After The Flower Of The High Mountain Meets The Rough Man Ⅱ Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Shall We?

“Shall we?” Shen Jixun lightly stroked his Adam’s apple…

“Ge, are you sad?” Ji Shen stared at Shen Jixun’s eyes, which were full of anger, and asked cautiously.

Shen Jixun’s pupils trembled.

Wasn’t he angry?

Why did Ji Shen say he was sad?

But…

Shen Jixun’s tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed. He was indeed very sad, but he preferred to use anger to mask his sorrow.

For so many years, he had used this trick to hide it well, yet Ji Shen saw through it with a single glance.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Did I hit you so hard you went stupid?” Shen Jixun glanced at his cheek, where a faint red mark was already visible.

Ji Shen bent down, maintaining the same eye level as Shen Jixun. “Ge, I didn’t cheat. The person is my university senior, and these are our chat records.”

He took out his phone and opened the chat interface with Lu Xuran.

Most of the messages were sent by the other party; Ji Shen had never actively chatted with him.

“See, we’re just friends, and he hasn’t said anything out of line,” Ji Shen patiently coaxed.

Shen Jixun scoffed and said, “Do you know him? Do you know where he worked before he joined that bookstore?”

“Do you know he knows my father?”

“A fool like you would help count the money after being sold.”

Ji Shen tilted his head, seemingly surprised that the senior he knew was approaching him with an ulterior motive.

But the next second, he smiled and said, “I know.”

Shen Jixun raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms and leaning against the car door. “You know?”

“Although we knew each other in university, we didn’t interact much, at least not enough for him to repeatedly invite me for coffee,” Ji Shen scratched his head and slowly explained.

“I’m not good-looking, and my personality is clumsy. I know that this kind of sudden favor would never just fall into my lap, so I knew he definitely wasn’t just trying to be friends with me.”

Shen Jixun stared at him, and after he finished speaking, he suddenly said, “That’s not right.”

Ji Shen quickly looked up and pressed, “What’s not right?”

Shen Jixun: “You look decent.”

Ji Shen tilted his head, his expression bewildered: ?

Then Shen Jixun let out another cold snort and said, “Since you knew, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I just thought it was such a small matter that I shouldn’t bother you. Aren’t you very busy lately?” Ji Shen said with a smile.

Shen Jixun’s expression showed no appreciation for his thoughtfulness. He scoffed, “Acting on your own initiative.”

Ji Shen didn’t get angry. “Just consider it me acting on my own initiative, then.”

Only then did Shen Jixun look at him properly. Even after being wrongly accused and slapped, he was still smiling and talking to him, his temper good enough to tolerate everything.

He frowned and asked, “Aren’t you angry?”

Ji Shen paused, then said, “I am.”

Shen Jixun: “Then I wronged you. What are your thoughts?”

Ji Shen thought seriously for a moment and said, “I was a little sad at the time, but I know Ge didn’t do it on purpose, and wasn’t it my own initiative that caused you to misunderstand?”

Shen Jixun pursed his lips, and the last trace of coldness in his eyes gradually faded. He reached out and touched the cheek he had slapped. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Ge. It’s my fault.” Ji Shen held his hand and gently rubbed his cheek against it.

Shen Jixun immediately pulled his hand back and snorted coldly again. “Of course it’s your fault.”

Ji Shen smiled helplessly.

Shen Jixun reached through the car window and took out a cigarette, putting it in his mouth. Just as he was about to pull out his lighter, Ji Shen reached out and took the cigarette from his mouth.

He instinctively opened his mouth to curse, but Ji Shen quickly said, “Ge, smoke less. Smoking is bad for your health.”

Shen Jixun was expressionless: “Then I might as well die.”

“No way. If Ge dies, won’t I become a widower?”

Shen Jixun: “Aren’t we an agreement couple?”

“At least we’re a couple, right?” Ji Shen showed a harmless smile.

Shen Jixun let out a laugh.

Ji Shen then continued, “Can I ask you something?”

Shen Jixun seemed to be in a good mood and nodded, signaling him to ask. Ji Shen then said, “Ge, why were you sad just now?”

Shen Jixun originally didn’t want to tell him too much, but seeing the finger marks he had left on Ji Shen’s cheek, he felt he should say something to Ji Shen after all.

“Give me the cigarette.” Shen Jixun held out his hand to him.

Ji Shen obediently placed his own hand on Shen Jixun’s and gently held it.

Shen Jixun was so amused he laughed.

But he indulged this small action. Leaning against the car door, he slowly said, “Do you know why I’ve fallen out with my biological father to this extent?”

Ji Shen shook his head.

Shen Jixun continued, “My mother committed suicide when I was five. He forced her to do it. They knew each other for nine years, and he cheated for six.”

“The mistress brought her child to find my mother. My mother was raised with a good education, and she had a severe psychological aversion to impurity. Because she couldn’t get over that hurdle, she killed herself.” There was none of the hatred Ji Shen expected on Shen Jixun’s face; instead, a faint layer of sadness was hidden beneath the calm.

“In the year after she died, Shen Cong was indifferent to me. Later, my grandmother took me in to care for me. Not long after, he married Dai Yingying into the family. I learned the truth about my mother’s death from my grandmother.” After a pause, Shen Jixun said, “So I won’t let him off.”

Ji Shen’s eyes were filled with heartache and sympathy. Shen Jixun continued, “That’s why I hate people who cheat. Even if we are an agreement couple, it’s not allowed. If you cheat, I will genuinely kill you.”

“I’m sorry, Ge. I should have told you earlier and caused you distress…” Ji Shen finally realized how much trouble his “good intentions” had caused Shen Jixun, and he apologized sincerely.

Shen Jixun: “Forget it.”

Since Ji Shen had taken his cigarette, Shen Jixun felt he should get something back. He crooked his index finger at Ji Shen, his tone flat: “Come closer.”

Ji Shen slowly leaned his upper body toward him.

Shen Jixun grabbed his collar, pulling him even closer, then tilted his head back slightly and kissed him.

The two sets of lips pressed tightly together.

The wind had long since chilled their lips. When they first touched, Ji Shen didn’t feel much, but when the cold upper lip was lightly licked by the other party’s tongue, he proactively took the next step.

Ji Shen was tall and broad-shouldered. He embraced Shen Jixun, and from behind, Shen Jixun was completely hidden.

It was a very deep kiss.

Ji Shen was a fast learner. He had gone from knowing nothing at the start to completely taking over the initiative from Shen Jixun.

His agile tongue swept wantonly inside Shen Jixun’s mouth, drawing the oxygen from the other party’s oral cavity.

A glistening tear rolled from the corner of Shen Jixun’s eye. He raised his hand and pushed Ji Shen away. Breathing in fresh air again, Shen Jixun gasped heavily.

Ji Shen seemed unsatisfied and continued to chase after him for another kiss.

Shen Jixun lightly slapped him, his voice cold: “Did I tell you to continue?”

“I—I’m sorry…” Ji Shen realized his lapse in control and apologized cautiously.

Shen Jixun felt his lips were numb from being sucked on. He touched his burning lips and said irritably, “Let’s go, time to eat.”

The restaurant had been booked early, but they were delayed by these trivial matters.

Ji Shen quickly followed him.

After the misunderstanding was completely cleared up, Shen Jixun was indeed in a much better mood. He even specially ordered a bottle of red wine, and Ji Shen reluctantly drank a little less than half a glass.

He wasn’t someone who got drunk easily, so this amount of wine wasn’t enough to make him pass out.

The assistant drove them back home.

After opening the door and stepping inside, Shen Jixun was about to bend down to change his shoes, but Ji Shen was faster. He knelt on one knee beside Shen Jixun’s feet, held his ankle, and carefully helped him take off his shoes.

Then he put on his indoor slippers.

Shen Jixun stood with his arms crossed, looking down at him.

He couldn’t quite understand Ji Shen. It seemed like he never got angry. Could someone really have such a good temper all the time?

After changing his shoes, he kicked Ji Shen’s knee. “Hey.”

Ji Shen looked up and smiled at him. “What is it, Ge?”

Having had a little wine, the alcohol was starting to kick in, and his cheeks were flushed.

Shen Jixun ordered with a sour face: “Kiss me.”

Ji Shen obediently stood up and pressed Shen Jixun against the door. “Now?”

Shen Jixun didn’t want to answer him. He cupped Ji Shen’s face and kissed him.

In the not-too-wide entryway, the two embraced tightly. Ji Shen lifted him and sat him on the shoe cabinet, then leaned in and pursued the kiss again.

Shen Jixun closed his eyes, enjoying Ji Shen’s initiative.

The hands on his waist slowly tightened, kissing him as if trying to devour him whole.

“Mmm…” Ji Shen imitated what he had done before, scraping his tongue across Shen Jixun’s palate, which sent a shiver down Shen Jixun’s tailbone, leaving his body limp in Ji Shen’s embrace.

Their breathing became exceptionally heavy, the gasps amplified in their ears. A fire inexplicably gathered in Shen Jixun’s lower abdomen.

He bent his knee to push Ji Shen away, propped his hands on the shoe cabinet behind him, and gasped for air with open lips.

He hated Ji Shen’s learning ability.

It was Ji Shen who couldn’t handle it at first, but now it was him.

Ji Shen’s breathing was heavy. His big, puppy-dog eyes stared intently at Shen Jixun, filled with thick desire.

“Ge… can I—can I kiss you again?” Like a puppy that had tasted sweetness, his eyes were full of anticipation.

Shen Jixun sternly refused: “No.”

Ji Shen’s eyes slowly filled with disappointment. If he had a pair of puppy ears and a tail, they would surely be drooping miserably by now.

Shen Jixun looked down. He kicked off his slippers and stepped onto Ji Shen’s foot with his bare feet. Ji Shen instinctively tried to retreat, but Shen Jixun’s glare froze him in place.

“That’s all the guts you have,” Shen Jixun said.

Ji Shen’s face was red, filled with shame. “I’m sorry, I’ll… I’ll take care of it myself.”

“How did you take care of it last time?” Shen Jixun leaned back, his dark hair cascading down and resting on the shoe cabinet like a scattered waterfall.

Ji Shen lowered his head, staring at Shen Jixun’s pale instep, and slowly said, “Just, by myself…”

Shen Jixun repeated, “Just by yourself, huh…”

Ji Shen nodded.

“Didn’t think of anyone?” Shen Jixun asked, one question after another, like he was trying to trick him into talking.

Ji Shen quickly shook his head. “No!”

Shen Jixun reached out and hooked his chin, making him look up. “Yes, you did.”

“No…” Ji Shen didn’t dare to look into his eyes.

So Shen Jixun said, “Yes, you thought of me?”

“Ge, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Ji Shen grabbed Shen Jixun’s mischievous foot, leaned his upper body close, and buried his head in Shen Jixun’s neck, apologizing repeatedly.

Shen Jixun laughed. He stroked Ji Shen’s head, finding the current Ji Shen incredibly adorable.

He reached out and stroked Ji Shen’s head, softening his tone as much as possible. “Alright, alright, I don’t blame you.”

The sound of Ji Shen sobbing reached his ears, and his smile became even more unrestrained. “Are you crying from embarrassment?”

“Ge, please don’t say anymore.” Ji Shen hugged him, his voice choked with tears.

Shen Jixun pinched his earlobe, smiling sweetly. “Ji Shen.”

Ji Shen raised his head, looking at him with red-rimmed eyes. “Mm.”

Shen Jixun’s hand, which was resting beside his ear, slowly moved down, landing on his Adam’s apple. Then he slowly parted his lips and said, “Shall we?”