MNL Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Running

Chapter 69 Running

Having eaten someone’s food, you’re beholden to them. Having fondled someone’s hand, you’re softened.

After agonizing over it for several nights, Qin Xin finally decided to let Shen Yan come along. This way, she could observe the two of them more closely on the trip. Xu Huaiyang’s secretary was always efficient, and within half a day, all the plane tickets and hotel bookings, as well as a detailed itinerary for each scenic spot, were arranged.

And so, on a bright, sunny day, they set off.

Yan Zhe had originally planned to hang out with Xu Jing, but when he heard that he had already gone to Sanya with his family, and had even brought Shen Yan along, he was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped.

“You two are being too blatant,” Yan Zhe said with genuine admiration. “Jing-ge, if you have this much courage, you can succeed at anything.”

“Hehe.”

“Remember to bring me back some local specialties.”

“You think I’m going to the countryside?” Xu Jing said. “Want me to bring you a few pounds of walnuts?”

“No, I don’t like walnuts.” Yan Zhe didn’t catch the hidden meaning in Xu Jing’s words at all and continued on his own, “Is there anything else to choose from? I actually want to eat Sanya’s roasted suckling pig and abalone, but those are not easy to bring back. Otherwise, bring coconuts and mangoes, and maybe some jackfruit too.”

“…”

Is he ordering food?

Xu Jing gave a chilling laugh and asked, “Do you want a fist?”

“Jing-ge, you’re being such a forgetful friend because of your crush. How can you forget your bros once you have a girl—Pooh! boy—Pooh! Damn it!” Yan Zhe felt like his tongue was about to tie itself in knots. He decisively gave up struggling with whether Shen Yan should be referred to as a girlfriend or a boyfriend, and jumped to the last sentence, “How can you forget your brothers once you have a partner?”

Xu Jing had just gone to the restroom and was about to return to the waiting area. Knowing that Yan Zhe couldn’t keep his mouth shut, he couldn’t let him keep chatting in front of Qin Xin and Xu Huaiyang, so he said, “If you don’t have anything else to say, I’m hanging up.”

“Alright, then have fun. Remember to bring me—”

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of the phone being hung up came from the other end. Yan Zhe sighed, thinking: Indeed, everyone in love is no good.

Meanwhile, the three people sitting in the waiting area appeared to be doing their own things, without interfering with each other. In reality, Xu Huaiyang, who was intently watching the news, was secretly sizing up Shen Yan. Qin Xin, who was meticulously touching up her makeup in the mirror, was planning how to subtly probe Shen Yan. Shen Yan saw through it all but didn’t expose it, quietly closing his eyes to rest.

Finally, an idea flashed through Qin Xin’s mind. She put down the mirror and called out, “Xiao Yan.”

“Yes, Auntie, what’s the matter?”

“Well, I want to ask you something.”

Shen Yan said softly, “Please do.”

“It’s just that, does my Xiao Jing usually talk to girls at school?”

Shen Yan paused for a moment, as if he hadn’t expected Qin Xin to ask such a question. After thinking for a while, he replied, “Not really, not much.”

“What about boys?”

Shen Yan answered truthfully, “He doesn’t talk to them much either.”

After hesitating again and again, Qin Xin still found it difficult to ask, “Then, what about you and him?”

From the moment they left home, Shen Yan had already sensed that something was wrong. He was very perceptive and could tell at a glance that Xu Huaiyang and Qin Xin had something on their minds, and that it definitely had something to do with him. This meant that there were already cracks in their act, at least in front of Xu Jing’s parents, it would not be so easy to pretend. Thinking of this, Shen Yan’s heart sank a little.

“We have a pretty good relationship. He is a very important friend to me.” Shen Yan emphasized the last two words.

Qin Xin smiled and said, “Really? My Xiao Jing has never liked making friends since he was little. Besides a boy named Yan Zhe, you’re the only one. This child has a bad temper and is like a closed clam. Sometimes we don’t know what he’s thinking. His dad and I are worried that he won’t be able to find a wife in the future.”

Shen Yan was a little speechless, so he just smiled along.

“You should bring him to socialize more in the future, with both boys and girls. It’s best to have him talk to girls more, so that when he reaches the age of marriage and childbearing, he won’t become mute when he sees a girl.”

Shen Yan said softly, “Don’t worry, Auntie. Xu Jing is so outstanding, he definitely won’t lack girls around him in the future.”

“Then Auntie will ask one more personal question. It’s okay if you don’t want to answer.”

“Okay.”

Qin Xin leaned in slightly and whispered, “Do you have a girl you like right now? Are you dating anyone?”

Hearing this, Shen Yan turned his head, and the unexpected eye contact made Qin Xin, who was hiding something in her heart, subconsciously tense up.

Shen Yan was silent for a while, then said, “Yes.”

“Really?!”

“Yes.”

“From the same school?”

“Yes.”

Shen Yan didn’t want to lie to Qin Xin. Of course, to some extent, this wasn’t a lie. He was indeed dating, and they were from the same school, but that person…

Hearing these answers, the haze in Qin Xin’s heart instantly vanished. She cheerfully patted Xu Huaiyang’s thigh, then turned back and said with a beaming smile, “Auntie can tell at a glance that you’re much more likeable than our Xiao Jing.”

But this was indeed sincere.

The first time Qin Xin saw Shen Yan, she thought this child was good-looking, kind-hearted, and reliable. He had also helped Xu Jing several times. Later, after learning about Shen Yan’s family situation, she had really considered taking Shen Yan as a godson, but she was afraid that the other party’s inner turmoil hadn’t been resolved, and doing so would be too presumptuous, perhaps even backfiring and making Shen Yan feel embarrassed.

In addition, what happened later made Qin Xin feel uncomfortable, so that idea was completely abandoned.

“Treat us as your own family during this trip. Tell Auntie anything you want to eat or want, and Auntie will buy it for you.” Qin Xin took Shen Yan’s hand enthusiastically and said, “Just treat me as your own mother. Don’t feel embarrassed at all, understand?”

At this moment, Xu Jing saw from afar that his own mother was touching Shen Yan’s hand while looking at Shen Yan’s face with a beaming smile, her whole body radiating a halo of maternal love.

“…”

What happened while he was just going to the bathroom?

Even the usually calm Shen Yan couldn’t handle it at this moment, so he had to force a smile, so as not to spoil Qin Xin’s mood.

Xu Jing quietly sat down next to Shen Yan and said helplessly, “Mom.”

“!!”

The stone in her heart had finally fallen, and Qin Xin was so happy that she was hallucinating. She thought it was Shen Yan who had called her, and she almost burst into tears. She quickly held Shen Yan’s hand even tighter and responded very seriously, “Eh!”

Shen Yan: “…”

Xu Jing really couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He was afraid that if this continued, Shen Yan would jump off the plane directly. So he tilted his head, leaned forward, looked at Qin Xin, and said, “Mom, it was me who called.”

“…Oh, it was you.” Qin Xin let go of Shen Yan’s hand with some embarrassment, her tone revealing a hint of disappointment, “I was wondering.”

Xu Jing: “…”

Otherwise?

Was there a second person here who could call you Mom?

“Mom, if you keep randomly recognizing sons, Shen Yan will be scared away.”

After saying that, Qin Xin also felt that she had been a little out of line just now, so she smiled apologetically at Shen Yan and said, “Sorry, Xiao Yan, Auntie was just too excited.”

“It’s okay,” Shen Yan said, “It doesn’t matter.”

What a gentle tone.

Xu Jing glanced at Shen Yan a couple of times and couldn’t help but send a message.

—I didn’t expect you to have this side to you.

The person next to him typed a few words on the screen with one hand, and soon Xu Jing’s phone rang.

—After all, she is my future mother-in-law.

Seeing the reply, Xu Jing’s heart skipped a beat, and his face unconsciously flushed.

After a five-hour flight, it was already afternoon when they arrived in Sanya. The secretary had booked a villa suite in a local luxury hotel with a total of four bedrooms. As a result, Xu Jing and Shen Yan almost walked into the same room when they went upstairs to pack their things.

Qin Xin went back to her room to change into a black spaghetti strap dress with a pure white sunscreen shirt. Her slender figure was as graceful as a young girl. With clean and elegant makeup, she looked young and beautiful, and there was no trace that she had ever given birth. This made Xu Huaiyang, who was squatting next to the suitcase packing his things, look back frequently, wishing he could keep his eyes glued to Qin Xin.

Qin Xin ignored the burning gaze behind her and, after putting on her sunglasses and walking out of the room, shouted, “Xiao Jing, Xiao Yan, hurry up and come down when you’re done packing. We’re going to eat now.”

The hotel provided dinner, but Qin Xin said she wanted to take a walk by the sea, so the four of them went to an upscale restaurant near Yalong Bay for dinner. Xu Huaiyang drove, Qin Xin sat in the passenger seat, and Xu Jing and Shen Yan sat in the back. The two of them nearly held hands several times, but at that moment of eye contact, they silently retracted their hands.

“…”

So tormenting.

This was the peak tourist season, and there were foreigners everywhere: blond, blue-eyed Russian hunks, tall, dark-skinned African hotties, and various cosplayers performing at tourist attractions. Walking down the street, you could hear a mix of languages. Xu Jing had never thought that his poor English was a big deal, until he saw that six-foot-three American hunk flirting with Shen Yan at the restaurant, and he really regretted it a little.

The weather had been very good in Sanya these past few days, especially at night. The sea breeze was tranquil and romantic. At this time, there were still many people on the beach, and the surrounding noises seemed to drown them in this night scene. Qin Xin and Xu Huaiyang held hands and went to walk on the beach, so they could finally drop their pretenses.

The salty sea breeze blew in their faces, and Xu Jing couldn’t help but squint his eyes. At this moment, he was also curious about what Shen Yan was thinking, so he turned his head, but unexpectedly ran into those half-lidded peach blossom eyes. Those eyes carried a faint smile, and under the moonlight, it seemed as if they had been watching him for a long time.

“Shen Yan,” Xu Jing said softly, “You’re really good-looking.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“No wonder even foreigners are smitten.”

“…”

Shen Yan was really silent when he mentioned this. Although he was also a man, he was now really being harassed by these passionate gay men to the point of being a bit homophobic.

“Don’t mention it.”

Seeing Shen Yan’s reaction, Xu Jing suddenly became a little curious and asked, “So what did that big-boobed airhead say to you?”

“You can’t understand?”

“Nonsense, would I be asking if I knew?”

Although his English grades had improved greatly now, and his listening comprehension was also pretty good, this stuff was completely different from listening to foreigners speak in real life. He had really paid attention to listen when that foreign man was harassing Shen Yan. Sure enough, because the speech was too fast, he only understood one sentence at the beginning, “baby”, and one sentence at the end, “sorry.”

“He said he wanted to support me. If I was willing, he would send me two sea-view villas today, plus a Lamborghini and five million in cash.”

“…”

This gay guy is crazy.

Xu Jing’s forehead twitched. “What did you say back?”

“I said, sorry, I’m the one on top.”

“…And then?”

“Then he was silent for a while and said, all the better.”

Xu Jing: “…”

I’m impressed.

That’s not right.

Xu Jing’s expression suddenly changed as he remembered something. He raised his eyebrows and said, “Who said that?”

Shen Yan paused for two seconds, and couldn’t help but laugh, “No way, deskmate, are you serious?”

“Why can’t I be?”

“You can be, but.” Shen Yan paused, and in Xu Jing’s displeased gaze, he followed up with a sentence that could make any boy’s desire to conquer reach its peak, “I might not be able to satisfy me.”

Xu Jing: “…”

Xu Jing, who prided himself on having extremely low competitiveness, felt that he had been completely played by Shen Yan’s reverse psychology.

“How would you know if you don’t try?”

The smile in Shen Yan’s eyes deepened, carrying a clear malicious intent, and said, “I’ve teased it before, of course I know.”

Xu Jing’s face instantly turned red.

Damn, it’s true that having eaten someone’s food, you’re beholden to them. Having fondled someone’s hand, you’re softened.

Xu Jing turned his head awkwardly and muttered, “You should just shut up.”

Shen Yan’s shoulders shook with laughter.

At this time, Qin Xin and Xu Huaiyang had long since disappeared. A vendor selling Sanya milk coconuts and Golden Diamond pineapples passed by. Xu Jing glanced at it casually, and after Shen Yan saw it, he asked, “What do you want to eat?”

“Coconut, I guess.”

“Okay.”

Five minutes later, Shen Yan was seen carrying a large bag in his left hand and a milk coconut with a straw inserted in his right hand. His walking posture was slightly lazy, which gave him a comical air of just returning from stocking up on goods. Yet, even so, his tall figure, exuding youthful energy, was still particularly eye-catching.

As he approached, Xu Jing looked into the bag and found that it contained six coconuts and four boxes of pineapples.

“Why did you buy so much?”

Shen Yan gave the coconut that had already been opened to Xu Jing and replied, “For Uncle and Auntie.”

Xu Jing was stunned when he heard this, and a complex emotion that he couldn’t quite put his finger on welled up in his heart. The fresh milk coconut tasted sweet and fragrant. He tasted it, and it was very delicious, but at this moment, he felt that what was refreshing and invigorating was Shen Yan’s unique fresh mint scent. So he looked around again, suddenly tiptoed and quickly pecked the person in front of him on the face.

“Stealing a kiss from me.”

“It’s your honor.”

Shen Yan touched Xu Jing’s hair, leaned over slightly, and placed a kiss on Xu Jing’s forehead, “Yes, it’s my honor.”

Xu Jing was very pleased, his pretentious demeanor was just like a noble Persian cat.

But soon, the Persian cat remembered something that required it to put aside its nobility.

“I put you in a difficult position today.”

“Why do you say that?”

Xu Jing put down the coconut and said seriously, “It’s not that I’m afraid they’ll find out, I just want to be prepared, so that one day I can openly hold your hand and appear in front of them.”

At that time, Shen Yan would no longer be a classmate, no longer a neighbor, and no longer an ordinary guest in their home. He would give him the most irreplaceable position and role.

The sound of the waves lapping against the shore kept ringing in his ears, surging and echoing everywhere. Shen Yan felt as if his heart was also being hit hard by something. He moved his lips, wanting to say something, but couldn’t make a sound.

“Never mind, let’s not talk about this.” Xu Jing took the bag and placed it aside, rolled up his sleeves, then suddenly took Shen Yan’s hand and led him to run in another direction.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you to beachcomb!”

His tone was unrestrained and flamboyant. Xu Jing was like a gust of wind, running forward. The moonlight shone on the cold, fair, and delicate nape of his neck, overflowing with extremely hazy light waves. Shen Yan was almost stunned. Until the person in front of him suddenly turned his head, his eyes clear, his smile warm and bright, and said to him:

“Shen Yan, I will always love you!”

“Did you hear me?”

The teenager’s voice was spirited and mixed with the salty sea breeze, deeply buried between the sand and stones. So Shen Yan couldn’t help but smile and run forward with the same steps.

The distant horizon was faintly visible. The summer night sea was starlit and gathered into a glimmer of light guiding them forward. At this moment, they slept in freedom.

“I heard you.”

As if all the noise had been thrown behind them, at this moment, there was no more pain and gloom in Shen Yan’s world, only the soft sand under his feet, the clear laughter in his ears, and that pure teenager.

His eighteenth year was also shining brightly because of such passionate love.