ALCSRB Chapter 95

After work, Shen Xingyan drove Jiang Mingyi straight home.

In the car, Shen Xingyan noticed that his mood was particularly good— even the little tune he was humming was more on beat than usual.

“You’re in such a good mood. Is it because of Pei Mingyue?”

He asked casually, but to his surprise, Jiang Mingyi nodded without hesitation. “Yeah, I didn’t expect to run into Big Brother Pei today.”

The man who had been driving seriously darkened instantly, his voice dropping low: “Then should I take you to Pei Corp tomorrow so you can see him again?”

“Oh, that’s not necessary.”

Jiang Mingyi still hadn’t realized his boyfriend’s mood had soured. He went on cheerfully, “Just seeing him today was enough.”

After all, he’d already gotten the answer he wanted. Next, all he had to do was wait for even better news.

Though he was eager to see the two of them together, good things took time. There was no need to rush.

Happily lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice the car had already stopped—until a hand suddenly reached over from the side, gripping his chin firmly.

Forced to lift his head, Jiang Mingyi stared in confusion at the handsome face so close to his own, his eyes full of questions.

“You’re thinking about another man.”

The certainty in Shen Xingyan’s tone carried with it a strong wave of dissatisfaction.

“Huh?” Jiang Mingyi froze, feeling a flicker of guilt under Shen Xingyan’s intense, dark gaze.

With just one look, Shen Xingyan saw right through his expression, and his face grew darker.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I was just wondering why Big Brother Pei came to see you today.” Realizing things were heading the wrong way, Jiang Mingyi quickly explained. After all, what he’d really been thinking about was just Pei Mingyue and Pei Shiqing’s situation.

Shen Xingyan’s scrutinizing gaze lingered on him for a moment before finally pulling back, the car engine starting up again.

“It’s nothing major.” His voice was light, as if dismissing the subject—making Jiang Mingyi assume he didn’t want to tell him. But the next sentence left him utterly shocked.

“Pei Mingyue just wants to take full control of the entire Pei Corporation.”

“What???”

The exclamation burst out in the car, so loud it nearly seemed to break through the windows and spill onto the street. Jiang Mingyi could hardly believe what he had just heard.

Shen Xingyan didn’t need to look to know the stunned, wide-eyed expression currently plastered across Jiang Mingyi’s face. The corner of his lips curved as he continued slowly, “The Pei family’s situation is complicated, and you know that much. Even though Pei Mingyue has always been president of Pei Corporation, his father has never truly trusted him.”

Jiang Mingyi slowly closed his gaping mouth, then guessed, “So Big Brother Pei is planning a… usurpation?”

That ruthless?

He’d never realized before that Pei Mingyue’s ambition ran so deep.

But then again, wasn’t Pei Corp going to be his inheritance anyway? Why be so impatient?

Still lost in his spiraling thoughts, Jiang Mingyi was hit with another shocking revelation from Shen Xingyan: “Recently, he discovered that his father has an illegitimate son outside.”

Jiang Mingyi: “…”

The Pei family drama was this juicy?

For a moment, he felt a pang of pity for Pei Shiqing.

“Alright, you just need to hear these things, nothing more.” A big hand reached over to ruffle Jiang Mingyi’s now-dizzy head, the voice turning gentle. “Pei Mingyue will handle it himself.”

Jiang Mingyi lifted his head, his expression caught between confusion and exasperation. “But… aren’t you going to help him?”

“He’s my brother, of course I’ll help him,” Shen Xingyan replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “But why are you so worked up about it?”

Jiang Mingyi quickly schooled his face. “I’m not worked up, I just think Big Brother Pei has it tough.”

When they got home, Jiang Mingyi was changing his shoes at the entryway. Leaning against the shoe cabinet, his body suddenly swayed and tipped backward.

An arm shot out, catching him firmly, followed by a low chuckle and teasing words: “What’s got you so absent-minded?”

The heat radiating from the palm pressed against his lower back left Jiang Mingyi’s brain lagging for a few seconds.

Once he steadied himself, he shot Shen Xingyan an annoyed glare. “It’s all your fault, telling me so much on the way back. My brain is already overloaded today.”

“Seems your brain capacity really is limited.”

Faced with Shen Xingyan’s disdainful look, Jiang Mingyi felt a dangerous sense that the man wanted to pry open his skull and peek inside. He shivered.

He stubbornly retorted, “I just need time to process, that’s all.”

Shen Xingyan glanced at his watch. “It’s been more than half an hour since I told you. Is this what you call indigestion?”

“…”

Jiang Mingyi was fuming. “Don’t think just because I like—”

“Oh my, are you two welcoming me?” Shen Jili’s cheerful voice cut him off.

He didn’t notice the ambiguous atmosphere between the two. After coming in and changing his shoes, he threw a big arm around his sons and herded them toward the living room.

Jiang Mingyi could only shut his mouth awkwardly.

“By the way, I heard some news today.” Once the three of them were seated on the sofa, Shen Jili suddenly spoke, his face full of gossip, instantly catching Jiang Mingyi’s attention.

“Dad, what news did you hear?”

Pleased at how eagerly his younger son responded, Shen Jili pretended to be mysterious. “I heard the Gao family wants to arrange a marriage alliance with the Pei family.”

“What!?”

“I already know.”

Two voices rang out at the same time.

Ignoring the actual news, Jiang Mingyi immediately turned toward Shen Xingyan. “Ge, how come you already know again?”

Shen Xingyan raised a brow under both their gazes. “Pei Mingyue mentioned it to me today.”

“He tells you everything?” Jiang Mingyi nearly exploded.

He had thought that the secret between him and Pei Mingyue was something special, and he had even felt a twinge of guilt for not telling Shen Xingyan.

But now look—turns out they were the ones with piles of secrets between them!

“We’re good brothers.” Shen Xingyan leaned casually against the back of the sofa, looking utterly at ease, as if nothing were amiss.

Before Jiang Mingyi could say anything, Shen Jili already found his eldest son’s smugness intolerable. “Xiao Yi, don’t mind your brother. Let Dad tell you the rest about the marriage alliance.”

Jiang Mingyi huffed coldly in Shen Xingyan’s direction and plopped down beside Shen Jili, looping his arm through his father’s. “Dad, you say it. I’m listening.”

Shen Jili cleared his throat. “The Gao family and the Pei family’s old man did want to arrange a marriage, but unfortunately, that Pei boy refused them flat out. Luckily, the Gaos only had the thought in passing. Since the alliance didn’t work out, they just suggested letting the two kids spend more time together. Maybe they’ll fall in love naturally.”

Jiang Mingyi frowned deeply. To hell with your so-called ‘falling in love naturally.’

“Who would’ve thought that Pei boy openly declared he already has someone he likes, rejecting the Gao family completely.”

At this point, Shen Jili couldn’t help but praise him. “That Pei kid always looked so cold and aloof, but who knew he’d quietly already have someone in his heart. Ah Yan, isn’t that much better than you?”

Suddenly dragged into it, Shen Xingyan’s expression didn’t change as he looked at his father. “Dad, I also have someone I like. How does that make me any worse than Pei Mingyue?”

“…”

Jiang Mingyi had just opened his mouth to speak, but the exchange between father and son left him stunned.

He glanced at Shen Xingyan, then at Shen Jili. Weren’t we gossiping? How did this suddenly turn into a competition?

“What’s the use of just saying it?” Shen Jili said in disdain. “I haven’t even seen what your partner looks like. Who knows if they’re pretty or ugly, fat or skinny?”

Jiang Mingyi, who happened to be that unknown “pretty or ugly, fat or skinny” person: “…”

Forget it. Better not say anything.

Shen Xingyan’s dark eyes lingered on the boy who was trying desperately to shrink his presence. His gaze flickered, and then he said to Shen Jili, “You’re right. Always keeping it hidden only makes you think I’ve made up a fake partner. Why don’t I bring him to meet you tomorrow, so you’ll stop thinking your own son can’t measure up to others.”

Jiang Mingyi: “…”

Ge, what kind of weird competitive streak is this!?

“Alright, you said it yourself!” Shen Jili was instantly excited. “I’ve been waiting for this. Ah, finally I’ll get to meet my future daughter-in-law.”

When Su Wanxin heard about this, she looked at her eldest son in slight surprise.

“Mom, with Dad’s level of cluelessness, do you think we could’ve waited until he figured it out on his own?” Shen Xingyan asked bluntly.

“That’s true.” Su Wanxin thought it over carefully. “Your dad only excels when it comes to business. When it comes to relationships, he’s… well, let’s just say words fail me.”

Jiang Mingyi whispered from the side, “Mom, you agreed too?”

Although Shen Xingyan’s sudden impulse to come out without warning him first caught him off guard, Jiang Mingyi wasn’t all that angry.

“What, Xiao Yi, you don’t want your father to know?” Su Wanxin asked, puzzled.

“That’s not it.” Jiang Mingyi lowered his eyes shyly. “It’s just… telling him tomorrow, isn’t that a bit too fast?”

“You want to give him time to transition slowly?” Shen Xingyan narrowed his eyes, his gaze dangerous.

“….” Jiang Mingyi was instantly choked, not knowing what to say. He stammered, “I just mean… maybe not tomorrow?”

Su Wanxin, however, didn’t think tomorrow was too soon. “He has to know sooner or later. Better now than later.”

—

That night, after showering, the two of them lay down in bed.

Jiang Mingyi rested on Shen Xingyan’s chest, poking at his rock-hard pecs with his finger, poking and poking with envy.

Once he was done with his little hand addiction, Jiang Mingyi climbed upward like a little sloth. The warmth of his skin against Shen Xingyan’s was like the perfect sensory trigger, instantly making the man, who had been lying with eyes closed pretending to sleep, snap his eyes open. His dark gaze was deep and dangerous.

“…”

Jiang Mingyi froze, neither moving up nor down, especially since a sleeping beast had just been suddenly awakened.

“I can explain…”

The sense of danger made him blurt out an excuse, but Shen Xingyan had no patience to listen. With a flip, he pressed Jiang Mingyi beneath him.

An hour later, the beast was pacified.

Soft and limp, Jiang Mingyi was carried into the bathroom to be washed again, then carried back, completely drained of strength.

After lying there for a while, his brain, once fogged with passion, finally found the question he’d been wanting to ask.

He lay weakly on the bed, Shen Xingyan’s hand gently massaging his waist.

Jiang Mingyi’s voice was hoarse. “Ge, you still haven’t told me—why does it have to be tomorrow?”

Shen Xingyan’s movements paused, his gaze lingering on the hickey at the back of Jiang Mingyi’s neck.

Perfect. That hickey definitely wouldn’t fade by tomorrow.

“Jiang Mingyi, don’t you ever look at the date?”

“Date? What date?” Jiang Mingyi looked completely puzzled.

Feeling the low pressure radiating from the man behind him, he suddenly scrambled to find his phone. After searching around, he discovered it had somehow fallen under the bed.

“I’ll just take a look,” he said with an awkward laugh, picking it up and turning it on.

“August twenty-fifth, nothing specia—” Before the last two words could leave his mouth, he spotted a line of small text—Qixi Festival.^[1]

He quickly slapped the phone face down.

Jiang Mingyi sincerely praised, “Ge, as expected of you, you sure know how to pick a date.”