Qiu Jingming paused for a moment, then let go of Song Yirui’s hand.
A biting cold wind blew in through the still-open front door, sending a shiver down his spine.
He sniffled.
His thoughts gradually filled with the sound of his own crying from childhood memories.
Because of Song Yirui’s words, he was reminded of himself when he first arrived at the Jiang family, suffering from severe social withdrawal.
…
Ten years ago, on his first day at the Jiang house.
Not long after learning of his father’s death, he was brought to the Jiang family. Though nervous at first, that was also the day he met Jiang Yuan.
The half-grown boy wasn’t much taller than him, wearing a casual T-shirt and reading a book in the sunlight while leaning against Fang Shi.
That was his first time seeing Jiang Yuan, and from that day on, he deeply envied him.
Fang Shi saw him and crouched down to hug him gently, introducing him to Jiang Yuan and telling him this would be his home from now on.
Fang Shi took him to an already prepared room. Although it was nicer than his old room at home, he didn’t like it much. He wanted to tell Uncle Jiang that he wanted to go home, so he ran to the study.
He overheard the conversation inside but didn’t push the door open. Instead, he ran back to his room.
He returned to his room and waited. Soon, Jiang Yuan came to his room and spoke to him carefully.
“From now on, I’ll be your big brother. As long as I’m here, no one can bully you. I’ll protect you!”
He ignored him and threw a water glass, hitting the boy. Blood immediately streamed down the boy’s forehead. He didn’t mean to cut him.
Maybe he was too scared. He didn’t know why, but he turned and hid in the closet behind him.
He heard footsteps from downstairs and next door. Within seconds, two people rushed to the doorway.
“What happened to Xiao Yuan?”
The worried voices of a man and woman drifted to his ears.
For a moment, his breathing stopped. Would they drag him out and beat him, then chase him away?
Maybe it would be better if he left…
Inside the closet, he gripped the door tightly, terrified the family would force it open and beat him. But then, a young voice spoke outside, “Mom, Dad, I’m fine. I just lost my balance and hit the table.”
…
He vaguely remembered Jiang Tianze finding him and taking him downstairs. Jiang Yuan, who had just applied medicine, secretly glanced at him, as if he was the one who had gotten a cut forehead…
Memories surged like a tide, the overlooked details suffocating him.
His heart felt panicked and confused.
Qiu Jingming didn’t even change his clothes. He ran out in his slippers.
Song Yirui faintly heard the sound of a door closing, but he didn’t care. He could barely take care of himself. He drank too much today, but the alcohol didn’t improved his mood.
*
Not long after returning home, many classmates reached out to meet up, but Jiang Yuan declined, using busyness as an excuse.
As for running into Qiu Jingming and Song Yirui at home on his first day back, he didn’t think much of it. After all, the two hadn’t shown up in front of him for the past four or five days.
…
The two left the restaurant. Jiang Yuan said, “Let’s head back.”
They had spent the morning visiting the Red Star Interstellar Museum and a few other attractions. After dinner, it was already 8 PM. Their schedule had been packed, but Ji Rong still didn’t want to return to Jiang Yuan’s house — because last night, he had tried to sneak into Jiang Yuan’s room from the guest room and had been caught by Uncle Jiang.
“I don’t want to go back yet. Can we walk around some more?” Ji Rong remembered Uncle’s murderous smile when he caught him last night. He was genuinely worried he might get killed if he returned now.
Hearing Ji Rong’s words, Jiang Yuan considered how Ji Rong had chosen to spend New Year’s with him instead of going home, alone on an unfamiliar planet. He felt he should show Ji Rong around more.
“Where else would you like to go? We can go together.”
“Nowhere specific… just walk with me.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong strolled down the street, casually wandering around.
While Ji Rong went to the restroom, Jiang Yuan waited outside, scrolling through his communicator. He noticed a group of boys nearby whispering and glancing in his direction. When he made eye contact with one of them, the boy seemed momentarily stunned.
The next second, they walked straight toward him.
A tall, thin guy called out loudly, “Jiang Yuan, it really is you! I thought I was seeing things!”
Jiang Yuan froze, instinctively looking at them again.
He realized they were his high school classmates, and the one speaking was a guy named Shen Yu.
“It’s been so long since we’ve seen you! You know, at the last class reunion, everyone showed up except you,” Shen Yu said with a smile, clearly without any ill intent. He continued, “I’m telling you, they all came because of you.
“We heard you became an Omega. Those shameless dogs won’t even spare a classmate!
“Oh wait… that’s not right. I remember even when you were a Beta, several people in class pursued you, didn’t they?”
“Right, Jiang Yuan?”
Shen Yu added after finishing.
“I don’t really remember,” Jiang Yuan said indifferently.
“Ha! Lao Qiao and Lao Yu would be heartbroken if they heard you say that!” Shen Yu said with a grin. But his smile didn’t last long. He noticed a man standing behind Jiang Yuan, staring at him eerily. Maybe it was the cold, but he couldn’t help shivering.
“Your classmate?”
Jiang Yuan turned around, finally noticing Ji Rong had returned. His eyes weren’t on the classmates but fixed on him, clearly waiting for an answer.
“Yeah, from high school,” Jiang Yuan said softly.
Ji Rong turned his head, finally looking at Shen Yu and the others. “Hello, I’m Ji Rong, Jiang Yuan’s boyfriend.”
“H-hello.” Seeing the man smile at him, Shen Yu convinced himself his earlier shiver was just from the cold. “I know who you are.”
Ji Rong hummed in acknowledgment, and they chatted casually for a bit.
As they were about to part ways, Ji Rong suddenly turned to Shen Yu. “Classmate, could you do me a favor?”
Shen Yu froze, instinctively glancing at Jiang Yuan before answering Ji Rong, “Go ahead.”
“Send a message to your classmates letting them know that Jiang-Yuan-has-a-boyfriend-now.”
Shen Yu was stunned for a few seconds, silently thinking this Alpha was quite possessive. “Okay…”
Ji Rong: “Send it now.”
Shen Yu couldn’t believe his ears. “What? Now?”
Ji Rong: “Yeah, you might forget later. Things that can be done immediately shouldn’t be delayed. That’s how you build good habits.”
Shen Yu: “…”
What thick skin you have!
After Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong left, Shen Yu scratched his head, not sure why he’d actually sent everyone a message saying ‘Jiang Yuan has a boyfriend’ under the other’s watchful gaze.
As Shen Yu pondered this, his communicator beeped several times in succession.
— “Lao Shen, did you go crazy from shock?”
— “What do you mean???”
…
— “Lost your mind?”
Damn, being watched by Ji Rong made him so nervous he forgot to select groups and sent it to everyone in his contacts!
He might as well die now!
As Shen Yu was regretting his life choices, a friend beside him said, “Ji Rong’s quite interesting, isn’t he? Why didn’t he just use Jiang Yuan’s communicator?”
Shen Yu: “…” Right!
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
Shen Yu: “Why didn’t you say that earlier?”
“…”
Shen Yu thought for a moment. He decided he couldn’t let Ji Rong off easy. He immediately took out his communicator and sent a message to Jiang Yuan, who had already left.
Shen Yu: [If he wanted to send a message, why didn’t he just use yours?]
Shen Yu: [Why use mine?]
After a while, the other person replied.
Jiang Yuan: […]
Shen Yu: [???]
Jiang Yuan: [Because stupid]
Shen Yu: [???]
Shen Yu didn’t understand at first. He knew each character separately, but put together, why couldn’t he grasp the meaning?
After a good while, Shen Yu finally got it –
‘Sending this message was stupid, so he didn’t use Jiang Yuan’s communicator, he used mine.’
Damn, wasn’t I just as stupid for sending it?
Sending some neurotic message to the whole class announcing Jiang Yuan has a boyfriend, and not just to the class group but as private messages to everyone!
Shen Yu was so frustrated he almost cried.
Hah.
So you don’t care whether I’m stupid or not, do you?
…
“What’s wrong? You don’t seem happy.” Jiang Yuan put away his communicator after seeing Shen Yu’s ‘???’, unconsciously glancing at Ji Rong.
That’s when he noticed Ji Rong pursing his lips, his brow slightly furrowed as he stared at him.
Ji Rong: “Hmm…”
The next moment, Ji Rong suddenly pressed close to him. Jiang Yuan instantly knew what he was planning.
“There are so many people…” Jiang Yuan lowered his voice.
But Ji Rong didn’t care. The next second, his lips pressed against Jiang Yuan’s, gently biting his lips, his tongue brushing against Jiang Yuan’s lower lip before quickly pulling away.
“Why are you angry?”
Ignoring the wet, warm sensation on his lips, Jiang Yuan asked, “Because my classmates said people liked me?”
Ji Rong shook his head. “No.”
“Then why?”
Ji Rong was silent for two seconds before saying, “I wish I could have met you earlier, in high school. Then I could have liked you sooner.”
Jiang Yuan’s index finger lightly tapped Ji Rong’s brow. “No, this is perfect. I… um… wouldn’t want to have met you earlier.”
“Why?” Ji Rong blurted out almost instinctively.
Jiang Yuan doesn’t want to have met me earlier!
Not happy!
Seeing Ji Rong looking slightly angry and hurt, Jiang Yuan smiled faintly but didn’t answer his question.
Because… if they had met too early, that Jiang Yuan wouldn’t have been him.
Noticing Ji Rong’s slight disappointment, Jiang Yuan thought for a moment and came up with an excuse to comfort his boyfriend. “Because back then, I was too busy with training and studying. After all, you’re too handsome. I wouldn’t have had enough energy to focus, and I definitely wouldn’t have gotten into military school.”
Ji Rong froze, asking, “Why wouldn’t you have had enough energy?”
“Because I wouldn’t have been able to stop thinking about making love with you~” Jiang Yuan whispered close to his ear, his breath tickling past the earring.
—–
Author’s Note:
Shen Yu: Damn these two! Go die!
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Thanks for the chapter!
Jiang Yuan knows how to appease his shameless obsessive Ji Rong! 😂