Honesty

“What’s going on?” Jiang Cheng carefully asks as he kneels in front of Nie Mingjue, putting his hand to his knee.“Nothing,” Nie Mingjue gives back, but his voice sounds choked up and Jiang Cheng is not at all surprised to see that he’s crying.“This doesn’t look like nothing,” Jiang Cheng softly says and sits down more comfortably, keeping his hand on Nie Mingjue at all times. “Why don’t you tell me what’s happening right now.”“I’m okay,” Nie Mingjue still tries and Jiang Cheng huffs out a laugh.“That is so obviously a lie that I’m not even going to pretend to believe it. Tell me what’s going on or I’ll have to call Huaisang back.”“No!” Nie Mingjue almost yells out, his head flying up. “Don’t—don’t do that. I already take up too much of his time. You don’t have to bother him.”