AMBTICPIB Chapter 14

 

During breakfast, Chu Yi saw Shen Jin.

He had returned so late last night, yet he was up so early this morning.

After greeting Shen Jin, Chu Yi watched him sit down to eat. But today, Chu Yi couldn’t bring himself to meet Shen Jin’s gaze, as if he had done something wrong.

Shen Jin, as usual, remained aloof.

The only sound at the table was the quiet clinking of cutlery.

Butler Wen, unaware of the reason, found it strange. He sensed an awkwardness between the two. Just a few days ago, their relationship had seemed quite amicable. Why was Chu Yi suddenly afraid of Shen Jin again today, unable to even meet his eyes?

He didn’t realize Chu Yi’s averted gaze wasn’t due to fear, but embarrassment.

Chu Yi lowered his head, sipping his preserved egg and lean meat porridge. He couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Shen Jin.

Shen Jin looked at him, his lips twitching.

This time, Chu Yi saw it clearly. Shen Jin’s expression was identical to yesterday’s. He hadn’t been mistaken—Shen Jin was smiling.

Chu Yi’s ears flushed visibly, his eyes darting around in panic. He lowered his head to drink his porridge, too embarrassed to even reach for the other breakfast items.

Shen Jin’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Uncle Wen had made pan-fried buns for breakfast today. Each bun was plump and round, with a crispy exterior and a tender interior.

The pan-fried buns smelled absolutely divine. Chu Yi had already eaten one, and the lingering fragrance still lingered on his lips. He swallowed discreetly, but the plate of pan-fried buns was right in front of Shen Jin, the closest to him. If he reached for one, he’d have to wave his chopsticks right in front of Shen Jin. Chu Yi now wished he could make himself invisible.

He held back, taking two sips of porridge. The fish porridge was delicious too, but the pan-fried buns were beckoning him.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chu Yi saw Shen Jin pick up a pan-fried bun. He thought, “He’s eating now. He probably won’t be paying attention to me anymore.”

Though Chu Yi was embarrassed, the temptation of the pan-fried buns was too strong.

He steadied his nerves, picked up his chopsticks, and pretended to be calm as he reached for the pan-fried bun in front of Shen Jin. He quickly snatched it back.

Shen Jin suddenly asked, “Is it still hot?”

His chopsticks trembled, and a juicy pan-fried dumpling slipped from them, landing with a splash in his bowl.

Butler Wen didn’t understand why Shen Jin had suddenly asked such a question. Just as he was about to speak, Chu Yi answered.

Chu Yi: “No, it’s not hot anymore.”

Shen Jin nodded. “Good.”

Butler Wen glanced at Shen Jin, then at Chu Yi. Had something happened between them that he didn’t know about?

Shen Jin ate quickly and left the table, allowing Chu Yi to finally eat properly.

Otherwise, with Shen Jin there, he wouldn’t have been able to eat another bite.

Chu Yi picked up another pan-fried dumpling. They were truly delicious. Just as he took a bite, Shen Jin returned.

Chu Yi’s cheeks puffed out as he stared at Shen Jin, blinking blankly from afar like a hamster.

Shen Jin’s lips twitched slightly, and he said calmly, “I’ll take you to school later.”

With that, he left. Butler Wen beamed with satisfaction. It seemed he had been overthinking things. Their relationship was still quite good. Shen Jin had even offered to drive Chu Yi to school himself. He knew it all along—Shen Jin was bound to like Chu Yi.

Chu Yi’s expression was far from as relaxed as Butler Wen’s. He couldn’t understand why Shen Jin had suddenly offered to drive him to school. Could it be because of what happened yesterday?

Had he angered Shen Jin last night? Chu Yi thought back to the moment he had been so terrified by Shen Jin that his eyes had reddened.

‘If only I hadn’t gone for a run in the courtyard yesterday,’ Chu Yi mused. ‘I wouldn’t have run into Shen Jin, and I wouldn’t have made him angry. Is he going to scold me in the car?’

Chu Yi climbed into the car dejectedly and sat beside Shen Jin, waiting obediently for the reprimand.

Shen Jin put down his tablet and saw Chu Yi’s meek posture. His eyes blinked at Shen Jin, his mouth pressed into a thin line, as if tears were about to spill.

There was truly no one else like Chu Yi around Shen Jin.

Everyone else feared Shen Jin, desperately trying to avoid him, afraid of him, intimidated by him, hating him, loathing him.

Chu Yi, though also afraid of Shen Jin, kept approaching him. The slightest hint of a harsh look from Shen Jin and Chu Yi’s eyes would immediately redden with tears.

It was as if he were saying, ‘I’m afraid of you, please don’t be mean to me. If you’re mean to me, I’ll cry.’ But after crying, Chu Yi would seem to forget everything, continuing to approach Shen Jin as before.

Like a timid rabbit, Chu Yi pricked up his ears to cautiously peek at the world outside. At the slightest rustle of wind or movement in the grass, he would dart back into his burrow. But when all was still, he would venture out again to take another look.

Shen Jin’s gaze at Chu Yi held a hint of amusement. “There’s a banquet next week. Will you attend with me?”

Chu Yi had braced himself for a scolding, his heart clenched tight. He suddenly looked up at Shen Jin. Had he heard correctly?

Chu Yi stared at Shen Jin, who seemed to be waiting for his answer. He quickly replied, “Yes, of course.”

He waited for a long moment, but Shen Jin said nothing more. After several minutes, Chu Yi couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. “Mr. Shen, was that all you wanted to tell me? Is there nothing else?”

Shen Jin: “What else would there be?”

Chu Yi: “I thought you were going to scold me.”

Shen Jin’s smile this time was unmistakable. Chen Ye glanced hastily in the rearview mirror and confirmed it: Mr. Shen was indeed smiling.

Even after getting out of the car, Chu Yi still couldn’t believe it. Shen Jin hadn’t scolded him or lectured him at all.

Once he was seated in the classroom, Chu Yi confirmed that Shen Jin had only wanted to discuss the upcoming banquet next week, causing him to worry for half the day.

He suddenly remembered Shen Jin’s smile in the car. When Shen Jin smiled, he truly looked like a celestial being descending to earth.

At the same time, Chu Yi realized that Shen Jin wasn’t as terrifying as people said. Though he seemed fierce, Shen Jin had never actually scolded him. In fact, he had even helped him.

The day’s classes were packed. After a full day of lessons, Chu Yi felt quite tired.

As class ended, Jiang Xu approached him with a mysterious air. “Are you free tomorrow?”

Chu Yi shook his head. “I’m free.”

Jiang Xu grinned. “I knew you’d be free. I’m taking you out tomorrow.”

Chu Yi asked, “Where are we going?”

Jiang Xu replied, “I met someone online.”

Chu Yi immediately guessed, “You’re in an online relationship?”

The usually boisterous Jiang Xu actually blushed.

Jiang Xu had met a girl online. She was sweet and adorable, exactly his type, and she even went to the school next door.

So they often played games online together, and Jiang Xu even gifted his online friend game skins. They chatted every day.

Chu Yi thought for a moment. “How did you know she was a girl?”

Jiang Xu replied confidently, “Of course, I knew.”

According to Jiang Xu, they had been chatting for a long time. Since tomorrow was the weekend, he had asked her to meet in person, and she had agreed.

But since it was their first meeting, they decided to bring their friends along.

Chu Yi: “Is that even allowed?”

Whether it was allowed or not, Chu Yi didn’t know, but Jiang Xu thought it was fine and insisted that Chu Yi be on time tomorrow.

Once Chu Yi made a promise, he always kept it.

On Saturday morning, he arrived at the café right on time. Jiang Xu had arrived several minutes earlier.

They were early, and Jiang Xu explained that it was only natural for girls to be late. It was clear he was excited about meeting his online friend; he had even dressed up for the occasion.

Jiang Xu was already handsome, but with a little grooming, he became even more so—the perfect campus heartthrob. Passersby couldn’t help but steal glances at him.

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Xu and Chu Yi stared at Jiang Xu’s online crush, speechless.

Cute girl? Pretty girl?

But the person standing before them was clearly a boy.

Jiang Xu was clearly devastated. “You’re a boy?”

The boy glanced at him. “Did I ever say I was a boy or a girl?”

Jiang Xu’s eyes glazed over. He hadn’t, but who would use such a cute profile picture if they were a guy? Jiang Xu’s worldview crumbled. It was bad enough that his online dating partner was a boy, but this boy was also taller than him. Though handsome, he was still a boy.

Making an excuse about having something to do, Jiang Xu pulled Chu Yi away.

As they sipped their milk tea, Jiang Xu was still reeling. “I often played games with him. He always used mage characters. And he turned out to be a boy.”

And a boy taller than him at that. It was simply too surreal.

Jiang Xu lamented, “I’ll never trust online dating again.” Thinking back to their previous chats, where he’d called the other person things like “darling” and “sweetheart,” Jiang Xu now felt utterly mortified.

His first online romance had been nipped in the bud.

As a seasoned veteran, Jiang Xu offered Chu Yi some advice. “If you ever try online dating, make sure to ask whether the person is a boy or a girl. Don’t make the same mistake I did and get their gender completely wrong.”

Chu Yi smiled.

Chu Yi felt incredibly fortunate. Ever since he’d come to the Shen Family, Butler Wen had treated him kindly, and Shen Jin wasn’t at all like the rumors made him out to be.

After a moment’s thought, Chu Yi decided to avoid unnecessary trouble. He told Jiang Xu, “I already have a boyfriend.”

He wasn’t telling the whole truth.

“Holy shit, really? Chu Yi, you sly dog!”

Jiang Xu was stunned once again. He’d always thought Chu Yi seemed a bit introverted, never imagining he’d already have a boyfriend.

Milk tea spilled over the edge of the cup, splashing onto Chu Yi’s hand. As he reached for a napkin, his hand accidentally struck the wall beside him.

A sharp pain shot through his hand, and tears welled up in Chu Yi’s eyes instantly.

Jiang Xu, startled, asked, “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Why are you crying?”

Chu Yi shook his head. “It’s nothing. I just bumped my hand.”

Jiang Xu understood. “Does it hurt?”

Chu Yi nodded.

Jiang Xu looked at him. “I’ve noticed you seem to cry pretty easily.” Having known Chu Yi for so long, he’d indeed observed that his eyes often reddened quickly.

Chu Yi froze. Li Wenxing had always said he hated Chu Yi’s crying the most. He wondered if Jiang Xu felt the same way. Perhaps many people found crying annoying. Wasn’t that how Shen Jin felt, too?

Jiang Xu chuckled. “You’re actually quite cute when you cry.”

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