ALCSRB Chapter 60

Startled and panicking, Jiang Mingyi shoved Shen Xingyan away, dropped the cue stick, and ran off.

Shen Xingyan stumbled slightly from the push, and just as he was about to chase after him, An Shi called out to stop him.

“Seriously, you two think this is fun?”

An Shi might not have seen exactly what had happened, but with his years of experience, just seeing Jiang Mingyi’s flustered steps and flushed cheeks as he ran off told him everything he needed to know.

Shen Xingyan paused and turned back, his voice low. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’ve always known you were overly concerned with your little brother,” An Shi said casually, looking up at his friend with lazy ease. “Now it’s obvious—you like him.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I remember you used to be the decisive type. So why haven’t you taken him down yet?”

Shen Xingyan brushed a hand through his bangs, his gaze following the direction Jiang Mingyi had run. “Exactly because I like him… that’s why I’m being so careful.”

Hearing that, An Shi let out a soft laugh. “Didn’t expect you to be so cautious. What, afraid he doesn’t like you back, so you don’t dare make a move?”

Shen Xingyan didn’t reply—taking his silence as agreement.

An Shi was about to tease him further when Shen Xingyan suddenly said, “I used to be afraid he didn’t feel the same. But now I’m sure—he feels something for me too.”

“Well, look at you, all confident now,” An Shi raised a brow. “For a second there, I thought your trip abroad changed you. That the business world’s great white shark turned into a clueless little shrimp when it comes to love.”

His words were blunt and a little mocking, but Shen Xingyan didn’t seem fazed.

“After all these years of being brothers, easing him into it is the smarter move,” he said, eyes shining with fierce determination—but also a rare gentleness that only existed when talking about Jiang Mingyi.

An Shi clicked his tongue. “So it’s only your precious little brother who gets to see this soft side of you. Aren’t you worried that while you’re easing him in, someone else might come and snatch him away?”

Shen Xingyan’s gaze turned cold as he shot a warning: “Shut your crow’s mouth.”

“I’m just being kind and reminding you,” An Shi rolled his eyes. “I refuse to believe no one’s got their eyes on your brother with a face like that.”

A certain face flashed through Shen Xingyan’s mind. “Even if they do, I can kick them out of the game in seconds.”

—

Jiang Mingyi snapped back to his senses only to realize he had blindly run into the men’s restroom.

There was no one inside. He walked over to the sink, and the mirror reflected his flushed face—so red it even spread down his neck.

Jiang Mingyi stared blankly at his reflection, his gaze gradually settling on his rosy lips.

That soft sensation still clung to him. The moment he recalled it, he could almost feel the warmth and softness brushing against his lips again.

That… was Shen Xingyan’s mouth.

They had actually accidentally kissed in public.

It was like being struck by lightning. Jiang Mingyi was completely shell-shocked.

Back home, he could still play dead and pretend nothing happened. But now? What was he supposed to do?

Say it wasn’t intentional again?

As if that kind of coincidence could happen twice.

Jiang Mingyi turned on the tap and splashed cold water on his burning cheeks, again and again, until the chill overtook the heat and the redness finally faded a bit.

After wiping the water off his face with tissues, the chaos in his mind eased slightly.

He pulled out his phone and messaged Pei Shiqing:

[Jiang Mingyi]: Have you ever kissed your brother?
[Jiang Mingyi]: Doesn’t matter if you have or haven’t. I have.

After sending the two messages, it felt like he’d dumped all the messy thoughts out of his head.

He didn’t even bother to check if Pei Shiqing had replied. He simply put his phone away and walked out of the restroom.

Just as he stepped outside, someone came walking toward him.

Jiang Mingyi instinctively moved to the side to give space.

But unexpectedly, the person brushed past him—then suddenly grabbed his arm from behind.

The grip was harsh, and Jiang Mingyi frowned.

The man raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “So it is you.”

He didn’t recognize the voice, but when he looked up, he realized it was the same young guy who had been playing pool with An Shi earlier.

“You’re pretty, sure. But I really don’t like people like you,” the young man said coldly, eyes glinting with something dark and predatory. “That hot guy? Total ten out of ten. Total waste pairing him with you.”

“How about you give him to me? I’ll pay you.”

Jiang Mingyi had been annoyed to begin with, but after hearing that line, he couldn’t help but laugh.

He yanked his arm back and stared coldly at the guy. “Wow, you’re that desperate for a man? Does your mom know?”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Looks like your brain’s a little understocked. Maybe use that money to buy yourself some IQ points,” Jiang Mingyi said with a disgusted glance and a mocking sneer before stepping around him to leave.

But the young man blocked his way. “I’m being nice here. Don’t know how to appreciate it? Want me to cut up your face? I can still get that hot guy with or without it.”

Jiang Mingyi stared at the guy—no taller than him but dripping with arrogant attitude—and frowned.

“Oh? And do you believe I can make sure you never even get close to him?”

He stepped forward, exuding an intimidating aura, causing the other guy to take two steps back in fright.

“You’re bluffing.”

The man clearly hadn’t expected that kind of reaction. Jiang Mingyi looked soft and easy to push around, yet now his fierce glare was genuinely intimidating.

“Try me and find out.”

Jiang Mingyi had his own temper. Just because he was obedient and soft in front of Shen Xingyan didn’t mean he would stay quiet when someone tried to push him around.

Noticing his clenched fists, the young man instinctively swallowed. “I was just joking, don’t take it so seriously.”

“Fine, fine, I won’t push it,” he mumbled and turned around to go into the restroom.

Jiang Mingyi rolled his eyes in exasperation. What a classic coward—bully the weak, fear the strong.

He let out a cold snort and started heading back toward the billiard hall.

But then his steps faltered.

He stopped in the hallway, hesitating about how to explain the earlier incident to Shen Xingyan. That’s when he heard a slow, unhurried set of footsteps approaching.

Looking up, he was met with Shen Xingyan’s deep, steady gaze.

His earlier bravado vanished instantly. His heart began pounding wildly—thump-thump, like a drumline gone rogue.

Cut it out, seriously.
He cursed silently in his head.

When he met Shen Xingyan’s eyes, he immediately looked away in panic.

Shen Xingyan walked over slowly and stood in front of him, his eyes falling on Jiang Mingyi’s slightly pursed lips, a faint smile curling on his own.

“In such a hurry to use the restroom?”

His voice was calm, making Jiang Mingyi pause before quickly realizing this could be his out.

He nodded quickly. “Yeah, it hit me all of a sudden.”

Shen Xingyan didn’t call him out. “Well, now that you’re done, let’s go back.”

Jiang Mingyi asked nervously, “Bro, do you wanna go too?”

“No need. I’m not in a rush.”

Shen Xingyan’s gaze never left him. That “not in a rush”… Jiang Mingyi wasn’t sure if it referred to the restroom—or if he meant he wasn’t in a rush to hear any explanation about the accidental kiss.

Jiang Mingyi’s heart tensed again. Especially under that intense gaze, the kind that felt like it could peel him open to dig for answers. It made his scalp go numb.

“Bro… I can explain,” he suddenly blurted.

“Explain what?” Shen Xingyan interrupted him. “Is there something you need to explain to me?”

Two calm questions completely shut Jiang Mingyi down—he suddenly didn’t know how to even bring up the earlier kiss.

Maybe… maybe he shouldn’t mention it at all. Shen Xingyan looked calm, like he hadn’t taken it to heart.

A wave of disappointment flashed through Jiang Mingyi’s heart, but he quickly shoved it down.

In a soft, stammering voice, he replied, “N-Nothing.”

Shen Xingyan took a step closer, forcing Jiang Mingyi to retreat until his back hit the wall—no way to escape.

“What were you thinking about just now?”
Shen Xingyan lowered his head and leaned in toward him.

Their faces were inches apart, breaths tangling in the narrow space between them, hot and stifling—like they were the most intimate couple in the world.

But what Jiang Mingyi saw in those deep black eyes was a reflection of himself—tense, anxious, practically forgetting to breathe.

Those unreadable eyes stared into him, catching even the tiniest twitch in his expression.

Shen Xingyan suppressed the urge to pull him into a kiss, forcing himself to stay calm on the surface.

“Why do you look so distracted? Is something bothering you?”

He managed to hold back from kissing, but he couldn’t stop himself from reaching out.

Shen Xingyan lifted a hand, gently brushing the damp strands of hair at Jiang Mingyi’s temple.
“Why’s your hair wet?”

“Huh?” Jiang Mingyi blinked and replied, “I just washed my face.”
To cool down.

He left out those last two words.

“You washed your face, and now your hair’s wet? Even your shirt’s soaked.”

Only then did Jiang Mingyi notice the damp patch near his collar.

He froze for a second. “It’s fine, it’ll dry soon.”

Shen Xingyan’s proximity was messing with his nerves. His heartbeat thundered so loud, he was afraid it would give him away.

“Bro, since you don’t need the restroom, let’s head back.”
Jiang Mingyi tried to end the moment, wanting to break free from the intimate stance.
But his hands hung awkwardly at his sides—he didn’t dare push Shen Xingyan away.

Of course, Shen Xingyan noticed his unease and the pink flushing at the tips of his ears. His heart softened.

Just as he was about to straighten up, someone stepped out of the men’s restroom and caught sight of them—frozen in that incredibly close position—and his eyes widened in shock.

“You two…”

It was that same young man from earlier. He slapped a hand over his mouth, his eyes darting between the two of them before landing on Jiang Mingyi with an exaggerated look.

As if to say: Damn. You’ve already got a hottie and you’re still out here flirting with another? Impressive.

Jiang Mingyi somehow read his expression loud and clear and was instantly speechless. “…”

“Sorry to interrupt, carry on.”
The guy wiped away his imaginary tears of envy and tiptoed off like a defeated spy.

“…Who was that?”

“Just some random passerby.”

Neither of them paid much attention to that person. Just as they were about to return to the billiard hall, Shen Xingyan suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“There’s something I think you should know,” he said.

Jiang Mingyi also came to a halt. Hearing the slightly serious tone, he looked up silently, questioning him with his eyes.

“An Shi is taken. You’d better keep your distance from him,” Shen Xingyan said solemnly. Seeing the surprised expression on Jiang Mingyi’s face, he was quite satisfied and added, “His partner gets jealous easily.”

So you’d best not get too close to him.

But Jiang Mingyi completely misunderstood what he meant. A crack instantly split open in his heart.

He… was warning him to stay away from An Shi?

So that means… he’s jealous?!