TYMRHBDES Chapter 114

Chapter 114: The Cold, Crazy Campus Heartthrob x Spoiled, Delicate Little Brat 22

Inside a popular private dining restaurant.

Jiang Luoluo and Li Chuan, who hadn’t seen each other in years, chatted as if no time had passed, their conversation as lively as ever.

The screen of Jiang Luoluo’s phone, face down on the table, flickered briefly before going dark again.

He remained completely oblivious.

“Didn’t you say just a few days ago that you wouldn’t be back for a while? Why did you come back so soon?”

Li Chuan raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you know… it’s all for that someone special~”

Jiang Luoluo: “Who?”

Li Chuan blushed slightly, a rare sight. “My goddess! Yaoyao posted on WeChat Moments that she wants to find a boyfriend before November 11th this year, so I caught the fastest flight back.”

“But it’s only late October, Chuan’er. November 11th is still a ways off…” Jiang Luoluo said, puzzled.

“You don’t understand!” Li Chuan said mysteriously. “When you’re pursuing a girl, you need a sense of ritual. You can’t expect her to just say yes based on sweet talk alone!”

“That would be so insincere!”

Li Chuan waved his hand dismissively. “I could never do something like that. My feelings for my goddess are genuine!”

Jiang Luoluo nodded in agreement. “True… So, what are you planning to do?”

In the apartment kitchen, Mu Jianian rolled up his shirt sleeves and bent over to gut a fish.

His slender fingers pressed against the fish’s back, a sight that was quite pleasing to the eye.

A few days ago, Auntie made boiled fish that Bao Bao loved. Since he wasn’t busy today, Mu Jianian left work early to make it for Jiang Luoluo.

On his way to the fresh market, Mu Jianian planned to ask Jiang Luoluo what else he wanted to eat.

When he called, no one answered, so he bought everything anyway.

The black catfish fillets were sliced and arranged neatly on a plate. Mu Jianian washed his hands and began preparing the side dishes for the seafood porridge.

Stir-fried beef, Longjing shrimp, hand-shredded king oyster mushrooms, and Jiang Luoluo’s favorite sweet and sour pork tenderloin.

The bright red, sweet and sour sauce coated each piece of tenderloin, arranged on a white porcelain plate, and covered with a warming lid.

When the boiled fish fillets and seafood porridge were ready, it was already nine in the evening.

Mu Jianian washed his hands and was about to reach for his phone when he heard a knock at the door.

He smoothed his sleeves, his usually cold features softened by a barely concealed smile of anticipation as he opened the door.

“What are you doing here?”

Assistant Tang stood outside, smiling like a perfectly programmed robot, holding a cake box. “President Mu, happy birthday!”

Mu Jianian nodded faintly. “Thank you.”

Assistant Tang lowered his voice. “May you and Young Master Jiang always be sweet and happy together!”

After handing Mu Jianian the cake, Assistant Tang quickly left.

Mu Jianian placed the cake on the table and turned back to find his phone.

He had never celebrated his birthday before.

When Mu Jianian was a child, living with his grandmother in the countryside, his birthday celebrations consisted of noodles topped with fried eggs and sausages. Later, when he moved in with his parents, birthdays ceased to exist.

Let alone these past few years, when he’d been completely alone.

If Assistant Tang hadn’t delivered a cake, he would have forgotten his own birthday altogether.

But why hadn’t Luo Luo returned yet?

Mu Jianian opened his call history, where a single, unanswered call remained.

Had something happened?

He dialed the number again, followed by the “beep-beep” of the busy signal.

As Mu Jianian scrolled through A University’s internal forum, a red-hot thread immediately shot to the top:

*Critical Hit! Business School’s Campus Crush Jiang Luoluo Allegedly Taken! Boyfriend-Level Hugs and Sweet Embraces Below! Ahhh, KSWL!!*

Mu Jianian clicked on the thread and swiped through the photos. His handsome face grew increasingly grim.

Li Chuan had returned.

He laughed freely and openly, pulling Jiang Luoluo into a tight embrace.

He even leaned down slightly, their heads close together.

Just from these simple gestures, Jiang Luoluo’s happiness was palpable.

It was completely different from the perfunctory smiles he’d offered Mu Jianian. His joy practically overflowed from the screen, every strand of hair on the back of his head radiating carefree ease.

A sour ache filled Mu Jianian’s heart.

Jealous rage ignited within him, consuming his vision.

Mu Jianian’s long, slender fingers clenched around his phone. After a long moment, his hand slowly relaxed.

He then opened a hidden tracking app and located Jiang Luoluo’s information.

At the same time, Jiang Luoluo’s call finally came through.

Mu Jianian waited two seconds before answering.

The person on the other end had clearly been drinking. Their voice was soft and syrupy, sounding almost like a pout: “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see your call.”

Mu Jianian’s eyes were dark and heavy, but his voice remained calm, even gentle:

“It’s alright. I just finished cooking. It’s the boiled fish and sweet-and-sour pork you wanted the other day.”

The person on the other end fell silent for a moment, sounding almost guilty: “Ah… but I already ate dinner…”

Mu Jianian leaned back against the sofa, his fingers idly fiddling with the red dot on the tracking app that marked Jiang Luoluo’s location.

His clear voice was light and casual: “Consider it a late-night snack. You can try my cooking while you’re at it.”

He added as if it were an afterthought: “Should I come pick you up now? Where are you?”

The person on the other end sounded flustered: “No… no need!”

“I’m with my roommates. We’re still at school. I can just grab a taxi back soon!”

Mu Jianian lowered his gaze to the name of the trendy private kitchen restaurant, a thin smile playing on his lips. “Alright.”

“Drive carefully. I’ll wait for you.”

After hanging up, Li Chuan’s eyes sparkled. “Who was that? Are you in love? A boyfriend?”

Jiang Luoluo quickly waved his hand.

How could he possibly call his relationship with Mu Jianian “love”?

“It was my roommate. He wants me to come back.”

“That’s fine.” Li Chuan stood up. “I’ll take you back first, then head home.”

“No, no, no…” Jiang Luoluo quickly refused. “I’ve already called a taxi. You should hurry home too.”

After bidding farewell to Li Chuan, Jiang Luoluo took a taxi back to the apartment.

Mu Jianian sat on the sofa, watching the red dot on his phone inch closer to the apartment.

The screen dimmed, reflecting a face that betrayed no emotion.

Beneath his thick, dark eyebrows, his phoenix eyes were as deep and dark as ink.

A sound came from the door, and Jiang Luoluo entered. The first thing he saw was the cake on the living room table.

His heart skipped a beat.

Today was Mu Jianian’s birthday.

The dining table was laden with Jiang Luoluo’s favorite dishes, all meticulously prepared and clearly made with great care.

Just then, Mu Jianian emerged from the kitchen. “You’re back.”

Jiang Luoluo nodded, a wave of guilt washing over him.

“Is it cold outside?”

Mu Jianian walked over naturally and touched Jiang Luoluo’s hand.

“No… not cold at all…”

As Mu Jianian pulled him to sit down, Jiang Luoluo looked at the man serving him food with guilt. “Mu Jianian, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was your birthday today…”

“It’s fine. I wasn’t planning on celebrating anyway.”

Mu Jianian served him a bowl of rice, his tone casual. “Xiao Tang brought this over. I’d completely forgotten.”

“I never had a chance to celebrate birthdays before, so I’m used to it.”

Jiang Luoluo knew Mu Jianian’s situation and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

“Try it and see if you like it.” Mu Jianian handed him chopsticks. As Jiang Luoluo reached for them, he noticed the bandage on Mu Jianian’s finger.

Jiang Luoluo reached out and gently touched it. “You’re hurt…”

“Just a little scratch.” Mu Jianian casually pulled his hand back. “What did you eat with your roommates tonight?”

Jiang Luoluo listed a few dishes. He had never been good at lying; his face would flush and his eyes would dart away whenever he tried.

Mu Jianian smiled at him, a hint of tenderness in his eyes. “Just those?”

Jiang Luoluo opened his mouth to say something, but only managed a small “Ah.”

Suddenly, Mu Jianian leaned in close.

A face loomed close, its cool, pleasant fragrance enveloping him as if to cocoon him entirely.

Mu Jianian’s black pupils lingered on his face for a moment before sliding down to his lips.

Jiang Luoluo nervously pursed his lips, the water-red petals gleaming with a moist sheen, appearing even more delicate and plump.

It was as if they were inviting someone to steal a kiss.

Mu Jianian’s Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly, his voice slightly hoarse. “Did you drink?”

Jiang Luoluo held his breath and whispered, “Just a tiny bit.”

He held up a finger, gesturing a centimeter’s height. “Just this much.”

Mu Jianian nodded, his gaze still fixed on his lips.

He seemed lost in thought.

Jiang Luoluo blushed slightly under his intense scrutiny.

Fortunately, the next second, Mu Jianian retreated, returning to a normal distance.

“Let’s eat. If you’re not hungry, just eat a little.”

Jiang Luoluo had already eaten until he was nearly full. Now, facing a table laden with dishes prepared especially for him, especially on Mu Jianian’s birthday, he couldn’t possibly refuse. He ate slowly, like a rabbit numbly chewing on carrots or a hamster mindlessly munching.

Fortunately, Mu Jianian didn’t force him. When he saw Jiang Luoluo had eaten enough, he stopped him.

He also pushed a glass of milk toward him. “Alcohol irritates the stomach. Be careful you don’t feel uncomfortable later.”

Jiang Luoluo obediently cradled the glass and gulped it down.

Mu Jianian wiped his mouth, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

After dinner, Jiang Luoluo was supposed to go to bed, but he quietly asked Mu Jianian if he wanted to blow out the candles and make a wish.

In the soft light, Jiang Luoluo’s round, almond-shaped eyes were moist and slightly red-rimmed. Mu Jianian found himself agreeing without thinking.

He cried so beautifully.

Tonight, he didn’t know how many more times he’d cry.

If making a wish could help him relax beforehand, Mu Jianian was more than willing.

After making his wish, Mu Jianian said he had something to take care of in the study and told Jiang Luoluo to go back to the bedroom. Jiang Luoluo went to the bathroom to shower alone.

Lately, their life together had been relatively harmonious.

They treated each other with respect, and Mu Jianian had been less rough with him.

Perhaps it was because he slept restlessly, but he always woke up with mysterious marks on his body.

The bathroom was filled with steam. The showerhead dispersed the water into fine droplets that fell from above.

He must have drunk too much. His head was spinning, and his face felt hot.

Jiang Luoluo cupped his hands and splashed water on his face.

His eyelashes were soaked, clumping together against his eyelids.

He let out a small “Huh?” and touched his flushed cheeks. Then, he leaned closer to the mirror and poked his rosy cheeks with his fingers.

In the study—

Mu Jianian’s elegant, aloof eyes churned with barely contained fervor as he gazed at the screen, where a small face suddenly filled the frame…

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