ACLSRB Chapter 17

Shen Xingyan toyed with the invitation card in his hand for a moment before setting it aside.
“Uncle Lu specially invited me here. May I ask what this is about?”

Though Lu Guozhang was the elder, he didn’t put on airs. He dismissed the waiter, then personally poured Shen Xingyan a cup of tea.
“Try this. It’s premium pre-rain green tea. I had someone bring it specially. I’ll send a can to your father later too.”

Shen Xingyan glanced at the tea tin, his expression indifferent.

Lu Guozhang didn’t mind and continued, “Originally, I wanted to invite both you and your father for a meal. But as luck would have it, your father’s on a business trip today. Since I’ve already booked the place, I figured even if he couldn’t come, having you here would be just the same.”

Shen Xingyan curled his lips slightly and raised his eyes to meet Lu Guozhang’s smiling ones.
“I wonder, Uncle Lu, in what way do you mean ‘just the same’?”

“After all, my father is my father. I am myself.”

His tone was calm, but somehow Lu Guozhang heard a hint of distance.

The smile in his eyes froze for a second before returning.
“They say a tiger father doesn’t raise a weak son. Among our circle of old friends, who hasn’t praised your father for having such a capable son? No need to worry about you—you even bring him honor.”

Lu Guozhang smiled sincerely as he praised him. Then he sighed.
“Unlike me. My son only brings me trouble.”

Shen Xingyan listened quietly, his slender fingers gently tapping the porcelain teacup.
“Is Uncle Lu referring to what happened at our Xiao Yi’s birthday banquet? Or the incident a few days ago when your son bullied our Xiao Yi again?”

His voice was unhurried, yet the phrase “our Xiao Yi” repeated twice in just two sentences clearly conveyed a firm stance.

Lu Guozhang didn’t expect him to be so blunt, and he was momentarily stunned.
“Well… both matters were Jingze’s fault, indeed. That’s exactly why I wanted him to come today—to apologize properly.”

“Oh, is that so?” Shen Xingyan’s gaze swept across the spacious private room that held only the two of them.
“Uncle Lu’s sincerity really caught me off guard.”

“Of course the apology should come from Jingze himself. I’ve already sent him to the school to pick up Xiao Yi. We can all sit down and have a meal together—work out the little misunderstandings and conflicts.”

Shen Xingyan’s expression suddenly darkened.

“Judging by the time, they should be here soon.” Lu Guozhang glanced at his watch, seemingly oblivious to Shen Xingyan’s change in demeanor.

Just then, the door to the private room opened.

Standing outside were the expressionless Lu Jingze and a clearly stunned Jiang Mingyi.

As soon as Jiang Mingyi looked up, he met Shen Xingyan’s gaze. For some reason, it made his heart flutter slightly.

Lu Guozhang greeted him warmly, “Xiao Yi, you’re here. Come on in.”

With a smiling face that looked kind and friendly, Lu Guozhang’s demeanor put people at ease. Jiang Mingyi hesitated for a moment, then lifted his foot and walked in.

Shen Xingyan put down his teacup, his gaze calmly landing on him. Jiang Mingyi obediently walked over and sat down beside him.

The moment he sat, someone gently patted the back of his hand.

Jiang Mingyi turned his head toward the man, only to see that hand quickly withdrawn. Then came Shen Xingyan’s low, deep voice beside his ear:
“Did you forget what I told you today?”

It took him a second to realize—he meant the WeChat message.

“I…”

“Forget it, it’s my fault.”

Jiang Mingyi opened his mouth to speak, but Shen Xingyan interrupted before he could finish.

At that moment, a menu was placed in front of Jiang Mingyi.

“Uncle Lu invited us for this meal,” Shen Xingyan said lightly.
“Just order what you like.”

Lu Guozhang chimed in with a big smile, “Xiao Yi, pick whatever you like. No need to be polite.”

“Jingze, pour Xiao Yi a cup of tea. He just finished his test today, right? Let him relax a bit first.”

Lu Jingze, sitting beside Lu Guozhang, reluctantly poured tea for Jiang Mingyi despite his irritation.

Jiang Mingyi glanced at Shen Xingyan’s calm face, then at Lu Guozhang’s overly friendly smile. Something about the atmosphere felt a little strange.

Unable to figure it out, he turned his attention to the menu.

The service at the club was excellent, and not long after placing the order, dishes began arriving.

This wasn’t Jiang Mingyi’s first time eating with Lu Guozhang, so he ate with ease and enjoyment.

When the meal was nearly finished, Lu Jingze suddenly stood up and said to Jiang Mingyi,
“Jiang Mingyi, I’m sorry.”

Jiang Mingyi had just picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork with his chopsticks. Hearing those words, he froze inexplicably, and the pork fell right between his chopsticks onto the table.

“Huh?” He looked a little stunned.

Lu Guozhang chuckled, “Jingze told me he almost made you fall down the stairs the other day and felt really guilty. He was afraid you were angry with him. So, after worrying for two days, I had to step in and invite you over for this meal.”

“I told him Xiao Yi isn’t the kind of person to hold a grudge. Why would he be angry and ignore you?” He pointed at Lu Jingze, who sat there with his head lowered in silence. “Today I had him pick you up from school. Since you agreed to come, it means you’re not angry. But an apology still needs to be made.”

“A real man admits when he’s wrong.” Lu Guozhang patted Lu Jingze’s shoulder. “Look, Xiao Yi’s not mad anymore. You two can still be good friends.”

Jiang Mingyi slowly set down his chopsticks. From the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of coldness in Shen Xingyan’s gaze, which made him pause.

Then, lifting his head again, he looked at Lu Jingze.
“Ah, that day? I wasn’t angry.”

He paused for a beat, then, noticing the smile on Lu Guozhang’s face, added,
“After all, my brother already stood up for me that day. Of course, I’m not angry anymore.”

“But I asked Lu Jingze how he’s doing today—he looked pale as a ghost. Doesn’t seem to be in good shape.” His voice was filled with Peigned concern, completely oblivious to the stiff expressions now on both father and son’s faces.
“Uncle Lu, you’d better have him take some supplements when you get home. If he can’t stand properly next time and falls down the stairs, that’d be tragic. Not everyone has a big brother like mine to protect them. Sister Jinglan wouldn’t be able to shield him with that fragile frame of his.”

After saying that, Jiang Mingyi picked up his chopsticks again and grabbed a piece of sweet and sour pork.
“Ge, the sweet and sour pork is so delicious. You should try it too.”

Shen Xingyan looked at the piece of pork that had been placed into his bowl, and a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
He raised his hand and gently ruffled the boy’s soft hair, his voice carrying a subtle trace of warmth,
“Since you like it, eat more. After all, it’s a kind gesture from Uncle Lu.”

Lu Guozhang’s smile stiffened for a few seconds, then returned to normal.
“Xiao Yi is right, Jingze really should train his body more.”

After the meal, Jiang Mingyi got up to use the restroom.
He asked a staff member and found the washroom.

Just as he came out, he saw Lu Jingze waiting for him.
Jiang Mingyi passed by him to wash his hands, only to be grabbed.

“My dad told you to come so I could apologize. What, now that I’ve apologized, you’re going to use it to bully me?”
Jiang Mingyi wasn’t afraid of him at all.

Lu Jingze stared at him through gritted teeth, his tone cold,
“You were making sarcastic remarks about me in front of my dad. Don’t think I didn’t catch that.”

“So you can understand.” Jiang Mingyi smiled innocently.

“What are you trying to do?” Lu Jingze stared at him, and suddenly asked a question that caught Jiang Mingyi off guard.
“You think doing this will get my attention, don’t you?”

Jiang Mingyi blinked.
What is this guy talking about? I don’t understand a word.

“You don’t have to act all innocent in front of my dad. He may fall for it, but I won’t.” Lu Jingze continued coldly,
“So what if you like me? I’ll never like you. No matter how much you try to please my dad, I’ll never want to marry you.”

“You better give up on that fantasy early.”

Jiang Mingyi was amused by his delusional speech.
“You think I like you? What is there to like?”

“Your arrogance? Your stupidity? You—”

Suddenly, a tall figure stepped into view, cutting off Jiang Mingyi’s mocking words.

Shen Xingyan’s cold gaze swept over Lu Jingze’s hand that was still clutching Jiang Mingyi.
It was as sharp as a blade, causing Lu Jingze to instantly let go.

“Uncle Lu, I think this meal was a complete waste.”
Shen Xingyan walked into the restroom, ignoring Lu Jingze as he backed away.
He took Jiang Mingyi’s just-released hand and led him out.

As they passed Lu Guozhang, he said in a low voice,
“Uncle Lu, since you’re still around, I think it’s better if you discipline your own son.”

Outside the restroom, Lu Guozhang’s face was extremely unpleasant.
After Shen Xingyan and Jiang Mingyi had left, Lu Jingze came out with his head hanging low.

“Dad, I didn’t mean to—”

Slap!
The loud sound of a slap interrupted Lu Jingze’s explanation.

Lu Guozhang looked at him with a dark expression. “Idiot.”

“Hey, hey…”

Jiang Mingyi was suddenly pulled away by him, a bit flustered.

Shen Xingyan stopped walking, his pupils darkening. “What, you want to go back and continue your heartfelt confession to him?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Jiang Luoyi tried to shake off his hand, but couldn’t, and could only glare angrily.

By now, the sky had darkened. The corridor lights cast a dim glow, falling on the boy’s long, upward lashes, throwing delicate shadows. His originally fair face seemed to flush slightly red from anger, and his large, bright eyes were incredibly charming.

His lips, under the lighting, looked even redder than usual, showing a touch of alluring color.

It was a very beautiful and delicate face—unless one was blind, no one could speak against that with a clear conscience.

Shen Xingyan stared at that face for a moment, his gaze turning obscure and deep.

His hand let go. Jiang Mingyi pressed his lips together, noticing Shen Xingyan staring at his face. He asked cautiously, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Jiang Mingyi.”

Hearing his full name spoken in such a serious tone made Jiang Mingyi’s heart tighten.

“Wh-what is it?”

Before the words had even fallen, he was suddenly pushed against the wall. Behind him was the cold wall, and in front, Shen Xingyan’s handsome face came closer and closer.

The light overhead was blocked. The man’s tall figure loomed over him. Jiang Mingyi felt like a trapped little beast, caught with no way to escape, and the person before him suddenly seemed terrifying.

Shen Xingyan lowered his eyes, gaze falling on the trembling eyelashes.

His finger brushed against the boy’s fair and delicate skin. With a gentle lift, he brought the dodging face back into view.

“I was out of the country for a few years and couldn’t keep an eye on you. But now I’m back. Shouldn’t you explain to me—do you like men? Or do you like that idiot Lu Jingze? Is your taste really that bad?”

His voice was low and magnetic, breath warm against Jiang Mingyi’s ear, yet it made his heart skip in fear.

Their eyes met. Jiang Mingyi’s gaze trembled.

“I… I don’t like Lu Jingze,” he replied after a moment.

“Really?” Shen Xingyan scrutinized him with suspicion, letting out a light laugh. “But Lu Guozhang told me you wanted to marry Lu Jingze.”

Jiang Mingyi opened his mouth. What could he say? That it wasn’t his true intention, but something dictated by the script?

Shen Xingyan noticed the flicker in his eyes, and his gaze darkened.

“I want the truth.”

Jiang Mingyi nervously pinched his fingers and put on a wronged look. “I was young and foolish then. Just said it without thinking.”

“You’re eighteen, not eighty,” Shen Xingyan let out a low laugh and lightly tapped his chest. “Don’t use such old-man language.”

Noticing the disbelief in his tone, Jiang Luoyi furrowed his brows and cautiously said, “Then… what I said as a minor doesn’t have legal standing, right? Doesn’t count?”

The atmosphere froze for a moment. Just when Jiang Mingyi thought he sounded utterly ridiculous, a soft chuckle came to his ear.

“Of course it doesn’t count.”

His tone was ambiguous—did that mean he believed it?

Jiang Mingyi blinked and saw the man who had trapped him stepping back. He immediately took a few steps away and quietly let out a breath of relief.

Shen Xingyan walked past him and reached out to pat his head, his tone returning to its usual gentle self.

“From now on, listen to me. You don’t need to deal with the Lu family.”

Jiang Mingyi hugged his head and looked at the man’s back, softly replying, “Oh…”

On the way back, Jiang Mingyi sat in the car. He looked at Shen Xingyan’s hands resting on the steering wheel, and suddenly exclaimed in shock.

Shen Xingyan glanced sideways. “What is it?”

Jiang Mingyi’s face darkened. “It’s all your fault. You dragged me away just now—I forgot to wash my hands.”