Chapter 41
The sensation on his fingers made Jiang Chaochao so numb he didn’t know who he was anymore, as if something was gently brushing against him, then slowly teasing him.
Jiang Chaochao’s soul seemed to have been taken by Xiang Ye, played with in his palm.
Just as this wave ended, and Jiang Chaochao’s peripheral vision caught the glint of light reflecting off his fingertips, his head was pulled back down.
Xiang Ye was back for a second taste of the frosting.
Jiang Chaochao didn’t even have time to breathe. Xiang Ye licked the frosting from the left corner of his lips clean, then licked the right.
Then invaded Jiang Chaochao’s mouth.
After the kiss ended, Jiang Chaochao opened his eyes in a daze and realized that Xiang Ye had cupped his face with both hands at some point.
Xiang Ye’s breathing was also uneven, his forehead against Jiang Chaochao’s, his palms hot, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath.
Jiang Chaochao lowered his gaze. While he was still in a daze, Xiang Ye lifted his face again and gently kissed him.
Their eyes met, and Jiang Chaochao saw an expression on Xiang Ye’s face that he had never seen before.
Eyes shimmering with emotion, deepened lip color, half-closed eyelids, gaze fixed on Jiang Chaochao.
Desire, Jiang Chaochao thought of this word.
But Xiang Ye didn’t let him think too much, he lifted Jiang Chaochao’s face again and kissed him.
The cupping of his cheeks seemed to be for someone’s convenience. Intermittently, Xiang Ye kissed Jiang Chaochao many, many times.
The last kiss made Xiang Ye chuckle. He finally stopped, then ruffled Jiang Chaochao’s hair and pulled him into a hug.
“Control yourself a bit,” Xiang Ye pressed Jiang Chaochao’s head against his shoulder and said this softly.
But in the next second, he sighed lightly, “Can’t control myself.”
Then kissed him again.
It was half an hour later when they finally started eating the cake properly.
Jiang Chaochao’s lips were red and swollen, but Xiang Ye didn’t let him know, perhaps to prevent someone from being too shy and affecting future operations.
Of course, Xiang Ye wasn’t much better, both physically and mentally.
“So when is your birthday?” Jiang Chaochao pulled a chair over and sat down, resting his legs on the rung.
Xiang Ye said: “Next month, still a while away.”
Next month…
Could indeed still be Scorpio.
Jiang Chaochao was speechless at his own misguided confidence and wishful thinking, “Then why did Fu Jing say something about not being able to make it to your birthday this week?”
Xiang Ye had no memory of this, but he explained: “It’s Zhang He’s birthday tomorrow.”
Zhang He was Xiang Ye’s cousin’s husband.
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
It was also reasonable. There were so many people there that day, he could indeed have been talking to someone else.
“Anyway, whatever,” Jiang Chaochao said with an annoyed expression, stabbing the cake with a plastic knife, “You have to celebrate with me even if it’s not your birthday.”
“Celebrate,” Xiang Ye was amused by Jiang Chaochao, “I already made a wish, baby.”
Jiang Chaochao put down the knife: “Hmph!”
Although embarrassed, Jiang Chaochao still carefully cut out the letters that spelled “HAPPY,” put them on a plate, and handed it to Xiang Ye.
“So when exactly is your birthday?” Jiang Chaochao asked.
Xiang Ye said, “The 5th of next month.”
Jiang Chaochao tapped on his phone: “That’s next Sunday.”
Xiang Ye gave an “mm-hmm”: “I haven’t really celebrated my birthday since I started working.” He then said, “Are you free next Sunday?”
Jiang Chaochao laughed, “Didn’t you say you don’t celebrate your birthday?”
Xiang Ye: “It’s different now.”
Jiang Chaochao continued cutting his piece of cake: “Different how?”
Xiang Ye said: “I don’t know, I was kissed, I don’t know what it means.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Who kissed you? Who?”
Xiang Ye ignored Jiang Chaochao’s pretense, leaned over, and kissed him on the lips: “Who kissed me?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Who?”
Xiang Ye kissed him again: “Who?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Who?”
Xiang Ye kissed him again and again: “Who?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Me.”
Xiang Ye let go of Jiang Chaochao and continued watching him cut the cake.
Because of Xiang Ye’s sudden hug, Jiang Chaochao’s hand trembled, and a bit of frosting got on the back of his hand.
Xiang Ye knew Jiang Chaochao’s mix of nervousness, shyness, and forced composure, so this time, he stared at Jiang Chaochao’s hand for a moment, then simply pulled out a tissue, held Jiang Chaochao’s wrist, and gently wiped off the frosting.
Someone who was so tense couldn’t be teased.
Soon, the two started drinking.
At first, Jiang Chaochao was worried that Xiang Ye had to work tomorrow, but Xiang Ye’s “Who cares?” dismissed his concern.
Indeed, who cared? It wasn’t him who had to work.
Xiang Ye brought out two kinds of alcohol, one was the one his friend wanted but he didn’t give him, and the other was vodka.
There was a bottle of juice next to the vodka. Xiang Ye said he would mix a drink for Jiang Chaochao.
As they drank, Xiang Ye asked Jiang Chaochao why he thought today was his birthday.
Jiang Chaochao took a deep breath, then sighed deeply.
“Wasn’t it because you asked me last week,” Jiang Chaochao glared at Xiang Ye, “Asked if I was free today.”
Xiang Ye raised an eyebrow in disbelief, as if saying, Just that?
“I asked if you were free today because Zhang He is treating us to seafood tonight, and he asked me to bring you,” Xiang Ye explained.
Jiang Chaochao curled his lip and muttered softly, “Shici also said you were a Scorpio.”
Xiang Ye: “Is today the only day a Scorpio can exist?”
Jiang Chaochao was silent for a second: “Try being sarcastic again.”
Xiang Ye chuckled and leaned over to kiss Jiang Chaochao.
Xiang Ye: “I was wrong, baby.”
Jiang Chaochao, who was still annoyed just a second ago, was disarmed by the kiss.
Huh?
What was he talking about again?
“Fine then,” Jiang Chaochao was magnanimous, “It was my misunderstanding, I forgive you.”
Xiang Ye: “Thank you, you’re the best.”
Jiang Chaochao hummed.
“Oh right,” Jiang Chaochao became curious, “What did you wish for just now? You made it so quickly.”
Since it wasn’t his birthday, it should be fine to ask, right? It wouldn’t make the wish not come true.
“My wish,” Xiang Ye said, “has already come true.”
Jiang Chaochao was surprised, “Huh? What wish could have already come true?”
Xiang Ye: “I wished for a boyfriend today.”
Jiang Chaochao paused, then paused again, “Huh? Uh, I, this…” He was puzzled, “But…”
Xiang Ye leaned against the table and looked into Jiang Chaochao’s eyes, “But?”
Xiang Ye asked: “Kissing me and then not taking responsibility?”
Xiang Ye asked again, “Just a casual kiss?”
Xiang Ye asked yet again, “No way, then what’s our relationship now, baby?”
Although these words sounded aggrieved, Xiang Ye was clearly teasing him.
Like a seductive vixen cornering a naive scholar, playfully hitting his face with a handkerchief.
Jiang Chaochao was completely defeated and picked up his glass, downing the contents in one gulp.
“I didn’t say it wasn’t,” Jiang Chaochao said after putting down his glass.
Xiang Ye looked at Jiang Chaochao with expectant eyes, “Hmm?”
Jiang Chaochao nodded, “Mm-hmm, it is.”
Xiang Ye still wasn’t satisfied, “Is what?”
Jiang Chaochao: “I’m your boyfriend.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Ye kissed him again.
Jiang Chaochao felt like he had unlocked some of Xiang Ye’s skills.
And…
It wasn’t bad.
Jiang Chaochao hid his shyness in his alcohol, secretly smiling into his glass.
But since they were talking about Shici…
“Your niece seems to know I’m Teacher Bianbian,” Jiang Chaochao said.
Xiang Ye seemed to be thinking about something, then chuckled.
Jiang Chaochao: “What’s wrong?”
Xiang Ye: “At breakfast this morning, she suddenly asked me if I had seen Teacher Bianbian’s drawings.”
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
Of all the things to talk about…
And Xiang Ye added, “She didn’t ask this morning.”
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
Jiang Chaochao: “Do you believe I’ll jump off this building right now?”
Xiang Ye wasn’t worried at all, “We’ll jump together.”
Jiang Chaochao: “That would be great.”
Jiang Chaochao picked up his glass again and emptied it in one gulp, then said, “Anything you want to know, ask.”
Xiang Ye raised an eyebrow: “Anything?”
Jiang Chaochao was silent for a few seconds, just in case, “You ask yours, I won’t answer mine.”
Xiang Ye said: “Your drawings are very good.”
Jiang Chaochao let out a breath he had been holding and smiled, “Thank you.”
Xiang Ye: “Can I see them again?”
Jiang Chaochao held his breath again, “Wouldn’t that be bad?”
Xiang Ye used that tone again, “I want to see them.”
Someone, please, arrest this seductive vixen!
Love was harmful.
Looking at his hand reaching into his pocket to retrieve the small box, Jiang Chaochao cursed himself for being so spineless.
“Don’t laugh at me,” in the end, Jiang Chaochao only said this.
Xiang Ye took the box from Jiang Chaochao’s hand, “How could I?”
So next, Jiang Chaochao once again watched as Xiang Ye opened the small box and took out the explicit drawing.
Fortunately, this drawing wasn’t too explicit. Xiuxiu had said that overly explicit ones were difficult to make into lenticular cards.
This drawing was a bathroom play scene. Nothing that shouldn’t be shown was shown. The most suggestive part was probably the liquid on the glass.
If Jiang Chaochao didn’t say anything, Xiang Ye probably wouldn’t notice.
Right?
Jiang Chaochao gulped, watching as Xiang Ye curiously tilted the card to the left, then to the right.
The two images on the card weren’t actually that different. Both showed the two of them pressed against the glass.
So what was the difference? The distance between certain parts of their bodies. One close, one far.
Jiang Chaochao didn’t know how Xiang Ye could look at these so calmly. His tilting back and forth made the drawing even more suggestive.
Jiang Chaochao blushed furiously.
“Slap.” Jiang Chaochao pressed the card against the table again, and said with difficulty, “That’s enough.”
Xiang Ye smiled: “Okay.”
Jiang Chaochao quickly put away the card and put it in his pocket.
And while he was putting away the card, the man beside him quickly downed two large glasses of alcohol.
“Shici,” Xiang Ye also poured a drink for Jiang Chaochao, “What would happen if she found out?”
Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment, “Nothing much,” he said, “I just might not be able to face her for a while.”
Xiang Ye: “The xuechang from the past…”
Jiang Chaochao closed his eyes: “Don’t say it.”
Xiang Ye: “You’re actually quite adaptable.”
Jiang Chaochao first gave a confused “mm-hmm” because he didn’t understand what Xiang Ye meant, and only understood after taking a sip of alcohol.
Jiang Chaochao glared at Xiang Ye, “What do you mean?”
Xiang Ye pinched Jiang Chaochao’s cheek, “I’m praising you,” he said, “No matter what happens, you can always come to terms with it.”
“What else can I do,” Jiang Chaochao said, “I still have to live.”
Xiang Ye laughed, “So cute.”
Jiang Chaochao raised an eyebrow, “Cute again?”
Xiang Ye nodded: “Cute again.”
They clinked their glasses together.
What they were toasting to, they didn’t say, just drank.
Just like that, one sip for him, one sip for me, they chatted about this and that.
About the concert Jiang Chaochao went to in university, the grasslands Xiang Ye visited, and the time Jiang Chaochao missed a trip to Yunnan with his friend because of a competition.
“Free next Sunday?” Xiang Ye asked Jiang Chaochao.
Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment, “Nothing planned for now,” he tilted his head, “How do you want to spend your birthday?”
Xiang Ye: “Still want to go to Yunnan?”
Jiang Chaochao gave a soft “yi” sound and said slowly, “It’s your birthday.”
Xiang Ye still asked, “Do you want to go?”
Jiang Chaochao: “That’s very sudden.”
Xiang Ye: “It is.”
The alcohol was making his mind a bit slow, but Xiang Ye wasn’t rushing him, still leisurely pouring and drinking.
Jiang Chaochao went through his schedule in his mind and concluded: “How many days?”
Xiang Ye: “Until it’s time to come back.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled and made up his mind, “Okay.”
Xiang Ye picked up his phone: “Send me your ID number.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Huh? Already?”
Xiang Ye: “Mm-hmm.”
Five minutes later, Xiang Ye bought the plane tickets.
Jiang Chaochao gave Xiang Ye a thumbs up, then asked, “Won’t this affect your work?”
Xiang Ye: “Fire me then.”
Jiang Chaochao laughed: “That won’t do, how will the company function without Mr. Xiang?”
Xiang Ye sent the confirmed flight details to Jiang Chaochao: “Do you usually plan itineraries when you travel?”
Jiang Chaochao blinked, didn’t speak, lowered his head, bit his glass, and looked at Xiang Ye: “Bullshitter.”
Xiang Ye chuckled, “I see.”
Jiang Chaochao sat up again: “Anything is fine with me,” he explained, “When I travel, I plan today for tomorrow.”
Xiang Ye nodded, “Not bad, me too.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Wow, that’s great.”
Xiang Ye also: “Wow, that’s great.”
Since that was the case, the itinerary planning was temporarily put on hold.
Not long after, both bottles of alcohol were empty.
They clinked their glasses loudly for the last sip and downed it in one gulp.
Just as Jiang Chaochao thought they both had a pretty good alcohol tolerance, Xiang Ye sighed softly and shook his head.
Obvious symptoms. Jiang Chaochao leaned closer and asked, “Dizzy?”
Xiang Ye closed his eyes slightly: “A little.”
Jiang Chaochao looked at Xiang Ye’s watch. It was already past two o’clock.
“Go sleep in your room,” Jiang Chaochao said softly and gently, “I’ll clean up.”
Xiang Ye said: “No need, just leave it.”
After saying this, he held Jiang Chaochao’s hand and tugged twice.
A clear message. Jiang Chaochao walked towards Xiang Ye.
As soon as he reached him, Xiang Ye rested his head on Jiang Chaochao’s shoulder.
“That dizzy?” Jiang Chaochao patted Xiang Ye’s head.
He was fine just now.
Xiang Ye only gave an “mm-hmm,” then said, “Can’t take you home now.”
Xiang Ye somehow managed to lean in such a way that his breath brushed against Jiang Chaochao’s neck as he spoke.
Jiang Chaochao also felt a bit dizzy.
“Of course, you drank,” Jiang Chaochao said softly.
Xiang Ye: “I’ll call you a car.”
Jiang Chaochao: “No need, go to sleep, I’ll call one myself.”
Xiang Ye shook his head, “I’ll take a shower first.”
After saying that, Xiang Ye stood up.
But he couldn’t quite stand properly and swayed.
Fortunately, Jiang Chaochao caught him.
Jiang Chaochao was completely worried, “Can you manage by yourself?”
Xiang Ye swayed again.
Clearly, he couldn’t.
Jiang Chaochao wrapped his arms around Xiang Ye’s waist, “I’ll stay.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Ye swayed again, collapsing against Jiang Chaochao.
“Mm-hmm.”
