definitely can’t play ball now,” Cheng Peng said. “If you get bored or feel cold later, just get in the car and wait for me.”

“Make sure to wear your mask, don’t let anyone recognize you.”

____

A few years ago, Jiang Yunjian had met Ji Ran and Yue Wenwen at Cheng Peng’s office, so there was no need for further introduction.

In fact, the last time they met, Cheng Peng hadn’t introduced them either.

This wasn’t surprising. Who would introduce their lover to their friends?

“You’re so famous now, how dare you still hang out with Cheng Peng?” Yue Wenwen glanced at him from the audience stands and laughed. “Aren’t you hot?”

Jiang Yunjian could tell there was no malice in the words, just pure curiosity. He replied, “It’s fine. I’m not that famous. I caught a bit of a cold today, so I just bundled up more.”

Yue Wenwen immediately recognized that the clothes were Cheng Peng’s. Finding it amusing, he braced himself on the ground and said with a smile, “So, are you back with Peng Peng?”

Jiang Yunjian answered honestly, “Yes.”

Yue Wenwen nodded, giving a meaningful look before saying, “That’s rare.”

After the game, they discussed going out for dinner.

When they arrived at the food stall, Cheng Peng said, “Let’s sit in the private room. He shouldn’t be out in the open.”

Ji Ran glanced at Jiang Yunjian without saying anything further.

Jiang Yunjian apologized, “Sorry for the trouble.”

Just after ordering, the door to the private room opened, and a man in a sharp suit walked in. Jiang Yunjian recognized him as the man who had sat with Ji Ran at the farmhouse.

Qin Man greeted them briefly before walking behind Ji Ran and naturally lifting his chin. “Did you lose the game?”

“Lost my ass. How could I lose?” The normally laid-back man suddenly seemed energized, scoffing. “Even with Cheng Peng and you, none of you could beat me.”

During the meal, Jiang Yunjian stayed silent, quietly eating and listening to their conversation, which casually moved from business to Ji Ran’s club. It was easy to tell they had been friends for years.

He also noticed that both Ji Ran and Qin Man were wearing the same style of men’s rings on their ring fingers.

In the middle of the meal, Bo Zhen called. After a brief conversation, Jiang Yunjian hung up, and Cheng Peng turned to ask, “Are you leaving?”

“Yeah, I have a night shoot tonight,” Jiang Yunjian replied. “Brother Bo is already waiting outside.”

“Go ahead.” Cheng Peng reached out and tapped his forehead. “You’re almost recovered.”

Jiang Yunjian lowered his eyes and nodded. “Then this jacket…”

Cheng Peng spoke softly, “Wear it, and return it to me next time you come.”

“Next time” was such a pleasant word.

After briefly saying goodbye to the others, Jiang Yunjian turned and left the private room.

Not long after the door closed, Yue Wenwen couldn’t help but speak up, “Xiao Pengpeng, you’re not acting right. Didn’t Jiang Yunjian and you break up a few years ago?”

Cheng Peng smiled and said, “It was a bit unexpected. We ran into each other again.”

“So, when you ran into him, you just took him back?” Ji Ran raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t go back to old flames.”

Cheng Peng took a sip from his glass, “There are some reasons.”

Ji Ran didn’t ask what those reasons were, and Cheng Peng couldn’t explain them either.

He had always focused on the future, and had little interest in the past. But when he reunited with Jiang Yunjian that day, it felt as though he was seeing someone entirely different.

The old Jiang Yunjian had been patient and reserved, never the type to untie his belt for him, nor would he awkwardly speak about his progress while attempting to serve him in such a manner.

Later on, despite being shy and blushing all over, unable to form a complete sentence, he still listened to him, willing to adopt various positions.

Thinking about this, Cheng Peng couldn’t help but smile.

Yue Wenwen raised his glass and clinked it with Cheng Peng’s, “Alright, whatever the reason, congratulations, you’ve finally returned to the fold.”

Cheng Peng smiled. “Return to the fold?”

“Isn’t that right?” Yue Wenwen replied. “For the past two years, I thought you were about to become a monk. You scared everyone, and when I went to pray to Guanyin earlier this year, I even specifically asked for a match for you.”

Cheng Peng said, “I thank you.”

Yue Wenwen propped his chin up and asked, “But is this a real relationship, or just a fling?”

Cheng Peng smiled. “What do you think?”

“I don’t get a say in this,” Yue Wenwen answered. “But from what I saw just now, Jiang Yunjian seems to have his heart set on you.”

Cheng Peng’s hand, which had been holding his chopsticks, froze. “What?”

“You can’t tell?” Yue Wenwen spoke plainly. “Jiang Yunjian likes you.”

Cheng Peng chuckled. “We’re not that kind of relationship.”

“Of course, not for you. But it might be different for him.” Yue Wenwen didn’t want to say too much about a friend’s feelings, so he quickly changed the subject.

Cheng Peng furrowed his brows but didn’t respond, continuing to stop his action of picking up food.

When the meal was over and they were about to leave, Yue Wenwen said, “By the way, Peng Peng, I have something else about Chen An. Want to hear it?”

The name had become somewhat distant for Cheng Peng. He calmly paid the bill and replied, “I don’t want to hear it.”

It was just about him again.

During the time right after they broke up, Chen An had tried all sorts of methods to contact him, but he had blocked them all.

He didn’t want to see him, and there was no need to. Cheng Peng was never indecisive. Since he had no intention of continuing, it was better to sever things completely. Getting back together wasn’t possible, and being friends was out of the question.

Seeing that Cheng Peng didn’t want to discuss it, Yue Wenwen shrugged and didn’t bring it up again.

Back in the car, Cheng Peng tossed the basketball under the passenger seat, took out his phone, and saw a new message.

【Jiang Yunjian: I’ve arrived at the set. Thank you. It’s been cold these past few days, so please dress warmly.】

Remembering Yue Wenwen’s words, Cheng Peng put his phone down and didn’t reply.

A few minutes later, another message came in. Cheng Peng, driving with one hand, picked up the phone and glanced at it.

【Jiang Yunjian: I’ll take care of myself. Next time I see you, I definitely won’t be sick.】

The light in Cheng Peng’s eyes softened unconsciously. He set

the phone down again and drove a little farther. At the red light, he glanced out the window a few times before looking back. The countdown for the light was still in double digits.

This red light was taking too long.

After a while, he picked up his phone again.

【Cheng Peng: Mm.】

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