My Little Boy is Always Teasing Me | Chapter 32 | Marking His Territory | Novela.app

As soon as they arrived home that evening, Young Master Jiang was very proactive about moving his pillow into the guest bedroom. Xie Chengnan sat on the armchair and casually opened a book. From the corner of his eye, he watched his young boyfriend walk back and forth between the two rooms, picking up clothes one moment and a toothbrush the next, making several trips in total. Like a small animal marking its territory, Jiang Yuan moved every item that carried the scent of his daily life into the private space that belonged to Xie Chengnan. This silent intrusion felt more like a ritual, a declaration that from now on, they were lovers who could share everything—each other's most special existence in this world outside of blood relations. Professor Xie flipped through his book, the corners of his lips curling slightly in a very pleasant mood. It wasn't until he noticed his young boyfriend repeatedly bringing over items that weren't even needed that he gradually sensed something was off. "A-Yuan," Xie Chengnan spoke up, intending to interrupt the boy who was still hauling things into the guest room. It took several calls before Jiang Yuan finally reacted. He looked back with a slightly dazed expression. "Hm? Did you call me?" Xie Chengnan closed his book, stood up, and took the third charging cable Jiang Yuan had brought over, placing it on the table. Frowning, he asked, "What's wrong?" "Huh?" Jiang Yuan blinked. "Nothing's wrong..." Xie Chengnan pulled him onto the bed and circled him in his arms, his tone softening. "What are you thinking about?" Jiang Yuan’s gaze shifted restlessly. One moment it lingered on Xie Chengnan’s face, and the next, he seemed to be staring through him at the ceiling light. After a while, he reached out to push Xie Chengnan away. "I haven't finished moving yet." "There's no rush for those things." His young boyfriend was clearly unsettled. Xie Chengnan knit his brows. "Are you feeling unwell somewhere?" Jiang Yuan opened his mouth. Xie Chengnan leaned in, thinking he was about to speak, but to his surprise, the boy closed his eyes in the next second, straightened his torso, and proactively pressed his lips against his. Xie Chengnan pulled back slightly, his expression serious. "A-Yuan, you're feeling anxious. Haven't you noticed?" Jiang Yuan bit his lower lip. After a long silence, he nodded. "But I don't want to talk right now. I want you to kiss me." Feeling both helpless and pained for him, Xie Chengnan leaned down and shared a long, lingering kiss with him. Suddenly, the person beneath him reached out... Professor Xie, having been successfully ambushed, let out a sharp hiss. His muscles tensed all over, like a wild beast entering a state of high alert. The youth’s breath fanned against his ear, urgent and filled with emotion. Just a moment ago, Professor Xie had been thinking about having a proper talk, but now that his "lifeblood" was held in the other's grasp, all reason and self-restraint were ground into powder by instinct. With a single puff of wind, it all collapsed. He began to cooperate, trying to guide and soothe him. Nothing could be more reassuring than a lover's kisses and touch. The surrounding sounds receded like the tide. All of Jiang Yuan's attention was focused on the blazing sun in his hand. The scorching heat traveled from his fingertips to his heart, burning so intensely in the deep winter night that his heart trembled, gradually smoothing over that inexplicable trace of restless anxiety. The overhead light was a bit dizzying. In the moment his mind went blank, Jiang Yuan felt his soul drift from his body into the air, only slowly settling back into its shell after a long time. Xie Chengnan peppered him with small kisses, continuing until he had calmed down before saying in a raspy voice, "You rest first. I'm going to the bathroom." Young Master Jiang refused to let go. He pursed his lips, unwilling to concede. "I can help." Professor Xie gave a half-smile. "Do you still want to be able to hold a pen tomorrow?" Jiang Yuan’s eyes flickered. After a long pause, he stammered, "I can... I can use my... legs..." Having finally summoned the courage to say this, the young master was flushed red from head to toe. Even though he was incredibly embarrassed, he stared at Xie Chengnan stubbornly, refusing to back down. That last word was as light as a tuft of cotton, yet it crushed Xie Chengnan's final line of defense. The body pinned beneath him was trembling slightly. Those beautiful peach-blossom eyes were clouded with a thin mist of moisture, clearly reflecting his own shadow. His little lover was looking at him, full of expectation. Professor Xie’s tense mouth finally relaxed into a low sigh. It wasn't until the heat of the cold night dissipated and Jiang Yuan lay prone on the bed, fingers tightly interlaced with the man behind him who was sighing in satisfaction, that he found the strength to curse: "You old brute." Suddenly being scolded, Professor Xie didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What is it, baby?" "My legs hurt." Young Master Jiang bit the well-defined finger in front of him, complaining, "Why are you so much trouble?" Xie Chengnan let out a low chuckle, secretly breathing a sigh of relief. If he could scold people, he was fine. He coaxed him gently, "Want to take a bath?" Jiang Yuan gave a lazy "Mm." "You wash me." Xie Chengnan carried him into the bathroom. Acting like a perfect gentleman, he washed his young boyfriend until he was glowing pink and white, then wrapped him in a bathrobe and carried him back out. Jiang Yuan lay on Xie Chengnan’s chest, fiddling with the buttons on his pajamas. Xie Chengnan stroked his back, bringing the topic back around. "Baby, what was wrong just now?" Jiang Yuan used his thumb and forefinger to unfasten and refasten a button, over and over. After a long while, he pursed his lips and said, "I was just... a bit insecure." Xie Chengnan pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Because of what?" Jiang Yuan’s hands stopped moving. "I just suddenly felt that you're too good. I thought about how, if one day you wanted to leave, I don't seem to have anything that could make you stay..." Xie Chengnan was like a luminous body; even standing in the depths of a crowd, he would always be noticed at a glance. He was destined to move from behind the scenes to the front of the stage, from a solitary laboratory to the spotlight. Jiang Yuan was afraid that one day Xie Chengnan would suddenly realize there were many better people waiting for him to choose from. He was afraid Xie would leave him behind. When Jiang Yuan counted his own chips, he realized he actually had nothing. This feeling made him very anxious. Xie Chengnan found the reason both funny and touching. He cupped his little lover's face, forcing him to look into his eyes, and said solemnly, "You don't need to think about what you can use to keep me, because I will never leave you." Jiang Yuan looked at him quietly. There was a smile in his eyes, but his expression was still somewhat dazed. Heartaching for him, Xie Chengnan pulled him into his arms and kissed the top of his head, whispering, "I'm sorry. It's my fault for not handling things well." He suddenly understood that Jiang Yuan’s panic and insecurity stemmed entirely from his own attitude. From that minor celebrity to Jiang Shiyi, and then to this A-Lin tonight, Xie Chengnan had always been accustomed to giving the "cold treatment" to people who tried to get close to him. As long as the other party didn't do anything to trouble him, he generally wasn't too harsh. He treated it as normal social interaction—polite, courteous, but maintaining distance. But this way of handling things clearly made Jiang Yuan feel unsafe. "I promise, similar things won't happen again." Xie Chengnan stroked his boyfriend's head. "If you don't like me doing something, or if you don't like me interacting with someone, you can tell me directly. A-Yuan, you must remember: you can make demands of me, and you can restrict me. This is a right I am giving to you." Jiang Yuan looked at the man before him, his gaze turning deep. "Then what if... I want to lock you up? Keep you by my side, staying with me forever, where only I can see you, only I can touch you... would you be willing?" Jiang Yuan didn't know why he had blurted out such a morbid thought in the heat of the moment. He pinched his fingers nervously, afraid that Xie Chengnan would think he was a monster. Xie Chengnan’s expression froze for a moment. He clearly hadn't expected such a request. After a long pause, he apologized, "I'm sorry, baby. I probably can't do that." Jiang Yuan lowered his eyes, the light in them slowly dimming. Although he knew his request was excessive, being rejected still hurt. However, Xie Chengnan continued, "I need to go to the lab. The hardware facilities at home can no longer satisfy the next steps of my research. But I can hand over all the company's external affairs to Qinian, reduce my social life, and try to spend as much time as possible with you." Jiang Yuan looked up, his eyes wide. He hadn't expected Xie Chengnan to actually consider the feasibility of the idea. He was speechless, and tears suddenly began to fall uncontrollably. Xie Chengnan nervously patted and soothed him. "Don't cry. If you feel that's not enough, I can think of other ways." Jiang Yuan started laughing through his tears. He rubbed his face against Xie Chengnan’s and acted spoiled. "My boyfriend is so amazing, how could I hide him at home?" He suddenly felt a sense of release. Xie Chengnan’s world was so big, and his future was so bright. How could Jiang Yuan let his own selfish and dark thoughts drag the man down into the depths with him? Clearly, he should be the one working hard to become better, working hard to keep up with Xie Chengnan’s footsteps, and working hard to become the person most suited for him. Xie Chengnan sighed softly. "But my baby is so good, I want to hide him at home too." "Hmph." Young Master Jiang kissed his boyfriend. "Give me your hand." Xie Chengnan held out his hand. Jiang Yuan interlaced their fingers, took a photo with his phone, and then posted a Weibo update. **Young Master Yuan:** Let me introduce you—my boyfriend. [Dog head emoji].jpg @BrotherChengnan. [Attached Image]. Xie Chengnan couldn't help but curl his lips when he saw the post. "Go and repost it, quick." Jiang Yuan urged Xie Chengnan to take out his phone and taught him how to use Weibo. When Xie Chengnan saw his Weibo handle, he thought back to the "indescribable" moments earlier, when his young boyfriend's eyes were rimmed with red as he cried out "Brother Chengnan" in broken fragments. For a moment, his heart itched with unbearable desire. Noticing the change in his body, Jiang Yuan glared at him and gave him a kick. However, the force was light—it felt more like flirting. Xie Chengnan didn't dare bully him too much. Suppressing his internal fire, he obediently reposted the Weibo. **Brother Chengnan:** Let me introduce you—my baby. [Heart emoji].jpg // **Young Master Yuan:** Let me introduce you—my boyfriend. [Dog head emoji].jpg @BrotherChengnan. [Attached Image]. After finishing the post, Professor Xie was chased into the bathroom by Young Master Jiang, leaving the online commotion far behind. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 沅小爷 | Young Master Yuan | Jiang Yuan's Weibo handle; "Xiao Ye" is a cocky/playful way to refer to oneself. 城南哥哥 | Brother Chengnan | Xie Chengnan's Weibo handle; "Gege" means older brother, used here as an intimate honorific. 其年 | Qinian | Likely referring to Lu Qinian, a business associate or friend of Xie Chengnan. 老畜牲 | Old brute / Old beast | A playful, albeit slightly "rough," term of endearment used by Jiang Yuan for the older Xie Chengnan. 桃花眼 | Peach-blossom eyes | A specific eye shape in Chinese culture considered very attractive and romantic.