Chapter 87 How Did Father’s Mouth Get Swollen

Chapter 87: Dad, Why Is Your Mouth Swollen?

It was like a little rabbit was hiding inside his mouth.

Jiang Huaiyan couldn't stop himself from wanting to kiss him again.

He also wanted to shrink Zhu Shinian down small enough to fit into the chest pocket of his pajamas, pressed right against his heart.

But he couldn't kiss him anymore. If he kept going... it would be dawn for real.

He pulled Zhu Shinian into his arms, kissed his forehead, and said, "Sleep."

"I can't sleep," Zhu Shinian murmured, buried against his chest. "You sleep. I'll just close my eyes like this for a while."

Jiang Huaiyan looked down and gave a helpless, wry smile. He had no idea what to do with him.

If Zhu Shinian couldn't sleep, there was even less chance he'd be able to.

His heart was pounding so hard it was almost uncomfortable.

But he couldn't say that out loud. If his heart went haywire just from a little kissing, he'd be a pretty pathetic alpha.

"Yeah, just close your eyes for a bit."

He patted Zhu Shinian's back in a steady rhythm, the same way he'd coax Tingting to sleep, hoping to let him get a little more rest before daylight came.

Zhu Shinian was already exhausted from work during the day, having to think about so many things. Jiang Huaiyan's heart ached knowing he barely got any rest before he'd have to be up again.

Luckily, even though Zhu Shinian said he couldn't sleep, he was tired enough that after being coaxed like this, he soon dozed off again.

Zhu Shinian looked peaceful when he slept, his lashes still, his breathing slow and even.

Jiang Huaiyan suddenly remembered a time back in the capital when Zhu Shinian had gotten drunk and fallen asleep against his shoulder just like this.

For Zhu Shinian, this really shouldn't have been possible. He was a highly trained soldier who'd even spent nearly a year working as a Federation agent. He should've been wary of strangers and would never have just fallen asleep next to someone.

Was it because his body trusted him on a subconscious level?

People were kind of gluttons for punishment, really. Jiang Huaiyan used to be so dramatic, always agonizing over whether Zhu Shinian was only nice to him because of Zhu Cheng, and getting upset about it, convinced the person Zhu Shinian really cared about wasn't him.

But now, he just thought he'd been an idiot.

Zhu Shinian cared about him because of what happened before his memory loss, and he'd been upset about that? Would he only be satisfied if Zhu Shinian threw himself at some Gu Zhen, some Nie Hang, some Fu Cheng?

Thinking about Zhu Cheng and his eighteen-year-old self, about souls and memories—that was all too vague and intangible.

All he knew now was that the person in his arms was real and warm, his head resting against his chest, soft and fuzzy, and he could hear his steady, long breathing.

Since waking up on that operating table, this felt like the first time in all his memories that a long-cherished wish had truly come true.

This happiness was so overwhelming that he felt a faint sadness knowing dawn was coming and this moment would soon end.

He selfishly prayed for the sun to rise slower, for time to crawl.

That night, Jiang Huaiyan stayed awake until dawn.

He went out and smoked a few cigars—something he'd quit long ago—then showered to get rid of the smell. By the time he'd showered and picked up breakfast, Zhu Shinian was just getting out of bed.

Zhu Shinian asked when he'd gotten up, and Jiang Huaiyan vaguely said he'd just woken up.

After breakfast, Zhu Shinian drove off to the military headquarters building.

Before leaving, he clung to Jiang Huaiyan and kissed him for a bit.

Jiang Huaiyan only then realized that Zhu Shinian could be this clingy and sweet when he was in a relationship. For a few seconds, he even thought about not letting Zhu Shinian leave.

Of course, there were also a few brief seconds where he, like any insecure fool, felt a bitter pang of jealousy, wondering who Zhu Shinian had done all this with before.

But he only thought it to himself.

No matter what, the person by Zhu Shinian's side right now was him.

Zhu Shinian had a soft heart and was loyal. He couldn't stand seeing others upset, and that was exactly why, even when Gu Zhen had treated him terribly, he'd never once thought about leaving him.

It was the same now.

Even if others had godlike abilities, there was no way they could tear him and Zhu Shinian apart now.

A little after eight, Jiang Huaiyan woke Tingting up and took him to school.

On the way, Tingting kept leaning his head toward the front seat, like he wanted to say something but kept stopping himself.

It wasn't until Jiang Huaiyan glanced at him in the rearview mirror that he noticed the little guy was tilting his head and staring at him.

"What's up? You want a toy, or want to go somewhere fun after school?" Jiang Huaiyan asked.

Tingting wasn't great at expressing what he wanted. It was a bit of a hassle—you had to keep asking before he'd finally say it.

"Dad, why's your mouth all swollen?" Tingting seemed to have been holding that question in for a while and finally found the chance to ask.

"...It's swollen?" Jiang Huaiyan froze, a little guilty.

"Yeah!" Tingting nodded firmly, leaning forward in his car seat to get a better look. "It's all red and puffy. Did you sneak something really spicy behind our backs?"

His lips... were puffy?

Jiang Huaiyan suddenly remembered the feel of Zhu Shinian's lips on his, the rose scent that came with him when he leaned in, and how his tear-filled eyes had reflected his own image.

Thinking about that in front of a kid was way too much. No matter how thick-skinned Jiang Huaiyan was, even he'd feel embarrassed.

He obviously couldn't tell Tingting, "Yeah, how'd you guess? Your dad and I made out and my lips got swollen." So he just tried to brush it off vaguely.

"Just a little. Not much."

"Did you sneak some really spicy skewers this morning behind our backs?" Tingting furrowed his brows like a little adult, looking disapproving. "Teacher said eating spicy stuff in the morning is bad for your stomach."

Last time, when Zhu Shinian's friend brought grilled skewers over, Tingting only had a small piece of lamb from Zhu Shinian, and his lips puffed up from the spice.

"Yeah, won't happen again."

Tingting glanced at him again, like he was trying to tell if he was just brushing him off.

"Dad, if you sneak spicy skewers again," Tingting warned very seriously, "I'm telling Grandma and Dad."

"I won't eat them anymore. Just don't tell Grandma and Dad this time, okay?" Jiang Huaiyan said. "They'll give me an earful."

Tingting tilted his head, thought for a moment, then waved his little hand magnanimously.

"I won't tell Grandma and Dad. But you shouldn't sneak spicy skewers anymore. Doesn't it hurt when your mouth gets all swollen?"

Jiang Huaiyan looked at that serious little face in the rearview mirror and suddenly found it both amusing and strangely guilt-inducing.

He stopped at a red light and reached up to touch his own lips.

They were a bit swollen, sure enough.

"It's okay, doesn't hurt much."

They arrived at the kindergarten. Jiang Huaiyan parked the car, walked around to the back seat, and unbuckled Tingting from the safety seat.

Tingting shrugged on his little backpack, then looked up at his mouth again, pointing at it with a chubby finger.

"Father, remember to drink more water," he said, as if he'd fully committed to his little-doctor role, and reminded him very seriously, "Drink more water, and you'll heal faster."

Jiang Huaiyan could tell he was deliberately stalling to avoid going inside, but he still softened his voice and said, "Okay."

"Got anything else you want to tell me, Tingting? If not, say bye to Dad and head inside to read picture books with your teacher."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Tingting hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, as if he still had something to say.

"...Hm?" Jiang Huaiyan bent down and patted his head.

Tingting drooped his head, a little frustrated, nuzzling his head into Jiang Huaiyan's palm like a puppy.

"...Can you ask Daddy... if he's still mad at me? I didn't mean to get Daddy's bedsheet dirty."

Jiang Huaiyan was caught off guard for a second.

So much had happened last night that he'd almost forgotten why Zhu Shinian had ended up sleeping in his room in the first place—Tingting had spilled a drink all over Zhu Shinian's bedsheet.

Poor kid. He'd been hesitating the whole ride. Probably not because he'd noticed Jiang Huaiyan's swollen lips right away, but because he'd been staring at him the whole time, trying to work up the courage to apologize to Zhu Shinian—and that's when he spotted the swelling.

What a personality. He didn't get any of the good traits—just all the bad ones from Zhu Shinian.

Jiang Huaiyan reassured him again and promised to pass the message along to Zhu Shinian, and only then managed to coax him into the kindergarten.

After Tingting's comment, his lips suddenly felt like they were on fire. As he passed a convenience store, Jiang Huaiyan pulled over, went in, and bought a black mask to wear.

As he walked out of the convenience store, a commercial vehicle happened to pull up by the curb. A man who looked like a rushed office worker got out and accidentally bumped into him.

"Sorry, sorry, sir."

"No worries, watch where you're going next time." Jiang Huaiyan shook his head and replied gently.

But after they brushed past each other, he turned back to glance at the man.

The man had a southern drawl when he spoke.

The Empire's envoy for the secret negotiations should be arriving in District 29 around now.

The fighting between the two sides had died down recently, with both sides regrouping temporarily. But according to intel from agents in the Federation, they seemed to be planning something.

No matter how much the Resistance and the Empire were at each other's throats, they were always on the same page when it came to the Federation—there was no way they'd let outsiders swoop in and profit from their fight.

Jiang Huaiyan had no particular interest in meeting the Federation's envoy early, but for some reason, he still slowed his pace and took another look at that man.

He turned to look at the vehicle the man had gotten out of, and through the window, he could just make out a figure in the back seat.

Through the cheap privacy tint on the car window, Jiang Huaiyan could faintly make out a tall, straight-backed figure.

That man—he'd know him anywhere, even if he were burned to ashes.

"Young Master Jiang." The window rolled down, and the person inside met Jiang Huaiyan's gaze, speaking calmly.

"Well, well, what brings General Gu here," Jiang Huaiyan said. When he was in a bad mood, he liked to take his frustration out on Gu Zhen with sarcasm, and when he was in a good mood, he liked to add insult to injury just to make himself even happier. "Did you lose so many battles you can't show your face in the Empire anymore?"

"Young Master Jiang has come all the way to the Resistance zone, and you're still this ashamed to show your face?" Gu Zhen shot back without backing down. "You're wearing a mask and you're not even sick—did you go messing around with someone else's wife again and get your face smashed in?"

Author's note: