ALCSRB Chapter 3

When the man had him pinned in the corner, Jiang Mingyi was still caught up in the man’s sexy and intimate “baby.”

At that moment, it felt like all the bones in his body turned to jelly. If it weren’t for the wall supporting him, he was afraid even his legs would have given out.

What a seductive voice!

He loved it!

Jiang Mingyi felt like pink bubbles were starting to float up in his heart, gradually surrounding him.

Only his brain, at this moment, was sending out a very untimely alarm.

Beep beep beep~ Beep beep beep~

Jiang Mingyi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, all his dreamy infatuation bursting like popped bubbles in an instant.

His bright, wide eyes now stared intently, almost engraving the handsome face before him deep into his memory.

Such a stunning face… was slowly overlapping with a figure from the depths of his memories.

“Y-You… You—”

Jiang Mingyi almost wanted to scream out loud.

How could it be him?!

No way—the drop-dead gorgeous guy he just flirted with, how could he turn out to be that guy?!

Shen Xingyan lowered his gaze slightly, his eyes falling on the boy’s rapidly changing, beautiful expression.

How many years had it been since they’d talked this closely?

It seemed like ever since he left the country, every time he came back, that soft and clingy little fluff ball had grown more and more distant.

The kid who used to hug him sweetly and call him “gege,” who used to act spoiled and throw little tantrums… had changed overnight.

Especially now—he was even hitting on random men?

Very good.

A soft chuckle slipped from his lips as one finger poked the boy’s fair, soft cheek.

“Haven’t seen gege in so many years—were you too surprised?”

Shen Xingyan’s long index finger brushed across that tender white skin, finally resting on the tip of the boy’s chin.

Jiang Mingyi’s eyes widened even more, and his chin lifted slightly under the gentle pressure.

“Gege is talking to you,” Shen Xingyi paused, the corners of his eyes curling up into a friendly arc. His voice was gentle: “Or… are you saying you don’t recognize gege anymore?”

That handsome face suddenly moved closer, and Jiang Mingyi reacted like a startled kitten whose tail had just been stepped on—every hair standing on end.

“I-I—I—”

Just as he tried to push away that broad, oppressive chest in front of him, his hands were easily caught.

Jiang Mingyi lowered his gaze slightly, staring at his hands.

He… he managed to grab both his hands with just one of his?

That doesn’t make sense.

He glanced sideways at the other hand resting against the wall.

Why were the muscles in that arm so damn sexy and beautiful?

“What are you looking at?” came the deep voice from above his head.

Without thinking, Jiang Mingyi answered, “Looking at how good you look.”

Shen Xingyan’s gaze shifted from the boy’s fluffy head to his own arm.

“You like it?”

Jiang Mingyi was just about to nod—the word like almost escaping his lips—when he suddenly realized he was fangirling over Shen Xingyan again.

You idiot.

If his hands weren’t still trapped in the man’s grip, he would’ve smacked himself in the head right then and there.

In his heart, he gave himself a fierce scolding.

To say he didn’t like it would be a lie, but in a moment like this, lying felt perfectly reasonable.

Jiang Mingyi forced out an obedient-looking smile.
“No, I don’t like it.”

“Really? Then how come it looked like you were drooling over my arm just now?”
Shen Xingyan raised an eyebrow.

As soon as their eyes met, Jiang Mingyi immediately looked away, feeling totally guilty.

“Nonsense.”

“I was just scared by your thick arms.”

“Oh, really?” The man’s tone was doubtful. “I thought you liked them.”

His gaze fell on the boy’s long, curled lashes. “Lying isn’t something good boys do.”

Jiang Mingyi could only let out a dry laugh inwardly while putting on an obedient face.

Thankfully, at that moment, Shen Xingyan released his grip on him.

Jiang Mingyi’s first instinct was to run, but the tail of his tuxedo was quickly yanked back with force.

He couldn’t move an inch, and his pretty face instantly collapsed into a pout.

“What’s the rush?”

The man’s voice remained unhurried and calm.

Jiang Mingyi gulped. “I… I was going to tell Mom that you’re back.”

Shen Xingyan pulled him back effortlessly. “No need. I just got off the phone with her.”

“Oh.” Jiang Mingyi blinked.

So that call earlier was to Mom?

—Ugh!
Mom actually knew Shen Xingyan was coming back and didn’t tell him in advance?

“But you—right after we met, you were already showi—”

Jiang Mingyi’s internal rant suddenly hit a wall.

His mouth was open, eyes blinking fast.

Did he just mishear that?
“Showing… love?”

Showing what love?!

“You just turned 18 today, and you’re already eager to fall in love, huh? Hmm?”

That final tone made Jiang Mingyi feel the embarrassment and shame crawling all over his scalp again.

Could he say he was simply misled by good looks?

Jiang Mingyi slowly turned back around, raising his pair of bright and charming peach blossom eyes. A single tear glistened at the corner, just barely hanging on.

“Gege, I was wrong.” Jiang Mingyi sincerely admitted his mistake.

Shen Xingyan looked at his pitiful expression, and for a moment, even he felt a bit moved.

With a half-smile, he asked, “What did you do wrong?”

“Gege, I was just joking with you. Please don’t take it seriously.”

“Oh? Really?”

The obvious skepticism in his voice, and that probing gaze, looked as if it would peel Jiang Mingyi open to study him inside out.

Jiang Mingyi instinctively took a step back, holding in a breath, then suddenly shouted:

“Gege, I’ll never dare do it again!”

And with that, he bolted.

Shen Xingyan was startled by the sudden outburst, but before he could react, the boy had already vanished without a trace.

Jiang Mingyi ran all the way back to the banquet hall. The lights overhead instantly eased his nervousness.

Seeing that Shen Xingyan hadn’t chased after him, he finally stopped running.

So close.

He patted his chest in relief, then looked around for Su Wanxin, planning to give her a good scolding for not telling him Shen Xingyan suddenly came back—but before he could take a step, someone crashed right into him.

Clang!

The sound of a wine glass shattering on the ground.

At the same time, dark red wine splashed onto Jiang Mingyi’s pristine white shirt, soaking through and ruining the entire tuxedo.

Wine dripped down, spreading into a pool of deep red at his feet.

Wet and sticky, with a strong smell of alcohol filling the air.

Jiang Mingyi frowned, his beautiful peach blossom eyes narrowing.
This tuxedo was custom-made by a famous designer Su Wanxin had specially found. He fell in love with it the moment he saw it.

Now, staring at the huge red and white stain across his chest, his whole mood took a nosedive.

“I… I’m so sorry.” A soft voice spoke up,
“I didn’t expect Young Master Jiang to bump into me so suddenly. I lost my grip on the glass…”

The commotion quickly drew the attention of surrounding guests.

“What’s going on here?”

“It seems someone accidentally spilled red wine on Young Master Jiang.”

“That outfit looks custom-made. Now that it’s stained with red wine, isn’t it ruined?”

There was a trace of amusement in the onlookers’ eyes, as if they were watching a good show.
Everyone in high society knew how much the Shen couple doted on their adopted son. He might not be outright arrogant and domineering, but he certainly carried the typical arrogance and pride of a wealthy young master.

As for the pale-faced boy in white standing there trembling, no one really knew who he was. Just from the way he was dressed, he clearly didn’t belong at such a high-end banquet.

“Wasn’t that boy just now with the Lu family’s young master?”

Some guests who were more informed immediately caught on.

“I saw that boy arrive with Young Master Lu. Seems like their relationship isn’t simple.”

“Aren’t there rumors that Young Master Jiang has feelings for Young Master Lu? Is this a case of rivals in love meeting and going red-eyed?”

Jiang Mingyi had no time to care about the guests whispering around him. He was glaring furiously at Bai Yumo, his chest rising and falling with suppressed anger.

“I wasn’t looking for trouble with you, yet here you are, messing things up for me.”

The sticky discomfort on his body was unbearable. Wine had already seeped down to his pant legs through the fabric. That glaring red stain was testing the limits of his patience.

Especially when Bai Yumo, seemingly clueless, suddenly grabbed his hand.

“Young Master Jiang, I really didn’t mean to,” he said, pointing at his own white shirt, which was also splashed. His delicate face was full of confusion and faint grievance.

“Let go,” Jiang Mingyi growled. All he wanted now was to change out of his clothes and take a good shower—he had zero patience to argue with Bai Yumo.

Just then, Lu Jingze returned from the restroom. The moment he saw Bai Yumo being pushed aside, he rushed over in alarm.

“Jiang Mingyi, you’re bullying Yumo again!”

He pushed Jiang Mingyi rather roughly, yet the way he shielded Bai Yumo was so gentle.

In the past, this would’ve made Jiang Mingyi furious. But now, all he felt was sheer disgust.

He wasn’t the one picking a fight with this grossly clingy duo—they insisted on getting in his way.

Did they really think he was a pushover, someone easy to bully?

Jiang Mingyi rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.

But suddenly, a dark-colored suit jacket was draped over him.

The jacket was a little big and covered most of the wine stains on him. At the same time, it carried a faint, unfamiliar scent that seemed to envelop him completely.

The rage in his chest seemed to be instantly soothed by this warm and familiar scent. Then, a strange sense of familiarity struck him.

Suddenly, he remembered.

This was Shen Xingyan’s scent.

“What now? Someone bullying my little brother?” Shen Xingyan casually raised his hand and pulled Jiang Mingyi into his embrace. His tone was nonchalant, but his deep, dark eyes swept coldly over Lu Jingze—who had been brimming with anger—and the pitiful-looking Bai Yumo.

Under that icy gaze, Lu Jingze faltered, as if a lion of the forest had suddenly found itself face-to-face with an even more terrifying jungle king. His hand on Bai Yumo’s shoulder instinctively clenched tighter.

Normally, Bai Yumo would’ve cried out in pain from the pressure, but right now all his attention was captured by the stunningly handsome man who had appeared out of nowhere.

Who was this man?

He’s so handsome!

Bai Yumo wasn’t the only curious one—many of the guests around hadn’t yet recognized Shen Xingyan’s identity.

At that moment, a tall and glamorous woman clicked over in high heels. Without sparing a glance at Bai Yumo, who was now being protected by her own brother, she walked straight up to Shen Xingyan with a look of pleasant surprise.

“Shen Xingyan, you’re back in the country!”

The moment his name was spoken, there was a collective gasp from the surrounding crowd.

“That’s the Shen family heir who’s been developing his business abroad—Shen Xingyan.”

“I heard he wasn’t happy with his parents favoring their adopted son, so he started his own company while still studying overseas. Built it into a massive corporation at such a young age.”

“More than that. My uncle said that Shen Xingyan’s company was successfully listed a few years ago. His assets probably rival the Shen Group now.”

“But then how come they don’t look like they’re on bad terms?”

“You dummy. This is the Shen family’s birthday banquet—of course they have to save face. Even if they’re just pretending, they’ve got to put on a good show.”

Others were focusing on something else entirely.

“Shen Xingyan is so hot.”

“I want someone to protect me like that too…”

Several rich young ladies and gentlemen huddled together, eyes filled with pink hearts as they stared admiringly at the tall, striking man.

“Do you think if I ask my dad to propose a marriage alliance with the Shen family, it could work?”

“You? Keep dreaming.”

Jiang Mingyi gave a tiny struggle.

Shen Xingyan said softly, “Don’t be scared. Big brother will stand up for you.”

Jiang Mingyi pouted slightly, thinking, I’m not scared at all.