Jiang Yuan never expected that the moment the door opened, he would see his usually gentle and polite Professor Xie with a face like thunder, slamming Secretary Fang forcefully against the wall.
"Xie Chengnan!" Jiang Yuan cried out in surprise, wrapping his arms around the man from behind. "Calm down!"
the familiar voice brought Xie Chengnan’s rationality back to the surface. When he turned his head and saw Jiang Yuan’s face clearly, his clenched fists finally slowly relaxed. He turned around and pulled the youth into a fierce embrace.
Jiang Yuan’s ear was filled with the sound of Xie Chengnan’s suppressed anger and panicked breathing. His body was held so tightly in the man's arms that he felt as if he might be crushed.
Jiang Yuan felt a twinge of pain, but his brow only furrowed for a moment before smoothing out. He used the most soothing tone possible to comfort him. "Xie Chengnan, I’m fine... Don’t be afraid, I’m okay..."
Xie Chengnan’s muscles were taut, a state of readiness as if he might lash out at any moment. He lifted his head, his turbulent gaze falling upon Qiao Song, who stood inside the room. Their eyes clashed silently in the air; neither would back down.
Jiang Yuan gently patted Xie Chengnan’s back. This comfort from his lover finally allowed his manic emotions to subside.
Realizing he was holding on too tight, Xie Chengnan quickly loosened his grip, full of self-reproach. "Did I hurt you?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head. "I’m fine." Having said that, he stood on his tiptoes and pressed a light kiss onto Xie Chengnan’s tightly pursed lips, whispering, "Let’s go."
Xie Chengnan gave a low grunt of affirmation, took his hand, and led him toward the elevators. Neither of them had any intention of saying goodbye to the other two.
After walking a certain distance, Xie Chengnan finally began to calm down.
He stopped at a corner and pulled Jiang Yuan into another tight hug, his voice raspy as he asked, "Are you really alright?"
"I’m fine." Jiang Yuan pulled back slightly to show him his neat formal jacket. "We just talked for a bit. Nothing happened."
Xie Chengnan breathed a secret sigh of relief and pulled him back into his chest, his voice trembling slightly. "I thought something had happened to you... I should have followed you..." He was currently filled with self-blame and regret, wishing he could give himself a harsh lashing.
Jiang Yuan knew what he was thinking and comforted him. "I didn't expect Jiang Kunbo to make me see Qiao Song either. This isn't your fault."
The two held each other quietly for a while before Jiang Yuan asked curiously, "How did you find me?" When he left, it was to see Jiang Kunbo. Xie Chengnan’s panicked state clearly meant he had heard something.
Xie Chengnan explained, "Jiang Hao said Jiang Kunbo was using you as a bargaining chip with Qiao Song. I had Jason hack into the surveillance system to find this place."
"You hacked the surveillance?" Jiang Yuan was startled. Realizing his reaction was perhaps too tense, he intentionally joked, "Aren't you afraid the hotel will call the police?"
"I’m not afraid..." Xie Chengnan said. "I was only afraid I wouldn't make it in time..."
"It’s over now." Jiang Yuan cupped his face and gave him two kisses. "I’ll handle the rest."
He took his phone out of his pocket only to find over a dozen missed calls, all from Xie Chengnan. He couldn't help but feel annoyed with himself. "I had it on silent and didn't hear it." If he had picked up the phone then, Xie Chengnan wouldn't have been scared like this.
Xie Chengnan watched as Jiang Yuan called Shen Qinian, speaking with total confidence: "Shen Qinian, your family's AI hacked into your hotel's surveillance system. If anyone reports it, handle it for me."
...
Jiang Yuan: "It’s fine, there was a bit of an unexpected situation, but it’s solved now."
...
Jiang Yuan: "Mm, okay, I’ll hang up then."
Only then did Xie Chengnan realize: "The Shen family?"
"Mm." Jiang Yuan put his phone away. "His older brother is managing things now. Just passing a word along is enough."
As the elevator descended, Xie Chengnan smoothed back the hair that had fallen over his forehead during the scuffle. He turned to Jiang Yuan and asked, "Are we going back to the banquet hall?"
Jiang Yuan looked up at him, his expression hesitant.
Xie Chengnan’s lingering tension was transmitted to him through their tightly clasped hands; the man was clearly not as calm as he appeared.
But tonight’s banquet was very important to him...
Xie Chengnan saw his inner conflict and shifted to comfort him instead. "I’m fine. Let’s go back." He knew how much preparation Jiang Yuan had put into today. If they left now, it would be equivalent to all that effort going to waste.
Jiang Yuan squeezed his hand, deeply grateful for his attentiveness and consideration.
Jiang Hao’s decision to tell Xie Chengnan those things at that moment was clearly not out of the goodness of his heart; he wanted Xie Chengnan to cause a scene. Regardless of whether anything happened between Jiang Yuan and Qiao Song, Jiang Yuan wouldn't have the face to show up at the banquet afterward.
Xie Chengnan had naturally thought of this as well. He straightened Jiang Yuan’s hair and said deeply, "Go do what you want to do. I’ll be right by your side."
Jiang Hao never expected Jiang Yuan to return unscathed.
The latter half of the banquet essentially became Jiang Yuan’s home court. He moved through the crowd, clinking glasses and conversing with ease, radiating a brilliant and dazzling light.
Xie Chengnan stayed by his side the entire time, never leaving him, making no effort to hide the nature of their relationship. When Jiang Yuan introduced him to others, he was perfectly open about it. Perhaps because the two were so natural, no one paid much attention to the issue of their sexual orientation.
One was the young master of the Jiang family, and the other was the CEO of a rapidly rising tech company. People looking for cooperation or to build connections surrounded them, making Jiang Hao so frustrated he felt like he was coughing up blood.
By the time the two arrived home, it was nearly midnight. Jiang Yuan had drunk quite a bit, and his eyes were hazy with intoxication.
Xie Chengnan supported him as they entered the guest bedroom, coaxing him softly, "Go to sleep first. You can shower tomorrow when you've sobered up."
But the clean-freak Young Master Jiang was stubborn. "No, I want to shower." After saying that, he gave the man beside him a shove. "You go first. You stink."
Xie Chengnan wasn't angry at being pushed around; he just found it a bit amusing. He thought he would settle the boy in first, figuring he might fall asleep by the time he finished his own shower.
To his surprise, Jiang Yuan insisted on holding out until Xie Chengnan finished before swaying slightly into the bathroom alone, firmly refusing Xie Chengnan’s help.
Worried, Xie Chengnan could only stand by the door to listen for any movement. The sound of water inside lasted for a while before stopping, but Jiang Yuan didn't come out.
"A-Yuan? Baby?" Xie Chengnan knocked on the door, frowning. "Are you finished?"
"No..." Jiang Yuan’s slightly weak voice drifted out from the bathroom.
Xie Chengnan waited a bit longer. Just as he was about to lose his patience and burst in, the door opened from the inside. After twenty minutes, the young master finally stood before him with a flushed face, now adorned with a few extra... accessories.
Jiang Yuan’s hair wasn't dry. The pink cat ears were damp with mist, making one want to reach out and scratch them.
A golden bell hung from a leather collar. Perhaps afraid it would ring, the owner was pinching it with his fair fingers, the metal reflecting a golden glow under the bedroom's dim lighting.
Xie Chengnan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His gaze instinctively drifted lower. Because of the angle, he couldn't see clearly, but the sight of a small section of a cat tail caused his pupils to shrink instantly.
When this set of clothes had arrived, Jiang Yuan had adamantly demanded a return because of the way the tail was "worn." In the end, the thick-skinned CEO Xie had secretly stuffed it into the bathroom cabinet.
Now, that cat tail was being worn by the beautiful youth before him. Out of shyness, the boy’s entire body was tinged with a shallow pink, and the corners of his eyes were slightly red. Under the man’s searching gaze, he instinctively tensed his spine, and that fluffy tail followed suit with a nearly imperceptible twitch.
Xie Chengnan was completely stunned. He hadn't expected Jiang Yuan to actually put it on, especially by his own hand. Thinking about what must have just happened in the bathroom, the older man felt like he was going to lose his mind then and there.
Young Master Jiang took a single step forward and stopped. His posture was a bit strange, as if he were uncomfortable. His handsome brows were tightly knit, and when he relaxed, he looked at Xie Chengnan with a piteous gaze.
Xie Chengnan knew he couldn't walk well and wanted to carry him to the bed, but halfway through picking him up, he was pushed away by his panicked little lover.
"Don't! It’s... it’s going to fall out!" In his haste, Jiang Yuan let go. The bell he had been pinching between his fingers let out a *ting-ling* sound. Combined with his slightly tearful voice, it was so enchanting it made one want to bully him mercilessly.
The CEO, ready to carry off his little kitten, scooped him up by the back of his knees and chuckled. "If you clench it properly, it won't fall out."
Jiang Yuan never expected this guy to be so wicked. His body was tense with effort, and he was already starting to regret this.
It was only a few steps from the bathroom to the bed, but the now-unattended little bell rang crisply the whole way, making both their hearts tremble.
The moment he hit the bed, the young master wanted to reach out and remove the annoying tail, but he was quickly flipped over and his wrists were pinned.
CEO Xie’s gaze was dark as he stared at that spot for a long time, thinking the pink fur looked absolutely beautiful.
The little kitten, being stared at, shrank back and tried to escape. Seeing that he couldn't run due to the disparity in strength, he began to plead with his master. "Gege... help me take it out... it hurts..."
The master gave a low hum of response. His free hand gripped the slender tail and slowly pulled it outward. The little kitten trembled, letting out fragmented whimpers, but just as success was within reach, it was forcefully shoved back in.
The bell let out a flurry of chimes. This time, it was the man’s gentle yet deep voice: "Keep it on... it looks very good."
When the package had arrived that day, Young Master Jiang had complained with a face full of disdain about how three little trinkets could be so expensive. Today, he was being bullied into tears by one of those very trinkets.
Xie Chengnan remembered there was a switch hidden on it. When he fumbled to turn it on, the little kitten, who had just barely adapted, instantly arched his back. Soon, he collapsed onto the quilt, twitching, as a single tear fell from the corner of his tightly shut eye.
Xie Chengnan leaned down and tenderly kissed that tear away.
The beautiful cat tail was finally tossed aside by its master. The crisp sound of the bell echoed through the closed door, ringing throughout the empty villa all night long. It wasn't until dawn was about to break that it finally, slowly, fell silent.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 掼 | Slammed / Thrown | To throw or pin someone with force. |
| 跨越性别的爱情 | Cross-gender love | A dramatic way to refer to same-sex romance in the context of societal views. |
| 猫耳朵 | Cat ears | Part of the "cat set" Jiang Yuan wears. |
| 皮质项圈 | Leather collar | Part of the "cat set." |
| 金色铃铛 | Golden bell | Attached to the collar. |
| 猫尾巴 | Cat tail | A tail-plug accessory. |
| 夹住了 | Clench / Hold in | Referring to the physical effort of keeping the plug in place. |
| 叮玲玲 | Ting-ling / Jingle | Onomatopoeia for the bell sound. |
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
My Little Boy is Always Teasing Me | Chapter 51 | The Sound of Bells | Novela.app | Novela.app
