Chapter 5: He Cares So Much
As Jiang Shulu approached, Tang Yue smelled his perfume.
Away had secured many high-priced endorsements, and their exclusive perfume ad featured four new scents, each member endorsing one.
When the brand concept was first being developed, Yao Lixin was dissatisfied with his assigned scent—a pure lotus fragrance—feeling subtly insulted.
Liu Xi Chao’s scent was fine—the refreshing fragrance of spring willows.
But Jiang Shulu’s was different.
The top notes of his perfume were an excessively vibrant floral scent, a little frivolous for the captain’s image, something most people would consider more suitable for Yao Lixin, who liked to put his arm around others’ shoulders.
But Tang Yue not only liked the top notes but also the base notes of agarwood.
It was very much like the feeling Jiang Shulu gave him: the initial stunning impression, followed by the meticulous and ever-present sense of security over the three years.
However, Tang Yue rarely got close to Jiang Shulu within the group, unlike his closeness to Yao Lixin, so his most profound memory of Jiang Shulu’s scent was from his two times getting lost.
Once was on a street in France, during the rainy season. Tang Yue had gotten lost.
Jiang Shulu, holding an umbrella, came looking for him. That day, Tang Yue felt so pathetic, messing up a variety show.
In a foreign country, Tang Yue’s English wasn’t very good, and he wasn’t good at asking for help.
When Jiang Shulu found him, the young man was standing under a huge urban architectural sculpture, like a lost swallow.
The leader chose to circle and search, completely enveloping Tang Yue in his embrace.
That day, Tang Yue smelled Jiang Shulu’s perfume intensely. As he was carried back, he vaguely wondered why everyone else had changed their perfume, but the captain hadn’t?
Even as the spokesperson, he didn’t need to use it all the time, right?
Long-dormant memories surfaced. Tang Yue stared blankly at Tang Mian nestled in Jiang Shulu’s arms, feeling both fear and shame.
Fear that this secret would be discovered, perhaps becoming another obstacle to a happy ending for the main characters.
Shame that his confident assisting role in the book had resulted in an unexpected pregnancy.
Tang Yue thought: I…
I, I’m such a terrible person!
The more thoughts filled his mind, the more impassive his expression became.
The young man on the livestream screen had a stern face. The face unseen for five years still possessed a captivating quality.
Longtime fans instantly understood Tang Yue’s state: he was spaced out.
New fans didn’t understand. Seeing Tang Yue, whose temperament was somewhere between youth and adulthood, staring at Tang Mian with a hint of anger between his brows, thought he was angry.
“Jiang Shulu, why is he taking the child?!”
“New fans, is this a family-of-three variety show?”
“This scene seems familiar. When Tang Mian rushed over, it was really similar to that year in Manchester…”
“When Tang Yue jumped down from the wall, Jiang Shulu also caught him like this!!”
“Am I getting old? I don’t even need to try to remember; all these Away moments automatically play in my head.”
“Where’s the original poster of the forum who spearheaded the Jiang Shulu x Tang Yue ship?! Come back! Your empire is waiting for you!!”
Old fans knew Tang Yue’s habits, and Jiang Shulu even more so.
Over the years, the name Tang Yue had subtly lingered in his mind.
Subconsciously.
A prick, a prick, like a brooch piercing the skin, the fingers instinctively releasing, inhaling a breath of cold air.
Even after five years, Jiang Shulu still saw Tang Yue as a child.
Tang Yue still wore a cartoon watch; it was the same green sea turtle watch from before.
It was a souvenir they bought on a whim at a night market after a concert.
Time flies. The light green of the children’s watch strap Jiang Shulu bought had faded to a pale green.
But the loneliness in Tang Yue’s brows seemed even more intense.
Jiang Shulu clearly remembered that they had spent a long time trying to dispel that loneliness.
Now, Jiang Shulu’s arms felt heavy.
Half a month ago, when the producer showed him the photos of Tang Yue and the child, his heart felt like it had been bombarded.
It was as if his blood had been blown apart into fluff, making Jiang Shulu inexplicably short of breath.
Tang Yue, who was he with, who did he marry, who did he have a… child with.
If Tang Yue was happy, why did his expression seem the same as when they first met?
“Dad!”
Tang Mian in Jiang Shulu’s arms called out to Tang Yue, and then reached out to touch his father.
Jiang Shulu had to take a step towards Tang Yue.
That familiar scent wafted over again. Tang Yue snapped out of his memories and foolishly exclaimed, “Ah.”
Jiang Shulu asked, “Why are you running?”
“Exactly!”
“Hahahaha, need I even say! Of course, he would run away when he saw the captain!”
“I remember something similar happening in the group.”
“When Tang Yue and Liu Xi Chao secretly bought snail noodles, afraid of being caught by Jiang Shulu, they ate it on the stairs? But the elevator was under repair that day, and Jiang Shulu took the stairs too, and of course, they got caught hahaha.”
“That was mentioned in an interview! I remember! Liu Xi Chao said Tang Yue ran away with the snail noodles, making it look like he had stolen Jiang Shulu’s money.”
“Jiang Shulu’s expression was also interesting then; he seemed puzzled as to why Tang Yue was so scared of him.”
Tang Yue uttered an “Uh,” his eyes downcast, avoiding Jiang Shulu’s gaze.
He felt the top notes of the perfume were too aggressive, easily reminding him of that night, Jiang Shulu’s embrace, breath, hands, kisses, and touch.
And the four words Tang Yue had seen countless times in the book.
Perfectly describing the feeling of being completely restrained, unable to see the next sunrise—penetrating, deep, painful, and aching, making him want to cry.
It had completely captivated Tang Yue, leaving an imprint on his soul, resulting in Tang Yue bearing Jiang Shulu’s child.
This scene was too familiar. If someone were to edit it, they could compare it to Away’s backstage footage from back then.
As if time had never passed, Tang Yue was still afraid of Jiang Shulu, and they couldn’t even make eye contact.
Just like now, Jiang Shulu looked at Tang Yue, who was nervously fidgeting with his fingers and blushing.
Jiang Shulu thought: It seems… nothing’s changed much?
Since he couldn’t ask anything, Jiang Shulu turned around, his hand instinctively reaching out to hold Tang Yue’s, but remembering his previous attitude, he retracted it.
So, he didn’t see Tang Yue’s slightly raised hand, the movement very slight, hesitant.
If this weren’t a live variety show, no one would have noticed this detail.
But it was a live show, millions of eyes, the fans from back then gathered together, it was a reunion of sorts.
“Damn!! Jiang Shulu, hold his hand! Why did you pull back?!”
“Tang Yue wuwuwu my baby, why are you still so scared of the captain! You’re a dad now!”
“Haha, compared to his dad, Tang Mian is really unafraid of strangers.”
Tang Yue could only follow.
The child, held by Jiang Shulu, seemed to enjoy it, comfortably leaning against Jiang Shulu. Jiang Shulu asked questions, and Tang Mian answered.
Jiang Shulu: “Mian, do you know you’re on a show?”
Tang Mian nodded, his eyes fixed on Jiang Shulu. The child’s eyes were round and adorable.
His hair was slightly curly, unlike Jiang Shulu’s current straight hair.
But old fans knew Jiang Shulu regularly straightened his hair.
“Help, the more I look, the more similar it seems.”
“Even if Jiang Shulu got married, he wouldn’t have a child this similar!!”
“Jiang Shulu is a member of a wealthy family himself; I thought he’d marry and have children early, but there’s no gossip about him.”
“Making Tang Yue seem even more… open-minded!!”
Jiang Shulu: “Did your dad ask you to participate?”
In Jiang Shulu’s eyes, Tang Mian looked like a smaller version of Tang Yue, their lip shapes were identical, and their lip beads were prominent.
The child shook his head: “I wanted to participate!”
He hugged Jiang Shulu’s neck, seemingly enjoying the uncle’s scent, leaning against Jiang Shulu’s shoulder to look at Tang Yue: “Right, Dad! I want to travel! I want to take a plane!”
He spoke with the characteristic enthusiasm of a child, but his speech was clear. He was a pure, adorable child. Even the fans being stopped by security were cooing.
All commenting on how adorable he was.
Tang Yue wanted to die.
He regretted it a million times over. He should never have listened to Liang Yi.
What, no one else, a show made especially for you, recorded later, it’s no big deal.
Hah, this is no big deal? This is a live broadcast.
Heaven knows Tang Yue almost collapsed when he opened the door and saw all the filming equipment.
He didn’t lack money or anything else, but he was still clumsy in caring for children.
At least, compared to the maknae who needed to be cared for when he first arrived in this world, Tang Yue considered himself a passable father.
He just couldn’t give Tang Mian a mother.
He could only tell Tang Mian that his mother was gone.
Tang Yue hoped Tang Mian would never know he was born to a man.
He hoped his child wouldn’t be mocked at school, unlike his experiences.
Jiang Shulu didn’t particularly like children.
The Jiang family was an old-fashioned wealthy family. Many children from the collateral branches were around his age; many cousins and nieces were running around.
Only Jiang Shulu remained steadfast in his rebellious decision to become an idol years ago; he wasn’t willing to compromise on marriage.
The Jiang family continued to thrive under his leadership, without needing the commercial marriages his parents had to engage in.
Unfortunately, his parents’ controlling nature remained unchanged, still hoping Jiang Shulu would follow their childhood plans.
They didn’t want Jiang Shulu to repeat his rebellious entry into the entertainment industry.
But Jiang Shulu was different now. His rejections weren’t obvious, but everyone could see it.
He could attend formal gatherings, engage in polite conversations with his peers, and accept interviews related to business.
He simply didn’t answer any questions about relationships, his private life exceedingly clean, unlike the stereotype of a wealthy heir.
To use the words of other young masters in the circle, he was too pure, seemingly not interested in men or women, possibly a hopeless asexual.
Same-sex marriage was legalized two years ago, and some family members chose to bring their same-sex partners home. Perhaps because Jiang Shulu had been silent for so long, they tried probing him again.
Before, Mrs. Jiang had asked: Do you have a girl you like?
Later, Mrs. Jiang asked: Could it be that you have a boy you like?
Jiang Shulu shook his head, saying he wasn’t his uncle.
He knew that the Jiang family was not open-minded; they were quite conservative, impossible to accept him marrying a man.
Even though times had changed, even though he had exceeded his parents’ expectations.
He was still trapped.
The next second, Jiang Shulu’s smile froze on his lips. He suddenly remembered the person he had carried.
The person who had softly breathed on his shoulder in the pouring rain, blowing away Jiang Shulu’s twenty-plus years of composure.
Leaving him lightheaded, his ears burning, and saying, with forced composure, “Xiao Yue, don’t hug me so tightly.”
The young man had said “Oh,” mumbled an apology.
But Jiang Shulu hadn’t paid much attention at the time.
He had never been in love, nor had he longed for it.
But when Mrs. Jiang asked him that question, his heart shattered, and the thunder of years ago echoed in his ears.
Loudly telling Jiang Shulu, you had felt it too.
Unfortunately, times had changed.
Unfortunately, he realized it too late.
Now, Jiang Shulu was holding Tang Yue’s child at the noisy airport. The child was soft and his voice was clear, completely different from Tang Yue’s beautiful voice.
Yet, it made Jiang Shulu, who disliked children, feel affection, his gaze tender.
He finally couldn’t help but ask Tang Mian, “Where’s your mother?”
Author’s Note:
“One day, everyone visited the manager who had just given birth.”
Tang Yue (having read many Earth social rules): Should we bring something?
Yao Lixin was surprised Tang Yue was so considerate.
Yao Lixin: Bring some fruit, Manager Lin loves wax apples.
Liu Xi Chao: You’re so polite, I’ll bring something for his son.
That day, everyone watched as Tang Yue, carrying a paper bag, changed into a Border Collie costume (with a tail and headpiece) at Manager Lin’s doorstep.
He opened the door, scaring the dog away.
Yao Lixin (shocked): Who bought this for him?
Liu Xi Chao (puzzled): I thought Tang Yue had amnesia and forgotten his online shopping password.
Both looked at Jiang Shulu.
Jiang Shulu looked at Tang Yue, chasing the dog and scaring it, and said naturally: I bought it using my account. Any problems?
Yao Lixin to Liu Xi Chao: The captain has intense tastes.
Liu Xi Chao to Yao Lixin: He’s probably been too repressed by his elite education, so he projects his hobbies onto Tang Yue.
From then on, when you search for Tang Yue’s photos, the first thing that comes up isn’t a beautiful photo.
It’s the classic photo of him wearing a dog costume, with his face unseen, giving a peace sign.
Tang Yue’s fans: My Eyes (MY EYES!)