Hearing his tone, Xie Chengnan realized he was planning a long trip. He couldn't help but frown. "Where are you going?"
"A business trip." Jiang Yuan set his phone down and headed to the walk-in closet to pack. "Regarding that slow-stream project I mentioned before, my grandfather helped me get in touch with several industry veterans. I plan to take advantage of these few days of free time to visit them and finalize the contracts."
"How long will you be gone?" Xie Chengnan helped him place his selected clothes into the suitcase. He had originally wanted to ask if he could go along, but then he remembered he had just promised Shen Qinian he would meet a client tomorrow, so he had to abandon the idea.
Jiang Yuan didn't think much of it, replying casually, "It depends. I'll definitely be back before the Lunar New Year."
Xie Chengnan paused, only then realizing that the end of the year was fast approaching. He looked up at Jiang Yuan. "Are you going back to the Jiang family for the New Year?"
"I'll go back for a meal and then come straight back." Jiang Yuan's excitement dimmed at the thought of that family of three. "It doesn't matter if I'm there or not anyway."
At this, Jiang Yuan turned back curiously. "What about you? Are you going abroad to spend it with your parents?"
"No need." Xie Chengnan folded a suit jacket neatly. "They said they're coming back to Nancheng for the New Year this year."
Now it was Jiang Yuan's turn to be stunned. "Huh? Your parents are coming back to China...?"
Xie Chengnan crouched there, looking at him with a hint of amusement. "Nervous?"
"It's just so sudden..." Jiang Yuan pursed his lips, his eyes filled with trepidation. "Do they know about us...?"
"Not yet." Xie Chengnan zipped the suitcase shut. "I thought it would be better to tell them in person."
"Ah..." Jiang Yuan hesitated. "You're not planning to come out to them during this visit, are you?"
Xie Chengnan arched an eyebrow. "You don't want to?"
Jiang Yuan's lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but after a long moment, he murmured, "I'm afraid they won't like me..."
"How could they?" Xie Chengnan stood up and pinched his boyfriend's cheek. "My darling is so adorable."
Young Master Jiang’s face was already scrunched up like a pleated bun. "You're the only one who thinks I'm adorable."
Professor Xie planted a kiss on one of those "pleats" and chuckled. "I told them before that I was the type who would never marry. It’s rare enough that I’m willing to find a partner; they’ll definitely be happy when they see you."
Jiang Yuan's expression did not relax at these words.
Guessing what he was thinking, Xie Chengnan reached out and ruffled the youth's hair, saying softly, "Don't overthink it. You were so small back then; no matter what happened, it has nothing to do with you. My parents can distinguish between the two."
Jiang Yuan lowered his head, slowly fastening his shirt buttons one by one. After a long silence, he finally asked, "Are you still investigating what happened back then?"
Xie Chengnan went silent for a moment, then shook his head.
Jiang Yuan pursed his lips and leaned back against the closet door to look at him. "Why did you stop? You tell me not to overthink it, but what are you afraid of?"
Xie Chengnan was stunned for a second. He lowered his eyes, avoiding Jiang Yuan's searching gaze.
He naturally knew what he was afraid of.
He was afraid that if he kept investigating, the facts would eventually point to a truth he was most unwilling to face.
Was everything fourteen years ago a scam from start to finish? Among those involved in the scheme, were there names like Jiang Kunbo, Li Yan, or even Zhang Yuehua...?
He feared that the truth he uncovered with his own hands would ultimately become a bomb buried between him and Jiang Yuan, detonating at some point in the future and blowing their relationship to pieces.
Jiang Yuan's focused gaze gradually lost its center amidst Xie Chengnan's infinite silence. His fingers hanging at his side twitched, but in the end, he simply turned around and picked out a tie for himself.
How could he not know what Xie Chengnan was afraid of? He had even warned himself not to think about it, not to investigate, and to let those old matters be buried by time.
But even if he closed his eyes and covered his ears, he couldn't truly pretend he knew nothing.
Sometimes, the endless stream of speculation was more terrifying than the truth itself.
The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. Looking at the slender back before him, Xie Chengnan couldn't help but pull the boy into a tight embrace from behind.
Jiang Yuan seemed to find some form of support from the warmth pressed against his spine, and his stiff body gradually softened.
He reached back and gently stroked the tense corner of Xie Chengnan's mouth, saying firmly, "Keep investigating, Xie Chengnan. Don't worry about me. When the day comes that the truth is revealed, even if you want to let go, I will hold onto you tightly."
A simple promise shattered all the trepidation and hesitation in Xie Chengnan's heart. He let out a sigh of relief and nodded. "Alright."
The topic ended there. The two held each other quietly for a while, each gathering their emotions.
"When are your parents arriving?" Jiang Yuan tried his best to make his tone sound light. "Is their accommodation settled?"
"They won't arrive until New Year's Eve, and they're only staying for two days." Xie Chengnan pulled the person in his arms closer. "I've booked a nearby hotel for them. You just need to accompany them for a meal when the time comes."
Jiang Yuan tied his tie in front of the mirror and asked casually, "They're not staying at the house?"
Xie Chengnan raised an eyebrow, looking at him meaningfully.
Jiang Yuan: "????"
"Yeah, they're not staying here." Xie Chengnan's lips curled into a smile. "I'm afraid the soundproofing isn't good enough."
Jiang Yuan looked at the person in the mirror, imagined the scenario, and couldn't help but blush...
The two fooled around in the closet for a bit longer before finally heading downstairs.
Zhang Siyi was already sitting on the sofa playing on his phone with his luggage beside him. Old Master Zhang had told him to accompany Jiang Yuan on this trip to gain some experience.
Xiong Zhipeng stood nearby, staring at him. He watched until Zhang Siyi "died and turned into a crate" for the fifth time. It wasn't until Jiang Yuan and Xie Chengnan came downstairs that he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Yuan had his secretary bring the contracts and book the flight tickets. They set off right after lunch. He didn't let Xie Chengnan drive them; before leaving, the two said their goodbyes through the lowered car window.
Xie Chengnan: "Are you sure you don't want me to take you to the airport?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head. "No need. Don't you have things to do at the company? It would waste a lot of time going back and forth to the airport."
Xie Chengnan felt a pang of restlessness as he squeezed his boyfriend's hand. This was the first time they had been apart since confirming their relationship, and he felt quite reluctant.
Jiang Yuan suddenly reached out, hooked his arm around Xie Chengnan's neck, and pulled him down. The two shared a lingering, passionate kiss through the car window.
Everyone else turned their faces away, except for Zhang Siyi, who stared wide-eyed with a face full of envy.
When their lips finally parted, Zhang Siyi waved from the other side. "Brother Xie, you should head back. I'll keep an eye on my brother; I definitely won't let him be seduced by any buff guys."
Jiang Yuan turned and kicked at him, but Zhang Siyi dodged with a mischievous grin.
Xie Chengnan gave a short, low laugh and finally stopped insisting. "Go on then. Be safe on the road."
Jiang Yuan looked up at him longingly. "I'll be back as soon as possible."
Xie Chengnan: "Alright."
The car window slowly rolled up, severing their lingering gaze.
Xie Chengnan stood straight and watched Jiang Yuan leave. He didn't turn back until the car turned the corner and vanished from sight.
The television in the living room was still on; someone had left the midday news playing halfway through. Xie Chengnan stood in the middle of the living room for a moment, suddenly feeling that the house was empty—even his heart felt empty.
His WeChat notification sounded. Xie Chengnan saw a message from the person who had only been gone for a few minutes.
Your Little Darling Yuan: What should I do...
Your Little Darling Yuan: I already miss you...
Your Little Darling Yuan: Addicted to my boyfriend, no heart for work...
Xie Chengnan let out a low laugh, and that hollow feeling was finally filled.
Nan: I miss you too.
Nan: Go and return quickly.
Suddenly alone, Professor Xie simply packed a few clothes and decided to move into the company for the next few days, using work to pass the time without his young boyfriend.
The two small robots realized their other master was also looking like he was going on a long trip and got anxious, chasing him to the door to cling to his legs and act pitiful.
Jason: [Nan, where are you going? QAQ]
Freesia: [Papa, where are you going? QAQ]
Xie Chengnan looked down at the two "leg weights" on either side and said helplessly, "I'm going to stay at the office for a couple of days."
Jason: [Don't leave Jason behind, hmph hmph hmph hmph]
Freesia: [Don't leave Freesia behind, wah wah wah wah]
Xie Chengnan sighed. "If you're bored, just go into sleep mode for two days."
Jason: [Master doesn't want me anymore, I'm going to become a left-behind robot QAQ]
Freesia: [Papa doesn't want me anymore, I'm going to become a left-behind child QAQ]
Xie Chengnan: "..."
When Shen Qinian saw Xie Chengnan with a stoic face, carrying luggage, and followed by two small robots, his first reaction was: "Did you get kicked out of the house with nothing to your name?"
Xie Chengnan didn't even bother to give him a look. He had Jason take the luggage into the lounge and sat down behind his desk. "Yuan went on a business trip. Didn't you say there were clients who wanted custom models? I'll just stay here and put in some overtime for a few days."
The Vice President clicked his tongue. "Then I really have to thank Young Master Jiang for the timing of his trip. If he stays away for two or three days, our company can rush a wave of revenue."
With that, the "slave driver" Shen took out his phone to call his secretary. "Move the CEO's schedule for the next week forward. Yes, fill it up—one in the morning, one in the afternoon. Let's try to get all those new clients settled."
As he spoke, Shen Qinian observed Xie Chengnan's expression. Finding that the guy didn't have a single objection, he said curiously, "Have you had a sudden realization of conscience? Decided to work hard to serve the company?"
Xie Chengnan opened the pending documents on his desk and replied, "Once I'm done with the rush, I'm taking two days off to spend with Yuan."
"I knew you wouldn't suddenly change back to your old self." The VP felt stifled. "Aren't you afraid of dying from sexual exhaustion?"
Xie Chengnan gave him a look of disgust. "What on earth is filling your head?"
Shen Qinian sat with his legs crossed, bouncing his foot happily. "Just from those few livestream accidents with your Jason, I've seen right through you."
Xie Chengnan: "...When did you start watching livestreams? Does the company have too little work for you?"
"I don't need to go looking for them; plenty of enthusiastic netizens send me links to the recordings." The VP laughed heartily. "I originally thought you were the 'old-fashioned cadre' type, but it turns out you really know how to have fun."
"Ahem." The CEO gave an embarrassed dry cough and tapped the desk. "Didn't you say there's a client to meet tomorrow? Where's the data?"
Shen Qinian knew when to stop. He straightened his posture and began introducing the client scheduled for tomorrow. "Oushi Xianlin International Healthcare Center. It's currently one of the most famous foreign-operated high-end eldercare institutions in the country. The person we're meeting tomorrow is their head of China operations, Yao Duo. Like you, he's a British-Chinese national. When we finalized the agenda today, he expressed a desire to tour our laboratory. I haven't replied yet."
"That's fine." Xie Chengnan signed a document without looking up. "I'll take him on a tour of the lab tomorrow."
Shen Qinian gave a "received" gesture and had his secretary send the reply.
***
