Ye Mingxuan’s hair was tousled by his touch, his eyes dark and bright.
How could this be such a coincidence? He’d just been thinking of finding an opportunity to move in with his mother, and now his husband was saying he’d be away on business for a few days?
Why was his luck so good lately?
Ye Mingxuan looked utterly bewildered, sensing something was off but unable to pinpoint it.
Tan Sizhe took two steps closer. Ye Mingxuan’s head now rested near his chest—a gentle press of his hand would press the boy’s round head against him.
But Tan Sizhe didn’t. Instead, he braced one hand on the railing, trapping Ye Mingxuan between himself and the potted plant behind him. He bent down, lowering his head. “After three days apart, I ought to show some appreciation.”
The overhead light flickered momentarily. Ye Mingxuan reached for the railing but accidentally grabbed the man’s hand instead. He recoiled as if electrocuted: “Sir…”
Tan Sizhe wouldn’t let him go. Ye Mingxuan tried to slip away from under his arm, but Tan Sizhe pinched his armpit and pulled him back. “Kiss me.”
Ye Mingxuan bit his lip, his face flushing crimson with shame. “This is outside… and Grandfather will be here soon…”
Tan Sizhe refused to let him go, tapping his own lips. “Then kiss me before Grandfather arrives.”
Ye Mingxuan’s crimson lips pressed into a straight line, his heart pounding wildly. He strained his ears to listen for sounds from the private room. Before Old Master Tan arrived, Ye Mingxuan stood on tiptoe and swiftly pressed his lips against Tan Sizhe’s.
Just then, a commotion erupted from the private room. Old Master Tan called out, “Sizhe, Mingxuan, where are you?”
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes widened. He took off running, only to be caught by Tan Sizhe and pinned against the wall.
He tilted his head back, only to have his lips captured by the man’s kiss.
Ye Mingxuan: !!!
Old Master Tan was right there in the private room—how perilous! If the elders saw these two youngsters kissing on the balcony, what would they think?
Every hair on his body stood on end. He tried to pull away from the kiss, but Tan Sizhe tightened his grip on his chin, his tongue sweeping several times inside Ye Mingxuan’s mouth.
“Mingxuan?” Old Master Tan’s footsteps drew nearer, reaching the balcony in the next instant.
Ye Mingxuan struggled free—or rather, Tan Sizhe finally released him—and immediately turned toward the potted plant: playing dead.
Tan Sizhe wiped the drool from his mouth with his fingertips and turned. “Grandfather.”
The old man looked over. “Are you two admiring the view?”
Tan Sizhe stifled a laugh. “Something like that. Mingxuan said the view here is lovely.”
Old Master Tan smiled. “I personally chose this private room. It has a certain charm, Mingxuan.”
“Grandfather.” Ye Mingxuan turned away, hands behind his back, looking bashful.
“Come here, come here,” Grandpa Tan beckoned with his rough hand, patting Ye Mingxuan’s shoulder. “How have you been lately? Has Sizhe been treating you well?”
Ye Mingxuan nodded obediently. Grandpa Tan led him inside: “Seeing you two lovebirds so sweet together puts my mind at ease.”
“What did they say at your last prenatal checkup?”
“The doctor said everything’s fine. We’ll go again next time.”
“Hmm.”
Old Master Tan and Ye Mingxuan sat down and chatted for a while longer before Old Master Tan remembered he had a grandson. He looked at Tan Sizhe, who had been sitting across from them sipping water for ages. “Huh? No need to look at me. Keep talking.”
“Hmph, I’m the one who wants to keep talking with you,” Old Master Tan said. “What’s the situation with you and Mr. Ye? He even called me directly. When someone asks for your help, why won’t you assist? That’s Mingxuan’s father—you ought to lend him some support.”
Ye Mingxuan lowered his head and clutched his knees upon hearing this.
Tan Sizhe calmly withdrew his gaze. “Grandfather, you needn’t concern yourself with this matter. I know what I’m doing.”
Tan Group was now entirely under Tan Sizhe’s control. Truthfully, Ye Xiangkai approaching Old Master Tan was pointless. Old Master Tan could only offer a few words of consolation. However, he had always trusted Tan Sizhe, believing he would handle it well, so he asked no further questions.
He motioned to Ye Mingxuan, serving him a piece of spare ribs: “Mingxuan, eat up.”
Ye Mingxuan pursed his lips: “Mm.”
–
Ye Mingxuan happily stayed at Liu Yan’s place for three days.
During this time, Liu Yan avoided mentioning Zhao Dongxuan, likely to spare his feelings. She noticed Ye Mingxuan seemed different from before, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
The three days passed pleasantly. Ye Mingxuan promised Liu Yan he’d visit again before turning to leave. As he watched her close the door, a wave of loneliness and worry washed over him.
Must he spend his entire life sneaking visits to see his mother?
Ye Mingxuan returned home with his worries hidden, only to find Aunt Fu wiping glasses as soon as he entered.
“Mr. Mingxuan, you’re finally back!”
“Aunt Fu.” Mingxuan flashed a bright smile, walked to the counter, sat down, and poured himself a glass of lemon water. “Is the master home?”
“He came back ages ago. After dinner, he went to his bedroom. He told me to let you rest early when I saw you return.” Aunt Fu smiled, pursing her lips. “But I think he couldn’t wait to see you.”
Ye Mingxuan: “Huh?”
Aunt Fu set down the dishcloth and gestured him upstairs. “Hurry up! Absence makes the heart grow fonder. You’re driving me crazy, you little rascal!”
Teased like this, Ye Mingxuan felt flustered. He went upstairs awkwardly, knocked on the door, and called out, “Sir, may I come in?”
“Come in.”
Ye Mingxuan turned the doorknob and stepped inside. Tan Sizhe lay neatly on the bed, a black blanket loosely draped over his legs. Sunlight streaming through the window bathed him in a golden halo, making him look as radiant as an angel. Ye Mingxuan stared, momentarily transfixed.
“Sir.” He tiptoed inside.
He sat down beside Tan Sizhe’s bed, leaning closer, only to suddenly see the other man open his eyes. With a smile, he pulled Ye Mingxuan onto the bed.
Ye Mingxuan gasped in surprise, not expecting Tan Sizhe to have been feigning sleep, waiting for him to take the bait. “Sir!”
Tan Sizhe pinned him down with both hands, leaning in to sniff his neck. “How have these past few days been?”
“Mmm… that tickles…”
“Hm?”
Dense kisses rained down, sending shivers through Ye Mingxuan. He pulled his neck back. “Fine.”
Tan Sizhe watched Ye Mingxuan, who was sunk into the soft bedding. His complexion was rosy and healthy, the gray-black sheets making his skin appear snow-white, though a faint sorrow lingered between his brows.
Ever since their first meeting, that sorrow had clung to Ye Mingxuan like an indelible iceberg, frozen upon his face.
Tan Sizhe raised his hand, his fingertips tracing Ye Mingxuan’s delicate brow. “Have you been managing your weight?”
Ye Mingxuan nodded.
Tan Sizhe: “I don’t believe you. Let me feel for myself.”
He slipped his warm hand beneath Ye Mingxuan’s shirt, touching the soft belly. Ye Mingxuan’s stomach had grown slightly larger, though the faint outline of his abs was still discernible. It wasn’t noticeable under clothes, and Ye Mingxuan wasn’t particularly overweight now.
Ye Mingxuan bit his thumb, tense under the man’s touch, feeling the warmth of his palm pressed against his own as their body heat mingled.
Tan Sizhe kissed his jawline, lifted his shirt, and sucked gently on the protruding belly button, once, twice.
As he went for a third suck, Ye Mingxuan reached up and pressed his hand against the man’s head. “Sir…”
Tan Sizhe’s gaze was unfocused from sucking. He lay beside him and hugged him. “The blankets have been cold these past few days.”
Ye Mingxuan fluttered his eyelashes and murmured softly, “Then I’ll get you a hot water bottle, sir.”
“It’s not a hot water bottle I lack.”
“…Huh?”
Ye Mingxuan froze at Tan Sizhe’s words, his cheeks burning fiercely, ears hot as embers.
Tan Sizhe buried his chin in Ye Mingxuan’s neck, laughing softly. His low voice sent electric shivers down Ye Mingxuan’s skin, making him tremble imperceptibly.
He shifted slightly, and Tan Sizhe’s phone in his pocket buzzed. He pulled it out, letting out an impatient “tsk.”
Ye Mingxuan looked down and saw the caller ID: Zhao Dongxuan.
“Sir, is this about that matter from before?”
Tan Sizhe gave a lazy “Mm,” about to hang up, but a sudden thought struck him. He placed the phone in Ye Mingxuan’s hand.
Ye Mingxuan: “?”
Tan Sizhe: “You take it.”
Ye Mingxuan nearly dropped the phone. “Me?! But I don’t know what the client wants to discuss.”
Tan Sizhe flopped down beside him, propping his head on his elbow as he stared blankly at the white wall. “Just say whatever he tells you to say.”
Ye Mingxuan: “Sir…”
Tan Sizhe raised an eyebrow. “I’m tired.”
Ye Mingxuan: “…”
Tan Sizhe lifted his lashes, his dark eyes fixed on Ye Mingxuan. “Say whatever you need to say. Don’t worry about me.”
Ye Mingxuan pouted, puffing out his cheeks before answering the call.
Zhao Dongxuan’s ingratiating laughter filled the line: “Mr. Tan, you finally picked up!”
Ye Mingxuan: “It’s me.”
Zhao Dongxuan froze: “Ye Mingxuan?! How come Tan’s phone is with you?!”
Ye Mingxuan nervously bit his lip: “Tan’s busy. He asked me to take it.”
Zhao Dongxuan muttered, “What good does it do you… Give the phone back to Mr. Tan.”
Ye Mingxuan: “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
Zhao Dongxuan: “Why not?”
Ye Mingxuan: “Mr. Tan has been extremely busy these past few days and doesn’t have time to handle matters concerning the Ye family.”
Zhao Dongxuan: “Ye Mingxuan! Are you deliberately opposing me? Who do you think you are, talking to me like this—”
Ye Mingxuan sighed: “I didn’t tell Mr. Tan about the Ye family’s investment proposal earlier because I believed this project would lose money. But you wouldn’t listen to me.”
Tan Sizhe listened, raising an eyebrow.
Midway through her tirade, Zhao Dongxuan froze upon hearing Ye Mingxuan’s words: “You… what did you just say?”
Ye Mingxuan: “It’s too late to dwell on that now. I know twenty million is a significant sum for the Ye family, but to Mr. Tan, it’s mere pocket change.”
“In other words, business inherently involves gains and losses. Mr. Tan wouldn’t bat an eye at this amount. Your persistent pestering only makes him think our Ye family lacks generosity.”
Zhao Dongxuan, who valued face above all, was rendered speechless by Ye Mingxuan’s retort. Instead, she followed his line of reasoning: ” “Then what should we do?”
Ye Mingxuan smirked: “Well… you’ll have to figure that out yourselves. After all, you wouldn’t believe me anyway.”
Zhao Dongxuan stammered: “I…”
Ye Mingxuan cut her off: “I need to return this phone to my boss. He needs it for work. You should get some rest.”
Before the other end could respond, Ye Mingxuan hung up: “…”
Ahhhhhhhhh! What did he just say?! Did those words really come out of his mouth?! He actually silenced Zhao Dongxuan!
Ye Mingxuan’s heart pounded wildly, dizziness threatening to make him collapse.
He swallowed hard, turned his head, and met Tan Sizhe’s eyes.
Those eyes held a mix of approval and surprise. Tan Sizhe curved his thin lips into a faint smile: “Well done.”
