Chapter 70

Chapter 70

The yard outside was packed with people.

Xu Yan’s face flushed crimson. One hand gripping his waistband, the other playfully tapping Wen Sinian’s cheek, he stammered, "No, no, you can’t… If you dare pull my pants down, I’ll really ignore you..."

Wen Sinian simply held him, unmoving, letting Xu Yan do as he pleased with his face.

Shang Jia happened to walk in, her forehead still swollen and red. Blind without her contacts, she caught sight of the two figures tangled on the sofa and immediately bolted back out.

Xu Yan barely managed to glimpse the disappearing figure at the door, his heart sinking. "It’s over. She saw."

Wen Sinian soothed him, "It’s fine, I’ll explain."

Xu Yan hit him. "How can you possibly explain it?"

Wen Sinian seized his hand, noticing the slight redness on his palm. "I have a way, don’t worry. You hit me quite a few times—does your hand hurt?"

Before Xu Yan could answer, his palm was pressed to lips and kissed, then gently blown on a few times.

"Your skin is so delicate, it reddens at the slightest touch."

Xu Yan belatedly pulled his hand back. "Put me down."

Wen Sinian released him without protest.

Xu Yan stood up and was about to walk out when he noticed the faint redness on Wen Sinian’s face from his earlier slaps. He quickly grabbed him. "...Wait a second."

Xu Yan led him to his room, closed the door, and retrieved some medicated cream.

"Bend down a little."

Wen Sinian leaned forward in front of him. Xu Yan silently bit his lip, carefully applying the ointment to Wen Sinian’s face.

He hadn’t paid attention to his strength earlier—did it hurt? What an idiot, not even stopping him.

Once done, Xu Yan ordered, "Go sit over there now. You’re not allowed to leave for half an hour."

Wen Sinian complied. Xu Yan locked him inside and went back to the living room.

The poultry had been rounded up back into the bamboo fence. Shang Jia and Shen Nanli had gone out to buy soy sauce, while Grandma was still basking in the sun, weaving colorful ropes. Zhuang Sheng was the only one busy in the kitchen.

Xu Yan hurried over. "Brother Zhuang Sheng, don’t bother with that. I’ll handle it. Why aren’t you helping Uncle and Auntie Zhuang at home today?"

Zhuang Sheng shrugged. "They took someone out for fun—probably don’t have time for me."

Xu Yan was surprised. "Did they go out with your boyfriend? Have they accepted you two?"

Zhuang Sheng offered a wry smile. "Still working on getting their full approval, but giving them some alone time is good. Tonight, our families are having New Year’s dinner together. I’m just getting things ready. Once those two get back with the soy sauce, we can start cooking."

Never one to sit still, Xu Yan helped wash and prepare the vegetables.

Before half an hour passed, Wen Sinian emerged from the study.

Seeing that the marks on his face had faded, Xu Yan relaxed.

Wen Sinian walked straight into the kitchen, took the vegetables from Xu Yan’s hands, led him to the sink to wash his hands, and then nudged him out.

Xu Yan whined, "I haven’t finished washing them yet!"

Wen Sinian rolled up his sleeves. "I’ve got it covered. Go check on the rabbit—does it need feeding?"

Xu Yan bolted to the nursery, quickly prepared milk formula for the baby bunny, and gently lifted the fluffy bundle from the incubator, placing the nipple into its tiny pink mouth.

The rabbit immediately began suckling eagerly. Xu Yan cradled it carefully, afraid of hurting it, rocking it gently as he carried it to the kitchen doorway, making a show of casually displaying it to Zhuang Sheng.

Zhuang Sheng sighed. "Is the rabbit new?"

"Yeah, yeah," Xu Yan nodded vigorously. "Brother Zhuang Sheng, look—isn’t it adorable?"

The small, fluffy white ball nestled obediently against Xu Yan, lying sprawled out while clutching a milk bottle almost bigger than itself, gulping loudly.

Zhuang Sheng smiled. "Very cute. Is it a lop-eared rabbit?"

Xu Yan beamed. "Yep! It’s sick and not feeling well, but it’s still eating so happily."

Wen Sinian walked over and smoothed a finger over the rabbit’s head, adjusting Xu Yan’s feeding posture.

"Lift its head a little higher."

Once the rabbit finished its milk, Xu Yan handed the bottle to Wen Sinian, who naturally took it, washed it, and put it away.

Zhuang Sheng watched quietly, getting the strange impression that the rabbit was somehow their child.

Xu Yan had wanted to help in the kitchen, but Wen Sinian banned him from helping. So he stood at the doorway backseat cooking. After all, he had taught Wen Sinian to cook back at the villa—their coordination was seamless.

Before long, Shang Jia and Shen Nanli returned. Xu Yan quickly slipped away, leaving Wen Sinian to handle that embarrassing conversation.

Whatever Wen Sinian said to Shang Jia, it must have worked—she soon pitched in with a bright smile.

They worked busily until evening, finally finishing the New Year’s feast. Zhuang Sheng’s parents and his boyfriend returned by dusk. Shen Nanli, unwilling to go home, simply invited his own parents over.

New Year’s was meant to be lively. That night, the families pushed two tables together to accommodate everyone.

The dinner table was alive with laughter and cheer. It was the first time they were celebrating together. Raising their glasses, they exchanged blessings and drank to a year of smooth sailing and peace.

Wen Sinian knocked back his drink, his gaze lingering on Xu Yan beside him—his sparkling eyes, his upturned lips, the pure happiness shining from him.

Silently, Wen Sinian made a silent wish:

This time, I won’t ask for forever.

Just give him all the best blessings—may he never know sorrow, may he always be as happy as he is tonight.

*

After the feast, the adults lingered at the table, chatting and drinking. Fireworks started bursting over the small square outside, so Grandma urged Xu Yan to take the younger ones out to watch.

The square was already crowded. In previous years, the town had no firework displays, but this year, for some reason, dozens of fireworks were arranged in the center, set up by professionals before being lit simultaneously.

Colorful explosions burst across the night sky, illuminating half the town.

A few food stalls lined the streets. Shang Jia and Shen Nanli made a beeline for them like they hadn’t eaten in days, their stomachs apparently bottomless pits.

Xu Yan turned and realized Zhuang Sheng and his boyfriend had slipped away unnoticed, leaving only Wen Sinian, who had been walking behind him all along.

The two stood beneath a tree, watching the fireworks side by side.

Magnificent petals of light bloomed one after another, momentary but unforgettable to those in love.

Xu Yan felt a hand gently brush against his, as if testing the waters. He didn’t pull away, and their fingers gradually laced together, squeezing firmly. Xu Yan squeezed back, tilting his head to look at Wen Sinian. Then, with a mischievous grin, he crooked a finger at his sharp profile.

Wen Sinian leaned closer to him: "Hmm?"

Xu Yan cupped his hand near Wen Sinian's ear and whispered, "These are Nan Li's fireworks, right? You bought them all, didn't you?"

Wen Sinian lowered his gaze, as if afraid Xu Yan would be upset.

Unexpectedly, Xu Yan suddenly reached up and gently smoothed Wen Sinian's hair. "It's fine, I'm not angry. Actually, I guessed it earlier. Pretty smart, huh?"

The corner of Wen Sinian's lips curled up. "So smart."

Xu Yan beamed with pride, straightening his back. "I think so too."

Wen Sinian humored him. "Absolutely."

Xu Yan: "Then give me an example."

Wen Sinian: "You take care of yourself and your grandma all on your own. You never went to cram school but still excelled academically, got into Beishi University all by yourself, topped your department, and even had your short film selected for an international film festival. You're truly amazing, outstanding."

Xu Yan loved it, smugly narrowing his eyes.

He pulled two colorful braided bracelets from his pocket, handing one to Wen Sinian and lifting his own wrist. "Put it on for me."

After Wen Sinian tied it around his wrist, Xu Yan added, "Now give me yours."

He fastened the other bracelet around Wen Sinian's wrist. Each wore one, side by side, like couple’s rings.

The two bracelets seemed connected by an invisible thread, binding their wrists together.

"What are these?"

"Grandma handmade these colorful bracelets for protection and good fortune. She used to make only one for me, but this year she made two—one for you too," Xu Yan said, eyes glittering with fireworks, full of anticipation. "Do you like it?"

Wen Sinian's gaze softened. "I do."

Xu Yan grinned. "Wear it till after the Lantern Festival, even when you sleep."

Wen Sinian took his hand again. "Okay."

They stood quietly, taking in the rest of the show.

The crowd in the square began dispersing. Some children ran around waving sparklers and firecrackers, unsupervised, weaving recklessly through the crowd.

One child charged toward Xu Yan, waving a lit sparkler, almost slamming into him. Xu Yan instinctively caught the kid but was slammed into a tree by the impact.

Neither he nor the child was hurt—a hand shielded Xu Yan's head, acting as a buffer.

Xu Yan steadied the child and said sternly, "There are too many people here. No running, got it?"

The child stared at Wen Sinian, seemingly frightened, and nodded blankly. "Sorry, big brother."

Then he bolted away.

Xu Yan slipped his hand back into Wen Sinian's but heard him hiss.

Lifting Wen Sinian's hand, he saw a cut on the back from the tree bark, already bleeding.

Xu Yan's heart clenched. "You're hurt! Why didn’t you say anything? Let’s get you patched up. Does it hurt?"

Wen Sinian tried to pull his hand away, but Xu Yan held on tightly.

Xu Yan looked up, brows furrowed. "It really hurts, huh? Come on, let’s go home."

He tugged Wen Sinian back quickly. The adults at home were still chatting and drinking, planning to stay up until midnight for the New Year countdown.

Xu Yan led Wen Sinian into his room, had him sit by the bed, and fetched the first-aid kit. Dabbing iodine on a cotton swab, he carefully disinfected the wound.

"This might sting a little. Hang in there."

He touched him lightly, feather-light on Wen Sinian's hand.

Wen Sinian whispered, "It doesn’t hurt."

Xu Yan stayed silent, swabbing the wound before covering it with a sterile bandage. He packed up the kit, about to return it to its place.

Wen Sinian caught his wrist, pulling him close and setting the kit aside on the table.

Holding both of Xu Yan's hands, he looked up. "Honestly, I’m fine, baby."

It was barely a scratch—shallow enough to heal by tomorrow. The blood made it look worse than it was.

Seeing Xu Yan look down, Wen Sinian leaned closer.

Sure enough, Xu Yan’s eyes were rimmed red, lips bitten as he fought tears.

Wen Sinian pulled him in, pulling him onto his lap. He hugged him tightly, nuzzling his neck.

"Baby, you were worried about me, weren’t you? It’s nothing."

Xu Yan didn’t believe him, voice shaky. "There was so much blood… It must’ve hurt terribly…"

Wen Sinian brushed his fingertips over Xu Yan’s damp lashes, heart swelling and aching at once.

"I promise it’ll heal within three days."

"Stop lying…"

"Would I lie to you?" Wen Sinian kissed his hair. "Don’t cry. You’re killing me."

Xu Yan held back his tears, sitting quietly in Wen Sinian’s lap, curled into him, surrounded by him.

Their first proper embrace in so long.

Wen Sinian closed his eyes, nuzzling the soft skin of Xu Yan’s neck, teeth fighting the urge to bite.

Outside, cheers broke out—Zhuang Sheng and the others had returned, setting off firecrackers in the yard, laughing and wishing each other a happy New Year.

Xu Yan pulled out his phone. It was already midnight.

He looped his arms around Wen Sinian’s neck, leaning into him, eyes shining as he whispered,

"Happy New Year, Wen Sinian."

Wen Sinian bumped their noses, whispering back,

"Happy New Year, baby."

Firecrackers kept popping outside the window.

Wen Sinian cupped his chin with his hand: "Mind if I kiss you?"

Xu Yan's eyelashes fluttered, his heart softening: "Just... go easy on me."

Wen Sinian's heart was racing, yet his movements were unusually tender.

He pressed his lips ever so lightly against those soft lips, like handling something precious, his tongue sweeping over them with slow, deliberate strokes, taking his time to enjoy it.

God, he'd missed this.

Carefully, almost reverently, he moistened Xu Yan's lips before his tongue leisurely parted them, slipping inside with practiced ease. He explored the warm, wet mouth with slow, deliberate conquest, coaxing deeper while teasing the sweet, pliant tongue—sucking, nipping, using every trick he knew to draw him in.

Before long, soft whimpers escaped the figure in his arms, the body pressed against his chest growing increasingly pliant, as if melting into him, limp against him.

Xu Yan had unwittingly fallen into the trap, dazed from the kissing, his legs weak, eyes barely able to crack open—only to meet a pair of dark, hungry eyes.

His tongue was already claimed, leaving him capable only of muffled moans.

Wen Sinian deepened the kiss at every whimper, holding him up with a firm grip on his waist, arms tightening as if to merge them into one.

Their bodies fit together too perfectly, and Xu Yan's mental defenses crumbled further.

Breathless, his drool spilled past the corners of his lips, unable to be contained.

Wen Sinian finally released him momentarily, licking away the silvery trails before swallowing hard, throat bobbing.

Xu Yan collapsed against his shoulder, gasping weakly, fisting his shirt, cheeks flushed, mouth hanging open as he panted.

Having gone so long without being kissed, his endurance seemed to have weakened again.

Wen Sinian held him, reveling in his dependence, soothing him with slow strokes along his back.

Once recovered, Xu Yan pushed Wen Sinian away, sliding off his lap—only for his legs to wobble like jelly. He barely managed two steps before a hot body pressed against him from behind.

Wen Sinian wrapped one arm around his waist, tilting his chin up with the other, descending for another kiss without hesitation.

Xu Yan's eyes grew damp again, swaying unsteadily as he retreated, knees nearly buckling—until he was caught and lifted, his backside landing on the table behind him.

"W-Wait... wait..."

He finally turned his head away, one hand braced on the table, the other pressing against the chest looming over him. His lips glistened with a swollen, wet red as he panted.

No more—his legs were too weak to stand.

Suddenly, he was lifted, legs hoisted up as Wen Sinian carried him.

Between steps, Wen Sinian dotted kisses across his forehead, eyes, cheeks, and lips.

Then, gently, he carried him to the bed.