Chapter 19: Gently — Coaxing Baby, Feeding Him on the Lap…
Halfway through the shower, there was a knock on the bathroom door.
Jiang Yunian had just rinsed the foam from his hair when he heard Jiang Yan’s voice through the sound of the water. “Ge, my water heater is broken. Can I squeeze in with you?”
He turned off the shower head, enveloped in the misty vapor.
“Now?” he asked, troubled. “I’m almost done.”
Jiang Yan’s voice, muffled by the door, said he had already taken off his clothes and it was a bit cold now that the wind had picked up.
Jiang Yunian hesitated. The temperature had been dropping recently, and being shirtless at night made it easy to catch a cold. Jiang Yan had only just recovered; if he fell ill again, Jiang Yunian would have to foot the medical bill. Besides, they were just two men; there was nothing they couldn’t see.
He soon regretted it.
As soon as the door opened, billowing white mist surged out. Jiang Yan stepped onto the anti-slip mat, water droplets sliding down his jawline.
“How are you…” His gaze unconsciously drifted down, and his pupils dilated slightly.
So what Jiang Yan said before was true. He really was extraordinary.
He hurriedly turned his face away, his ears burning. The mirror reflected the silhouette of Jiang Yan turning around, occupying almost half the space. As if nothing was wrong, he stood under the shower, letting the water wet his black hair. “What?”
Jiang Yunian, who originally thought it was nothing, now felt a bit embarrassed, lacking even the courage to compare. He walked over timidly, standing under the shower head with his back to Jiang Yan, his fingers clutching the edge of his bath towel, reluctant to let go.
Jiang Yan raised his eyelids, scrutinizing him unscrupulously, his gaze finally resting on the edge of the towel.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice a bit husky in the steam. “Is Ge planning to wash like this?”
Jiang Yunian wanted to pretend he didn’t hear, but fearing he would seem timid, he hesitantly took it off, but didn’t turn around.
Fortunately, Jiang Yan didn’t press further. He pretended to naturally apply body wash, the scene from just now lingering in his mind.
Jiang Yan was so gifted… how would his future girlfriend handle it? Jiang Yunian secretly sweated for her.
Inexplicably, the words at the dinner table tonight lingered in his ears. Sneaking out stealthily in the middle of the night just to take a walk with a female classmate… it felt weird no matter how he thought about it.
Could they be doing something bad?
He quickly shook his head. Jiang Yan had been recuperating for so long and remembered nothing; maybe he didn’t have much concept of that kind of thing.
Lost in wild thoughts, his arm was suddenly pulled, and Jiang Yunian stumbled backward, losing his balance.
“Stand closer, the water is here.” Jiang Yan’s voice sounded right by his ear, his eyes obscure.
Jiang Yunian’s mind went blank for a moment, humming vaguely in response. He just wanted to escape quickly. Just as he grabbed the towel, he heard the person behind him ask, “Why is Ge so thin?”
Jiang Yunian felt slighted and mumbled, “Aren’t all guys about the same?”
“Is that so?” Jiang Yan chuckled lightly, grabbing his wrist in an attempt to turn him sideways. “I’m different.”
But Jiang Yunian was like a startled rabbit, shrinking away to dodge. He flusteredly pulled the bath towel around himself, stuttering, “I-I’m done washing!”
After speaking, he turned around in a panic. Unexpectedly, the foam on the soles of his feet hadn’t been rinsed clean. Stepping on the slippery tiles, with a loud “bang,” he fell solidly into a “big pit” before Jiang Yan could even reach out.
“Hss…”
In an instant, all thoughts were knocked out of him, leaving only piercing pain.
As expected, a large red bruise appeared on his buttock, faintly turning purple.
When Jiang Yan applied medicine to him, he could still hear his suppressed gasps.
“Still hurts?”
Jiang Yunian flattened his small mouth, listless and silent. A twenty-year-old man, yet always bumping and bruising. The medicine stocked at home for Jiang Yan had all been used on himself these days.
After a quiet moment, his heart gradually calmed down. Between the shower ordeal and this fall, Jiang Yunian was exhausted, his eyelids growing heavier.
Looking at the defenseless sleeping face beneath him, the calmness in Jiang Yan’s eyes faded, covered by a deep, heavy mist. He reached out and gently touched his fair cheek.
Early the next morning, Jiang Yunian woke up slowly. He blinked, still a bit sleepy.
Jiang Yan was busy in the kitchen and walked over upon hearing the movement. As soon as he entered, he grabbed Jiang Yunian’s foot without explanation.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Yunian was dazed, his voice sticky, kicking his legs weakly.
Jiang Yan patted him. “Check the back.”
Jiang Yunian, sporting a cowlick, froze for two seconds before realizing he meant checking the injury on his rear.
He shrank his legs, whispering, “I’ll do it myself.”
In broad daylight, showing someone that place was embarrassing.
“Then take it off yourself.” Jiang Yan straightened up.
Jiang Yunian clutched his waistband, hesitating whether to pull it down or not. Seeing him still standing there like a pillar, he pouted: Why aren’t you leaving yet?
Jiang Yan pretended not to understand, saying breakfast was ready and just waiting for him.
“Then you… go out first, I’ll come right away.”
Jiang Yunian lowered his head to fumble with his waistband, hearing a light chuckle from above. “Which part of Ge haven’t I seen? Why still shy?”
Not only seen, but touched.
Jiang Yunian’s face felt slightly hot. Who did he learn this from? So improper.
“Hurry up,” Jiang Yan said indifferently.
For some reason, when Jiang Yan used this tone, he felt a bit timid and always obeyed subconsciously. Before his brain could react, his body had already obediently followed suit.
His movements were so fast he blushed. The bruise in the middle had darkened overnight.
Jiang Yan’s breathing changed. Jiang Yunian was shy for less than a few seconds before his chin touched the bed and drowsiness surged up again. Jiang Yan’s eyes were dark, saying he couldn’t see clearly and asking him to come closer.
Jiang Yunian confusedly followed the command, docilely presenting that injury without reservation, incredibly pure.
He eats quite a lot every day, yet is still so thin. So the meat all grew here. Jiang Yan’s Adam’s apple rolled unconsciously, a trace of gloom surfacing in his eyes.
Time gradually stagnated. Jiang Yunian’s chin nodded little by little. Seeing he was about to fall asleep, he rubbed his eyes to ask if it was done.
But Jiang Yan moved first. His large hand grasped his waist, easily lifting him to stand, bending over to pull up the pants that had rolled down to his knees. When he looked down, Jiang Yunian’s eyes were hazy, his kitten-like face flushed red. The faint smell of medicine on his body mixed with his unique clean scent made him soft all over.
“Rest a bit more.” The hand Jiang Yan had around him didn’t loosen, the tip of his nose brushing against him seemingly inadvertently, coaxing in a low voice: “Eat something?”
Jiang Yunian was still sleepy, his head drooping into his neck, rubbing unconsciously, humming vaguely: “Mn… want to…”
“Then go brush your teeth yourself, don’t fall asleep in there.”
“Okay…”
When Jiang Yunian was fully awake and came out after washing up, Jiang Yan was already waiting at the dining table. Considering his injury, breakfast was light wonton noodles.
As soon as Jiang Yunian sat on the stool, he sucked in a cold breath from pain, looking like he had been bullied severely. He tried to lift himself slightly, sitting tentatively, but it became strenuous after a while.
A solid and powerful arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, lifting him into the air.
Leaving the hard stool and switching to a slightly softer meat cushion, with the rear suspended to leave space and the pressure point shifted, it was indeed easier. But…
“Ah Yan,” Jiang Yunian called out in a small voice.
Jiang Yan seemed not to hear his panic. “Ge, the stool is hard. Sitting on my lap won’t press on the wound.”
Jiang Yunian’s heart pounded wildly. He never thought he would sit in a man’s arms like a woman, and in this way.
He pushed weakly against his shoulder. “But…” Why do we have to face each other?
“This way won’t touch the wound.” Jiang Yan’s arm circled his waist steadily, his tone extremely natural. “Special circumstances, Ge just bear with it.”
Even so, it was just… too weird.
No matter how weird, he wasn’t allowed to break free. Jiang Yan scooped up a wonton and brought it to his mouth. “Open.”
Why is this scene like Auntie Wang feeding Xiao Liu? All that’s missing is a bib.
Seeing him not moving for a long time, Jiang Yan coaxed and forced an “Ah.” Jiang Yunian was even more embarrassed. He reached out to grab the bowl but was dodged by the other party. With a twist of the wrist, the tip of the spoon pried open his lips.
With the friction of movement, soup could easily splash on him. Jiang Yunian had no choice but to compromise and open his mouth, letting the spoon drill into his small mouth.
Sunlight spilled in lazily, illuminating the quiet room.
Jiang Yunian chewed in small bites, unable to resist stealing glances at Jiang Yan close at hand. The light and shadow outlined his clear profile, revealing a sense of seriousness. They say good-looking people should be viewed from a distance, as getting too close easily exposes flaws. But why didn’t Ah Yan have any? Every pore seemed to be glowing.
Suddenly, Jiang Yan lowered his eyelashes, meeting his gaze. The noodles Jiang Yunian had slurped halfway broke, the taste in his mouth gradually changing.
He blinked, pursing his lips into a straight line. “…Full.”
“Eat a little more.” Jiang Yan tightened his arm, easily pinning down the person who wanted to run, and scooped up another plump wonton. “Ge is too thin, eat more meat.”
Jiang Yunian was confined immobile by him and had to obey. When a small half bowl remained, he couldn’t eat anymore no matter what. The other party still refused to let him go, using the gentlest tone to say the harshest words. “Be good, don’t waste.”
This tone of coaxing a child… is he treating him like Xiao Liu?
Jiang Yunian pouted in dissatisfaction. Meeting his stubborn gaze, knowing he couldn’t win, he resignedly ate the last few mouthfuls.
The bowl finally bottomed out, and the supervision relaxed.
“Ge is so great, ate even cleaner than Xiao Liu.”
Jiang Yunian almost fell again as soon as he touched the ground. He secretly glared at Jiang Yan. Really treating him as a child? Does this guy have any respect for him as an older brother?
Outrageous.
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