After dinner, Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin both fought to pay the bill, but Jiang She didn’t stop them. He simply used his own identity to get the lowest discount, saving Song Mian quite a bit of money.
Walking down the long corridor of Si Ji Chun, there weren’t many people left in line, and the corridor felt eerily quiet.
Chu Jiangmin took the keys to start the car, while Song Mian stayed behind to chat.
The awkward part now was that there weren’t enough seats in the car, and there were two extra people.
The place was relatively remote, and it was difficult to get a taxi, so leaving anyone behind didn’t feel appropriate.
It was Jiang She who suggested, “Chu Tao and I aren’t in a hurry. You guys go ahead, I’ll call a car to pick us up.”
At this point, it would probably take a while for the car to arrive, and who knew how long the wait would be.
Song Mian hesitated, “This doesn’t seem right. Why don’t we let Tao Tao and Xing Ning wait for a bit, and I’ll drop you off first and come back to pick them up?”
At this moment, she felt it was only fair to let her son wait a little, though she still felt reluctant.
But Chu Tao also agreed with Jiang She, “We were planning to spend time with him for his birthday anyway. We’ll stay for a while longer, no need to worry.”
Song Mian felt a bit dazed after the meal, and it was only then that she remembered today was Jiang She’s birthday, and their sudden interruption had disrupted his original plans.
“Alright then, Tao Tao, stay with Jiang She a bit longer. Don’t be too late coming home. I’ll stay up, and if there’s really no car, just call me, and I’ll come pick you up.”
Chu Tao nodded, staying at the entrance of the restaurant with Jiang She.
Yu Xinrong gently nudged Yu Wei and spoke in a coaxing tone, “Leave your contact info with the younger brothers, so if they ever have any questions, they can reach out to you.”
Yu Wei paused for a moment, clearly not understanding what Yu Xinrong meant. He turned to face Chu Xingning and said, “Add me on WeChat.”
Yu Xinrong frowned and tugged on Yu Wei’s shirt, pulling him back a bit.
It was then that Yu Wei understood—his father didn’t mean for him to add his favorite, Chu Xingning, but instead, to add Jiang She.
Though there had been a little awkwardness at the table, it was mostly due to vanity, not anything serious related to character.
Yu Wei had been late for an interview before, which had caused some negative impact, and the results weren’t out yet. If Jiang She could lend a hand, it would likely be a sure thing. How could Yu Xinrong pass up the opportunity to connect with the son of the chairman of the Jiang Corporation?
However, Yu Wei still had some youthful pride and was unwilling to bow to reality.
He had been used to freedom and carefree living abroad, where even if some classmates were wealthier than him, they were from different countries and fields, so it was easy to get along with them.
Thinking about how Jiang She had stepped on him without reason made Yu Wei upset, so he ignored Yu Xinrong’s hint and insisted on looking at Chu Xingning.
Chu Xingning blinked and calmly lied, “Sorry, I don’t have WeChat.”
As if he didn’t have WeChat.
Yu Wei had already seen Chu Xingning chatting away in the car and while waiting for a table. Now, saying he didn’t have WeChat was obviously a refusal.
Yu Wei began to sweat slightly, muttering, “Who doesn’t have WeChat nowadays?”
Before Chu Xingning could answer, Jiang She calmly replied, “I do. Chu Tao doesn’t either. We’re busy with school, so we just communicate on Baidu Tieba^[1]It is the larggest Chinese online community in this world, and also a community of young people. Baidu Tieba is an interests based community forum. Literally, Tieba means “let’s post … Continue reading usually.”
Yu Wei: “……”

Jiang She’s words shattered Yu Xinrong’s intentions.
Yu Xinrong took a deep breath, sneered lightly, and strode toward the car.
As an elder, he could tell that his son wasn’t well-liked, with all the kids seemingly wanting to confront Yu Wei.
He was angry, but couldn’t truly argue with the younger generation. This meal had been unpleasant, and he wished he could just take a flight and leave Huai City tonight.
When Yu Wei saw his father walk away, he angrily stuffed his phone into his pocket and said nothing, his face cold.
Only Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin remained unaware, still cheerfully urging Yu Wei to get in the car quickly.
Chu Xingning quietly said to Chu Tao, “I’ll head back first, you be careful.”
Chu Tao nodded, “You too, bro.”
He was, of course, referring to being careful with Yu Wei.
Chu Xingning nodded, then walked over to the front passenger seat, stopping Chu Jiangmin who was about to get in. “Dad, you can sit in the back with your old classmate. I’ll sit in the front.”
Chu Jiangmin was surprised, “I’ll be cramped in the back. Aren’t you the slim one?”
Suddenly, Chu Xingning clutched his stomach, furrowing his brows deeply and weakly said, “I ate too much earlier, and my stomach isn’t feeling great. I’m afraid I might get car sick, so sitting in the front will be more comfortable.”
“Ah, why would you feel nauseous? Is your stomach hurting again? I told you not to eat spicy food. Do you want to go buy some medicine at the pharmacy?”
Song Mian, always concerned about Chu Xingning’s health, became even more anxious when she heard him.
Chu Xingning’s stomach was quite sensitive, and spicy food often made him feel uncomfortable. In the past, when the pain was severe, he would curl up on the bed, sweating and writhing in pain like a helpless little bird, which was something Song Mian couldn’t bear.
Although he had become stronger as he grew older, the memories of those times still made Song Mian uneasy, which is why she was especially attentive to him.
Chu Xingning shook his head. “It’s not that bad. It just feels a little bloated. I’ll be fine after eating something to help with digestion.”
Chu Jiangmin didn’t insist and quickly let Chu Xingning take the front seat, squeezing into the back.
Chu Xingning settled into the front passenger seat, fastened his seatbelt, and didn’t complain about his stomach anymore.
Chu Tao and Jiang She watched the car drive away, the bright lights gradually fading into the distance, until even the sound of the wheels on the ground disappeared. They both let out a sigh of relief.
Chu Tao tilted his head back, gazing at the stars in the night sky. Near the outskirts, the sky was always clearer, and the stars seemed lower, shimmering with a silvery glow that filled the sky like sugar-coated cookies dotted with candy.
He childishly raised his hand to grab at the elusive stars.
Of course, he didn’t catch any stars, only feeling the cool breeze on his palm.
Jiang She chuckled softly, “Want a star?”
Chu Tao snapped out of his trance, pulling his hand back with a “Tch” and said, “I’m not that childish.”
But he hadn’t really looked at the stars in a long time. Most nights were spent in the hustle and bustle of evening study sessions. After that, he’d grab his backpack, squeeze through the crowd, rush to the alley, and ride bikes home with his brother.
Once home, it was time for a shower, rest, closing the curtains, and when he opened his eyes, it was already bright outside.
Jiang She teased him, “If you want one, just say it. I’ll get it for you, honey.”
Chu Tao glanced at him, slightly pursing his lips, “Go charm some little girl, will you?”
Chu Tao turned around and stepped aside, pulling out his ride-sharing app to call a cab.
At this hour, it would be nearly impossible to get a regular taxi or ride, but a private car that cost several times more would definitely show up.
Jiang She, in a good mood, walked over and wrapped his arms around Chu Tao’s waist from behind.
The cool breeze was suddenly blocked, and through his thin clothes, Chu Tao could only feel Jiang She’s body warmth.
Jiang She murmured, “No little girls, just a little boy.”
Chu Tao, feeling coaxed, curved his eyes into a smile and nuzzled Jiang She’s chin with his cheek. “I’m not annoying, am I?”
Jiang She rested his chin on Chu Tao’s shoulder, tilted his head, and pressed his face closer to Chu Tao’s head, asking softly, “Where are we going?”
“To your place,” Chu Tao entered their current location and then Jiang She’s home address into the app.
Jiang She raised his eyebrows, surprised. “Aren’t you going home?”

Chu Tao turned his face and actively pecked the side of Jiang She’s face: “I haven’t celebrated your birthday with you yet.”

The night air was cool and fresh, mixed with the scattered, carefree scent of plants from the outskirts. It felt as though time itself had slowed down.

Chu Tao glanced at his phone. The ride-sharing app had dispatched a car, which would arrive in about fifteen minutes.

He and Jiang She started walking aimlessly back and forth along the street outside the Si Ji Chun restaurant.

In the grass nearby, the faint sound of insects could be heard, though their calls were becoming weaker as the weather grew colder.

After the eleven-day holiday, autumn had truly arrived.

As expected, the car arrived on time. Chu Tao and Jiang She got in and headed straight for Jiang She’s home.

There were complimentary bottled waters in the car. Chu Tao twisted open a bottle, took a small sip, then leaned back in the seat, closing his eyes to relax.

The light in the car was dim, and the vehicle bounced along the uneven ground, making it easy to feel drowsy.

He wasn’t sure if he had fallen asleep or how long it had been, but when he woke up again, they had already arrived at Jiang She’s neighborhood.

He was covered with Jiang She’s school uniform, and the birthday cake was placed between them. The car smelled of leather seat cushions.

Chu Tao quickly paid through his phone and got out of the car.

He felt a bit light-headed and had to pause for a moment before he felt steady again.

Jiang She, concerned, said, “If you’re tired, just go home first.”

Chu Tao shook his head. “I’ll sleep for a bit and be fine. I don’t want to go home.”

The two casually took the cake and got on the elevator, listening to the elevator advertisements while playfully poking each other’s arms.

When they reached the floor, they were stunned by what they saw.

At the door to Jiang She’s home was an extravagant pile of gifts: a giant model airplane, a three-layered, exquisitely wrapped red bean cake, and a brand-new iMac.

Jiang She hesitated for a second before pulling out his phone.

After meeting Chu Tao’s parents, he had put his phone on silent, so he had missed all the notifications afterward.

Shen Qing had called, as well as Jiang Qifeng, twelve times in total.

Shen Qing had even sent a voice message, a rarity since their last one was six months ago. She asked, “Where did you go? No one’s home?”

Jiang She didn’t reply.

Then Shen Qing sent another message, but quickly retracted it. Jiang She didn’t see what it said.

Jiang Qifeng, on the other hand, persisted with several text messages.

“Out with friends?”

“I couldn’t reach you on the phone. I came to your door and ran into your mom.”

“The model airplane and cake were from your mom, and the computer is from me. We waited a while, but when we couldn’t get in touch with you, we left them outside.”

“Give us a call when you see this.”

“Happy birthday, son.”

The hallway lights had no sound; once it was time, they naturally turned off.

In the darkness, only Jiang She’s phone screen illuminated his face, casting a faint blue light that hid his emotions.

Jiang She’s finger gently brushed over the screen, quickly exiting WeChat, and said in a low voice, “It’s rare for them to wait for me.”

Chu Tao glanced at the screen and understood what had happened.

“Your parents came here to wait for you.”

Jiang She’s eyelids fluttered. The light from the screen illuminated his face, the dim glow covering his emotions.

He quietly responded, “Mm.”

The bright yellow hallway lights flickered back on, and the hallway became well-lit again. Jiang She used his fingerprint to unlock the door, and together with Chu Tao, they carried the pile of things inside.

Chu Tao picked up the model airplane. He shook it lightly in his hands. “It’s heavy. Your mom would have a hard time carrying this upstairs, not to mention the three-layer cake.”

Jiang She smirked, “She used to be a frontline criminal investigator. Taking down a few grown men is nothing to her, let alone this.”

Shen Qing had risen to her position at a young age, so she certainly had the necessary skills.

Chu Tao thought for a moment and asked, “Auntie is an Omega, right?”

Jiang She immediately replied, “Of course, how else could she have given birth to me?”

Another silence fell. Jiang She moved the iMac to the study. He already had an Alienware laptop, so he didn’t even know what to do with the new one.

It’s also possible that Jiang Qifeng really had nothing else to give, so he just picked something relatively expensive.

The model airplane still needed to be assembled; its parts were scattered and temporarily placed on the balcony.

In the end, only the three-layered cake remained, proudly standing on the dining table, with an attitude of “no one can finish me.”

Chu Tao walked around the cake, estimating how long it would take for Jiang She to eat it alone.

Clearly, Shen Qing didn’t prepare it just for Jiang She. She probably thought that since Chu Tao would be there and Jiang Qifeng would come too, with four people, it wouldn’t feel awkward.

But unfortunately, she still didn’t get to wait.

In fact, in some ways, it was fair. In the past, Jiang She couldn’t wait for her, so now it wasn’t so easy for her to wait for Jiang She either.

Although science tells us that above the atmosphere, there is only the vast emptiness of space, with no ghosts and no gods, there’s always some force that keeps the balance in check, preventing people from forever holding onto hope or from completely giving in to despair.

Jiang She wasn’t as thoughtful as Chu Tao. He walked over and asked, “Do you want some?”

Chu Tao was already very full. In the Si Ji Chun restaurant, when the atmosphere became awkward, he had a habit of putting food in his mouth.

But somehow, he said, “I want to try a piece.”

Jiang She laughed, “You greedy cat, wait for me to cut it for you.”

He bent down and untied the ribbons on the cake. After unwrapping everything, he opened the box and tore open the bag that held the cake knife and plastic plates.

The red bean cake was relatively firm, and the thin plastic knife was clearly not strong enough. Jiang She worked hard for a while and finally managed to cut off a piece for Chu Tao.

Inside the cake was a rich layer of fruit filling, colorful and particularly exquisite. Even though he was already full, his interest was piqued.

Chu Tao took a fork and speared a small piece, putting it in his mouth.

The red bean was sweet with a sandy texture, mixed with the fragrance of the fruit, creating a unique flavor.

“Delicious.”

Jiang She leaned against the table, supporting himself with his hands. “If you like it, I’ll pack some for you to take home. I don’t eat sweets much.”

But Chu Tao dug out another piece and fed it to Jiang She’s lips. “Try a bite.”

Jiang She tilted his head to avoid it. “I don’t want it, it’s too sweet.”

Chu Tao stubbornly pinched his lips, making him open his mouth, and pushed the piece into his mouth.

Jiang She chewed it, then paused for a moment.

It wasn’t too sweet; only the natural sweetness of the red bean remained.

Chu Tao said lightly, “I know you don’t like sweets, so I didn’t add much sugar.”

He finished the small piece of cake, his stomach already feeling full.

Jiang She was still in a daze, and Chu Tao set the plate down, clapped his hands. “I’m going to wash up, wait for me.”

Chu Tao went to the bathroom alone, turned on the light, and closed the door.

Jiang She blinked, then took out his phone, briefly replied to Shen Qing and Jiang Qifeng’s messages with two simple words.

“Replied.”

The sound of the shower could be heard from the bathroom, the fine water droplets tapping on the floor like the crisp sound of chestnuts frying.

Jiang She immediately put his phone down and curiously asked, “Baby, what are you washing?”

The sound of water was too loud, and the door had been tightly shut by Chu Tao. Jiang She’s voice was completely drowned out.

Jiang She had no choice but to stand outside, waiting.

Perhaps Chu Tao felt that the smell of the food in the restaurant had lingered on his body, making him uncomfortable.

Jiang She checked the time. It was almost 10 p.m.

There were still a little over two hours before his birthday would be over.

Shen Qing and Jiang Qifeng sent more messages. Shen Qing simply wrote “Happy birthday,” while Jiang Qifeng promised to take Jiang She out on a yacht during the National Day holiday.

Jiang She didn’t reply.

In less than ten minutes, Chu Tao emerged with his hair still wet, wearing a short-sleeve school uniform.

The uniform from Huainan No.1 High School was generally loose, and Chu Tao was slim. The pants were comfortable, and the hem of the uniform could cover up to the top of his thighs.

He rubbed his damp hair and looked up at Jiang She with his watery, peach blossom eyes.

Jiang She couldn’t help but swallow.

The bathroom was filled with steam, spreading into every corner, even the mirror covered with a layer of misty water droplets.

As soon as the door opened, the steam rushed out, and even Jiang She felt the humidity.

Chu Tao was barefoot, wearing slippers, and walking out with his legs bare, exuding a clean and refreshing aura from the moisture on his skin.

He confidently wrapped his arm around Jiang She’s neck, giving him an innocent and calm look. His lips, flushed from the steam, parted slightly as he softly said, “Jiang She, the coming-of-age ceremony.”

Jiang She’s body tensed up with excitement, and he quickly wrapped his arms around Chu Tao’s waist, pulling him into an embrace. Without hesitation, he bit his lips, then whispered, “Can we really do this?”

Chu Tao winced from the pain of Jiang She’s bite, but he didn’t care at all.

“Jiang She, I’m also an alpha, and I want to do intimate things with the person I like too.”

They both understood how strong the desires of an alpha could be, so when two alphas talked about such things, there was no need for pretense.

However, Chu Tao still kept a clear line and warned, “We can’t go all the way; neither of us has experience. But in the spirit of fairness, you can bite me back. After all, it’s the National Day holiday…”

A seven-day holiday was enough for the swelling on the back of his neck to subside, and by the time school resumed, no one would notice.

As long as he was careful at home, he could probably keep it from his parents.

Jiang She ran his palm suggestively over Chu Tao’s waist, his voice hoarse, “Do you think I can hold back?”

Chu Tao smirked, “You should be able to. After all, I’m still young.”

Jiang She didn’t respond but darkened his eyes, leading Chu Tao into the bedroom before kicking the door shut with his foot.

The moment the lock clicked, a clear sound of metal striking echoed, and the door closed tightly. Only then did the steam from the bathroom slowly dissipate, revealing the clear outline inside.

Chu Tao’s long pants, outer clothes, and underwear were neatly folded on top of the washing machine lid.

The clothes, damp from the steam, sagged weakly, looking pitiful and helpless.

The clock in the living room chimed, each muffled sound marking the time, hinting that it was already 10 PM.

It wasn’t until midnight that Song Mian’s calls came repeatedly, the ringtone harsh and incessant.

Chu Tao finally opened the door, sweat-soaked, and stepped out, grabbing the phone from the sofa.

“Tao Tao, why haven’t you come home so late?”

Chu Tao’s eyes were damp, a hint of red beneath them. He cleared his throat and said, “It’s a holiday tomorrow anyway. I’m just staying out a little longer.”

Song Mian sighed in concern, “It’s not safe at night. You should come back earlier. If not, you can go out tomorrow during the day.”

Chu Tao checked the time and realized it was getting late, so he agreed, “Okay, I’ll head back now.”

After hearing his response, Song Mian reminded him a few more times before hanging up.

Chu Tao was an alpha and had practiced taekwondo, so his physical strength wasn’t weak. Song Mian wasn’t too worried.

If it had been Chu Xingning out until midnight without coming home, she would have been frantic.

Chu Tao placed the phone aside and collapsed onto the sofa, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Hiss.”

The skin was swollen and hot, and pressing it caused a sharp pain, as if it had been stung by something, incredibly fragile and sensitive to the extreme.

So that’s how uncomfortable Jiang She must have felt at the time.

Yet he still let him bite, then wrapped himself in a high-necked shirt, letting the fabric rub against him, and endured it for a whole week at school.

Jiang She came out of the bedroom holding his clothes and immediately wrapped them around Chu Tao.

“You’re sweating and running around like this.”

Chu Tao sat cross-legged on the sofa, looking up at him: “Did you enjoy your birthday?”

Jiang She leaned over, placing his hands on the back of the sofa, and covered Chu Tao with his body. He murmured, “Can I celebrate my eighteenth birthday every day?”

Chu Tao smiled, holding his gaze for a few seconds before quickly slipping out from beneath Jiang She, hurriedly putting on his clothes.

“Dream on.”

Jiang She grabbed Chu Tao’s fingertips: “It’s not really a dream. I could buy two plane tickets right now, and we could fly to America, spend another half-day celebrating.”

Chu Tao replied coldly: “Sorry, no U.S. visa.”

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Author’s note: I know no one wants to see the bedroom scenes because you’re all pure and good kids.