TL: Hua
Aunt Yu was the first to notice the clues in this family. In the past, the two gentlemen would either go downstairs together or bump into each other downstairs and say hello. But this morning, when Mr. Xia came downstairs and Mr. Shen in the dining room raised his head to say good morning to him, Mr. Xia turned away expressionlessly.
But the strange thing is that, instead of being angry, he was very happy.
Xia Shu’an sat in his usual position. Breakfast was still a combination of Chinese and Western. He was used to eating a piece of bread, an egg, a small amount of cereal or bacon, and a glass of milk. He was lowering his head and concentrating on shelling the egg when the man sitting opposite him said, “Can you help me pass the jam?”
Aunt Yu’s homemade strawberry jam was placed in the middle of the dining table. If one had to say it, the distance between it and Xia Shu’an was probably two centimeters shorter than the distance between it and Shen Boyan.
Xia Shu’an stretched out his fingers and moved the jam towards Shen Boyan expressionlessly. Shen Boyan had a morning smile on his face, and his eyes were full of life. He reached out his hand and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a smooth and delicate forearm.
The natural-colored jam is spread on the crispy, toasted bread sandwich.
“It’s delicious.” After eating two pieces of toast, the man commented, “It’s as sweet and delicious as Xiao Shu’s.”
Xia Shu’an suddenly showed an expression as if he had eaten an ant. Mfn: bro, me too. What’s with the cheesy pick up line.
If you don’t know how to speak properly, it’s recommended that you donate your mouth. If that doesn’t work, your teeth will do.
After returning last night, Xia Shu’an was so completely disturbed by Shen Boyan’s self-righteous and confident demeanor that he almost couldn’t stand it anymore. He walked into the bedroom in a daze, and Shen Boyan came in as if nothing had happened and even wanted to do something unsuitable for children to watch with him.
Xia Shu’an’s brain was short-circuited, but his instincts were still there. He drove Shen Boyan out of the room with flurrying hands and feet. When he lay down on the bed, he vaguely thought that since he had already exposed his “true nature,” there was no need to play tricks with Shen Boyan anymore. So the next day, the scene above appeared at the dining table.
There really is something wrong with Shen Boyan. Even if he has already thought so for five years, it doesn’t stop him from thinking so at this moment.
“What time will you be back today?” As if he had forgotten what happened just now, the man spoke again.
“Not coming back!”
“Really?” Shen Boyan raised his head and said, “Then where are you going?”
Xia Shu’an still looked as cold as ice. “Wherever.”
“Speak nicely.” Shen Boyan chuckled lightly, his gaze doting on him as if he were looking at a mischievous child.
Xia Shu’an rubbed his temples. He didn’t want to appear too unreasonable, so he took a breath and said, “I have a dinner party with my lab colleagues tonight. I’ll be back later.”
“Is that so… Then drink less, don’t eat too much, and call me anytime if you need anything.” Shen Boyan “advised” him with a particularly virtuous attitude.
Xia Shu’an couldn’t help but press his temples again. It’s early in the morning, and he’s already having a headache.
…….
Xia Shu’an was not lying to Shen Boyan. The school will be on holiday after this week, so the supervisor decided to throw a dinner party with everyone in the laboratory tonight.
As the holiday approaches, everyone’s faces are glowing again. The senior sister comes in humming a little tune: “Good morning, Xiao Xia.”
“Morning, senior sister.”
The senior sister put down her bag and said, “Hey, where are you going during the Chinese New Year? Tell me and make me envy the lives of rich people.”
Xia Shu’an: “I don’t know yet.”
Previously, Shen Boyan did say he would make arrangements. If he asks Shen Boyan where they would go during the New Year, isn’t it the same as reconciling with him?
“Is it with the friend you brought over from the last dinner?” The senior sister winked and gave him a teasing look.
Xia Shu’an nodded helplessly.
“Yes, yes, yes.”
“Hehe.”
The senior sister said a few more words, and then everyone started working in an orderly manner. At around ten o’clock, a call suddenly came into Xia Shu’an’s mobile phone.
“Hello, Mr. Xia, there’s a delivery for you; come downstairs and pick it up.”
The laboratory is off-limits to outsiders. Xia Shu’an was confused and quickly went downstairs. As soon as he got out of the elevator, his steps slowed down as his expression changed and twisted.
In the lobby on the first floor, a man who looked like a courier walked up quickly, handed a rose in his arms to Xia Shu’an, and skillfully picked up the express order: “Hello, please sign for it.”
Xia Shu’an signed his name in a daze.
He didn’t even have to think about what his colleagues in the lab would think of him; just the eyes of the doorman standing in the lobby told him everything. He took the lift back to the lab, and sure enough, when he entered the door, he said, “Wow!”
The senior sister looked thrilled and gave a thumbs up: “Romantic.”
“…”
Xia Shu’an smiled awkwardly but politely at her, turned around, and stuffed the flowers into the drawer with an expressionless face. However, after sitting for a while, he still took out the flowers. Damn it, the flower is innocent! !
As an agronomist, Xia Shu’an couldn’t just ignore a beautiful and lively flower. There were a lot of bottles and jars in their laboratory, so Xia Shu’an made a homemade vase and filled it with water, ready to keep the flowers alive.
He thought this matter would be over, but unexpectedly, after lunch, another call came to Xia Shu’an’s mobile phone.
This time, it was a large bouquet of flowers. The delicate bougainvilleas and camellias released their vigorous vitality and showed their beauty without restraint. Xia Shu’an scolded Shen Boyan countless times in his heart, but he was still impressed by the flowers’ arrogance and flamboyance. He worked hard and planted them in the pot after taking measures.
At about three o’clock in the afternoon, someone called at the door of the laboratory: “Xia Shu’an, your express delivery.”
Xia Shu’an’s eyes twitched as he strode toward the door. Before he could think of how to face everyone’s teasing looks this time, he saw a bag held by his colleague. The bag contained a variety of things, but they didn’t seem to be flowers.
Xia Shu’an couldn’t tell whether he was angry or ashamed, but his mood suddenly dropped.
He took the bag blankly and said, “Ah, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“What is it? What is it?” A senior next to him came over and said, “What is it this time?”
It turns out that humans are gender-neutral when it comes to gossip.
Xia Shu’an opened the bag. Inside were his favorite mochi puffs, cheese biscuits, and other afternoon snacks, as well as a large cup of plain, unadorned pearl milk tea.
Xia Shu’an picked up the bread and read the label on the back. It was from a bakery next to his high school. He used to buy bread from this store, and his love for mochi puffs was also developed at that time.
“…” You did your research, huh?
“It’s afternoon tea, awesome!”
Xia Shu’an felt a little complicated, but he quickly lifted his face and smiled at the people gathered around him: “Everyone, take it yourself; don’t be polite.”
“Thank you, Xiao Xia!”
…….
…….
The time gate quickly arrived at the end of the workday. When the time came, everyone started to call friends, turn off the computer, and return the data to its place. In no time, everyone packed their bags.
This time, they went to a barbecue restaurant. After arriving at the place, Xia Shu’an discovered that senior Chang Jun’s group was also there.
It seemed that the supervisors on both sides had planned it.
“It just so happens that Xiao Chang’s group is having an end-of-year get-together, so we decided to join in. Don’t you guys always say that you can’t meet new people? Now here’s your chance!”
The single colleague in the group immediately shouted, “Okay, let’s meet new friends. Thank you, supervisor, for taking care of us singles!”
Everyone sat down, chatting and laughing. Because there were so many people, they arranged three tables. Xia Shu’an raised his head and met Chang Jun’s eyes at the next table. The two nodded to each other and quickly looked away.
The atmosphere in the laboratory is somewhere between a school and a company. Everyone still has a sense of classmate camaraderie. The relationship with the supervisor is more teacher-student. There is no excessive flattery or pleasantries. A few single young people even turned the dinner party into a blind date scene to amuse the crowd.
During the joyous and boisterous moment, the time gate soon reached nine o’clock, and they had almost finished eating.
“It’s raining.”
Someone suddenly said, and everyone’s eyes were pulled back, looking at the patter of rain outside the window. Although the rain is light, any rain on a winter night should not be underestimated. No one wants to experience the feeling of wet and sticky snow particles being blown by the wind and piercing into the bone marrow.
“It’s okay; it’s okay. There is a convenience store nearby. Let’s just buy an umbrella.”
Everyone tightened their outermost coats and began to walk outside, shivering.
Some of their cars were parked across the road, and it took about three minutes to cross the crosswalk. People who weren’t physically strong enough couldn’t stand these three minutes. Someone had already walked to the convenience store nearby to buy an umbrella. Xia Shu’an was about to go there as well, but as soon as he lifted his head, he saw a man holding an umbrella walking slowly towards him on the roadside next to the store.
The night rain is hazy, and the tilted white light of the streetlights mixed with the sandy raindrops has a unique and heavy atmosphere. The man has a tall figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His oppressive body is covered by a smoky gray coat, a black suit, and a snow-white shirt buttoned to the top button, giving his original rugged appearance a few points of asceticism.
He was holding a black umbrella, and it was constantly being beaten by raindrops, making a crackling sound, just like the sounds of the outside world that Xia Shu’an listened to after closing his eyes at night.
On such a night and with such rain, Xia Shu’an couldn’t help but feel dazed for a moment. In the blink of an eye, the man had walked up to him and was looking down at him. “It’s over?”
“Ah? En.” Xia Shu’an was startled for a moment, avoided his gaze, and nodded.
“Let’s go then.”
“Don’t you have to say goodbye to your colleagues before leaving?”
“No, let’s go.” Senior Chang Jun is still there. If he got angry again, he might not have the heart and energy to “bargain” with him.
“Xiao Xia, you…Shen…are you here to pick up Xiao Xia?” The senior looked at them with a smile on her face and said, “Then, Xiao Xia, you should go back with Mr. Shen first.”
“Ok.”
Then she turned around and said to another person at the door, “Chang Jun, you don’t have a car; do you want to come with me?”
Xia Shu’an, who was about to take steps forward: “…”
Chang Jun, who was saying goodbye to his colleagues at the door, heard her call and walked a few steps over. When he saw Xia Shu’an and the person next to him, he stopped.
“Uh, okay.” He said to the senior sister.
“Then I’ll send you back first, and then go to my place.”
He and the senior sister were heading in the same direction, so they could take a ride together.
After he finished speaking, his gaze was again not too close and not too far away, full of politeness as he looked towards Xia Shu’an and Shen Boyan and said, “Hello, Mr. Shen.”
Shen Boyan had a natural and friendly smile on his face and replied, “Hello, senior.”
“I heard from Xiao Shu that you are in another group now. If there’s anything you are not used to, just tell me and Xiao Shu. I know some people at least.”
“No, I’m fine now. Thank you, Mr. Shen…”
The senior sister had her hands in her pockets and breathed hot air from her mouth. When she inadvertently saw Xia Shu’an’s expression, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “Xiao Xia, what’s wrong with you? Your expression is so strange!”
Xia Shu’an shook his head mechanically and said, “It’s nothing.”
I’m just looking at a modern-day demon.
After the greetings, the few people separated. Xia Shu’an and Shen Boyan walked towards their car. As soon as he entered the car, Shen Boyan put away the mature image he used when socializing, turned to hug Xia Shu’an’s waist, and said in a clingy way, “It’s so nice to finally meet you; I’ve missed you so much this whole day.”
With the small space inside the car, Xia Shu’an couldn’t kick him one meter away, so he could only fend him off with his hands and feet while panting and roaring, “Get out! Don’t touch me!”
Shen Boyan smiled and held his calf. “Xiao Shu is so spicy.”
“Get out of here!”
Shen Boyan smiled foolishly for a while before calming down and starting to drive home.
There was still anger in Xia Shu’an’s eyes. He felt that Shen Boyan now had a different disease than before. He seemed to enjoy irritating him and never tired of things that made him angry. Moreover, he especially liked to be yelled at; he would be even happier if he started throwing hands. He has become a shaking M.
He didn’t have this kind of problem “in the past.”
Shen Boyan looked askance at him from the car’s interior mirror. Seeing how his face turned green, red, and angry, he found it very cute.
Everyone only knows his gentle and cold side. Probably no one would have thought that he could be so cold and fierce, let alone that he would take action when he couldn’t outspeak him, right?
Shen Boyan feels happy when he thinks that no one except himself, not even his parents, knows that he has this side.
However, if you annoy him, you still need to have a good attitude: “Are you still angry about what I did to Chang Jun? How about I bring a gift to apologize?”
“No, no, just don’t get close to him anymore.” Xia Shu’an refused.
“Okay, okay.” Shen Boyan turned around and smiled at him, and he said very meekly, “You have the final say.”
Xia Shu’an: “…”
Is he really sick?
…….
After arriving home, Xia Shu’an took the lead in entering the bathroom. Although he didn’t get caught in the rain, there was always a cold and sticky smell on his body in the winter. After taking off his clothes, warm water naturally sprayed down from the shower above.
Xia Shu’an took a breath and went barefoot to the shower next to him. Suddenly, he heard something and turned his head sharply. He saw a man standing at the door of the bathroom, slowly pushing the door in.
Alarm bells rang in Xia Shu’an’s heart. He took half a step back and realized that there was nothing at hand that could be used to cover up anything.
“What do you want to do?”
Shen Boyan stared at his face and slowly revealed a smile. “Baby, we haven’t done it for a long time.”
Since the incident with Chang Jun, it had been almost half a month since they had done it, and the time they slept separately accounted for a large part of it.
Xia Shu’an’s eyes were wary: “Then you can’t break in when others are taking a shower. This is an invasion of privacy!”
“I can apologize.” That said, he showed no sign of wanting to withdraw. He was now plastered in a thin, close-fitting cotton vest, revealing his bulging muscles, and with his 1.9-meter body, he looked intimidating.
He gazed “gently,” “thoughtfully,” and “affectionately” at Xia Shu’an. “Don’t you want it?”
“I don’t want to!” Xia Shu’an said it flatly.
Shen Boyan shook his finger on his lips and said softly, “That’s not how you reacted at night.”
“Don’t worry.” He smiled and said, “I will definitely make you feel at home.”
…….
…….
When Xia Shu’an woke up the next day and opened his eyes in the middle of the big bed, he felt that he had been blinded by sugar-coated bullets! Corrupted inside by capitalism!
It was his fault; he didn’t resist the temptation!!!
“…”
Taking a deep breath, Xia Shu’an got up and went to work.
Shen Boyan was having breakfast in the dining room, and when he saw him, he smiled like a cat that had stolen fish.
“…”
Mr. Xia sat opposite him, ate his breakfast expressionlessly, ignoring Shen Boyan the whole time, and then drove to school.
Yesterday everyone had a meal that gave them a boost of energy, so they were in high spirits early in the morning.
The atmosphere in the office was quiet and peaceful until—
“Xia Shu’an, there’s a courier down there.” A colleague from the laboratory next door said.
Xia Shu’an happened to be talking to his senior, and the smile suddenly stiffened on his face.
No way?
No way? No way?
However, it was this “no way” that made Xia Shu’an feel furious when faced with the large bouquet of flowers in the hand of the delivery man. He flew back to his office, stuffed the flowers inside, and then quickly picked up the phone: “Shen Boyan, are you done yet?”
On the other hand, when Shen Boyan answered the phone, he happened to be confirming the itinerary with Assistant Qi tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Xia Shu’an was so angry that he didn’t control the volume, and the voice was so loud that even Assistant Qi standing across the table heard it.
Thinking of the mournful life in the company a few days ago, Assistant Qi couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Yet their boss’s face showed no sign of anger, and he even smiled. That smile was genuine, with a hint of doting, and was in no way fake.
“…”
Forget it; he doesn’t understand.
After nodding, Assistant Qi temporarily left the office. Shen Boyan looked at the closed office door and said with a smile, “What did I do again?”
“What did you do?” On the other end of the phone, the young man’s voice contained murderous intent: “Shen Boyan, please stop giving me flowers. Don’t send me any more flowers!”
“Send flowers?” Shen Boyan frowned and looked solemn. “I haven’t sent you flowers today.”
“What?” Xia Shu’an was startled: “You didn’t send flowers, then who—” A name slipped through his mind, and in the next instant his eyes fluttered and he licked his lips, his tone slightly weak: “Maybe it was a mistake; maybe it was given to someone else. That’s okay. I’m hanging up.”
Xia Shu’an quickly hung up the phone, and there was only a beeping sound on the line. Shen Boyan narrowed his eyes.
Mistaken?
Oh. Do you think I believe that?
After Xia Shu’an hung up the phone, he was in a daze for two seconds. Then he bent down and took out a few cards from the drawer. The cards still exuded a light and natural fragrance. The words above are handwritten, but they obviously don’t belong to Shen Boyan’s.
Because many flower shops have the service of writing messages on behalf of others, and Shen Boyan didn’t look like someone who would order flowers in person, he thought it was written by the clerk of the flower shop. If it’s not, then this word seems to have some overlap in his memory with people he knows.
The corners of Xia Shu’an’s lips unconsciously curled into a bright arc.
…….
The white light left a pale gray afterglow on the horizon. The side facing away from the teaching building was gloomy, with only one lamp shining eternally with enthusiasm in the grid-sized building.
The wind at night was even colder than during the day. Several people gathered their coats and waved goodbye to Xia Shu’an.
Xia Shu’an was wearing a yellow down jacket. Due to the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor, he didn’t wear much underneath, so the down jacket was extra thick. It wrapped him like a ball and was rather strangely cute.
He stepped out of the door of the laboratory building, lifted his eyes, and saw a tall and handsome young man standing under the tree opposite. He has regular facial features, fair skin, and his lips and the corners of his eyes seem to naturally contain a smile, making people feel good about him at first glance.
With curved eyebrows and infinite tenderness in his pupils, he watched Xia Shu’an walk towards him step by step.
Suddenly, he opened his arms and hugged Xia Shu’an tightly but gently.
“Baby, I’m back.”
