Chapter 54: Don’t Make Trouble — Speaking of Which, Junior Jiang Yan Looks a Bit Familiar…
Jiang Yunian felt he had caused trouble. The expression on the Senior’s face when he left didn’t look very good; a trace of loneliness he couldn’t read flashed in those eyes that always held a smile. He bit his lip in annoyance, blaming his own clumsy tongue, fearing he had poked at the Senior’s sore spot.
Leaving the library, Jiang Yan called. The voice on the other end carried a few degrees of laziness: “Coming back a bit late tonight, Ge doesn’t need to wait for me.”
Jiang Yunian obediently agreed but couldn’t help gently instructing him not to be too late.
A low laugh came from the other end of the phone, carrying a bit of banter: “Want me to come back early to accompany you?”
He emphasized the word “accompany” heavily, as if hinting at something. Knowing it wasn’t anything wholesome, Jiang Yunian pretended not to understand. Jiang Yan just laughed, followed by the routine interrogation: asking what he did today? Who did he see?
Because of the LG matter, Jiang Yunian was used to reporting his itinerary to Jiang Yan. But after getting together, Jiang Yan intensified his behavior. Not only did he need to know his whereabouts, but he also had to know his phone password. Sometimes when they didn’t see each other during the day, Jiang Yan would take his phone at night and look through it carefully. It wasn’t that he suspected anything, but purely wanted to control everything about him. Although Jiang Yunian didn’t understand, thinking that couples around him would change matching avatars and announce their relationship to gain a sense of security—and since they couldn’t go public, and there were quite a few people pursuing him—perhaps this would make Jiang Yan feel at ease, so he let him be.
“Who did you go see?”
“Just… Senior Lu.”
Jiang Yan was silent for a moment, his voice somewhat heavy: “Did he touch you again?”
“No… just chatted a few sentences in the library.”
Jiang Yan’s tone held no discernible emotion: “Send me a photo.”
Jiang Yunian was stunned. Did they not even have this little trust between them? Or in Jiang Yan’s eyes, was everyone approaching him an imaginary enemy?
The tone on the other end softened, coaxing him: “Not disbelieving, I just want to see Ge.”
Alright. Jiang Yunian opened the front camera, put his hands in front of his chest, and took a selfie very straight-man-ly. In the photo, his hair was messed up by the wind, the tip of his nose and cheeks were a bit red from the cold, his lips were slightly dry, and the lip bead in the middle bulged a little. His entire neck was shrunk into his collar, living like a quail afraid of the cold.
The background behind him was the tree-lined path from the library to the school gate; there was indeed no one nearby. Jiang Yan relaxed, instructing him to walk properly and not play on his phone, saying he would return after finishing work. He was hung up on angrily by Jiang Yunian. If he hadn’t suddenly called, why would I be standing by the road chatting with him?
Deep in the night, the moonlight outside the window was like water, but the lights inside were still bright.
Jiang Yan broke his word. He agreed to try to be early, but returned very late at night. Jiang Yunian said he wouldn’t wait, but missing that warm embrace on the pillow, he couldn’t sleep peacefully. He wanted to call to urge him but was afraid of disturbing the other’s work, so he could only sit in the living room hugging his knees, staring blankly.
The sound of the lock turning finally rang out. Jiang Yan entered the room carrying the chill of the night dew. Seeing the waiting figure on the sofa, his cold expression softened a few degrees.
“Mm… you’re back?” Jiang Yunian shuffled in his fluffy slippers, taking his coat like a considerate little wife.
Jiang Yan looked at this scene; it felt somewhat unreal, like dreaming. He held the other’s soft hand, pressed it to his cheek to rub, his eyes conveying affection. “Mn.”
Jiang Yunian intuitively felt his gaze wasn’t right. He pulled his hand back and urged, “Go shower quickly, sleep early tonight.”
Who knew Jiang Yan would shower in a few minutes, drill into the bedroom, pin the person against the headboard, and occupy him and the bed. Jiang Yunian pushed back like a kitten with its paw pads: “N-No.”
Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow: “I can’t?”
Jiang Yunian shook his head hurriedly: “No, you can, it’s me…” His voice got smaller and smaller, somewhat hard to mention. “That… is swollen…”
Jiang Yan didn’t believe it unless he showed him. Jiang Yunian didn’t speak, silently tightening his waistband. Jiang Yan laughed. “Where haven’t I seen? Why still shy?”
“…”
With a hand implying a warning patting him, Jiang Yunian hesitated for a while before awkwardly letting go. Jiang Yan propped himself on both sides face to face. After careful inspection, he found it was indeed a bit overdone, and blew on it with heartache. He promised to let him rest for a few days, then took ointment from the nightstand to apply it for him. The process was long and torturous. Jiang Yunian didn’t know how much advantage was taken of him; it was simply torture.
After applying the medicine, Jiang Yan took one of his own coats to drape over him, the hem barely covering that scenery. Then he held him on his lap sitting face to face. Jiang Yunian’s hands loosely supported his firm shoulders, feeling uncomfortable all over from being stared at by those blazing eyes.
“Doing what?” he asked in a small voice.
Jiang Yan held his hand and weighed it, his eyes slightly regretful: “Can’t touch for a few days, Ge needs to accompany me more.”
The person in his arms looked at him with soft eyes, scolding coyly: “Isn’t it all you… who’s to blame?”
“My fault, my fault.” Jiang Yan said dotingly, turning to hold his foot. “I bullied you, so you pay it back? Step me to death.”
Jiang Yunian leaned back from his nonsense, supporting himself on both sides to stabilize his center of gravity. Reacting with shame and annoyance, he kicked out, only to be grabbed again. Jiang Yan ingratiatingly massaged the sole of his foot, his technique gentle and considerate. Gradually, Jiang Yunian narrowed his eyes.
Jiang Yan kissed him while rubbing, asking in a sticky voice: “Can I find you tomorrow noon? Eat together.”
Jiang Yunian still had some reason left: “No.”
Jiang Yan immediately drooped his head like an abandoned big dog, arching his head against him. Jiang Yunian couldn’t stand him like this the most. He bit his lip and whispered, “There’s an autumn outing this weekend, can bring… family members. Do you want to come?”
Jiang Yan’s eyes lit up: “Family?”
“Mn.”
He hooked his lips, his tone ambiguous. “Then does Ge want to take Little Brother, or… Hubby?”
Jiang Yunian’s ears turned red. He hid in his arms and squeezed out a sentence: “Nonsense.”
“Little Brother” isn’t just Hubby?
Is there a difference?
Jiang Yan smiled without speaking, just dragging out his tone to agree.
The moonlight peered through the gap in the curtains, secretly spying on the embracing pair. Jiang Yunian was drowsy in the warm embrace. Overhead, a pair of deep eyes gazed at him, revealing undisguised love.
On the day of the Yun Mountain study tour, the sky was washed blue, but a strong wind was blowing. The group gathered in front of the bus. Jiang Yunian didn’t expect to meet Lu Yuanbai, who was also the leader of this activity, standing by the bus door arranging seats. He Qing came too, lining up behind Hao Meng, carrying a camera bag, looking like he came to scout scenery.
Jiang Yunian was just about to greet them when his wrist tightened suddenly, and he was pulled backward. The person behind urged him to get on the bus quickly. Helpless, he only exchanged a brief glance with the Senior before following the line.
“Ge, so cold.” Jiang Yan’s voice was muffled by his ear, carrying an imperceptible act of spoiling. Once on the bus, he pushed Jiang Yunian into the window seat without explanation and sat closely next to him. His tall body caged the person in the corner, also cutting off Lu Yuanbai’s line of sight from the front.
Hao Meng sat two rows behind them and couldn’t help muttering, “Quite delicate.” Just as she wanted to tease “Your brother only has one coat,” she saw Jiang Yunian being pulled over abruptly and pressed against the seat back. A fluffy head rubbed against the hollow of his shoulder; the coat zipper dropped a few inches, revealing a light-colored shirt.
Jiang Yunian instantly understood his intention. He pushed back in embarrassment, telling him not to make trouble; people were here. He scanned the carriage nervously. Most classmates were chatting or looking at phones; the boy in front was wearing headphones playing games, and the back row was empty. But this was a public place after all… He whispered his name, his tone like a reprimand.
Jiang Yan turned a deaf ear. Instead, he arched into his arms even more aggressively, dragging out his voice to call “Ge”. That stubborn posture didn’t look like fear of cold, but more like a secret possession.
Jiang Yunian was worn down to no temper, sighing in the corner. A moment later, the strength of his struggle relaxed. While no one was paying attention, he pinched his fingers and gently pulled open the coat, opening a gap. From Hao Meng’s angle, looking over the seat back, Jiang Yunian looked like he was hiding a large pendant inside his coat, his arm circling Jiang Yan’s back, his palm unconsciously supporting his younger brother’s neck, presenting a protective posture.
Hao Meng frowned at the sight. These brothers are close like a little couple.
Jiang Yunian was unaware of the gaze behind him. At this moment, all his attention was seized by a certain person playing tricks. He grabbed the other’s back collar with one hand and pressed against his lips with the other, looking out the window as if nothing happened to avoid attracting attention. Even so, he was shocked by his boldness. That fluffy head actually savagely rubbed open the second layer of obstacles, holding the fruit of victory in his mouth to show off repeatedly. Soft hair was blown up by the wind outside the window, strands scratching against the skin on his chin, as if tickling the tip of his heart.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from outside the window, hitting Jiang Yunian’s face head-on. His shoulders trembled slightly, like being hit by an electric current, his reason awakened bit by bit. Turning to look around, there were so many people on the bus, almost all knowing him. If the boy playing games in the front row turned back slightly, he could see the wretchedness on his face. Just thinking of that scene made his scalp tingle. His weak hand grabbed Jiang Yan’s hair, but it was useless; he still hugged him like an octopus, motionless.
Jiang Yunian had no choice but to use soft tactics. His lips almost touched his ear: “There are people…”
“…”
Jiang Yunian was really afraid. If people saw two men hugging together, he really didn’t know how to explain. He opened his small mouth, his soft voice revealing thick nervousness and pleading: “Beg… you…”
It sounded like he was about to shatter. His brother was still too thin-skinned, traditional to the bone, thinking everyone thought homosexuality was alien like he did. Just holding hands on the roadside made him look around nervously; doing it openly was simply a fantasy. Jiang Yan paused. After a few seconds of silence, seeming satisfied or perhaps unsatisfied but wanting more, he didn’t make it difficult for him anymore. He adjusted his lapels for him but didn’t move away, just adhering obediently to his chest, closing his eyes to rest. Jiang Yunian’s suspended heart finally dropped. He released the hand gripping the back collar, rested it gently on Jiang Yan’s back, and also closed his eyes for a nap.
The smell of leather and carbon dioxide filled the carriage, and the scenery outside the window retreated rapidly.
An hour later, the bus stopped steadily at the destination. The carriage was silent; most people were asleep. Lu Yuanbai got up to wake everyone. When he walked to the back row, his steps paused slightly.
Jiang Yunian tilted his head against the window, his sleeping face quiet. Jiang Yan was almost half nestled in his arms, head resting on his shoulder. The shirt underneath was wet in a small patch, as if from drool. Even in his sleep, Jiang Yunian’s arm subconsciously hugged the person tighter. This scene of “deep brotherly love” made Lu Yuanbai frown slightly, unlike his usual calmness.
He gently patted Jiang Yunian’s shoulder: “We’ve arrived.”
Jiang Yunian rubbed his eyes in a daze. Seeing it was the Senior, he instinctively pushed away the person in his arms. Jiang Yan was pushed awake, sitting up with displeasure. Seeing the person standing nearby, he showed no reaction, mumbling to himself, “Ge’s embrace is so warm, slept especially soundly.” He smoothly zipped the zipper to the top, covering that distinct wet mark. The entire action was skilled and natural, without any dissonance. Lu Yuanbai’s face was a bit stiff, but he said nothing, gave Jiang Yunian a deep look, and turned to call everyone off the bus.
Getting off the bus, the crisp air hit their faces. Looking out, the layered forests were dyed; maple leaves were like burning flames, flowing with brilliant luster under the sun. He Qing had already set up his camera, the lens following Hao Meng who was posing under the falling red leaves. Jiang Yunian was walking side by side with Lu Yuanbai, talking about something. Jiang Yan had both hands in his pockets, the withered leaves under his feet making crisp cracking sounds. When the two unknowingly opened up a bit of distance, a long leg inserted itself between them.
Lu Yuanbai turned his head, about to continue the topic just now, when Jiang Yan suddenly reached out to tighten the scarf Jiang Yunian had worn loose in the wind. The action seemed gentle, but when retracting his fingertips, he inadvertently grazed his earlobe and pinched it slightly hard.
Jiang Yunian looked over in confusion.
Jiang Yan met his gaze, his face lazy and careless, lips opening and closing silently, revealing a strong warning:
Not allowed to talk to him.
“Don’t make trouble.” Jiang Yunian lowered his voice, carrying helpless indulgence. Lu Yuanbai quietly watched the undercurrent surging between the two. The smile on his face remained unchanged, but his eyes deepened a few shades.
Jiang Yan’s left hand maintained the posture of adjusting the scarf for Jiang Yunian, but his right hand, covered by the coat cuff, quietly clamped onto Jiang Yunian’s lower back, forcing him to slow down and synchronize with him, widening the distance from Lu Yuanbai again.
“Forgot to wear gloves again?”
He took his own out of his pocket, pulled his hand over, and wanted to put them on him.
In public, a man putting gloves on another man was truly strange. Jiang Yunian slapped his hand away: “No need, I’m not very cold.”
Jiang Yan didn’t insist. His drooping eyelids lifted faintly, looking past him to meet another subtle gaze. His pitch-black pupils refracted a cold, ghostly light, while his left hand remained hovering loosely behind Jiang Yunian’s back, silently declaring that this was his possession.
Lu Yuanbai seemed not to feel the cold gaze. He approached with his usual expression, his gaze landing on Jiang Yan’s face: “Speaking of which, Jiang… Yan, Junior Brother, looks a bit familiar.”
He paused, his tone like casual chatter. “You bear a few points of resemblance to Old Master Qi I saw on TV.”
Jiang Yan glanced over faintly, his face unruffled. “Is that so?”
” The name is also a coincidence. Chairman Qi’s only grandson seems to have the single character ‘Yan’ as his name too. However…” He changed the topic, carrying a trace of regret, “I heard that Young Master Qi hasn’t made any noise for a long time. Old Master Qi was critically ill and hospitalized a while ago; he has probably been in the hospital fulfilling his filial duties, right? Truly filial.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yunian looked at the other party in surprise, then laughed and shook his head. “Senior must have seen wrong, right? How could Jiang Yan look like Old Master Qi?”
Such a resounding big shot wasn’t someone ordinary people like them could be involved with.
Lu Yuanbai was silent for a moment before slowly saying, “Mn, maybe I remembered wrong. After all, I saw him on TV; having a few points of resemblance is normal. But I heard Old Master Qi is indeed very ill this time, and the board of directors is changing greatly. Thinking about it, that Young Master Qi should show his face soon.”
He turned his head, quietly watching Jiang Yan’s reaction. The other party’s face remained absent-minded, as if listening to a stranger’s affairs. He even bent down to pick up an intact blood-red maple leaf from the ground at random, playing with it between his fingers.
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