ALCSRB Chapter 58

When Jiang Mingyi woke up, daylight was already streaming in. The warm sunlight was mostly blocked by the thick curtains, leaving only a narrow beam of light.

He stared blankly at the ceiling for a while. It took his groggy brain a full thirty seconds to recall that he’d gotten drunk again the night before.

Covering his face with his hand, he silently scolded himself—his alcohol tolerance really was hopeless.

He had no memory of how he got home, but there were fragmented traces in his mind: a broad, sturdy back carrying him, walking steadily beneath the starlight.

“I think I said something to him…”

But no matter how hard he tried, Jiang Mingyi couldn’t remember what it was. The blurry memories slipped through his fingers, leaving him no choice but to give up.

He turned his head and spotted his phone on the bedside table.

Picking it up, he saw that it had been fully charged, and there were two new messages.

One was from Shen Xingyan: he had gone to work and would take him out after he got off.

Jiang Mingyi replied with a simple “Okay.”

The other was a friend request.

It was from An Shi.

After accepting the request, a new message popped up almost immediately.

[An Shi]: Little brother, you’re awake~

[An Shi]: Your cold-hearted, ruthless brother actually went off to work and abandoned me at the hotel.

[An Shi]: So, will you keep me company today?

Jiang Mingyi: Keep you company?

After all, An Shi was Shen Xingyan’s friend, and Jiang Mingyi had only met him briefly—barely a full evening. What did keeping him company even mean?

[An Shi]: Of course I mean hang out with me!

[An Shi]: Don’t worry, I know you can’t hold your liquor. I absolutely won’t let you drink today.

Jiang Mingyi looked at that message and felt a strange sense of being discriminated against.

He pouted, then hesitated a bit before sending a message to ask Shen Xingyan for his opinion.

[Shen Xingyan]: Ignore him. He’ll find a way to kill time on his own.

As soon as Jiang Mingyi got that message, he was ready to turn An Shi down. But before he could send his reply, a new message from An Shi popped up.

[An Shi]: I can tell you a few things about Shen Xingyan’s time abroad~ You definitely want to know, right, little brother?

The rejection message was instantly deleted.

Jiang Mingyi: Alright then. Which hotel are you staying at?

—

Half an hour later, Jiang Mingyi had the driver take him to the hotel.

He took the elevator up, using the room number An Shi had given him.

Just as he knocked on the door, it swung open.

An Shi glanced at the time. “A bit slow, but it’s still early.”

When he looked up, he saw the person in front of him looking a little stunned.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me anymore.”

An Shi flashed a radiant smile. Today, he wasn’t dressed in women’s clothes but wore casual attire. The black pants he wore made his long legs stand out even more.

Jiang Mingyi’s gaze practically glued itself to those legs. “You’re so tall…”

He had noticed yesterday—even in women’s clothes—that An Shi was much taller than him. Now, even in slippers, Jiang Mingyi still had to tilt his head up to look at him.

He wasn’t wearing any makeup, yet his features were still strikingly beautiful.

“Are you mixed-race?” His skin was snowy white, his features deep and refined—one of those faces that drew attention no matter where he went. Absolutely dazzling.

Jiang Mingyi had always been confident—proud even—of his looks. But right now, looking at An Shi, even he was a little stunned by how good-looking the other boy was.

How could Shen Xingyan possibly have such a gorgeous friend?

In just one second, Jiang Mingyi made up his mind: whenever the two were together, he would have to be the brightest, most obvious third wheel.

If anyone got charmed by that face and something happened—he’d never forgive himself.

An Shi, completely unaware of the mental gymnastics happening next to him, smiled lightly. “Just a four-way mix.”

“Come on in.”

Jiang Mingyi followed him into the room. It was a bit messy—clothes and personal items casually scattered on the bed.

An Shi plopped down onto the bed without a care. “I don’t like any of these outfits anymore. I need to go shopping for new clothes.”

Jiang Mingyi glanced at the pile of clothes—most of them still had tags—and then looked at An Shi’s face of pure disdain. He understood.

People, after all, are naturally attracted to new things.

As long as they don’t treat people like that, it’s fine.

Jiang Mingyi took An Shi to a large shopping mall in the city center.

“Menswear is on the fifth floor,” he said as the two of them rode the elevator up.

Just as they stepped out, a few girls followed behind them.

Whispers drifted over.

“Look, two total hotties ahead.”

“Guys these days are so good-looking. How are we girls supposed to survive?”

“Obviously, we flirt with them.”

“Girl, that’s the spirit! Adults should know—you can have both!”

Their light footsteps grew closer.

Jiang Mingyi absolutely hated being hit on like this, and was about to pull a sour face, when a hand gently rested on his shoulder.

“Ladies, is there something you need?” An Shi said sweetly, flashing a dazzling smile at the three girls in front of them.

The girls blushed in unison. “Uh… handsome guy, can we get your contact info?”

Each held a phone in hand, looking shy and hopeful as they gazed at Jiang Mingyi and An Shi.

Up close, the two of them were truly gorgeous in their own ways.

The girls were practically swooning, on the verge of drooling.

Jiang Mingyi glanced at the hand on his shoulder—he wasn’t used to being physically close to others and shifted slightly.

An Shi removed his hand… only to casually slide an arm around Jiang Mingyi’s waist the next second.

Jiang Mingyi: “…”

What the hell is this?

An Shi loosely wrapped his arm around his waist and said, “Sorry, ladies—this one’s taken.”

The girls finally noticed the intimate pose between the two and exchanged glances. Realization hit them instantly.

“Ah… sorry about that.”

Disappointed but still reluctant to look away, they watched the two boys walk off.

“Figures. These days, even pretty boys end up with other pretty boys.”

Jiang Mingyi, still being half-embraced by An Shi, glared at him. “How could you say something so misleading?”

An Shi let go and leaned in with a teasing smile in his eyes. “Did I say anything wrong? Aren’t you already ‘taken,’ little brother?”

Jiang Mingyi’s heart skipped at the way he looked at him. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I told you—I’m great at reading people.” An Shi tapped his own eye. “You’ve got someone you like. So how can you let some random girls hit on you?”

“But you can’t just be that touchy with me…”

“I was just choosing the most straightforward way to reject them. They weren’t being rude, so a gentle letdown wouldn’t hurt them.”

Jiang Mingyi thought about it for a second. “Fine, but don’t do that again.”

“Got it. That shoulder and waist? Strictly off-limits—reserved for a certain someone.”

Jiang Mingyi blushed at the flirty tone, shot him a glare, and turned away in a huff.

An Shi watched him walk off, then lowered his head and sent a text:

“Your little brother is seriously charming—just walking through a mall and girls are already hitting on him.”

After hitting send, he tucked his phone away and caught up with Jiang Mingyi.

The brands Jiang Mingyi showed him were all ones An Shi liked. After a quick tour around the stores, he ended up buying quite a few clothes.

“I’m tired—let’s grab something to eat.” After telling the store staff to deliver the clothes to the hotel, An Shi turned around and saw Jiang Mingyi, head lowered, busy on his phone.

He walked over and glanced at the screen—Jiang Mingyi was messaging Shen Xingyan.

“What’s this, your brother doing a surprise check-in?” An Shi crossed his arms, sounding very sure of himself.

Jiang Mingyi immediately locked his phone. “No.”

After a brief pause, Jiang Mingyi added, “My brother asked where I was.”

An Shi looked at him with a half-smile. “So you told him you were shopping with me?”

That look, like he could see right through him, made Jiang Mingyi a little awkward. He tugged out a sheepish smile. “Yeah.”

“How can you let your brother have such a tight grip on you?”

“…What do you mean?”

Jiang Mingyi blinked at him, confused. Why did An Shi seem kind of mad?

An Shi looked down at him from above. Seeing those dazed, peach blossom eyes full of innocence, the frustration that had just risen up was quickly replaced by fondness.

“Forget it, little brother. You’re way too soft.”

A large hand reached out and ruffled Jiang Mingyi’s fluffy hair. “When it comes to handling men, you can’t just say yes to everything they say.”

–

Shen Xingyan had just stepped out of a meeting when he received a message from An Shi.

[An Shi]: Your little brother is really something. Just casually walking around the mall and girls are already hitting on him.

His brows furrowed. He immediately messaged back, asking where they were.

Back in the office, his phone remained silent—clearly, there was no response.

Shen Xingyan reopened the chat and sent another message.

But it was like tossing a stone into the sea—completely quiet, as if An Shi had blocked him.

Qin Hao entered with a few documents. “Boss, these need your signature.”

Shen Xingyan had no choice but to set the phone aside and go over the paperwork. By the time he signed everything, half an hour had passed.

Qin Hao didn’t leave, instead reporting the schedule. “Boss, there’s a lunch appointment at noon and another meeting after that.”

Shen Xingyan’s hand froze mid-reach for his phone. “Didn’t I tell you to reschedule everything today?”

“But boss, these were things you scheduled yourself earlier.”

Shen Xingyan: “…”

“Then reschedule them now.”

Holding his phone, and since An Shi wouldn’t reply, he decided to ask someone else.

[Shen Xingyan]: Xiao Yi, where are you guys?

Half a minute later, he got a reply.

Jiang Mingyi: Ge, we’re at XX Mall.

[Shen Xingyan]: Is it crowded?

Jiang Mingyi: Yeah, pretty busy. It’s summer vacation after all.

Summer vacation—lots of young people around.

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the desk, expression turning serious.

[Shen Xingyan]: Did anything unusual happen?

He sent the message, but didn’t get a reply right away.

His once-calm tapping grew increasingly impatient, until there was a final thud on the desk.

Shen Xingyan lowered his gaze and sent a single question mark, his face grave.

Time ticked by second after second.

Still—no reply from Jiang Mingyi.

Shen Xingyan frowned deeply and said to Qin Hao beside him, “Cancel the lunch appointment and postpone the afternoon meeting to tomorrow.”

Qin Hao was momentarily stunned. Just as he was about to ask why, he saw Shen Xingyan pick up the coat hanging nearby and head straight for the door.

“Boss, where are you going?”

“To the mall,” Shen Xingyan replied, his voice noticeably colder.

For once, Qin Hao’s usually stoic face was filled with question marks. Was this… skipping work?

Shen Xingyan entered the elevator and dialed Jiang Mingyi’s number on his phone.

The call rang for a few seconds—then was abruptly declined.

Perfect.

He stared at the “call ended” screen, teeth clenched in frustration.

—

Elsewhere, Jiang Mingyi frowned and looked at An Shi. “This doesn’t feel right.”

An Shi grinned and gently slipped the phone back into Jiang Mingyi’s pocket. “What’s there to be afraid of?”

Let someone get a little anxious—wouldn’t hurt.