My Little Boy is Always Teasing Me | Chapter 14 | Marking Territory | Novela.app

The weak early winter sun always carried a warmth that could make one feel utterly listless. Jiang Yuan squinted, one hand shoved in his pocket, dragging his feet toward the dormitory. He felt as though the energy he had just managed to recover during the previous class was being bleached away by the sun, so much so that it took him a long while to realize his phone was vibrating in his pocket. Reluctantly, he pulled it out. The three characters of Xie Chengnan’s name flickered on the screen, persistently prodding at the Young Master’s frayed nerves. Drowsy and unwilling to speak, Jiang Yuan let his fingertip hover over the decline button for a few seconds before, by some strange impulse, he answered the call. Once he realized what he had done, Jiang Yuan let out a sharp "tsk," his face clouding with annoyance—though whether he was annoyed with himself or the person on the other end of the line was unclear. "What?" Having just endured a wave of self-doubt, the Young Master’s tone was none too pleasant. Sensing the foul mood, Xie Chengnan teased, "Who upset my little ancestor now?" The deep voice filtered through the receiver, burrowing straight into Jiang Yuan’s ear. Jiang Yuan couldn't help but rub his earlobe; he couldn't tell if it was tingling or itching. He uncomfortably snapped back, "If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost." Normally, given the Young Master’s explosive temper, he would have hung up after such a line. Today, however, he actually had the patience to wait for a reply. Imagining Jiang Yuan intentionally putting on a front like he’d swallowed gunpowder, Xie Chengnan couldn't help but let out a short, low chuckle. "I have a lunch meeting with someone near your school. Do you want to join us?" The word "No" flew out of Jiang Yuan’s mouth before his brain could even process it. But once it was out, he felt unsettled. "Meeting who?" Xie Chengnan knew his place and never argued with the boy. He chuckled softly. "A headhunter, surname Jiang. Qinian said you know him." Jiang Yuan’s drowsiness vanished instantly. "Jiang Shiyi?" Xie Chengnan replied, "Yes, that's him." At the mention of that name, Jiang Yuan changed his mind immediately. "Where are you meeting?" Xie Chengnan gave him the address. The Young Master turned around to head for his car, grumbling, "I'm coming over now." Shen Qinian led Xie Chengnan into a private booth and proceeded to order a table full of dishes; he was clearly a regular. While waiting for their guest, Shen Qinian gave a brief rundown of Jiang Shiyi. He summarized the man in one sentence: he was a fox-like shrewdie who looked like an ethereal spirit. It wasn't until Jiang Shiyi walked in that Xie Chengnan understood why Shen Qinian would use the word "spirit" to describe a man. Jiang Shiyi was a classic Eastern beauty, possessing phoenix eyes, a diamond-shaped mouth, and a small teardrop mole at the corner of his eye. When he looked at someone, his eyes seemed to ripple with a half-smile, reminiscent of the *Immortal Blossoms in an Everlasting Spring* painting Xie Chengnan had once seen—vivid, lush, and breathtakingly beautiful. Logically, such a face on a man should have seemed effeminate, but on Jiang Shiyi, it felt perfectly balanced. Xie Chengnan figured it was likely because the man dressed impeccably and carried himself with such poise that it moderated the initial impact of his appearance. By the time Jiang Yuan arrived, the three had finished their pleasantries and were discussing business. Jiang Shiyi looked surprised to see him. He stood up with a smile. "Young Master Jiang, what brings you here?" Jiang Yuan toyed with his car keys, pulled out the chair next to Xie Chengnan, and sat down. "Here to have lunch with my boyfriend," he said casually. Xie Chengnan had recently grown accustomed to his new public identity. He poured a cup of tea for Jiang Yuan and asked considerately, "Hungry? The food will take a while." "I'm fine." Jiang Yuan lowered his eyes and took a sip. "Don't mind me, keep talking." After saying that, he lifted his eyelids and gave Jiang Shiyi a cool, sidelong glance. Jiang Shiyi immediately understood that the Young Master was here to mark his territory. As for the relationship between Jiang Yuan and Jiang Shiyi, they weren't even nodding acquaintances. Jiang Shiyi’s family business wasn't large, so he didn't belong to Jiang Yuan’s immediate social circle. However, his face was far too striking, and his business dealings intersected with various major corporations, making him a frequent guest at various social gatherings. Over the past few years, the Young Master had maintained the persona of a profligate dandy, so he was naturally present at those scenes of debauchery. Having crossed paths many times, they had become familiar faces to one another. The social circle jokingly referred to them as the "Two Beauties of Nancheng." The Young Master had a massive family fortune and a terrible temper; few dared to harbor designs on him. Jiang Shiyi was different. He was well-versed in the rules of adult games; he played hard and let go easily. He had a string of ex-boyfriends but maintained an excellent reputation. His exes not only remained friends with him after breaking up but also willingly contributed to his career. Even if several exes and a current boyfriend ended up in the same room, no scenes were ever made. He was a true master of the romantic arts. Jiang Yuan sipped his tea, his mind a mess of conflicting thoughts. He felt that his behavior—running over to keep watch the moment he heard Jiang Shiyi’s name—was a bit stupid, as if he were afraid Xie Chengnan would cheat. After a moment of reflection, he realized it wasn't fear; it was mostly that he couldn't afford to lose face. Everyone in the circle now knew that Young Master Jiang had, for the first time ever, found a boyfriend. If someone managed to poach him within a few days, what would happen to his reputation? Did he not care about his dignity? In the spirit of inquiry, the Young Master stole a glance at the man sitting beside him. *Hmm, clear gaze, serious expression—doesn't seem tempted by beauty at all.* The Young Master blew on the tea leaves floating in his cup, satisfied. Only then did he have the mental space to wonder why Xie Chengnan was looking for Jiang Shiyi. Belatedly, he turned to Xie Chengnan and asked, "You're starting a company?" Xie Chengnan, interrupted mid-sentence, remembered that Jiang Yuan didn't know about this yet. He nodded. "I haven't had the chance to tell you." For Xie Chengnan, too many unexpected things had happened lately. First, Jiang Yuan had unexpectedly moved into his house, and then his equipment was completed ahead of schedule, forcing him to move up his three-month plan. In the whirlwind of activity, he had completely forgotten to discuss his career plans with his "little friend." Jiang Yuan didn't intend to interrogate him; he was just a bit surprised. He nodded and said, "Understood," before falling silent. Jiang Shiyi watched this with some shock. This Mr. Xie hadn't even consulted his boyfriend about a project involving hundreds of millions, yet the Young Master was being this well-behaved. It completely overturned his perception of Jiang Yuan. He quietly observed Xie Chengnan, re-evaluating the man in his mind. Jiang Yuan had classes in the afternoon. After making his presence known and finishing lunch, he drove back to school. When classes ended, Zhang Siyi called for a group dinner, inviting several close classmates. When he asked Jiang Yuan, the Young Master gave a non-committal response, which Zhang Siyi took as a "yes," even arranging for a few people to ride in Jiang Yuan’s car. It wasn't until they reached the restaurant that Jiang Yuan remembered he had forgotten to tell Xie Chengnan that he had fired the housekeeper who was supposed to start work. After learning the value of the items in Xie Chengnan’s house, Jiang Yuan felt uneasy about a stranger coming and going as they pleased. He decided to let the regular auntie go and just hire a part-time cleaner for the weekends. As for meals, Xie Chengnan could cook anyway, and if all else failed, they could order takeout. After thinking it over, he took out his phone and sent Xie Chengnan a WeChat message. *Your Father Jiang: I fired the auntie. I'm eating out with classmates tonight, handle dinner yourself.* After sending the message, Jiang Yuan switched to a game. After a few minutes, he realized the other person hadn't replied. Distracted, the Young Master—known as a "Sniper God"—was taken out by a headshot. "..." The Young Master stared at the screen with a wooden expression, feeling moody. He switched back to WeChat and glared at the silent profile picture for two seconds. The mug in the photo remained indifferent. Just as he was debating whether to call the missing person, the deep voice of the WeChat's owner drifted in from outside the partially closed door of the private room. "I've really troubled you today, President Jiang." "Mr. Xie is too polite," Jiang Shiyi’s voice followed. "It's getting late. Why don't you stay for a casual dinner, Mr. Xie?" "No," Xie Chengnan said. "Someone is waiting for me at home." The "someone" waiting at home was currently sitting in the booth with his ears perked up. His expression shifted from sunny to overcast and back again. On one hand, he realized Xie Chengnan hadn't seen his message yet; on the other, he wondered why these two were still together. Curling his lip, he stood up and pushed the door open. Jiang Yuan stood by the door, looking at the exceptionally striking man before him. "Xie Chengnan," he called out. Xie Chengnan looked surprised. He left Jiang Shiyi’s side and walked over. "What are you doing here?" "Class dinner." Jiang Yuan stepped aside slightly, allowing him to see the group of young men and women inside. "I sent you a WeChat message, but you didn't reply." Xie Chengnan explained, "Sorry, I was interviewing a few people this afternoon and haven't had a chance to look." "Interviewing?" Jiang Yuan looked at Jiang Shiyi with a cold face. "Just the two of you?" Jiang Shiyi, possessing a strong survival instinct, immediately replied, "Young Master Shen had some business at his company and left just a moment ago." Jiang Yuan nodded as if accepting the explanation. He tilted his chin at Xie Chengnan. "Eat with me." "Is it convenient?" Xie Chengnan looked at the room full of teenagers and felt a bit out of place, like a parent. "If I say it's convenient, it's convenient." The Young Master, accustomed to being bossy, grabbed Xie Chengnan’s wrist to lead him inside. Before turning, he said to Jiang Shiyi with lukewarm indifference, "Safe travels. I won't see you out." It would have been strange if Xie Chengnan couldn't tell that Jiang Yuan had a problem with Jiang Shiyi, but he couldn't very well ask in front of the man. The two men exchanged polite, business-like goodbyes, giving the Young Master no further room to perform. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 蒋时一 | Jiang Shiyi | A headhunter and socialite known for his beauty and romantic history. 张思义 | Zhang Siyi | A classmate of Jiang Yuan. 狙神 | Sniper God | A title for an exceptionally skilled sniper in gaming. 仙萼长春图 | Immortal Blossoms in an Everlasting Spring | A famous series of paintings by Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining). 人精 | Shrewdie / Fox | A term for someone who is exceptionally clever, slick, or socially savvy. 宣示主权 | Marking territory | Literally "declaring sovereignty."