Ye Mingxuan leaned over the balcony, counting the trees below. A flash of white headlights caught his eye. He turned to see the familiar Maybach approaching.
A few stray dogs below let out a few howls. Ye Mingxuan carried the small bowl into the bright, warm house.
Tan Sizhe closed the car door. The driver quickly drove away. He loosened his tie, the lingering buzz of alcohol dissipating in the cool night breeze, and opened the door to enter the house.
Seeing the round little head nestled against his chest, Tan Sizhe felt an unusual tingle in his heart: “Have you eaten?”
“Mm.” Ye Mingxuan nodded. “Would you like some milk pudding, sir? Aunt Fu made it—it’s delicious.”
Tan Sizhe wasn’t particularly fond of dairy, but since Ye Mingxuan had asked, he decided to give it a try. He walked to the kitchen and asked Aunt Fu where the milk pudding was.
Aunt Fu took the milk pudding out of the refrigerator, sprinkling some shredded coconut and dried osmanthus flowers on top. It was the same kind Ye Mingxuan had eaten.
After finishing these tasks, she clocked out, leaving only Tan Sizhe and Ye Mingxuan in the house.
Tan Sizhe sat down at the dining table. Seeing Ye Mingxuan about to head upstairs, he called out, “Sit next to me.”
Ye Mingxuan obediently returned and sat beside Tan Sizhe. Tan Sizhe scooped a piece of milk pudding—it was bouncy and translucent, just like someone’s butt.
He took a bite. The pudding tasted good, rich with a milky flavor. Ye Mingxuan looked at him expectantly: “Sir, is it good?”
Tan Sizhe swallowed. “Mm.”
Ye Mingxuan gave a shy smile. Tan Sizhe scooped another spoonful, this time holding it to his lips.
The younger man paused, slightly startled. When Tan Sizhe said “open,” he obediently parted his lips, chewing the pudding thoroughly before swallowing.
Feeding Ye Mingxuan inexplicably gave Tan Sizhe a sense of accomplishment. He offered another spoonful. Ye Mingxuan chewed and chewed: “Sir, please eat…”
Tan Sizhe gazed at Ye Mingxuan’s snow-white, delicate face: “It’s no fun eating alone.”
Ye Mingxuan’s curled lashes fluttered twice. Tan Sizhe fed him another bite. Just as he was about to chew, Tan Sizhe pinched his mouth shut, stopping him.
Tan Sizhe lifted his chin. “It’s more fun when we eat together, hmm?”
Ye Mingxuan nearly bit his tongue, mumbling indistinctly: “Huh?”
Tan Sizhe lowered his lashes to gaze at Ye Mingxuan’s rosy lips: “Now it’s your turn to feed me.”
The implication was so blatant even a fool would understand. Ye Mingxuan’s heart pounded wildly, sweat breaking out on his skin.
The incandescent light bathed the dining room in a harsh white glow, scattering around the room and dazzling Ye Mingxuan’s eyes. He swallowed hard, closed his eyes, and kissed Tan Sizhe.
A piece of milk pudding was offered into Tan Sizhe’s mouth. The milky aroma mingled with osmanthus fragrance filled his senses, but now there was something else—the uniquely sweet scent of Ye Mingxuan’s body.
Two tongues swirled the pudding, pushing it around inside their mouths—perhaps several times—before both men swallowed it whole.
Tan Sizhe wiped the droplets from the corner of his lips. Sharing was definitely more fun.
Ye Mingxuan had lost all sensation in his tongue. Just as he refocused his gaze, Tan Sizhe lifted him up and flipped him over.
Tan Sizhe recalled the photo Bai Yu had shown him in the car. He understood—his little wife was simply too captivating, making it only natural for clueless men to covet her.
But looking at Ye Mingxuan, whose innocent face showed utter bewilderment, Tan Sizhe clenched his jaw and swiftly stripped off Ye Mingxuan’s pants.
Ye Mingxuan: !!!
His hands braced against the pristine table, the cold surface sending a chill through him. “M-Master!”
Smack! Smack! Tan Sizhe delivered two sharp slaps to the two jellies.
The slaps were neither light nor heavy, but to Ye Mingxuan, they were deafening.
An unnatural flush instantly spread across his face. He writhed his slender waist and moaned, “Sir!”
The remaining pudding at the bottom of the bowl remained white and bouncy. Reflecting the restaurant’s bright lights, it trembled slightly in the bowl, sending a peculiar sensation to Ye Mingxuan’s brain. (This describes the pudding, an edible item—don’t censor it.)
Ye Mingxuan bit his lower lip. This realization filled him with panic, yet it was followed by a lingering sense of longing.
His actions caught Tan Sizhe’s eye, the latter’s gaze growing darker.
Ye Mingxuan turned his head, clutching the bowl of panna cotta. “Sir, the panna cotta will melt if we don’t eat it soon…”
Tan Sizhe ignored him, ruffling his hair. “We’ll eat it later.”
…
Half an hour later, Ye Mingxuan lay resting on the bed.
Tan Sizhe fetched some ointment, sat beside him, and applied a dab to the mosquito bites on his skin. After the cooling gel, he lifted Ye Mingxuan’s arm and dusted it lightly with baby-safe prickly heat powder.
After finishing, he noticed the previously whimpering person had gone quiet. Looking down, Tan Sizhe saw Ye Mingxuan had fallen asleep comfortably. He chuckled softly and helped him pull up his pants.
The phone on the bedside table vibrated twice. Tan Sizhe reached out and pulled it closer.
Bai Yu: “The Yu family has a good relationship with the Ye family. Before Yu Sen went abroad, he often visited Ye Yufan’s home. That’s probably when he met Mingxuan.”
“The Ye family didn’t tell the Yu family about arranging Mingxuan as a substitute bride. Of course, that’s understandable. The more people know about this matter, the harder it is to keep it hidden.”
“Oh, and Yu Sen also visited Forest Park earlier. I wonder if you recall that.”
Forest Park.
Upon Bai Yu mentioning this, Tan Sizhe seemed to have a vague recollection.
Back then, he’d seen Ye Mingxuan alone, forgotten in a corner. A man approached and spoke with him by the pond, but before long, Ye Yufan pulled him away.
No wonder Yu Sen looked vaguely familiar.
The faint smile on Tan Sizhe’s lips faded.
–
On Sunday, Ye Mingxuan and Yu Sen agreed to meet at a grilled fish restaurant.
Yu Sen wore a camel-colored coat paired with a white scarf, bringing in the winter chill as he entered the shop.
Ye Mingxuan had already taken a seat and was waiting. Spotting Yu Sen, he stood up to greet him: “Brother Yu Sen.”
Yu Sen smiled. “Sorry about the traffic jam on the way.”
Yu Sen took off his coat and placed it on the adjacent seat. Ye Mingxuan passed him the menu and asked if the signature dish was acceptable. Yu Sen nodded.
“Mingxuan,” Yu Sen murmured as he ate the fish, “Yufan’s disciplinary report came out. Did you see it?”
Ye Mingxuan replied, “Yeah. He compensated for the damaged clothes and covered the senior’s medical expenses.”
Yu Sen: “Compensation is good. This should teach him a lesson. Yufan called me to admit his mistake too. Mingxuan, if he ever hurts you again, don’t be afraid. Come tell me. I’ll definitely help you.”
Ye Mingxuan released the straw from his lemonade. Seeing Yu Sen’s sincere gaze stirred an indescribable emotion within him.
He had never troubled Yu Sen before, and even now that they’d reunited, Ye Mingxuan felt awkward about asking for his help.
But since Yu Sen offered to assist him, Ye Mingxuan felt deeply grateful: “Brother Yu Sen, thank you.”
Yu Sen’s cheeks flushed slightly: “What are you thanking me for… Mingxuan…”
He reached out, intending to place his palm over Ye Mingxuan’s hand, when suddenly, Ye Mingxuan’s phone in his pocket rang.
Ye Mingxuan withdrew his hand, leaving Yu Sen grasping at thin air. Before Ye Mingxuan could register what had happened, he gave Yu Sen an apologetic smile, pulled out his phone, and saw a message from Tan Sizhe.
Sizhe: [I’m sick.]
Sizhe: [Photo]
Sizhe: [My head’s spinning, Mingxuan. Can you come stay with me?]
Seeing Tan Sizhe say he was sick, Ye Mingxuan’s heart clenched. He tapped the thumbnail.
Tan Sizhe had a neatly folded towel on his head, leaning against the bed with a dazed expression fixed on the camera. His bathrobe hung loosely, revealing a broad expanse of well-defined muscles that made one’s blood boil.
Sizhe: [My chest hurts]
Ye Mingxuan: !!!
“Mingxuan?” Yu Sen called out. “What’s wrong?”
Ye Mingxuan swallowed hard, feeling something boil inside him. He quickly shoveled down a few bites of food. “N-nothing…”
Yu Sen smiled. “Let’s go out for a walk later. I know a nice dessert shop nearby.”
Ye Mingxuan’s phone started buzzing incessantly again.
Sizhe: 【My chest is hurting again, but I don’t want to go to the hospital.】
Ye Mingxuan panicked, glancing at Yu Sen as he typed rapidly under the table: 【How can you not go to the hospital? What if it’s a heart attack?】
Sizhe: 【Don’t want to.】
Ye Mingxuan bit down on the straw of his lemonade, his leg starting to shake anxiously.
Yu Sen picked up a large piece of fish and placed it in his bowl: “Mingxuan, eat this.”
Ye Mingxuan bit down on his lemonade straw, his leg starting to shake nervously.
Yu Sen picked up a large piece of fish and placed it in his bowl: “Mingxuan, eat this.”
At the same time, Tan Sizhe sent another message: [My heart feels a bit fluttery.]
He attached a photo of himself cupping his chest—knuckles visible as his fingers spread across his bulging pectoral, a hint of dark pink visible between his index and middle fingers, and below, a defined set of abs.
Boiling blood rushed to Ye Mingxuan’s brain: !!!
Yu Sen: “Mingxuan…”
Ye Mingxuan looked up: “Sorry, Yu Sen, I… I think I left something at school. I’ll run back and be right back!”
Yu Sen: “Forgot something? I’ll drive you there.”
Ye Mingxuan grabbed his scarf and wrapped it around his neck: “No, it’s fine, Yu Sen. I’ll be back soon. Keep eating—I already paid the bill!” ”
So Ye Mingxuan hurried home, swiped his card to open the door, and was immediately grabbed by the wrist the moment he stepped inside. Ye Mingxuan gasped as Tan Sizhe lifted him up and pinned him against the wall.
“Sir?!” Ye Mingxuan’s body was suspended in the air, with no foothold, forcing him to cling to Tan Sizhe. “Aren’t you sick?”
Tan Sizhe pulled open his collar, his voice barely a whisper. “Of course I’m sick. Don’t believe me? Feel for yourself.”
Ye Mingxuan stared dumbstruck at the man’s chest muscles, unable to form a coherent sentence for a long moment. “Sir, go… go lie down on the bed. I bought you medicine… to calm your heart palpitations…”
Tan Sizhe snatched the medicine from his hand. “This stuff won’t work.”
Ye Mingxuan stammered, “Then… what will work?”
Tan Sizhe curved his lips, guiding Ye Mingxuan’s hand inside his collar. “Touching will work.”
