Chapter 114 I Love You

Chapter 114: I Love You

The whole table was covered with Shen Ci's favorite dishes.

Shen Sicheng chewed on his chopsticks, watching Shen Shiyan across the table as he put food on Shen Ci's plate.

"Shen Shiyan, I've been raising your wife for you for four years, after all," he scooped up a little rice. "How come there's not even my favorite braised sea cucumber with scallions?"

"Thank you, Little Uncle," Shen Shiyan straightened up. "Then give back all the mineral specimens I've sent you over the years."

Shen Sicheng felt a chill at being called "Little Uncle," even though he was technically Shen Shiyan's biological uncle.

"How come you got even more shameless after getting a wife?" Shen Sicheng shoved a mouthful of bean sprouts into his mouth.

Shen Ci was eating happily, and upon hearing that, he even nodded in agreement.

Shen Shiyan reached out to sweep Shen Ci's long hair back, tied it with a hair tie, and then gave the back of his neck a pinch. "You have to be shameless to get a wife."

Shen Ci choked on his food from this comment and coughed a couple of times.

After the meal, Shen Sicheng went back to the room for a nap. Shen Shiyan pulled Shen Ci onto his lap and asked if he wanted to sleep or go out for a stroll.

The places where they touched were warm. Shen Ci wrapped his arms around Shen Shiyan's neck, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "I want to sleep with you."

Shen Shiyan gave his waist a gentle pinch, his eyes darkening, and whispered back, "Don't think I'll always be so gentle and considerate."

Shen Ci's ear tickled, and he tried to pull back, but Shen Shiyan pressed him down with some force. His breath drew close, and his lips rubbed against the skin behind Shen Ci's ear for a while. "Still want to sleep with me, wife?"

After they made up, Shen Ci reverted to his old spoiled, childlike attitude around Shen Shiyan.

"No." He gave Shen Shiyan a big kiss on the cheek, shaking his body. "I want to go see Auntie Zhong."

Shen Shiyan granted every request, but before leaving, he pinned Shen Ci down and kissed him for a long time before letting him go.

The rain never let up. Shen Shiyan drove slowly, Shen Ci holding his right hand.

The gravestone was washed shiny by the rain. Shen Shiyan held the umbrella and pulled Shen Ci closer to himself.

"It's good that it's raining," Shen Ci crouched down and touched the photo of Zhong Yurong. "The lilies won't wither so quickly."

He placed the other large bouquet, which had a mix of all kinds of flowers, in front of the grave, a slightly sad expression on his face. "Auntie, I dreamed of you again."

The drizzling rain was endless, yet the cold tombstone felt almost warm. The damp green stone tablet had raindrops sliding down the photo, making the smiling Zhong Yurong appear to shed a tear.

"Brother Sicheng said I was drugged again that time, and the hospital was full of Shen Wenzhou's people, but I still feel so guilty for not keeping you safe." Shen Ci's voice was very low, his eyes fixed on the photo. "I'm sorry, Auntie, for only coming to see you after four years. On the day I first came back, I thought Auntie was like a lily—gentle and soft—so I gave lilies. Today I was afraid you might like other flowers, so I bought all kinds."

Shen Shiyan ruffled Shen Ci's hair and also crouched down.

"Mom will love whatever you give her." Shen Shiyan put one arm around Shen Ci. "Mom doesn't blame you, and neither do I. Don't keep drowning in guilt, okay?"

Shen Ci's eyelashes trembled. He reached up and rubbed his aching eyes.

"Can I also call Auntie Zhong 'Mom'?" Shen Ci turned his head to look at Shen Shiyan. "Actually, I was lying when I was a kid. I never had a mother's love. I felt that warmth for the first time from Auntie Zhong."

Shen Shiyan looked away from the tombstone into the distance, dazed for a moment.

"Shen Ci, even if you weren't with me, Mom would still be happy to have you as her son," Shen Shiyan said gently. "She was a very thoughtful person. When she was first hospitalized, she asked me if I liked you. Back then, Mom said she hoped we would both be happy."

As he spoke, he took Shen Ci's hand and interlocked their fingers.

"Mom will be very happy."

Shen Ci felt Shen Shiyan's warmth between his fingers. Fingers are actually very sensitive—whether for pain or happiness, the love flowing through his fingertips enveloped Shen Ci, and he squeezed back with a little force.

"Mom." Shen Ci felt his face was wet, unsure if it was rain blown under the umbrella or his own tears. "Mom, Shen Shiyan and I will be happy forever."

Saying "Mom" was so hard-earned. Shen Ci wasn't sure if Zhong Yurong could hear him. He hoped Zhong Yurong would come to his dream one more time, so he could hug her in his dream and let her know how much Shen Ci missed her and loved her.

His emotions had been unstable for the past four years. When they got into the car, Shen Ci followed Shen Shiyan into the driver's seat, buried his face in Shen Shiyan's shoulder, and cried silently for a while.

Shen Shiyan said nothing, holding him like a baby, slowly and gently patting his back until Shen Ci had cried it all out, releasing years of emotions.

"Brother," Shen Ci lifted his head. "Actually, we never went through a proper dating process. Sister Xianghan told me she confessed her feelings to Sister Mengying many times."

Shen Shiyan kissed his still-damp eyes. "They'll get swollen."

He held Shen Ci tighter, his hand still patting his back every now and then.

"I'll make up for all of this later, when the weather clears up," Shen Shiyan promised him.

"I don't really need all that..."

Shen Shiyan cut him off: "You do."

Shen Ci let out a quiet laugh and continued, "I just feel like I should tell Mom here at the cemetery that Shen Ci officially started dating Shen Shiyan at age twenty-two."

He reached up and covered Shen Shiyan's mouth, temporarily silencing him.

"I love you, Shen Shiyan." He leaned close to Shen Shiyan's ear and confessed generously. "Auntie will hear that, right?"

Shen Ci felt Shen Shiyan kiss his palm. He lowered his hand, pulling back a little distance between them. Their eyes reflected each other's faces.

"She will hear it," Shen Shiyan answered seriously. "Shen Ci, I love you. And I will love you on Mom's behalf."

"Mm!" Shen Ci rubbed his face against Shen Shiyan's affectionately, then thought of something and said, "A few days ago, your psychotherapy was delayed. Can you reschedule, brother?"

Shen Shiyan's face was warm, his heart soft. He said gently, "I've already canceled with the psychologist. I don't need to go anymore."

Shen Ci didn't agree. "There are so many sleeping pills at home. You can't sleep well. How can you not see the doctor?"

Shen Shiyan tilted his head slightly and kissed the corner of his mouth. "You are my best calming medicine."

On a calm, ordinary rainy day, Shen Ci felt immense happiness and peace.

The Jinting Luxury Center was much more bustling than before. Shen Ci pulled Shen Shiyan by the hand and headed straight to Sweet Isle.

"Sister Xu Qian!" He couldn't wait to let go of Shen Shiyan's hand, who was about to close the umbrella, and quickly walked toward the counter, where a figure in a white dress had her back to him. The wind chime on the door rang softly.

"Oh my God!" Xu Qian, who had been promoted to store manager, turned around with a mix of surprise and joy. "You're finally back! Every time a new flavor comes out, I want to save one for you to try, but General Manager Shen only comes by on June 2nd every year."

Shen Ci squinted and smiled. "Thank you, Sister. I'm here to buy cake today!"

Xu Qian politely greeted Shen Shiyan, who was standing behind Shen Ci, then quickly lowered her head to listen to Shen Ci.

"This time I need it bigger—enough for eight people," Shen Ci said as he walked with Xu Qian, who had come out from behind the counter.

As if it were the first day he had come to Sweet Isle, Shen Shiyan stood in front of the display case with a faint smile, watching Shen Ci gesture and talk animatedly with Xu Qian on the sofa.

When another customer pushed the door open and the wind chime rang again, Shen Ci's gaze happened to meet Shen Shiyan's eyes.