Little Meteor Chapter 22
byChapter 22: Ah Xuan
The next morning, Shen Mu woke up to a faint, almost imperceptible smell of scorching, mixed with a hint of cloyingly sweet red bean fragrance.
Shen Mu frowned, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. The closer he got to the kitchen, the stronger the smell became.
Jiang Chengxuan stood in front of the stove, somewhat flustered, using a spatula to deal with several red bean pancakes in the frying pan that were clearly too dark in color. On the counter beside him were bowls and dishes containing the mixed batter and red bean filling.
“What are you doing?” Shen Mu leaned against the doorframe, his voice still husky from sleep.
Jiang Chengxuan turned around, a rare flicker of panic crossing his face. His movements paused, and the contents of the pan immediately emitted an ominous wisp of blue smoke.
“You’re awake?” He quickly turned off the heat. “I wanted to make red bean pancakes, but it didn’t work out.”
Jiang Chengxuan opened the range hood and the kitchen window, and the burnt smell dissipated considerably.
Only then did Shen Mu recall his half-asleep question from yesterday morning: “Are there red bean pancakes today?”
He hadn’t been fully awake then and regretted saying it immediately. Jiang Chengxuan had said he would try to make some, but Shen Mu had dismissed it as the habitual comfort of the adult world, heard and forgotten.
Although it was cliché, at this moment, he truly felt that someone took his casual words so seriously, that he was cherished. The saying that cooking porridge gives a sense of home was indeed ridiculous, but for someone as meticulous and rigorous as Jiang Chengxuan—who strived for perfection in everything from precise operations on the operating table to every word on a medical record—the fact that he was flustered in the kitchen early in the morning because of an unintentional comment from Shen Mu was quite impactful.
Jiang Chengxuan saw him silent for a long time, assuming he hadn’t fully woken up, and ruffled his hair. “Go wash up quickly.”
Shen Mu mumbled “Oh” and only realized while brushing his teeth in the bathroom that he had apparently slept in Jiang Chengxuan’s bed last night. Furthermore, realizing this didn’t make him feel uncomfortable; it was as if anything was acceptable in front of Jiang Chengxuan.
When Shen Mu finished washing up and came out, Jiang Chengxuan placed two bowls of noodles on the table. “The pancakes failed again. Let’s eat noodles first. I’ll try again tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to go to so much trouble,” he pulled out a chair and sat down. “I don’t actually have to eat red bean pancakes.”
“I wanted to make them for you,” he pushed a small plate with a red bean pancake toward him. “This one looks the best. It might still be a bit bitter. Don’t eat it if it’s bad.”
Shen Mu took a bite of the red bean pancake. The crust was slightly hard and carried a faint burnt bitterness, but the red bean filling inside was quite sweet and creamy.
“It’s actually not bad,” he took another big bite. “It has a bitter fragrance, a unique flavor.”
Jiang Chengxuan smiled and transferred the fried egg from his own bowl into Shen Mu’s.
Jiang Chengxuan was off work today, but Shen Mu was not. They finished breakfast in silence, and Jiang Chengxuan said, “Text me when you finish work.”
“Got it, Doctor Jiang.” Shen Mu smiled and waved. “Go back and catch up on sleep.”
Work on the set went more smoothly than expected. The scenes planned to be shot until evening were finished early, around four in the afternoon.
Shen Mu saw that it was still early and went to check on Lin Wei in the ward, but Lin Wei wasn’t there. Her mother was pushing her around downstairs. Shen Mu watched her from a distance. Lin Wei saw him too and smiled at him.
Lin Wei’s mother loved her. Although she placed all her hopes and expectations on her because of her brother, if Lin Wei truly couldn’t handle the pressure one day, her mother wouldn’t blame her. She only wished for her safety and health.
The room was quiet when Shen Mu pushed the door open. He called out for Jiang Chengxuan, but no one answered. He was probably called away by the hospital temporarily; after all, it was rare for this man to truly relax on his day off. Shen Mu changed his shoes and walked inside, planning to take a shower first.
He paused when he passed the bedroom.
The door was ajar, and the light inside was dim. He tiptoed in. Jiang Chengxuan was indeed still asleep. Shen Mu gently touched the back of his hand, but he slept soundly, unaware. Doctors were always sleep-deprived. It was rare for him to rest and sleep a little, especially after getting up early to make him breakfast.
Shen Mu was about to leave to let him sleep properly when Jiang Chengxuan suddenly grabbed his wrist, his voice thick with sleep. “Finished work?”
“Mhm,” Shen Mu didn’t pull away and sat directly on the edge of the bed. “Have you been sleeping since noon?”
Jiang Chengxuan’s eyes were still closed. “Mhm. I intended to lie down for half an hour, but I didn’t expect to sleep until now.”
Shen Mu thought Jiang Chengxuan would get up soon, but after several minutes, the man still hadn’t moved. Shen Mu gently patted his face with his free hand. “Asleep again?”
“No,” Jiang Chengxuan still didn’t open his eyes. “Just closing my eyes to collect myself.”
Jiang Chengxuan was always gentle and steady. His current appearance was such a contrast to his usual self that Shen Mu’s heart softened. He kissed him on the forehead. “Get up, Doctor Jiang.”
Jiang Chengxuan finally opened his eyes. Shen Mu was smiling, about to tease him again, when Jiang Chengxuan wrapped his arm around his waist. The world spun, and Shen Mu’s back sank into the soft mattress.
Jiang Chengxuan supported himself on his arms beside him. Before Shen Mu could react, Jiang Chengxuan’s kiss descended. At first, it was just a soft touch, not deep, but as soon as Shen Mu slightly parted his lips, Jiang Chengxuan gradually deepened the kiss.
The air suddenly grew hot. Shen Mu tilted his head back, letting out a soft moan, his fingers unconsciously gripping the sheets beneath him.
A sudden phone ring shattered the room’s intimacy.
It was Jiang Chengxuan’s phone on the bedside table.
Both of them froze simultaneously.
The ringtone persisted, ringing over and over, showing no sign of hanging up.
Jiang Chengxuan took a deep breath, resting his forehead on Shen Mu’s shoulder, trying hard to steady his breathing.
“…The phone,” Shen Mu’s voice was slightly hoarse. He gently pushed him.
Jiang Chengxuan took another two seconds to recover, then reluctantly propped himself up and reached for the phone. “Mom.”
Jiang Chengxuan’s mother asked with concern, “What’s wrong with your voice? Why does it sound so hoarse? Do you have a cold?”
Jiang Chengxuan cleared his throat. “No, I just woke up.”
“Oh, that’s good then.” Jiang Chengxuan’s mother sounded relieved. “Bring Xiao Mu home for dinner tonight. Your dad caught a big wild crucian carp yesterday, and I plan to stew it today. The fish soup is the essence. Let Xiao Mu drink plenty of it.”
Jiang Chengxuan glanced at Shen Mu, rubbing his thumb against Shen Mu’s wrist twice, and chuckled. “I might not be able to today. He has something on.”
“Is that so…” Jiang Chengxuan’s mother sounded a little disappointed. “Then your dad and I will eat the fish. Work is important, but remember to eat, both you and Xiao Mu.”
“I know, don’t worry.” Jiang Chengxuan agreed. His mother reminded him a few more times to take care of his health before hanging up.
Shen Mu pursed his lips. “Actually, I…”
“If you don’t want to go, then don’t,” Jiang Chengxuan ruffled his hair. “It’s fine.”
“What if,” Shen Mu lowered his eyes, avoiding his gaze, “What if I keep refusing to go to your house for dinner?”
He didn’t answer immediately, just looked at Shen Mu quietly for a few seconds, then kissed him on the brow bone. “Then I’ll just keep waiting, until the day you’re willing. Shen Mu, you always have the right to choose. You don’t have to do things you don’t want to do, and you don’t have to see people you don’t want to see. Nothing is more important than your feelings, including my parents’ expectations.”
Shen Mu’s heart felt gently struck by something. He took a deep breath and kissed Jiang Chengxuan’s chin. “Ah Xuan, thank you.”