Chapter 1336: THE PARTY (VI)

SHEN XIN ordered a glass of whiskey and downed half of it in one go. The burn of the liquor trailed down his throat, sharp and warm. His eyes stayed fixed on the side door where Shen Ji Yun had disappeared a few minutes ago. He just watched, jaw tight, the heat from the drink doing little to calm the irritation under his skin.

He didn’t even know why he was staring at that side door like he was waiting for something to happen. So what if something did? He already knew the two of them were in a relationship. What more did he want to see?

Did he want to catch them in the act and take a picture? Then what? Show it to everyone to prove Shen Ji Yun was in a relationship with the second young master of the Luo family? Was that why he had said nothing yet? Because he was waiting for proof to back up his claim?

But even as that thought crossed his mind, he knew it wasn’t the real reason.

Just then, Luo Yan walked back into the banquet hall. Smiling and exchanging pleasantries as he passed, Luo Yan spoke with people Shen Xin was certain the other had only just met that evening. Watching how effortlessly Luo Yan moved through the crowd, Shen Xin wondered how someone like Shen Ji Yun had ended up in a relationship with him.

Maybe Shen Ji Yun had just stood there with his usual blank face, staring at Luo Yan like a lost puppy, and somehow that had done the trick. Maybe Luo Yan had looked into those empty blue eyes and thought, yes, this emotionless man is the one for me. Shen Xin almost laughed at the thought. What a ridiculous pair. The social butterfly and the robot. It shouldn’t make sense, and yet here they were.

His gaze followed Luo Yan’s back. He watched as the other reached the side door where Shen Ji Yun had gone earlier, opened it, and slipped inside. He did it so casually that no one around seemed to notice anything unusual.

Shen Xin’s eyes went wide, and he muttered a curse under his breath. So that was their plan? Meet there and do something they shouldn’t be doing? Were they out of their minds? Did they forget they were in a public space? All it would take was one person opening that door, and they’d be done for.

He set his glass down on the bar with a thud and started walking. And as he moved through the crowd, he finally understood why he had told no one about Shen Ji Yun and Luo Yan’s relationship.

~~~

When Luo Yan pushed open the door to the balcony, he found Shen Ji Yun standing with his back to him, hands tucked in his pockets. He paused for a moment, just watching him, before stepping further out. Shen Ji Yun must have heard his footsteps, because he turned his head. The smile that spread across his face brightened his entire expression.

Ah, how handsome.

He stood beside Shen Ji Yun and grinned up at him. "Hey."

"Hey," Shen Ji Yun said in return. He moved his hand next to Luo Yan’s on the balcony railing, their fingers almost touching.

"You look very handsome tonight," Luo Yan said, a teasing lilt in his voice.

A red flush spread across Shen Ji Yun’s cheeks, but he played along. "Only for tonight?"

Luo Yan narrowed his eyes in a playful squint. "Are you fishing for compliments?"

"You know I don’t know how to do that," Shen Ji Yun said. His voice had a light, teasing edge to it, but his face stayed mostly neutral, as if he wasn’t sure how to fully pull off the playful tone he was going for. It was adorable in its own awkward way.

Luo Yan put on a look of exaggerated shock. "What are you saying? Have you forgotten all those times you were a total Casanova without even realizing it?" He grinned playfully. "You’ve always been better at flirting when you’re not trying."

Shen Ji Yun’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. "Please don’t tease."

Luo Yan chuckled. "Fine, I’ll let you off since you’re so cute."

They looked at each other for a moment, then both burst out laughing at the same time.

"So how are things going?" Shen Ji Yun asked after a moment.

Luo Yan knew what he was really asking. "It’s as good as it can be for now," he said. "Everything really depends on how the talk goes tomorrow."

Shen Ji Yun understood. He took Luo Yan’s hand and gripped it. "Everything will be fine tomorrow. I’ll make sure of it. No matter what your father asks or says, I’ll answer him honestly. We’ll get through this together."

Luo Yan squeezed Shen Ji Yun’s hand, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. "Yes. Together." He looked up at him. "Ah, I really want to kiss you right now."

Shen Ji Yun’s face flushed with that same endearing blush and admitted quietly, "Me too."

Luo Yan thought for a moment, then turned Shen Ji Yun’s hand over and traced a small circle on his palm. He looked up at him. "This is me kissing you right now."

Shen Ji Yun looked startled for a second, then his blue eyes grew dark as they fixed on Luo Yan. He probably remembered the last time they had done this. Without a word, he laced their fingers together and gave a firm squeeze. "And this is me kissing you back."

"Passionately?" Luo Yan whispered.

"Very passionately," Shen Ji Yun replied, his voice rough.

The two of them stared at each other, and for a moment, nothing else existed. Not the party inside, not the cold air, not the city spread out below them. Just them. Shen Ji Yun’s eyes held a quiet warmth that he only ever showed to Luo Yan. And in Luo Yan’s eyes, Shen Ji Yun could see the same thing reflected back.

Love.

Their faces were so close that if one of them moved just an inch, they would be kissing. And both of them wanted to do just that.

That was when they heard voices just outside the door.

"What are you doing here..."

"Brother, wait—"

Then the door to the balcony swung open.

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