Chapter 78

“Sir, come see! This is what I bought for you!”

Ye Mingxuan led Tan Sizhe back to his hotel room. The once-empty space instantly came alive. Walking behind Ye Mingxuan, Tan Sizhe deliberately let him bump into his arms as he turned to pick something up.

Warm, soft flesh pressed against his chest. Tan Sizhe watched Ye Mingxuan’s momentary daze and blushing expression, his mood lifting considerably.

“Sir,” Ye Mingxuan extended his hand, “this is for you.”

Tan Sizhe smiled, looking down to see a black leather wallet. Ye Mingxuan explained, “I saw this wallet yesterday while shopping. It was so nice, I bought it.”

“You picked it out yourself?”

“Mhm.”

Ye Mingxuan added, “I also bought some things at the art exhibition. They’ll be shipped back to China in a few days.”

Tan Sizhe examined the wallet in his hands. It was handmade and of excellent quality. “Alright, I’ll start using it when I get back.”

Ye Mingxuan flashed him a smile before turning away. “Oh, right—this one’s for Grandpa, this one’s for Auntie, this one’s for Yangyang, this one’s for Akin…”

Tan Sizhe stared blankly as Ye Mingxuan listed the souvenirs he’d bought: “Wait.”

Ye Mingxuan turned back: “Hmm?”

Tan Sizhe frowned: “Why did you buy gifts for other people?”

Ye Mingxuan replied: “Grandpa and Auntie aren’t ‘other people’.”

Tan Sizhe looked at the items on the table. Each one had been carefully chosen by Ye Mingxuan. His handmade wallet wasn’t the one-of-a-kind piece.

“…” Tan Sizhe slipped the wallet into his pocket, then pulled Ye Mingxuan close and planted two firm kisses on his lips.

Ye Mingxuan didn’t understand why Tan Sizhe was acting this way all of a sudden. He just obediently parted his lips for the kisses.

As the kisses deepened, the mood shifted. Tan Sizhe’s hands grew restless, slipping beneath Ye Mingxuan’s shirt. Ye Mingxuan hunched his back, covering his chest. “Sir!”

Ye Mingxuan bit his lip in shame, trembling as he undid his collar. Tan Sizhe glanced down—it was slightly larger than before, but not much, easily cupped in one hand.

“Here…” Tan Sizhe tapped his chest. “Will milk come out?”

“Sir!” Ye Mingxuan grabbed his clothes to shield himself, shivering as he fled to the bedside. “No way!”

Tan Sizhe chuckled, walking over. “No way? I don’t buy it.”

Fireworks burst brilliantly outside the window, illuminating Ye Mingxuan’s vivid expression. “Seriously, no…”

Tan Sizhe wrapped his arms around Ye Mingxuan’s waist, spinning him effortlessly onto the bed. Kneeling on the mattress, he pinned him down. “Why not try and see?”

…

Moonlight spilled softly across the bed’s edge as Tan Sizhe dressed Ye Mingxuan in pajamas.

Ye Mingxuan buried his flushed face in the pillow. The air still carried the salty, damp scent of sea breeze. His chest tingled from the fabric’s friction—he dared not look.

Earlier, Tan Sizhe had spent ages trying to find something to eat but came up empty, so he’d switched tactics and eaten elsewhere instead. Now Ye Mingxuan’s thighs were still trembling.

Tan Sizze propped his head up with one hand, turning to stare at Ye Mingxuan. “Tired?”

Ye Mingxuan lifted his damp lashes and nodded silently. Dancing earlier had already left him somewhat exhausted, and Tan Sizhe’s earlier provocation had only deepened his fatigue. Now, sleep was all he could think about.

As Tan Sizhe’s breath descended upon him again, Ye Mingxuan instinctively parted his lips and extended his tongue, meeting Tan Sizhe’s for a moist kiss. After the kiss ended, Ye Mingxuan burrowed deeper into the covers, stealing a bashful glance at him.

“Sleep now.” Tan Sizhe ruffled his hair.

Ye Mingxuan nodded. “Good night, sir.” He closed his eyes.

Tan Sizhe played with his hair for a moment. Only after Ye Mingxuan fell asleep did he pull something from his pocket and slip it onto Ye Mingxuan’s ring finger.

It was a silver ring, glinting silver-white in the moonlight filtering through the curtains. On Tan Sizhe’s left ring finger, a matching ring now rested.

Their hands overlapped, the two rings intertwining and sparkling brilliantly in the silvery moonlight.

–

At nine in the morning, employees at Tan Corporation Tower were already seated at their workstations, beginning their day’s grind. Ah Mei sat at the front desk touching up her makeup when a knock soon sounded on her desk.

Ah Mei looked up to see a clean-cut young man with slightly arched eyebrows. He addressed her without the slightest courtesy: “I’m a friend of Mr. Tan. I need to see him.”

Amei set down her powder compact. “Certainly, sir. Please register on this form and await notification.”

Ye Yufan frowned. “I have to register? Didn’t you hear me? I’m a friend of Mr. Tan.”

Amei offered a sweet smile. “Certainly, sir. Please proceed with registration.”

“Why should I register?” Ye Yufan gripped the gift in his hand impatiently. “I need to see Mr. Tan now. Go announce my arrival!”

Amei maintained her sweet smile but stopped speaking to him. She sat down to touch up her makeup in the mirror. Another pretty young girl nearby, Ah Fen, glanced over before turning back to apply her own lipstick.

Ye Yufan was so furious his head spun, his voice rising sharply: “Are you all deaf?! Is this how you treat customers?!”

A nearby attendant snorted derisively, the sound stinging Ye Yufan with humiliation. “You… I’m going to file a complaint against you right now!”

The attendant finished applying lipstick and touched up her blush. “You’re the seven hundred and sixtieth person this year threatening to complain. Go ahead.”

Ye Yufan’s chest heaved. “You… you… aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to Mr. Tan?!”

The attendant smiled. “As employees of Mr. Tan, it’s our duty to clearly distinguish who his genuine friends are.”

Ye Yufan’s chest heaved. “You… you… aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to Mr. Tan?!”

Amei smiled. “As Mr. Tan’s employees, it’s our duty to clearly distinguish his genuine friends from imposters. So please leave, or I’ll call security.”

Ye Yufan clutched his bag tightly, pointing at them. “Fine! I’ll remember you!”

He turned to leave. Just then, another man entered and brushed past him. Ye Yufan glanced back to see the man approach the front desk and say to A Mei, “Hello, I’m a friend of Mr. Tan. Could you introduce me?”

Amei smiled. “Certainly. Please fill out this form and await notification.”

The man flashed her a flirtatious wink. “Got it~”

“… ” Ye Yufan clenched his fists and descended the steps to leave….

Ye Mingxuan and Tan Size stayed in Florence for two days before returning to the country with Qi Lin.

“Let me see! Let me see!” Lin Jiale grabbed Ye Mingxuan’s hand. “This ring is so dazzling!”

Ye Mingxuan smiled slightly: “Mr. Tan has one too. They’re a pair.”

Lin Jiale cooed: “Oh my! Looks like you and Mr. Tan are living the good life. Him chasing you all the way to Italy? Sounds just like a honeymoon for newlyweds.”

Ye Mingxuan pulled snacks from his backpack. “For you.”

“Wow, I get some too?!” Lin Jiale snatched the bag. Spotting the brand, she exclaimed excitedly, “This is the one I saw online! I only mentioned it once, and you remembered? Mingxuan, you’re too good!”

“What kind of snacks?” Zhang Shushu leaned in. “Give me a bite!”

“No way!” Lin Jiale clutched the bag tightly. “These are all for me. No sharing!”

Zhang Shushu was practically drooling. “Mingxuan, do you have any extra snacks? Just one bite? Can I try a little?”

Ye Mingxuan rummaged through his backpack. “I’ve got a few chocolates left. Want some?”

“Really?! Thanks!” Zhang Shushu took the chocolate, then noticed the ring on his left hand. “Mingxuan, that ring looks pretty pricey.”

Ye Mingxuan lowered his gaze to the wedding band on his finger.

These days, wearing rings wasn’t unusual. Many boys and girls bought rings as accessories, and people didn’t bat an eye at seeing someone wearing one. But only a select few wealthy individuals could afford luxury rings like the one on Ye Mingxuan’s finger—it clearly cost a fortune.

Ye Mingxuan traced the edge of the ring. “Yeah, my lover gave it to me.”

Zhang Shushu paused mid-bite of chocolate: “Huh??! You’re dating?!”

But it was too late—everyone had heard. They swarmed over: “Mingxuan, you’re dating?!”

“Wow, Ye Mingxuan has a girlfriend!”

“His boyfriend even bought him a ring—did he propose?”

“My girlfriends are gonna be heartbroken—their crush is taken!”

Ye Mingxuan’s spot was instantly surrounded as everyone gathered for gossip. Blushing, he admitted it.

With the man himself confirming it, everyone accepted the news and came over to offer congratulations.

Throughout the entire class period, Ye Mingxuan kept receiving inquiries on his phone, which he patiently replied to one by one.

Yes, he was in a relationship. He had a lover.

A year ago, he never imagined he’d end up with Tan Sizhe. But here they were.

Receiving everyone’s well-wishes, Ye Mingxuan happily descended the stairs with Lin Jiale. Lin Jiale teased, “If I were you, I’d skip class altogether. Why sit in here like a prisoner? Why not go out and have fun?”

Ye Mingxuan smiled without comment. He cherished their days together at school.

After buying fruit salad at the fruit shop, Ye Mingxuan spotted an Audi parked nearby. The license plate looked familiar—it could only belong to Tan Sizhe.

“Someone’s here to pick you up,” Lin Jiale teased.

Ye Mingxuan said goodbye, ran to the car, and opened the door. Sure enough, Tan Sizhe sat in the backseat, wearing sunglasses with great solemnity.

“Sir?” Ye Mingxuan climbed in. “Why are you wearing sunglasses?”

Tan Sizhe crossed his legs. “Heard someone was bragging to classmates about being in a relationship today.”

Ye Mingxuan stiffened, his face flushing. “How did you know…”

Tan Sizhe waved his phone. “The campus forum is flooded with posts. I’ve been scrolling all day. Everyone’s wondering who Ye Mingxuan’s girlfriend is.”

“So, riding on Ye Mingxuan’s coattails, I’m now a hot topic at your school. Naturally, I need to keep a low profile.”