The room was silent for a moment, then Ji Shan, seething with anger, walked over and slapped Ji Xu on the arm.
Cheng Yue was startled and immediately pushed Ji Xu behind him to block him.
Ji Shan felt a bit guilty seeing Cheng Yue startled. He then handed over the cup he was carefully holding. “Don’t be afraid, Grandpa brought you this drink. Have some.”
As Cheng Yue took the cup and was about to drink, he saw Ji Shan raising his hand again to hit Ji Xu. His hand holding the cup trembled, and he accidentally dropped it, shattering it on the floor.
Ji Xu reacted quickly, stepping back while holding Cheng Yue, and asked, “Are you okay?”
Cheng Yue shook his head and looked at Ji Shan, whose anger had not yet subsided.
Worried that Ji Shan might hit Ji Xu again, Cheng Yue thought for a moment and then went over to grab Ji Shan’s hand, pulling him towards the living room.
“What’s going on?” Ji Shan turned his head to look at Cheng Yue and then glanced back at Ji Xu, who was trying to follow. He glared at Ji Xu, making him step back.
Once Ji Shan was seated on the sofa, he and Cheng Yue exchanged glances for a long time.
Cheng Yue looked troubled and nervous. He felt that it was his fault since he liked Ji Xu.
He knew why Ji Shan was angry with Ji Xu; it was because their position had been too suggestive.
But Ji Xu had not done anything wrong. The position had been initiated by Cheng Yue himself, and Ji Xu was completely uninvolved.
Seeing Ji Xu still not coming out of the room, Cheng Yue suddenly made a decision.
He thought he could take responsibility for this matter or at least prepare himself for confessing to Ji Xu.
“Let’s take it easy, don’t be nervous.” Seeing Cheng Yue breathing heavily, Ji Shan felt nervous himself and quickly patted his back.
Cheng Yue glanced at Ji Shan and picked up Ji Xu’s phone from the coffee table. After pressing a few buttons, he handed it to Ji Shan.
[Grandpa, I’m sorry]
Ji Shan’s heart softened, and he patted Cheng Yue’s arm. “You don’t need to apologize to me! This isn’t your fault.”
Cheng Yue frowned, took back the phone, and typed another message. [It’s not Ji Xu’s fault. I liked him first, and he doesn’t know. Don’t tell him.]
“You like…” Ji Shan read the message, his expression changing several times before he managed to suppress his emotions. Seeing Cheng Yue looking worried, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh and only offered some consolation.
“It’s okay. If you like him, that’s your fortune.”
Cheng Yue widened his eyes, surprised that Ji Shan would say such things.
“But, Grandpa needs to tell you…” Ji Shan steeled himself. “Ji Xu, he…”
“Dad.” Ji Xu suddenly came out, interrupting his father.
Cheng Yue saw Ji Xu coming over and immediately went to him, taking his hand.
“Ji Xu, come over here.” Ji Shan didn’t even look at Ji Xu as he headed straight into the study.
Ji Xu sighed helplessly and was about to follow when Cheng Yue pulled him back.
“It’s okay.” Ji Xu squeezed Cheng Yue’s hand and followed his father into the study, despite Ji Shan’s increasingly dark expression.
Once the study door was closed, Ji Shan picked up a stick he had somehow gotten and struck Ji Xu on the back.
Ji Xu frowned and grunted from the pain. Once the pain subsided, he realized his father had used a paperweight.
No wonder it hurt so much. It’s solid wood, and it’s heavy.
“I’ve hardly interfered with you growing up. You’ve always been smart and sensible!” Ji Shan said while hitting him again with the paperweight. “I won’t mention all the troubles you caused because your mother died. That year, I finally saw what kind of person you really are.”
Ji Xu’s expression darkened at his father’s words.
“You say you like men, and I haven’t said anything about it, right?” Ji Shan pointed at him. “But why does Cheng Yue like you? Don’t tell me that liking men is contagious!”
Ji Xu looked at his father’s heaving chest and patted his back. “Dad, calm down.”
“Today, I’m letting it slide for Cheng Yue’s sake. We’ll discuss this later. I don’t want to lose face in front of the child,” Ji Shan said, glaring at him.
“In today’s society, even though 17 is not too young, there are all sorts of things one could do at that age. But remember, what should be said and what shouldn’t, what should be done and what shouldn’t, you need to figure that out yourself. If Cheng Yue has any more problems, hand him over to me directly, and you won’t get to see him again.”
Ji Xu nodded solemnly and, after reassuring his father, was allowed to leave.
As soon as Ji Xu came out of the study, Cheng Yue stood up from the sofa, looking at him with concern.
“I’m fine,” Ji Xu said with a natural smile. “Your grandpa says I should take good care of you.”
After Ji Shan came out of the room, the three of them sat in silence on the sofa, watching the birds on the balcony.
Ji Shan and Ji Xu were clearly out of sorts, but Cheng Yue seemed quite content.
He liked this peaceful state, with everything quiet around him, and Ji Xu lying next to him, watching the birds together.
It didn’t matter if they were watching birds or just standing together; Cheng Yue felt happy as long as he was with Ji Xu.
When the phone in the room rang, Ji Shan finally found an excuse and raised his hand to slap Ji Xu’s arm.
Ji Xu sighed, answered the phone—it was Tang Jing asking him to collect some documents and to review them quickly.
“Alright, get going,” Ji Shan said with a look of disdain after hearing the phone conversation, waving Ji Xu off.
Cheng Yue also stood up from the sofa but was held back by Ji Shan.
“Do you want to stay with Grandpa for a few days?” Ji Shan’s smile was very warm. “Grandpa’s place is fun, and you’ll have everything you want to eat.”
Cheng Yue shook his head with a smile.
“We’ll head out now,” Ji Xu also said with a smile.
“Quickly go,” Ji Shan’s expression turned impatient.
Ji Xu sighed, thinking about how to resolve the situation, and took Cheng Yue downstairs to catch a cab home.
When the taxi stopped outside the apartment, Ji Xu paid and got out. He noticed Cheng Yue standing still, looking in one direction.
Following Cheng Yue’s gaze, he saw a guy standing outside the apartment who had plans on Cheng Yue.
His name was Bai Zhen.
Cheng Yue glanced at Ji Xu.
“Say it quickly. I’ll wait for you up ahead,” Ji Xu said, squeezing Cheng Yue’s neck gently. He squinted at Bai Zhen and walked ahead.
After Ji Xu left, Bai Zhen hurriedly approached Cheng Yue, his expression tense and complicated.
The two stood facing each other for a while before Bai Zhen cleared his throat.
“Why… why didn’t you answer my calls?” Bai Zhen smiled.
Cheng Yue also smiled and took out his phone from his pocket, handing it to him.
“Hmm?” Bai Zhen took Cheng Yue’s phone, looking a bit confused.
Cheng Yue tapped his own phone, but the screen didn’t light up.
His phone hadn’t been charged since the night he took Ji Xu to the hospital.
“Is it broken? Is it turned off?” Bai Zhen guessed, noticing Cheng Yue’s vaguely odd behavior starting to surface. “Why… why aren’t you speaking?”
Cheng Yue smiled and tried to say something, but no sound came out.
Bai Zhen looked incredulous. “What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you speak?”
Cheng Yue tried to shape his mouth to form words.
“A cold?” Bai Zhen, clearly unconvinced, suddenly grabbed Cheng Yue’s hand. “My dad knows many famous doctors. I’ll take you to see them; you’ll definitely get better.”
Cheng Yue smiled and shook his head, mouthing that he was fine.
“Actually… actually, I came today to tell you…” Bai Zhen said hesitantly, his palms sweating.
Cheng Yue blinked, looking at him with some confusion.
“Actually…” Bai Zhen, with his neck stiffened, struggled to say it, feeling frustrated. “Did you eat the chocolate?”
Cheng Yue was startled, then nodded, mouthing that it was good.
“As long as it’s good. Actually, I didn’t buy that chocolate that day; I made it a long time ago. It was homemade, a bit ugly, with a lot of letters…” Bai Zhen looked at him with some light in his eyes. “The letters are…”
Cheng Yue suddenly realized something and pushed him with one hand.
Seeing this, Bai Zhen’s smile became a bit stiff, and his grip on Cheng Yue’s arm tightened.
Cheng Yue frowned, finding it hard to believe.
He had never suspected that Bai Zhen liked men, let alone liked him.
Cheng Yue had interacted with Bai Zhen enough times to count on his fingers. He thought of Bai Zhen as a friend and hadn’t considered anything romantic.
“Cheng Yue, I… I really like you,” Bai Zhen blurted out.
Cheng Yue frowned, his expression still neutral.
Until Bai Zhen suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the forehead, Cheng Yue immediately stepped back, glaring at him.
Seeing Cheng Yue’s expression, Bai Zhen forced a bitter smile. “I thought you might like me…”
Cheng Yue removed Bai Zhen’s hand from his arm and was about to speak when Bai Zhen interrupted.
“If you have any problems with your throat, contact me anytime.” Bai Zhen pinched his face. “Most of the doctors in the hospital are my grandfather’s apprentices. I’ll take you to see him.”
Cheng Yue hesitated for a moment but, seeing his face, nodded in the end.
“Alright, then… I’ll leave first.” Bai Zhen stepped back and walked away slowly.
Once Bai Zhen left, Cheng Yue sighed deeply, touched his forehead, and turned to walk over to Ji Xu, who was waiting not far away.
Ji Xu squinted at Bai Zhen’s receding figure, his mind uncontrollably drifting to some unpleasant thoughts. His expression only began to ease when Cheng Yue slowly walked over.
Cheng Yue reached out to hold Ji Xu’s hand, intending to go home for a meal, but found he couldn’t move him.
Cheng Yue, puzzled, looked at Ji Xu.
Ji Xu squinted and touched Cheng Yue’s face, glancing back at Bai Zhen, who had somehow returned. He said softly, “Why do you have a lip mark on your face?”
Cheng Yue: “?”
Cheng Yue was stunned. Before he could process that Bai Zhen hadn’t kissed him and couldn’t have applied lipstick, Ji Xu suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the face.
Cheng Yue blinked, frozen as he felt the softness on his cheek. He held his breath, too stunned to move.
When Ji Xu pulled away, he sighed, looking at the dazed Cheng Yue. He felt that all the legal training he’d had over the years had been useless.
After studying law for over ten years, he finally understood what went through the minds of people who broke the law knowing it was wrong.
It was a surge of uncontrollable emotion.
It was a sense of daring to take risks.
It was putting everything on the line.
Forget talking about the law; in the future, talking about Cheng Yue was more meaningful to him.
Author’s Note:
Ji Xu: Forget the law, let’s talk about love.
