Chapter 45

Chapter 45

They couldn't keep talking about certain R-rated topics.

Jiang Jining quickly changed the subject: "A-Han, are we about to head back?"

"Yeah." Bian Han pulled out her phone to check her parents' travel updates. There were two extra voice messages, each several seconds long; the transcription hadn't loaded yet. She glanced toward the room Jiang Jining used to stay in: "Is the luggage here?"

"No." Now that he'd answered those questions, Jiang Jining was calmer: "Auntie Tao went to pack for me."

"Then let's go."

Bian Han was already rubbing her hands together, eagerly anticipating Jiang Jining joining the family.

After going downstairs, Jiang Jining suddenly remembered something he'd forgotten to do. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Uncle Lu letting someone in at the entrance. Bian Han noticed too, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Why does he look so familiar?

"That's Xi Wang."

Jiang Jining quickly explained how they knew each other and had met again. As he spoke, he walked over with Bian Han. After understanding the situation, she thought it was a neat coincidence and greeted with a smile: "Hey, little brother—"

Xi Wang had been a little nervous coming over.

Although he was a local, he came from a very ordinary family, their old home in the Beijing suburbs. Working at a five-star hotel didn't mean he had opportunities to set foot in independent courtyard houses within Beijing's Second Ring Road. Just moments ago, he'd almost had trouble even getting a taxi to come into this neighborhood.

And Jiang Jining had come out to greet him personally.

Xi Wang remembered Jiang Jining and, of course, recognized Bian Han. He nodded slightly and lifted the box he had asked the pastry shop to repackage. "These are some mooncakes I made for A Ning."

Uncle Lu took it from him with a kind smile. "You went to a lot of trouble."

His gift delivered,

Naturally, Xi Wang was reluctant to overstay his welcome.

Even when Uncle Lu offered him tea, he politely declined.

Bian Han, however, felt Xi Wang had a really wholesome vibe and was also a really likeable guy. She gestured for him to come inside. "We're actually about to head out ourselves. The car's big; I'll have the driver give you a ride."

To refuse again would be rude.

Seeing Xi Wang thank her, Jiang Jining walked over to his side. "Let's go. I'll treat you to milk tea."

In the living room—

Fu Yuze took the items Auntie Tao had packed for Jiang Jining and returned to the main hall. He found Bian Jiacheng alone, having almost single-handedly polished off the food. Setting down the backpack, Fu Yuze said, "You should get a job."

Bian Jiacheng made himself completely at home in the living room, crossing his legs and typing away on his phone to decline a bunch of friends wanting to throw him farewell parties. He noticed even the melon seeds at Fu Yuze's place were exceptionally fragrant. "Nope. For Mid-Autumn, Ningning is coming home to spend it with me."

"..."

Who asked you?

Fu Yuze had been in a good mood these past few days, completely unfazed by his provocations.

Not long after, three people entered one after another. After asking Auntie Tao to pour some milk tea for Xi Wang, Jiang Jining went to Fu Yuze for a hug and said, "I have to go home tonight. I can't stay to make mooncakes with you."

"Nervous?"

Fu Yuze stroked Jiang Jining's hair.

His earlier chat with Bian Han had talked about this too.

Bian Han's stance was that as long as Jiang Jining was willing to integrate here, she was willing to treat him like her own son for life.

And their parents had known for a long time.

"A-Han says they're very easy to get along with." Jiang Jining had already spoken with the elders a few times via video call, so he'd already met them. He said, "I'm not nervous."

Fu Yuze avoided the others and kissed him on the ear, telling him he was amazing.

Out of the corner of his eye—

He suddenly noticed Bian Jiacheng kept looking up from his phone at Xi Wang. Bian Han slapped him on the thigh and asked, "Do you remember him?"

Bian Jiacheng: "?"

His sister wasn't present during Xi Wang's breakup, was she?

It would be normal if Jiang Jining's friend came to visit him, but Bian Han asking that was weird.

"Wangwang, do you remember him?" Bian Han found Xi Wang, sitting upright and sipping his milk tea, even more pleasing to the eye. Her dream younger brother's personality was exactly like this—obedient as a puppy. "You were probably the head chef for the birthday banquet on the top floor of Yunhao in September, right? The birthday boy was him."

It's basic courtesy not to stare when visiting.

Xi Wang finally slowly shifted his gaze to Bian Jiacheng.

He had been busy in the kitchen all through September, wielding woks and not seeing any clients. This person in his peripheral vision was impossible to ignore...

In a room full of good-looking people, Bian Jiacheng stood out as the most flamboyant, dressed like a big star walking the red carpet.

"Thank you for choosing Yunhao back then." Xi Wang had earned a good commission from that big order and had a favorable impression of him.

"Sure, just picked it because the venue was large." Bian Jiacheng still couldn't forget that scene of the delicate white flower's tearful breakup; it was quite memorable. "I'll use the restroom and then we can head out."

Soon, the group trooped out of the courtyard.

Fu Yuze walked at the very back.

One hand carrying the backpack, the other holding Jiang Jining's hand.

After everyone got into the car, he looked like a lonely empty-nester left behind.

Jiang Jining didn't know how others felt after intimacy, but he really felt sad. The thought of not seeing Fu Yuze for a day or two made his eyes sting. Under the glow of the setting sun, his eyes, glistening, were particularly moving. "I'm leaving."

"I'll pick you up tomorrow after dinner." Fu Yuze said this.

Jiang Jining started to feel a little better.

Bian Jiacheng couldn't stand it anymore. He pulled Jiang Jining back into his seat and told the driver to roll up the window, separating the two. When he leaned back, he didn't notice and ended up leg-to-leg with Xi Wang.

Bian Jiacheng watched for his reaction.

Xi Wang just quietly shifted a bit farther toward the window.

Bian Jiacheng was a bit of a rebel. He directly addressed him in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear: "Where do you live?"

Jiang Jining also turned around. "Is it the same as last time?"

Xi Wang's heart always softened when he looked at him, but he shook his head and gave a new address, explaining that he needed to go home first to pick up mooncakes before visiting his father at the nursing home.

It was precisely because it was a bit troublesome that he didn’t want Jiang Jining to give him a ride.

The driver quickly figured out the route—

The most convenient way was to drop the other three off at Bian Han’s home first, then take Xi Wang alone later.

Jiang Jining said, “Alright.”

Bian Han also nodded, “That works. Driver Chen, drive safely.”

They'd taken all the good lines.

Bian Jiacheng, the one who had initially shown kindness, was rendered invisible.

In all his years, watching his good friend fall in love lately was the most frustrating. His temper, that of a young master spoiled since childhood, was getting hard to hold in, and he couldn’t even focus on his phone anymore.

Bian Han and Jiang Jining were being all affectionate and harmonious up front.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Bian Jiacheng grew even more irritated. He turned his head, intending to sleep off his anger, but instead met a pair of bright, clear deer-like eyes. Both of them were startled.

Xi Wang spoke first, “Thank you.”

He truly felt too embarrassed to say the address himself.

Bian Jiacheng instantly felt better, body and soul.

Someone noticing his mood and caring, just the right amount, was exactly what he needed. Yes, he was that easy to please. After looking a bit longer, he noticed that Xi Wang was actually quite good-looking too.

“Why do you also have a red mole?”

Bian Jiacheng had no habit of holding back his words, “Little A Ning has one above his eye too.”

Xi Wang also didn’t know why everyone focused on this, and gave the same answer as before, “I was born with it.”

Bian Jiacheng thought to himself that it looked pretty good.

The car entered the neighborhood—

The road in front of the townhouse was especially wide. After saying goodbye to Xi Wang, Jiang Jining got out of the car with Bian Han.

To make it easier for Bian Jiacheng to get out, Xi Wang proactively got up and moved to the front seat. He noticed a forgotten cloak jacket belonging to Jiang Jining in the back and picked it up, saying, “This…”

“Just give it to me.”

Bian Jiacheng took it and got out of the car.

A cold wind blew in his face as he draped the clothes over Jiang Jining, “Put it on properly, it’s gotten colder today.”

As soon as the words fell—

“Chengcheng!” Three people stood at the entrance.

Bian Jiacheng quickly saw his uncle and aunt—Bian Han’s parents—but the most eye-catching was, of course, his own mother standing in front, looking like a prosperous flower of the human world. Her fox-fur-collared trench coat was slim-fitting and youthful, yet she wore a tearful, pear-blossom-like expression.

Bian Han was also caught off guard.

“Auntie, why are you here?”

Bian Jiacheng stood rooted to the spot, listening to the sound of his mother’s high heels clicking closer. As she approached, he reached out to steady her, and soon felt a warm, soft slap on his face—more like she was cupping and rubbing his cheeks than actually hitting him. “See if I don’t tell your dad! If I hadn’t come here on a whim, I wouldn’t have seen you for three months…”

Bian Han’s mother, Fang Wenjun, comforted her sister-in-law before turning to her daughter, “When did Jiacheng return to the country? Hanhan, how long have you been helping him hide it?”

Bian Han: “…”

“Probably quite a while,” Bian Han’s father, Bian Zeming, saw through it at a glance. Out of a desire to protect his daughter, he took the initiative to blame her, “Aren’t you just indulging Jiacheng to do as he pleases by covering for him? Your second uncle was sick in the hospital before, still talking about his brother.”

Before Bian Han could speak, Bian Jiacheng anxiously asked his mother, “What happened to Dad?”

“He refused to accept getting old and went to the company to personally oversee things. He’s much better now.” After saying this, Bian Jiacheng’s mother turned her gaze to Jiang Jining. He was much better than the last one she remembered, and looked quite beautiful too. Holding onto the thought of never wanting to lose her son again, she took Jiang Jining’s hand and said, “This child is so good-looking, and seems very sensible. When did you get together with Chengcheng?”

Bian Han: “…”

Bian Jiacheng: “…”

Jiang Jining gently withdrew his hand and said softly, “I’m not.”

Fang Wenjun and Bian Zeming recognized him at first glance. The latter spoke up to defuse the situation, “This is A Ning, right?”

“Guai Guai, call them Grandma and Grandpa.”

Bian Han instantly followed up, initiating the team fight, “Auntie, this is my child. My parents probably mentioned him to you.”

Bian Jiacheng also took his mother’s hand, “Alright, this is Fu Yuze’s wife. If he heard you, he’d be furious—”

That sentence dropped another bombshell.

Bian Han had her parents take the child inside.

Unexpectedly, Bian Jiacheng’s mother could still notice the person in the car on the side. So many things had happened in just a few minutes that Xi Wang hadn’t had time to close the car door. He looked like an honest kid, and when their eyes met, he gave a polite nod.

This time, Bian Jiacheng’s mother didn’t dare to casually assume he was her son’s partner.

“Anyway, I can’t stand you not coming home all year. I’ve laid it out clearly with your dad. From now on, we won’t interfere too much with you liking men. If it really doesn’t work out, Hanhan can have a child later. You just treat your nephew or niece well and pass the company on to them.”

Bian Jiacheng: “…”

“Mom, can you please stop causing trouble?”

His heart felt warm, but the words he heard were outrageous.

Even though he thought doing this wasn’t impossible—their two families were as close as one—the problem was that his older sister wanted to be child-free!

With Jiang Jining’s appearance, Bian Han had already experienced all the fun of raising a child.

“I’ll go back to see Dad.”

Bian Jiacheng was ultimately still worried about his father.

After getting in the car, seeing Xi Wang proactively get up to move back to the rear seat, he suddenly thought of something and directly grabbed his wrist.

Xi Wang instinctively pulled away.

A low voice came to his ear—

“Pretend to be my partner and come home with me. I’ll transfer you two hundred thousand in person when I take you back tonight.”

Bian Jiacheng didn’t hold out much hope that he would agree.

He wanted to test the waters with his parents.

Their eyes met for a split second before darting away. Seeing them whispering intimately, Mrs. Bian, though burning with curiosity, played it cool.

Soon, she heard a soft, gentle voice: "Mom..."

Mrs. Bian immediately straightened her posture.

She was right after all!

Xi Wang's face flushed crimson in an instant, as if he had never encountered such a situation. His hands, resting on his knees, nervously pinched the fabric of his pants, his posture rigidly proper: "H-hello, Auntie."

Bian Jiacheng: "..."

With acting skills this good, what else was there to say?