Chapter 54 [VIP]

The night was as dark as ink, but Shen Jinshan was still awake. The man sat behind his large desk, his fingertips rhythmically tapping the smooth wooden surface as he looked at the latest report from the private investigator on the screen.

The dormant secret boyfriend...

He recalled that not long ago, he was unable to respond to Chenmian's overstepping confession, nor could he bear the thought that Chenmian might fall into the arms of someone else.

He absurdly tried to push Zong Bingwen, whose temperament was somewhat similar to his own, onto Chenmian.

The moment he made the decision, Shen Jinshan felt like he had gone mad.

But he was completely unable to control that twisted possessiveness—even if he couldn't possess it, he was unwilling to slumber completely free from its influence, even if it was just a substitute.

The wound on the side of his neck seemed to be itching again. Shen Jinshan composed himself, pulled himself out of his thoughts, and began to look at the report that had been sent to him.

Since his family required Chen Mian to share a room with Lin Langli, the boy's living space has been drastically reduced.

In the past, Shen Ci had always been in charge of it, but after it was handed over to Lin Langli, Shen Mian often complained to him about it.

He didn't take it seriously at the time, but now Shen Jinshan realized that what Lin Langli had said to him before he fell asleep was not an exaggeration of spoiled behavior.

Since the second half of the semester, my commute has been limited to just two points, with the occasional outing to check out popular restaurants.

Shen Jinshan quickly scanned the screen, feeling an indescribable irritation, not only because Shen Mian had a boyfriend, but also because of the unknown thief lurking in the shadows.

He scrolled down the mouse and looked at several important nodes.

On the winter solstice, he slept with Lin Langli.

Christmas Day, Chenmian was with Lin Langli.

On New Year's Day, Chenmian was with Lin Langli.

Why are all the names listed Lin Langli? Shen Jinshan continued reading.

Not long after that, Chenmian stayed by Shen Ci's side.

He knew Shen Ci's personality well. He had always kept a close eye on Shen Mian since she was a child. If Shen Mian were to date or have a boyfriend right under his nose, he would definitely make a scene.

Who is that?

Shen Jinshan felt a sudden sense of unease and looked at the other name that was always next to Shen Mian's name.

He rubbed his temples, trying to dispel the absurd thought.

Lin Langli and Shen Mian? How could that be? Their relationship is so irreconcilable that even describing it as "like fire and water" is an understatement.

Even though the two seem to be on the surface, Shen Jinshan remains dismissive and doesn't believe that Shen Mian will genuinely accept him, or that Lin Langli will be generous enough to let go of their differences and make up.

He flipped to the bottom of the report and saw that Lin Langli's name was among the private investigator's guesses. He lowered his lips.

No, it won't.

Shen Jinshan touched the teeth mark on the side of his neck, and seemed to feel the warm, wet sensation from the boy's mouth when he bit him. This teeth mark seemed to have become a unique mark left by Shen Mian for him.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips; Shen Jinshan found his own secret smugness amusing.

There was a sudden commotion downstairs, but it quickly subsided.

It was probably a conflict between Shen Ci and Shen Mian, or perhaps Lin Langli.

Shen Jinshan made indifferent guesses, not caring much, her thoughts still lingering on her "secret boyfriend".

He racked his brains trying to figure out who Shen Mian's secret boyfriend could be. He almost went through every name in his contacts that might have any connection with Shen Mian, but he couldn't help but think of the worst-case scenario—that Shen Mian had gone out and fooled around with someone.

But he quickly dismissed the speculation.

Even though Chenmian has a bad nature, likes to lie, is bossy to classmates and friends, and scratches and hits people at the drop of a hat, he still has a bottom line and would not do such things.

With this inexplicable unease, Shen Jinshan finally fell into a light sleep.

The dream was bizarre and fantastical, yet it offered him the solace he craved most. The scene in the dream mirrored the day Chenmian confessed her love to him, but it led to a completely different ending.

When Chenmian woke up from the sofa and carefully handed him the letter, he didn't even look at it before grabbing the boy's waist and showering him with kisses.

Shen Jinshan repeated incoherently, his voice hoarse and filled with desire suppressed for many years: "Mianmian, brother loves you... brother has liked you for a long time..."

At his words, Chenmian, who was in his arms, first opened her eyes wide in surprise. Then, a layer of shy tears welled up in her beautiful and bright eyes. Then, the boy raised his hand and gently punched her. After that, Chenmian did not struggle. Instead, she obediently raised her head and awkwardly but actively responded to his kiss.

After the kiss ended, Shen Jinshan kissed the boy's body again.

Where did the first kiss fall?

Shen Jinshan chose to print it on the area below Shen Mian's neck, where it was covered by the fabric.

Cover it up... Only he can remain in slumber...

The next morning, Shen Jinshan woke up in a hollow heat, but the feeling was not unfamiliar. He got up and went downstairs for breakfast with a normal expression.

As usual, Shen Mian stayed in bed and refused to get up. Shen Jinshan felt disappointed and accepted his mother's teasing about being bitten by his younger brother.

He couldn't help but feel a little smug. He took a sip of milk from his cup and looked at Shen Ci, who had arrived late and whose face was so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

The others at the table exchanged glances, and Su Yueqiu asked with concern, "Xiao Ci, what happened last night? Did you have a fight with Mianmian?"

They had already asked Lin Langli, but had not received an answer.

Shen Ci tightened his grip on the chopsticks, almost gritting his teeth as he squeezed out the words "It wasn't him."

But the resentment, disappointment, and deep pain in his tone gave Shen Jinshan a sudden shock.

He then examined Lin Langli's expression and noticed that the young man was smiling slightly as he saw his brother looking so haggard.

Something's not right. Shen Ci's reaction is not right.

A mixture of panic and some dark thoughts he didn't want to dwell on gripped him.

He began to observe consciously. He noticed the frequency with which Lin Langli served food to Shen Mian, and the familiar way they went in and out together.

And the occasional, completely different feeling of dependence on Lin Langli that Chenmian showed was like tiny needles, gently and persistently pricking his nerves.

Shen Jinshan felt a dull ache in his heart; he needed solid evidence to confirm or shatter this suffocating conjecture.

He reopened the email that sent him the intimate photo and searched for the IP address from which it was sent.

The other party didn't make any further embellishments; in fact, they seemed quite welcoming. Shen Jinshan located Chen Mian's apartment.

Who else is here besides the sleeping?

Shen Jinshan retrieved the home surveillance footage and continued his urgent search for evidence. As he watched the footage move, the scene shifted to the night Shen Mian and Lin Langli returned from the Lin family home.

Shen Jinshan saw it; the two of them embraced and kissed under the surveillance cameras, oblivious to everyone else.

The pen in his hand was thrown away, and Shen Jinshan was furious, followed by a suffocating pain.

He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again to look closely at each frame of the image, his heart aching as if it were being torn apart.

Lin Langli simply embraced Chenmian naturally, then pulled the boy into his arms and kissed him—

Shen Jinshan closed his eyes, unwilling to look any longer.

He felt like he was about to die, but with a few heavy "hoarse" breaths, Shen Jinshan felt his life continue, but it felt like something was gripping his chest tightly, pulling at him painfully.

Shock, absurdity, and anger at being fooled intertwined to form a vast web that trapped him firmly.

Sleeping, is it with his blood-related younger brother, Lin Langli?

He rejected her confession, fearing it would disrupt the dormant friendship of over a decade, and turned around and threw himself into Lin Langli's arms.

Lin Langli, who thought he only felt disgust and revenge towards Shen Mian, shamelessly got involved with Shen Mian!

Shen Jinshan could no longer think about it, but then, inappropriately, he remembered that the day after he rejected Shen Mian's confession, he called Lin Langli wearily, and the sobbing he heard at the last moment before hanging up was not an illusion.

What were they doing at that time?

They live together, and what do they do every night?

They returned to the Shen family home, their rooms were next to each other, and what would they do each night?

Shen Jinshan recalled the hickeys he had seen on Shen Mian's body that day, and felt his blood run cold.

How long did the two of them commit adultery right under his nose? How did Lin Langli caress Chenmian's skin time and time again? And how was Chenmian under another man in every night that he was unaware of?

What he found even more unbearable was that Lin Langli clearly knew about his story with Shen Mian. So, when they were making love, would Lin Langli deliberately mention his name? Would he, with the mockery of a victor, enjoy watching Shen Mian's reaction when his name was mentioned?

Shen Jinshan suddenly stood up, silently pushed open the door, and walked downstairs. Stepping onto the second floor, near Shen Mian's room, Shen Jinshan stood outside the boy's door, his hand raised but hovering in mid-air, hesitant to lower it.

What are they doing right now?

In the darkness, he seemed to be able to see through the heavy door and see the two figures entangled, and hear the moans or groans that he had never heard before, which the slumber might be making. This imagination was like poisonous ants, gnawing at his reason inch by inch.

—

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the Shen family was all going back to their old house for their last New Year's gathering. Shen Jinshan asked his parents for a reason to stay, and also gave an excuse for Shen Mian, who was staying in bed.

He slept until noon before waking up. Ever since he had made his way with Shen Ci, Lin Langli had been making a scene for him, and last night he had kept him up until dawn.

As dawn broke, he couldn't help but cry. Exhausted and sleepy, he patted Lin Langli until the young man finally stopped.

After cleaning him up and carrying him back to bed, Lin Langli seemed to still feel it wasn't enough, and rubbed his nose all over his body.

His whole body was itchy from being rubbed, and he couldn't even sleep peacefully. In the end, he gently slapped Lin Langli, and only then did the young man stop tormenting him.

After such a night, it's no wonder I can't wake up early.

The person next to him, who had a regular sleep schedule, got up first. Not long after, Shenmian, still huddled under the covers, seemed to hear Su Yueqiu calling him to visit his grandparents, but he turned over and covered his head with the covers.

Not long after that, Lin Langli kissed him on the cheek again, telling him that he would come back to keep him company after the meal.

Sleeping soundly, she nodded perfunctorily, her thoughts drifting aimlessly in her dream.

Until someone came in, stopped by his bedside, and stared at him intently.

Chenmian didn't know if she was dreaming or if she really felt something, but she felt itchy all over her body.

Someone is watching him closely.

The gaze that had been watching him reached his dream, and he frowned restlessly, opening his eyes.

The first thing he saw when he woke up was his brother Shen Jinshan's handsome face. However, his face did not have the gentle smile that he usually wore. Instead, it was cold and indifferent as he stared at him intently.

The moment Chen Mian saw Chen Jinshan's expression, she propped herself up and sat up, asking warily, "What are you doing here?"

"Mom and Dad, Shen Ci has gone to see Grandpa and Grandma," Shen Jinshan said casually, then turned to the next sentence that made Shen Mian's heart skip a beat, "Oh, and your boyfriend, Lin Langli, also went."

Her sleeping body stiffened for a moment, but she did not avoid the man's gaze.

He met Shen Jinshan's gaze, his eyes showing a hint of struggle, but more of a sense of despair. Shen Mian said in a low voice, "What are you saying? I don't understand."

"Don't understand?" Shen Jinshan chuckled, but there was no warmth in his laughter. "Do I need to remind you whose room Lin Langli went into last night? Or do I need to remind you why Shen Ci fought with him?"

Shen Jinshan was actually tailing him!

Her face turned pale instantly, and her nails dug into her palms.

He never expected Shen Jinshan to investigate to this extent and to so bluntly break off relations.

last night……

He subconsciously pulled his pajamas collar tighter and stepped back into the corner.

Seeing Chen Mian's reaction, Shen Jinshan could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.

He suddenly moved closer, grabbed the boy's arm and pulled him close, his face almost touching the trembling eyelashes of the sleeping man, his voice filled with a strong sense of oppression: "Tell me! What did you and him do last night?"

My arm was pulled so hard it hurt, but I still refused to give in and stubbornly looked back.

"None of your business? You've been investigating me and putting people in my way, what right do you have to tell me what to do?"

Shen Jinshan scoffed, "Chen Mian, tell me, how did you two get together? And when did you get together? Did you seduce Lin Langli?"

Seeing Chen Mian's eyes widen suddenly upon hearing the last sentence, Shen Jinshan felt a sense of vengeful pleasure. He continued, his speech becoming faster and faster: "Is it to seduce him with this pitiful look, just like when you confessed to me? Or is it to use this face, this body, to beg for his protection, to make him forgive you, and not send you away?"

"Chen Jinshan!" Chen Mian suddenly looked up, utterly humiliated. "What right do you have to talk to me like that? Who do you think you are?!"

"I'm your brother!" Shen Jinshan roared, grabbing the boy's shoulder with his other hand, the force so great that Shen Mian cried out in pain. "I raised you for over ten years, watched you grow up! And now you're telling me that you and Lin Langli—the person you keep saying you hate the most—are getting together?"

"Sleepless, is your liking so despicable? So promiscuous?"

"Slut? Promiscuous?" Chenmian repeated these two words, and tears finally rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably. "Yes, I am slut! Otherwise, how could I have fallen for my own brother, and how could you have pushed me away like trash and turned around to find someone else!"

He struggled to break free from Shen Jinshan's grip, his voice trembling with excitement: "Don't you know best? Didn't you even find me a stand-in?"

"That Zong Bingwen! Because he's like you! You can't accept me, yet you're unwilling for me to leave you, so you want to find a shadow to control me! Shen Jinshan, you're the most hypocritical and perverted one!"

A note from the author:

It's almost the end of the month, babies, please give me some nutritional supplements, thank you!

I had so much fun writing this, haha!

Reader CuteMi commissioned a child-themed illustration for Mianmian. It's so cute! I'm so happy!