Chapter 52: What Kind of Act Is This?

Jian Mingzhou was taken aback by that glimpse.

In the morning, when he arrived at the company and went to fetch water, he still felt a bit dazed.

Did Xie Jing mean something more with “not enough”?

But for someone like Xie Jing, at this age, being enthusiastic, straightforward, and charming and having inexhaustible energy was normal.

And they were in a romantic relationship now. It was only natural for things like that to happen…

Jian Mingzhou thought, his heart both flustered and warm.

But would this be too fast?

This was the pace of a first love, and they were also living together, with him being the younger one. What kind of 18X development was this?

While pondering, he turned into the tea room.

Upon entering, he saw that solitary figure by the window again! He bathed in the morning light, looking serene as he gazed into the distance.

The freshly ground coffee in his hand was still emitting steam.

“…,” Jian Mingzhou’s footsteps paused.

Was He Luchen some kind of NPC passerby? Always appearing in the tea room.

He walked over and said, “Lusen, morning.”

“Hey, Jamy.” He Luchen turned around, glanced at him, and said, “Do you have something on your mind again today?”

…Another mind-reading passerby.

Jian Mingzhou hesitated for two seconds, feeling a bit embarrassed to speak.

But considering the last time’s sensible advice from He Luchen, he brewed his words and asked, “What’s considered normal progress in a first love?”

He Luchen was surprised. “It’s already taboo, love, and you still care about this?”

“…”

“Society’s standards don’t matter.”

He turned his head again, gazing at the blue sky and tall buildings outside the window. Sipping his coffee, he repeated, “What matters is whether you want it or not.”

Jian Mingzhou was momentarily stunned and looked over.

A strand of golden morning light happened to fall on He Luchen, enveloping him in a halo, like Jesus delivering a prophecy…

Jian Mingzhou’s pupils are slightly contracted. It turns out he’s not a passerby; he’s a road god!

No wonder his English name is like that…

His heart felt illuminated by a sudden burst of light.

He clasped his hands together, piously saying, “Thank you for the guidance, Lord Lusen.”

The coffee cup wobbled. “Hmm~”

…

Jian Mingzhou bathed in a bit of divine light, feeling his mindset readjust.

But these days, he was busy with work.

It seemed like Xie Jing was also preparing for the weekend training camp.

Before he could think much, the weekend arrived, and Xie Jing was heading to S City for a three-day training camp.

Early Saturday morning, Jian Mingzhou saw him off at the entrance.

Xie Jing was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and carrying a heavy sports bag on one shoulder. Bathed in the morning light, his lines were tight and smooth.

“Xiaojing, give me a call when you arrive there.”

Xie Jing changed his shoes, looked down, and smiled lightly. “Uncle, I’m not a little kid. Are you afraid I’ll get lost?”

Jian Mingzhou blushed. “That’s not what I meant.”

Xie Jing raised his eyes and leaned over, the corners of his mouth bent with a hint of teasing. “Oh, then what do you mean?”

Wasn’t it obvious…

He held back for two seconds and said, “It means what you’re thinking.”

His waist was suddenly encircled. Xie Jing leaned against his shoulder and rubbed against it with satisfaction.

“Oh, you miss me, want to talk to me, want to hear my voice?”

“…”

Oh no, Xie Jing even expanded on it himself.

Jian Mingzhou suppressed the warmth, but after a moment, he just nodded.

Xie Jing then moved away, scrutinizing him. “A farewell kiss?”

It was still early in the morning.

The front door was wide open, and neighbors could pass by at any time. Jian Mingzhou felt extremely embarrassed.

But thinking that Xie Jing would be away for three days, he hesitated for two seconds, closed his eyes, and consented by tilting his head.

Suddenly, he felt like he was being nibbled on.

…Indeed, he was being nibbled. Jian Mingzhou vaguely felt his tongue being grazed by Xie Jing’s teeth, tickling and tingling. His whole body seemed to be electrified.

The sounds around him seemed to fade away, leaving only the faint sounds of water and breathing.

Only when there was a faint noise from neighbors downstairs did he startle, patting Xie Jing to signal him to let go.

His face was blazing. “That’s enough… It’s broad daylight.”

“Uncle…” There was a hint of dissatisfaction between Xie Jing’s eyebrows. After looking at him for a few seconds, his lips moved slightly, as if his tongue touched his own canine teeth. Then, obediently, he stood up.

“Alright, next time we’ll kiss in the dark.”

“…”

Jian Mingzhou widened his eyes in disbelief. Xie Jing’s understanding ability has leveled up again!

–

Xie Jing went to the training camp.

The next day, Jian Mingzhou had to go to the animation company for a business event.

AG Animation and Sound is the leading company in the industry.

The company was located on a wide commercial street, with the entire building covered in anime signs. There was even a large screen playing anime at the corner of the street.

As soon as Jian Mingzhou got out of the car, he was engulfed in the strong atmosphere of the two-dimensional world.

His thoughts wandered for a moment.

Is this heaven?

“What are you daydreaming about?” Xia Ye, with Xiaolu, got off the car and cast a glance.

Jian Mingzhou, dazzled, blurted out, “I’m lost in thought.”

Xia Ye: “…”

He pushed his glasses. “Hmph~ Even when someone is absent, you can still…”

Jian Mingzhou snapped back to his senses!

Xiaolu, who sensed trouble, sniffed around and came closer. “What’s wrong? What happened to who?”

Jian Mingzhou, meeting her bright eyes, remembered what she said about sunshine…

His breath tightened, quickly changing the topic to “Did you bring your ID?”

Xiaolu “clattered” and bent down to look for it. “Brought it, brought it.”

Xia Ye, beside him, understood and smirked, revealing a smug smile.

Jian Mingzhou didn’t look, calmly walking into the company’s entrance.

…

Upon entering the company, he inquired.

Only to find out that the person in charge they were supposed to meet hadn’t arrived yet, apparently delayed by something.

The receptionist asked them to wait in the lounge, saying, “Other teachers have also arrived. Please wait for a while.”

Xiaolu felt a bit uneasy. “Oh.”

“I’ll go check the situation first,” Jian Mingzhou informed her and headed towards the reception area.

The reception room was at the other end of the corridor.

As Jian Mingzhou walked past, he wondered which teacher might have delayed the person in charge. Then he heard a shout from ahead, followed by a figure sliding out of the corridor!

The windbreaker fluttered and swept across the corridor.

Duan Tingfang slid gracefully on the floor, and the editor behind him was still chasing and shouting, “Teacher Liu Fei! Didn’t you see the sign on the floor?”

“Ah~ I saw it. Wasn’t I carefully sliding?”

Jian Mingzhou: “…”

Damn it, why is Duan Tingfang here?

During his fixed gaze, the latter also happened to see him. Duan Tingfang braked and stopped in front of him. After making a spin with his arms against the wall, he was a bit out of breath.

“Yo, student’s… family.”

The impact was too strong, and Jian Mingzhou didn’t notice the change in address. He opened his mouth twice before managing a greeting: “Teacher Duan, why are you here?”

“The school has off-campus training today, so I’m off.”

As he said that, Jian Mingzhou remembered Xie Jing and said, “Oh…”

“What? Didn’t you follow your student over?”

Caught off guard, Jian Mingzhou’s heart skipped a beat. He looked toward Duan Tingfang. After saying this, Duan Tingfang seemed to realize something: “Oh, you’re here for work.”

As they were talking, the editor from the opposite side rushed over and said, “Assistant Editor Jian, what a coincidence. Teacher Liu Fei has just signed up for the animation and came to participate in the event.”

…Duan Tingfang, animation?

Jian Mingzhou’s thoughts broke off, and he looked:

With the other party’s radiant mental state, he couldn’t imagine what kind of animation he would produce…

As if sensing his distraction, Duan Tingfang smoothly flipped out a project proposal, “Like this.”

Jian Mingzhou’s gaze fell on it, and he saw: Each episode is 5 minutes long.

He was shocked. “Is this shooting an MV?”

“What are you talking about?” Duan Tingfang corrected. “This is an instant noodle series, short and relaxing.”

Just as they were chatting, Xiaolu suddenly spoke from behind, “Editor, you—”

She paused in her words, staring at Duan Tingfang, her eyes bright. “Oh… a new handsome guy?”

Duan Tingfang insightfully responded in a second, “Little girl, don’t talk nonsense.”

He said, adding a bit of secretive superiority, “…Although I’m also using it, what I use is not the same as what you use.”

Xiaolu, “??”

Jian Mingzhou, recalling the hot spring trip from the last time, narrowed his eyes: No, you guys are using the same one…

As the meeting of patients was about to take place.

The person in charge happened to come out of the reception room. He apologized and called Xiaolu and Jian Mingzhou, “Sorry for the delay.”

“It’s okay.”

Jian Mingzhou replied, and just as he was about to follow, he was suddenly stopped by Duan Tingfang. The latter seemed to be brewing for a moment and then said, with a hint of meaning,

“I heard that family members can be brought along during the training.”

His heart trembled, and he stared blankly and said, “Yes.”

After Duan Tingfang finished speaking, he nodded, made a graceful turn, and slipped away cautiously, amidst the editor’s exclamation.

Jian Mingzhou, “…”

–

This time, he came to meet the person in charge of animation.

In addition to determining the specific matters of animation, they also needed to discuss preliminary publicity.

“After the cast is confirmed, it will be sent to the teachers for confirmation.”

The person in charge said, “There will also be a themed exhibition for promotion, and we are discussing it today.”

Xiaolu was excited. “Oh… okay!”

Jian Mingzhou, standing aside with Xia Ye, confirmed the project proposal: the project, the process, the budget, the time… The clauses were detailed, and there were basically no issues as he read through them.

He nodded. “You’ve worked hard.”

After they finished the confirmation, they went to the event site for exchanges and visits.

With the schedule over, it was five o’clock in the afternoon.

“It went quite smoothly.” Xia Ye glanced at the time. “I didn’t expect it to end so early.”

Xiaolu, still not satisfied, asks, “So are we going back now?”

“You can also stay a bit longer.”

“…”

While they were talking on that end, Jian Mingzhou’s mind drifted away.

Family members can be brought along during the training.

He remembered Xie Jing’s slightly disappointed expression and glanced at the current time. His fingertips moved as he opened his phone to check the high-speed rail schedule to S City.

The nearest one was at 5:30, and the next one was at 7:00.

It would take nearly three hours to reach S City.

Could he make it if he left now?

If he chose the 7:00 one, would Xie Jing already be resting by the time he arrived there?

His fingertips hesitated for a moment on the screen.

Suddenly, Jian Mingzhou remembered the night in Qingyan when Xie Jing unexpectedly walked out of the dusk.

Without considering anything.

I just walked out like that, with fearless enthusiasm and courage.

…

He was moved, and his fingertips tapped on the screen.

“Mingzhou.” Xia Ye happened to call him, “Let’s go; get in the car. We’re heading back.”

Jian Mingzhou put away his phone and said, “You go back; I have something to attend to.”

Xia Ye, “???”

With the idea of not wanting to hear strange laughter, he didn’t explain much and turned to descend the stairs first.

…

Outside the company, Jian Mingzhou hailed a taxi on the roadside.

Not knowing if there were too many people hailing cabs around, he waited for two or three minutes without receiving any response from a driver.

As he was staring at his phone to check the time, he suddenly heard a voice say, “Brother Zhou?”

“…”

In the summer sunlight, he was startled by the call!

Jian Mingzhou turned his head and saw a sleek black luxury car parked beside him. The car window rolled down, revealing the mature and handsome face of Lin Jinshi, whom he met.

His pupils contracted: President Lin! His Bro…!?

Why were they…

In an instant, information fragments flashed through his mind. Then he remembered: animation promotion, renting venues!

In a daze, Lin Jinshi had already said, “What’s wrong? Waiting for a taxi?”

Jian Mingzhou came to his senses and said, “Yes, rushing to the station.”

The door in front of him clicked open, and Lin Jinshi said in a domineering manner, “Get in.”

Jian Mingzhou, “…”

Very domineering, but also very weird! Why were he and Xie Jing’s fathers in this kind of scenario?

Without much time to hesitate, he had already opened the car door and said, “Thank you.”

The car door slammed shut! Lin Jinshi said, “Drive.”

…

The back seat was spacious and quiet.

The two of them were alone, and Jian Mingzhou still felt a bit uneasy.

He gathered his thoughts and looked out the window.

The sleek Maserati slowly pulled out onto the street, its body reflecting the scenery and gliding smoothly.

The window was half open as the car turned a street corner.

Just as Jian Mingzhou turned his head, his gaze met with Xia Ye from the other side of the street in a BYD!

Their eyes met across the distance.

Xia Ye, “……?”