ALCSRB Chapter 88

Meng Ling quickly smoothed over the brief stiffness in her expression and put on a pleasant smile again.
“Xiao Yi, you’re really amusing.”

“I call it having a clear sense of self-awareness.”

Jiang Mingyi’s hand was still holding Shen Xingyan’s under the table, their fingers intertwined where no one could see.

The warmth from their touching skin seeped into Shen Xingyan, softening the shadowy chill in his expression.

Jiang Mingyi tilted his chin proudly.
“I’ve known I was good-looking since I was a kid. That’s just a fact—no need for too many people to confirm it. Just like how Mom and Dad always say I’m obedient and cute. Naturally, that means I am obedient and cute.”

As he spoke, he even playfully winked at Su Wanxin and Shen Jili.

The momentary stiffness in the atmosphere was smoothed over by his antics.

Su Wanxin smiled. “Our Xiao Yi really is both obedient and cute.”

Shen Jili, sitting to the side, nodded in agreement.

“We’ve raised this child since he was little, and his mother and I truly adore him,” Shen Jili said to Meng Deqing beside him. “Even though we don’t have a daughter, Xiao Yi is just like one—our little cotton-padded jacket, warm and close to the heart.”

At this remark, Meng Ling couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of her eye, clearly baffled by the metaphor of “just like a daughter.”

The warm, harmonious air of the dining room returned as the elders chatted, and Meng Ling found it hard to keep poking fun at the earlier exchange.

She glanced at the empty seat beside Shen Xingyan, intending to walk over, but a single icy look froze her in place.

Meng Ling pursed her lips at Shen Xingyan’s indifferent expression and instead went to sit down next to her own parents.

Mrs. Meng asked her, “Where’s your younger brother?”

Meng Ling flicked a glance at the two brothers across from her, who were still leaning in close to talk, and replied quietly, “He should be here soon.”

Mrs. Meng frowned. “What’s he doing?”

No sooner had she finished speaking than a figure walked in from outside the dining room. His pace was unhurried—almost too unhurried—but everyone’s attention was drawn to him.

Everyone except Jiang Mingyi, who still had his head lowered, murmuring to Shen Xingyan.

Mrs. Meng immediately noticed the white suit her youngest son was wearing, surprise flickering across her face.
“Xiao Yan, you usually hate wearing formal clothes. Why the sudden change?”

Meng Yan’s birth mother had just exposed him, and his handsome face flushed slightly. His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on that pretty younger man, but seeing that the other didn’t seem to be looking at him at all, he felt a bit disappointed.

“Since we have guests today, I’d better go change into something more appropriate.” He sat down beside Meng Ling, his eyes drifting again toward Shen Xingyan, who was wearing a dark suit and exuding a calm, mature air. In Meng Yan’s eyes, there was a faint trace of envy.

Su Wanxin suddenly said, “Xiao Yan’s white suit looks quite similar to one my Xiao Yi has. Young men really look good in white—so fresh and spirited.”

Meng Yan’s expression brightened at that, almost grinning ear to ear in delight.

But Jiang Mingyi wasn’t pleased. “Mom, if you say that, I won’t be able to wear a white suit again.”

“Why?”

Not only did Su Wanxin fail to understand, but several of the older relatives also turned to look at him.

Meng Ling also looked over curiously.

Only Shen Xingyan remained calm and composed.

Jiang Mingyi glanced at Meng Yan across the table, then turned his head toward Su Wanxin and said, “I’m good-looking, so of course I look better in a white suit. If I wear it, won’t that make him feel inferior? That’d be no good. We’re here as guests, after all—we should leave some dignity for our hosts.”

Su Wanxin hadn’t expected him to say that. She froze for a second before turning to Meng Deqing and his wife with a smile. “That’s just his personality—he’s a bit narcissistic.” Even as she said it, her tone was full of fondness and protectiveness toward Jiang Mingyi.

Meng Deqing laughed heartily. “Narcissism’s fine—better than my boy here, who’s soft and timid.”

Hearing his own father criticize him, Meng Yan lowered his head in embarrassment.

At that moment, Shen Xingyan suddenly spoke. “That’s not narcissism—it’s confidence.”

“Mm, exactly, ge, you’re right—it’s confidence,” Jiang Mingyi said quickly, nodding eagerly. His dazzling smile lit up his already exquisite features, making it impossible to refute him.

Meng Ling hid a smile behind her teacup. This pair of brothers was quite amusing.

…

The lunch passed in a harmonious atmosphere.

When Jiang Mingyi and Shen Xingyan were leaving the dining room, Meng Ling followed along with Meng Yan.

The four of them stood in the hallway, and Meng Ling extended a friendly invitation. “Xingyan-ge, Xiao Yi-di, do you want to hang out for a bit after lunch?”

Jiang Mingyi had been completely satisfied with the meal—the Meng family’s chef’s skills were far beyond his expectations—so much so that he had accidentally eaten a bit too much.

Hearing Meng Ling’s voice now, he was still a little dazed and didn’t immediately react.

Shen Xingyan lowered his eyes to look at his content, lazy expression and knew right away that the words had gone in one ear and out the other.

“Shall we head back to rest, or go do something to help digest?”

Jiang Mingyi was silent for a moment. He wanted to take a nap, but he was also curious about what kind of entertainment was on offer.

“What kind of ‘something’?” he asked directly to Meng Ling.

Meng Ling’s gaze lingered for a moment on their shoulders, nearly touching. “Anything you like. It’s not every day you visit, so of course we have to treat you well.”

“There’s an entertainment room on the third floor,” Meng Ling explained briefly, listing things like poker, mahjong, billiards, indoor golf, and other leisure activities. “It depends on what Xiao Yi-di wants to play.”

“We could go horseback riding,” came a timid voice from behind Meng Ling.

Meng Ling glanced back at Meng Yan, then explained to the two guests, “It’s too hot to ride at this hour, but if Xiao Yi-di’s interested, we could go in the evening when it’s cooler.”

The word “horseback riding” made Jiang Mingyi’s eyes light up. But he knew it was the hottest time of day, not exactly ideal for riding.

“Ge, do you want to?” he asked for Shen Xingyan’s opinion in the end.

Shen Xingyan’s gaze toward him was filled with tenderness—a look Meng Ling and Meng Yan couldn’t see, but Jiang Mingyi caught in full.

“I don’t mind whether we ride or not,” Shen Xingyan replied softly. “What matters is whether you want to.”

Of course, Jiang Mingyi wanted to.

The four of them headed straight for the third floor.

The entertainment room was spacious, divided into several sections.

As they passed the billiards table, Shen Xingyan suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Jiang Mingyi followed his gaze toward the billiards table, looking a bit troubled. “Ge, you know I’m not very good at this.”

Shen Xingyan raised an eyebrow. “Last time, I don’t think I completely finished teaching you.”

The words, laced with some unspoken meaning, fell into Jiang Mingyi’s ears and instantly brought to mind their last time at the billiards hall.

His face flushed red in an instant.

“How about I teach you again?”

Shen Xingyan’s voice was soft, but clear enough for Jiang Mingyi to hear. He felt like refusing, yet was also a little tempted.

Seeing the two of them stopped there whispering, Meng Ling had no choice but to walk over. Her gaze lingered on them for a few seconds before she asked, “What, are you going to play billiards?”

Shen Xingyan didn’t answer her—his eyes stayed fixed on Jiang Mingyi, calmly waiting for his response.

After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Mingyi nodded. “Then… let’s play for a bit.”

Shen Xingyan’s lips curved slightly, and he responded with a quiet “Mm.”

Meng Ling felt like neither of them had actually acknowledged her, yet somehow they had answered her question.

Shaking off that strange feeling, she beckoned to Meng Yan. “Xiao Yi-di wants to play billiards—do you want to join him for a game?”

Meng Yan’s eyes lit up at that, but before he could say anything, Shen Xingyan cut in.

“No need. I’ll play with him.” With that, he took Jiang Mingyi by the hand and led him to get a cue stick.

Jiang Mingyi watched as he took one down and handed it over. “Ge, aren’t you getting one for yourself?”

“I said I’d teach you—we only need one cue stick.”

Once Jiang Mingyi accepted it, Shen Xingyan casually took off his suit jacket, unfastened his shirt cuffs, and rolled the sleeves up twice, revealing a stretch of muscular, well-defined arm.

Jiang Mingyi’s eyes were drawn there against his will, and his throat felt a little dry.

Ever since they’d confirmed their relationship, the two of them had shared countless intimate moments, and every time Jiang Mingyi saw those sexy muscles, there was always an indescribable urge in him.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, tall and well-built—his boyfriend exuded an overwhelming masculinity. Sometimes, having a man like this was truly a test of his self-control.

Not that he’d ever admit his self-control was lacking.

It was definitely Shen Xingyan’s fault.

See? He was touching his hand again.

“Do you still remember the stance I taught you last time?”

Jiang Mingyi was still lost in his thoughts when Shen Xingyan leaned in from behind, wrapping his hand around the one holding the cue stick. His voice, low and husky, brushed right against Jiang Mingyi’s ear.

The heat from that touch made Jiang Mingyi’s mind abandon all thoughts of billiards entirely.

He looked down at their overlapping hands, his fingertips twitching slightly.

“Forgot already?” Shen Xingyan asked again when he didn’t get a response.

Dark eyes studied the long lashes before him and immediately noticed his little student’s distraction.

A soft chuckle escaped him before he deliberately lowered his voice. “If you keep ignoring me, I’m going to kiss you.”

Jiang Mingyi jolted back to himself, wanting to glare at him over his shoulder—only to have Shen Xingyan press him down slightly.

Their bodies were pressed closely together. From afar, it looked like a normal older-brother-teaching-younger-brother-to-play scene, but Jiang Mingyi could clearly feel the subtle movements from behind—Shen Xingyan was obviously teasing him on purpose.

This guy was absolutely shameless.

“Aren’t you worried that those siblings will see?” Jiang Mingyi tried to hold back, but finally whispered the warning.

Shen Xingyan let out a short, amused laugh. “That Meng Yan kid’s a bit slow.”

Jiang Mingyi raised an eyebrow, conceding that point.

“As for Meng Ling…” Shen Xingyan paused. “Normal people wouldn’t think of it that way.”

“…” Jiang Mingyi was speechless.

So, was he the abnormal one for always thinking “that way”?

He really wanted to ask Shen Xingyan if he wasn’t afraid of being caught when pulling moves this brazen—but decided against it.

He was afraid Shen Xingyan would just answer, ‘I’d be more than happy to be caught.’

From a distance, Meng Ling watched Shen Xingyan “personally demonstrating” and Jiang Mingyi “earnestly learning,” and sighed.

“Dear brother, how about we have a game?”

Meng Yan gave her a look of disdain. “Sis, I’m not really interested in playing with you.”

Meng Ling glared at him. “You little brat, looking for a beating?”

“Tch, other brothers are affectionate and loving. My little brother’s just plain annoying.” Her tone was pure exasperation.

Still, she glanced back toward that pair of “brothers” with a trace of envy—until the next second left her dumbfounded.

Her eyes widened, wondering if she was seeing things.

She could have sworn she just saw Shen Xingyan’s hand on Jiang Mingyi’s butt.

She had to be imagining it.

After all, what kind of older brother touches his younger brother’s butt and smiles that happily?