Chapter 67 [VIP]
Zong Bingwen didn't leave until nearly evening. Before leaving, he had fallen into a much better sleep and was no longer as sickly as he had been in the morning. He was already able to get out of bed and walk.
Shen Ci didn't go back to his room. Instead, he was playing games in the living room, idly listening to Shen Mian and Zong Bingwen's conversation.
He checked the time many times, and the more he checked, the more irritated he became.
What was Zong Bingwen thinking? Why did he have to bother Shen Mian when she was sick? His petty tricks to win favor were truly beneath him.
As for Chen Mian, his eyesight isn't very good either. From Shen Jinshan to Lin Langli, and then to Zong Bingwen, they just wouldn't choose him. It's true what they said before that he was a fool.
He was agitated and lost several games in a row. His friends on the video call couldn't help but ask him what was wrong with him today.
Shen Ci immediately ended the call. When he looked up, he saw the two of them walking out of the room hand in hand.
His gaze lingered on the young couple's clasped fingers, his jaw clenched, and he looked away, both annoyed and reluctant.
Chenmian said goodbye to Zong Bingwen affectionately: "Brother Bingwen, can you come and play with me again next time? I was so happy to be with you today."
Shen Ci glanced at Shen Mian's expression and thought to himself that this must be a lie, and that Shen Mian was deceiving people again.
Is Zong Bingwen really that blind? Can't he see that? And last night he clearly saw that the atmosphere between him and Shen Mian was off, but he was coaxed back to normal after just going downstairs? How shameless.
Zong Bingwen smiled and said, "Mianmian, it's a pleasure to see you too." He paused, then said naturally, "Mianmian, how about I switch jobs to your school? We can live together then..."
Before Shen Ci could even finish hearing what was said, he was already furious, his anger reaching a fever pitch. He slammed his water glass onto the coffee table with a jarring sound: "Zong Bingwen, what do you mean? You've only known me for a few days and you already want to lure Shen Mian into living with you? Have you no shame?"
Chen Mian tightened her grip on the man's hand beside her, and smiled shyly at Chen Ci: "Chen Ci, don't be so fierce."
"You don't really want to live with him, do you?" Shen Ci turned to press Shen Mian, her tone harsh. "If you do this, I'll tell Dad when I get back."
Zong Bingwen interrupted him expressionlessly: "Shen Ci, I am your brother's boyfriend, and it's normal for Mianmian to live with me—we're going to get married in the future."
Chenmian gasped softly, seemingly a little embarrassed, and pulled away from Zong Bingwen's hand, pushing the man away: "That's too much, don't say it anymore. Besides, you're doing your job perfectly well, turning around will be a lot of trouble. Go back first, remember to text me when you get home." Her tone was soft and gentle, showing no sign of displeasure.
Shen Ci gritted his teeth and watched coldly as the two lingered at the door for a while longer, seemingly inseparable. The flames in his internal organs grew stronger and stronger, almost threatening to spread like wildfire.
The flame reached its peak after witnessing the two of them exchange a cheek kiss right there in front of the door, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.
Shen Ci suddenly stood up and strode towards the door.
Chenmian caught a glimpse of the newcomer out of the corner of her eye. She nestled in Zong Bingwen's arms and, through the man's shoulder, gave Chen Ci an innocent smile.
This smile instantly struck Shen Ci, and the young man could no longer take a step forward, but could only slowly retreat under Shen Mian's gaze.
A strong sense of bitterness and grievance welled up in Shen Ci's heart.
After lingering at the door for a while, Zong Bingwen finally left reluctantly.
After closing the door, Chen Mian shuffled to the sofa in her slippers, sat down, and looked at Chen Ci with a smile, resting her chin on her hand.
Shen Ci sat on the small sofa on the other side, and even though he could feel the other person's gaze, he forced himself not to meet it.
Almost all the grievances he suffered from childhood were caused by his sleeplessness.
Chenmian, that fickle and heartless little rascal, takes advantage of his affection to make him suffer every day.
Shen Ci thought fiercely that he would kiss Shen Mian again in a little while, and that he would sleep with Shen Mian in his arms tonight.
"Shen Ci," the young man suddenly called out his name, his tone somewhat enigmatic, "Do you think we should tell our family about my relationship with Zong Bingwen, and about Shen Jinshan?"
He asked with malice.
Shen Ci was stunned.
Shen Mian continued, "Shen Jinshan wanted me and Zong Bingwen to be together so badly, now that his wish has been granted, shouldn't it be alright?"
"Big brother..." Shen Ci was unaware that Zong Bingwen had been introduced to Shen Mian by Shen Jinshan.
Chen Mian: "Chen Jinshan also said that I should use Zong Bingwen as a substitute. Lin Langli and I broke up because of him, so it's all his fault!"
“Lin Langli shouldn’t have been with you in the first place!” Shen Ci quickly retorted.
Chenmian sighed: "He did some things wrong, but I also had my faults. If Shen Jinshan hadn't complained, maybe we would have broken up one day. But Shen Jinshan got involved, and now when I think of Lin Langli, I feel very sad."
Shen Ci looked as if facing a formidable enemy: "You can't do this."
“Yes, I can’t,” Chenmian said, as if trying to convince herself. “I’m already with Zong Bingwen. Although I don’t like him that much yet, I don’t feel guilty at all for lying to him. But when I think of Lin Langli, I feel a little sad.”
Chenmian thought he was a very affectionate and good boy, but only affectionate towards his ex-boyfriend.
Shenmian did inform Shen Jinshan after all. Since the day his family forced him to break up with Lin Langli, Shenmian had not seen Shen Jinshan again.
Instead of removing Shen Jinshan from his blacklist, he took Shen Ci's phone, took a picture of him and Zong Bingwen leaning intimately together, and sent it to them.
Brother, I've truly let you go completely now. ^_^
After sending the message, she quickly tossed the phone to Shen Ci, not daring to look at the reply Shen Jinshan had sent.
Zong Bingwen was puzzled, but he gently patted the boy's slender back and rubbed Shen Mian's lower back in circles.
Shen Ci glanced at his older brother's reply, deleted the message with a start, and casually offered to join the young couple's upcoming date.
Zong Bingwen would certainly not agree.
He loathed this nominal brother-in-law, especially when he continued to discover ambiguous traces of infidelity on Chen Mian's body, which fueled his anger.
But when he's with Shen Mian, he pretends to be that gentle and polite boyfriend, and he'll do anything to her.
He didn't know why Shen Mian hadn't separated from Shen Ci, nor did he know how Lin Langli treated boys when he was with Shen Mian.
Zong Bingwen could only do his best to be good to Shen Mian, or seduce Shen Mian openly or secretly, in order to make the boy's heart burn even more for him.
Both families were very supportive of the couple's union. Although Zong Bingwen's mother had some reservations about Shen Mian not being a biological child of the Shen family, her dissatisfaction quickly vanished when Shen Mian sweetly called her "Auntie".
After Zong Bingwen returned from seeing Shen Mian off, he called his eldest son into the bedroom and instructed him, "You must keep a close eye on Shen Mian. I remember your younger brother went to school with Shen Mian, didn't he? He always liked to follow Shen Mian around. You should also be careful around your younger brother."
Zong Bingwen's younger brother went abroad to study after high school and only came home once a year. Counting the time, he will graduate and return to China in one year.
Upon hearing this, Zong Bingwen's expression also became serious.
Shen Mian and Zong Bingwen's relationship continued into winter. That winter, the two went skiing at a nearby ski resort, and Shen Citian shamelessly followed them and moved into the villa next door.
Zong Bingwen coldly ignored Shen Ci's greeting and led Shen Mian into the building.
There was a hot spring in the courtyard of the building, and wine, flowers and fruits were already laid out next to it. Chen Mian glanced at it and wondered if Zong Bingwen wanted to take their relationship to the final step during this trip.
After nearly a year of dating, Zong Bingwen always maintained a proper distance. The most extreme incident between them was when Chen Mian nudged Zong Bingwen with her leg; otherwise, they only kissed and hugged.
This is even less than the distance between him and Shen Ci.
Chenmian pulled off her hat, exhaled a breath of hot air, poured herself a glass of cold water, and drank half of it.
Will Zong Bingwen ask him about his relationship with Lin Langli during the process? Like Shen Ci, who kept asking him incessantly and tirelessly.
He could see that even though Zong Bingwen tried his best to refrain from interfering in his relationship with Shen Ci, the deep dissatisfaction and jealousy that occasionally surfaced in the man's eyes were still shocking.
He drank the water a little too quickly, and a little bit spilled from the corner of his mouth. Zong Bingwen tidied up his suitcase, then familiarly put his arm around the boy from behind, kissed Shen Mian's lips, and wiped away the water droplets with his fingertips.
"Baby, are you that thirsty?" He stared at the boy's bobbing Adam's apple.
With her eyes half-closed, Chenmian said, "Are you really going to ignore Chen Ci? He'll definitely bother me again when we get back."
Zong Bingwen didn't take it seriously: "Then baby, you can move in with me, or I can move to your place."
"Let's forget it," Chenmian said awkwardly. "You live in the same building as me now, we're already very close."
Upon hearing this, Zong Bingwen kissed the boy's eyelids and restrained himself from saying anything more.
After resting for a while, the two decided to go skiing. At this time, the snow at the ski resort was still very fresh, with a soft layer on top, and you could hear the rustling sound of the snow being compacted when you stepped on it.
After returning from the ski resort, it was already completely dark. Zong Bingwen ordered food to be delivered to his room.
For dinner, we had black pepper beef tenderloin pasta and chicken salad, and Chenmian also ordered a roasted marshmallow.
After finishing her meal, Chenmian went to soak in the hot spring in the courtyard.
He took a shower beforehand, put on a bathrobe, and stepped into the hot spring.
The red wine on the shore has already decanted, and the slumbering figure lies on the edge of the pool, slowly savoring the hints of cherry, mulberry, and strawberry in the wine.
A few minutes later, a noise came from behind them; Zong Bingwen had also gone into the water.
For some reason, Chenmianxin's heart stirred slightly, and she turned half of her face to look back.
The night was a bluish-gray, with a few light strips illuminating the edge of the pool, but the light was still dim and indistinct.
He was unaware of how captivating he looked at that moment; his wet hair clung to his cheeks, his face was flushed, his eyes were hazy, and his lips were a moist, red color with a glistening sheen of wine.
Zong Bingwen's Adam's apple bobbed, and his body reacted awkwardly and quickly.
"Mianmian..." he called softly.
Chenmian turned her head back and gave a very soft "Hmm?".
Zong Bingwen swam closer to the boy, his eyes greedily searching for any subtle expression on Chen Mian's face.
So cute, so beautiful.
He stared intently for half a minute, then could no longer resist the slumbering desire. Breath drawing near, Zong Bingwen blinked, a smile playing on his lips, one hand cupping the boy's head, the other gripping his waist, and leaned in to kiss him.
Chenmian's body stiffened for a moment, but after realizing that the man had gripped her waist tightly with possessiveness, she regained her gentleness and opened her lips to kiss him back.
Zong Bingwen's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't wait to return the kiss.
A note from the author:
I only missed three days, but it feels like I've been absent for much longer. I feel so guilty, lol. Stopping updates is such an addictive and decadent thing, lol.
I wonder if the next chapter will include the part about Zong catching Shen Mian and Shen Ci having an affair.
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