Chapter 30 Meet my friends
The warm light from the kitchen spread across the tiled countertop, stretching their shadows. Ling Shen watched the foaming dishes in the sink, listening to the soft sound of Su Nian's rag wiping across the porcelain plates, the smile on his lips never faltering.
The sound of running water gradually died down, and the last glass was wiped dry and returned to the cupboard. When Ling Shen took off his apron, Su Nian was about to return to her room as usual, but he gently called her back.
When he turned around, he was taking two wine glasses out of the wine cabinet, and the labels on the bottles were shining softly under the light.
The crisp sound of ice cubes hitting the wall of the glass was particularly clear in the quiet kitchen. Su Nian took the glass and her fingertips accidentally touched his temperature, like a weak electric current running through it.
Downstairs, the magnolias were already budding, the glow of the streetlights flickered in the traffic, and the neon lights in the distance dyed the night sky a gentle orange-purple. The two of them leaned against the rattan chairs in silence, the amber liquid in their cups swaying gently with their breathing.
"Are you free tomorrow?" Ling Shen swallowed a mouthful of whiskey. The spicy taste of the whiskey turned into warmth in his throat, but it failed to suppress the uneasiness in his heart.
Su Nian twirled the wine glass between his fingers, and water droplets from the rim clung to his fingertips. He looked up at Ling Shen, a sly smile in his eyes, but his tone was slow and leisurely: "It's possible, or not."
Ling Shen felt somewhat helpless, but the smile on his face was full of indulgence. "Close the shop early tomorrow, and I'll take you to meet some friends."
When he finished speaking, Su Nian put down his wine glass and leaned back on the rattan chair. His neck was stretched out and his eyes were looking at the dark night sky, but his gaze was obviously unfocused.
The wind chimes on the balcony jingled in the evening breeze, and the silence between the two suddenly became a little subtle.
Ling Shen was not in a hurry to urge her to answer. He had enough patience to wait. After being together for so long, he knew Su Nian too well. He would never really refuse her request.
Just like the coffee she brewed for him every morning, always with his preferred blend of 30% sugar and 70% milk; just like the risotto tonight, knowing he preferred the richness of cheese. The tacit understanding between them had long since transcended the boundaries of ordinary friends.
He himself couldn't explain why he suddenly agreed to his friend's invitation to a party. He hadn't participated in those nightlife filled with loud music and alcohol for a long time.
Perhaps subconsciously, he wanted to bring Su Nian to everyone, to tell them that this person, who always made him feel warm, had always been by his side. But how should he introduce him? As a friend, or... something more special? Ling Shen didn't dare to think too deeply, nor did he want to think about it.
He only knew clearly that Su Nian was by his side now.
The room still lingered with the aroma of dinner, and on the balcony there was the faint scent of caramel from his body. This feeling of being filled made him feel more at ease than ever before.
They cooked together, cleaned the kitchen together, shared music on the same headphones, and watched old movies on the sofa late at night. Although they had no official relationship, they did everything a couple could do except for intimacy.
Ling Shen looked at Su Nian's quiet profile. The evening breeze blew Su Nian's hair. He couldn't help but want to reach out and brush it away for him, but his fingertips stopped in mid-air.
He enjoyed every moment with him by his side and liked the gentle smile in Su Nian's eyes when she looked at him. This feeling silently wrapped around his heart like a vine, making him want to get closer and want to hold this warmth tightly in his hands.
So he couldn't wait to introduce him to his friends, wanted everyone to see him, wanted him to integrate into his life. As for what the future would hold, Ling Shen lowered his head and took a sip of wine, temporarily suppressing those complicated thoughts. At least for now, Su Nian was by his side, and that was enough.
But Ling Shen forgot one thing. Su Nian was not an exquisite ornament displayed in a glass cabinet that could be confined to an exclusive position.
He is a man of flesh and blood, with stubbornness in his bones, a lively soul beating in his chest, and independent thoughts in every breath.
Su Nian lowered his eyes and looked at the silver traces of moonlight flowing on his leather shoes. His Adam's apple moved but no sound came out.
This silence wasn't born of cowardice, nor was it due to a lack of words to refuse. His nails dug deep into his palms, leaving crescent-shaped red marks on his skin, like the concrete mark of the fierce battle within him.
For such a long time, Su Nian had been by Ling Shen's side, going in and out together. Although he didn't want to admit it, his heart told him that Shen Ran's figure was slowly fading from his mind.
It was obvious that they were not a couple, and it was obviously just a contract, but Ling Shen's every behavior always made Su Nian feel conflicted.
He couldn't fathom Ling Shen's thoughts, nor did he know what all this meant. He craved the warmth Ling Shen offered, indulging in this dangerous tenderness like a moth to a flame, yet he remained vigilant, waiting for a chance to convince him—perhaps a moment of sincerity Ling Shen might inadvertently reveal, or perhaps a single moment that would sever all ties.
The fragrance of magnolia drifted in the night breeze, gently lifting the strands of hair at Ling Shen's temples. Su Nian stared at the profile of that face so close to her, feeling a lump of unmelted ice in her throat, both burning and cold.
Meanwhile, across the city, neon-lit streets were staging a never-ending carnival. Giant LED screens cast flowing specks of light, transforming the glass facades into iridescent prisms. Every sign resembled a blazing tongue of fire, emitting brilliant light in the night sky.
Young men and women twisted their bodies on the dance floor to the beat of drums. Sequined suspender skirts reflected tiny starlights. The collars of men's shirts were wide open, and beads of sweat on their necks slid down their collarbones into the fabric of their clothes.
Deafening electronic music, accompanied by a strong scent of perfume, hits you in the face. The speakers stacked in front of the DJ booth constantly vibrate the air, and the subwoofer makes the floor slightly numb. The crowd shouts in unison with the rhythm, and the sound waves almost blow the ceiling off.
Inside the VIP room, crystal chandeliers gilded the amber-colored whiskey. Several men in suits leaned against the carved railings, their gazes scanning the seething crowd below.
Yu Tao, with his silver hair, spun his goblet, the ice cubes hitting the wall making a crisp sound. "Did Ah Shen agree?"
"I said I would come, and I would bring people with me." Yuan Wenzhong said casually, playing with the bracelet in his hand.
"I'm really curious about who can make our President Ling calm down." Chang Zi, who was sitting on the sofa, flicked the ash from his cigarette with a playful look on his face.
Yuan Wenzhong picked up the wine glass, and the amber wine shone hazily. "Haha, don't you know him yet? He never liked this kind of place. If it weren't for..."
"However, it seems that he will fall out of favor from now on." Yu Tao drank the wine in one gulp, his sarcastic words hinting at something.
"He only rose to prominence thanks to Ah Shen. Do he really think he's a big shot?" Chang Zi slammed the cigarette down on the table and raised the corner of his mouth indifferently.
"Hahaha..." A meaningful laugh suddenly rang out in the private room. The laughter mixed with the mellow aroma of whiskey, bouncing back and forth against the gilded walls.
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