Chapter 17 I Treat You Like a Partner
The two returned home with a full load.
The trunk of the rented black SUV was crammed full, with various beautifully packaged gift boxes stacked together. The car slowly drove into the Su family's courtyard. Su's mother heard the noise and came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands. When she saw Jiang Ran unloading things from the car, her eyes widened.
"Oh dear, Xiao Jiang, why did you buy so much stuff?" Su's mother hurriedly stepped forward, wanting to help but seemingly embarrassed, muttering repeatedly, "It's too much of a waste, really too much of a waste. We don't need anything at home, it's enough that you're here, why spend this money..."
Jiang Ran was carrying a basket of exquisite imported fruit when she heard this. She looked up at Su's mother and gave her a sincere yet slightly shy smile: "Auntie, it's nothing. I've been eating and sleeping here with you these past few days, causing you and Uncle so much trouble. I feel really bad about it. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please don't think it's too little."
He spoke tactfully and humbly, his politeness as genuine as his hard work digging the ditch that day.
Looking at the perfectly measured embarrassment on his handsome face, and then at the obviously expensive items on the ground, Su's mother felt both happy and distressed about the money, but she couldn't suppress her smile: "You child, you're so polite, so courteous, I don't know what to say..."
Jiang Ran bought all high-quality items. The fruit was the best-packaged fruit in the supermarket, with labels printed in foreign languages. The tea was a gift box from a well-known time-honored brand. The health products for Su's mother were all in English that she couldn't understand, but Su's mother could still recognize the Chinese characters for joint care. There were even a few boxes of high-end pastries packaged like works of art.
Each item shows care and is not cheap.
The car was parked in the middle of the yard. Su's father walked around the car and said arrogantly, "Why bother renting a car? My old buddy can be washed and tidied up and still run. Why waste money like this?"
Before Su Mu could speak, Jiang Ran, who was taking the last two boxes of pastries out of the trunk, quickly chimed in, "It's not unfair, Uncle. Having a car is convenient."
Upon hearing this, Su's mother said, "Oh dear, how can a young person like him drive your old man's car? It's too bumpy. It's good to have a car; it's convenient."
“Perfect! In a few days, you two can drive around and let Xiao Mu take you to see all the famous places around here. Putting aside everything else, our place has beautiful mountains and clear waters, fresh air, and all natural scenic spots, no less beautiful than those man-made parks in the city.”
"Go check out Fairy Pool, the water's so clear you can see the rocks at the bottom. Also, there's Old Cave Mountain; you can see clouds from the top, though it's a bit tiring. Oh, and the ancient village at the east end of town is worth a visit too—old houses, stone-paved paths, perfect for taking pictures..."
Jiang Ran nodded repeatedly as he agreed, a smile on his face, but he was on edge, carefully observing the expressions of Su's parents, afraid that his actions of carrying so many bags and packages might seem too presumptuous and hasty, and displease the elders.
Once everything was moved into the main room, Su's mother happily began to tidy up, and Su's father also said, "Little Jiang is so thoughtful." Apart from happiness and a little reproach for the expense, there was nothing else unusual on their faces. Jiang Ran's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down with a "thump".
Thankfully, she accepted it. There was no refusal, no polite formalities that would embarrass him.
Su Mu hadn't really lifted a finger to move anything; he just leaned against the doorframe, watching Jiang Ran bustling around, looking like a new son-in-law trying his best to perform. He found it a little funny, but also a little embarrassing.
He held a freshly washed, bright red apple that Jiang Ran had bought for him, took a big bite, and the sweet juice burst in his mouth.
Seeing that Jiang Ran had finally finished his work and had a relieved look on his face, Su Mu walked over, nudged him gently with his elbow, and said in a low voice.
"Look how nervous you are, relax." He gestured towards Su's mother, who was engrossed in studying the instructions for health supplements in the room. "My parents know about us."
Jiang Ran was taking the tissue Su Mu handed her to wipe her hands when she heard this. Her movements suddenly stopped, and the relaxed smile on her face instantly froze, replaced by complete astonishment and disbelief.
Su Mu took another bite of the apple: "Otherwise, why do you think they'd treat you so well? And let you stay for so long?"
Jiang Ran: "…………"
Did he know? Did he know he liked Su Mu? Did he know the purpose of his visit?
He subconsciously glanced at Su's smiling mother and father in the main room, then looked at Su Mu beside him, who looked perfectly normal.
Are all the people in this village so open-minded?
Jiang Ran looked at the bright red, juicy snake fruit in Su Mu's hand, which had been bitten into and was bursting with juice, and her Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. It wasn't the fruit itself that she craved, but rather... the person who had bitten it.
He held out his hand: "Give me a bite."
Su Mu was chewing on the apple when he heard this and paused, looking down at the half-eaten apple in his hand, then at Jiang Ran. Without thinking much, he naturally handed the apple over, turning it halfway so that the untouched, smooth part of the apple was facing Jiang Ran.
This subtle gesture is a sign of politeness, or rather, a thoughtful gesture that comes from a distance, a result of being completely accustomed to the absence of physical intimacy.
Jiang Ran had no choice but to let him get used to it. She reached out, not to take it, but to grab Su Mu's wrist that was holding the apple. Using Su Mu's hand, she lowered her head, opened her mouth, and without hesitation, bit into the notch that Su Mu had just bitten.
Su Mu's ears burned at his sudden, almost indirect kiss. Her fingers curled up involuntarily as she tried to pull her hand away, but Jiang Ran held it firmly.
Jiang Ran released Su Mu's wrist, but then grabbed his arm and dragged him into the room they were temporarily sharing.
The door slammed shut behind her. Jiang Ran turned around, leaning against the door, trapping Su Mu in the limited space between herself and the door: "You... came out of the closet?"
Su Mu was taken aback by his question again. He looked up at Jiang Ran, who was so close to him, and blinked. He thought about it carefully for a moment, and then, somewhat confused, slowly shook his head.
"I don't think so?"
He didn't come out as gay; he just got pregnant.
Looking at his matter-of-fact, even somewhat bewildered, Jiang Ran felt an even stronger sense of shame.
“I…I didn’t tell my parents directly.” His voice was muffled. “But a while ago, I was in a bad mood, so I borrowed phone cards from all the relatives I could contact and called them day and night, asking them about relationship problems, how to pursue someone, and what to do if they were rejected…”
His voice trailed off as he spoke, and his ears turned a little red: "They... probably all figured it out, and thought I was heartbroken after being dumped by you, so they tried all sorts of ways to comfort me."
Su Mu: "…………"
"All the relatives?" he asked dryly.
Jiang Ran nodded: "Basically, I asked everyone I could borrow a number from."
Su Mu was a little reluctant to go back with Jiang Ran to meet her parents.
The atmosphere became somewhat subtle because of this candid revelation, yet strangely, it also brought them closer together. Su Mu suddenly remembered something: "Then your parents won't let you go through with this arranged marriage, right?"
Jiang Ran looked completely bewildered: "What marriage alliance? Who said that? What is all this nonsense?"
Su Mu: "That's what Skinny Monkey said. He said...aren't you going to marry a girl from a family that's a good match for you?"
"Skinny Monkey? What else did he say to you?"
Jiang Ran suddenly realized that she might have overlooked some important information. No wonder Su Mu had been resistant to her before, her attitude had been inconsistent, and she had even blocked him. It turned out that in addition to the technical issues that night, there were also these messy rumors at play.
He found it strange. Although Su Mu was still hesitant and considering his options, Su Mu's acceptance of him was much more moderate than he had imagined. She was even willing to introduce him to her parents and discuss the future.
He even considered coming over and pestering her relentlessly.
This doesn't seem like a relationship that can be formed simply by sleeping together for one night.
There must be an earlier emotional foundation behind this.
If we go back in time, it would be during my university years.
Jiang Ran gripped Su Mu's shoulders: "Mu Mu, tell me, what else did Skinny Monkey say? About me, about my family, about anything that might make you misunderstand."
Misunderstand?
So, was the whole marriage just a misunderstanding from beginning to end?
Su Mu was momentarily speechless. Leaning against the door, he looked at Jiang Ran, who was so close to him. His eyes were filled with confusion and grievance.
Upon closer examination, there is indeed no conclusive evidence.
I have never seen a photo of Jiang Ran with any girl of equal social standing, nor have I ever heard him mention any family-arranged marriage plans. Even unfounded rumors about Jiang Ran are rare.
However, everyone says so. This "everyone" includes well-informed roommates in the dormitory, some classmates in the department who also come from wealthy families and know the rules of the circle like the back of their hand, and even some ambiguous discussions about the final fate of heirs to wealthy families.
Those words, accumulated over time, quietly shaped Su Mu's perception of Jiang Ran.
Jiang Ran graduated and joined his family's company, gradually taking over the core business. This trajectory, which seemed natural to outsiders and even had a touch of prince returning to his rightful place, was naturally interpreted as a prelude to a marriage alliance.
After all, in Su Mu's limited knowledge and the countless real-life stories he had heard, this was almost the standard script for those families at the top of the pyramid: inherit the family business, then find an equally matched partner, join forces, and consolidate their power.
It was so normal that Su Mu never thought of questioning or verifying it.
It was a pre-set track, and Jiang Ran was steadily traveling on that road that he could not reach.
Su Mu lowered his eyes, avoiding Jiang Ran's scorching gaze, realizing that he might have been living in some kind of delusional absurdity: "...That's right, everyone says so."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran took another half step forward, closing the distance between them to the point where they could hear each other's breaths. He placed his hands on the door panels on either side of Su Mu's body, completely enveloping him in his aura and shadow.
"So, you actually believed it? You just trusted what those people said without even asking me?"
His breath was hot against Su Mu's face, carrying the lingering sweetness of apples, and an even deeper, unconscious sense of oppression.
That feeling came back again.
Su Mu thought Jiang Ran was very handsome.
He's so handsome it makes my legs weak.
Su Mu was cornered by him, his heart pounding like a drum. It wasn't that he didn't believe it, but that he had no right to ask.
Moreover, he admitted that he also wanted to escape at the time.
He was escaping the growing, uncontrollable attraction he felt for Jiang Ran, and the vast gap in their social statuses. By not asking, not seeking confirmation, he could pretend that everything was still uncertain, or at least, make it less painful to give up on her.
He raised his hand and gently pushed Jiang Ran's chest, not to resist, but to show weakness. Su Mu looked up and said, "I was wrong, I misunderstood."
Looking at his apologetic expression, Jiang Ran felt her pent-up resentment and anger deflate like a balloon punctured by a needle, only to be replaced by a softer, more bittersweet emotion.
He sighed, his body no longer pressing so tightly against Su Mu, but still holding him between his arms and the door, his forehead gently touching Su Mu's forehead, their breaths mingling once more.
"Really," Jiang Ran's voice lowered, a helpless, almost indulgent reproach, and a lingering sense of grievance, "They were absolutely right to call you a blockhead."
His forehead pressed against Su Mu's cool skin, and his nose brushed against Su Mu's nose. This intimate little gesture carried a comforting meaning and also made his words reach Su Mu's ears more clearly.
"Back in college, you were the only one in my eyes."
Su Mushen looked as if he had heard something unbelievable, his voice trembling with disbelief: "Huh? Back in college...?"
Jiang Ran was amused by his belated and immense bewilderment. He stepped back a little, cupped Su Mu's face in his hands, and forced him to look into his eyes.
"Otherwise what?" Jiang Ran retorted, "Do you think I'm that good to everyone? I'm afraid you won't be able to get up in the morning and won't have breakfast, so I time it perfectly every day to bring you the best meat buns from the cafeteria; when you have a cold and cough, I run all over half the school to buy you throat lozenges; when you play in the basketball game, I skip most of my class to bring you water; when you work part-time tutoring and come home late, I'm worried about your safety on the way, so I'll make a point of picking you up no matter how far it is..."
Tell me, who have I ever been this good to?
Su Mu: "...No."
There really isn't any.
"Because from the very beginning, I treated you like my girlfriend. I was worried that you would be hungry, cold, or sick. I wanted to be good to you, but I was also afraid that being too obvious would scare you. And what happened? They teased me, saying that I only had eyes for you, Su Mu, and that you were my little wife... And you laughed along with them, and you laughed so happily!"
That laugh was completely unashamed, without a trace of ambiguity.
Jiang Ran had a terrible headache at that time.
He wondered how Su Mu could be so clueless.
At that time, he was quite cultured and never wanted to force others to do things against their will.
Jiang Ran spoke those last words almost through gritted teeth, as if she had returned to her university days when she watched her crush laughing and joking with others, while she could only suppress her feelings, feeling stifled and helpless.
Su Mu wasn't completely oblivious.
However, he never dared to think in that direction.
Who is Jiang Ran? She comes from a distinguished family, is exceptionally talented, and has a stunning appearance, making her the center of attention wherever she goes.
As for Su Mu, he was an ordinary person who came from a small county town and whose grades were not bad, but otherwise he was unremarkable.
Jiang Ran was good to him, and he was grateful and cherished it. He also carefully maintained the distance between them as good brothers, afraid that he might misunderstand and make a fool of himself, and then lose his friend.
He was really quite dense back then.
Or rather, it's because they're trapped by a deep-seated inferiority complex and a fear of even dreaming, automatically blocking out all signals pointing to another possibility.
At this moment, listening to Jiang Ran's aggrieved accusations and seeing the unpretentious, burning passion in his eyes that had been burning only for him for many years, Su Mu felt a pang of pain in his heart.
It wasn't sadness, but a belated, immense heartache.
I feel sorry for Jiang Ran's cautious probing and efforts over the years, I feel sorry for her unrequited love that was already out in the open, and I feel even more sorry for how her own slowness and cowardice caused them to miss out on so many years of time that could have been closer.
He raised his hand and covered Jiang Ran's hand that was cupping his cheek: "I'm sorry..."
He sniffed, trying to force a smile, but it looked worse than crying.
"I was really stupid back then."
Looking at the thin layer of moisture in Su Mu's eyes and hearing him choke out "I'm sorry," the lingering grievances and bitterness in Jiang Ran's heart were instantly washed away by a surge of pity and love.
He lowered his head, with a slightly cunning and coquettish tone, and said, "Kiss me, kiss me, and I'll forgive you."
Su Mu was taken aback by his sudden request, and his cheeks instantly burned again. Looking into Jiang Ran's eyes, which were so close to his, filled with expectation and a sense of "you have to make it up to me," his heart melted completely.
Shyness and reserve seem insignificant at this moment.
Su Mu pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and then, as if making a decision, slightly tiptoed, closed his eyes, and pressed his soft, warm lips to Jiang Ran's lips.
It felt soft to the touch, carrying the sweetness of apples and the slight warmth of each other's breath.
It was just a very light touch, a fleeting moment, like a butterfly's brief stay.
Just as Su Mu was about to leave, Jiang Ran tightened her arms and pulled him into a more intimate embrace.
My heart is racing.
However, Su Mu still retained a sliver of clarity. When Jiang Ran's hand unconsciously slid down his back with a sense of comfort and affection, almost touching his sensitive waist, Su Mu's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. Then, as if electrocuted, he quickly raised his hand and pressed down on Jiang Ran's restless wrist.
"No..." His voice was muffled in Jiang Ran's arms, tinged with embarrassment, "It itches."
Jiang Ran stopped moving and obediently put her hand back on Su Mu's back.
They kissed for so long that the sun outside the window began to set further in the west, and the light in the room became even softer.
Su Mu felt that the misunderstanding had been cleared up and their hearts were in sync. It was time to formally and solemnly introduce to Jiang Ran the most important bond between them.
Hello, Jiang Ran.
This is... our baby.
The thought made his heart race; amidst the tension, there was a sense of relief that everything had finally settled, and a faint anticipation.
In the evening, Su's mother specially bought fresh vegetables to treat Jiang Ran and prepared to have hot pot at home.
An induction cooker was set up in the middle of the small main room, and the bottom of the pot with red oil was bubbling and steaming. The air was filled with the rich aroma of butter and spices, mixed with the fresh fragrance of various ingredients, making it lively and warm.
Su Mu and Jiang Ran helped set out the bowls and chopsticks and prepare the dipping sauce.
With her sharp eyes, Su's mother immediately noticed Su Mu's slightly swollen lip and the small cut on her lower lip. She asked with concern, "Xiao Mu, what happened to your mouth? Is it inflamed? Or did you get bitten by some insect?"
Su Mu was picking cilantro when he heard this, and his hand trembled, almost dropping the cilantro into the pot.
He subconsciously raised his hand to touch his lips, where the slight stinging sensation from Jiang Ran's teeth gently brushing against them, and the tactile feeling of that innocent kiss, still lingered.
The heat that had just subsided on my face surged back up with a "boom".
He didn't dare look at Jiang Ran, nor at his mother's probing gaze. He just lowered his head, mumbled "uh-huh" twice, and replied haphazardly, "Um, I might be a little hot, so Mom, don't put too much spice in the broth."
As Su's mother added slices of meat to the pot, she muttered suspiciously, "She was fine when she ate the apple just now, how come she got a sore throat in such a short time? And the skin is even cracked..."
Su Mu lowered his head even further, almost burying it in the coriander in his hand.
He could feel Jiang Ran's gaze on him, and wished he could shrink himself into a ball and hide in the pile of green vegetables.
The aroma of hot pot in the main room grew stronger, and the evening news played in the background on the television. Su's father and Jiang Ran had already started chatting over the slices of meat in the pot.
Everything seemed ordinary yet bustling.
Before going to sleep, Jiang Ran was immersed in a blissful, carefree feeling.
He felt everything was too perfect. The misunderstanding was cleared up, their hearts were in sync, he had gained the approval of Su Mu's parents, and he had even received a tender yet incredibly precious kiss from Su Mu. He lay beside Su Mu, breathing in the peaceful scent of their shared breath under the covers, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.
Seeing that he was still restless even after lying down, lying on his side, holding his phone, his fingers flying across the screen with a mischievous, childlike smile on his face, Su Mu couldn't resist his curiosity and leaned over to take a look.
It was a WeChat group chat interface with a large number of members. The group name seemed to be something like "Jiang Ran's Emotional Support Command Center". A quick glance at the member list revealed a variety of nicknames and notes, such as "Big Cousin", "Second Cousin", "Third Aunt", "Fourth Great-Aunt"... There were more than a dozen people, clearly a large family group.
Su Mu was stunned: "What is this?"
Jiang Ran was busy typing: "Oh, this? I was in a bad mood a while ago, so I kept calling my relatives to ask them all sorts of questions, which annoyed them to no end. Then someone suggested that we create a group chat so that I could ask them any questions there instead of calling them one by one."
"I think I no longer have any relationship problems that need counseling, so I should let them know."
As he spoke, he handed his phone screen back to Su Mu, showing him the message he had just sent.
Jiang Ran: Latest update! I've successfully gained my boyfriend's parents' approval! [Victory] And I just received some amazing news: My boyfriend! He! Used! Also! Liked! Me! [Shocked][Facepalm][Spinning]
Following the text was a long string of that classic [smiling] emoji, with the corners of the mouth stretched to the ears, yet it just looked so punchable.
Within seconds of the message being sent, there was an immediate response in the group.
My older cousin: …………
Second cousin: …………
Third Aunt: …………
Fourth Aunt: [wiping sweat]
Aunt: @PeacefulYears [Flowers] Oh dear, our Jiang family really gave birth to a Casanova, what a spendthrift!
Peaceful and serene [flowers]: Please excuse my poor attempt :-D
Jiang Ran said that his aunt married and moved to Guangzhou, where she has been living for many years.
A row of neat ellipses and speechless question marks instantly flooded the screen. This is probably the family unity, the cohesion that Jiang Ran single-handedly created.
Su Mu: "What do you mean by 'peaceful and quiet times'?"
Jiang Ran: "My mom."
Su Mu reached out to grab Jiang Ran's phone: "...Stop playing around and go to sleep."
Jiang Ran let him take the phone and put it on the bedside table, then pulled Su Mu into her arms, and the two lay down together. The room was dark, with only a little moonlight leaking in from the window. The two lay face to face, so close that they could clearly see the faint outlines of each other's eyes in the darkness.
After watching him quietly for a while, Jiang Ran couldn't help herself and leaned forward slightly, wanting to kiss him.
Su Mu reacted quickly this time, immediately raising his hand to cover his mouth, his muffled voice coming from between his fingers, carrying a hint of embarrassment and accusation: "...My mouth still hurts."
Jiang Ran quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I forgot. I'll be gentler next time. You know I don't have much experience."
Su Mu put down his hand, turned over, and turned his back to Jiang Ran, but quickly turned back to face Jiang Ran: "Jiang Ran, don't sleep yet, I... I have something to tell you."
"Let me organize my thoughts first."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran replied earnestly, "Okay, go ahead, I'm listening."
How should he speak? How could he startle her without causing too much shock? Should he pull Jiang Ran's hand over and gently place it on his lower abdomen, where the difference wasn't yet obvious but he could feel it, so she could feel the pulse of new life?
She was direct, looked him in the eyes, and told him: "Jiang Ran, I'm pregnant. It's our child."
He pondered for a long time, rehearsing different opening lines in his mind, trying to find the one that was most natural and least abrupt.
"Um, I..." Su Mu finally mustered up his courage and opened his mouth.
He turned his head, wanting to look into Jiang Ran's eyes as he spoke. However, in the dim moonlight, what he saw was Jiang Ran with her eyes closed, her breathing even and deep, her chest rising and falling steadily with each breath.
He's obviously... asleep.
Su Mu: "…………"
The rest of his words stuck in his throat. Well, Jiang Ran has certainly had a long and tiring day. From morning till night, moving things and driving, let him get a good night's sleep.
Tomorrow, we can talk about it tomorrow.
Thinking this, Su Mu let out a soft sigh, lay down, and closed his eyes.
The next morning, Su Mu woke up to an extremely eerie feeling of being watched.
He groggily opened his eyes, the morning light filtering through the gaps in the curtains, casting a dim glow on the room. Then, he met a pair of bloodshot eyes right in front of him.
Jiang Ran had woken up at some point and was lying on her side next to him, propping her head up with one hand and staring at him intently without blinking.
Su Mu: "What's wrong? Why are your eyes so red? Didn't you sleep well?"
Seeing that he was awake, Jiang Ran said in a daze, "Mu Mu, I've been having some very strange dreams lately."
Su Mu: "What?"
Jiang Ran: "I searched online and it said that it might be a pregnancy dream. I barely slept last night because I didn't want to dream. Do you think I might be haunted by some unclean or dirty thing?"
The more he listened, the more sense it made, and he even started to desperately seek any remedy: "How about I ask Auntie to ask if there are any skilled metaphysicians around here? Someone who can take a look at me? Or maybe perform an exorcism or something..."
He didn't finish his sentence.
Su Mu couldn't listen anymore, so he picked up a pillow and covered Jiang Ran's face with it.
Then came Jiang Ran's unexpected question, filled with surprise and bewilderment: "Mu Mu, why did you hit me?"
-
A note from the author:
Wood & Kid (angrily): ...Who are you calling a dirty thing!
Jiang's relatives: So annoying! Your relatives! Your relatives!
There's another chapter at midnight. Young Master Jiang is about to find out about his son, hahaha, he's scared to death.
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