YABE - 31

Jiang Xu had only meant to tease her a little.

Seeing the girl’s cheeks flush as she glared at him, he said nothing more, merely curving his lips into a smile as he leaned back against the wall, clearly amused.

Wen Siyu shot him an exasperated look before turning and walking out of the bathroom.

Jiang Xu followed her out. By then, a faint aroma was already wafting from the kitchen. Wen Siyu hopped over cheerfully, leaning on Xu Sheng’s shoulder from behind with a sweet, ingratiating smile: “Wow, Mom, it’s been so long since I’ve eaten your cooking. Your skills have gotten even better!”

Xu Sheng smirked, glancing at her sideways: “The last time you were this sweet was when your dad cut off your allowance.”

Wen Siyu: “….”

She pouted: “Mom, are you doubting my feelings for you? That makes me so sad. You don’t love me anymore.”

Xu Sheng saw right through her daughter and lifted the lid off the pot to check the fish: “You don’t need to butter me up here. I won’t interfere with your relationship. You’re not a child anymore, and you’ll have to navigate your own path in love. As long as you keep things within reason, I have no objections.”

Wen Siyu brightened, about to cheer, but then heard her mother continue slowly: “However, as for your father… I won’t say anything about that. You know what his attitude will be. That’s something you’ll have to handle yourself.”

Wen Siyu: “….”

Her smile, which had barely begun to form, instantly collapsed.

The girl let out a long sigh, leaning weakly on her mother’s shoulder: “He hasn’t explicitly stated his position yet…”

—But his actions have already made his dissatisfaction abundantly clear.

“He’s already started to obstruct you in every way,” Xu Sheng interjected knowingly.

Wen Siyu nodded vigorously, looking aggrieved: “Why is he dissatisfied when he hasn’t even met you? And my brother too—where does all this hostility come from?”

The second matriarch chuckled: “That’s the difference between men and women. You’re your father’s past-life lover.”

Wen Siyu raised her chin from her mother’s shoulder to voice her disagreement: “Then my dad must have been gay in his past life. No matter how you look at it, it seems like he and my brother are teaming up to bully me.” Watching the fish being plated and drizzled with sauce, its aroma filling the air, she couldn’t resist grabbing a pair of chopsticks to sneak a small bite.

With a piece of fish scorching her mouth, Wen Siyu’s eyes lit up: “Mom, this is absolutely delicious! Teach me how to cook!”

Xu Sheng smacked her head lightly: “You’re eating before we’ve even sat down? Is that how your dad taught you? Bring it to the table.”

Wen Siyu responded obediently, carrying the plate out of the kitchen. Spotting Jiang Xu reading a script on the couch, she bounced over, pulling him to the dining table. She picked up a piece of fish, blew on it, then held it up to his mouth with one hand while using the other to catch any drips, smiling sweetly: “Teacher Jiang, this fish is amazing. The one you knocked unconscious really is different!”

Jiang Xu: “….”

He slightly bent forward, opening his mouth to accept the fish she offered. When Wen Siyu tried to withdraw her hand, she found she couldn’t.

Jiang Xu bit down on the chopsticks, raising an eyebrow mischievously, refusing to let her pull away.

Wen Siyu glanced at him, mercilessly releasing the chopsticks and walking away.

Jiang Xu, now awkwardly holding two chopsticks in his mouth, looked stunned: “….”

At that moment, Xu Sheng emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of dry-fried beef. Seeing him standing frozen by the table, she raised an eyebrow in surprise: “Little Jiang, why are you holding chopsticks in your mouth?”

Jiang Xu, feeling extremely embarrassed: “….”

Xu Sheng was usually very busy with work, and Wen Siyu hadn’t enjoyed such delicious home-cooked meals since staying at Gu Yao’s place. For the rest of the meal, she focused entirely on eating while listening to Xu Sheng and Jiang Xu discuss the screenplay.

The film was titled Bitter Bird . From what she gathered, it was the story of a folk singer who gave up everything to pursue art in Beijing, enduring hardship for over a decade before finally achieving fame—but permanently losing the love of their life in the process.

It truly lived up to its title—it was unbearably bitter.

After hearing this, Wen Siyu’s first reaction was: “So you’re singing in it? Hahaha, no wonder my brother said you got rejected. You’re singing? Hahaha!”

Jiang Xu: “….”

The man’s expression darkened. Wen Siyu cleared her throat dramatically and asked seriously: “I’m just curious—who plays the person you love? Male or female? Are there any kissing scenes?”

Xu Sheng looked at her with a faint smile: “Don’t think that just because I approve of your relationship, you can flaunt it so brazenly in front of me.”

Wen Siyu obediently lowered her head and continued eating: “…Oh.”

After the meal, Xu Sheng left early because she had business to attend to in the afternoon. Jiang Xu escorted her downstairs. Once outside the apartment building, the person ahead suddenly stopped.

Jiang Xu knew the storm was coming.

He braced himself, adjusting his expression.

Xu Sheng turned around, her gaze penetrating.

Jiang Xu focused intently, not daring to blink.

Xu Sheng suddenly smiled: “Well, I’ll be off then. Looking forward to our collaboration.”

Jiang Xu: “….”

???

Why does this mother-in-law also refuse to play by the rules??

Watching her leave, Jiang Xu turned and went back upstairs. As soon as he opened the door, he saw the girl sprawled on the couch, kicking her legs as she flipped through a script.

Jiang Xu approached. Wen Siyu, propping her face up with both hands, was engrossed in reading, not even glancing at him, making appreciative noises: “Teacher Jiang, this female lead loves you so deeply. It makes me want to cry. How could you be such a heartless jerk!”

Jiang Xu sat beside her, leaning over to take a look. It was the part where the male protagonist hesitates before ultimately deciding to break up with the female lead to chase his dreams.

Jiang Xu smirked: “In this movie, I was still young back then. If I had ended up with her, where would you fit in?”

Wen Siyu disagreed, tilting her head to scrutinize him: “Teacher Jiang, back then you were young and had a female lead in love with you. But now it’s different. You’re almost thirty—past the age where people care about you.”

Jiang Xu: “….”

The man stared at her expressionlessly, slapping his hand loudly onto the script. Leaning closer, his voice low: “What did I just say?”

Wen Siyu froze, instantly silenced, leaning back against the couch. Jiang Xu narrowed his eyes, smirking: “I can still grow taller.”

He paused, moving closer.

“Do you want to see?”

As he spoke, his Adam’s apple vibrated, rolling in front of her eyes, sending tingles through her heart.

Wen Siyu swallowed, impulsively reaching out to touch the man’s Adam’s apple.

A warm, slightly hard bump with a shallow dip in the middle, pulsing faintly under her fingertips.

Jiang Xu stiffened, grabbing her wandering hand and pinning it to the couch, narrowing his eyes at her: “Are you provoking me?”

Their faces were close, his low, husky voice spreading waves of heat. The surrounding air grew warmer, making Wen Siyu’s heart race.

Regaining some composure, she tilted her head slightly, brushing her lips lightly against his, her eyes curved: “Yes.”

Like a battle horn being blown, Jiang Xu grabbed her wrist, lowering his head to gently bite her lips, prying them open and diving in forcefully.

This kiss was unlike any before—like a violent storm crashing in, breaking through barriers, overwhelming her defenses.

Wen Siyu tilted her head back slightly, closing her eyes and trembling as she accepted him.

Jiang Xu released her wrist, his hand sliding down her shoulder to cup the softness of her chest.

Wen Siyu stiffened, a faint sound escaping her throat.

Feeling the softness beneath his palm, he squeezed teasingly, his other hand continuing downward, slipping beneath the edge of her jeans, fingers blazing with heat.

The skin beneath his large hand was smooth and delicate, exquisite to the touch. His fingertips traced along her waist, reaching the button of her jeans. With slight pressure from two fingers, a soft click sounded.

Feeling her sudden stiffness, Jiang Xu turned to her ear, his tongue lightly licking her earlobe, his voice hoarse: “Still causing trouble?”

Wen Siyu panted, her lips red and swollen, her chest rising and falling, her big eyes misty: “Teacher Jiang, why are you so skilled?”

“….”

Jiang Xu thought about how she had teased him earlier, saying she wanted to marry a fruit vendor.

Sighing softly, he withdrew his mischievous hands and straightened up.

Wen Siyu’s body still felt weak, but she propped herself up on the couch, tilting her head to look at him: “Are you done?”

Her soft words ignited a fire throughout his body once again.

Too straightforward.

Jiang Xu exhaled deeply, flicking her forehead: “You’re deliberately provoking me, aren’t you?”

Wen Siyu steadied her breathing, grinning cheekily at him, making a heart shape with her hands: “No, I love you, Teacher Jiang.”

Jiang Xu rubbed his temples: “Calling me Teacher Jiang at a time like this makes me feel incredibly guilty.”

Wen Siyu: “Isn’t it guiltier that you’re harassing me right after my mom left?”

“Well, there’s some truth to that…” Jiang Xu sighed again, suppressing the fire below as he stood and walked toward the bedroom. Wen Siyu, still on the couch, called out with a laugh: “Teacher Jiang, are you taking a bath?”

The man ignored her.

“Your golden right hand salutes you!”

His steps faltered, but he still ignored her.

Wen Siyu paused, persisting: “Want to join?”

Jiang Xu abruptly turned his head, glaring at her through gritted teeth: “Are you planning to stay the night?”

Wen Siyu flopped back onto the couch, burying her face in a pillow, pretending to be dead and silent.

Jiang Xu: “….”

Hmph.