Little Meteor Chapter 29
byChapter 29: We’ll Worry About the Future Later
Shen Mu was quite tired from Jiang Chengxuan’s ministrations, but remembering before sleep that Jiang Chengxuan wanted to take him home, he still woke up very early the next day. He groggily opened his eyes to find that Jiang Chengxuan had already woken up at some point and was propping up his head, watching him.
“What time is it?” Shen Mu’s voice was still thick with sleep.
“Just past seven,” Jiang Chengxuan brushed the stray hair from his forehead. “Want to sleep a little longer?”
Shen Mu shook his head. “Aren’t we going back to your place today?”
Jiang Chengxuan smiled. “We’re going this afternoon, no rush.”
Shen Mu braced himself to sit up, but halfway through, he fell back down.
Jiang Chengxuan chuckled softly, placing his palm on Shen Mu’s lower back. “Uncomfortable?”
It was fine until it was mentioned, but then the intimate scenes from last night uncontrollably flooded his mind. Shen Mu buried his face in Jiang Chengxuan’s shoulder, giving a muffled “Mhm.”
Jiang Chengxuan’s technique was excellent. After massaging his lower back for a while, the soreness eased considerably. Jiang Chengxuan’s hand moved down slightly. “How about here? Does it hurt?”
Shen Mu instantly flushed crimson from his ears to his neck, pulling the blanket up to cover his face. “Pervert!”
Jiang Chengxuan pulled the blanket down, laughing. “Are you trying to murder your husband already?”
Shen Mu suddenly reached out and pinched Jiang Chengxuan’s cheek, gently pulling it outward.
Jiang Chengxuan allowed him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m checking just how thick your skin is,” Shen Mu applied a little more force. “Doctor Jiang, you are constantly redefining my understanding of you.”
With his face pinched, Jiang Chengxuan’s voice was distorted. “Well, did you measure it? Is the thickness up to standard?”
“It’s excessively thick,” Shen Mu released his hand, leaving a faint red mark on Jiang Chengxuan’s face. “No wonder you’re so impervious.”
“Having thick skin is good, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to win you over,” Jiang Chengxuan rested his arm under his head, looking at him. “That’s what my mother taught me.”
“Get out of here,” Shen Mu pushed him, only to be pulled into a hug.
“Alright, no more fooling around,” Jiang Chengxuan kissed the top of his head. “What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.”
“Don’t rush to eat,” Shen Mu said. “Go to my place and grab me a set of clothes. I can’t go meet your parents looking like this, can I?”
Shen Mu was still wearing Jiang Chengxuan’s pajamas. He had taken all his own clothes away a month ago. Jiang Chengxuan tapped his forehead. “Do you regret moving out now?”
Shen Mu was stubborn. “Absolutely not.”
Jiang Chengxuan chuckled, then washed up and got dressed, telling Shen Mu to wait for a video call. Jiang Chengxuan went to Shen Mu’s apartment building and saw a middle-aged woman knocking on Shen Mu’s door.
“Oh, young man, are you…?”
“Hello, Auntie, I’m Shen Mu’s friend. I’m here to pick up some things for him.”
The landlady nodded. “Oh, you’re Xiao Shen’s friend. Well, when you see him, could you ask him if he plans to renew his lease? It expires this month. I need to know so I can make arrangements.”
Jiang Chengxuan smiled politely. “I’ll ask him and get back to you as soon as possible.”
“Alright, thank you, young man.” The landlady waved at him and turned to go downstairs.
The last time Jiang Chengxuan was at Shen Mu’s place, the living room was a bit messy, but this time it was very tidy. There was also a packed suitcase in the room.
Jiang Chengxuan felt fortunate that his skin was thick enough, otherwise Shen Mu might really have left without a word.
He dialed Shen Mu’s video number. It rang several times before it was answered. Shen Mu rubbed his eyes, looking hazy. “…You’re there?”
Jiang Chengxuan turned the camera toward the closet. “Take a look, which set should you wear?”
Shen Mu looked for a long time, finding it difficult to choose. “The ones on the left are more formal, the ones on the right are casual… Today isn’t a particularly formal occasion, right?”
“No, it’s just a casual family meal. Comfort is the most important thing,” Jiang Chengxuan said, running his finger over a few items. “How about this beige knit sweater set?”
“No, that looks too casual.”
It took Shen Mu half an hour to finally choose his clothes. Jiang Chengxuan brought them back, and after changing, Shen Mu spent another half hour checking himself in the mirror before they left.
The residential area where Jiang Chengxuan’s parents lived was far from the city center, with a quiet environment, very suitable for retirement.
Jiang Chengxuan parked the car, and Shen Mu adjusted his collar in the rearview mirror again. Jiang Chengxuan leaned over and unbuckled his seatbelt. “Relax. My parents don’t bite, especially not someone as good-looking as you.”
Shen Mu hit him and frowned. “Can you be serious?”
“I am serious,” Jiang Chengxuan rested his hand on his shoulder. “Relax, it’s just a simple meal. There’s really not that much fuss.”
Shen Mu had met Jiang Chengxuan’s mother before, and she was very kind. He could guess what the family atmosphere was like. Seeing him lost in thought, Jiang Chengxuan held his hand. “If you don’t want to go, we don’t have to. It’s fine.”
Shen Mu shook his head, smiling at him. “It’s fine. Let’s go up.”
Shen Mu had prepared many opening lines, but he didn’t need a single one when the door opened. Jiang Chengxuan’s parents were both in the kitchen and didn’t come out when they heard the movement. Jiang Chengxuan’s mother called out, “Just dump the gifts on the floor. You two sit down for a bit. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes.”
Jiang Chengxuan handed Shen Mu a pair of slippers. “Okay, take your time.”
Shen Mu put down the items he was holding and lowered his voice. “This scene is nothing like what I imagined.”
“What scene did you imagine?” Jiang Chengxuan took an orange from the fruit bowl and shared half of the peeled fruit with him. “Dragging you in and interrogating you, starting the household registration check mode: How did you two meet? Who pursued whom? How is your relationship? Do you ever fight?…”
Shen Mu punched his shoulder, about to speak, when Professor Jiang’s voice came from the kitchen. “Xiao Xuan, come and take the dishes out!”
Jiang Chengxuan answered, patting Shen Mu’s shoulder. “Just wait to eat.”
Shen Mu hesitated, wondering if he should help. Jiang Chengxuan’s mother came out carrying a soup bowl and immediately smiled when she saw him. “Xiao Mu, just sit down. Let Xiao Xuan do the work. Of all the dishes today, only the sweet and sour pork ribs are mine; the rest were made by Xiao Xuan’s father.”
Shen Mu could tell that Jiang Chengxuan’s parents were trying to make him feel less awkward by using such a natural tone. He was indeed less nervous than when he first arrived, relaxing slightly. He smiled. “Uncle knows how to cook?”
“More than just cook,” Jiang Chengxuan’s mother’s tone was somewhat proud. “He was bored after retirement, so he signed up for a chef’s class. Now he’s our family’s exclusive chef.”
When the food was served, Jiang Chengxuan’s mother invited Shen Mu to sit down. Professor Jiang took off his apron, and the first piece he picked up was a sweet and sour pork rib, which he placed in Shen Mu’s bowl. “Try this, your aunt made it.”
Shen Mu was a little overwhelmed. “Thank you, Uncle.”
Jiang Chengxuan’s mother looked at him with a warm smile. “Don’t be nervous. We don’t have many rules here. Your uncle just looks intimidating, but he doesn’t bite.”
Professor Jiang was displeased by this. “How am I intimidating? I’m clearly so kind.”
Shen Mu smiled. “Uncle is very kind.”
“See?” Professor Jiang raised his chin toward Jiang Chengxuan’s mother. “Xiao Mu has better judgment than you.”
Shen Mu had expected Jiang Chengxuan’s parents to ask him many questions, and he had spent the drive thinking about how to answer. But his parents didn’t ask any questions at all; it was just a normal meal, and he didn’t feel uncomfortable in the slightest.
After the meal, Jiang Chengxuan’s mother firmly refused to let Shen Mu help clean up, pushing him toward the living room. “Go, go, go. Go watch TV with your uncle for a bit. Xiao Xuan and I can handle this.”
Professor Jiang was holding the remote control, flipping channels. He waved Shen Mu over. “Come, Xiao Mu, sit here. Watch some TV, let’s chat.”
Shen Mu sat down as instructed, his back instinctively straight. Professor Jiang smiled and handed him the remote. “What do you like to watch? Find something yourself.”
Shen Mu quickly waved his hands. “It’s fine, Uncle. I’ll watch whatever you watch.”
“Then let’s watch the midday news. Young people don’t usually like this, do they?”
“No, I do,” Shen Mu smiled. “I quite enjoy watching it normally.”
“That’s good then,” Professor Jiang patted his back. “It looks like we have quite a bit in common.”
Jiang Chengxuan and his mother were washing dishes. He kept listening to the sounds outside, washing somewhat distractedly. Jiang Chengxuan’s mother whispered, “He’s a good boy. He seems a little introverted, but his eyes are clear, and he seems dependable.”
Jiang Chengxuan’s mother placed a wiped plate into the sterilizer. “Does his family… know about this?”
Jiang Chengxuan smiled. “Not yet. His family needs a little more time to accept it.”
Jiang Chengxuan’s mother nodded. “No rush. These things take time. Be considerate of him, don’t put pressure on him.”
Jiang Chengxuan hummed in agreement. His mother wiped a few more bowls, but finally couldn’t resist. “Is this child’s family situation… somewhat unusual?”
Jiang Chengxuan was surprised. “How did you figure that out?”
“He seems very reserved and afraid of causing trouble for others. It makes me feel for him,” Jiang Chengxuan’s mother sighed softly. “Otherwise, why wouldn’t I ask anything today? I also warned your father not to pry.”
Jiang Chengxuan looked at his mother. “Thank you.”
“Don’t be so mushy,” his mother patted his arm. “Although I won’t ask, you are the one who will be with him. Don’t blame your parents for being too involved in some matters. What do his parents do? What is his family background like? Have you looked into all of this?”
Jiang Chengxuan was silent for a moment before speaking. After he finished explaining Shen Mu’s family situation, his mother didn’t speak for a long time. If he looked closely, his mother’s eyes were a little red. His mother controlled her emotions and said, “This child has certainly had a difficult life. You need to treat him well.”
Jiang Chengxuan smiled. “I don’t need you to tell me to treat him well, but he doesn’t need anyone’s sympathy or pity.”
Jiang Chengxuan’s mother looked at him, hesitating to speak. Jiang Chengxuan put his arm around her shoulder. “Say whatever you want to say.”
“It’s just…” Jiang Chengxuan’s mother’s expression became serious. “Given his family situation, things might be very difficult for you two. Xiao Mu overthinks things. I’m worried that you’ll invest too much and end up getting hurt.”
“I understand what you mean,” Jiang Chengxuan said softly. “But right now, I don’t want to worry about the future. We’ll worry about the future later.”