TL: Hua
“I’m back. I’m finally back. It’s good to be on vacation, but I feel more at ease at home.”
Father Xia and Mother Xia walked in first, followed by the two drivers and Shen Boyan, who carried large and small bags of luggage into the house.
“Just leave it here.”
“It must be hard for Xiao Shen to start working again tomorrow, right after he took us on vacation.”
Shen Boyan smiled slightly and replied appropriately: “It’s fine. I rarely take a vacation.”
They flew back from the island in the middle of the night, and it was already five o’clock in the afternoon when they got home. The two stayed with their parents for a while before getting in the car to go home.
The journey was quite arduous. Looking at the familiar night view of the city outside the window, neither of them spoke. The car was quiet, and the atmosphere continued to settle.
The two aunts won’t be back until tomorrow, so they went ahead and took a shower after casually dropping off their luggage.
Xia Shu’an had eaten on the plane, so he wasn’t hungry yet. When he came out of the bathroom, he couldn’t find anyone, so he went to the study next door and saw that Shen Boyan was indeed there.
This diligent CEO had already started working the day before the holiday ended. The way he looked at work, the way he looked at him in private, and the way he looked in front of his parents could be said to be three different faces. Xia Shu’an looked at him, immersed in work, and couldn’t help but recall that moment yesterday evening.
“Shen Boyan, why do you like me?” The young man looked at him with genuine doubt in his eyes.
In the grand brilliance of the setting sun, the man’s expression paused momentarily and clearly, as if a computer suddenly short-circuited.
Immediately afterwards, he laughed. Whether it was out of intimacy or frivolously, he touched Xia Shu’an’s nose.
“Fool, of course it’s because I like everything about you.”
——Very cringe, very very cringe.
Xia Shu’an, for a moment, seemed to have returned to the time when he had just gotten together with Shen Boyan. A certain someone would hug his waist at every turn, with a look of protection for the little lover in his arms.
He was sure that Shen Boyan must be flustered.
So, what kind of answer would make him choose greasy, cringey words rather than speaking out?
Xia Shu’an pondered for a moment at the door and then used the sound of footsteps to remind the man inside of his presence.
Shen Boyan raised his head from his work: “What’s wrong?”
“…” Xia Shu’an was silent for a moment, then slowly raised his hand and said, “I’m a little tired. I want to drink hot milk, but my hands are sore.”
He “daintily” held up the hand that had probably carried his luggage in and out of the car for less than five minutes.
Shen Boyan, the good son-in-law, who had been busy before and after while also carrying the luggage, stood up.
“I’ll heat it up for you.”
…….
Two minutes later, Xia Shu’an was leaning against the door and observing Shen Boyan in the kitchen.
Shen Boyan heated the milk very skillfully. This was not the first, second, or third time that he had done this.
Xia Shu’an leaned against the door boredly and watched as Shen Boyan turned on and off the fire, cut a hole in the bag of milk, and poured the milky white liquid into the cup.
Finally, he threw the bag into the trash can with great hygiene awareness.
“Here you go.” He rubbed Xia Shu’an’s head lovingly.
Xia Shu’an returned to the room in a daze, holding the cup, and sat down on the sofa.
Shen Boyan could even leave his beloved job to warm milk for him, but he still refused to answer his simple question. Is the answer too difficult to say?
Being so curious, Xia Shu’an couldn’t help but post online after returning to the room: [My lover refuses to answer, “Why do you like me?” What’s the reason?]
It was probably the last happy evening of the holiday; therefore, lots of people were online, and there were quite a few replies soon after.
[That must be because they don’t really like you!]
Xia Shu’an: Well, I don’t have any doubts about that.
[It should be genuine; I can feel it. Although the way he likes me is a bit abnormal, I don’t doubt it for the time being.]
[The original poster’s reply?]
[Perhaps, it has something to do with money?]
Xia Shu’an looked at the man across the wall.
[He is richer than me. He has a lot of money.]
[I don’t get it. Rich and in love with you, so why doesn’t he say so?]
[On a side note, I also want a rich and doting lover TAT]
[Is it because of your appearance?]
[Or maybe it’s because your bodies fit together well.1aka they’re compatible in bed. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]
That might be the case. However, compared to the physical fit, the appearance clearly made more sense. After all, many times Shen Boyan asked him for that, he cruelly refused due to work reasons.
The case is solved; it’s the appearance.
……
……
Things are getting more complicated and confusing! !
……..
“Forget it, let’s just sleep.”
No matter what the answer is—love or like—in the final analysis, it’s just a spice of life. Regardless of whether it’s available or not, whether it goes smoothly or not, life still has to be lived, and work still has to be done.
Xia Shu’an’s vacation is still a week away, but Shen Boyan has already entered normal working conditions.
Instead, a certain someone who had traveled the world returned to Xia Shu’an.
“Xia Xia, let’s hang out!!” A man’s cheerful voice sounded from the earphones.
Xia Shu’an amusedly replied, “Aren’t you going back to school?”
“I’m leaving next week; that’s why I asked you to come out! Come on, baby!”
“Alright alright.”
Xia Shu’an hung up the phone and lifted his gaze to Shen Boyan, who seemed to be passing by casually.
Shen Boyan held a glass of boiled water and said calmly, “Was that Lu Xin? So he hasn’t gone back to school yet.”
“Yeah, he hasn’t left yet.”
“…”
“…”
Xia Shu’an stared at him for a long time and said while hiding his smile, “He asked me to go out tonight; do you want to come?”
“Yes!” The man answered without hesitation.
……
Lu Xin chose a club that he often went to. This club was opened by a rich second generation in the circle, and privacy was guaranteed.
In a room that could accommodate dozens of people, two men sat with their knees touching each other amid the distant and soothing soft music. One carefully lowered his head to control the little figure on the screen, and the other whispered softly as he peeked over his head.
There was also a young man of about the same age lying on the double sofa with dead eyes, looking up at the ceiling above.
Two people sit on the single sofa, while he alone sits on the double sofa. Isn’t the world too unfair?
“Ahhhhhhhh, it’s so boring! Xia Xia, I didn’t call you here to accompany me to be bored!!!”
Xia Shu’an kindly suggested: “How about you play games with me then?”
Lu Xin said quietly, “Is the person beside you willing to give up his position?”
Shen Boyan smiled kindly towards him, indicating that he could try.
“…” Damn it! He was obviously not like this when they first met. What a scheming gay!
“Woahhh, so boring!”
Just when Lu Xin shouted that he was bored, there was a huge noise in the next room, transmitting to them. It seemed that they were having fun.
Lu Xin was someone who couldn’t sit still. He had many friends, so he was going to try his luck. As he was about to go out, the door next to them opened, and a girl in sexy clothes walked out.
As soon as the two people collided, the woman squinted her eyes first: “Lu Xin.”
She said these two simple words in a flurry of ups and downs. Lu Xin’s originally high mood suddenly faltered, and he showed a smile that seemed to be apologetic.
“Lu Xin, it’s good that you are willing to come back from abroad.”
“Hey, I’m overseas, but my heart is in our motherland.”
“Enough with your nonsense!” After scolding, the woman rolled her eyes and smiled maliciously: “Do you know what this room is doing today?”
“What?”
“It’s Qiao Siya’s last night of bachelorette parties before her wedding. How about it? Do you want to come?”
Lu Xin’s expression changed instantly.
“No, no, no, you guys have fun.”
He made a gentlemanly “please go ahead” gesture, quickly returned to the room, and closed the door without hesitation.
Shen Boyan: “Ex-girlfriend?”
Xia Shu’an corrected: “It’s ex-ex-ex-girlfriend!”
This childhood friend of his excelled in everything but is particularly problematic when it comes to male and female relationships.
His problem wasn’t cheating or infidelity, but rather a natural fading of feelings after a few months of serious talk and then looking for the next relationship.
Because he never cheated and he was very considerate to girls during their relationship, girls who broke up with him couldn’t even call him a scumbag. After all, it’s impossible to control such things without reason.
Even Lu Xin himself feels that he’s a scumbag, but he can’t control it. He just easily gets involved in a relationship and loses enthusiasm for it.
Xia Shu’an didn’t know whether to look at Lu Xin with sympathy or not when he came back in despair.
“Aren’t you going to join them?”
Lu Xin shook his head silently and said, “I’m not going.”
Xia Shu’an: “Yeah, behave.”
Shen Boyan: Smile.
The three of them returned to silence. Just as Lu Xin was reciting the rules of being single, he suddenly heard a knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
Outside the door, an unfamiliar lady smiled and looked at him sweetly. “Siya asks you to come over.”
Lu Xin took a sharp breath.
In the room, Xia Shu’an and Shen Boyan looked at each other. Although he didn’t want to get involved in the love debt caused by his bro, Xia Shu’an couldn’t really leave him alone. After two seconds of silence, the two of them followed suit.
In the private room next door, it looked like a carnival night, with mostly girls in the room. Apart from the three of them, the other man present was the waiter, who was opening the beer bottle at the table. The rotating colored lights in the room emitted a dazzling glow, and the people inside were singing karaoke, dancing to the disco, and some were playing cards, dice, and drinking… In short, it was a doomsday carnival.
In the center of the room, there was a woman wearing a fashionable red dress with a queen-like temperament sitting on a wide sofa. She opened her arms and looked arrogantly at the three people walking towards her, especially Lu Xin at the forefront.
“Why didn’t you inform us when you returned to China, young master Lu? We could have arranged a reception banquet for you.”
“No, no need.” Lu Xin said with a smile, “I don’t deserve it.”
“What are you talking about? It’s a blessing for us to have young master Lu here.” The little sisters beside her immediately laughed cheekily.
Lu Xin: lifeless eyes.
Qiao Siya’s expression straightened. The music here was too loud, and she somehow regained her icy face. She stood up and said, “Come with me.”
Lu Xin hesitated for a moment, then followed. Qiao Siya saw his hesitant look and smiled: “What are you afraid of? I won’t ask you to elope with me.”
Lu Xin was startled: “Sister, you can’t say this casually!”
“You wish!”
Qiao Siya glared at him hard, her eyes gradually turning cold. “You unilaterally thought that I looked down on you and was toying with you because of rumors, and then you unilaterally broke up with me. You consider yourself a heartbroken love saint. Ah, well, not for long—less than two months.
For Xia Shu’an, who knew Lu Xin well, it’s a big deal that Lu Xin could be sad for two months, but he felt it’d be better not to add fuel to the fire at this time.
“I have dated so many people, but you are the only one who pisses me off the most. After you broke up with me, you ran away from the country as if you were healing your emotional wounds, so I didn’t even have a chance to find you.”
“What do you say? How can I entertain you properly?”
Lu Xin showed a wry smile: “You’re getting married tomorrow; you’re the most important tonight; you can beat or scold me as you like.”
“Okay, you said it yourself.”
Qiao Siya took a deep breath and raised her hand. Lu Xin closed his eyes, looking like he was at her mercy. Qiao Siya clenched her hand into a fist and punched Lu Xin in the stomach.
“Ouch!” What a beating!
“Go to hell!” Qiao Siya stepped on Lu Xin’s shoes with her sharp high heel and said, “You’re a sentimental, heartless, self-righteous, weak, and incompetent man. Someone will come after you one day!”
“Ahhh!”
Xia Shu’an couldn’t help but shrink back to Shen Boyan. Shen Boyan stretched out his palm and silently covered his eyes.
“Ha, I’m so happy!” Qiao Siya smiled towards the sky and exhaled happily.
Lu Xin bared his teeth and said, “You, you…just be happy.”
There was a kind of fearlessness on Qiao Siya’s face that she was about to enter into marriage, as if marriage itself were a big graveyard, and since she was already going to the grave, why should she be afraid of anything?
“Our past grievances have been written off. I will get married tomorrow. Come and support me if you have time.”
Then she called out to Xia Shu’an: “Xia Shu’an, although Lu Xin is not very likeable, I still like you very much. Give me some face and come to my wedding tomorrow as well. I invite you.”
Xia Shu’an nodded repeatedly: “Definitely!”
“Aha, come on, get up; I want to drink; give me a drink!”
An unknown little sister on the side handed her a cup with a smile, and Qiao Siya drank it all in one gulp.
This was a carnival for the sisters. No one paid attention to the lonely men. Lu Xin stood there for a while and exited the room when he saw that no one was paying attention to him.
“Ha, that’s terrible.”
Shen Boyan touched his chin and said, “That must be the daughter of the Qiao family in the south of the city. In fact, I also received her invitation letter.”
Lu Xin snapped his head back. No way?!
Xia Shu’an looked at him and said, “…then, tomorrow, us?”
Shen Boyan nodded.
Lu Xin wailed: No!
