LCFM Chapter 43

When Jiang Xinghuai saw Jiang Liangyuan among the people getting out of the car, he knew for sure that Jiang Liangyuan was going to have one of those “I’m your father. You’re already so grown up, how can you still be so immature?” talks with him.

Jiang Xinghuai took a deep breath and turned around.

Jiang Liangyuan was standing about a meter away from them, his expression not looking too good either.

Just as Jiang Liangyuan was about to speak, his gaze fell on Jiang Xinghuai’s bloodstained T-shirt, and he paused for a few seconds.

Seeing that Jiang Xinghuai had no intention of speaking first, he could only glare at him and open his mouth himself: “What happened?”

“I—”

“Daddy! I want Daddy!” A young boy’s crying voice rang out.

“Liangyuan…” A woman holding the child walked over with a troubled look on her face. “An’an kept crying for you, I… I just couldn’t…”

Jiang Liangyuan glanced at Jiang Xinghuai, sighed, then turned around and took the still-crying boy into his arms. “I’ll hold him. You go get some rest first. Didn’t you twist your ankle?”

“Alright. You’ve had a long day, too, so rest early,” the woman said. Then she looked at Jiang Xinghuai, gave him a small nod, and turned to leave.

“This is An’an. You’ve never met him before,” Jiang Liangyuan said as he patted the child, trying to soothe him. “Call him big brother.”

“No.” An’an grumbled and buried his face into Jiang Liangyuan’s chest.

Fine, don’t then. Jiang Xinghuai snorted softly, too.

“What are you snorting for?” The little boy turned his head.

“None of your damn business.” Jiang Xinghuai had no intention of dealing with him.

Jiang Liangyuan: “…………”

“Jiang Xinghuai!” Jiang Liangyuan glared at him.

Jiang Xinghuai glared back, but his gaze uncontrollably fell on the little boy in Jiang Liangyuan’s arms. His nose stung, and suddenly his eyes turned red.

Jiang Liangyuan used to hold him like that, too.

He turned his head away and sniffed. “Just say whatever you want to say. I still need to eat my noodles.”

Jiang Liangyuan was about to open his mouth. But when he saw the tear sliding down Jiang Xinghuai’s cheek, he froze. It had been a long time since he’d seen this child cry.

Ever since Jiang Liangyuan’s divorce, Jiang Xinghuai had suddenly changed. In just a few short years, he’d become rebellious, obsessive, always picking fights with anyone who so much as rubbed him the wrong way. Jiang Liangyuan didn’t understand how his son had turned out like this. He had almost forgotten the little Jiang Xinghuai who used to come home from school and snuggle into his arms.

Fu Yan lowered his head and wiped away Jiang Xinghuai’s tears. When he looked up again, his eyes met Jiang Liangyuan’s directly, his tone firm and unyielding: “Mr. Jiang, if you’re willing, we can talk privately.”

Jiang Liangyuan was still stunned.

Fu Yan didn’t wait for his response before continuing, “Xing Xing still has a bit of a fever. I’ll take him to rest first.”

Jiang Liangyuan finally came to his senses, nodded silently, and agreed.

Jiang Xinghuai was in no mood to speak, letting Fu Yan lead him out the door and onto the bus parked outside. When Fu Yan came back with a blanket and climbed aboard, Jiang Xinghuai finally realized and asked in surprise, “We’re sleeping on the bus?”

“There’s no room left in the house. The soldiers on night watch will also be staying in the vehicles,” Fu Yan said as he spread a blanket over the seat, then placed another quilt on top. “Take off your outer clothes.”

“Ah… oh.” Jiang Xinghuai took off his pants and sweatshirt, stripping down completely clean before wrapping himself in the quilt. Only his face was visible—flushed red, soft with youthful innocence.

Fu Yan suddenly bent down, leaned closer, and kissed him on the forehead.

Fu Yan’s lips were soft and cool.

Jiang Xinghuai froze.

Fu Yan chuckled softly, flicking a finger against the tip of Jiang Xinghuai’s nose. Before Jiang Xinghuai could react, Fu Yan turned around and stepped off the bus with Jiang Xinghua’s dirty clothes.

Jiang Xinghuai sat there dazed for quite a while, his face burning bright red. He muttered a curse and buried himself back under the blanket.

The heat on his face refused to fade even after a long time. When he finally decided to take a breath and poked his head out, he was about to lower the window.

He saw Fu Yan and Jiang Liangyuan standing outside the house. It was dark out there, with only a faint spill of light escaping from inside. Jiang Xinghuai couldn’t see their expressions clearly.

But he was surprised.

When Fu Yan had said he wanted to talk to Jiang Liangyuan, Jiang Xinghuai hadn’t taken it seriously. Jiang Liangyuan would never agree to talk with Fu Yan.

Yet unexpectedly, the two of them were really standing there together.

Jiang Xinghuai pressed closer to the window, lowering his head as he watched them carefully. He was afraid his father might get physical with Fu Yan.

Not that he was worried Fu Yan couldn’t win, but Fu Yan was definitely not the kind of person who would ever raise a hand against an elder.

But what made Jiang Xinghuai’s jaw drop wider and wider was that the two of them actually talked calmly for a good ten minutes or so.

Until Fu Yan looked over.

Jiang Xinghuai immediately ducked his head.

Clang, clang, clang—

The window above his head was knocked on.

Feeling guilty, Jiang Xinghuai poked his head out, only to see Jiang Liangyuan. He froze completely.

Jiang Liangyuan cleared his throat, glanced at him awkwardly twice, and finally said, “Fu Yan said you still have a bit of a fever. Go to bed early.”

“…Ah?” Jiang Xinghuai couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

“‘Ah’ what?” Jiang Liangyuan frowned at him. “It’s late. There are no games to play and no phone to use, so don’t even think about staying up again. Before—forget it, I won’t bring up the past. Just sleep early. Tomorrow I’ll bring you something to eat. Fu Yan said you’re picky with food. Look at you, you’re all skin and bones.”

“At a time like this, and you’re still picky… so immature…” Jiang Liangyuan wanted to say a few more words, but remembering Fu Yan’s earlier advice, he swallowed them back. In the end, he just waved his hand, sighed, and turned to leave.

Jiang Xinghuai stared, eyes wide in disbelief.

How long had it been since his dad had spoken to him normally? What on earth did Fu Yan say to him?

Footsteps sounded on the bus steps. Jiang Xinghuai turned his head.

It was Fu Yan.

“Still not sleeping?” As Fu Yan walked over, he unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt sleeves. When he reached Jiang Xinghuai, he casually pinched his cheek. “What are you spacing out for?”

Jiang Xinghuai suddenly wrapped his arms around Fu Yan’s waist and looked up at him. “Did you threaten my dad?”

Fu Yan raised an eyebrow. “Yeah.”

“Liar.” Jiang Xinghuai didn’t believe him.

Fu Yan would never threaten anyone.

Fu Yan was honest and gentle.

“I told him…” Fu Yan pinched the back of his neck lightly. “Jiang Xinghuai is a good kid.”

Jiang Xinghuai froze for a moment, and a sudden sting rose in his nose. Maybe it was because he’d lost too much blood from his nosebleed earlier, his nose just kept feeling sore.

“Why are you like this…” Jiang Xinghuai muttered, lowering his head.

“Like what?” Fu Yan asked softly, his hand reaching up to gently rub Jiang Xinghuai’s head, his touch filled with quiet affection.

“So full of fatherly love,” Jiang Xinghuai teased with a grin. He tugged at Fu Yan’s collar, pulled him a little closer, and suddenly pressed his lips against Fu Yan’s. It was his first time kissing someone, and he didn’t control the force. There was even a faint “pop” sound.

Jiang Xinghuai’s face turned bright red. Just as he was about to pull back, Fu Yan’s hand caught the back of his neck, stopping his retreat.

Fu Yan drew him back in and deepened the kiss.

A few minutes later.

Jiang Xinghuai said softly, “Uncle… you’re pressing against me…”

Fu Yan: “…”

Jiang Xinghuai: “Then I’ll press against you, too.”

A smack landed on Jiang Xinghuai’s backside. He immediately shut his mouth.

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