Cat O, But Traveling Into The Normal World Chapter 18
byChapter 18 Fairness is Something He Can Satisfy
Downstairs, Yu You felt like he was sitting on pins and needles during the conversation.
Su Qiuling looked gentle and spoke softly, appearing easygoing, but the questions she asked were incredibly detailed.
If Yu You hadn’t rehearsed the script with Jiang Xunzhou on the way over, he might not have been able to handle it.
Su Qiuling held a bone china teacup, the black tea inside swaying slightly, and asked gently, “Does Xiao Yu plan to stay in the acting profession permanently?”
Yu You paused.
This question was outside the scope of their script; he hadn’t discussed it with Jiang Xunzhou beforehand.
However, he had heard that some parents had a very poor impression of the entertainment industry and often required their children’s spouses to retire after marriage.
Perhaps because the silence lasted too long, Su Qiuling looked confused: “What’s wrong?”
Yu You’s tone was serious: “Auntie, I love my profession. Regardless of now or the future, I will not change careers. I intend to keep doing this.”
Su Qiuling smiled: “You misunderstood. I wasn’t trying to persuade you to change industries. I wanted to ask if you find it very difficult. Xunzhou grew up with Old Master Jiang and was spoiled. He has had a strong sense of territory since childhood. He doesn’t let others touch his toys, never allows anyone into his room—not even his favorite cousins.”
She then added meaningfully, “The acting industry inevitably involves dealing with many people. When Xunzhou gets jealous…”
Yu You blinked, unsure how to respond for a moment.
He and Jiang Xunzhou were only in a contractual relationship. Surely Jiang Xunzhou wouldn’t be territorial to that extent?
Just as they were speaking, there was movement upstairs—Jiang Xunzhou was coming down.
Su Qiuling set down her teacup and smiled brightly: “Finished talking with your father? It’s time for him to take his medicine. Xunzhou, you keep Xiao Yu company for a bit. I’ll go get your father’s medicine.”
Jiang Xunzhou hummed in acknowledgment, the corners of his lips slightly upturned, indicating he was in a good mood. He strode into the living room and sat down next to Yu You, extending his hand with complete naturalness.
Yu You understood instantly and placed his hand into Jiang Xunzhou’s.
While kneading Yu You’s fingers playfully, Jiang Xunzhou asked casually, “What did my mother talk to you about?”
Yu You honestly reported the details: “Auntie asked when we met, how long we’ve been together, and also…”
He glanced over, confirming that Su Qiuling had taken the medicine bowl upstairs and wasn’t paying attention to them. Only then did he lean closer to Jiang Xunzhou.
The low, youthful voice, accompanied by warm breath, brushed against Jiang Xunzhou’s ear.
Jiang Xunzhou was momentarily distracted, then heard Yu You whisper, “Auntie asked if we had plans to get engaged. I think she was testing us about the stock acquisition.”
“Nine times out of ten,” Jiang Xunzhou tilted his head slightly. “How did you answer?”
Yu You said, “I told her we haven’t been together long and haven’t discussed that yet.”
He looked at Jiang Xunzhou anxiously: “Was that the right thing to say?”
Jiang Xunzhou smiled, squeezing Yu You’s fingers reassuringly: “That’s right. Little Fish Baby did very well.”
Yu You couldn’t help but feel proud: “Of course. I’m a professional.”
A servant brought over a plate of sliced fruit and placed it on the coffee table. The apple slices were carved into roses, the green grapes had flower cuts on top, and the cantaloupe and pineapple were scooped into small balls using a mold, finally garnished with blueberries. The presentation was exquisite and tempting.
Yu You had been dieting for several days, and looking at the fruit was like looking at meat. His gaze went straight, then he painfully closed his eyes: “I can’t eat it.”
Jiang Xunzhou leaned down and asked, “Just one bite?”
Yu You shook his head: “No way. I have to start filming the next phase after these two days off, so I must strictly control my diet starting today.”
The young man looked wilted: “It’s fine. You eat. I’ll just smell it.”
Even as he said this, his eyes couldn’t help but drift toward the pineapple, looking utterly pitiful. He muttered, “If you hadn’t snatched the pineapple the maid left for me yesterday, I could have eaten that last piece…”
Jiang Xunzhou felt like laughing. Remembering his father’s warning to treat his little boyfriend well, he used a silver fork to pick up a pineapple ball and offered it to Yu You’s lips, apologizing softly, “Yesterday was my fault. Have one bite to satisfy your craving, and then I’ll have them take the fruit plate away.”
The golden pineapple ball emitted a sweet and sour fragrance that made one’s mouth water.
Yu You wavered for a moment. He was about to refuse, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a tall figure at the living room entrance. He recognized the identity from the similar features and immediately understood.
No wonder Jiang Xunzhou was suddenly so kind.
He pretended not to notice, lowered his head, parted his red lips, and bit the pineapple ball off the silver fork. Then, he wrapped his arm around Jiang Xunzhou’s shoulder, looked up, and pressed his lips against Jiang Xunzhou’s.
With a gentle push of his tongue, the pineapple ball, mixed with saliva, was ambiguously transferred. The sweet and sour fragrance permeated their lips and tongues.
Yu You’s ear tips were flushed red. He pulled back slightly, pursed his lips, and smiled shyly: “That counts as eating it. Thank you, Husband. I tasted it. The pineapple is very sweet.”
The young man’s long eyelashes curved slightly, like fluttering butterfly wings, and the emotions in his eyes sparkled with light.
Jiang Xunzhou stared intently at Yu You, looking lost. He slowly chewed the pineapple ball a few times, swallowed it, and replied, “…It’s nothing. You’re welcome.”
A warning cough came from behind.
Jiang Xunzhou snapped out of his daze, turned around, saw who it was, and quickly stood up, looking somewhat awkward: “Brother, you’re back? Mom just said you were busy with work and couldn’t make it today.”
Standing at the living room entrance was Jiang Xunzhou’s older brother, Jiang Qingyan, in his thirties, dressed in a suit, his expression meaningful: “You brought someone home. No matter how busy I am, I have to come back and see what’s going on.”
He then looked at Yu You and asked, “This must be Yu You?”
Yu You greeted him obediently: “Hello, Brother. I’m Yu You.”
Jiang Qingyan nodded politely: “Hello.”
“Why call him Brother? Just call him Brother Qingyan,” Jiang Xunzhou sounded a little jealous. “You’ve never called me Brother.”
If it weren’t for Jiang Qingyan’s amused gaze, Yu You would have told Jiang Xunzhou that this wasn’t how you added drama.
Is this how jealousy works?
What normal person would be so petty about this?
“I was wrong, I’ll make up for it now.” Yu You smiled sweetly and obediently, gently shaking Jiang Xunzhou’s hand, “Brother Xunzhou.”
Jiang Xunzhou curved the corners of his lips and gave a faint hum.
Su Qiuling upstairs also heard the news and hurried out: “Qingyan is back too? Perfect, let’s all have lunch together!”
Jiang Xunzhou said, “Mom, Little Fish Baby and I won’t stay for lunch today. We just came to see you both. I have things to do at the company. We’ll come back to eat next time.”
Jiang Qingyan also said, “I have a dinner engagement, too. I just stopped by on the way.”
Su Qiuling looked a little disappointed: “Neither of you is staying? I was planning to cook myself later.”
The two brothers fell silent simultaneously.
Su Qiuling had two hobbies: collecting tableware and cooking herself.
Jiang Qingyan decisively said, “Mom, you and Dad just returned to the country. Don’t busy yourselves. Rest well.”
Jiang Xunzhou also nodded earnestly: “You have many dietary restrictions during recovery. Leave the cooking to the nutritionist.”
Yu You looked left and right, nodding along.
“Alright, your father does have many restrictions during this period of conditioning. He can’t eat this, and he can’t eat that,” Su Qiuling sighed. “I won’t keep you then.”
Su Qiuling then made Jiang Qingyan select a set of shell tableware before finally letting them leave.
Jiang Qingyan left with Jiang Xunzhou and Yu You, and suddenly asked, “You won’t go back, and then the media will report about meeting the parents right after, will you?”
Jiang Xunzhou’s expression remained unchanged: “Brother, what are you thinking? Mom heard I was dating and was rushing me, so I brought Little Fish Baby back to visit. What does that have to do with the media?”
Jiang Qingyan said, “Whatever your plans are, our family hasn’t reached the point of using marriage as a bargaining chip.”
Jiang Xunzhou laughed: “We’re just dating. Why are you all so nervous, acting like I’m dragging him to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get a marriage certificate tomorrow?”
“I hope I’m overthinking it.”
Jiang Qingyan nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: “By the way, I have a few boxes of Red Kangaroo Essence capsules sent by an Australian partner. Do you need them?”
Yu You looked surprised, his tone purely innocent: “Red Kangaroo Essence capsules? What are those?”
Jiang Xunzhou’s face flushed. He coughed twice, embarrassed: “Brother, I don’t need those. You keep them for yourself.”
“I don’t have a partner, so I don’t need them,” Jiang Qingyan said teasingly. “Assistant Wan came to me for help with the work he couldn’t handle during those days you were trending—you caused such a stir, are you sure you don’t need a boost?”
Jiang Xunzhou quickly insisted: “No, I really don’t need them.”
He had a good constitution. Although he had been slightly depleted, he was fine after two days of tonic medicine.
This wasn’t something that happened often; he didn’t need to take supplements every day.
Yu You vaguely understood and followed up sincerely: “Brother Qingyan, he really doesn’t need them. My husband is very capable.”
Jiang Xunzhou covered Yu You’s mouth.
Yu You mumbled twice, looking at Jiang Xunzhou in protest.
—I was trying to speak up for you!
A hint of a smile flashed in Jiang Qingyan’s eyes: “People often send me things like this, and I don’t usually use them. Just call me if you need them. Don’t be shy.”
Driven by male pride, Jiang Xunzhou guaranteed again: “Brother, I’m not being polite. I genuinely don’t need them.”
A discreet black luxury car pulled up to the door and stopped in front of Jiang Qingyan.
“Alright, I’ll be going then.”
Before getting into the car, Jiang Qingyan tossed out one last line: “Oh, and Mom and Dad were too embarrassed to say this directly, so they asked me, the older brother, to relay it—remember to practice moderation. Even if you’re young, you shouldn’t be so unrestrained.”
The three-day-three-night trending topic was officially claimed to be due to work delays, but the Jiang family knew the real reason.
Jiang Xunzhou fled, pulling Yu You into the car behind.
As soon as they sat down, Yu You couldn’t suppress his curiosity and asked eagerly, “What is kangaroo essence? It’s not what I think, is it? Do people really take that?”
“You even know it’s related to ‘that’?”
Jiang Xunzhou’s cheeks were burning. He pinched Yu You’s chin, squeezing his mouth into a duck beak, and said fiercely, “You still have the nerve to ask?”
“I really didn’t know at first,” Yu You complained. “I only guessed when your brother mentioned the trending topic…”
His words were muffled, and his moist, rosy lips moved slightly. Because Jiang Xunzhou was pinching his face, they were currently pouting slightly, looking like he was whining for a kiss.
Jiang Xunzhou’s gaze dropped, staring at Yu You’s lips, recalling the soft sensation from the moment they ate the pineapple.
He released his hand and asked casually, “Let’s not talk about that. You performed very well today. What reward do you want?”
After all, when the contract was signed, Yu You’s request was…
Jiang Xunzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He felt a fire burning in his lower abdomen, making him feel hot all over, and he couldn’t help but unbutton the top button of his collar.
For the sake of fairness, if Yu You brought it up, he wasn’t entirely unwilling to satisfy it.