Note:
Corresponding chapter in WangXian: Trial And Error: [Serendipity.]
***
Estella had brought them some ice-cream, and now Lan Huan just plopped a generous scoop into his coffee, grinning, observing his lover licking on his own, totally neglecting the small silver spoon, while waiting for his sister to pick up the phone.
''''
- What?!
- Hello to you too, sis! – Jiang Cheng grunted, rolling his eyes yet again.
Today everyone was annoying him greatly. Well, everyone but one.
He looked up distractedly: Lan Huan was still smiling gently, propping the laptop against his forearm, as his lap was cradling his own messy head, reading an article probably. But he knew that in reality he was listening. Oh, he was sure he was listening.
- So, you suddenly remember you have a sister, huh?! – A-Li hissed on the other side of the phone.
- How could I forget, eh? Why are you being so impossible lately?! – he hissed back, grabbing the phone more tightly, quite subconsciously so.
- Because... I worry... for your stupid ass! – she decided to give the usual excuse.
- Mmm, it's not that. You know quite well that I am safe now. More safe than I've ever been!
- Yea, yea! I know! You are in love and bla bla bla! IT'S FUCKING MAGIC!!! – she mocked him, and he blushed. Dammit, he was still blushing when they were talking about relationships.
Suddenly, he craved to be all alone with A-Huan. All alone. Just the two of them. Just them.
Sighing a little, he decided not to delve into it.
- How's you ridiculous boyfriend, huh? – he ventured.
- He is... fine. – she grumbled.
- But you're not sure? – it was his turn to mock her. Too soon.
- What the fuck do you even care, moron?! Eh?! Ain't you the one to get his porny freakshow on national TV, A-Cheng?! You think I've forgotten?! How can I forget??? How long do you think A-Xuan can be protecting your pathetic ass??? And Johnny---
- Shut up. – he growled now, avoiding Lan Huan's eyes on himself, looking away. He felt those eyes burning holes in him now.
- You are ruining your life, Di! But you know what?! Selfish as you are, brat, you are destroying everyone else's life too! Everyone around you! Every single one who cares for you!!! ASSHOLE!!! - she screeched now, and her voice reverberated in the room, inevitably.
Jiang Cheng's eyes darted towards Brent, but he pretended to be inspecting the ceiling for some reason.
The asshole.
- Stop yelling at me. – he sighed now; this wasn't anything new, but his sister had never been so on edge like recently. – I'll be in town today, around noon, probably. Do you wanna meet up?
- No! Fuck you! I've been so sick all morning! Damn you! You don't call for a month, and now I'm supposed to be at your disposal, ready to go , eh?!
- A-Li, we met last week. What month, what the fuck?! – he sulked now; this wasn't fair.
He sat up in the sofa now, sharply, because he could clearly hear something highly disturbing, and extremely worrying: he could hear his sister sob over the phone all of a sudden, and whine now:
