The Gods Are Fighting Over Me - Chapter 34

After finishing the last document, Jinpei Matsuda dropped his pen and casually glanced at the calendar on the corner of his desk.

When his eyes landed on the date circled in red, his gaze paused. His cerulean blue eyes deepened, a heavy mood swirling within them.

The sound of a lighter flicking open echoed in the silent room.

Jinpei Matsuda took advantage of his private office and disregarded the no-smoking rule by lighting a cigarette.

White smoke spread around his chiseled profile and was lazily exhaled into the air. He didn’t put out the cigarette until a small, shaky tower of ash had accumulated on the tip. He then grabbed the stack of documents on his desk that needed the deputy head’s signature and stood up to leave.

The hallway was sparsely populated today. Occasionally, a few colleagues would walk by.

The moment they saw Jinpei Matsuda, their backs would tense up reflexively. They would walk close to the wall, wishing they could turn into murals.

Even after working together for so many years, they still couldn’t get used to Jinpei Matsuda’s intimidating face and his natural “don’t come near me” aura. Especially now that he was their superior, his authority had increased exponentially, making them feel like they were back in middle school and had been caught by the head disciplinary teacher with a devil’s face.

But there was one person who wasn’t afraid of Jinpei Matsuda.

The third squad’s captain was such a person.

The third squad’s captain was a middle-aged man in his early forties. Unlike Jinpei Matsuda, he was not a career officer and would probably only ever climb to this position.

However, he had participated in enough sting operations against criminal organizations and had seen enough evil, stinking from the inside out, to be completely immune to Jinpei Matsuda’s handsome face, which looked like the whole world owed him money.

He was originally standing with his arms crossed in the public office area, giving instructions to his subordinates. When he saw Jinpei Matsuda walk by, he smiled and took a few quick steps to him, hooking his arm around the other’s neck and stopping him. “Matsuda, going to get the deputy head to sign something?”

A low “Mhm” came from Jinpei Matsuda’s throat. He casually glanced at him. “Something you need?”

The third squad’s captain smiled, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth. He leaned in mysteriously. “Don’t always have that sour face. I have some good news for you.”

Jinpei Matsuda said lazily, “Did the police department decide to approve my request?”

“Request?” The third squad’s captain was stunned for a moment, then he smiled again.

He hooked one arm around Jinpei Matsuda’s neck and put his other hand on his hip in a proud manner. “My wife told me last night…”

His wife also worked at the police department, mainly in public relations.

“The police department plans to recruit skilled artists from the public to draw promotional posters for us. Your little girlfriend, the one who drew A Tale of the Mobile Unit Police, has already been put on the top-priority list! It just depends on whether she’s willing to participate!”

He patted Matsuda’s shoulder hard and smiled brightly. “How about it? Want to tell your little girlfriend to give it a try?”

Jinpei Matsuda didn’t push the hand on his shoulder away. He didn’t dislike this old colleague who didn’t act like a senior.

He raised his eyelids, his tone flat. “Don’t keep calling her ‘little girlfriend.’ She won’t like it. You can call her ‘Lin.'”

“Huh?” The third squad’s captain was stunned for a moment, then he had a look of understanding. “Did you and your little girlfriend fight? Because of Hagiwara?”

He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Tsk, a love triangle really does cause jealousy…”

Jinpei Matsuda rolled his eyes. “No, we’re not like that. And Hagi…”

He paused. “Hagi is very good to her.”

“Did Hagiwara become the third party, and now he’s her boyfriend?! Does that mean you’re single now?!” the third squad’s captain said in shock, blurting it out.

Before he could finish, a clear female voice and two sets of footsteps came from around the corner of the hallway.

The next second, the head of the department walked over leisurely with his hands behind his back. Behind him was a young girl who looked a lot like him. She was pulling on his arm, pleading. “Dad, with so many people in your department, there’s no way there isn’t a suitable candidate~”

The girl kept pleading with her dad. The head of the department frowned, but there was an air of helpless indulgence about him.

A daughter at this old age. He’s spoiling her to no end.

Jinpei Matsuda and the third squad’s captain stared at the two approaching people, and this thought popped into their heads at the same time.

As the two groups of people got closer, the girl glanced at Jinpei Matsuda.

It was just a casual glance, but when she saw his face, her eyes suddenly lit up like fireworks.

Everyone there understood the girl’s reaction and the undisguised admiration in her eyes, as if she had fallen in love at first sight.

The head of the department also obviously noticed his daughter’s gaze. He raised his eyelids, which were wrinkled from age, and looked at Jinpei Matsuda.

Jinpei Matsuda’s expression was subtle, and he frowned for a brief moment before relaxing. He wasn’t sure if the head of the department had heard what he had just said, but looking at the head’s slowing footsteps, he probably had.

In his peripheral vision, the young girl’s every move seemed to be in slow motion. She was pulling on her dad’s arm, and her other hand slowly rose, about to point in Jinpei Matsuda’s direction.

Jinpei Matsuda could tell what was going to happen next just by using his toes. Too nip this terrible possibility in the bud, he suddenly looked at the third squad’s captain seriously and solemnly. “No, Jianyue is my girlfriend. We did fight, but I’m going to make up with her right away.”

“You’re so full of it, Jinpei.” Kenji Hagiwara appeared out of nowhere and hooked his arm around Matsuda’s neck, forcing him to bend over.

The young girl’s eyes lit up even more when she saw Kenji Hagiwara. She pulled on her dad even harder, forcefully stopping him from leaving.

She thought no one was looking as she pointed at Kenji Hagiwara and pleaded softly, “Look, Dad.”

Kenji Hagiwara pretended not to notice what was happening over there. He smiled at the third squad’s captain and gave him a wink before he started to talk nonsense with a straight face. “Actually, we’re Jianyue-chan’s guardian spirits. We made a guardian contract with Jianyue-chan. It’s a more complicated and diverse relationship.”

“But if you have to understand it, then yes, I’m Jianyue-chan’s secret lover, and Jinpei is her official lover, but the person Jianyue-chan loves the most is me.”

Jinpei Matsuda hit Kenji Hagiwara’s chest with his elbow, but didn’t say anything in protest.

The head of the department’s footsteps paused. He put away the hesitation in his eyes and lowered his eyelids again. No matter how much his daughter pleaded, he looked straight ahead and walked away without looking back.

The third squad’s captain, who was watching from the side, was entertained. He patted Matsuda’s shoulder. “Alright, I won’t disturb your diverse relationship. I’m going back to my squad.”

With that, he waved his hand and left with a smile.

After he left, only Hagiwara and Matsuda were left in the hallway. Kenji Hagiwara finally let go of Jinpei Matsuda and smiled, raising an eyebrow. “Going to get the deputy head to sign? Want to go together?”

Jinpei Matsuda couldn’t be bothered to say more. He turned around and left.

Kenji Hagiwara quickly followed, chattering next to Jinpei Matsuda. “I can finally rest tomorrow. I’m so tired. Oh, right, do you have any other plans after work? Jianyue-chan and I…”

Jinpei Matsuda stopped in front of the deputy head’s office. He knocked on the door with a poker face, cutting him off. “I’m not going. Don’t try to get me to watch you two again.”

“Don’t be so cold,” Kenji Hagiwara leaned in, smiling like a golden retriever begging for food. “Jianyue-chan got second place in a new illustrator competition she entered two months ago. She said she wants to treat us to a celebratory dinner.”

There was no sound from the office. Jinpei Matsuda knocked two more times. After confirming that no one was inside, he put one hand in his pocket, turned, and walked away. “Then you should definitely celebrate properly.”

Kenji Hagiwara smiled and followed him. “Jianyue-chan even bought a special gift for you and said it was to thank you for taking care of her these past few days.”

Jinpei Matsuda mercilessly exposed him. “You helped her pick it out, didn’t you?”

Kenji Hagiwara chuckled, silently admitting that Jinpei Matsuda was right. “Even though I helped her with some ideas, Jianyue-chan put a lot of thought into it. You’re definitely going to like it.”

Jinpei Matsuda rarely curved his lips. “Alright. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.”

He changed the subject, pushing his luck. “But I want to drink, so let’s go to the quiet bar we always go to.”

“No. I have to drive Jianyue-chan home tonight,” Kenji Hagiwara refused without hesitation.

He paused, then smiled like a handsome and cunning fox. “And I’m going to try to stay the night.”

Jinpei Matsuda rolled his eyes. “Who cares? You can just get a designated driver. And there’s no way Jianyue should be the one paying. You should be paying, and I’m going to rip you off.”

Kenji Hagiwara shrugged helplessly. “I told her I would pay, but Jianyue-chan said no. She said if I tried to pay, she wouldn’t take me out again next time.”

“But it has been a while since we’ve had a drink,” he changed the subject again. He put his hands behind his head, and his eyes curved into crescents. “Let’s go for a drink. I’ll call Lin Jianyue later.”

“Heh, you smooth-talking scum,” Jinpei Matsuda said bluntly.

“Heyyyy,” Kenji Hagiwara drew out the word exaggeratedly, putting on a sad face. “You’re so mean, Jinpei! I haven’t even done anything, and you’re already labeling me.”

“You even know that you ‘haven’t done anything yet.'”

“Aren’t we best friends for over twenty years? How can you say that to me? I’m going to be sad!”

“I can make you even sadder after work.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Jinpei Matsuda just smiled meaningfully and didn’t argue.

7:00 PM. Dusk was setting in. The sun was half-hidden behind the clouds, dyeing half the sky a beautiful shade of red.

White one-story shops lined both sides of the alley. The third one from the left was decorated in a vintage Edo-era style. At the top of the sliding wooden door, a red banner was hanging with the Japanese character for “sake” written on it in white paint, and the edges were decorated with Japanese wave patterns.

Some office workers who had just gotten off work walked in with their arms around each other’s shoulders. They slid the wooden door open and walked in. The warm light from the entryway fell onto the ground through the crack, and then it was cut off when the door closed.

When Kenji Hagiwara and Jinpei Matsuda arrived, Lin Jianyue was already waiting there.

She was sitting in the innermost section, which was separated by a screen, her hand propped up against her chin as she was daydreaming. She was wearing a light-colored qipao. This was the first time she had worn a qipao in front of Kenji Hagiwara. The traditional tailoring outlined her gentle curves. Just by sitting there, she exuded the elegance of a young lady from a wealthy family, nurtured by money and strict etiquette.

Her beautiful black hair was casually tied up, and a few strands hung down by her temples, revealing a hint of lazy elegance in her grace.

Lin Jianyue was wearing light makeup today. When Kenji Hagiwara came in, her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly looked up. Her eyes were captivating, like the bright moonlight reflected in a mountain stream.

Kenji Hagiwara’s footsteps paused. His mind went blank for a moment with a loud buzz. Then, he was bumped by Jinpei Matsuda, who was behind him, and he came back to his senses.

Jinpei Matsuda was holding a kraft paper bag. He walked past Kenji Hagiwara and entered the private section first, sitting down across from Lin Jianyue.

A sincere smile lingered on his lips. “You look beautiful today.”

Lin Jianyue smiled back. “Thank you.”

Jinpei Matsuda took out a small gift box, the size of his palm, from the paper bag. “Congratulations. This is a gift for you.”

Lin Jianyue’s eyes curved into crescents in happiness as she took the gift. “Thank you.”

Kenji Hagiwara sat down right next to Jinpei Matsuda. His eyes were glued to Lin Jianyue, as if they were drawn by a magnet. He almost stared at her with his mouth agape.

He rolled his tight throat. “Jianyue-chan, you—”

“Jianyue,” Jinpei Matsuda suddenly said, unceremoniously cutting Kenji Hagiwara off.

He took out a thick old photo album from the paper bag and dropped it on the table with a thud.

Although he was talking to Lin Jianyue, Jinpei Matsuda deliberately turned his head and gave Kenji Hagiwara a provocative smile. “I heard you’re worried about whether Hagi had an unrequited love in the past? What a coincidence. I know everything about Hagi.”

Then, with a look of “this is not good” on Kenji Hagiwara’s face, he curled his lips in delight and said, word for word, “I brought all of our graduation photos from elementary school to college.”

“Today, I’m going to tell you exactly which female classmates chased Hagi back then and what kind of stories they had with him.”

Kenji Hagiwara’s eyes suddenly widened. His violet-blue eyes were filled with shock, as if he couldn’t believe that Jinpei Matsuda had just sold him out like this.

He opened his mouth, about to explain something, but he was drowned out by Lin Jianyue’s excited voice.

“Really? That’s great!” Lin Jianyue’s eyes were as bright as a squirrel running around a melon field.

“Hurry up and tell me if anyone really made Kenji fall in love! This is going to determine whether or not I’ll continue to date him!”

Jinpei Matsuda slowly opened the photo album. “Hagi didn’t really have a ‘one that got away.'”

Just as Kenji Hagiwara was about to let out a sigh of relief,

“But he had a few rumors in high school that were the talk of the town. Although they got more and more ridiculous in the end, so ridiculous that no one believed they were true, they were just as dramatic as a TV show.”

“So I have to share them with you no matter what,” Jinpei Matsuda said with a malicious smile on his lips. “You must want to see Hagi’s face when he’s embarrassed, too, right?”

“Yes, tell me!” Lin Jianyue was completely interested. She even forgot to maintain her posture and leaned halfway across the table.

Kenji Hagiwara closed his eyes in agony, looking at the two heads that were whispering to each other.

How could he forget that Jinpei Matsuda, that jerk, was best at striking with precision, poking at the places that hurt the most!

This wasn’t telling gossip. He was digging up his embarrassing past in front of his girlfriend!