Duan Wenzheng’s voice, low and hoarse like a feather, brushed his ears, causing him to be unable to process what he had just said.
He said…
“Kiss me.”
Xue Lan stiffened. He desperately wanted to break free from his shackles.
Despite having built a strong brotherly bond with Duan Wenzheng and promising to alleviate Mr. Duan’s concerns by putting on an act in front of him… even though it was just a playact, it did not include this right?!
“Don’t run.” As if guessing his intentions, Duan Wenzheng’s hands that were near his waist slightly drew closer. “The old man is watching.”
Xue Lan wanted to turn around and look, but Duan Wenzheng drew nearer and whispered in his ear, “Don’t look.”
“…”
“He thinks of you as his daughter-in-law already. If he sees that we don’t have any progress after so long, what if he starts doubting? What if he thinks you’re someone I found to deal with him? He’d be very sad…”
“…”
“He’s still not certain right now. Kiss me, and he’ll stop worrying.”
“…”
The usually lovable and gullible child ignored his teasing. Duan Wenzheng looked at his reddened ears. After some contemplation, he hesitated and said, “If you don’t kiss me, I’ll kiss you?”
“?!”
The person in his arms instantly froze. As if embarrassed and as if the person watching secretly would find out, his movements were very light even when he rapidly shook his head.
“I don’t know how to control myself. If I do it, I can’t guarantee…”
He hadn’t finished his sentence when the person in his arms suddenly turned and gave him a swift peck on his cheek.
After that, as if nothing happened, he lowered his head again. As if to cover up his embarrassment, he earnestly scrubbed the dish with his head lowered.
The peck was too brief, so brief that when Duan Wenzheng snapped out of it he wasn’t sure if it was his own imagination.
Clearly… he meant to do this to let the person secretly watching to see, but why was it like experiencing the fear of being discovered after doing such a brazen thing?
Even so…
Duan Wenzheng’s lips couldn’t resist curving up.
“All right, you can go now. I’m washing up,” Xue Lan said as he lowered his head, pretending as if nothing happened.
“What did he say to you?” The ears of the person in his arms had become so hot they were bright red, but Duan Wenzheng still didn’t leave. He was still in an extremely good mood. “My dad said I’m his only son. What did he wish I’d do?”
Xue Lan didn’t expect he would still remember this and somehow managed to squeak out, “Of course, it’s… not to go astray and find — find a girlfriend.”
“Oh.” Duan Wenzheng’s tone at the end lifted. It wasn’t distinguishable whether he believed his words or not.
“Let me go.” Xue Lan pushed his wrists away.
“Why do I feel that’s not the case? What did the old man say exactly?” Duan Wenzheng let out a sigh. “My dad only has me, and I only have him. If I can’t understand his wish, how can I be filial…”
“…”
Xue Lan was rendered speechless. His voice was so small it was like an insect’s. “He said he wants… a grandson soon.”
Xue Lan thought this wish had little to do with him, but Duan Wenzheng’s chuckle in his ears made the blush climb up the tip of his ears again.
Duan Wenzheng seemed to not notice his predicament and instead murmured in his scalding ears, “Then we can work hard.”
“Work hard yourself! Leave, I need to wash the dishes!”
Xue Lan wanted to push away this annoying troublemaker, but this Duan Wenzheng liked to joke around. Such a fine person, how did he become such a chatterbox?!
How could he give… Pah, this wasn’t even a question of whether he could or not – it was this kind of question that was used to tease him.
“No wait…”
Duan Wenzheng lowered his head and thought it over for a moment. As if something wasn’t right, he turned around and walked to the living room.
Xue Lan knitted his brow. He called out to him, “What’s wrong?”
Duan Wenzheng stopped in his tracks and grimly said, “He needs to save his money. I’ll go and give this back.”
More red rose to Xue Lan’s face which had calmed down moments earlier. In the previous moment he was running after him, and at this moment he was deadly pulling him back, not allowing him to make mischief.
When the two had finished cleaning up, the sun was gradually setting.
Duan Wenzheng seemed to be in an especially good mood as he followed Xue Lan out of the kitchen.
In the living room, Mr. Duan was sitting upright on the sofa watching the news on the TV.
Seeing the two come out, he asked, “Just now LGW was mentioned on TV. Is it the company you’re planning on joining?”
Xue Lan took a moment to react before realizing the company Mr. Duan referred to was the team.
“Mm,” Duan Wenzheng casually said as if he didn’t want to talk about it.
“I didn’t think playing games could lead to so problems. People now really have too much spare time on their hands.” Mr. Duan, however, talked about the news and muttered, “That Wind is good. He looks responsible and earnest.”
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