He never planned to stay the night. As soon as he said that, he raised his wrist to check the time.
Seeing it was getting late, he got up from the sofa.
Lin Shuang also stood up with him and Jiang Yu.
“So soon?” she asked.
“Mm,” Yu Shiqing said. “You two should rest early.”
Ren Bai said, “I’ll drive you back.”
But Lin Shuang quickly said,
“Xiao Bai, just stay the night. We’ve got plenty of rooms anyway.”
Ren Bai hesitated for a moment, still not sure how to respond.
Yu Shiqing then said, “Give me the car keys.”
“Be careful on the road,” Ren Bai said.
Since the place wasn’t far from Yufeng Scenic Garden, he didn’t hesitate for long and handed over the car keys.
Yu Shiqing reached out and took them, nodded politely at the two, then casually took Jiang Yu’s hand.
Together, they turned and walked toward the door.
Watching how inseparable they were, Ren Bai scratched the back of his head.
Were they always this obvious?
If so, why had he never noticed before?
Thinking of that, he turned to Lin Shuang and couldn’t help but ask:
“Auntie, you said you knew about them when exactly did you find out?”
While Lin Shuang was lost in thought for a moment, Jiang Yu quickened his pace, held Yu Shiqing’s hand tightly, and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Yu Shiqing watched his actions and asked, “In a hurry to leave?”
The well-soundproofed door had already blocked out all sound from inside.
Jiang Yu appeared calm on the surface. “No.”
They went downstairs and got into the car. Yu Shiqing watched Jiang Yu buckle the passenger seatbelt and drive out of the neighborhood.
Back at Yufeng, Jingyuan, Jiang Yu noticed a car parked by the roadside behind them. In the darkness, it was hard to see clearly, but he had a hunch.
He looked at Yu Shiqing and said, “If paparazzi found out the address, they might catch photos of us.”
Yu Shiqing was driving through the gate. “Mm.”
Jiang Yu added, “When that happens, should we admit the relationship, or keep it a secret?”
Yu Shiqing didn’t care much about such things. “It’s up to you.”
Jiang Yu asked, “Aren’t you afraid of getting blacklisted if we go public?”
Yu Shiqing replied, “Worst case, I’ll go back to doing stage plays.”
Jiang Yu glanced at his profile, lips pressed in a thin line.
“But Teacher Jiang,” Yu Shiqing turned to him, eyes smiling, “you’d better be ready to go through hardship with me.”
Jiang Yu finally smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t give you the chance to suffer.”
After getting out of the car, they went upstairs from the garage.
As they entered the house, Yu Shiqing immediately heard a familiar cello piece playing inside.
It was a solo from Tacit Understanding, the version he practiced back when he was still filming The Fog.
The cello melody was gentle and flowing. The lighting was warm and golden. Along the floor, two rows of candles lay in long tracks, flickering and lighting the way forward.
Yu Shiqing turned his head to look at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu took a step forward, reached out to embrace him, kissed him on the lips, and with a teasing look in his eyes said softly, “I was supposed to set all this up myself. But plans can’t keep up with changes, so now you’ll have to settle for this.”
Yu Shiqing chuckled and kissed him back on the lips.
Jiang Yu deepened the kiss on his own initiative.
When the kiss ended, Yu Shiqing gently touched the side of Jiang Yu’s face and pressed lightly at the corner of his lips, his voice laced with a smile. “My fault.”
Jiang Yu rested his forehead against his and looked into his eyes from up close. His gaze softened. “I didn’t blame you.”
Then he placed his hand over Yu Shiqing’s and pulled him forward. “Because the one who missed out tonight isn’t me, it’s you.”
Yu Shiqing followed his lead. “Missed out?”
Jiang Yu looked back at him. “I learned how to make longevity noodles.”
“Longevity noodles?” Yu Shiqing felt a warmth in his chest. “When did you learn that?”
Jiang Yu turned his gaze away like it didn’t matter. “When I was bored.”
Seeing his seemingly calm side profile, Yu Shiqing’s smile deepened. “I see.”
Jiang Yu cleared his throat lightly, pretending not to hear, and sped up to pull him toward a small dining table in the living room, softly lit by a warm lamp. “Wait here for a bit.”
Yu Shiqing watched his figure disappear into the kitchen. Only then did he notice that there were no dishes on the table just two glasses of red wine on opposite sides. In the center, the candlelight cast a thin shadow that flickered in the warm glow.
Not long after—
Jiang Yu walked out of the kitchen.
He was holding a small bowl in his hands. As he approached, he placed it in front of Yu Shiqing. They had already eaten cake after dinner, and Jiang Yu knew Yu Shiqing didn’t have much of an appetite now, so he didn’t serve much.
“I made the noodles earlier this afternoon,” Jiang Yu said. “The taste might not be that good.”
Only then did Yu Shiqing realize that when Jiang Yu said he wouldn’t have a good meal earlier, he didn’t mean there wouldn’t be food, but that the taste might not be good.
Jiang Yu handed him a pair of chopsticks. “Try it.”
Yu Shiqing took them, and at the same time, wrapped his hand around Jiang Yu’s. “It’s good enough.”
Jiang Yu immediately felt the heat on the back of his hand and instinctively looked away. “You haven’t even tried it yet. How do you know?”
Yu Shiqing looked at him and gave a faint smile. “As long as it’s made by you, it’s the best.”
Jiang Yu turned back to meet his gaze. The corner of his lips curled into a smile he could never fully suppress, and a light flickered in his bright eyes.
Yu Shiqing gently pressed the back of his neck and kissed him softly on the lips. “Thank you.”
Jiang Yu held his shoulder, glanced at him, then walked around to sit down across from him.
After Yu Shiqing had a bite from the bowl, Jiang Yu asked, “How is it?”
Yu Shiqing replied, “Very good.”
“You’re not lying?” Jiang Yu asked.
“Of course not,” Yu Shiqing said.
Jiang Yu was already good at cooking. Even though the noodles were made in the afternoon, they were freshly boiled and still tasted great.
Still half doubtful, Jiang Yu picked a noodle from Yu Shiqing’s bowl, tasted it, and smiled. “So this makes you happy?”
Yu Shiqing asked back, “Aren’t you?”
Jiang Yu picked up the red wine nearby, his face calm. “Then you’ll have to wait until next year to find out.”
Yu Shiqing chuckled and finished the rest of the longevity noodles in his bowl.
Jiang Yu watched him drink some wine to wash it down and then said, “I have a gift for you.”
Yu Shiqing glanced at the empty bowl in front of him, a little surprised. “There’s more?”
“This bowl of noodles was just your dinner.” Jiang Yu put down his wine glass. “Your gift is in the bedroom.”
Before Yu Shiqing could look, Jiang Yu had already gotten up. He walked around the dining counter, grabbed Yu Shiqing’s wrist resting casually on the table, and pulled him toward the bedroom.
As soon as they entered the room, Jiang Yu stopped and turned to face Yu Shiqing.
“Wait here for me.”
After a brief pause, he guided Yu Shiqing to sit by the bed. “I’ll be right back.”
Yu Shiqing said, “Okay.”
Jiang Yu then turned and went to the walk-in closet. Unlike usual, he purposely closed the door.
In the room, the deep, soothing sound of a cello continued to flow. The warm, dim lighting paired with the familiar melody created a gently seductive mood.
Yu Shiqing glanced around but couldn’t figure out what surprise Jiang Yu was planning.
Fortunately, he didn’t wait long before the closet door opened again.
Jiang Yu stepped out, now dressed differently. He wore only a silk robe.
Meeting Yu Shiqing’s gaze, he slightly lowered his eyes to gesture.
Yu Shiqing followed his gaze and saw that Jiang Yu had no belt around his waist only a thin ribbon like a gift wrap, loosely tied at his hips. A light pull would undo it.
As he walked, the robe clung to his body, faintly outlining his form.
Yu Shiqing’s eyes darkened.
Jiang Yu approached him and leaned down to kiss his lips. His voice was low and slightly husky.
“Do you like your gift, Teacher Yu?”
The faint fragrance of wine lingered between their lips and teeth. It wasn’t as strong or overbearing as Jiang Yu’s usual scent, but just as intoxicating.
Yu Shiqing held back Jiang Yu’s wandering hand and asked, “Are you sure about this?”
Jiang Yu didn’t answer. Instead, he held Yu Shiqing’s hand and guided it down the smooth, cool fabric to the ribbon at his waist.
His usually cold and sharp voice turned soft and enticing as he whispered by Yu Shiqing’s ear:
“Aren’t you going to open your gift?”
As he spoke, he pressed down on Yu Shiqing’s shoulder and kissed him, pushing him gently onto the bed.
Jiang Yu’s actions said it all.
Yu Shiqing saw the gleam in his eyes, sharp and burning. After a moment, he reached up, cupped the back of Jiang Yu’s head, bent his knee between Jiang Yu’s legs, arched his back, and flipped them over.
Jiang Yu froze.
It was the first time they were this intimate while fully sober.
Looking at Yu Shiqing on top of him, he momentarily forgot to continue the kiss, his expression stiffened.
“Yu Shiqing?”
Yu Shiqing cupped his neck, his thumb brushing over Jiang Yu’s Adam’s apple and resting on his chin. “Hmm?”
Jiang Yu looked into his eyes. With just one glance, the tension in his body slowly eased.
“Forget it, it’s all the same.”
With that, he wrapped his arms around Yu Shiqing’s neck and resumed the deep kiss they hadn’t finished.
The front of his robe loosened with the movement.
Yu Shiqing supported his back with one hand, while his right hand gently untied the delicate ribbon that barely held the robe together.
At the same time, Jiang Yu undid Yu Shiqing’s belt.
Yu Shiqing glanced at him and kissed his forehead with a smile, then kissed his lips, and softly kissed his chest, where his passionate heartbeat pounded.
The light touch was like a dragonfly skimming the water, brief but tender.
Jiang Yu’s breathing grew heavier.
“Yu Shiqing.”
“I’m here,” Yu Shiqing said.
Jiang Yu swallowed hard, a small smile forming on his lips.
“I need to remind you of something.”
“What is it?” Yu Shiqing asked.
“What’s next week?”
Before Yu Shiqing could recall, Jiang Yu continued, “Do you remember the first time we met?”
Yu Shiqing understood quickly. He looked down at him and said, “Your susceptible period is coming.”
“When the time comes, Teacher Yu,” Jiang Yu raised his eyebrows with a playful smile, “just go with the flow.”
Yu Shiqing couldn’t help but laugh and softly replied, “Okay.”
—The end—
