ASFSODS 59

In the past, whenever Wen Chi saw online discussions about how kissing someone you like is incredibly comfortable and addictive, he would just scoff. Just reading the words, he couldn’t fathom what was so pleasurable or addictive about it.

Yet now, Wen Chi understood because he had experienced it himself. Jiang Siheng’s hands were firmly locked around Wen Chi’s waist. Even though they both knew that, in this spot, there was no chance anyone could see them, Wen Chi still tensed up, clutching Jiang Siheng’s clothes so tightly that he left creases in the fabric.

Jiang Siheng had tried several times to pry open Wen Chi’s lips, but the boy stubbornly kept them pressed shut. He pulled back slightly and caught sight of Wen Chi’s expression, like a squirrel guarding its food, making him both helpless and amused. “What are you so nervous about?”

Wen Chi shrank into his arms, mumbling, “What if someone sees us?”

Jiang Siheng glanced around. They were in a hidden corner of the balcony and there’s no angle allowed for anyone to catch sight of them.

His gaze returned to Wen Chi’s face. Honestly, Wen Chi’s nervous, skittish look was unbearably cute. Raising an eyebrow, as if struck by an idea, Jiang Siheng lifted Wen Chi’s chin with one hand and, ignoring his tension, kissed him again.

This time, the man’s force was even stronger than before. Wen Chi was caught off guard, and Jiang Siheng easily used the tip of his tongue to part Wen Chi’s teeth, advancing deep inside, exploring every corner.

Wen Chi couldn’t recall if Jiang Siheng had used his tongue the first time they kissed, but he would definitely remember that he had the second time. Every part of his mouth was visited, his tongue going numb as it tangled with Jiang Siheng’s, sharing breath and warmth, while faintly intimate saliva trailed down the corner of his lips.

He didn’t know how long it lasted and by the time Wen Chi felt his lips going numb, Jiang Siheng finally pulled away, using his fingertip to wipe the dampness from the corner of Wen Chi’s mouth.

“Maybe saying this now will make you think I’m trying to seduce you,” Jiang Siheng murmured, brushing the boy’s burning red earlobe. Wen Chi shivered in his arms.

Jiang Siheng paused for a second, then chuckled softly, only to be met with Wen Chi’s not-quite-angry, smoldering glare.

Wen Chi licked his swollen, glistening lips and asked, “What were you going to say?”

At that, Jiang Siheng’s smile faded a little. Seeing his expression turn serious, Wen Chi suspected he was about to clarify their relationship. If Jiang Siheng wanted to play a no-strings-attached game with him…

Jiang Siheng had no idea the person in his arms was already spiraling into melodramatic scenarios. Pulling Wen Chi closer, as if afraid he might run, he said, “Wen Chi, do you want to be my boyfriend?”

Wen Chi’s imaginary plot had already fast-forwarded to him getting pregnant and running away. Hearing Jiang Siheng’s question, he was so stunned he didn’t react right away, staring blankly. “Huh?”

Jiang Siheng laughed in disbelief. “What were you thinking about?”

Without thinking, Wen Chi replied, “I was already picturing the part where I ran away pregnant and you chased me, all regretful…”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized something was off. Looking up, he saw Jiang Siheng, supposedly the one doing the chasing, giving him an amused and almost dangerous smile. Remembering what he had just said, Wen Chi’s already warm cheeks turned as red as a ripe tomato. He quickly tried to explain, “I-I didn’t mean it like that, I just…”

The more flustered he got, the less he knew what to say. In the end, Wen Chi gave up entirely, burying his face in Jiang Siheng’s chest and muttering, “I’ll just… move to another planet later.”

Jiang Siheng thought he might actually die from how adorable Wen Chi was. He scooped him up, hands supporting the boy’s backside, and carried him back inside.

That sudden lift nearly scared Wen Chi out of his wits. His body was abruptly airborne, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around Jiang Siheng’s neck, legs tightening around his waist.

“Teacher Jiang?”

Jiang Siheng ignored the title, sat down on the sofa, and positioned Wen Chi on his lap, facing him.

In all his years, Wen Chi hadn’t been held like this since he was very little, when his parents or relatives carried him. Now, being so close and stared at directly by Jiang Siheng, he kept dodging his gaze, refusing to meet his eyes.

Jiang Siheng chuckled. “Weren’t you just talking about me ending up in a ‘chasing-my-wife-after-a-bad-breakup’ drama? Why won’t you look at me now?”

“You’re so annoying!” Wen Chi muttered, flustered and embarrassed, and bumped his forehead against Jiang Siheng’s shoulder.

Jiang Siheng steadied him by the waist so the boy wouldn’t slip. After a moment, he lowered his gaze, one arm around Wen Chi and the other rubbing the round back of his head. “Did you hear clearly what I just said to you?”

Again?! Wen Chi thought he meant that “pregnant runaway and dramatic regret” line, so he gritted his teeth. “I heard you.”

Though Wen Chi’s tone seemed off, Jiang Siheng didn’t think much of it. “So, your answer is?”

With his chin resting on Jiang Siheng’s shoulder, Wen Chi replied, “Answer to what?”

That’s when Jiang Siheng realized they weren’t talking about the same thing. He paused a beat before asking, “Then which thing did you think I meant?”

Wen Chi’s head shot up, glaring fiercely. “The pregnant runaway and dramatic regret, obviously! What, you got a problem with that?”

Jiang Siheng stared at him for a few seconds, then couldn’t hold back. He leaned his forehead against Wen Chi’s shoulder and laughed outright.

It was the first time Wen Chi had ever seen him laugh so openly, shoulders shaking with it. Though it was a heart-stirring sight, remembering that the man was laughing at him made him dig his heels in and no matter how handsome it was, he had to stay mad. “What are you laughing at? You’re so irritating.” He started to struggle to get down.

Jiang Siheng immediately stopped laughing, pressing his lips together, and pulled Wen Chi back into his arms before he could slip away. His tone was earnest. “I’m not laughing. My bad.”

Wen Chi pursed his lips, still sulking and ignoring him.

“What I asked you earlier wasn’t about any pregnant-runaway drama.” Jiang Siheng cupped Wen Chi’s face with both hands, forcing him to face him. “When we were kissing on the balcony, I asked you—Wen Chi, do you want to be my boyfriend?”

Wen Chi’s eyes widened slightly, stunned by the sudden confession. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it might leap out of his chest. He had suspected that Jiang Siheng liked him too, but he had imagined the man would hide those feelings because of their careers and identities. He had never considered that Jiang Siheng would openly ask to date him, to be together.

Then he heard Jiang Siheng continue, “Wen Chi, I want you to know that when I say ‘dating,’ I mean openly, able to appear in each other’s lives and in front of cameras, not sneaking around in the shadows.”

Wen Chi felt his blood boiling with excitement, his face flushed bright red. He understood what Jiang Siheng meant, but…

“Teacher Jiang, we…”

Seeing Wen Chi’s panicked expression, Jiang Siheng gently rubbed his fingers along the boy’s smooth skin, speaking softly. “I know what you’re about to say, you’re thinking that because we’re both public figures, with different statuses and family backgrounds, it’s not appropriate, right?”

Jiang Siheng took a deep breath, ready to tell him not to worry, only for Wen Chi to cut in with, “No.”

“Those are my concerns, yes. But I’ll work hard to narrow those differences.” Wen Chi looked at him seriously, fingers nervously clutching at his shirt, stammering out, “Jiang Siheng, I like you too. I want to date you too.”

Even though he had been the one to confess first, Jiang Siheng was momentarily at a loss when faced with the boy’s sincere, slightly trembling voice. He brushed his thumb over Wen Chi’s soft lips, lingering for a moment before letting go.

Unable to contain his joy, Jiang Siheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he pressed light, scattered kisses along the pale curve of Wen Chi’s neck, sending tingles through his skin.

“Alright.”

Wen Chi heard the man’s low, husky voice. “You don’t need to work hard to narrow the gap between us. I want that difference to be the reason you can act with no restraint.”

Wen Chi was moved. Sitting up straight to meet Jiang Siheng’s gaze, he asked, “For real? Then during the next live broadcast of the show, can I just slack off?”

The next broadcast, Jiang Siheng might be taking a day or two off, but he still nodded. “You can. If anyone tries to make you work, just call me.”

“And what if your words don’t work?”

“Impossible, unless they’re fine with losing a boss.”

“Wow~ you’re so cool!”

Looking at Jiang Siheng, who was perfectly willing to play along with his antics, Wen Chi pressed his lips together, trying to hold back a laugh. It only lasted a few seconds before he collapsed against the man, laughing hard. “Hahahahahaha—”

Jiang Siheng knew Wen Chi was taking it as a joke, so he didn’t argue, letting him think whatever he wanted.

On a normal day, around this time Jiang Siheng would probably have told Wen Chi to go wash the dishes, then take his medicine and change his bandages. Now, having just confessed to each other, they couldn’t get enough of being together, stuck to each other like glue.

Wen Chi rested his head on Jiang Siheng’s shoulder. Now that he officially had a boyfriend, his little touches felt entirely justified, fiddling with the ends of Jiang Siheng’s hair one moment, pinching his ear the next, his hands constantly busy.

Jiang Siheng let him be. A moment ago, Zhou Ge had sent over some work documents that he needed to review, so he held Wen Chi with one arm while scrolling through his phone with the other. For the first time, he realized work didn’t always have to feel dull.

Wen Chi gave a tiny yawn. Jiang Siheng heard it and glanced over. “Want to sleep?”

Wen Chi shook his head. With his face buried in the man’s neck, his voice sounded muffled. “Teacher Jiang, can we not tell anyone we’re together yet?”

He was actually nervous as he asked, remembering how Jiang Siheng had just said he wanted their relationship to be open and aboveboard.

The moment he finished speaking, Jiang Siheng answered with a simple, “Okay.”

Wen Chi immediately lifted his head, staring at him in surprise. “Really?”

Jiang Siheng said again, “Okay.”

“But didn’t you just say…?” Wen Chi eyed him suspiciously.

Calmly looking back at the work files, Jiang Siheng replied, “I’m a wife-controlled husband.”