Chapter 52
His mother never interfered with Jiang Chaochao’s love life, so he naturally found this strange.
For a long time after his mother left home, Jiang Chaochao wasn’t used to it and often missed her voice.
She answered every call he made, responded to every message he sent, but something was missing.
So he did something that he still found incredibly stupid and embarrassing now.
He wondered if his mother would come back and discipline him if he started dating early, so he invented a girlfriend, a girlfriend who didn’t like studying and always dragged him out to play.
His mother didn’t react much after hearing this, only telling him that he could do whatever he wanted, but he had to have a clear direction for his future and be responsible for his actions, also, not to hurt the girl.
Jiang Chaochao instantly lost interest, and after he stopped mentioning it, his mother never asked again.
“It’s fine,” Jiang Chaochao added, “I told her no need.”
Xiang Ye caressed Jiang Chaochao’s cheek.
The bar was very noisy, not a place for conversation. Jiang Chaochao held Xiang Ye’s hand, rubbed his cheek against it, then let go.
It wasn’t a big deal. Soon, Jiang Chaochao was immersed in the atmosphere again.
After the couples’ activity, the host organized other games, making everyone laugh. Then it was time for everyone to dance.
Jiang Chaochao also joined in. Unconstrained by their seats, he even went to the dance floor. He didn’t know how to dance, just jumping around, and because he had some alcohol, and also because he knew Xiang Ye was taking pictures of him, he danced even more unrestrainedly.
Lost in the music, Jiang Chaochao turned his head and stopped.
Xiang Ye, who was taking pictures of him just a moment ago, was being asked for his WeChat.
Jiang Chaochao turned back and continued dancing, but less than two seconds later, he turned around again.
It wasn’t anything else, he was just curious.
Unexpectedly, when he reached Xiang Ye, the girl had already left.
“Not dancing anymore?” Xiang Ye asked.
Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment; he was indeed a bit tired: “Not anymore.”
Xiang Ye: “Going back?”
Jiang Chaochao considered it, it was indeed getting late: “Let’s go back.”
Xiang Ye put away his phone, “Let’s go.”
The noise of the bar made the outside seem exceptionally quiet.
Also exceptionally cold.
Jiang Chaochao finally felt the temperature difference between day and night. Xiang Ye reached out and pulled him closer, inside his coat.
Jiang Chaochao had seen other couples do this before. Now that he was one of them, it felt very different.
From thinking Is it that cold? What’s the use of hugging like this?, to now, So warm, gege, so nice, wuwuwu.
It was a pity that the car was parked right by the roadside, so this action didn’t last long. They soon got into the car.
He didn’t know what the alcohol content was tonight. Although Jiang Chaochao wasn’t tipsy yet, mengingathe had witnessed Xiang Ye’s poor alcohol tolerance last time, he turned and stared at Xiang Ye after getting into the car.
Xiang Ye asked, seemingly fine, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Chaochao asked, “Dizzy?”
Xiang Ye seemed confused, “Dizzy from what?”
Jiang Chaochao: “The alcohol.”
Xiang Ye said “ah”: “No.”
“I didn’t think so either,” Jiang Chaochao sat back down properly, “You seemed very energetic while chatting with the beautiful lady.”
As soon as he finished speaking, someone put their arm around his neck and pulled him closer.
Xiang Ye: “Jiang Chaochao.”
Jiang Chaochao: “What?”
Xiang Ye: “We didn’t even exchange ten sentences.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Is that few?”
Xiang Ye suddenly smiled: “Jealous?”
Jiang Chaochao pushed Xiang Ye away and sat back down, “Ridiculous.”
Xiang Ye’s smile deepened, or rather, he looked incredibly happy.
He pinched Jiang Chaochao’s cheek, then rubbed it: “You’re so cute.”
Jiang Chaochao gave a perfunctory, “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”
Xiang Ye continued: “She asked me if I was alone, I said no. She asked why I wasn’t dancing, I didn’t answer. She asked if I had a girlfriend, if it was convenient to add her on WeChat, I said it wasn’t convenient, I have a boyfriend,” Xiang Ye pinched Jiang Chaochao’s cheek again, “End of conversation.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Who asked?”
Xiang Ye smiled, “No one asked, I just wanted to say it.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Hmph.”
Xiang Ye pulled Jiang Chaochao closer again, this time wrapping his arm around his waist.
“Baby~” Xiang Ye nuzzled his head against Jiang Chaochao’s shoulder.
Jiang Chaochao made a shushing gesture and pointed to the driver in front.
Xiang Ye didn’t care; he even continued clinging to Jiang Chaochao, saying, “Baby, she was the one who came to talk to me, I didn’t want to talk to her.”
Jiang Chaochao burst out laughing, “Stop it.”
Xiang Ye: “You’re smiling.”
Jiang Chaochao: “I’m laughing at you.”
Xiang Ye: “That’s still smiling.”
Who could resist Xiang Ye’s handsome face, his magnetic voice, his coquettish tone, saying these things to you?
Someone was trying to appear unmoved on the surface, but his heart was blossoming with joy.
He liked it when Xiang Ye was clingy, he liked it a lot.
Back at the hotel, the first thing they did was shower.
Who showered so many times a day?
The night view from this room was also very beautiful. They were on a high floor, and looking down, he could see the buildings with varying heights, all lit up, very pretty.
Jiang Chaochao sat on the sofa by the window, waiting for Xiang Ye to come out.
Not long after, a sound came from behind him. Jiang Chaochao turned around and saw Xiang Ye walking over with a bottle of alcohol.
Jiang Chaochao was curious: “Where did you get the alcohol?”
Xiang Ye: “You ordered it while you were showering.”
Jiang Chaochao chuckled: “Haven’t had enough?”
Xiang Ye: “Not really, the alcohol at the bar wasn’t good.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Not afraid of getting dizzy from drinking too much?”
Xiang Ye: “Not afraid.”
Jiang Chaochao suddenly had a suspicion, “You weren’t faking it last time, were you?”
Xiang Ye’s hand paused as he opened the bottle, “Damn.”
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
Jiang Chaochao: “Really?”
Xiang Ye fell silent.
Jiang Chaochao: “Not talking?”
Xiang Ye: “Thinking about how to appease you later.”
Jiang Chaochao gave a “ha,” then “Xiang Ye.”
Being called by his full name, it was a serious matter!
“Damn.”
Xiang Ye stopped opening the bottle, turned around, and pulled Jiang Chaochao into a hug, “I was wrong.”
Now it was Jiang Chaochao’s turn to be silent.
So cheesy, he loved it.
Xiang Ye: “What else could I do? I just wanted you to stay and sleep with me.”
Jiang Chaochao pursed his lips, but then he thought, Xiang Ye couldn’t see his expression now.
So Jiang Chaochao smiled silently.
Xiang Ye: “You seemed like you really wanted to go home, I had to do that.”
Jiang Chaochao tried to control his urge to bounce his legs.
Xiang Ye continued, “You have no idea how much I wanted you to stay.”
Jiang Chaochao clenched his fists.
Xiang Ye’s last sentence: “Baby won’t blame me, right?”
Ah, so dramatic, he loved it!
“Hmph.”
Jiang Chaochao managed his expression and moved out of Xiang Ye’s embrace: “Hard to say, depends on your performance.”
Xiang Ye cupped Jiang Chaochao’s face and lightly kissed the corner of his mouth.
Jiang Chaochao narrowed his eyes: “So how much of it was an act that day? Were you dizzy?”
Xiang Ye: “Barely felt anything.”
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
Jiang Chaochao: “I knew it. You have so much good alcohol at home, and you often go out drinking with your friends, how could you get that drunk from just that much?”
Xiang Ye: “So baby is the kindest person in the world.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Get lost.”
Xiang Ye, seemingly pleased with being cursed at, chuckled.
Xiang Ye continued opening the bottle and poured them each a drink.
Looking at the slowly pouring liquid, Jiang Chaochao said: “My mom just transferred me some money.”
Xiang Ye’s movements slowed down, and he turned to look at Jiang Chaochao.
Jiang Chaochao didn’t know why he suddenly said that, it was a bit random and pointless.
But he still continued, “Probably because she knew I was in Yunnan, travel expenses.”
Xiang Ye placed Jiang Chaochao’s glass in front of him: “Do you think your mother treats you well?”
Jiang Chaochao thought seriously for a few seconds: “I think she’s very generous to me.”
Xiang Ye picked up his glass and clinked it against Jiang Chaochao’s.
After their first sip, Xiang Ye said, “You can tell me anything.”
Jiang Chaochao could tell him, but, “Tell you what?”
Xiang Ye clinked glasses with Jiang Chaochao again, “I gave Xu Hengzhi a ride home one day, and he told me some things.”
Jiang Chaochao gave an “ah”: “I know, he came looking for me the next day.”
Xiang Ye thought for a moment, “I noticed you’re a bit closed off when it comes to relationships.”
Jiang Chaochao turned to Xiang Ye: “Why do you say that?”
Xiang Ye: “You clearly like me a lot, but you act like you don’t care, you don’t take the initiative, and you even avoid me.”
Jiang Chaochao burst out laughing.
Xiang Ye: “What, you think I’m quite shameless saying this?”
Jiang Chaochao nodded, then shook his head: “You became quite shameless after talking to Xu Hengzhi.”
Xiang Ye pinched Jiang Chaochao’s cheek, “I used to be a very reserved person.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Oh? Tell me more about ‘reserved.’”
Xiang Ye chuckled: “I just thought this approach might work on you.”
“Indeed,” Jiang Chaochao nodded, “It was very effective. Your enthusiasm, your directness, your initiative, all gave me a lot of courage.”
Xiang Ye: “Correct judgment.”
Jiang Chaochao praised, “Very impressive.”
They emptied their glasses again.
Since they were talking about this, they might as well continue.
Jiang Chaochao put down his glass: “Perhaps, it has something to do with my mother.” He thought for a moment, then said honestly, “When I was young, I also longed for my mother’s love.”
Xiang Ye patted Jiang Chaochao’s head.
Jiang Chaochao smiled: “Don’t, no need.”
So Xiang Ye pinched Jiang Chaochao’s cheek instead, making him laugh.
“How should I put it,” Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment, it had been a long time, “When she was home, we got along quite well. She basically fulfilled all my requests, so I thought our relationship was very strong. Then she got divorced, and left without any hesitation.”
Jiang Chaochao: “It was only then that I realized our feelings weren’t equal. No matter what I did, whether intentionally or not, whether I said I wanted to see her or expressed how much I missed her, her attitude remained the same. I couldn’t feel her love. I was her child, but not her beloved child.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Later, I told myself that everyone has their own destiny, I needed to separate myself from this. My mother was being herself, then I just had to be myself.”
Jiang Chaochao: “I’m not even sure if I became indifferent because I thought it would make me feel better, or if I truly didn’t care anymore.”
Jiang Chaochao: “It seems like I still care about her, but also like I don’t care that much, I think this kind of relationship with my mother isn’t bad either.”
Jiang Chaochao: “I’ve never really analyzed it in detail. I don’t know if it’s because I’m too lazy to think about it, or if I’m afraid that I’ll only hurt myself if I delve deeper.”
Jiang Chaochao: “So I found a balance with my mother, just like now, each of us living our own lives.”
After saying all this in one breath, Jiang Chaochao exhaled deeply, “That’s all.”
Jiang Chaochao picked up his glass and emptied it in one gulp.
It was his first time saying these things, so heavy.
Xiang Ye: “So you’re sensitive, you avoid, you’re afraid of giving in a relationship but not receiving what you want in return.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Yes.”
Xiang Ye: “You think love isn’t a necessity in life, you’d rather not have it than get hurt.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Yes.”
Xiang Ye: “But unexpectedly, you met me, someone who expresses his affection for you passionately and directly, who shows his admiration and love for you openly, who says it when he likes you, and also says it when he misses you.”
Jiang Chaochao suddenly laughed, “Who talks about themselves like that?”
Xiang Ye continued: “So you secretly opened a window for me, but I couldn’t resist breaking in. In your room, where I was the only guest for a long time, I insisted on partying with you.”
Jiang Chaochao listened to Xiang Ye with a smile in his eyes: “Quite shameless.”
Xiang Ye: “Do you agree?”
Jiang Chaochao smiled, “I guess so.”
Xiang Ye asked, “Then have you found a balance with me?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Now that you mention it…”
Xiang Ye: “Now that I mention it…”
Jiang Chaochao thought carefully, “I guess so.”
Xiang Ye: “Tell me more about this ‘I guess so.’”
Jiang Chaochao thought Xiang Ye using his verbal tic sometimes was incredibly cute.
Jiang Chaochao: “You make me feel like it’s okay for me to fully express my love, that you can catch it, and throw it back up in the air, perhaps turning into a rainbow, perhaps turning into fireworks.”
After hearing this, Xiang Ye slowly smiled, “You’re very eloquent, Jiang Chaochao.”
The balance between Jiang Chaochao and Xiang Ye wasn’t just about their relationship anymore.
He could be himself in front of Xiang Ye without any reservations, he could take the initiative, he could ask for things, he could be unrestrained.
Jiang Chaochao smiled, he even said, “Xiang Ye, I really like you.”
Xiang Ye paused.
Jiang Chaochao added, “More than you imagine.”
