Qian Xiaoke was feeling a little frustrated today, but as long as Jiang Tongyan gave him some encouragement and stood behind him, he could immediately bounce back with renewed energy.
He poked Jiang Tongyan in the belly button and said, “I’m not crying.”
“Oh? Then why are your eyes red?” Jiang Tongyan asked. He just adored this little furball so much. How could anyone be this cute?
In the past, Jiang Tongyan had never seriously thought about what ‘cute’ really meant. There were so many cute things in the world, but how exactly should one define ‘cute’?
Now he knew.
To him, Qian Xiaoke was the very definition of cute.
Kind, resilient, and optimistic.
How could someone like that not make people want to cherish him?
Jiang Tongyan squeezed his hand. “Let me ask you something. Answer me seriously.”
“Go ahead.”
“Just now, was there even a moment where you regretted being with me?” Jiang Tongyan thought to himself: If this brat dares say he wants to break up with me because of this, he’s dead meat!
“No.” Qian Xiaoke looked at him calmly and replied with firm conviction, “Why would I regret something like this?”
Qian Xiaoke chuckled. “I’ve climbed the social ladder and become a phoenix! I’ve landed myself a sugar daddy! Who would ever turn down a rich guy?”
He only said that to cheer Jiang Tongyan up.
Qian Xiaoke had never imagined he would one day meet a wealthy man—one who liked him, and whom he wanted in return.
In his world, love had nothing to do with money.
What mattered to him was whether two people truly loved each other.
Even though his relationship with Jiang Tongyan had started off a bit ridiculous, overly dramatic, and frankly not all that proper, he liked Jiang Tongyan now—this ridiculously handsome guy who, despite being supposedly serious and professional at work, turned into a complete child around him.
Out of all the handsome men in the world, Jiang Tongyan was the most attractive.
He wouldn’t let money or lifestyle dictate their relationship. He wasn’t going to run away, and he would work hard instead.
Qian Xiaoke lowered his head and pressed his lips together, the tips of his ears turning red.
He scratched Jiang Tongyan’s palm and said, “Haven’t we been in the bathroom too long? Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep people waiting. That’s rude.”
Jiang Tongyan hugged him with a smile, full of love and tenderness.
A treasure, he was an absolute treasure!
Jiang Tongyan kissed his hair and said, “Alright, let’s head back.”
After the kiss, Jiang Tongyan let go of him and took his hand, leading him back.
As the two walked hand in hand, Jiang Tongyan said, “No need to be nervous, and you don’t have to act a certain way for my sake. Just be yourself. It’s just a normal get-together with friends. If you have any questions, just ask me. Don’t hold back.”
He squeezed Qian Xiaoke’s hand. “Don’t wrong yourself.”
That sentence made Qian Xiaoke feel both happy and touched. His heart felt soft and sweet.
“You’re so good to me.”
Jiang Tongyan laughed. “You’re only realising that now? So slow.”
Qian Xiaoke looked at him and laughed all the way back to their table, even as Jiang Tongyan stuffed a piece of steak into his mouth—he was still smiling.
He was just too happy.
In fact, Qian Xiaoke was a little worried before going to the bathroom. Even though he knew he shouldn’t be, he was still afraid that Jiang Tongyan might look down on someone as clumsy as him.
He was someone who knew nothing, who couldn’t do anything right—someone who even had to think for a while to figure out which hand to hold the knife and which hand to hold the fork.
In the past, Qian Xiaoke would always tease Jiang Tongyan like a joke, saying he was the one who lacked worldly experience, but in truth, the one who really lacked it was himself.
He had, for just a moment, truly been a bit worried.
But Jiang Tongyan had told him personally—not to worry, and to just be himself.
Qian Xiaoke really wanted to apologise to Jiang Tongyan for even having such a thought earlier. How could he think that way about his own boyfriend?
Jiang Tongyan continued chatting with Shen Huiming, every word full of praise for Qian Xiaoke.
Qian Xiaoke grew a little shy. He hooked his pinky around Jiang Tongyan’s, as if to tell him to tone it down a bit. This clumsy little ugly duckling wasn’t as good as he made him sound.
But Jiang Tongyan clearly didn’t catch the message.
Jiang Tongyan turned to look at him with a smile, then raised his brows at Shen Huiming and said, “See that? Our little darling loves me so much he even has to hold hands while eating.”
Shen Huiming and Suo Yang both smiled helplessly and, with perfect unspoken agreement, decided not to argue with someone so clearly lost in love.
Halfway through the meal, Qian Xiaoke finally began to relax.
Actually, the western food wasn’t as complicated as he had imagined. Jiang Tongyan taught him how to cut the meat, explained how to taste the wine, and Qian Xiaoke obediently followed along. The two sitting across from them watched with eyes full of amusement.
Shen Huiming said, “After all these years, I guess the curse is finally broken.”
“Huh? Curse? What curse?” Qian Xiaoke looked up in confusion.
Jiang Tongyan let out an awkward cough. “Well, it’s all in the past. Not worth mentioning.”
Shen Huiming laughed. “You never told him?”
Qian Xiaoke looked at Jiang Tongyan warily. “Did you lie to me about your feelings?”
Shen Huiming, ever the instigator, had only said half of what he knew and left the rest for the two of them to deal with.
Suo Yang had heard about it before. He gave Shen Huiming a quick look and silently told him to quit poking where it hurt.
But Qian Xiaoke’s curiosity had already been thoroughly stirred. He blinked at Jiang Tongyan, eyes full of one clear message: Confess now and get a lighter sentence; resist and face harsher punishment.
Jiang Tongyan had no choice but to confess. If he didn’t make things clear and let a misunderstanding fester, and his hard-won boyfriend ended up running off, he would be too devastated even to find the right tune to cry to.
“It’s like this,” Jiang Tongyan took a sip of wine and already felt a little tipsy, “sometimes, between people, there can be… ill-fated relationships.”
Qian Xiaoke tilted his head and took a bite of steak.
“You mean, between you and me?”
“No no no no, the two of us are a perfect match, a fated and beautiful love! How could it be an ill-fated relationship?” Jiang Tongyan quickly cut another piece of meat for him. “I mean, the guy sitting across from me, we were college classmates during undergrad.”
Qian Xiaoke looked at Shen Huiming, and his mind began to spin rapidly.
Two handsome men.
Ill-fated relationship.
He started thinking of some very unspeakable stories.
“Back in school, we got along pretty well,” Jiang Tongyan emphasised deliberately, “and you had better stop whatever strange drama your brain is playing right now—we were pure and innocent good friends.”
Qian Xiaoke pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh.
Pure and innocent.
Somehow, that phrase didn’t sound so pure at all.
But Qian Xiaoke quickly straightened his attitude. Imagining his boyfriend doing this and that with another man was completely inappropriate, way too inappropriate.
“Mm, pure and innocent,” Qian Xiaoke replied with a look of utter sincerity.
Jiang Tongyan rubbed his forehead, certain that Qian Xiaoke was completely misunderstanding something.
“Back in the day, I was one of those legendary campus figures, the unrivalled heartthrob among all the pretty boys.”
“Hey,” Qian Xiaoke couldn’t hold back his laughter much longer, “less of the dramatic self-praise, just get to the point.”
Any more of this and he was going to burst out laughing.
Jiang Tongyan really just wanted Qian Xiaoke to know that back then, he had actually been quite popular. It was just that the one person he had his eye on had really terrible taste.
But Qian Xiaoke wasn’t buying it. He just lowered his head and surrendered.
“It’s just that, back then, everyone I had a crush on ended up chasing Shen Huiming instead.” Straightforward. Brutally honest.
Jiang Tongyan said with a blank expression, “Ill-fated bond. Curse. Got it?”
Qian Xiaoke stared at him for a long moment, then couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into laughter in his arms.
Now he finally understood why, that time in bed, Jiang Tongyan had immediately gone soft the moment he heard Shen Huiming’s name. So it was true—there really was no hatred without reason!
Qian Xiaoke laughed like a little goose, trembling all over in Jiang Tongyan’s embrace.
At first, Jiang Tongyan still felt awkward, but Qian Xiaoke’s laughter was so infectious that he couldn’t help laughing along with him.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough laughing.” Jiang Tongyan gently stroked the back of Qian Xiaoke’s head and said with a smile, “If you laugh too hard and get a stitch in your side, you won’t be able to finish your meal.”
“Mm… not laughing anymore—hahaha.” Qian Xiaoke clung to Jiang Tongyan, and after all the clinging was done, he said something that surprised everyone present.
He said, “You’re so cute.”
Jiang Tongyan froze.
Shen Huiming was full of question marks.
Suo Yang also looked visibly startled.
Shouldn’t the proper reaction have been—You’re so pitiful!?
Jiang Tongyan asked, “Where did that come from?”
Qian Xiaoke beamed, eyes bright and curved into crescent moons. “I don’t know, I just think you’re cute.”
He sat up straight, calmed himself down, then suddenly turned again to look at Jiang Tongyan. “I really, really like you.”
Jiang Tongyan puffed up immediately, raised his eyebrows at him, then blew him a kiss right in front of everyone. “Gege loves you too.”
The two people sitting across from them once again lowered their heads in perfect synchronicity, then looked at each other and couldn’t hold back their laughter.
Lovestruck Jiang Tongyan had finally gotten his sweet revenge and had pulled off a solid public display of affection right in front of Shen Huiming. He couldn’t help but sigh: his little darling really was something else.
The four of them finished eating and drinking, and there was still time to spare.
Jiang Tongyan asked Shen Huiming and Suo Yang if they had any plans, and whether they would like to go watch a movie or stroll around.
Shen Huiming said, “Suo Yang has a flight tomorrow morning. We’ve got to turn in early tonight.”
Jiang Tongyan was perfectly satisfied with that answer. Nothing beats a romantic evening for two over a group hangout.
But Qian Xiaoke felt a little disappointed. He hadn’t gotten a chance to ask Suo Yang for tips yet.
He blinked and was reluctant to part. He took out his phone from his pocket. “Suo Yang ge, can I add you on WeChat?”
Jiang Tongyan’s whole body tensed. “What’s going on? Qian Xiaoke, what are you doing?”
Qian Xiaoke pouted. “I just want to learn from him—see how an ugly duckling becomes a swan.”
Suo Yang, who was usually quiet around strangers, actually had a soft spot for this boy. He smiled and said, “I don’t think you need to learn from me. But sure, I can add you.”
Qian Xiaoke happily added Suo Yang on WeChat, right in front of Jiang Tongyan, and even set his contact note as—Handsome Flight Attendant.
Jiang Tongyan squinted sideways and asked, “What’s my contact note, then?”
Qian Xiaoke wouldn’t show him. He just slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Once Shen Huiming and Suo Yang had left, Jiang Tongyan grabbed one of the bunny ears on Qian Xiaoke’s hat. “Little bunny, I’ve caught you.”
“What are you doing?” Qian Xiaoke said. “I’m stuffed. Let’s go take a walk.”
“Let me see.”
“See what?”
“Your note for me.”
Jiang Tongyan narrowed his eyes, trying to intimidate him. “Let me see what kind of wicked nickname you’ve given me.”
He had a gut feeling that it definitely wasn’t anything pleasant. Otherwise, Qian Xiaoke wouldn’t be so secretive about it.
Qian Xiaoke bashfully pulled out his phone. “I’ll be embarrassed, okay?”
“You? Embarrassed?” Jiang Tongyan said, and then saw the contact note Qian Xiaoke had given him. Suddenly, he was the one who got embarrassed.
Because the note Qian Xiaoke had written for him was—Hubby.
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