During dinner, Yan Yixuan didn’t bring up anything about Yan Yili again, and Ji Ling didn’t ask either.
But after they finished eating, Ji Ling just couldn’t shake this sense of disappointment. He’d shown up in a good mood, but ran headfirst into that arrogant pain-in-the-ass, Yan Yili. Sure, Yan Yixuan had gone back to his usual self later, but the awkwardness of getting caught off guard still lingered.
And yet, just saying goodbye like this… Ji Ling felt a little unwilling.
He glanced at Yan Yixuan. The guy didn’t seem to feel the same way—laid-back and full after dinner, like he didn’t have a care in the world. He turned his head, met Ji Ling’s eyes, and asked, “What’s up?”
Ji Ling thought, ‘Was it really just dinner? Nothing else?’ That didn’t feel like Yan Yixuan at all.
But then Yan Yixuan actually said, “Take me home.”
“…” Ji Ling asked, “Which home?”
The hotel? The apartment? The one with the garden?
Yan Yixuan gave him a quick look and said, “The one you went to last time—Zhongchuan Road.”
So, the house at Jinyuan.
Now it all made sense. That apartment of his and the hotel suite? Those were just play spots—places to crash with some drinking buddies or flings. The Jinyuan house, though, that was home.
Ji Ling had already checked off the first two stops, so now he just had to play chauffeur again. He looked at Yan Yixuan and said, “Your ride awaits, Young Master Yan.”
This time, Yan Yixuan didn’t sit in the front. He went straight to the back seat and leaned back with his eyes closed the second he got in.
Ji Ling thought, ‘Great. I really am the driver now.’
He’d been there once before—not enough to say he knew the way by heart, but he didn’t need GPS either. As he drove, he kept wondering—if Yan Yixuan was going to stay at Jinyuan, and Yan Jisheng was at the nursing home, then were Yan Yili and Yan Yueshi also living there?
If Yan Yili was staying under the same roof… that’d be a nightmare. Dealing with him at work during the day and then again at home at night? That’s next-level hell.
Ji Ling drifted off in his thoughts, and before he knew it, they were already there.
He glanced at the rearview mirror—Yan Yixuan still had his eyes closed.
He really was tired.
Ji Ling stayed quiet and waited for a while.
Ji Ling thought back to the conversation they had before dinner. That old saying—‘one mountain can’t hold two tigers’—yeah, there was no doubt that Yan Yili and Yan Yixuan were going to keep butting heads. And it’d go on like that… until—
Until one of them got kicked out of the game.
Honestly, Ji Ling didn’t get why Yan Yixuan didn’t just go ahead and kick Yan Yili out of the company already.
If it were him, he definitely would’ve done it.
But Yan Yixuan? He seemed powerless against him. Even when the two of them argued like crazy over major decisions, neither could do anything to get rid of the other.
For a guy like Yan Yili—a so-called illegitimate son—to have such a solid footing in the Yan family… he had to have someone powerful backing him.
“Are we there?” Yan Yixuan’s voice pulled Ji Ling out of his thoughts.
He rubbed the space between his brows. Even after that short nap, he still looked dead tired.
Ji Ling gave him a little grin. “We’ve been here. Go on in and get some rest—you look beat.”
He’d parked just outside the gate of Jinyuan, but Yan Yixuan didn’t move. Instead, he said, “Pull the car in.”
Ji Ling blinked in surprise, but didn’t question it. He restarted the car and rolled through the gate.
Right past the iron gate, a short driveway opened up. As he drove in, his heart started to beat just a bit faster.
The last time he saw this place, it was sunset. The way Jinyuan sat tucked behind those tall walls made it feel almost mysteriously grand.
Now it was fully dark. Ji Ling eased the car forward, headlights sweeping past neatly trimmed evergreens lining the road, still lush even in winter. Up ahead, the outlines of several western-style villas came into view.
Soft light spilled through the lattice windows, casting everything in a kind of quiet glow.
Yan Yixuan gave him directions to park in the garage. Ji Ling followed them, pulled in, and shut off the engine—but didn’t move after that.
“What are you zoning out for? Get out,” Yan Yixuan said.
Only then did Ji Ling finally realize—he’d actually been invited in.
Yan Yixuan led him through a small path that connected the private garage to the main villa. Up close, the place looked even more ridiculous. White-walled buildings, their bases covered with vines that had curled up and gone dormant for the winter, waiting for spring to bring them back to life.
It honestly felt like stepping into another time—like some old colonial era relic, where you half-expected to open the door and find elegant women in cheongsams or men in Zhongshan suits, strolling through the rooms with calm, practiced grace.
But the moment Yan Yixuan pushed open the wooden double doors, a loud “Waaah!” broke the silence—and a girl suddenly popped up at the entrance.
She had on a short winter jacket over a color-blocked skirt, her ears decorated with bold, artsy earrings. Total fashionista—nothing at all like the graceful, demure beauty Ji Ling had been picturing.
“You’re actually back, big brother!”
Yan Yixuan frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
The girl had a look of annoyance on her face and said, “I was just about to head out.”
She looked to be in her twenties, and given the situation, Ji Ling figured she must be Yan Yixuan’s sister, Yan Yueshi.
Yan Yueshi resembled Yan Yixuan quite a bit—she had the family’s good looks, but her eyes were large and lively, giving her a more playful and rounded appearance. Her makeup was delicate, with lashes fluttering as she spoke, and her lips curled into a slight smile, full of energy.
When Yan Yixuan heard her say she was about to leave, he frowned. “It’s late, where are you going?”
Yan Yueshi pouted. “It’s not even 9 PM yet. I’m just staying over at a friend’s house tonight.” Her gaze shifted to Ji Ling, who was standing behind her brother. She gave him a curious once-over, then smiled at him and said, “It’s been a while since you brought a friend home, big brother.”
Ji Ling recalled how the first time he met Yan Yili, the man immediately recognized his status and sized him up with a critical eye, always looking at him through a tinted lens.
But Yan Yueshi? She’d called him a ‘friend’.
It was a relief that Yan Yueshi was at least somewhat normal. If everyone in the Yan family were like Yan Yili—arrogant and condescending—he’d never be able to stand it.
Ji Ling smiled and said, “Hello, Miss Yan. I’m Ji Ling.”
Yan Yueshi gave a nod, her manner warm and natural. “Handsome friends are always welcome. Make yourself at home, no need to stand on ceremony.” Then she turned to Yan Yixuan. “You two have fun, I’ll be off.”
Yan Yixuan stopped her. “Where are you going?”
“I told you, I’m going to my friend’s house,” Yan Yueshi puffed out her cheeks.
“Which friend?”
Yan Yueshi huffed, clearly frustrated. “Good grief, I’m not a little kid! I’m in my twenties, and I have to check in for everything? People who don’t know better might think you’re my dad.” She grabbed her purse and started walking out, calling over her shoulder, “I’m going to Nana’s place. You can call her if you don’t believe me.”
“Don’t be so rude,” Yan Yixuan muttered, but didn’t stop her. He just stood there, watching as she left.
Ji Ling couldn’t help but be amused. He hadn’t expected the usually aloof and composed Yan Yixuan to act like an ordinary older brother, controlling and fussing over his younger sister like this.
Seeing Ji Ling’s amused expression, Yan Yixuan shot him a glare. “What are you laughing at? That little girl’s definitely in a relationship.”
Ji Ling burst out laughing. “What’s so surprising? It’s normal for a pretty girl to have someone chasing after her. I didn’t know you were so protective of your sister.”
Yan Yixuan grumbled, “She’s always causing trouble. How can I not look after her?”
Both of them had lost their parents early on and had been raised by their grandfather, Yan Jisheng. The whole ‘older brother, father figure’ thing? Yan Yixuan had probably taken on the responsibility of guiding and protecting his sister from a very young age.
Seeing this side of Yan Yixuan made Ji Ling realize something new about him. The man seemed a lot more serious and mature when dealing with his sister than he did with anyone else.
Ji Ling followed Yan Yixuan through a long hallway and into the living room.
The housekeeper came in with tea and asked Yan Yixuan what else needed to be prepared. This gave Ji Ling a moment to finally take in the surroundings of the room.
The ceiling in the living room was a bit low, probably due to the wood carvings that covered it, and the brown velvet carpet, spacious chairs, dark stone tile lines, and the elaborate paintings on the walls all gave the place a vintage feel. But upon closer inspection, there were signs of recent renovations.
The tea on the coffee table was steaming gently, and Ji Ling couldn’t help but think that this, right here, was Yan Yixuan’s real home—comfortable, wealthy, but still grounded in warmth and reality. It perfectly matched his character and standing. It was a stark contrast to that cold, impersonal apartment of his—no matter how luxurious it was, it still felt distant.
Ji Ling felt a pang of envy. This was the product of several generations of family wealth—something he could never quite relate to.
Yan Yixuan had no idea what Ji Ling was thinking and assumed he was just admiring the decor. He casually commented, “It’s an old house, lots of repairs have been done, but it still feels a bit dated.”
“Vintage is fashionable,” Ji Ling replied sincerely. “This place is really nice.”
Yan Yixuan smiled and gestured toward the cups on the table. “Want to sit for a bit?”
Just as Ji Ling was about to sit down and have some tea, Yan Yixuan asked again, “Want to come upstairs with me?”
Ji Ling paused for a moment, studying him, then slowly moved closer, following Yan Yixuan.
They climbed the narrow staircase together. Yan Yixuan’s hand rested on the carved railing as Ji Ling followed behind, his eyes on Yan Yixuan’s back.
When they reached the third floor, Yan Yixuan led Ji Ling into a room. Ji Ling stepped in first, and Yan Yixuan closed the door behind them.
It was a suite. The inner part had a bed and a chair, while the outer room had an old-fashioned writing desk, on top of which was a letter rack—surprisingly neat, with only a few sticky notes placed there. Next to it stood a vase with fresh flowers, although they were out of season. The vase itself was too modern in design, making it stand out awkwardly.
That subtle contrast made Ji Ling suddenly realize…
This was Yan Yixuan’s room.
He’d thought they were headed for a guest room, but they ended up in Yan Yixuan’s personal space. Before Ji Ling could turn around to speak, he felt a sudden pressure from behind. Instinctively, he spun around and raised his arm, blocking Yan Yixuan’s hand.
“… Don’t think you can always pull this off,” Ji Ling said with a sigh, already knowing what was coming. “What are you trying to do?”
Yan Yixuan’s lips curled into a smile that wasn’t exactly reassuring. Without hesitation, he pushed Ji Ling forward, practically shoving him into the inner room. “You’re following me in here—don’t pretend you don’t know why.”
It wasn’t as if Ji Ling didn’t know, either. After all the flirting, the teasing, the silent challenges between them, acting like an innocent saint now was just too much. But really, did it always have to be an ambush?
Yan Yixuan tore open his collar and kept moving forward, almost pushing Ji Ling to the edge of the bed. He pulled Ji Ling closer, wrapping an arm around his waist and pulling him in tightly. Then, without warning, his lips crashed down on Ji Ling’s.
His actions were a bit rough, and Ji Ling was nearly driven mad by the heat of his breath and body pressing in. He raised his hand, pushing against Yan Yixuan’s shoulder in an attempt to break free, but it was no use. The two of them were caught in a battle of lips and teeth, neither willing to back down. The only sound in the room was their heavy breathing.
Yan Yixuan continued to push forward, and before Ji Ling knew it, they both lost their balance and fell onto the bed.
As Ji Ling sank into the soft bed, he only then realized the danger. However, Yan Yixuan pressed him down, showing no sign of letting up, and his movements grew more intense. A loud alarm rang in Ji Ling’s mind, and he bent his knees to push Yan Yixuan off, gripping his waist with both hands. With a burst of strength, he used the bed’s support to flip over, swapping positions with Yan Yixuan.
Was all that running, horseback riding, and gym time for nothing?
Now it was Ji Ling pinning Yan Yixuan down, and the two of them finally broke their kiss. Ji Ling lifted his head, looking down at Yan Yixuan from above.
Yan Yixuan, clearly displeased, narrowed his eyes dangerously as he looked at Ji Ling and said, “Don’t tell me you’re still not willing. I refuse to believe you have no interest at all.”
Ji Ling had to admit that he was, in fact, a little attracted to Yan Yixuan. After all this time, he’d been subtly influenced, and Ji Ling, who originally thought he had no interest in men, found Yan Yixuan very handsome. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but feel the urge to touch him.
Ji Ling wasn’t the type to intentionally suppress his desires, and dragging things out any further would just be pretentious.
But there was one thing he was still firm about.
Seeing Ji Ling’s silence, Yan Yixuan thought it was an unspoken agreement, and he reached for Ji Ling’s clothes. Ji Ling quickly stopped him.
Yan Yixuan raised an eyebrow, his irritation clear. He snapped, “Are you still playing these teasing games with me? Do I have to use my position as your sponsor to make you give in? Can’t you just be willing?”
Ji Ling slowly took his hand, pressed a kiss to his fingers, and then calmly said, “I’m not unwilling… but…”
“I won’t be the one on the bottom.”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
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