After The Flower Of The High Mountain Meets The Rough Man Ⅱ Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Dinner Party

“My dear, I’ll take you to meet Father first.”

In the information provided to Ji Shen, Shen Jixun had omitted his dietary restrictions.

What if Ji Shen had been a little dumber? Perhaps his father would have realized that his relationship with Ji Shen was fake.

Because no one would be unaware of their lover’s dietary restrictions.

In other words, even if someone was, Shen Jixun’s lover would definitely not be, because Shen Jixun was a volatile person with a bad temper.

“A reward!” Ji Shen’s voice was excited, his eyes shining.

Shen Jixun slowly nodded.

Ji Shen pursed his lips and began to think, “Hmm…”

“Hmm…” It seemed he was caught in a difficult choice.

Shen Jixun said, “You can take your time thinking. You can claim this reward from me anytime.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I don’t lie.”

“Then, Brother, eat some more. How was tonight’s dinner, really?”

To this, Shen Jixun maintained his unchanging evaluation: “Average.”

“But Brother just said he doesn’t lie.” A person who wouldn’t take another bite of a dish if they saw a speck of garlic in the bowl—if the food was truly average, he would have put down his chopsticks long ago.

Shen Jixun silently picked up food and ate, pretending not to hear Ji Shen’s complaint.

However, Ji Shen didn’t necessarily need verbal praise from the other man. Seeing Shen Jixun willing to sit here and eat made him quite satisfied.

After dinner, the two continued with their own activities.

Ji Shen was on the living room sofa, looking at the graduate school entrance exam materials he had recently bought.

Neither disturbed the other.

A light knock sounded on the study door.

Shen Jixun was sitting on the balcony railing, a cigarette held between the middle and ring fingers of his left hand. Without turning his head, he exhaled a puff of smoke before saying, “Come in.”

Ji Shen walked in, carrying a cup of hot milk. He placed the milk on the desk, then walked over to Shen Jixun.

“What is it? Something wrong?” Even without looking back at Ji Shen, Shen Jixun knew he wouldn’t come to him without reason.

He was currently troubled by some matters and didn’t have time to deal with Ji Shen.

Ji Shen noticed the worry between his brows. “Brother, can I make dinner tomorrow too?”

Because someone who was going to cook for the boss long-term couldn’t possibly fail to learn the boss’s dietary restrictions beforehand.

Ji Shen wasn’t brilliant, but he wasn’t stupid either.

He knew that the previous cook wouldn’t be hired by Shen Jixun again, but this household needed someone who could cook—at least, that’s what Ji Shen thought.

Shen Jixun flicked the ash from his cigarette and finally turned his head to look at Ji Shen.

He observed Ji Shen’s face. It was indeed a striking face, handsome yet mixed with a youthful innocence.

Shen Jixun casually extinguished the cigarette butt and crooked his index finger at Ji Shen.

The moonlight draped over Shen Jixun like silver silk. His profile was half-lit and half-dark under the moon and the night, his contours blurred. The wind caught his long hair, lifting it gently.

Ji Shen was momentarily stunned. He lifted his feet and walked over to Shen Jixun.

Shen Jixun unceremoniously wrapped an arm around his neck and genuinely sighed, “It seems my eight million was well spent.”

“You can cook, you can clean, and you know how to please me.”

Their faces were very close. Ji Shen was so nervous he didn’t know where to look, so he lowered his gaze and said, “I just want to do something for Brother.”

He had thought that people who smoked wouldn’t smell good.

But Shen Jixun was different.

The scent of the cigarette was faint, like an elegant wood and grass, more like a woody perfume than a cigarette.

Because they were so close, it was hard for Ji Shen not to smell him.

Shen Jixun habitually rubbed Ji Shen’s head before taking his hand back. Then, he rested his hand on his bent knee, propping his chin on the back of his hand, and slowly said,

“If you want to, go ahead and cook. The taste was actually not bad.”

Ji Shen suddenly looked up. “Then, Brother, you can tell me any other dietary restrictions you have! I will cook well!”

Shen Jixun raised his eyes and thought for a moment, then slowly listed, “No soy products, no glutinous rice items, no celery leaves, no bell pepper seeds…”

Ji Shen lost track of how many things Shen Jixun listed. He only felt that the edible foods developed by humanity that Shen Jixun could accept were pitifully few.

As a result, Ji Shen even dreamed at night about developing dishes that wouldn’t trigger any of his restrictions.

—

Two days passed quickly.

Saturday, which Ji Shen had most looked forward to during his school days, had instead become the day he dreaded most.

But despite his reluctance, the day still arrived.

In the morning, Shen Jixun took him to pick up his custom-made suit and then to a barbershop for a haircut.

After lunch.

Ji Shen changed into his clothes and rode with Shen Jixun in a car to a manor in the suburbs.

Ji Shen had only worn a suit once before, for a university internship interview, and it was a rented one from a school club.

He still remembered that suit because he was too tall, and the trousers looked like capris. When he sat down, the cuffs almost slid up to his knees.

The classmates who interviewed with him mocked him for a long time.

Of course, he wasn’t hired by that company.

This current suit was custom-made after Shen Jixun specifically arranged for someone to take his measurements at home.

From the sleeves to the trouser cuffs, every part fit perfectly.

The light gray suit had a symmetrical design, with a waistcoat of the same color underneath, paired with a black tie. Even with Ji Shen’s muscular build, he looked well-proportioned and refined.

Sitting next to him, Shen Jixun was even more striking.

He wore a dark suit, but his waistcoat was asymmetrical, paired with a wine-red tie. A silver chain brooch was pinned to his lapel. His waist looked slender. His long hair was not tied up but was also not messy, falling quietly over his shoulders like a waterfall.

An hour later.

The car stopped steadily in front of a luxurious and solemn manor.

There were many people coming and going, all speaking elegantly and behaving courteously. Ji Shen observed the scene through the window.

He was already secretly thinking of retreating.

However, the icy gaze behind him pierced his back, and Ji Shen decided it was better not to anger Shen Jixun.

Ji Shen got out of the car and walked around to open the door for Shen Jixun.

A hand reached out first.

Ji Shen blinked, immediately reacting. He reached out and gently took Shen Jixun’s hand.

Shen Jixun stepped out of the car.

His beauty was unique here, an unmissable sight. From the moment he appeared in the sight of these people, gazes began to pile upon him.

Shen Jixun linked his arm through Ji Shen’s.

“My dear, I’ll take you to meet Father first.” His tone was gentle, unlike the Shen Jixun who usually threatened to kill him at the slightest provocation.

Ji Shen was so stunned by the sudden “my dear” that his whole body felt numb.

He didn’t even realize he was walking out of sync.

Shen Jixun smiled without warmth, signaling Ji Shen to lean closer. Once he did, Shen Jixun’s faint, icy voice drilled into his ear like a knife. “Walk properly. If you mess this up, I’ll kill you.”

Alright, this was still the same Shen Jixun.

He constantly used this to scare him.

Ji Shen instantly felt less nervous, and his previously shaky, weak steps became grounded.

To outsiders, these small actions looked intimate.

Thus, everyone felt that the recent rumors might be true.

Shen Jixun led Ji Shen into the manor.

The people here were industry magnates. Those who knew Shen Jixun greeted him, and those who didn’t still fixed their eyes on his face.

For some reason, Ji Shen disliked those gazes. With strong possessiveness, he glared back at those who stared.

Shen Jixun thought that this kid, Ji Shen, was quite quick to catch on and played the part convincingly.

“Uncle Lin.” Shen Jixun released Ji Shen’s arm and proactively walked up to greet a middle-aged man in his fifties or sixties.

“Jixun, you’re here? It’s been too long,” Uncle Lin patted Shen Jixun’s shoulder, his tone and eyes full of admiration.

Shen Jixun smiled. “I apologize for being late.”

He offered the man a glass of wine, and the man politely returned the gesture. Then, the man’s gaze shifted to Ji Shen behind Shen Jixun.

The news of Shen Jixun dating a same-sex partner had spread quickly among them.

The families of the girls who had previously been set up with Shen Jixun for blind dates had given Shen Cong a lot of cold shoulders because of this.

After all, who would want their daughter to marry a homosexual?

“And this behind you is…” Although he had already guessed the identity of the person, he still had to pretend not to know.

Shen Jixun stepped aside to let Ji Shen move closer, then introduced him. “I forgot to introduce you. This is my partner, Ji Shen.”

“Hello, Uncle Lin.” Ji Shen bowed and greeted the man.

Uncle Lin scanned Ji Shen up and down several times, his expression unreadable. Perhaps he couldn’t imagine Shen Jixun dating someone like this.

“Good, good, hello to you too. You are very handsome indeed.” He raised his wine glass toward Ji Shen.

Ji Shen quickly picked up a glass of wine from a nearby table, but just as he raised it, Shen Jixun took it from him. He stepped forward, shielding Ji Shen behind him, and smiled. “A-Ji can’t drink. I’ll toast you on his behalf.”

With that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in the glass.

Ji Shen watched him worriedly from behind. Seeing that Shen Jixun was completely unaffected after two glasses of wine, Ji Shen secretly felt relieved.

Shen Jixun then asked, “Uncle Lin, have you seen Father?”

“Old Shen should be on the second floor,” Uncle Lin replied, glancing upstairs.

Shen Jixun nodded in thanks. “Then I will excuse myself for a moment.”

Uncle Lin nodded without saying anything.

Shen Jixun re-linked his arm with Ji Shen’s, and the two stepped onto the spiral staircase, slowly ascending.

“Brother, are you alright?” Ji Shen was still a little worried.

Shen Jixun’s expression was normal. “Don’t worry, this much wine won’t get me drunk.”

Ji Shen murmured an acknowledgment and didn’t say anything more.

Walking through the crowd, Shen Jixun spotted Shen Cong being flattered by a group of people in the distance.

A subtle coldness flashed in his eyes. Then, he and Ji Shen walked over to Shen Cong and the other elders.

“Father, Uncles and Aunties, I apologize for being late.” Shen Jixun picked up a glass of wine from the table and proactively toasted them.

The moment Shen Cong saw Shen Jixun, the smile on his face vanished. He looked not at his son, but at an enemy.

“Jixun, it’s fine as long as you’re here. Don’t worry about being late,” an elder spoke up for Shen Jixun.

Shen Jixun did not remove the hand linked with Ji Shen’s. He then took the opportunity to introduce him. “This is my partner, Ji Shen.”

The expressions of the elders were somewhat strange when they saw Ji Shen.

They had hoped their own children could form a marriage alliance with Shen Jixun, only to be intercepted by some unknown young man.

Shen Jixun knew exactly what they were plotting.

But this was the effect he wanted. Next, he looked at his father, whose face was already dark with displeasure. He smiled and said, “Father, this is Ji Shen, the partner I mentioned to you two days ago.”

“A-Ji and I discussed it with Auntie, and Auntie is willing to let A-Ji join our family. So, Father, I won’t be leaving you. I will stay by your side to care for you in your old age.” When Shen Jixun didn’t smile, his entire face was extremely aggressive. Only when he smiled did he appear gentler, but now, though he was smiling, it clearly felt more like mockery.

Shen Cong felt a rush of air stuck in his chest, making him so uncomfortable that he didn’t even want to acknowledge Shen Jixun.

Shen Jixun didn’t forget to continue twisting the knife. “And A-Ji and I discussed it, and we plan to get married early next year.”

Ji Shen, with excellent situational awareness, quickly chimed in, “That’s right, Uncle. Don’t worry, I will definitely treat Brother well, and we will both honor you.”

“Old Shen, you certainly raised a good son. Now you’ll have two sons to care for you in your old age—what good fortune!”

Whether it was a son who would care for him or a harbinger of death, only Shen Cong knew.

To be honest, when Ji Shen first saw Shen Cong, he thought they looked somewhat alike. Now, Shen Cong’s distorted face only made Ji Shen find him ugly.

Shen Cong couldn’t listen anymore.

He slammed his wine glass heavily onto a nearby table, yet put on a facade of loving gentleness. “Jixun, this is too sudden. Let’s go over to the balcony and talk privately.”

Ji Shen’s mind immediately went into high alert.

All the melodramatic tropes from TV dramas began playing out in his head.