Chapter 15: Broken — “It’s swollen… hurts a bit.”
As expected, his participation points were deducted.
After signing his name, Jiang Yunian walked off the podium dejectedly. Hao Meng, not wanting to know what happened to this unlucky child, glanced at his pocket out of the corner of her eye. A bit of silicone was peeking out, giving her a subtle expression.
Jiang Yunian rested his chin on the desk, curling himself into a ball. Under the table, his left chest was rubbed raw and itchy by the rough fabric. He shrank his shoulders, not daring to scratch, only secretly pinching his collar to let some air in.
Throughout the entire lecture, he was absent-minded and restless. When Hao Meng tapped his desk with a pen cap, he just shook his head listlessly, even holding back from going to the restroom.
At noon, Hao Meng dragged him to the cafeteria. Jiang Yunian hunched his chest, occasionally scratching at his collar, his posture as awkward as a shy little girl.
Passing by the girls’ dormitory after eating, Hao Meng reminded him not to forget tomorrow’s shoot. Jiang Yunian nodded.
She walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped. “Wait a moment.”
Jiang Yunian sat with his knees together on the stone bench downstairs of the dormitory, like a primary school student being punished. In the shadow of the osmanthus tree opposite, a young couple was hugging stickily, making soft “smacking” sounds. He silently looked away, his face feeling a bit hot.
People came and went around the dormitory, accustomed to such sights. Occasionally, a girl would notice him, her eyes lighting up, but then thinking he might be waiting for a girlfriend, her interest would fade.
Hao Meng’s dorm was on the seventh floor, and there was no elevator. She ran down still panting, carrying a paper bag with a sponsor’s logo in her hand. “Here, for you.”
Jiang Yunian opened it doubtfully. several brand-new silicone breast patches lay inside. The heat that had just faded from his face crept up again.
Hao Meng looked frankly at his slightly hunched chest. The left side had been rubbed by the fabric for over two hours, and the raised area was already clearly visible. “Stop hiding, I saw it all.”
Jiang Yunian’s ear tips turned red with a whoosh.
Is it that obvious?
But Hao Meng has been with me all along; it would be hard not to notice.
He clutched the bag tightly and whispered, “Thank you…”
Hao Meng narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t do something bad, did you?”
“No…” Jiang Yunian tugged at his collar, feeling inexplicably guilty. “Just… the clothes rubbed a bit painfully.”
Hao Meng recalled his uncomfortable appearance during class and didn’t think much of it. “Buy a few more pure cotton ones, ancestor. Don’t always wear this old one. You’ll suffer if you rub yourself raw.”
Jiang Yunian lowered his head and obediently accepted the scolding. “Got it.”
Heaven on Earth.
The private room was dimly lit, the air floating with the scent of expensive perfume mixed with alcohol.
The waiter held a tray, placed the drinks on the table, and turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Zhou Shu lounged lazily on the sofa, legs crossed, his gaze glued to He Qing’s tense back. “Did I let you leave?”
Jiang Yan lifted his eyelids and swept a glance across.
The waiter stopped, straightened his back, and responded stiffly, “What else do you want?”
“Is this how the manager taught you to speak to the boss?” Zhou Shu’s voice deepened. “Turn around.”
People under the eaves have no choice but to bow their heads.
He Qing took a deep breath, turned around, and said respectfully, “What other instructions do you have?”
Zhou Shu patted his thigh, the corner of his lips hooking into a frivolous arc. “Sit here.”
He Qing clenched his fist, lips pressed tight, and didn’t move.
“Tsk,” impatience flashed in Zhou Shu’s eyes as he motioned to press the service bell. “Call your mana—”
“What exactly do you want?” He Qing gritted his teeth, his voice suppressing anger. The matter of him faking illness hadn’t been settled yet!
Seeing the other party getting anxious, thinking that teasing him further might actually make him cry, Zhou Shu quit while he was ahead and gave him an out. “Add me on WeChat.”
“Sorry,” He Qing said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “I’m just a waiter, I don’t have other services.”
This stubborn look made Zhou Shu laugh in anger. Not only had he given him the cold shoulder for days, but he also dared to give attitude in his territory. He really spoiled him.
“Pour the wine.” His voice turned cold.
He Qing’s expression cleared slightly. He picked up the wine bottle as told. When he handed it to Zhou Shu, Zhou Shu reached out to take it and took the opportunity to sneak a touch of his small hand.
White and tender, raised so well by him.
Unexpectedly, less than three seconds after touching, He Qing’s hand shook. He turned the glass forcefully and splashed it straight at him.
Zhou Shu was caught off guard and got soaked in the face. Brown liquor dripped down his forehead hair, making him look wretched.
He Qing took advantage of his unpreparedness and fled without looking back.
Zhou Shu wiped his face. With liquor on his fingertips, he actually put it to his lips and licked it. He stared at the closed door, laughing in extreme anger. “Refusing to be a proper young mistress and insisting on being stubborn with me. Truly capable.”
Jiang Yan, who had been silent beside him, said idly, “There are many ways to make him obedient.”
Zhou Shu’s movement paused, his smile fading as he glanced coldly at him. “I’m not you.”
Jiang Yan blinked indifferently.
Zhou Shu: “No wonder my wifey likes me and doesn’t like you.”
Jiang Yan: “…”
Zhou Shu couldn’t be bothered to argue with this psychopath. He got up and dusted off his soaked shirt.
“Aren’t you tired? Go to the spa.”
Ten o’clock at night.
First time raw, second time cooked; with the previous lesson, Jiang Yan was already familiar with the way to sponge a sleepover. This time the excuse was the quilt was aired but hadn’t dried yet. Indeed, the season was changing, and the thick cotton quilts at home had been taken out to wash. Jiang Yunian helplessly let him in, instructing him that he must sleep peacefully.
Jiang Yan looked innocent. “What could I do?”
Ideally.
Jiang Yan got into bed and prepared to turn off the light. Something on the bedside table caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes, picking up the soft silicone patch. “What is this?”
Oh no! Forgot to put it away.
“Nothing.” Jiang Yunian’s scalp tingled. He snatched the thing from his hand and stuffed it into the drawer.
During the movement, the thin pajamas outlined a slight rise on his chest. Jiang Yan’s eyes darkened as he extended a finger. “Ge, here…”
Just as the fingertip was about to touch, it was panicked blocked by Jiang Yunian. He lay down with his back to Jiang Yan, his voice muffled in the pillow. “It’s fine, sleep quickly.”
Jiang Yan didn’t move. He leaned over, gently holding his shoulder, his tone softening. “Did I hurt Ge?”
Jiang Yunian’s shoulders shook. He bit his lip and didn’t make a sound.
Jiang Yan added a bit of undeniable force to his hand and coaxed a few more sentences. Jiang Yunian finally spoke in embarrassment, his voice as thin as a mosquito’s hum. “That place… is swollen, hurts a bit.”
After rubbing against it all day, the place that was originally just slightly swollen now hurt at the slightest touch.
“Let me see.”
Jiang Yan exerted force with his hand, forcibly turning the person over to face him.
The light was still on. Jiang Yunian wanted to hide in shame, but both his hands were easily grasped by one of Jiang Yan’s large hands and pinned above his head. With the other hand, Jiang Yan deftly rolled up the hem of his pajamas, pushing it up to below his neck, exposing a large expanse of fair skin to the air.
Jiang Yunian was very thin, with a slender waist and flat abdomen. That point of red grape was particularly glaring on the white jade-like skin, changing Jiang Yan’s breathing as he looked.
Jiang Yunian lay on his back, hands imprisoned, his fair skin tinged with a faint pink. His eyes misted over, looking at him uneasily.
Jiang Yan extended his index finger and lightly touched the tip of that grape.
“Nngh…”
Jiang Yunian’s teeth chattered. A short whimper spilled out, and a blush slowly climbed all over his cheeks.
“It is a bit swollen.” Jiang Yan’s conscience belatedly discovered itself. He released the wrist he had reddened with his grip and rubbed it. “Ge, sorry.”
Jiang Yunian bit his lip, his expression a bit aggrieved, clearly tormented badly.
“Don’t be afraid, I’ll go get medicine.” Jiang Yan blew gently on it, then turned to leave.
Jiang Yunian looked down at himself. The bright red grape grain stood stiffly exposed in the air, painful and itchy, yet he dared not scratch it, waiting in torment.
Jiang Yan returned quickly, fingertips stained with milky white ointment.
“I’ll do it myself…” Jiang Yunian whispered.
Jiang Yan ignored him, just looking at him. That gaze was calm but carried invisible pressure.
At this time, there was really no point in being pretentious. Jiang Yunian obediently shut his mouth, letting the cold ointment be applied there, bringing a slight stinging pain.
Jiang Yunian bit his lip to suppress the sound.
Jiang Yan: “Hurts?”
Jiang Yunian pressed his lips tight and shook his head.
“Blow blow, blow blow and it’ll be fine.” Jiang Yan’s voice lowered and softened, carrying a coaxing tone. He lowered his head and blew gently on the place where the medicine was applied. Jiang Yunian trembled, feeling even stranger.
Killing me…
“…Done yet?”
“Done.” Jiang Yan straightened up, methodically wiping away the residual ointment on his fingertip.
finally finished. Jiang Yunian pinched his pajamas, wanting to pull them down.
“Don’t move,” Jiang Yan held down his hand. “Wait for the medicine to dry.”
Once he said that, Jiang Yunian obediently stopped moving. But lying in one position for too long, his chin was uncomfortably poked by the rolled-up fabric. Seeing this, Jiang Yan simply took off his shirt, wrapped his arm around his waist, and with a little force, lifted the person up to sit, making him lean back against his chest.
His bare back pressing against a naked chest was a bit cold after all. Jiang Yunian shrank slightly. Jiang Yan told him to come closer, pulled the quilt over, and carefully covered him, only exposing the medicated area. His broad chest was like a furnace, dispersing the chill of the night.
His broad arms were more than enough to wrap around his slender frame. Close up, he could even clearly feel the steady and powerful heartbeat in the chest cavity behind him, seemingly a bit faster than usual.
Jiang Yunian raised his own thin, white arm and secretly compared it with Jiang Yan’s. Jiang Yan’s skin tone was darker, his arm muscles solid and powerful, a whole size bigger. No wonder he could easily subdue him with one hand.
Thinking of how he was pinned down and unable to move just now, Jiang Yunian couldn’t help swallowing. Usually, Jiang Yan looked quite slim in clothes; how was he so strong?
The person behind him was already letting his imagination run wild. Jiang Yan lowered his head to sniff his hair; the cheap shampoo actually had a unique fresh scent on his Ge.
Ge is always fragrant.
Couldn’t help but sniff again. With a beauty in front, the hand holding his waist began to get restless. If Jiang Yunian turned back, he would see a face lost in obsession because of him.
The arm around his waist suddenly tightened. Jiang Yunian’s thoughts were swept away, and he looked down blankly.
“Ge is so white, waist so thin…”
Jiang Yan held his waist with one hand, the other rubbing on his white wrist, fingertips calloused. “Why so skinny?”
Skinny is also pretty.
Pretty enough that he couldn’t wait to carve a mark.
Jiang Yan rested his chin on his shoulder. “When I recover, I’ll take care of Ge, okay?”
“Then what do I do?” Jiang Yunian asked doubtfully, temporarily forgetting the discomfort on his body.
“Ge doesn’t need to do anything,” Jiang Yan’s voice was low and hoarse. “Just stay by my side.”
“Mn…”
Touched somewhere unknown, Jiang Yunian couldn’t help dodging. “Stop pinching, it’s all red…”
“Okay?” Jiang Yan not only didn’t let go but circled him tighter, with a bit of coquettish unreasonableness.
“Okay, okay, accompany you.” Jiang Yunian was firmly locked in his arms, somewhat helpless against his childish roguery.
Jiang Yan hooked his lips happily, tilted his head, and planted a loud “Mwah” on his side profile.
“Like Ge so much.”
Jiang Yunian’s face burned instantly. He touched his face; there was still a man’s saliva on his palm. He secretly wiped it on the back of the other’s hand. “Where did you learn all this, what like or dislike…”
Such a grown adult, no shame.
“Learned from Auntie Wang,” Jiang Yan held his hand back, kneading it in his palm. “She kisses Xiao Liu just like this. Not only kisses but hugs too.”
Jiang Yunian was helpless: “Xiao Liu is her grandson.” With such a cute baby grandson, who wouldn’t want to kiss him.
“You are also my Ge.” Jiang Yan said self-righteously: “What’s the difference?”
Although that was true, it always felt weird for two guys to be like this.
“How old are you, still playing kissy-kissy.”
“Xiao Liu is already six, not small anymore.” Jiang Yan leaned closer, his tone stubborn. “Does Ge not like me?”
Jiang Yunian opened his mouth, unsure how to answer. He had few friends and scattered relatives. Many people got off halfway; like and love were too unfamiliar to him.
But Jiang Yan was the only exception.
Not a relative, but better than a relative.
“Sure enough, I was just picked up by Ge.” The light in Jiang Yan’s eyes dimmed.
Jiang Yunian was easily soft-hearted. Knowing he was pretending, he still accompanied his childishness. “You lower a bit.”
The corner of Jiang Yan’s lips hooked up imperceptibly, and he lowered his head as told. Jiang Yunian pursed his lips and shyly planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
The moment they touched, Jiang Yan’s breathing changed tune. He instinctively wanted to demand more but was pushed away by Jiang Yunian. Jiang Yunian turned his face away, saying uncomfortably: “Dried…”
He was talking about the medicine on his body.
Jiang Yan’s Adam’s apple rolled. He suppressed the surging desire in his heart, got up, and found a clean T-shirt to put on him.
He’s fragile to begin with; it wouldn’t be good to break Ge.
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