Chapter 71
“I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life.”
“Never!”
Jiang Heng repeated this for the third time in the car.
Lu Yichuan, his hands on the steering wheel, glanced at him. “Is it embarrassing to be dating me?”
Jiang Heng was shocked by his interpretation. “That’s not what I meant!”
“Oh.”
Lu Yichuan said casually, “Then it must be embarrassing to break up with me.”
Jiang Heng: “…”
He slapped the seat angrily. “That’s not it either!”
Jiang Heng thought he heard Lu Yichuan chuckle. He turned to look at him, but the man was focused on driving.
It was a cold, rainy winter night, the windows fogged up, the wipers clearing streaks across the glass, the neon lights of the city blurring past.
Jiang Heng picked at the leather of the car seat. “What I said before…made me sound so childish. I’m so childish, will they laugh at you for dating me?”
“No,” Lu Yichuan said, “They’ll just think I’m robbing the cradle.”
The car turned into a small, elegant courtyard. A waiter was standing by the entrance and immediately opened an umbrella when the car stopped.
Lu Yichuan got out of the car first, declined the waiter’s offer to hold the umbrella for him, opened the passenger door, and helped Jiang Heng out.
They entered the building, braving the cold wind.
Lu Yichuan pulled a card from his coat pocket and handed it to the receptionist, then turned to Jiang Heng, the corner of his mouth twitching. “They’re probably all secretly jealous of me.”
Jiang Heng, hands in his pockets, asked, “Jealous of what?”
Another waiter appeared, gestured for them to follow, and silently led the way.
Jiang Heng and Lu Yichuan followed behind him.
The lobby was brightly lit, and Jiang Heng noticed a few mud spots on his white shoes. Lu Yichuan, walking beside him, said,
“Jealous that I’m having such a delicious meal. A twenty-four-year-old geezer snagged an eighteen-year-old piece of fresh meat. They must be gossiping about me behind my back.”
Jiang Heng: “…”
Even though the waiter leading the way was trying to be discreet, Jiang Heng still saw him glance back at them, a complicated expression in his eyes.
Jiang Heng nudged Lu Yichuan. “Why do you have to say everything out loud?!”
And so loudly too! Anyone hearing him would think they had some shady deal going on.
The man looked down at him. “Oh, you think it’s embarrassing.”
Jiang Heng was speechless.
Lu Yichuan adjusted his hat and chuckled softly. “You’re embarrassed, and I’m embarrassed. They’re laughing at me, and laughing at you. We’re even.”
Jiang Heng wasn’t particularly pleased with this “even,” but Lu Yichuan’s teasing had successfully dispelled his awkwardness.
It was a formal dinner. The CEOs present had all brought their families. Although some people looked surprised when Lu Yichuan entered with Jiang Heng, they were polite and didn’t ask any questions or stare at him.
Jiang Heng finally relaxed, settling beside Lu Yichuan and focusing on his food.
Roasted pigeon! Roasted pigeon!
After a few rounds of drinks, Jiang Heng, holding his glass of orange juice, watched as the people at the table discussed business.
To avoid any…unfortunate sibling rivalry incidents, Jiang Heng had been raised with the principle of not competing or fighting for anything. The Jiang family didn’t need him to be outstanding or particularly accomplished. As long as he stayed out of trouble, he could enjoy a life of luxury, thanks to Jiang Zhuo.
So he rarely participated in these kinds of events and wasn’t even good at small talk.
Just a pure, innocent high school student.
Lu Yichuan, however, was different. He sat beside Jiang Heng, his posture relaxed, his demeanor still gentle, but this gentleness was like a sheathed sword, its sharpness hidden, occasionally revealed in his words and actions.
He subtly negotiated a few percentage points in their favor with each toast and exchange of pleasantries.
Jiang Heng watched him, slightly mesmerized.
Suddenly, the man beside him leaned closer, the scent of his cologne and alcohol enveloping him, his suit brushing against his sweater. Jiang Heng turned slightly and saw his Adam’s apple bobbing as he spoke, his breath warm against his face.
“Rongrong…” A phone was placed in front of him. “I’ve had some wine, can you send a message to Li An and ask him to come pick us up?”
Jiang Heng’s fingers twitched, but he didn’t say anything, obediently taking the phone.
A large hand, which had been resting on the back of his chair, moved down his back and settled on his neck, gently squeezing the nape. His voice was low, only audible to Jiang Heng.
“Good boy, Rongrong.”
The scent of alcohol brushed past his ear, the skin on his neck burning. Jiang Heng flinched and swatted his hand away.
His ears flushed red, his voice low, but his words sharp. “Lu Yichuan, you’re so annoying!”
It was his usual go-to insult, ever since they were children.
Someone else started talking to Lu Yichuan, and the man moved away, the scent of alcohol dissipating, the intimacy from just moments ago like an illusion.
Only his ears were still burning.
Jiang Heng, holding Lu Yichuan’s phone, hesitated for a few seconds before turning it on. He was about to ask for the password when the screen unlocked at his touch.
He froze, realizing Lu Yichuan had registered his fingerprint without him knowing.
The man across from them was laughing and flattering Lu Yichuan, who casually placed a piece of sweet and sour sparerib in Jiang Heng’s bowl, his expression indifferent.
Jiang Heng slumped in his chair and opened his messaging app. Lu Yichuan’s profile picture was at the top, pinned.
He smiled slightly, found Li An’s contact, and sent him a message.
After receiving a reply, Jiang Heng turned off the phone, put it back in the pocket of Lu Yichuan’s overcoat, and continued eating his sparerib.
After finishing his pigeon, his sparerib, and his orange juice, the dinner finally ended.
Lu Yichuan’s breath still smelled of alcohol, but his eyes were clear. He helped Jiang Heng put on his jacket before putting on his own overcoat.
It was 9:30. Everyone else had left the private room, leaving only the two of them. The waiter knocked on the door with a takeaway box, and Lu Yichuan took it. “Thank you.”
Jiang Heng peered inside, only seeing a colorful box. “What is it?”
The man led him out of the room. “The cake I promised you this morning.”
Jiang Heng followed him. “You still remembered?”
“I always remember my promises to you.”
Jiang Heng chuckled happily.
…
The first thing Jiang Heng did when they got home was take off his hat and check his ears.
They had been out for a while, and his ears were slightly flattened, but after smoothing down his fur, they perked up again.
Lu Yichuan stood behind him, half his face hidden in the shadows, watching him quietly.
Jiang Heng saw him in the mirror and reached into his pocket. “Lu Yichuan, I have a surprise for you.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “What surprise?”
“Hold out your hand.”
A long hand appeared in front of Jiang Heng.
With lightning speed, Jiang Heng pulled out the carefully chosen giant cockroach from his pocket and placed it on Lu Yichuan’s hand.
The cockroach was fluffy, its features comically ugly, almost cute compared to a real cockroach.
“Ta-da! Surprise! Are you surprised?”
Lu Yichuan dropped the cockroach onto the floor, his face expressionless, and withdrew his hand. “Not surprised, but…unexpected.”
Jiang Heng continued rummaging in his pocket. “I also have a caterpillar…”
“We can play…catch the caterpillar later.”
Lu Yichuan: “…”
Not really interested.
He pushed Jiang Heng’s hand away, refusing to look at the caterpillar, and steered him inside. “Time for bed.”
Jiang Heng turned around. “My Xiao Qiang is still on the floor!”
His eyes widened in horror. “Lu Yichuan! You crushed my Xiao Qiang!”
Lu Yichuan looked down. A flattened cockroach lay under his foot. He moved his foot, his face calm. “It seems we need a new house rule.”
Jiang Heng: “?”
“It’s either me or the cockroach. This house can only accommodate one.”
“…”
Jiang Heng tearfully threw the cockroach into the trash can and went to wash up, looking back longingly at his departed friend.
When he came out of the bathroom, he found Lu Yichuan leaning back on the sofa in the living room, his eyes closed, his features sharp and defined in the warm light.
Jiang Heng approached him quietly, curled up at his feet, and called out softly, “Lu Yichuan, are you asleep?”
Lu Yichuan opened his eyes and looked down.
The boy’s pajama top was slightly open, revealing a glimpse of pale skin, the sight strangely distracting, but Lu Yichuan didn’t look away.
He didn’t move his upper body, his legs spread slightly, as if trapping the boy between them, his voice low and slow. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Jiang Heng placed his hand on his knee. “I thought you were asleep. Are you…drunk?”
The man who used to drink himself into oblivion at the club blinked, his expression drowsy. “A little, I think.”
He was still wearing his suit, the jacket buttoned, his tie loosened, his long legs brushing against Jiang Heng’s, the scent of alcohol fading, replaced by the warm, woody scent of his cologne, his eyes slightly unfocused, looking genuinely drunk.
Jiang Heng, believing him, remembered how hard he had been working and wanted to do something for him.
“Can you…still move?”
Lu Yichuan straightened up slightly, looked down at the cat squatting at his feet, then reached out and cupped the back of his neck, his thumb gently stroking the skin behind his ear.
His touch was strangely intimate, more seductive than comforting.
“I can’t move,” he said. “My hands and feet are…weak.”
Jiang Heng, feeling his own limbs weakening under his touch, lost his balance and stumbled forward, even closer now.
“Rongrong…”
Lu Yichuan’s voice was soft. “Help me…wash up, okay?”
Jiang Heng tried to compose himself, his tail threatening to pop out under his clothes. “L-let go of me first.”
The man was surprisingly agreeable and released him, leaning back languidly, but his eyes remained fixed on him.
“I’ve let go.”
The scent of his cologne intensified.
Only then did Jiang Heng realize their compromising position. He tried to move back, but the man’s legs were blocking him.
“Didn’t you say you were going to help me? Where are you going, Rongrong?”
Jiang Heng’s hand was still on his knee. “Let me out first, how can I help you up if I can’t move?”
“Help me up?”
A low chuckle came from above. “No need to help me up.”
“Help me take off my clothes, okay?”
Take…take off his clothes…
Jiang Heng didn’t think that was a good idea.
“I’m drunk. I can’t move.”
“Rongrong will help me, won’t you?”
Jiang Heng looked up at him.
Lu Yichuan looked down at him, his suit jacket outlining his tall, slender frame in the bright light, his expression aloof, his demeanor strangely alluring.
Jiang Heng’s heart skipped a beat.
He didn’t even know when he had nodded. The next thing he knew, he was sitting in Lu Yichuan’s lap.
The man leaned back against the sofa, his hands outstretched, letting Jiang Heng do as he pleased.
Jiang Heng swallowed, his fingers trembling slightly as he reached for his tie…
