Chapter 65 - End
Before the severe weather arrived, Shen Li managed to bring Jiang Shiyu back from France to Jiang Hua. Although Jiang Shiyu had wanted to stay a bit longer after the competition, he couldn’t even properly say goodbye to his classmates and teachers. Shen Li checked the weather forecast and saw that the coming week would bring rain, snow, and ice, which could affect flights. If the weather got worse, they might get stuck in France and be unable to return home for the New Year.
He emerged from the VIP passage, pushing two suitcases, with a small tail following behind. The tail was holding a cup of milk tea, sipping it with eyes darting around behind sunglasses.
At the airport entrance, Jiang Shiyu looked up at the cloudless sky and the glaring sunshine, taking a deep breath.
“Wow, the familiar smell.”
After a year away, stepping off the plane felt like coming home, with every breath filled with familiar scents.
Shen Li glanced at him but didn’t interrupt his cat-like antics, even though they were attracting puzzled looks from passersby.
Soon, a black car stopped in front of them, and the driver got out.
“Master, Young Master Jiang, Madam asked me to pick you up and take you home.”
Shen Li nodded, handing over the luggage to the driver, and guided Jiang Shiyu into the car.
During the ride, Jiang Shiyu kept his face pressed against the car window, looking at the scenery outside with curiosity, like a kitten exploring a new environment. Although he had seen it countless times before, returning home after such a long time gave him a fresh perspective.
“I remember when I left, this place wasn’t even developed yet. So quickly, they’ve built a shopping district. It’s so lively.”
“Shen Li, isn’t that shop selling fresh bamboo shoots and meat buns? Why are there so many people in line?” Jiang Shiyu turned to talk to Shen Li but found the person next to him sleeping with his eyes closed.
Shen Li had some faint dark circles under his eyes. Jiang Shiyu remembered that he seemed to have barely rested over the past week.
He quietly rolled up the window, and the wind noise in the car quickly faded away. The temperature gradually rose, and he leaned against the window, feeling his eyelids grow heavy.
When he felt something tickling his eyes, he slowly opened them to find Shen Li’s grinning face close to him.
He was momentarily disoriented and mumbled, “I was dreaming again.”
Shen Li chuckled and, bending down, carried him from the back seat until they reached the villa. He only fully woke up when he heard the housekeeper speaking.
“Quick, put me down! Aunt Bai Yun is going to see me like this, it’s so embarrassing.”
Shen Li jostled him a bit, and he clung to his neck in fright.
“Don’t worry, my mom went straight from France to New Zealand. She’s not back.”
Back in the familiar environment, Jiang Shiyu threw himself onto the soft bed, wanting to merge completely with it.
“So comfortable. This bed is so big, and the mattress is so soft. After a year of sleeping on the hard dormitory bed abroad, I feel like I’ve turned into a zombie.”
Shen Li walked over, bringing him slippers and taking off his coat. While Jiang Shiyu seemed capable of taking care of himself while abroad, he seemed to regress to needing Shen Li’s care the moment he was near him.
Having experienced studying abroad and seeing a broader world, his mindset had shifted. The sense of security he received from Shen Li built a thick fortress around him. He accepted all the affection openly, feeling secure in both his own and Shen Li’s love.
At night, lying on the bed, he clung to Shen Li like an octopus. Previously, his clinginess was restrained and reserved, but after this reunion, the little cat seemed to fully open up, exposing his unguarded belly and playfully sticking close to Shen Li.
“I’ve dreamed of this scene many times this past year.”
Shen Li tightened his embrace, “I’ve dreamed of it countless times too.”
Jiang Shiyu, thinking of something, chuckled softly, “Leo once told me that I woke up in the middle of the night crying and calling out the same name over and over. The next day, when I told him I didn’t remember, I actually did. I dreamed you were sending messages saying that long-distance relationships were too hard and that breaking up would be better for both of us. I immediately bought a plane ticket to come back, but you wouldn’t see me. I ended up crying at the villa’s door, and the rain was so heavy that it washed away my tears.”
He spoke lightly, as if joking, but Shen Li was deeply pained to hear it.
He knew that no matter whether Jiang Shiyu was abroad for a year or three, five years, he would never break up with him. Even in dreams, it was heart-wrenching.
He kissed his head gently, “I’m sorry.”
Jiang Shiyu looked up in surprise, “What are you doing? I said it was just a dream, and it was so long ago.”
“If I made you sad in your dreams, it’s still my fault.”
Jiang Shiyu leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth, “Shen Li, if you spoil me like this, I’ll quickly become the same old parasitic vine that only depends on you.”
“A little cat who has seen the world won’t be content to be someone else’s dependency, even though I want to,” Shen Li replied, returning the kiss.
It was the start of a new school year again. The summer heat hadn’t dissipated, and the bustling noise of new students registering at the school added some vitality to the sweltering September.
Jiang Shiyu opened the dormitory door, and the cool air from the air conditioner hit him, dispelling the heat.
Knowing he was on his way back, Shen Li had turned on the air conditioner in advance. There was also a glass of cool water on the desk. Jiang Shiyu sat in Shen Li’s chair and opened the computer on the desk.
WeChat messages were pinging nonstop. He opened the new student orientation group chat. As an outstanding representative of the music department, he was scheduled to perform at the orientation ceremony.
The piano piece had just been finalized, and the student council president had come to request the sheet music. After finalizing the details, he closed the computer and stretched lazily.
When Shen Li pushed open the door, he saw Jiang Shiyu in his seat, with his upper body revealing a bit of pale, slender waist, marked with red marks from the previous night.
“Are you still going to the rehearsal this afternoon?”
Jiang Shiyu shook his head. Since finalizing the performance, he had been busier than during finals, spending every day in the rehearsal room.
“Almost done, just waiting for the final rehearsal on stage.”
He moved to the desk to eat, while Shen Li sat at the computer, preparing to look at some materials. The WeChat notifications flashed constantly. He glanced at them.
“They’re asking you to try on the clothes this afternoon.”
Jiang Shiyu groaned. He had planned to take a nap in the afternoon.
Soon, the day of the new student orientation ceremony arrived. Backstage was bustling with activity, and Jiang Shiyu and Shen Li were talking quietly while changing clothes.
“Help me use clips to pin the back of the shirt tighter. It’s too loose. It won’t look good with the suit.” Jiang Shiyu, with his back to Shen Li, tugged at his white shirt.
His performance outfit wasn’t the one originally planned; he was informed just yesterday that there was an issue with the original outfit and had to switch to a new one. He didn’t have time to try it on beforehand, so the shirt ended up being a size too big.
Standing behind him, Shen Li adjusted the shirt’s hem and secured it with clips. From behind, Jiang Shiyu’s slender waist was accentuated, but his rear was quite prominent, making the suit pants look tight.
“Are you done yet?” Jiang Shiyu urged, as his performance time approached.
Although Shen Li had seen him in a suit countless times, he was still moved every time. He turned him around and pinned a small rose-shaped brooch on his chest. “Wear the suit before going on stage; it’s hot.”
Just then, the host announced that Jiang Shiyu’s piano solo was coming up next.
“Quick, give it to me, it’s almost time.” he took the suit jacket and headed to the waiting area, turning his head as he walked. “Will you wait here for me or go to the audience?”
“I’ll stay here and watch you.”
He nodded; the view here was pretty good.
Soon, it was his turn to perform. Having participated in numerous competitions, he was used to the spotlight and gazes, walking confidently onto the stage. As the lights dimmed, the soft music began to fill the auditorium.
From below, the stage was dark except for a beam of light shining diagonally on the piano, illuminating Jiang Shiyu in his elegant outfit. His fingers danced over the keys, producing a delightful melody. The small rose brooch on his chest reflected a soft light, making the new students below stare in awe, enchanted by the “little prince” playing on stage.
The piano piece ended with a stunning performance, and the audience erupted in applause. Jiang Shiyu took a bow and thanked everyone. The applause continued until the host came on stage.
“Ahem, performing just now was our senior from the music department, Jiang Shiyu. It seems that handsome guys are really popular!”
Jiang Shiyu joked with the host on stage, but suddenly a bold new student shouted from the audience, “Senior, do you have a girlfriend?”
The auditorium fell silent for a second before erupting into excited chatter, the atmosphere hard to control.
At this moment, someone in the audience quickly responded, “Senior doesn’t have a girlfriend, but he does have a boyfriend.”
The audience became even more excited, with some standing up and shouting at Jiang Shiyu, “Senior, would you consider changing?”
New students, fresh out of the woods, were quite bold. Even the host looked embarrassed. Jiang Shiyu took the microphone, his lips curving into a smile, looking like a finely sculpted painting under the lights.
“Sorry, I already have a boyfriend and I’m not planning to change, because…”
“We love each other very much.”
The atmosphere, already buzzing, exploded with Jiang Shiyu’s words, like a shaken soda bottle. After speaking, he handed the microphone back to the host and turned to leave the stage.
Backstage, he looked around but couldn’t find Shen Li. Just then, a hand reached out from a nearby storage room and pulled him inside. In the dark, narrow space, their breaths intertwined.
Before he could scream, he was pressed against the wall with a hand over his mouth. A rough, suppressed voice came from his ear, “You’re very popular, little prince.”
His heart raced, but he relaxed a little upon recognizing the familiar voice. He was silenced and unable to explain.
The person behind him didn’t seem interested in explanations, their hot breath trailing down his ear to the sensitive nape of his neck. He shivered instinctively.
“Mmm.” He let out a muffled sound, breathing heavily.
The soft, white skin of his neck was nibbled on, as if grabbing the weakness of a kitten. Shen Li’s voice was dangerous and heated, making Jiang Shiyu’s gaze blur and his legs weaken.
The nape of his neck was rubbed and touched repeatedly. Such a delicate and sensitive spot couldn’t handle the friction, especially since he couldn’t speak or protest. He could only whimper softly.
After Shen Li had his fill, he loosened his grip on his neck and buried his face in his shoulder, sounding dissatisfied and a bit aggrieved. “Baby, you’re too beautiful. Can we keep you hidden?”
His hand, which had covered Jiang Shiyu’s mouth, finally loosened. They tilted their heads together, their breaths mingling.
After a while, in the darkness, Shen Li heard a soft, sleepy voice in his ear.
“Okay, where do you want to hide me?”
His shocking statement at the new student orientation caused a stir, and for half a month, it dominated the school forum, completely eliminating any illusions new students might have had about him and Shen Li.
Lying in the dormitory with the air conditioning on, Jiang Shiyu laughed as he browsed the forum, holding his phone up to Shen Li’s face. “Now everyone knows my boyfriend is you. Are you still jealous?”
Shen Li glanced at him, “Yesterday, someone sent you a handmade snowflake crisp on the way.”
He turned over, resting on Shen Li’s chest. “Oh, I was going back later. You’re so petty.”
Shen Li didn’t respond, pulling him back into his embrace, closing his eyes without speaking.
Jiang Shiyu played around a bit before getting bored and settled quietly next to him. The air conditioner blew cool air from above, while outside, the summer heat was intense, surrounded by lush greenery. It was another summer season…
——————————–Translator’s Note:
Thanks for reading:)