"This... why don’t you two discuss this properly? Talk it out, there’s no need to argue." The elder could tell that they knew each other and kindly advised them.

After the owner left, Jiang Yisheng once again snatched up the feather duster and pointed it straight at Ji Mingqian.

"If you’re here to pick a fight, I won’t be polite."

Ji Mingqian raised his arm, pointing at the light red whip mark, and sneered, "You call this being polite to me?"

Jiang Yisheng snorted lightly, "That’s because you deserved it, it’s your own fault for causing trouble."

"I deserved it?" Ji Mingqian laughed out of anger, took a quick step forward, and with his distinct knuckles, he snatched the feather duster away.

The agile action was completed in the blink of an eye, and Jiang Yisheng was still dumbfounded.

He looked down at his now empty hands, his lips a calm shade of color, tightly pursed.

"Jiang Yisheng, just then I was going easy on you. Do you really think a lousy feather duster can control me?" Ji Mingqian nonchalantly dusted the cabinet with the feather duster, his face bearing an arrogant smile that was simply too smug.

Jiang Yisheng glanced up at him, then returned the harmonica to the shopkeeper and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Ji Mingqian was at first startled, then quickly blocked his way, catching on.

"You’re not buying it?"

"You like it, don’t you? It’s all yours, buy to your heart’s content." Jiang Yisheng glared at him, his cool voice tinged with a hint of resentment.

He couldn’t provoke him, but he could still avoid him, right?

Not expecting to have truly angered him, Ji Mingqian instantly forgot about coming here to settle scores and said apologetically, with a smile, "I was just joking with you. Besides, I’m the one who got hit, not you."

"Move aside." Jiang Yisheng dismissed him, his tone indifferent.

Realizing things weren’t looking good, Ji Mingqian handed the feather duster back to him, "Here, take it back."

Jiang Yisheng didn’t even glance as he walked past him towards the exit.

"Hey, Jiang Yisheng, you’re not being that petty, are you? Really angry?" Ji Mingqian reached out and grabbed his arm, speaking helplessly.

It was he who had annoyed the other, and now he had to appease him with a smile—it was so typically Ji Mingqian.

Jiang Yisheng gave him a sidelong glance and shook off his hand, "I gave the harmonica to you, and now you’re accusing me of being petty. Ji Mingqian, get it straight who started this first."

Ji Mingqian choked, "..."

Their unguarded voices attracted the attention of others, but fortunately, since they weren’t speaking a foreign language, those around them didn’t understand.

Ji Mingqian touched his nose and cleared his throat, muttering, "It’s your fault for not answering your phone when it’s off."

Jiang Yisheng heard his words and frowned harder, "Why should I answer when you’re calling just to take your anger out on someone?"

Just because he switched off his phone and didn’t take his calls, so he specifically came here to pick a fight—how childish.

"Who said I was taking my anger out on you?" Ji Mingqian retorted.

"You."

"I didn’t."

"You did."

"You’re talking nonsense, when have I ever taken my anger out on you?"

"Figure it out yourself."

People nearby kept casting curious glances their way. Jiang Yisheng raised his hand to his cap, becoming even more intent on leaving.

Ji Mingqian pulled him back in, hastily apologizing without a second thought, "Fine, fine, I apologize."

"Don’t pull on me, a lot of people are looking." Jiang Yisheng said in a lowered voice, "I still want to save face even if you don’t."

"Let them look if they want to; what’s the big deal?" Ji Mingqian hooked up the corner of his lips and took out a card from his pocket, handing it to the owner, "I’ll take the silver harmonica. Charge it."

The owner nodded with a smile and accepted his card to process the payment.

"Let go." Jiang Yisheng kicked his leg lightly with the tip of his foot, hissing quietly.

What did this guy eat to grow up with such strength?

Ji Mingqian handed the harmonica to him, a sly smile playing on his lips, "It’s for you."

"I don’t want it," Jiang Yisheng rejected without hesitation.

"That won’t do, I already bought it." Ji Mingqian forcibly stuffed the harmonica into his coat pocket, flashing a grin and revealing a set of white teeth, "Let’s consider this a reconciliation."

Jiang Yisheng, "..."

"Sir, here is your card." The shopkeeper came back and returned the card to Ji Mingqian.

Ji Mingqian reached for his card and carelessly shoved it into his pocket.

"Let’s go."

Just as Jiang Yisheng was about to speak, he was dragged out forcefully.

Exiting the music store, there were many alleys around.

Ji Mingqian, not knowing the way, just pulled Jiang Yisheng randomly into an alley.

They hadn’t gone far when the person behind him suddenly stopped, forcing Ji Mingqian to halt as well.

Ji Mingqian turned back to look at him with a trace of confusion in his eyes, "Jiang Yisheng, what’s wrong?"

He had bought him a harmonica; could it be that he was still angry with him?

Breaking free from his grip, Jiang Yisheng gazed at him intently, his eyes hiding complex emotions.

After a moment, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Ji Mingqian, what are you doing here?"

"Just hanging around," Ji Mingqian said nonchalantly, without blushing or skipping a beat.

He couldn’t possibly say that he rushed over on impulse because he was upset about him not answering his calls. He wouldn’t say that; it was too lame.

Just hanging around, and he happened to stumble upon the music store?

Jiang Yisheng pulled a face; even he probably didn’t believe that excuse.

"If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving. Don’t follow me."

"You’re alone, and so am I; it’s better to have company," Ji Mingqian nonchalantly said, hands in his pockets.

"Besides, didn’t you say you wanted me to treat you to a meal..."

Jiang Yisheng cut him off, "Who told you I’m alone?"

"Are you talking about Feng Yi?" Ji Mingqian asked.

"He’s gone back to the capital."

Ji Mingqian was puzzled, "Then who else is there?"

"A friend," Jiang Yisheng said lightly.

"A friend?" Ji Mingqian frowned, his gaze suspicious as he looked at him, "Who? A man or a woman?"

"That doesn’t seem to concern you, does it?" Jiang Yisheng’s gaze shifted away as he spoke calmly.

Ji Mingqian’s indifferent attitude successfully angered Ji Mingqian, who reined in the smile at the corner of his mouth, "Jiang Yisheng, what do you mean?"

Meeting his eyes, which were filled with indignation, Jiang Yisheng said, "I don’t think I need to report to you who I am with, and friends should have boundaries. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

He desperately wanted to return to the life he had before he knew him; despite having no such intention, he seemed determined to give him false hope.

Even the most beautiful dream must end, and he was not sure if he had the strength to face the loneliness and pain that would come with waking from it.

It was better to cut the tangled knot now than to suffer later.

A chill wind passed, and the harmonious atmosphere plummeted to freezing.

Around them, it became eerily silent.

Ji Mingqian’s eyes turned a shade colder, and there was no trace of a smile on his face.

"Are you trying to say that I’m overstepping, that I’m being nosy?"

Jiang Yisheng remained silent, his eyes downcast, his emotions indecipherable.

Ji Mingqian took this silence as an affirmation and laughed at himself.

"Alright, let’s say I was being nosy."