ALCSRB Chapter 85

Su Wanxin noticed Jiang Mingyi had arrived and quickly stopped mid-sentence.

“Xiao Yi, you’re up. Come eat breakfast.”

“Okay, Mom.”

Jiang Mingyi walked over to his seat. Seeing Su Wanxin turn back into the kitchen, he immediately raised an eyebrow at Shen Xingyan. “Wow, talk about perfect timing.”

Shen Xingyan knew he’d overheard and just gave a faint smile. “So, what do you think? Want to meet ‘him’?”

Jiang Mingyi sat down, tilted his head slightly, and smirked. “Of course I do. I just wonder if you have the guts.”

Just imagining the shock on Su Wanxin and Shen Jili’s faces if he and Shen Xingyan showed up hand in hand gave Jiang Mingyi a little thrill.

He suppressed the upward curve of his lips, but there was an unmistakable glint of mischief in his eyes.

Shen Xingyan smiled as he looked at him. “What’s there to be afraid of? No time like the present—how about today?”

Jiang Mingyi clearly hadn’t expected him to be so straightforward and was momentarily stunned. At that moment, Su Wanxin came out carrying Jiang Mingyi’s breakfast.

“What are you two talking about? What’s happening today?” she asked, cutting into their exchange.

Jiang Mingyi was the first to look away. He accepted the breakfast. “Thank you, Mom.”

He lowered his head and began eating, leaving Shen Xingyan to answer the question.

Shen Xingyan’s gaze lingered on the boy eating seriously with his head down, before he looked up and met Su Wanxin’s inquisitive eyes.

“Xiao Yi said there’s a new movie coming out that he really wants to see,” he said in his usual calm, composed tone. “I thought I’d take him after work today.”

“Oh, I see,” Su Wanxin said, suddenly understanding. “Well, if Xiao Yi wants to see it, then as his big brother, you should go with him.”

After breakfast, Jiang Mingyi went out with Shen Xingyan.

“Ge, do you never blush when you lie?” Jiang Mingyi teased as soon as he got in the car and fastened his seatbelt.

With one hand on the steering wheel, Shen Xingyan used the other to pinch his cheek. “That’s why we should just make the lie come true.”

Jiang Mingyi flinched back slightly, meeting Shen Xingyan’s serious gaze and feeling momentarily speechless.

“You’re the one who said it. Why should I go along with it?”

“Because of what we are to each other,” Shen Xingyan replied, grabbing Jiang Mingyi’s left hand that rested on his knee. “If your boyfriend wants to see a movie, shouldn’t you indulge him?”

Jiang Mingyi opened his mouth, stubbornly denying, “I don’t want to see it.”

Seemingly unsurprised, Shen Xingyan’s low voice delivered a line that made Jiang Mingyi’s ears flush red in an instant: “I want to see it. Can my boyfriend indulge me?”

Jiang Mingyi: “…”

Unfair. That was basically him acting cute.

Usually it was Jiang Mingyi who played the spoiled one, dragging Shen Xingyan to do things. But the tables had turned now, and he was not used to it at all.

“Don’t talk to me in that tone,” Jiang Mingyi mumbled, lips pursed as he lowered his gaze to hide his blushing.

“You don’t like it?”

Shen Xingyan immediately spotted the unnatural pink hue on his ears, and his eyes lit up with amusement.

“Not that I don’t like it,” Jiang Mingyi said, his voice softer now. “I’m just not used to it.”

“If you’re not used to it, I’ll just say it more often until you are.”

“…!” Jiang Mingyi choked on his words and after a beat, muttered, “Don’t.”

“Hm?” Shen Xingyan frowned slightly. “Why not?”

Jiang Mingyi’s face turned a deeper shade of red.

He wasn’t about to admit that whenever Shen Xingyan used that voice, he’d agree to absolutely anything.

Biting his lower lip, Jiang Mingyi said, “No reason. Just don’t.”

That evening, the two of them still ended up going to the movie.

Even though it was a weekday, the theater was buzzing with people.

Jiang Mingyi’s eyes trailed a girl walking past him, focused entirely on the ice cream she was holding. He reached out and tugged Shen Xingyan’s sleeve. “I want ice cream too.”

Shen Xingyan couldn’t help but laugh at the craving written all over his face. “You want it that badly?”

“Mhm, I want some,” Jiang Mingyi replied, his gaze still fixed in the distance when his hand was suddenly squeezed.

“Wait here, I’ll go get it.”

Shen Xingyan let go of his hand after speaking and turned toward the ice cream stand.

Jiang Mingyi finally pulled his gaze back and turned to look at Shen Xingyan’s tall, lean figure standing in line in the distance—his presence stood out even in the crowd.

A few girls nearby were eyeing him. Though Jiang Mingyi couldn’t hear their whispers, the excited looks on their faces made their intentions obvious.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Mingyi walked over and linked arms with Shen Xingyan.

The girls who were planning to make a move widened their eyes in shock, letting out a few surprised sounds.

Shen Xingyan lowered his eyes to glance at him. “Can’t wait anymore?”

Jiang Mingyi was clearly pleased with the effect of his appearance, a smug smile tugging at his lips. “Nope. Just wanted to come buy it with you.”

“There’s a bunch of flavors. Any one in particular you’re craving?”

Without even glancing at the menu, Jiang Mingyi replied in a soft, syrupy voice, “Anything you get, I’ll love it.”

Shen Xingyan’s eyes glimmered with amusement. “You haven’t even had the ice cream yet, but your mouth’s already that sweet?”

“My mouth’s always this sweet. You didn’t know?” Jiang Mingyi pouted at him.

Under the overhead lights, his rosy lips practically glowed. Shen Xingyan’s gaze landed there and refused to move.

If it weren’t for the crowd, he would’ve already tested just how sweet that mouth really was.

The ice cream was ready soon after.

There was still some time before the movie started. Jiang Mingyi held the cold, misty cone in one hand while Shen Xingyan held his other, leading him to a quiet corner of the waiting area.

Shen Xingyan helped him into an empty seat.

Jiang Mingyi focused on eating his ice cream but gradually realized Shen Xingyan had been watching him the whole time.

He lifted his hand, offering the cone. “Want a bite?”

Shen Xingyan looked at the ice cream offered near his mouth and shook his head. “No, I’m good.”

“Then why are you staring at me?” Jiang Mingyi frowned slightly. He’d thought Shen Xingyan wanted to try it too.

He usually wasn’t big on sweets, but this particular ice cream was especially tasty today.

Shen Xingyan didn’t respond. He just kept staring at him.

A bit unsettled, Jiang Mingyi furrowed his brows, and even after finishing the entire cone, Shen Xingyan’s gaze hadn’t shifted.

Jiang Mingyi subconsciously moved to lick the bit of ice cream at the corner of his lips, but before he could, Shen Xingyan suddenly leaned in—his warm breath brushing past Jiang Mingyi’s cheek, and then those cool, slightly chilly lips pressed against his.

The cool sensation was passed to Shen Xingyan through their pressed lips. A warm tongue gently traced Jiang Mingyi’s lips, slowly melting away that coldness, until their temperatures became indistinguishable.

Jiang Mingyi was stunned for a few seconds. When he came to his senses, his eyes darted around nervously.

They were in a secluded corner, partially hidden behind a movie poster, so for the moment, no one had noticed them.

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, his lips were forcefully pried open. The moment his jaw loosened, his tongue was swiftly entangled with practiced ease.

Unable to restrain himself, Jiang Mingyi let out a soft hum, only to be devoured entirely by Shen Xingyan.

His hand accidentally touched some melted ice cream, making his fingertips sticky, which made him hesitate when he wanted to touch Shen Xingyan.

But very soon, he no longer had the luxury to be distracted.

Shen Xingyan grabbed his waist in one fluid motion, deepening the already urgent kiss.

Jiang Mingyi stood at the sink, washing his hands, but his gaze kept drifting to the mirror.

The boy in the mirror had slightly flushed cheeks, and his moist eyelashes lifted gently, instantly revealing his lips, now swollen and rosy with a faint puffiness.

Anyone who saw his appearance now would immediately understand what had happened to him.

The lingering heat on his lips made him want to press some ice cream against them to cool down. But the moment he remembered this kiss had started because of ice cream, Jiang Mingyi felt immensely frustrated.

In the end, he dropped his gaze helplessly and turned off the faucet.

By the time the movie was over, it was already quite late.

The two of them drove home.

Su Wanxin was in the middle of discussing something with Shen Jili. Upon seeing the two return, she called them over to sit down.

Jiang Mingyi sat next to Shen Xingyan. Their hands brushed against each other but quickly separated again.

Su Wanxin didn’t notice and said, “This afternoon, your uncle called and invited our family to a birthday banquet.”

“Birthday banquet?” Jiang Mingyi’s attention was immediately caught. “Whose?”

Su Wanxin replied, “It’s your great-aunt’s birthday banquet.”

Shen Xingyan frowned slightly, “I remember Auntie hasn’t been in the best health these past years. Why suddenly host a banquet?”

Su Wanxin sighed, “It’s precisely because her health is poor. Your uncle’s worried she might not last much longer, so he’s thinking of celebrating her centennial early.”

Shen Jili patted Su Wanxin’s hand. “A birthday banquet is a joyous occasion. Don’t overthink it. Who knows, maybe the happiness will lift her spirits and improve her health.”

“You’re always good at comforting me. If it were that simple, doctors would be out of work.” Su Wanxin shot him a look, but her mood did improve a little.

She then turned to the two boys and said, “I was already planning for a family trip. We could visit Haishi and see your great-aunt while we’re at it. Now that your uncle called, it’s perfect timing for a family trip to celebrate her birthday.”

“If you two want to go sightseeing, Haishi is a nice tourist spot.”

The birthday banquet was scheduled for a week later.

These days, Shen Xingyan was busy with company affairs, so Jiang Mingyi didn’t follow him to the office every day.

But staying home was getting a little dull.

Jiang Mingyi rummaged through Shen Jili’s study and found some calligraphy brushes, ink, and paper. He picked up a copybook and started practicing calligraphy.

When Shen Xingyan came home from work and saw him so focused, he was a bit surprised.

“What are you up to?”

Jiang Mingyi looked up, proudly showing him his writing. “How’s this look?”

Shen Xingyan glanced at the barely legible characters and the ink stain on the bridge of Jiang Mingyi’s nose and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Don’t tell me this is your birthday gift for Great-Aunt?”

Embarrassed by the teasing, Jiang Mingyi pouted, “Why not?”

“It’s fine.” Shen Xingyan walked over and noticed several discarded sheets of failed attempts. “Full of sincerity and filial piety. Great-Aunt will surely be delighted.”

Jiang Mingyi was just about to proudly say, “Of course!” when he suddenly realized what was going on.

He immediately deflated, setting down the paper in his hand. “So you’re just beating around the bush to say my handwriting sucks, huh?”

“How could that be? Your writing is clearly full of… artistic spirit,” Shen Xingyan replied.

“Perfunctory.” Jiang Mingyi flattened out a new sheet of paper, raising an eyebrow at Shen Xingyan. “Why don’t you write one for me to see?”

Shen Xingyan casually undid his shirt cuffs, rolling them up lazily, then picked up the brush.

Jiang Mingyi watched his nonchalant strokes, just about to make a sarcastic comment—until he froze.

“Bro… have you trained in calligraphy before?”

Those characters, while not at a master calligrapher’s level, were stunning enough to catch anyone’s eye.

Shen Xingyan said offhandedly, “I practiced calligraphy for a while when I was a kid. It’s been so long though, I’m a bit rusty.”

As soon as he said that, he saw Jiang Mingyi’s mouth droop. “If that’s you being rusty, then I might as well have broken hands.” His own hands drooped down in defeat.

He couldn’t help but grumble in his heart—Why does Shen Xingyan seem to be good at everything? He always looks so annoyingly cool.

Then, a thought hit him.

Oh right, this guy can’t give birth. That’s one thing he can’t do.

“Alright, fine. I forgive you,” Jiang Mingyi suddenly declared.

Shen Xingyan: “…”

Did he miss an entire conversation here?