Mr. Chu?
Chu Tingyun was not too surprised by this address, but Jiang Jingshu was somewhat taken aback. She remembered Yan Xun was usually quiet but polite.
Why was his tone so unpleasant today?
Jiang Jingshu frowned slightly and tugged at Yan Xun’s sleeve.
“Xiao Xun…”
Before she could finish, Chu Tingyun took over the conversation.
“It’s nothing, we’ve met before and had a bit of an unpleasant incident.”
The man explained with a gentle tone, then looked at Yan Xun, slightly bowing his head.
“Classmate Yan, I apologize for that night. It was my fault.”
Everything, from his expression and tone to his words, seemed extremely sincere.
So sincere that Jiang Jingshu was a bit astonished. She had never seen her half-brother, who could handle the entire family with his sharp tongue, act so kindly to others.
Even the little poodle their mother raised would avoid him with its tail between its legs.
The most surprising thing was that her brother had never been this kind or apologetic to anyone before.
Yan Xun was also a bit surprised. He had expected this man to come looking for trouble, but it turned out he was here to apologize.
Although Jiang Jingshu didn’t know what had happened, she still tried to smooth things over. She leaned in and whispered to Yan Xun,
“Xiao Xun, being angry is useless. How about we have a nice meal and let him pay for it?”
“……”
That night, Yan Xun had fought back, and now the other party was apologizing. Plus, he was the senior sister’s brother… So Yan Xun eventually softened his attitude and didn’t turn around and leave.
But even as they got into the car, he still didn’t say, “It’s okay.”
Yan Xun deliberately sat in the passenger seat, as far away from Chu Tingyun as possible, leaving the brother and sister to sit in the back.
Jiang Jingshu was surprised to see Yan Xun, who had always been introverted and polite, react so negatively to Chu Tingyun. She couldn’t help but ask,
“Ge, what exactly happened between you and Yan Xun?”
“Oh, one night I ran into him in the back alley of a bar. He was drunk and vomited all over me, so I kindly took him to a hotel, helped him out of his dirty clothes, and then…”
Seeing that Chu Tingyun was about to describe that night’s events in detail, Yan Xun finally couldn’t hold back and interrupted, “It’s nothing, senior, just… a bit of an unpleasant incident.”
He had never expected Chu Tingyun to be so direct about it, and he couldn’t think of any excuse to cover it up. As he spoke, Yan Xun gave Chu Tingyun a warning look.
Chu Tingyun raised his eyebrows, smiled, and stopped talking.
Jiang Jingshu was puzzled.
It sounded like her brother had helped Yan Xun out of kindness, so how did it lead to an unpleasant situation?
But seeing that both parties obviously didn’t want to discuss it further, she chose not to ask any more questions.
The dinner location was chosen by Jiang Jingshu in advance. When Chu Tingyun asked what she wanted to eat, she picked a famous lamb soup hotpot restaurant because it was freezing in the capital with the snow falling.
Jiang Jingshu thought that Chu Tingyun’s sudden invitation to dinner was already a big surprise, but she didn’t expect him to bring a gift.
It was a limited-edition bag from a prestigious international brand, expensive and coveted by many.
“Wow…”
Jiang Jingshu wasn’t very into luxury bags, but the fact that Chu Tingyun, who was only an acquaintance, was so generous surprised her.
At that time, Jiang Jingshu didn’t know that Chu Tingyun was merely offering compensation for trying to poach her. Moreover, he also wanted to give Yan Xun a gift. But it would be strange to give a gift only to the senior sister’s boyfriend, so giving gifts to both was less conspicuous.
The gift for Yan Xun was a custom high-end computer.
Yan Xun obviously refused to accept it. He just wanted to finish the meal quickly and distance himself from Chu Tingyun.
Throughout the dinner, Yan Xun barely spoke, and he was uneasy. Towards the end of the meal, when Jiang Jingshu went to the restroom to touch up her makeup, he finally laid it out.
“Mr. Chu, I’ve accepted your apology, but I think we shouldn’t meet in the future.”
“Why?”
Chu Tingyun wasn’t dissuaded by Yan Xun’s cold words. Instead, he smiled and said,
“I kissed you once, and you hit me once. That should balance out, right? I came to apologize today and offer compensation. Doesn’t that show sincerity?”
“……”
Yan Xun frowned, looked at him, and replied with a formal and cold tone,
“Mr. Chu, I’m straight. I like girls, not men.”
“Oh.”
Chu Tingyun thought to himself that he was once firmly convinced he was straight before meeting Yan Xun.
This person bent him, yet he remained straight.
Unfair.
Chu Tingyun actually wanted to bend this straight and upright college student.
“Break up with Jiang Jingshu soon. You two are not suited for each other.”
His tone was light, but it sounded like an announcement or a verdict.
“……?”
Although they weren’t real lovers, Yan Xun felt Chu Tingyun’s words were absurd.
“I’m dating the senior sister; it has nothing to do with you.”
Yan Xun thought that wasn’t enough, so he added,
“I don’t like you, Mr. Chu, and I won’t like you in the future.”
“I’ve been in love with Jingshu since high school. Even if we don’t end up together, I will never like men.”
“……”
Chu Tingyun stared at Yan Xun, his smile gradually fading.
This was the first time he had faced such a straightforward, direct, and merciless rejection.
“Really?”
Chu Tingyun wasn’t discouraged. He looked at Yan Xun’s cold and handsome face and felt a strong urge to conquer him.
Relaxed in his chair, he raised his chin slightly with a lazy smile,
“Let’s wait and see.”
When Jiang Jingshu returned from the restroom, she noticed the atmosphere in the private room was strange. Yan Xun even suddenly held her hand.
Chu Tingyun wouldn’t watch them be affectionate in front of him. Instead, he lowered his voice, sounding very authoritative,
“Jiang Jingshu, you should go home now.”
“Oh, okay, ge.”
Jiang Jingshu seemed a bit afraid of him and obediently withdrew her hand.
Yan Xun: “……”
He glanced at Chu Tingyun, who smirked and showed him a provocative smile.
Indeed!
Yan Xun thought, this man’s apology was all an act.
This dinner was like a declaration of war.
Later, Yan Xun would often “coincidentally” run into Chu Tingyun in various places.
Moreover, Chu Tingyun would cunningly make Jiang Jingshu try to arrange outings for him.
Tennis, skiing, racing, snooker… Various sports and food temptations.
Jiang Jingshu enjoyed herself immensely, as Chu Tingyun’s presence allowed her to avoid parental control and even skip arranged blind dates.
The only request from her brother was for her to bring Yan Xun along.
Jiang Jingshu found it strange, but she never thought Chu Tingyun would be interested in Yan Xun, since he had only ever dated women before, and Yan Xun was her nominal boyfriend.
How could these two possibly be involved?
Every invitation, Yan Xun would decline seven or eight times out of ten, but he couldn’t always avoid the two or three times he was caught. It was impossible for him to tell Jiang Jingshu about Chu Tingyun’s intentions.
Yan Xun thought he was merely entangled with this brother and sister until he received a call from Chen Wanqing the day before New Year’s.
“Auntie, hello. Is there something wrong?”
The woman’s tone was kind, polite, and warm. She called because she had heard Yan Xun was staying at school for the winter break and might be lonely for the New Year, so she invited him for a family reunion dinner.
Yan Xun wanted to refuse, but she didn’t give him a chance.
“Look, I only have one daughter. She’s twenty-five this year and finally has a boyfriend. Our family is very concerned, so we’d like to meet you and have a meal…”
Chen Wanqing was very good at playing the emotional card. In the end, Yan Xun couldn’t find a reason to refuse and had to agree. After hanging up, he immediately called Jiang Jingshu to tell her about it.
Pretending to be in a relationship was one thing, but meeting parents was another.
“Senior sister, this isn’t a long-term solution.”
“I know…”
Jiang Jingshu was also shocked by her mother’s proposal, but Chen Wanqing had told her,
“Let Mom see what kind of boy you truly like. If he’s really good, then our family won’t interfere with your relationship anymore.”
At that time, Jingshu naively thought her mother had really started to understand her. She was so excited and happy, and genuinely thought Yan Xun was so excellent that no one could dislike him.
“My mother gave in. She just wants to meet you. Can you come for a meal? Just one lunch, and you can leave right after.”
“……Alright.”
Yan Xun agreed. Since his parents and brother were abroad, and he had nothing much to do during the New Year, he decided to go.
Also, Yan Xun thought that since he was meeting the senior sister’s parents, Chu Tingyun shouldn’t bother him anymore.
So, the next day, Yan Xun went to the Jiang family. However, that afternoon, Jiang Shenghai was absent due to an important dinner.
Chu Tingyun, who usually lived away, only returned on major holidays and didn’t join Chen Wanqing for the reunion dinner. He would at most stay one night and leave immediately.
Jiang Jingshu led Yan Xun into the house.
“Xiao Xun, come, let me introduce you. This is my younger brother, Jiang Yuhang.”
“Hello, Yan-ge.”
In reality, Jiang Yuhang was a year older than Yan Xun, but he looked youthful and always acted like a good younger brother, addressing Yan Xun as “Yan-ge” in a sweet and enthusiastic manner.
“I heard you’ve been hanging out with my brother and sister a lot recently. Can you take me along next time?”
Yan Xun found Jiang Yuhang’s request a bit strange. Wasn’t it more natural for Jiang Yuhang to ask his own brother and sister directly?
So, he just smiled and didn’t respond much.
This so-called reunion lunch only had four people. But Chen Wanqing still didn’t take the main seat. She smiled and served Yan Xun some food while subtly probing into his family background.
Yan Xun answered truthfully, feeling relatively relaxed since he and Jiang Jingshu weren’t actually a couple.
“Xiao Yan, our family raises daughters in a rich manner. A single one of her bags or a necklace might cost you several years of hard work to afford.”
Chen Wanqing’s tone seemed gentle on the surface, but her words were sharp and hidden with barbs.
“You’re a top student from Capital University, that’s true, but we have hundreds of people in our company with the same or even higher qualifications. Not to mention supporting Jingshu in the future, just supporting your disabled brother and sickly mother—aren’t you already stretched thin?”
“You’re willing to be their parasite, but my daughter cannot!”
“Mom! You didn’t say that before! You clearly said…”
Jiang Jingshu was trembling with anger, unable to continue listening, and started arguing with her mother.
“Shut up!”
Chen Wanqing scolded her harshly, “You have no say here.”
Yan Xun frowned, about to speak, when a familiar voice came from the door.
“How lively.”
No one expected that Chu Tingyun would return at this moment.
Yan Xun was slightly stunned, looking back to see Chu Tingyun with snow still in his hair, wearing a mask, and his face slightly reddened, as if he had caught a cold.
“Really funny.”
Chu Tingyun stood behind Yan Xun, casually draping his hand over the back of his chair. Even though he was wearing a mask, it didn’t hinder his sharp words.
“You’ve already thoroughly investigated him and found him unworthy, so just say so directly.”
“But you put on a kind and gentle motherly face, deceived him into coming here, and then mockingly and sarcastically belittled him, all while pretending to be concerned for your daughter.”
“On New Year’s, Chen Wanqing, you really know how to disgust people.”
“You…”
Chen Wanqing had not anticipated Chu Tingyun’s return and his strong defense of Jingshu’s boyfriend.
Her lips trembled, and she was so enraged she couldn’t speak.
“Chu Tingyun, you… I’m your father’s wife! Show some respect!”
“If I don’t respect the old man, why should I respect someone like you?”
Chu Tingyun sneered, his voice sharp and nasal,
“Chen Wanqing, if you could throw five million yuan in Yan Xun’s face today and tell him to take the money and leave your daughter, maybe I’d have a bit more respect for you.”
“Unfortunately, not only are you vicious, but you’re also stingy, trying to act like an affluent person while being miserly and not even willing to part with a single cent. I don’t know how the old man manages to sleep with you every night without feeling disgusted.”
“…”
Chen Wanqing was on the verge of collapsing from anger.
She trembled for a long time, unable to retort, and eventually burst into tears.
Chu Tingyun, annoyed, patted Yan Xun’s shoulder and asked,
“Are you leaving?”
“……”
Yan Xun didn’t answer but stood up.
“Senior sister, I’ll be leaving first…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Chu Tingyun dragged him away, straight to the car.
The driver, receiving the signal, started the car.
Although Chu Tingyun had once again achieved a great victory, he still looked irritated.
“Yan Xun, you were quite sharp-tongued when you argued with me before. Why are you so meek today?”
“……”
That was because before Yan Xun could say anything, Chu Tingyun had already gone on the offensive with a verbal barrage.
So Yan Xun didn’t answer and instead carefully observed the redness on Chu Tingyun’s face visible above the mask.
“Are you sick? Running a fever?”
“……”
Chu Tingyun turned his face away, snorting.
Yan Xun thought for a moment and asked, “A few days ago, when we went skiing, you said you weren’t cold and that a bit of snow didn’t bother you because you grew up in Russia. Wasn’t that the case?”
Chu Tingyun: “……”
Is that the focus now?
The man was immediately annoyed:
“Yan Xun, you’re really ungrateful. I just saved you, and now you’re mocking me?”
“……”
Accused of being ungrateful, Yan Xun didn’t argue. He turned to the driver and said,
“Driver, please head to the nearest hospital.”
“I’m not going!”
It’s ridiculous to think that Chu Tingyun would be dictated by him.
The driver looked troubled but, as Chu Tingyun’s driver, had to listen to his boss.
Yan Xun had no choice but to have the driver pull over and bought a thermometer and fever-reducing medicine. Fortunately, it was still noon, and it was easier to buy medicine now than later in the evening during the New Year.
However, with winter clothes layered up, taking his temperature in the car wasn’t convenient. But Chu Tingyun willingly began to undress.
Yan Xun stopped him: “Open your mouth.”
Chu Tingyun raised his eyebrows.
“Measuring oral temperature?”
“Alright.”
He lowered his white mask, revealing his flushed face, and obediently tilted his head slightly towards Yan Xun, opening his mouth with his tongue slightly lifted.
The high temperature made his lips very red, and his breath was especially warm and moist.
Yan Xun blinked awkwardly and was about to place the mercury thermometer under his tongue when Chu Tingyun suddenly turned his head away.
“No.”
Yan Xun: “…What now?”
“Dirty.”
Although the thermometer was new and just unwrapped, Chu Tingyun was still disgusted.
“Let’s measure under the armpit.”
“…Fine.”
“You take it off.”
“Chu Tingyun, don’t push your luck.”
“I’m sick; I have no strength in my hands.”
Chu Tingyun was very unreasonable and even tried to turn the tables.
“And Yan Xun, can you be a bit nicer to a patient? I dragged my sick body to help you and now kindly offered you a ride.”
“And now, asking you to help me take my temperature is considered pushing my luck. Tsk, you’re such an ungrateful wretch!”
“……”
Yan Xun was exasperated.
He thought it would be so much better if Chu Tingyun didn’t have a mouth.
He took a deep breath, helped Chu Tingyun remove one side of his coat, then lifted his black turtleneck sweater and the thin layer of rabbit fleece underneath.
Yan Xun thought, with this kind of winter clothing in Beijing, it was no wonder he caught a cold.
During the process, his hand inevitably brushed against Chu Tingyun’s skin. Though Chu Tingyun looked slender and lean, his body was not thin or weak; his smooth, fair skin covered a thin layer of muscle, clearly the result of long-term professional training, giving his physique a very graceful appearance.
As the clothes were lifted to his chest, Yan Xun avoided looking directly, placed the thermometer, and then let Chu Tingyun hold it in place before pulling the clothes back down.
What Yan Xun didn’t expect was that Chu Tingyun also had a grooming habit.
—This man is so meticulous.
The temperature was 38.7 degrees Celsius, quite a high fever.
There was water in the car, and Yan Xun gave him some fever-reducing medicine. By the time the driver finally drove back to Chu Tingyun’s residence, Chu Tingyun had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Yan Xun had no choice but to carry him upstairs.
“What’s the password to your house?”
Chu Tingyun snorted a few times and provided it.
The luxurious house was indeed very spacious, but it was sparsely furnished and looked empty. It was too clean and tidy, giving no hint of any personal touch.
Despite his high fever and nearly unconscious state, Chu Tingyun insisted on entering the door, taking off his coat to disinfect himself, changing into pajamas before getting into bed, and washing his hands and feet.
Yan Xun couldn’t just leave him there, so he had to help the man go through all the formalities one by one.
After finally getting this rich CEO settled into bed, Yan Xun was about to leave, only for his wrist to be suddenly grabbed by the other man.
“Today, you saw it clearly, right? You and Jiang Jingshu are impossible. Break up with her.”
Yan Xun: “…”
Even in this situation, Chu Tingyun was still secretly trying to break him up with his senior.
Yan Xun turned around, looked at him, and said:
“Even if I can’t be with her, I don’t like men.”
“Hmph…”
Every word Chu Tingyun said carried a muffled nasal sound, making him sound less mocking and more like he was whining.
“You don’t get it, do you? Men have their own advantages…”
Despite being weak, this guy was still putting on a seductive act.
“Want me to show you?”
“…”
Yan Xun’s response was to mercilessly throw the blanket over Chu Tingyun’s face before striding out and closing the door.
Chu Tingyun, weak all over, with his brain fuzzy, clearly heard the sound of the front door closing.
—an Xun left just like that.
He pulled down the blanket, stared at the ceiling for a moment, then suddenly let out a self-mocking laugh.
Maybe it’s time to give up…
Chu Tingyun thought. He wasn’t really that masochistic; no need to keep chasing after Yan Xun like a fool.
In a daze, he didn’t even know when he fell asleep. In his hazy consciousness, he felt someone putting a cooling patch on his forehead, giving him water, and wiping his hands and feet with alcohol.
But his eyelids were too heavy, and Chu Tingyun didn’t wake up.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already 8 PM.
His throat was dry, like sandpaper on fire. Groggily, he reached out and found the warm water placed by the bed.
After gulping it down, Chu Tingyun realized there hadn’t been a water cup on his bedside table before.
He sat on the bed, staring blankly for a long time. Then, lifting his hand, he felt the cooling patch on his forehead. After peeling it off and staring at it for a while, he slowly realized something.
Click.
Chu Tingyun gently pushed open the bedroom door and saw the lights on in the living room. The TV, which was almost never turned on, was silently playing the Spring Festival Gala.
Yan Xun was sitting at the dining table, wearing an apron, making dumplings.
The dining room chandelier cast a warm light on his profile, giving him an elegant, timeless handsomeness.
He must have been at it for a long time because by now, the table was filled with dumplings shaped like gold ingots, neatly lined up like soldiers awaiting inspection.
The kitchen seemed to have something cooking, with a pleasant aroma wafting out.
Before, Chu Tingyun only found Yan Xun intriguing, thinking that the more unattainable he was, the more he thought about him day and night. But at this moment, he didn’t know why he suddenly thought Yan Xun would make a great marriage partner.
Marriage?
That word snapped Chu Tingyun back to reality.
“Awake?”
Yan Xun noticed Chu Tingyun standing in the doorway, looked up at him, paused, and said, “Thank you for helping me today. This meal is my way of thanking you.”
Thank him?
Chu Tingyun finally came to his senses, awkwardly responding with an “mm,” and walked over to sit across from Yan Xun.
“Has your fever gone down?”
“Mm.”
It had gone down. But after sleeping for so long, Chu Tingyun’s face was still a little flushed, and his steps were unsteady.
Chu, who didn’t know how to make dumplings, couldn’t help, so he simply propped his chin with one hand and just stared at Yan Xun.
The more he looked, the more he felt confident.
“Yan Xun, you and Jiang Jingshu have no future. She’s been like a doll in her mother’s hands since she was a child, unable to control her own life. How can she have a future with you?”
“Besides, what era is this? Are you two planning to be the next Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai? I’m telling you, break up as soon as possible. Cut your losses.”
“…”
Yan Xun didn’t respond. He certainly wouldn’t badmouth his senior behind her back.
But this silence, to Chu Tingyun, was just more evidence that Yan Xun still liked Jiang Jingshu and was stubbornly refusing to listen to reason.
“Tsk…”
Seeing that Yan Xun was being unyielding, Chu Tingyun switched tactics and continued to persist, unrelenting in his efforts to steal his sister’s boyfriend.
“Yan Xun, why don’t you just date me? The old man can’t control me, and as for Chen Wanqing, forget about it. Plus, I’m handsome, rich, with a great personality and a good body. I won’t say I’m the best in the world, but I’m definitely top-tier.”
“Most importantly, even if Jiang Jingshu likes you, she won’t be able to marry you. But I’m different…”
“Oh? How are you different?”
Hearing this “different,” Yan Xun suddenly interrupted Chu Tingyun.
In Yan Xun’s mind, their first encounter had already given him the impression that Chu Tingyun was a dissolute scoundrel, a playboy with messy relationships.
Not to mention, Chu Tingyun knew full well that he was Jiang Jingshu’s boyfriend and still acted like this, saying these kinds of things.
Aside from his questionable ethics in relationships, Chu Tingyun wasn’t a bad person; sometimes, he was even alright.
As a friend, maybe. But as a lover? No thanks.
So Yan Xun gave him a glance and deliberately asked,
“Chu Tingyun, are you seriously saying you’d marry me?”
“…”
Of course, Chu Tingyun had never thought about marriage!
His parents’ unhappy marriage made him genuinely believe that marriage was a graveyard, not just for love but for life itself.
—Only a fool would get married.
To put it bluntly, Chu Tingyun’s interest in Yan Xun was mostly driven by lust. He had put so much effort into this, but Yan Xun still wouldn’t give him the time of day, and that was something Chu Tingyun couldn’t stand.
The more he couldn’t get him, the more he wanted him. He just had to have Yan Xun to satisfy his desire and see what it would feel like.
But now that the conversation had gone this far, Chu Tingyun still, without batting an eye, confidently responded.
“Of course I would!”
“Don’t be fooled by my nonchalance. When I’m in a relationship, I’m always aiming for marriage.”
Even while sick, the man’s cheeks were flushed, and even his blue eyes were misty. He tilted his head, smiling at Yan Xun.
“So, Yan Xun, what do you think? Wanna give me a shot, hm?”
This earnest, seemingly heartfelt look would’ve probably swindled the pants off anyone else.
“…”
Yan Xun stared at Chu Tingyun for a long time.
Aiming… for marriage?
He looked at the man in front of him, his eyelashes unconsciously fluttering a few times, his expression confused and hard to decipher.
Chu Tingyun saw Yan Xun’s reaction and immediately sensed that this was the right move, quickly pressing his advantage.
“Are you getting tempted?”
“…”
Yan Xun didn’t respond.
He lowered his gaze, calmly finished making the last dumpling, then stood up and leaned toward Chu Tingyun.
This movement excited Chu Tingyun; he even thought Yan Xun was going to kiss him.
But unexpectedly…
Yan Xun merely came closer, touched his forehead, then his cheek, and said,
“Chu Tingyun, did your fever fry your brain?”
“…”
Chu was silent for a few seconds, then looked up at him with a deadpan expression.
“Yan Xun, don’t think that just because you made up some excuse, I don’t know you intentionally wiped flour on my face.”
“…”
Oops, caught.
