V1C12

Translator: Anne Noh

Although Xie Yan repeatedly reminded himself not to let his mind run wild, he was still in a trance for quite a while when he saw Shu Nian after he had changed his clothes.

"Hrmm...Xiao Nian, not bad."

"Really?" Shu Nian answered and straightened his back and then let out a smile. He was never fussy about his clothes as long as it was neat and appropriate. He never really cared about it.

"En, indeed..." Xie Yan stared at Shu Nian's slender and masculine waist. After a while, he coughed and averted his eyes.

Good riddance. Someone used to tell Xie Yan homosexual men raised their pinky fingers, slightly effeminate, swayed their waist when walking, always clapped their hands before laughing and always said and did strange things. Utter nonsense. His Xiao Nian was completely different. No matter what, it didn't feel like Shu Nian was different than any other ordinary men. It just that he was quite shy and introverted.

Shu Nian was totally a handsome man and there wasn't any unattractive part no matter how you see it.

Indeed. His Xiao Nian. There wouldn't be any unattractiveness. From head to toe and from inside out, every parts of him were loved by Xie Yan.

Xie Yan looked at the soft and flat outline of the man who was walking next him. He hesitated for a long while and couldn't help but to reach out his hand and wrapped it around the slender waist underneath the black suit.

Shu Nian was startled and slapped away Xie Yan's hand, and then he quickly took a step back.

Shu Nian froze and saw Xie Yan's face changed in a flash and he hurriedly apologized for his misbehaved: "So...sorry, young master."

He didn't want to provoke Xie Yan's anger and it was completely out of reflex.

One after another rejection were received by Xie Yan who always got whatever he wanted, and to received that kind of treatment made him snorted coldly. He turned away and left Shu Nian all alone. Shu Nian let out a wry smile.

In that aspect, Xie Yan would never grew out of his spoiled brat behavior. Even though Shu Nian had followed him for more than 10 years, it was still difficult to understand and satisfy the young master's unpredictable mood swing.

Xie Yan was still being difficult even when they had been at the party for quite a while. Wearing a scowling face, Xie Yan looked at everyone with a dark expression especially at that person. Shu Nian could only followed him closely and be on guard so that he wouldn't annoy Xie Yan and causing disturbance in that kind of place.

Suddenly the crowd made a commotion. Shu Nian took a look and saw a young man that caused the commotion.

He was tall and slender with an attractive face that was supporting a cold expression. He was slightly stunned for a moment after he saw the extravagant ceremony held in a magnificent hall, but immediately regained that indifferent expression.

There was nothing special with his look. He was a very ordinary a high school student. His baseball caps and jeans were slightly dirty. It was obvious that he had just finished club activity hence his appearance looked like that. His attire was typical in the baseball field, but even the waiter wore expensive attires at the occasion hence he completely stood out like a sore thumb.

The young man walked through the crowd brazenly. He just looked straight ahead and marching forward with an indifference look on his face.

Shu Nian vaguely heard people whispering, "Who is that young man?" "Who else bold enough to be that impudent if not the young master of [1] Ke family." "That is..."

Suddenly the young man glanced at the gossipers and the ongoing gossips automatically stopped. Shu Nian stifled a laugh. The young man's eyes fell on Shu Nian for a moment and then he turned it away.

It seemed like those people were afraid of him. After all, the party was hosted by Ke family. In everyone's eyes the young master of Ke family was a nuisance, (this was completely due to his bloodline and no one exactly know who was his father), but today was the first time Shu Nian saw him. He was just a very ordinary child and quite cute.

"Why do you dress like this?" A middle-aged man quietly chided when he stood in front of that young man, "you deliberately wanted to make trouble? You want to humiliate Ke family!"

"Second uncle," The young man said nonchalantly, "I am so sorry. Cousin told me that it is only an informal dinner this evening and even thoughtfully told me that I don't have to come after my match ends. So it was me who was doing something wrong?

"Ke Luo, don't put the blame on someone else," the middle-aged man was slightly embarrassed, "quickly go change your clothes and come back."

Ke Luo turned a deaf ear: "I am hungry. Where is the food?

Before Ke Rong had time to open his mouth, Ke Luo took a quick glance on their surroundings. He calmly took a plate and walked to the table where a various type of patisseries were arranged, and loaded his plate with various foods. Without taking a seat, he casually leant against the wall and began to eat.

Everyone turned slightly awkward for quite a while, and then resumed their previous conversation that was interrupted. The conversations were courteous and empty. The atmosphere was quickly heated up in all kinds of idle talks.

However everyone would pretend to unconsciously glance toward the wall to steal a look at the young man who was wearing a baseball cap and eating, including Shu Nian who was standing close to him.

The baseball cap that was pulled down almost covered most of his face. Only the movement of his mouth could be seen from the side, as well as a random movement of the Adam's apple bobbing up and down the slender neck. He was slightly covered in some dirt and his body was obviously covered in sweat but he didn't smell bad.

"He doesn't have anyone, not even a good upbringing."

Shu Nian was slightly startled. He could clearly see Ke Luo swallowed down roughly and didn't move for a while.

Shu Nian suddenly felt somewhat pitiful toward that boy.

He also heard a lot of gossip and knew that Ke Luo was found at an orphanage. The young daughter of Ke family eloped and then she committed suicide shortly after she gave birth to a son. As for who was his father, the topic had always been a taboo.

Shu Nian wasn't interested in gossips, but when orphanage was mentioned, he couldn't help but to look at Ke Luo.

Lord Ke gave Ke Luo a large part of the heritance prior before he died. Hence, his sudden appearance to take the heritance didn't leave a great impression on Ke family members. They were afraid of the fact that he would inherit 20% of the company's share once he became an adult. He was hated by others, and they would occasionally flatter him. Yet, there never treat him sincerely and afraid of him.

Shu Nian couldn't help but turned around to take a look. He wanted to help Ke Luo who was silent due to embarrass to find the person who said malicious words, but he couldn't find anything as all the faces were indifferent and calm.

Ke Luo suddenly put down the plate, intentionally wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said, "So thirsty." Then he went to take a bottle of wine, completely ignoring the waiter's protest. He sat at the corner and tilted his neck as he chugged it down just like it was water.

Shu Nian took a glance at the crowd around himself and saw a group of ladies surrounding and fawning over young master Xie. Firmly believed that he wouldn't be needed for a short while, he slowly moved toward Ke Luo.

He didn't want to talk with Ke Luo and his arrogant gesture didn't welcome any one to disturb him at all. Shu Nian didn't intend to go and bother Ke Luo, but he was quite worried that a young man like Ke Luo was drinking so much. That's all.

"Cough..."

Indeed, Ke Luo ended up choking.

Shu Nian instinctively reached out his hand to rub his back: "Hey, are you okay?"

Ke Luo obviously was slightly startled and looked up at Shu Nian.

His cold face was stoic without any expression and he was quite surprised: "I'm fine. Thank you."

Shu Nian felt embarrassed. He didn't want to be perceived as an untrustworthy old man who deliberately struck up a conversation.

"It's good that you are fine..."

Ke Luo's face suddenly darkened. Shu Nian stood stiffly in front of him for a few minutes and suddenly "ah" could be heard.

"......" Shu Nian looked at his suit and he was rendered speechless.

"Oh, sorry," Ke Luo suddenly blushed, "I, I'm not usually like this...I...I'm not drunk...Just that my stomach felt slightly uncomfortable...Sorry"

"Oh..." Shu Nian murmured, "It...it doesn't matter..."

What a joke...Could this even be dry-cleaning?

"I, I will compensate you." Ke Luo's face turned bright red and he looked awkward.

"Ah, it's okay. No need." Indeed...it will be very expensive...

"You...give me your phone number." Ke Luo stuttered slightly and looked at Shu Nian blushingly. Suddenly, he remembered something and smiled, "I can afford it...I have plenty of money."

[1] It was normal for someone to be address by [Surname] family / household. Example: Xiangjun from Li family. It means her full name is Li Xiangjun.

Please note that some part might be incorrect as I don't know how to translate it to English. Mistakes are bound to happen and corrections are very welcome.