ALCSRB Chapter 90

Before long, a fine steed was led over by the staff.

Jiang Mingyi circled the horse for a closer look and found it was tall—about the height of a grown man—with a pure snow-white coat without a single stray hair. It was clearly the most handsome of the horse world.

Its glossy black eyes followed Jiang Mingyi, and just as he reached out to touch it, it gave a sudden loud snort.

“That scared me!” Jiang Mingyi took several steps back, patting his chest. “Was it just trying to bite me?”

Shen Xingyan came over with some horse feed. “Get familiar with it first—otherwise it really might eat you.”

“Yeah, I should get familiar with it.”

Jiang Mingyi carefully offered the feed, and thankfully, the horse graciously accepted it.

When he stroked the steed again, the horse affectionately licked his palm.

Ten minutes later, Shen Xingyan and Jiang Mingyi had each put on their protective gear, ready to mount.

“Ge, I’ll go first.”

Looking eager and excited, Jiang Mingyi climbed up. His line of sight instantly rose, and he looked down at Shen Xingyan standing beside the horse with fresh curiosity.

“Hahaha, ge, from here you actually look kind of short.” He even smugly gestured with his hand, a self-satisfied grin on his face.

Shen Xingyan didn’t move. “Want me to let you enjoy that feeling of towering over me a little longer?”

Under the gaze of those deep, dark eyes, Jiang Mingyi’s pride lasted all of three seconds before he gave in. “No need.”

No sooner had he spoken than a shadow blurred before him, and the next second, a warm body pressed up against his back.

Two arms reached around him from behind, and the reins in his hands were taken by Shen Xingyan.

With his body now locked in place, Jiang Mingyi couldn’t move much. He could only turn his head to the side. “Ge, your mounting move was so cool.”

Shen Xingyan chuckled. “I look even cooler when I’m riding.”

“I get it, you’re handsome—no need to keep reminding me.”

Noticing that Meng Ling and Meng Yan had already mounted their horses and taken off, Jiang Mingyi pointed forward. “Then let’s go.”

Shen Xingyan waved off the staff who offered to lead them. “Let’s take it slow first, or I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it once we start running.”

Handle it?
Handle what?

Jiang Mingyi was full of question marks. About ten minutes later, he found out.

“Why is horseback riding so exhausting?!”

The riding ground was large, and once the horse began to gallop, Jiang Mingyi’s body rocked with the animal’s bumpy gait.

If Shen Xingyan hadn’t been holding him firmly from behind, he probably would’ve been bounced off within minutes.

When his waist and hips started to feel weak and sore, Jiang Mingyi began to regret everything.

He clutched Shen Xingyan’s wrist, the one holding the reins, his brows clearly saying: I really am only fit to be a salted fish.

Just as he was sliding down, unable to keep his back straight, Shen Xingyan brought the horse to a stop.

“Really can’t take it anymore?” One arm held him securely in front, his voice close to his ear. “This habit of yours—getting fired up for three minutes—really isn’t good.”

“It’s already been over ten minutes. I think I’ve had my fun.”

Meaning—he wasn’t riding anymore.

“You sure are easy to satisfy.” Shen Xingyan gave a helpless laugh and guided the horse to a big tree.

He jumped down first, then held up his hand. “Come down and rest for a bit.”

Jiang Mingyi took his hand and dismounted, but the moment his feet hit the ground, his legs gave out.

His body pitched forward, and he fell right into Shen Xingyan’s arms.

“I don’t think my legs belong to me anymore.” Even with Shen Xingyan supporting him, Jiang Mingyi still felt the ache in his waist and back, and his legs were limp.

Shen Xingyan glanced down at his pitiful expression, smiled, and suddenly slid an arm under his knees, lifting him straight up into his arms.

“I’ll carry you over to the tree so you can sit for a bit.”

The steed trotted off to graze, and the two of them sat beneath the tree. Shen Xingyan lifted a hand and began massaging his foot.

“That’s nice. Ge, your handiwork is pretty good.”

Jiang Mingyi lay back on Shen Xingyan’s lap with a look of pure enjoyment, letting him work on his feet. “Massage my waist too—it’s sore as well.”

Shen Xingyan obeyed his instructions, kneading here and there, until he finally stopped after about twenty minutes.

“Feels good.”

Jiang Mingyi let out a satisfied sigh. Just as he was about to stretch lazily, Shen Xingyan suddenly lowered his head.

Blinking his big eyes in mild confusion at the handsome face now so close, he asked, “What is it?”

“I’ve worked this hard for so long—shouldn’t you reward me?” Shen Xingyan’s gaze dropped to his lips.

Those lips, full and rosy, pulled his eyes in and refused to let them go.

“Uh…”

Jiang Mingyi was momentarily speechless.

It wasn’t until Shen Xingyan tapped the corner of his mouth with an index finger that he finally reacted.

“You’re so troublesome,” he muttered in mild complaint, lifting his hands to hook around Shen Xingyan’s neck and pull him closer.

“Just one kiss.” With that, he gave a quick peck.

But as soon as he tried to pull away, Shen Xingyan cupped the back of his head and deepened the kiss.

Jiang Mingyi’s eyes widened, then quickly shut.

Fine—he’d just consider this a reward for Shen Xingyan.

Sunlight spilled through the treetops, scattering a faint golden halo over the two of them.

The rustle of wind through the leaves was like beautiful music.

Then—click.

Jiang Mingyi suddenly pushed Shen Xingyan away and looked toward the source of the sound.

“It’s fine, just the horse stepping on a branch,” Shen Xingyan reassured him.

When he leaned in to kiss again, Jiang Mingyi turned his head away in refusal. “No more. Even if no one’s watching, it still feels a bit embarrassing with the horse looking on.”

Since his body was feeling much better now, he got up from Shen Xingyan’s lap, patted his pants, and said, “Let’s just go back.”

Shen Xingyan stood, straightened his slightly messy hair, and said, “Alright, let’s walk back slowly.”

In the slanting glow of the setting sun, Shen Xingyan led the horse with one hand and held Jiang Mingyi’s hand with the other, their steps unhurried as they headed back.

…

As the birthday banquet approached, the vast Meng family estate grew livelier.

In the first two days after arriving, Jiang Mingyi had basically explored everything worth seeing nearby. Today, laziness had taken over, and he refused to leave his room.

Su Wanxin wanted to take him to meet more relatives.

But Jiang Mingyi hugged his pillow tightly. “Mom, I don’t want to go. There are so many relatives I can’t even remember all of them, so I might as well not meet them at all.”

Feeling one pillow wasn’t enough, he hooked the quilt around his legs and wrapped himself up, instantly feeling more secure.

“You child, what silly things are you saying?” Su Wanxin sighed helplessly at the sight. “It’s because you can’t remember them that you need to go and meet them.”

“I’ll just forget them right away anyway,” Jiang Mingyi muttered under his breath. Why make himself suffer for nothing?

All those distant aunts and uncles with tangled branches of kinship—just thinking about recognizing them gave him a headache.

Speaking of which, he couldn’t help but admire Shen Xingyan.

Back when he still couldn’t remember what to call all those relatives, Shen Xingyan had already greeted each one by name.

Clearly, he was only cut out to be a blissfully clueless salted fish.

Quietly lying there, doing nothing.

When he saw Su Wanxin frowning slightly—clearly worried enough to drag him downstairs—he quickly put on a pleading expression.
“Mom, I’m just an insignificant little guest. You’re the real guest of honor here. You should go and mingle with those relatives yourself.”

Su Wanxin said nothing, so Jiang Mingyi shot a glance at the ever-silent Shen Xingyan: Say something, will you?

Shen Xingyan smiled: Say what?

Jiang Mingyi subtly jerked his chin: Hurry up and talk Mom out of this.

Shen Xingyan: I’m waiting for you to convince her yourself.

Jiang Mingyi: I’m running out of decent excuses here.

Shen Xingyan: Think harder.

Jiang Mingyi glared and dropped the silent exchange.

“Mom, actually I’ve got a bit of a stuffy nose today,” Jiang Mingyi said, bringing out his all-purpose excuse. “I’d better not go meet all those relatives—what if I pass it on to someone?”

“What? Xiao Yi, you’re sick?” Su Wanxin’s face tightened in concern. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Then she turned to scold her eldest. “Ah-Yan, really! How could you not tell me Xiao Yi was sick? Have you called a doctor?”

“No need for a doctor,” Jiang Mingyi sniffled on purpose. “It’s just a tiny bit of congestion. I figured if I rest in bed today, I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

Su Wanxin still looked uneasy. “You should at least take some medicine.”

“I already did,” Jiang Mingyi said quickly. “It made me a little drowsy—otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed in bed all day.”

“Alright then, get some good rest today. If you feel unwell at all, tell me right away.” She stood. “Ah-Yan, you take good care of your little brother.”

Jiang Mingyi jumped in: “Mom, why don’t you take my ge with you? I’ll be fine on my own.”

He shot Shen Xingyan a secret little smirk: Hmph, I’m kicking you out.

Shen Xingyan only chuckled and went along with it. “Mom, I’ll go with you.”

Once they were gone, Jiang Mingyi finally let out a huge sigh of relief.

…

After playing games in bed for a while, he noticed his phone battery running low and reached for the charger.

There was a knock at the door.

He pushed back the covers and got up. “Who is it?”

It had only been half an hour since Shen Xingyan left with Su Wanxin—it couldn’t be them back so soon.

And even if Shen Xingyan had returned, he’d never knock.

Puzzled, Jiang Mingyi opened the door.

Standing outside was Meng Yan, looking a bit ill at ease.

“You… came to see me about something?” Jiang Mingyi was surprised that Meng Yan would come looking for him.

“Um, can I come in?” Meng Yan’s voice was low, his expression a mix of stiffness and a kind of solemnity Jiang Mingyi couldn’t quite read.

Jiang Mingyi gave him a baffled look, stayed silent for a few seconds, then said, “Come in.”

He turned and walked back inside, and only then did Meng Yan step into the room.

The door clicked softly shut. Meng Yan gazed at that slender, tall figure ahead of him and took a deep breath.

“I have something I want to tell you.”

Jiang Mingyi picked up his charger, plugged in his phone, and set it to charge.

Then he looked back at him. “What is it? Go ahead.”

Meng Yan pressed his lips together, looking a bit nervous.

Jiang Mingyi eyed him and said coolly, “If you’ve got something to say, just say it. If you can’t, I’m going back to rest.”

He was a bit worn out from gaming and honestly wanted a nap.

Hearing that he might get kicked out, Meng Yan grew even more flustered, his words coming out haltingly. “I… I saw it.”

Jiang Mingyi: “…”

What kind of nonsense was that supposed to mean?

“What did you see?” Jiang Mingyi asked, frowning in impatience.

Meng Yan fiddled with his fingers, then suddenly blurted out, “That day at the stables, I saw you and my cousin kissing.”

“…”

The room instantly fell into a strange, heavy silence.

“Aren’t you two brothers?” Meng Yan lowered his eyes to the floor. “Why would brothers kiss?”

Jiang Mingyi’s eyes went wide.

How was he supposed to answer that?

Say they were fake brothers, real lovers?

“I thought maybe I’d been seeing things that day,” Meng Yan went on, “but these past few days I’ve been watching, and you and my cousin are very close.” As he spoke, a faint blush spread across his cheeks. “Then I figured it out.”

“Are you two… dating?”