ALCSRB Chapter 34

Xie Zhuoyan handed his empty glass to a waiter.

His dark eyes were full of curiosity as he watched Shen Xingyan walk away with a stormy expression. He tilted his chin toward Pei Mingyue.

“What’s going on?” He looked downright murderous.

It was rare to see such openly intense emotion on Shen Xingyan’s face. Quite intriguing, really.

“No idea,” Pei Mingyue replied as he set his wine glass down. His expression was unreadable, but his steps also started to move in that same direction.

Xie Zhuoyan then turned his puzzled gaze to Director Du, who now looked a little anxious.

He casually threw an arm around Director Du, who seemed about to follow as well, and asked with interest, “Director Du, why don’t you clear this up for me? Why is it that ever since you showed up, all my friends have started acting so strange?”

His gaze drifted meaningfully toward the area where Jiang Mingyi was, not missing the presence of the extra young man.

“The young man over there couldn’t possibly be Director Du’s younger brother, right?” Although it was phrased as a question, the tone was full of certainty.

Director Du was stopped in his tracks, and the anxiety in his eyes became even more apparent—especially since he could see his foolish younger brother showing no sense of danger and even daring to put his hand on President Shen’s younger brother.

“Yes, he’s my brother.” He replied with an awkward smile, with a faint trace of sweat forming on his forehead.

“Director Du, you seem quite warm,” Xie Zhuoyan noted. “It appears the hospitality from my Xie family has been lacking. The air conditioning must not be working well if it’s making you break a sweat.”

Director Du lifted his hand slightly in a dismissive gesture. “It’s because I drank some alcohol—it’s just the effects of the liquor.”

“In that case, since Director Du is enjoying the wine so much, how about sharing another drink with me?”

Looking at the wine glass offered and Xie Zhuoyan’s enthusiastic invitation, Director Du now even had sweat running down his back.

…

Du Zhihe originally wanted to say he didn’t dare, but as a man, how could he utter the words I don’t dare? So he rephrased it, “Baby, don’t provoke me like that.”

His gaze was focused and intense as he looked at Jiang Mingyi, who shivered slightly under the stare.

Jiang Mingyi: “How did I provoke you?” What kind of answer was that?

“You’re provoking me to go confess in front of my future brother-in-law.” Du Zhihe raised his chin proudly as he responded.

Pei Shiqing was stunned by this comment. He tugged at Jiang Mingyi and whispered, “Could this guy have a crush on your brother?”

Jiang Mingyi rolled his eyes at him. “How come you’ve caught the stupidity too?”

No wonder Shen Xingyan warned him not to get involved with Du Zhihe—within just a few minutes, even his good friend had already been corrupted.

Unbelievable.

Pei Shiqing was totally confused.

What was going on?

Jiang Mingyi pulled the dazed Pei Shiqing behind him and looked warily at Du Zhihe, just in case he tried anything funny.

Then again, he thought, they were in public. Surely he wouldn’t do anything too outrageous.

He clearly forgot how, just moments ago, Du Zhihe had hugged and clung to him the moment he appeared. Jiang Mingyi then mockingly brought up the earlier scene, “Go ahead. Didn’t you say you wanted to date Shen Xingyan?”

Pei Shiqing was so shocked by this statement that his jaw nearly dropped. He looked at the young man in disbelief.

Was this guy really that bold? He actually wanted to date Brother Shen?

Du Zhihe shyly lowered his head. “That was just a misunderstanding at the time. I didn’t mean I wanted to date Shen Xingyan—I meant I want to date you.”

“You’re the one I fell in love with at first sight. Baby, feel it—this heart of mine beats only for you.”

He even leaned his chest forward—only to be pushed back midway by a large hand.

Shen Xingyan’s eyes were icy, and his voice was cold as he stared darkly at Du Zhihe. “I can make it stop beating right now.”

“Brother-in-law, you’re here!” At the sight of him, Du Zhihe immediately retracted his proud chest.

What a joke—if his heart really stopped beating, how would he ever show his sincerity to his beloved?

Jiang Mingyi clearly hadn’t expected his brother to arrive so quickly either. He looked up and stole a glance at the man—wow, he looked even angrier than last time.

That handsome face was practically turning black.

Jiang Mingyi instinctively trembled. His little hands fidgeted nervously as he grabbed onto Shen Xingyan’s arm. “Bro, I swear I really didn’t know he’d show up here.”

His voice was earnest, and his gaze was sincere—he was just short of raising three fingers to swear to the heavens.

However, Shen Xingyan only glanced down at him lightly. That gaze seemed to contain something terrifying compressed inside his pupils, something Jiang Mingyi couldn’t quite make out.

He tried to take a closer look, but Shen Xingyan had already withdrawn his gaze.

Off to the side, Pei Shiqing was squeezed out by the strange tension among the three. As he stepped back, he bumped into someone. Just as he was about to apologize, he looked up into a familiar, handsome face.

“Bro? You came too?” He grabbed Pei Mingyue’s hand and pulled him a bit further away. “Things over there are way too complicated. I can’t make sense of it.”

Pei Mingyue reached out and patted his head. “If you can’t make sense of it, then don’t.”

“Why?” Pei Shiqing looked up with puffed cheeks. “Are you implying I’m not that smart?”

“No,” Pei Mingyue retracted his hand and gently adjusted his glasses. “It has nothing to do with us. No need to get involved.”

Pei Shiqing thought that made perfect sense. “True.”

Then he silently said to Jiang Mingyi in his heart: Sorry, Yi-bao, I’m staying out of this. Anyway, your brother’s here.

Facing Shen Xingyan’s icy gaze, Du Zhihe boldly confessed to Jiang Mingyi, “Baby, this just proves that our fate is destined. Even though someone deliberately cut off our contact, we still ended up here at the same time.”

With his words, the temperature around Shen Xingyan visibly dropped.

Jiang Mingyi urgently threw him a look—Shut the hell up already!

But Du Zhihe mistook it as a response and got even more excited. “Maybe it’s Heaven pulling the red thread of fate—what they say, ‘a destined couple connected across a thousand miles’…”

Jiang Mingyi could barely hold onto his brother’s arm anymore. Could someone turn up the A/C? Why was it getting so cold in here?

“Bro, just pretend he’s talking out of his ass…”

Shen Xingyan’s voice was frosty enough to form icicles. “So you’re saying he came here just to disgust me?”

Jiang Mingyi really wanted to say I’m disgusted too, but instead, “No, I don’t think he’s got the guts for that.”

Just then, Du Zhihe somehow produced a red rose out of nowhere and was about to kneel down on one knee in front of Jiang Mingyi. “Brother-in-law, I’m here to prove my sincerity. I really do like my baby.”

Jiang Mingyi was startled by his action and hadn’t even had time to react when a foot blocked Du Zhihe’s knee.

“You better believe that if you dare kneel, I’ll make sure you never stand again.” Shen Xingyan’s voice rang out from the corner—quiet, yet every word was clearly heard by those present.

His dark eyes brewed with a storm, and if not for his last shred of reason, Shen Xingyan really would’ve kicked the man out on the spot.

This audacious brat really had no idea how high the heavens were or how thick the earth was—he actually dared to covet his precious little cabbage again and again.

And as for Jiang Mingyi, the little cabbage himself, hadn’t he already been warned not to pay attention to that guy surnamed Du? Yet he still let him wrap an arm around his shoulder, even hold him by the waist without pushing him away.

Jiang Mingyi had no idea what his older brother was thinking. If he did, he would’ve definitely clarified that it wasn’t being held by the waist—he just hadn’t reacted in time before he was hugged.

Du Zhihe clearly knew how to bend when needed and immediately changed tactics.

If kneeling wasn’t allowed, then he’d throw instead.

With a whoosh, the red rose flew from his hand, heading straight toward Jiang Mingyi.

With a pop, it was heartlessly crushed mid-air.

Du Zhihe: “…” Now what? This brother-in-law wall is kind of tall—seems hard to get over.

Jiang Mingyi saw his brother holding a fistful of rose petals and immediately fetched a clean trash bin from the corner. “Ge, quick, throw it away or the juice will drip everywhere.”

He had a strange feeling that what his brother crushed wasn’t a rose—but Du Zhihe’s dog head.

Terrifying!

He attentively held the trash bin in front of Shen Xingyan, a faint smile on his face as he did his utmost to please the man.

Shen Xingyan looked at him, and the coldness in his eyes eased a little.

Once he tossed the rose into the bin, there were still some red stains on his clean palm.

“Um… how about we go wash your hands?” Jiang Mingyi suggested, trying to lead his brother away—better that than standing there as the surrounding gazes grew more gossipy.

What had been a quiet corner was now drawing attention from other guests. He really didn’t want to become the subject of their tea-time chatter.

Chairman Du, under the weight of all those curious stares, finally downed a glass of wine and hurried over.

Xie Zhuoyan followed behind him unhurriedly, glancing at Shen Xingyan’s hand.

Oh? Looks like no one got punched.

A little disappointing.

He was hoping to watch some drama.

“Aiya, President Shen, I’m truly sorry. My foolish little brother has caused you trouble,” Chairman Du rushed to smooth things over, stepping in front of the eager Du Zhihe. “Why don’t you go wash that hand?”

Du Zhihe pouted at his brother’s sturdy frame.

One high wall hadn’t even been climbed over yet, and now here came another thick one.

His road to love sure was bumpy.

While he was silently complaining, Jiang Mingyi finally persuaded Shen Xingyan, and the two headed toward the restroom.

“Ge, you really don’t like Du Zhihe, huh?” he asked as he walked beside Shen Xingyan, turning his head to study the latter’s cold, handsome profile.

Shen Xingyan let out a mocking laugh. “A useless second-generation rich kid—what, don’t tell me you actually like him?”

“But I heard that online game was co-developed and designed by Du Zhihe,” Jiang Mingyi replied. “He’s not entirely good-for-nothing, is he?”

“Then do you know why Chairman Du wants to collaborate with Shen Group?” Shen Xingyan stopped walking and lowered his gaze.

“Huh?” Jiang Mingyi looked up at him in confusion. “Why?”

“Because our Shen Group has deep roots, strong capital, and doesn’t fear losing a few hundred million.”

Jiang Mingyi was shocked. “Ge, are you saying that this online game is very likely to lose money?”

“What else? Even the Tiancheng Group didn’t dare take the risk.”

“But weren’t you planning to invest in it at first? Wouldn’t that make you the sucker?”

Shen Xingyan narrowed his dark eyes and pinned him against the corridor wall. “Jiang Mingyi, which of your eyes saw me being a sucker?”

Jiang Mingyi blinked and immediately corrected himself. “Then you almost became the sucker?”

If he hadn’t discovered that game bug, his brother might’ve really fallen into the trap.

This man really couldn’t stand losing face.

Shen Xingyan flicked his forehead with his finger. “Keep your inner complaints to yourself. I know how to evaluate whether a project is worth investing in.”

“Oh.” No wonder the partnership with Tiancheng fell through so fast.

But still—“You didn’t have to flick me.” Though it didn’t hurt.

“Then should I comfort you a little… maybe kiss you too?” Shen Xingyan lowered his head as he spoke, reducing the distance between them.

He stared down at the delicate, beautiful face before him. The pale skin was flawless, smooth and soft. His long lashes trembled slightly with his lowered eyes, his brows and eyes were like a painting—this entire face was stunning, the kind that would leave anyone breathless.

Looks too good—no wonder the pig tried to get in on it.

“No need for the kiss…” Jiang Mingyi murmured. There was a wall behind him, and Shen Xingyan’s warm body in front—trapped between cold and hot, he felt a bit uncomfortable.

He tried to slip out of Shen Xingyan’s cage, but as soon as he moved, he was grabbed.

“What? Trying to escape after getting close to your gege? Just now when that brat hugged you, you looked like you were enjoying it.”

Jiang Mingyi’s body froze for a moment. He thought they’d already moved past that incident—but it was back again.

“Ge, you must’ve seen it wrong,” he laughed awkwardly.

Shen Xingyan narrowed his eyes at Jiang Mingyi’s evasive expression, his voice dark. “Need me to remind you again? You’re still young—no early dating.”

“I’m not!” Why was he always being labeled like that? Jiang Mingyi felt so wronged.

“Good.” As if he heard faint footsteps approaching, Shen Xingyan finally let him go. Just before turning away, he added, “And don’t go letting other men hug you.”

Jiang Mingyi gave a little “oh,” watching Shen Xingyan’s retreating back as he headed for the restroom. He thought to himself, he really does mind me being hugged, huh…

He barely remembered that hug, honestly. But since his brother seemed to care, he had to show some sincerity.

With that in mind, Jiang Mingyi started walking. “Ge, don’t worry. From now on, I won’t let any other men hug me. I won’t hug anyone else either.”

Shen Xingyan turned around upon hearing that, just about to say, That’s more like it, when Jiang Mingyi suddenly threw open his arms and crashed straight into his chest.

“……”

In that brief moment of daze, he heard the boy’s cheerful voice say,

“Then let me hug you. That should calm you down, right?”

Jiang Mingyi thought his way of coaxing someone was way better than his brother’s. Just look—his brother didn’t even make a sound.

Originally, he had only meant to hug Shen Xingyan from behind. Although the result turned out differently, the effect was still the same.

Feeling a bit pleased with himself, he lifted his head to say a few more sweet words to further appease Shen Xingyan, only to lock eyes with a shocked face.

Lu Jingze had just come out of the restroom, turned a corner, and was utterly stunned by the sight of the two men tightly embracing each other in the hallway.

When he recognized one of their faces, he blurted out, “Jiang Mingyi, you really have no shame.”

Shen Xingyan, who had one arm loosely around the youth’s soft body, instantly turned cold upon hearing those words.