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Chapter 2 – Cute
At the door, the courier handed the cardboard box to Xie Jing.
“Is it Mr. Jian Mingzhou? Please sign for it.”
Xie Jing lowered his eyes and looked at the cardboard box in his hand: The box wasn’t very big but it was heavy. It wasn’t his.
“I…” Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a well-proportioned hand suddenly reached out from behind and grabbed his wrist.
“Wait, it’s mine!”
Xie Jing turned and saw Jian Mingzhou’s upturned face.
His smooth hair was a little messy, his breathing was a little hurried and the hand holding onto his wrist was a little paler than his. Because of the force, faint blue veins appeared on the back of the hand.
At this moment, Jian Mingzhou’s heart was pounding.
But he still tried his best to maintain a calm look, as if he had just casually put his shirt back on and came over to receive his parcel.
The person in front of him was silent for a moment, “Uncle.”
Jian Mingzhou glanced at the item information on the cardboard box: [Books]
…Fortunately, there wasn’t anything inappropriate written.
He breathed a sigh of relief, “Here. I’ll sign it.”
He took the pen from the courier who was still in a state of confusion, signed his name, and turned to receive the box from Xie Jing.
“You can give it to me.”
Xie Jing obediently handed it over. His unhurried tone sounded very considerate, “Uncle, you don’t have to be so anxious. I won’t open your parcels.”
Jian Mingzhou, “……”
Jian Mingzhou, “……”
He closed the door with a bang, cutting off the courier’s shocked and confused look outside the door.
Inside, Xie Jing walked in front carrying the cardboard box.
His broad and firm back could be seen faintly under his T-shirt and a handsome neck was exposed above the collar.
Jian Mingzhou looked at him.
—Outstanding appearance and good figure. Comes from a wealthy background but isn’t arrogant, and is also good at joking around.
He asked casually, “Xiao Jing, do you have a girlfriend?”
“Hmm? No.”
Jian Mingzhou blinked a few times.
The person in front stopped. It just happened to be outside the door to the study. He then turned back, “Why?”
“No reason. Just thought you should be very popular.”
“Oh…Because I’m not interested.” Xie Jing replied casually. He then changed the subject, “By the way, where should I put the books—”
He gestured ahead, “Forbidden area?”
Jian Mingzhou, “……” Since he had already helped carry it to the study door, how could he not let him enter?
He reached out and opened the study door, “Here.”
Xie Jing raised his brow slightly and went in carrying the box of books.
The study had actually already been cleaned up. It looked spacious and well-lit, with nothing that needed to be censored — It was so clean that it was suspicious.
Jian Mingzhou glanced at the bottom of the sofa, the inner wall of the bookshelf, and the gap between the drawers…
His chest tightened as he explained, “Because it’s where I work, so…”
“Yeah.” The person in front responded calmly.
Translated by KK Translates. If you’re reading it elsewhere, this translation was stolen. Don’t support epubs. Don’t support thieves
Jian Mingzhou looked over, only to see Xie Jing place the box down with his usual carefree smile, not probing any further.
–
After the books were moved, he returned to the bathroom.
Jian Mingzhou felt like he had just survived a heavenly trial. He turned around and saw that there were still messages popping up on the phone that he had left on the sink.
[Editor-in-Chief]: Hey, are you there?
[Editor-in-Chief]: Too happy to speak? ^0^
“……”
He changed the contact name to [Heavenly Tribulation].
[Mingzhou]: En. Even my mind went blank ^_^
[Heavenly Tribulation]: I knew it. (Pushes up glasses) Remember to come to the office for the meeting on Monday.
Hehe, it was indeed a very fitting contact name for the Editor-in-Chief.
Jian Mingzhou turned off his phone and numbly went to turn on the shower.
…….
The day after was Monday.
The place where Jian Mingzhou worked was the BL Comics Department of the largest publishing company in the industry.
Most of the time, he could work from home and he only had to go to the office when necessary.
For example, the weekly meetings.
When Jian Mingzhou headed out, Xie Jing had already left.
He looked at the not-so-early time and took a taxi to the company.
The editorial office was located in the company’s headquarters. The regular weekly meeting was just about to start when Jian Mingzhou arrived.
There were about ten people in the department and almost all of them were there. He was the Deputy Editor-in-Chief and the one sitting at the very front was the Editor-in-Chief, Xia Ye.
As soon as he entered the meeting room, he was warmly greeted:
“Oh, Deputy Editor is here!”
“Brother Mingzhou, I’ve left a slice of cake on the table for you~”
“Have you seen Teacher Mao Wei’s new work?!”
The endless chatter instantly filled the room with liveliness.
The laughter and joy seemed like they were about to reach the department next door.
A voice finally interrupted their chatter, “Quiet!”
The Editor-in-Chief, Xia Ye, frowned, his eyes behind his glasses darkening. He was a man in his early thirties and although he was handsome, he looked quite scary when he was serious.
He glanced around, “Do you think this is a tea party?”
The editors fell silent.
Jian Mingzhou sat down in his seat amidst the silence and glanced at the thermos next to Xia Ye’s hand, “The cream on the coffee is about to melt, Editor-in-Chief.”
“……”
Xia Ye lowered his head and sipped it.
The weekly meetings were nothing more than reporting on their work progress and the plans for upcoming promotional events.
The meeting ended and everyone dispersed.
Translated by KK Translates. If you’re reading it elsewhere, this translation was stolen. Don’t support epubs. Don’t support thieves
Jian Mingzhou got up and left the meeting room with the Editor-in-Chief who was holding onto his cup of cream coffee.
Probably because they were both veterans who had joined this department the earliest, they got along well. Otherwise, Xia Ye would not have specially kept aside those comic books by his favourite author for him.
…Recalling that set of books, Jian Mingzhou’s head once again began to hurt.
He didn’t know that there could be such untimely happiness in this world!
“Jian Qiu, please don’t send me any BL comics for the time being.”
“Who’s Jian…what a minute, why not?” (KKnotes: I believe this is a reference to the character Jian Qiu in the show ‘Empresses in the Palace’ who is the Empress’s most trusted senior maid.)
Xia Ye stopped in place and looked at him in disbelief, his eyes widening behind his glasses, “Tired? Bored? Moved on to someone else?”
“……”
Jian Mingzhou felt that he had more theatrics in him than what he earned as his salary.
“There is a child staying over.”
“How old is the child?”
“Very big.”
“……” Xia Ye patted his shoulder with some sympathy, “When did your vocabulary become so terrible?”
Jian Mingzhou: …..
He gestured sincerely, “He really is ‘big’.”
“Forget it.” Xia Ye didn’t want to ask him exactly how big the child was. He walked along the corridor towards the office area, “But it’s summer vacation these two months, there will be a lot of exhibitions. You can go and take a look.”
“There is also a special fan-comic exhibition with a focus on teacher-student relationships, office romance, forbidden…”
Jian Mingzhou gasped. His eyes shone brightly: Ohhhhhh!!!!!
Xia Ye was so blinded he was unable to continue, “……”
He then patiently enticed him, “Is it illegal to ship couples openly? You don’t need to hide it like this. Besides, this is the BL Editorial Department. No one will say anything even if you’re squealing from excitement.”
What do you mean squealing!
Jian Mingzhou pursed his lips, “Who would—-”
“Ahhhh!!” Suddenly, there was a loud squeal coming from the front. The editor, Xiao Yu, who just happened to be passing by to get some water, saw the two of them and immediately exclaimed, “What is Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Editor-in-Chief talking about at the back there~~~ So hateful~!”
After saying that, she then ran off with a giggle, “Hohohoho!”
Xia Ye, “……”
Jian Mingzhou, “……”
Xia Ye, “See that?”
Jian Mingzhou expressed solemnly, “I’ve learnt my lesson.”
–
Work ended at 6pm.
Xia Ye had driven to work so he dropped Jian Mingzhou off at his place on his way back home.
The car stopped outside the apartment complex. As soon as Jian Mingzhou got out of the car, he saw a familiar figure.
Xie Jing was standing not far ahead chatting with a few other people.
He was carrying his backpack on one shoulder, still looking very casual and easygoing. There were also a few same-aged people around him who were probably friends he had trained together with and were on their way home.
They were chatting about something.
But Jian Mingzhou couldn’t help but feel that Xie Jing’s eyes were wandering.
The next moment, that wandering gaze stopped on him. Xie Jing raised his brows slightly and waved at him, “Uncle.”
The boys who were chatting ahead stopped and looked over.
Xia Ye hadn’t left yet either. He stuck half of his head out of the car window and expressed, “He really is big…Mingzhou, is this the child staying at your place?”
Jian Mingzhou looked back at him, “Yeah.”
You see? Wasn’t my description quite accurate?
Xia Ye, “……”
Despite being five or six metres away, their conversation could be heard very clearly.
Xie Jing looked past Jian Mingzhou at Xia Ye. He paused for a few seconds and then calmly nodded, “Hello.”
Xia Ye waved at him, said goodbye to Jian Mingzhou and left.
After he left, Jian Mingzhou walked over to Xie Jing amidst the curious looks and asked, “Chatting with your friends?”
“Yeah.” Xie Jing stood next to him and introduced, “My uncle.”
“Un…cle?” One of the boys stared at Jian Mingzhou in shock and then turned to Xie Jing, “So handsome? And he looks very young…Why do you call him uncle?”
It would be too embarrassing to say that it was because he was secretly fighting over seniority.
“My name is Mingzhou. It’s fine to also call me big brother.”
“Oh, hello Brother Mingzhou!”
After several boys called him ‘brother’, one of the boys with a crewcut suddenly nudged a blond-haired boy next to him, “You call him brother so easily, why have I never heard you call me ‘brother’?”
Jian Mingzhou’s heart beat a little faster. He slowly looked over.
Blond-haired boy, “Why should I call you brother?”
The crewcut boy held him in a chokehold, “Quick. Call me brother.”
The blond-haired boy laughed loudly, “You psycho!”
“Hahahahaha…”
“……”
Jian Mingzhou gulped. He quickly turned his head away: …So cute!
“Uncle?” A voice sounded from the side.
The blond-haired boy looked at him with disbelief and quietly muttered, “Pea Prin…” His elbow was nudged by the crewcut boy and he hurriedly changed his words, “…ce.”
Jian Mingzhou, “……” Thank you, that is quite elegant.
After watching this farce, Xie Jing finally spoke, “Then let’s go back first.”
“Oh, bye.”
As they were saying their goodbyes, the crewcut boy suddenly called out to Jian Mingzhou. He said cheerily with his arm around the blond-haired boy’s shoulder:
“Brother Mingzhou, why don’t you join us next time we go out to play?”
Jian Mingzhou responded immediately, “Sure.”
“……” Xie Jing next to him glanced at him.
“That’s settled then. Bye!” The boys dispersed.
Jian Mingzhou and Xie Jing walked back to their apartment building together.
Jian Mingzhou was still immersed in that scene just now. It wasn’t until he was almost at the door of his place that he realised that they hadn’t spoken a word the entire way back.
…It was as if they were strangers who had just joined a ‘going home’ group.
But Xie Jing wasn’t the type of person who would take the initiative to have idle talk.
Just as Jian Mingzhou was about to say something, he heard Xie Jing beside him suddenly initiate idle talk, “Uncle, you seem to be more interested in my friends than me?”
It took Jian Mingzhou a second to react. He instantly fell silent.
No, it’s because you’re alone and they have two people.
He was just charmed by how cute they were.
He pursed his lips: …Shit! How should he respond to this?
The author has something to say:
→ Tall, handsome and hardworking.
Xie Jing: What did I lose in? I don’t understand.
If possible, please support the author and purchase the original chapters! Each chapter only costs a few cents! The links to the raws are on the main novel page (You can go there via ‘Table of Contents’) and here are some handy guides: Link 1 and Link 2.
<Chapter 1> <Table of Contents> <Chapter 3>
KK Translates 