Chapter 17
“Don’t like it?”
Jiang Zhou walked over from behind. He was nearly a head taller than Chen Ju, tall and broad-shouldered, while Chen Ju looked like a frail little chick beside him.
“No, I... I like it very much,” Chen Ju hurriedly replied. Their gazes met in the mirror, and even through the glass, he could feel the tenderness in Jiang Zhou’s eyes, like a tranquil lake.
Chen Ju’s head felt a little fuzzy. He shyly lowered his eyes, avoiding Jiang Zhou’s gaze.
“Good. We’ll take this outfit, then. Go try on the other two.” Jiang Zhou rested a hand on Chen Ju’s shoulder and spoke softly.
In the mirror, it looked as if Jiang Zhou were about to embrace him from behind. The thought popped into Chen Ju’s head, making his face burn even hotter. He mumbled an assent and hurried into the fitting room.
After Chen Ju tried on the last outfit, Jiang Zhou said without hesitation, “We’ll take all three.”
“Of course, Eldest Young Master,” the sales associate replied respectfully, carrying the clothes to the counter.
A-all three? Chen Ju swallowed. He’d checked the prices while trying them on. The three outfits cost a whole lot of money.
He wanted to stop Jiang Zhou and tell him to forget it, but he remembered the warning in Jiang Zhou’s eyes earlier and held back.
After paying, Jiang Zhou carried three bags in one hand and slipped his other arm around Chen Ju’s waist. Chen Ju stiffened, his head spinning. Then Jiang Zhou leaned down and whispered in his ear, “You need to act a little more convincingly. I don’t want anyone to see through us.”
Jiang Zhou’s voice sounded like a lover’s whisper, but Chen Ju felt as though someone had doused him with a bucket of cold water. His fuzzy thoughts cleared at once, and the blush on his cheeks vanished, leaving them sickly pale.
He obediently nodded and lowered his head, following Jiang Zhou out of the store with a dull ache in his chest.
After that, Jiang Zhou took Chen Ju to a hair salon and had a stylist design a new hairstyle for him. Jiang Zhou sat on the sofa, listening as the stylist explained the haircut, and the stylist brought over several pictures for him to choose from.
Throughout it all, Chen Ju sat quietly in the barber’s chair beside them, head drooping as he stared at the carpet, lost in his own thoughts.
He was so stupid, treating their act like it was real. Jiang Zhou had always hated him. How could he possibly be so gentle with him? It was all just acting.
But whenever he thought about how it was only acting, it felt as if a huge stone were pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
“Let’s go with this one.” Jiang Zhou pointed to a picture and glanced at Chen Ju, who sat beside him with his head lowered. His black-framed glasses hid most of his face, making him look very docile. Jiang Zhou looked away and said, “Pick out a nice pair of frames for him.”
“You got it, Eldest Young Master~” the stylist replied cheerfully, holding the album.
Only then did Chen Ju raise his head and look at Jiang Zhou. The man was lounging on the sofa, his eyes half-lidded as he watched him.
“Little Orange, come here.” Jiang Zhou held out his hand to Chen Ju.
It had been many years since anyone had called him that. When they were trying on clothes, he’d thought he’d misheard.
He’d told Jiang Zhou about the nickname Little Orange back in high school, after sneaking out during evening study hall. He’d wanted Jiang Zhou to call him that, but Jiang Zhou never had.
He’d thought Jiang Zhou had forgotten.
Chen Ju knew he had to play along with Jiang Zhou again, but he couldn’t stop his heart from beating faster. He stood up and slowly walked over. Before he could steady himself, Jiang Zhou took his hand and pulled him close, clamping his knees against Chen Ju’s thighs and holding him between his legs.
Jiang Zhou’s scorching body heat seeped through the fabric and spread across Chen Ju’s legs like a snake, winding its way along his veins and through his whole body, making him shiver.
He lowered his eyes and met Jiang Zhou’s dark gaze. The man tilted his head back, his fingers tracing across Chen Ju’s palm like butterfly wings, stirring an unbearable itch.
Suddenly, Jiang Zhou reached toward his face. Chen Ju instinctively thought he was about to be hit and immediately shut his eyes.
There was no pain. He only felt a light touch on the bridge of his nose as his glasses were removed. Chen Ju cautiously peered at Jiang Zhou through narrowed eyes. The man was examining his glasses.
“There’s no prescription?” Jiang Zhou looked up and asked in a low voice.
Chen Ju’s heart clenched, and his hand, hidden in his sleeve, tightened into a fist.
Oh no. His secret had been discovered.
“I-I do. Just a little.” Whenever Chen Ju lied, he couldn’t stop his tongue from stumbling over his words. His stutter, which he’d managed to hide for a long time, had surfaced again. A little annoyed with himself, he added, “I usually wear them because it’s easier to see, to see clearly.”
“I prefer how you look without glasses.” The corners of Jiang Zhou’s lips lifted slightly, and a faint, elusive smile flickered in his eyes.
Chen Ju stared at him blankly, his cheeks as red as ripe tomatoes. He told himself Jiang Zhou was only acting, but his heart still betrayed him, pounding wildly.
“Then, then I won’t wear them.” Chen Ju stuttered again and shyly looked away. He noticed the stylist and the salon staff watching them, and felt himself grow even hotter.
Jiang Zhou let go of Chen Ju’s hand and said to the stylist, “We’ll skip choosing glasses for now.”
“You got it, Eldest Young Master~” The stylist walked over to Chen Ju with a smile. “Handsome, may I ask your name?”
“His surname is Chen.” Jiang Zhou answered for Chen Ju, a flicker of impatience in his eyes. “Don’t waste time on unrelated chatter.”
The stylist was quick to read the room and hurriedly replied, “Of course, Eldest Young Master! I’ll take Mr. Chen inside to wash his hair right away.”
As he spoke, he gestured for Chen Ju to follow. Chen Ju stood awkwardly where he was and glanced at Jiang Zhou.
“It’s just a hair wash. It’ll be quick.” Jiang Zhou seemed to notice Chen Ju’s fear and reassured him, “I’ll wait outside.”
Though it was only an act, Jiang Zhou’s reassurance worked wonders. Chen Ju’s fear eased by half, and he nodded before obediently following the stylist inside.
While his hair was being cut, Chen Ju finally couldn’t stay awake any longer. The exhaustion from his busy day, along with his drowsiness, swept over him. His head bobbed a few times, and then he fell asleep.
“Mr. Chen...” The barber wanted to wake Chen Ju, since it was difficult to cut his hair in that position.
“Let him sleep.” Jiang Zhou rose from the sofa behind him and walked over, speaking in a low voice. “Just trim the ends a little shorter.”
The barber nodded, unable to resist glancing at the mirror. He’d never seen an expression like Jiang Zhou’s before. How could he put it? It wasn’t exactly tenderness, but his gaze really did look like he was looking at a lover, with a hint of restraint and self-control.
Once Chen Ju’s hair was cut, he still showed no signs of waking. Jiang Zhou didn’t call out to him. Instead, he bent down and scooped him up in his arms.
Feeling how pitifully light Chen Ju was in his arms, Jiang Zhou frowned almost imperceptibly.
Too thin.
Chen Ju didn’t know how long he’d been asleep. He yawned and tried to turn over, since this position was uncomfortable to sleep in. But the moment he moved, an arm suddenly tightened around his waist, squeezing so hard he could barely breathe.
“Don’t move around.” A deep voice came from above.