ALCSRB Chapter 54

Over the next few days, Jiang Mingyi practically avoided Shen Xingyan like the plague.

Only after Shen Xingyan left for work would Jiang Mingyi come downstairs, and before Shen Xingyan got off work, he would make excuses like being hungry so he could eat dinner early.

Even Su Wanxin and Shen Jili began to notice the strange atmosphere between the two brothers.

One day, Su Wanxin stopped him with a worried tone, “Xiao Yi, is something going on between you and your brother…?”

“No!”

The sudden shout startled Su Wanxin.

Jiang Mingyi pursed his lips, and under her puzzled and questioning gaze, he forced himself to respond, “Mom, it’s not what you think.”

Su Wanxin looked even more confused. “Then what is it that I’m thinking?”

“……”

How was he supposed to answer that? Say that something unspeakable had happened between him and his older brother a few days ago?

Yeah… no. Absolutely not.

He pinched his burning earlobe and mumbled vaguely, “Things are fine between us. Mom, just don’t overthink it.”

“Then how come I haven’t seen you two being all lovey-dovey lately?”

Jiang Mingyi staggered a little, nearly tripping over his own feet.

He grabbed the armrest of the couch for support. Behind the sofa, his legs trembled ever so slightly. His eyes darted around in every direction except toward Su Wanxin.

“W-What do you mean, lovey-dovey…”

“Weren’t you always clinging to your brother?” Su Wanxin smiled warmly, reminiscing. “As soon as he came home, you’d stick to him like a little tail. Just like when you were a kid.”

“Sometimes you even liked sleeping with him.”

The more she spoke, the more amused she seemed. In her eyes, this kind of intimacy between brothers was heartwarming and totally natural.

“Did I really do that…?”

Jiang Mingyi was dumbfounded. Was he really like that?

Did he really always cling to Shen Xingyan, follow him around like a shadow, and even like sleeping next to him?

No way… right?

He was sure they were just normal brothers.

…Right?

His tone grew more and more uncertain as he started recalling their recent interactions.

Like Shen Xingyan rubbing his belly after a meal at the fishing lodge…
The accidental kiss in the living room…
And—that morning reaction.

Even just those few moments seemed way too intimate. So intimate, in fact, that it had clearly crossed the line of what was appropriate between brothers.

It was like a thunderclap out of a clear blue sky had just crashed down onto his head, leaving Jiang Mingyi utterly fried—inside and out.

He had been worrying about Pei Shiqing’s relationship with his older brother, but now it was obvious—he and Shen Xingyan were way more outrageous.

What kind of brothers rub each other’s stomachs so affectionately?
What kind of brothers keep accidentally kissing?

What kind of brothers “help each other out” with that kind of thing?

One incident could be brushed off as coincidence.

Two would already start looking suspicious.
But they had crossed that line over and over again—doing things that definitely shouldn’t happen between “normal” brothers.

He couldn’t believe Pei Shiqing had even tried testing the waters with his own brother like he’d told him to.
But now, without even meaning to, he himself had practically run that whole test drive.

And the results—

“Xiao Yi, what’s wrong?”

Su Wanxin’s voice suddenly snapped Jiang Mingyi out of his spiraling thoughts. He lowered his head to find his hand clutching his chest—his heart underneath pounding wildly and out of control.

Was he actually… developing feelings for Shen Xingyan that went beyond brotherly love?!!!

No freaking way!!!

Seeing his face suddenly go pale and his hand on his chest, Su Wanxin grew worried. “Is something wrong? Does your heart hurt?”

Jiang Mingyi looked up at her in a daze, her eyes filled with genuine concern. But the overwhelming guilt rising in him drowned out even his earlier panic.

“Mom, I…” He opened his mouth, but didn’t know where to begin explaining what was happening inside his head.

What was he supposed to say? Mom, I think I’ve caught feelings for your son. Surprised? Shook?

Pft—
No way he could say that out loud.

Su Wanxin had no idea the drama unfolding in his mind. She just anxiously held onto him and asked again, “Tell me where it hurts. Is it your heart?”

Jiang Mingyi’s heart was beating so fast it felt like a war drum—thump thump thump—and each beat was pounding the terrifying truth deeper into him.

This sudden realization had him completely overwhelmed, and he didn’t know how to respond to his mom’s concern at all.

After taking a few deep breaths, Jiang Mingyi’s first instinct was: run.

“Mom, I just remembered—I promised to meet up with Pei Shiqing. He’s probably been waiting forever. I shouldn’t bail on him. I’m gonna go find him now.”

Words tumbling over each other, he turned and ran out of the villa before Su Wanxin could even process what he said.

He wandered aimlessly down the street, the sun blazing overhead like a giant fireball roasting his already fragile soul.

Beads of sweat started forming across his forehead. His steps grew heavier and heavier.

What was he supposed to do now? How could he possibly face Shen Xingyan?

In frustration, he kicked a small rock on the sidewalk. It rolled and clattered far away.

Could he just… roll away too? Like that little rock? Just roll so far that he wouldn’t have to worry about any of this again?

The rock hit something, then bounced and rolled right back to his feet.

Jiang Mingyi: “……”

Yeah. Figures. Reality sucks.

Just then, a car suddenly pulled up in front of him.

The window rolled down, revealing two identical faces.

The teasing voices of the twins drifted through the sweltering air:
“Dearest Xiao Yi baby~ Are you out here patrolling the streets like a little lost soul?”

–

Half an hour later, Jiang Mingyi was sitting in a café, facing four very curious twin eyes.

He sipped his orange juice slowly, the cold air of the café washing the heat from his body, leaving him feeling much cooler—physically and emotionally.

It was like even his mood had lightened up a bit.

“So what’s going on between you and Xiao Qing lately?” one of the twins asked. “We tried hitting him up before, but he didn’t reply. And today we saw you walking alone down the street like some heartbroken little boy. You looked super pitiful.

“Bro, don’t say that. He clearly looks like some young guy tangled up in love, his whole vibe screaming, ‘Does he like me or not?’ in pure emotional turmoil.”

“How is that any different from what I just said?”

“Obviously it’s different. He clearly hasn’t been rejected yet. How could you say something so cruel? Are you still that innocent and kind older brother I used to know?”

Getting that disappointed look from his younger brother, Xu Tong immediately retracted his earlier comment. “Okay, okay, my bad. So… who’s the lucky one you’ve fallen for?” The second half was aimed straight at Jiang Mingyi.

Jiang Mingyi was already feeling irritated, and now with the two of them stirring things up, he shot them a glare.

“Why the hell should I tell you guys?”

These two blabbermouths? He’d have to be out of his mind to spill the secret he just uncovered.

“Come on, we’re bros—we gotta care about each other.”

They said it was concern, but their eyes were flashing with one very obvious word: gossip.

Jiang Mingyi replied flatly, “Got it, message received. Now if you’re done ‘caring,’ you can both leave the way you came in.”

The twins exchanged a quick glance—then suddenly slid in on either side of him, sandwiching him between them.

“Aww c’mon, we’re all tight here. You’ve clearly got something on your mind—how can we just sit back and do nothing?”

“Spill the tea, maybe we can help you out.”

“Help? You mean with another one of your garbage ideas.” Jiang Mingyi broke free from their twin-pincer grip, and just then—bam, a thought hit him like lightning.

Damn it. Speaking of “ideas,” this was all because he listened to Qin Hao’s crappy advice in the first place!

If not for that, he’d still be an innocent little guy, mind untainted, unbothered by this whole feelings mess.

The twins saw the murderous glint flash in his eyes and instinctively leaned away in fear.

“What’s wrong? You look like someone seriously pissed you off.”
And those fists? Clenched tight like he’s about to throw down. Yikes.

“Yeah, someone did piss me off,” Jiang Mingyi growled, clearly furious—but he couldn’t just storm into the office and throw hands with Qin Hao.

What was he supposed to say? “Your dumb idea screwed me over. Now I not only know that our ‘good buddy’ is into his own brother—I’m in love with my brother too.”

Wouldn’t that basically be a direct confession to Shen Xingyan?

And if Shen Xingyan rejected him on the spot… ugh, that’d be the ultimate embarrassment.

The twins watched his facial expressions flip like a drama stage actor—fury, bashfulness, despair—like a full-blown Beijing Opera mask change. They were thoroughly entertained.

“Who is it? We’ll go rough him up for you.”

Jiang Mingyi slowly raised his gaze, eyeing their skinny limbs with disdain.

“You two? He could take you both out with one punch.”

The twins: “……”

Since their “enemy” was so strong, the twins decided to pretend they hadn’t said anything at all.

Jiang Mingyi, annoyed by the sight of them, chatted briefly before kicking the two of them out.

He wandered into a random restaurant in the mall to grab lunch, then slumped into a chair and rubbed his belly.

His long eyelashes drooped as he stared at his own hand, but his mind was elsewhere: He kind of missed Shen Xingyan.

Ahhhhh——

He’s beyond saving.

How could he possibly like Shen Xingyan?!

No. Gotta get a grip.

Forcefully suppressing the growing urge to go find Shen Xingyan at the office, Jiang Mingyi wandered aimlessly through the mall. Eventually, he followed a group of young people up to the top floor movie theater.

Seeing he was alone, the staff at the counter asked which movie he wanted to see.

Jiang Mingyi pointed to the one starting soonest, paid, and went inside.

Once seated, completely absorbed in his thoughts, he didn’t even notice that he was surrounded by couples. Every pair that walked past him gave him a curious look.

The movie started quickly, and only then did Jiang Mingyi realize—it was a romance film. The plot was simple: the male and female leads meet, slowly realize their mutual crushes, and after some back-and-forth of subtle testing, finally end up together. Cliché, but sweet.

When the movie ended, he suddenly felt like—maybe having a crush wasn’t such an embarrassing thing after all.

If Shen Xingyan likes me too… wouldn’t that be perfect?

His mood instantly brightened.

No more wandering aimlessly—he hopped in a cab and went straight home.

He was already imagining it: when Shen Xingyan came back, he’d be brave, confident, just like the movie’s male lead, and say, “I like you. Do you like me too?”

But when dinnertime rolled around, Shen Xingyan was still nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Mingyi’s good mood evaporated, and even dinner started tasting bland.

Just as he was poking around at the last bites of food, the person he’d been yearning for finally showed up.

He bounced up, steps light, ready to speak—only for a phone ringtone to cut him off.

Shen Xingyan picked up the call, giving him an apologetic glance before turning to walk away.

Jiang Mingyi instinctively followed and vaguely heard him say, “Wasn’t your flight tomorrow? Why’d you move it up?”

Whatever the person on the other end said, it made Shen Xingyan frown. His voice was laced with helplessness. “Alright, wait at the airport—I’ll come pick you up now.”

Jiang Mingyi’s heart clenched.

Suddenly, he remembered those WeChat messages he’d glimpsed on Shen Xingyan’s phone before.

Pick someone up?

Who had the audacity to make his brother personally go pick them up?

Wasn’t that usually something Qin Hao handled?

And from the way Shen Xingyan looked so flustered—could it be… some little vixen?

Nope. Nope nope nope. He had to keep an eye on this.