Chapter 50 [VIP]

That evening, Chenmian placed a painting order on a local online platform, requesting a photo of Zong Bingwen to be sent over. The next morning, she called a delivery person to bring it back.

The artist was quite skilled, and Chenmian asked her to conceal some of her shortcomings, not to paint too well—but of course, not to paint too badly either, which she did perfectly.

After receiving the painting, Chenmian examined it carefully and then added a few strokes to it herself, trying to make the performance more convincing.

In addition, there are some small gifts suitable for mature men that I got from Shen Mianjun.

With two or three things added together, it should be enough, right? Shen Ci felt very guilty, but he was unwilling to think about it more deeply, hoping only to fool Zong Bingwen.

Zong Bingwen...

As Shenmian murmured the name, a slight smile appeared on his face. Lin Langli, standing beside him, noticed the change in his expression and hugged him even tighter. Shenmian felt uncomfortable and struggled slightly in dissatisfaction.

“Baby, I hate this person.” Lin Langli didn’t hold back and started to criticize him directly. “That day he was with you, I asked him a question, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he talked to you. It’s really annoying.”

How is this any different from the ancient practice of a concubine serving tea to the wife but ignoring her, while only flirting with her husband?

Lin Langli placed Zong Bingwen in a position of great disdain.

Shenmian could hardly remember whether Lin Langli asked Zong Bingwen any questions that day. At that time, he was worried about Lin Langli, troubled by the other party's control, and afraid that he might fall into it.

Unexpectedly, she and Lin Langli truly overcame the last vestige of their emotional barrier and began to get along genuinely.

Not long after the tidying up was completed, Zong Bingwen arrived.

It rained a little today, and the snow from the past few days has already melted, revealing the original appearance of the courtyard.

Through the fine rain, Zong Bingwen glanced at the tall, dark gate of the Shen family's house from inside the car, the ancient dome faintly visible. He smiled, propped his forehead up, and silently recalled the sleeping face.

Since it was a gathering of the younger generation, Su Yueqiu and Shen Mianjun both returned to the Su family to visit today, leaving only a few children at home.

When Zong Bingwen arrived, Lin Langli was still embracing the boy in Shen Mian's room, showering her with kisses from behind, landing on Shen Mian's hair and neck.

The kisses made her feel ticklish, and she couldn't help but laugh.

Shen Ci, who had come to call someone and was about to knock on the door, paused for a moment, then looked displeased and put on a gloomy expression outside the house.

Why does Lin Langli always seem to be in Shen Mian's room whenever he has free time? Have they gotten along that well lately?

Shen Ci never imagined that the two of them had already established a relationship under the noses of their entire family, and had done everything they should and shouldn't have done.

In the end, it was Shen Jinshan who knocked on the door.

Lin Langli opened the door with a smile. Under the man's sharp gaze, he casually straightened Chen Mian's collar and said affectionately, "It's all messed up."

Shen Jinshan's gaze swept over him like an icy blade.

Chen Mian still had a piece of candy in her mouth, her right cheek slightly puffed out. Shen Jinshan looked down at her, couldn't help but smile, and lightly touched it with his finger.

Startled, Chenmian quickly chewed the candy in a few bites and dragged Lin Langli a long way away.

At the dinner table, Shen Jinshan sat at the head of the table, while Zong Bingwen took Lin Langli's place and sat next to Shen Mian, greeting him with a smile.

Lin Langli, sitting opposite Shen Mian, watched the scene unfold with displeasure.

Under his gaze, Chenmian remained reserved and rarely spoke to Zong Bingwen.

But the subtle joy that flickered in the boy's eyes was still clearly noticed by those around him.

Zong Bingwen said in a low voice, "Chenmian, when I passed by your greenhouse, I noticed that there were many flowers blooming there. They looked so beautiful. Could you show me around after dinner?"

Chenmian also particularly liked the greenhouse in her home and had a good impression of Zong Bingwen, so she naturally agreed.

At the dinner table, Shen Jinshan and Zong Bingwen exchanged a few pleasantries, and Shen Mian learned that Zong Bingwen was two years younger than Shen Jinshan and was already 24 years old this year.

Lin Langli was truly jealous. While he was eating, he suddenly felt his calf being touched.

Chenmian initially thought it was an illusion, but then it happened a second time. He looked up at Lin Langli opposite him. The young man's expression was indifferent, making him seem quite innocent.

Hesitant to speak, Chenmian gave Lin Langli a reassuring look, unsure if the other would understand.

But then Lin Langli turned around and served him a dish, his manner quite familiar.

Zong Bingwen, who was standing next to him, chuckled and said, "So you like to eat this."

Chenmian drank half of the freshly squeezed orange juice in front of her and felt a slight bitterness.

The awkward lunch didn't last long.

After lunch, the drizzle outside became denser, and Chenmian went to visit her family's flower room with Zong Bingwen as promised.

Lin Langli also wanted to get involved, but Shen Jinshan stopped him: "Xiao Li, come to my room."

Without her boyfriend by her side, Chenmian felt a sense of relief.

Zong Bingwen held an umbrella for him, and the two walked into the rain together.

The greenhouse was filled with a wonderful fragrance, and beautiful, precious flowers of all colors were still blooming gracefully in the winter.

Upon entering, she felt the temperature rise. She breathed on her face and cupped it, only to find that Zong Bingwen's shoulder was damp.

Just now, Zong Bingwen was only focused on holding an umbrella for Chenmian.

If I had known, we would have just each taken a turn. After a two-second pause, Chenmian looked away and began to introduce the man with a smile.

Sleeping loves all things beautiful and moving.

Zong Bingwen was the same. He was a bit taller than Chenmian, and when Chenmian was speaking to him in detail, his mind was not on the text, but on the boy's face.

Her face was beautiful and porcelain white, with an exquisite androgynous quality. Her eyes were large and exceptionally bright, giving her an extremely pure and charming appearance.

Zong Bingwen also remembered this face from even earlier times very clearly—

Anyone who sees their spoiled, unruly younger brother obediently serving as someone else's lapdog outside will remember it vividly.

Zong Bingwen was deeply impressed by Shen Mian.

The Shen family holds a pivotal position in their social class. Although they are usually very low-key, no one dares to underestimate them.

Chen Mian is the most famous of the second generation of the Shen family.

He was an exceptionally handsome little boy. When he was young, his mother especially liked to visit Shen Mian at the Shen family home, and would be very angry with her sons when she returned.

I believe that when raising a child, you should raise one who is as clingy and obedient as a sleepyhead.

When Zong Bingwen heard his name, he and his younger brother exchanged a glance, neither of them taking it seriously.

He didn't believe that someone who could outmaneuver boys his own age at school could be well-behaved.

But when he thought of the sleeping face, Zong Bingwen couldn't think of any more opinions.

Actually, Chenmian should be a good kid, right? He treats others like horses and bosses them around. Isn't he just being coaxed by his brother and his gang?

As his memories faded, Zong Bingwen looked at his current sleeping form and smiled.

He had also heard about the story of his dormant past.

He figured Chen Mian must not be having a good time in the Shen family. Otherwise, why would she be with that so-called real young master of the Shen family?

Are they considered to be together? It seems that no one else in the Shen family knows about this.

After visiting the greenhouse, Chenmian took the initiative to mention the gift she had promised Zong Bingwen and invited him to come back to the room to take a look.

Zong Bingwen readily agreed and followed Chenmian back to his room.

Chenmian and he opened the gift together. Zong Bingwen expressed his surprise and delight. After he liked it very much, somehow, the two ended up playing games together.

Shen Mian had complained about Shen Ci not playing games with him for a long time, but after he got together with Lin Langli, Shen Mian had no time to mention it.

Zong Bingwen seemed to have a good temper. When Chen Mian played two-player online games with him, he was indeed bad at the game and died many times, but Zong Bingwen remained calm and composed. He not only didn't get angry, but also kept coaxing him.

Having grown accustomed to flattery, Chenmian had no doubt about the truthfulness of Zong Bingwen's words.

After several rounds, Chen Mian was in a good mood and thought to himself that Zong Bingwen was better than Lin Langli.

If he were to bring it up with Lin Langli, it's uncertain whether Lin Langli would even play along. If the two of them started playing together, it would definitely turn into Lin Langli playing him.

Being with Zong Bingwen meant having none of these worries.

It's a new game. Chen Mian and Zong Bingwen are born at opposite ends of the map and need to meet up first.

Chenmian proceeded cautiously, but was surrounded by several people midway. Outmatched, Zong Bingwen descended from the sky, breaking through the encirclement and killing two of the opponents, while the third escaped with only a sliver of health.

"Ah! You're amazing!" Chen Mian threw down the controller, leaned on Zong Bingwen's shoulder, and shook the man's arm. "You actually saved me and then turned the tables!! Ahh, so amazing!"

Zong Bingwen's arm was being playfully shaken by Chen Mian, and he turned his head to smile helplessly at the boy.

Their eyes met, and Zong Bingwen saw that Chenmian's clear, round eyes were tilted slightly upwards, looking at him with an expression of worship.

Zong Bingwen felt a lump in his throat, his thoughts absorbed in Chen Mian's eyes, and he completely forgot what he was about to say.

After staring at each other for several seconds, Chenmian blinked and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Zong Bingwen snapped out of his daze and was about to speak when a voice suddenly sounded behind him: "Sleepless." The voice was low and sounded unhappy, as if a storm was brewing.

She leaned on his shoulder and looked back.

Upon seeing that it was Lin Langli, Chenmian awkwardly straightened up, turned around, and pulled the other person out.

The sleeping secret boyfriend?

Zong Bingwen's face darkened, and the smile he had been wearing turned cold as he focused all his attention on the two people on the other side.

Through a screen, Chenmian watched Lin Langli's angry expression, then tiptoed and nestled into the young man's arms, offering him a comforting kiss.

Lin Langli lifted his eyelids and gave a soft hum.

Knowing that the other person was still not satisfied, Chenmian tilted her head back and took the other person's Adam's apple into her mouth, gently rubbing it with her teeth and tongue.

"What's wrong? I didn't do anything."

"So close, do you think I'm dead?" Lin Langli gritted his teeth, his tone bitter.

She remained silent in her sleep, then went to kiss him again.

Knowing full well that this was just a trick by Chenmian to appease him, Lin Langli still softened a little, his expression softened, and he lowered his head to return the kiss.

Through the blur of vision, a figure appeared. Lin Langli raised his eyes, and upon realizing who it was, he couldn't help but feel smug and excited. A surge of possessiveness welled up within him, and he tightened his grip on Chenmian. After eliciting a muffled groan from the boy, he became even more engrossed in kissing him, making the kiss wet and sticky.

My mood has finally improved a bit.

Lin Langli watched as the figure paused and stared at them for a while before leaving, then released the person in his arms.

Sleeping soundly from the kisses, her lips seemed to be a little swollen and red.

Lin Langli tidied Chen Mian's hair, no longer bothered by the sight of the two of them leaning together.

With a hint of malice in his voice, Lin Langli said, "I just came to see you. You can continue playing with him. Don't keep him waiting."

Chenmian touched his mouth, his mind unsettled.

At first glance, his lips were so red; Zong Bingwen probably wouldn't notice, right?

After watching Lin Langli leave, Chenmian returned to her small room. Zong Bingwen was still in the same position as before. The game screen on the TV was paused, looking no different from before.

Chenmian leaned back next to Zong Bingwen and said nonchalantly, "Let's continue."

Zong Bingwen picked up the handle and handed it to Chenmian, his eyes lingering on the boy's lips: "Chenmian, your lips seem a little red."

"..." How could you do this? Even if you could see it, you shouldn't have said it out loud.

Chenmian scratched her face in distress and argued, "No, I don't think so..."

He had big eyes and long eyelashes, and at this moment he still had an innocent look on his face. Zong Bingwen looked at the person in front of him deeply.

"Hmm, let me take a look." With that, Zong Bingwen moved closer to Chenmian.

The two exceptionally beautiful eyes stared at each other even closer, and the air seemed to thicken. Under Zong Bingwen's intense gaze, Shenmian felt as if she could hardly breathe.

He stammered and backed away, trying to escape the unsettling gaze: "No, no need."

Zong Bingwen lowered his eyelashes, lost in thought. When he looked up again, the sharp feeling he had just felt was completely gone, as if it were just a drowsy illusion.

Zong Bingwen chuckled softly, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze: "Did you eat something? I'm worried you might have an allergic reaction."

He slept as he descended the steps.

After this brief, unexpected incident, Chenmian regained her senses and continued to invite, "Let's play a game. I've been stuck on a certain level for a long time. Can you help me beat it?"

Zong Bingwen blinked, then looked at Chen Mian with his deep eyes and chuckled, "Then say it again."

Chenmian was stunned, then heard the person beside her repeat, "Beg me one more time."

"What?"

Zong Bingwen looked at him with an ambiguous expression: "Chenmian, has anyone ever told you that you are cute, like a little kid in the family?"

Chenmian was a little unhappy, snorted and turned her head away: "I don't want you to hit me anymore."

"That won't do," Zong Bingwen said with a smile, picking up the controller. "I want to cheer you up, Chenmian. Are you angry? I'll apologize to you, okay?"

A note from the author:

Well, it's quite a harmonious and wonderful thing that Mian's husbands are all gathered at the same table.

However, beneath the surface, there's bound to be fierce competition, hidden agendas, and undercurrents...