Shameless Gangster

Chapter 19B

Title: Seemingly far away, but actually close at hand

Translate: Sae | Proofread: anasofia1317

∞

Present:

Zhang Xueming walked through the door first, and after he switched on the light Han Jia only took a step into the living room and stopped at the door, a bit baffled.

Zhang Xueming looked at him and smiled softly, "What's wrong, Han Laoban?"

Han Jia glanced at him, walked a few steps to the side, went to the kitchen door for a look, walked around the balcony, and then turned and walked into the study room.

He turned on the lights in each room, he looked into each room, and then he went back to the living room, stood at the door, and said: "I thought the house was expropriated."

"It's still in your name." Zhang Xueming had already sat down beside the dining table and was pouring water into a glass. Hearing the footsteps of his return, he didn't raise his head. "The door to the study room and the bathroom lights have changed. Everything else is the same."

Han Jia didn't speak as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall to look at him.

Zhang Xueming also looked up at him and their eyes met by accident, just like they did sometimes five years ago, cautious and provocative as if they were competing in a silent contest and the winner would have control of the scene.

The first to shift his gaze away was Zhang Xueming. He hung down his eyes, put down the kettle, pushed a glass of water to the other side, and then looked up again at Han Jia.

"Han Laoban, why aren't you asking? You're normally very good at preemptive attacks yet now you're not asking anything?"

Han Jia laughed and looked at him: "Aren't you the one who insists on reminiscing with me?"

Zhang Xueming also laughed: "If you don't have any questions to ask me, why did you follow along?"

"You know why I followed." Han Jia looked into his eyes and spoke with a very clear voice, "Why do you need to be asked again?"

"Maybe I want to hear you ask again, maybe I like the feeling of having the upper hand in front of you, maybe..." Zhang Xueming stared at him and slowly stood up, "Maybe I don't want to answer your question at all, but want to listen to you ask something else instead."

His eyes and voice were calm, but Han Jia could always feel the strong emotions hidden behind the calmness; and he frowned slightly.

Zhang Xueming looked at the space between his brows and smiled. He took a step toward him; his tone and expression had changed subtly, "Han Laoban, you are still so ruthless. Are you really not interested at all? Why should I keep this place? Why did I leave it as it is? And, how was the door to the study room... broken?"

He walked slowly, his smooth as silk tone gradually lowered until he revealed a dangerous tone. As he spoke, he kept his eyes solely on Han Jia and the light in the living room cast a shadow over his face - that pair of eyes appeared dark and cold with the oppressive force of a prey.

Even Han Jia, who five years ago had the mentality of 'nothing is forbidden', would have perhaps felt a bit alarmed facing such eyes.

He had already stopped in front of Han Jia and made a movement as if to press down on Han Jia with no intention of stopping at all.

Han Jia suddenly smiled, stretched out his right hand toward his chest, and gently pushed him.

That was not an act of refusal; that smile along with a bit of softness, grace, and even a bit of research-based sincerity, it looked like a tease.