IROAWTMTFL Chapter 34

For college students who return home during the winter vacation, their parents are usually very enthusiastic when they first come back, and they will accommodate them in all aspects of food, clothing, housing, and transportation. However, this tolerance period is usually only three days, and after three days, they start to find fault with each other and start to criticize them.
Because Yan Yan attended the same university in the city, he often returned home on weekends so he had hardly experienced this kind of treatment. This time, he could finally enjoy it. It would have been even better if his mom hadn’t insisted that he should deliver meals to Dr. Zhuang Yiyun. In her words: “You can’t even deliver a meal, then go back to your house!”

‘My house? Did I get married and change homes?’

After three days of acting as a substitute and eating on behalf of Zhuang Yiyun, Jiang Li was starting to feel embarrassed. On the fourth day, when Yan Yan was about to deliver a meal to her again, he faced a stern refusal.

“At least deliver one meal to him.”

“I won’t.”

“What’s gotten into you? Your attitude has changed so much. Has Dr. Zhuang’s looks changed in your eyes? Normally, the heart is the first to change, it’s unusual for one’s looks to change so quickly.”

Yan Yan didn’t respond. He not only refused to deliver the meal but also stayed at Liye bar instead of going home. He didn’t want to approach that man again; it would be best to keep a clear boundary to avoid misunderstandings.

Coincidentally, Ke Mingcheng arrived at the bar that evening. When he saw Yan Yan at the bar, he immediately sent a photo to Zhuang Yiyun. In the picture, Yan Yan was wearing a bartender’s black vest, and there were four or five handsome guys surrounding the bar and chatting with him.

Zhuang Yiyun was on his way to the Yan home. He intended to pick Yan Yan up or at least see him. He was waiting at a red light at the next intersection when he saw the message, and immediately turned around and headed straight to the bar.

In his entire life, Zhuang Yiyun had only been to a bar once. Back in his senior year of high school, he had sneaked out with his classmates without his mother’s knowledge. After realizing it wasn’t that enjoyable, he never went again. Now, he was entering a bar for the second time in his life and, for the first time, a gay bar.

The dazzling lights, loud music, chaotic dance floor, and the need to shout to converse all made him uncomfortable the moment he stepped inside. Moreover, he became the center of attention for everyone around him as soon as he entered.

There was no way around it. In the land of scarce gay men, he was a rare find. His height, physique, looks, and temperament, combined with being a newcomer, naturally attracted the attention of countless people.

“Wow, we’ve got a handsome one here!” A customer who had been talking to Yan Yan was now looking toward the entrance, exclaiming in surprise.

Yan Yan followed their gaze and met Zhuang Yiyun’s eyes.

He then made his way through the crowd and approached Yan Yan without hesitation.

Yan Yan was genuinely surprised. This didn’t seem like a place Zhuang Yiyun would visit, and he appeared to be coming directly toward him with a clear purpose.

Yan Yan looked toward Ke Mingcheng’s table and gave him a thumbs-down. Ke Mingcheng smiled and raised his glass in response.

“He’s coming over!” A customer at the bar shouted with excitement. Many people were watching, torn between wanting someone else to approach first to test the waters and fearing that they might lose their chance. It was as if Monk Tang’s flesh had entered the Spider Cave.

“He’s looking at me!”

“No, I feel like he’s looking at…”

The customer speaking turned around, and his gaze landed on Yan Yan.

“When two ones meet, one must be a zero? Moreover, Yan is a 0.5.”

“In terms of height, he’s already at a disadvantage.”

Yan Yan, who was listening nearby, felt his anger rising. “I can hear you.”

“Yan Yan, this is also the truth. Of course, I still like you the most.”

“Yan Yan, how about you go and compare with everyone?”

“Get lost!”

While Yan Yan was speaking, Zhuang Yiyun finally reached him, just in time to hear him telling those two guests to get lost. His face instantly darkened. Thinking about the rumors about the bar he had read online, not a single one of those events was good.

These two wanted to bully Yan Yan, this conclusion formed instantly in his mind. He looked at those two with eyes as sharp as ice skates.

The two innocent guests who were caught in his gaze, although they were happy to be noticed by the handsome newcomer, they found it terrifying to be looked at so closely. This man was too oppressive, they almost felt like kneeling…

Other customers who weren’t stared at boldly approached, but he didn’t even look at them, standing directly in front of Yan Yan.

“What would you like to drink?” Yan Yan asked as a matter of routine. Seeing him tense up and trying to avoid other customers getting too close, he lowered his head and curved his lips slightly, feeling a subtle warmth in his heart.

“I won’t drink. I’m driving.”

“That’s fine too. Just don’t look so fierce. Sit here, and attract some customers.”

“…”

The term “attract customers” sounded offensive when applied to Zhuang Yiyun, a researcher. He wanted to retort, but Yan Yan looked amused. His tone was teasing, and there was a glint in his eyes. Zhuang Yiyun found himself at a loss for words and obediently followed his lead, taking a seat.

“This is your first time here. Let me introduce you. This is Jiang Li’s brother’s place. Do you remember Jiang Li? My friend, a girl.”

“I remember,” Yan Yan had only introduced this one friend to him, of course he remembered.

The two of them conversed in this familiar yet slightly awkward manner, making the other onlookers turn into curious bystanders, wishing they could pass them a microphone. Unexpectedly, the handsome guy had come to find Yan Yan, and their relationship seemed ambiguous.

Look, Yan Yan told him to sit, and he sat down.

“I said, don’t look so fierce.”

Zhuang Yiyun reluctantly relaxed his facial muscles, but instead, he appeared even colder.

“Or, why don’t you go find Mr. Ke instead of staying here?”

“I won’t.”

“So why did you come?” Yan Yan continued to mix drinks, swaying the cocktail shaker rhythmically. “To sit in front of me like a statue?”

Zhuang Yiyun was drawn to his movements, and the protective shell he had against the environment seemed to soften slightly. He answered truthfully, “To see if you’ve been drinking.”

“Huh? Well, sorry, it’s only natural for chefs to steal food.” Yan Yan chuckled and those nearby couldn’t believe it. It was rare to see him act so youthful, playful, and full of youthful vigor.

“Your health just got better, so you can’t drink.”

“Exactly, ‘got better’ means I’m already back to normal, which means I’m just like any other person.”

Zhuang Yiyun was defeated by Yan Yan’s logic. Perhaps because he had loosened up a bit, he unexpectedly made a joke. “I think you would have won the top score in the college entrance exam for Chinese.”

“So we complement each other.”

Yan Yan’s words slipped out of his mouth faster than his brain processed them. As the words left his lips, their eyes met, and they both felt a bit embarrassed, looking away. “I excelled in Chinese, you excelled in other subjects,” meant complementing each other like lovers.

“Excuse me,” a strong figure interrupted while the bystanders were watching. It was an enigmatic-looking man. Slim and elegant, he held a slender lady’s cigarette between his fingertips. He confidently sized up Zhuang Yiyun and playfully poked his chest.

Looking at the stunning appearance and flirtatious demeanor, Zhuang Yiyun’s expression darkened instantly.

This was one of Liye’s regular customers, known for being bold and straightforward, and had a good relationship with Yan Yan.

“A Rusty Nail,” he ordered, then turned to Zhuang Yiyun, staring into his cold eyes without flinching, asking with a playful tone, “Hey handsome, have you taken a liking to our Xiao Yan?”

Yan Yan’s hand that were in the process of pouring a drink paused briefly, and he discreetly perked up his ears.

Zhuang Yiyun didn’t respond, maintaining a polite but distant attitude toward the stranger’s question.

“Our Xiao Yan here is Liye’s liquor expert, and whether he drinks or not doesn’t matter. You’re the first one to ask,” the regular customer said as if he didn’t care about anyone else’s attitude. He continued, “You’re such an elegant and handsome guy, and you don’t even drink. I advise against getting involved with him. He’s a wild horse, trying to tame him will only get you kicked.”

“Oh?” Zhuang Yiyun didn’t know which nerve had been poked, and his restrained demeanor abruptly shifted to something more assertive.

It was the kind of dominance and control of a mature man, with a touch of the scientist’s precision. Then he loosened his tie slightly, lightly tapped the tabletop with his long fingers, and asked Yan Yan, “If I take some of your drink, will you still drink it?”

His restrained demeanor disappeared completely, and the sense of aggression increased twofold.

Yan Yan’s mind buzzed. He was entranced by the hand that had adjusted his tie and the fingers tapping the table. This man unexpectedly exhibited an initiative that bordered on seduction, leaving Yan Yan wondering if he should pinch himself to check if he was dreaming.

The melon eating crowd had already started whistling, and there were excited cheers all around.

Yan Yan replied, “It’s not like we’re drinking for business purposes, I just want to drink. Even if you’ve taken a sip, I’ll still want it.”

“Do it mouth to mouth, stick out your tongue, let him taste it!”

Yan Yan’s eyes suddenly wandered to where the shout came from and the tips of his ears secretly turned red. The way people were shouting made it seem like they were urging them to kiss, it was quite embarrassing.

Zhuang Yiyun looked at him and had an intuition that he was feeling shy. In that moment, it felt like a rush of heat, akin to scalding water, surged down to his lower abdomen. His fingers unintentionally rested on his tie, wanting to loosen it a bit more.

On the other end, Jiang Ye, the bar owner, noticed the commotion and walked over. His gaze scanned over Zhuang Yiyun and Yan Yan.

“Is he your friend?” he inquired.

Just by looking at Jiang Li, one could get a sense of what her brother was like. He was about the same height as Zhuang Yiyun, but more solidly built, with a robust and imposing presence. A black tattoo peeked out of his open collar. Despite wearing formal attire, he exuded a rebellious vibe. According to customers, Boss Jiang’s name said it all—wild and handsome.

“Brother Ye! He’s, uh, sort of a friend.” Yan Yan answered.

“If he’s Yanyan’s friend, then I have to take treat him. What will you drink?” Jiang Ye extended his right hand to Zhuang Yiyun. “I’m Jiang Ye, the owner of this bar. How should I address you?”

Looking at Jiang Ye, Zhuang Yiyun felt like his earlier thoughts had been doused with cold water. After freezing, oil was poured on them and they ignited with flames.

Orange was already hard to accept, but that was just online, and Yan Yan hasn’t met him in person. But now, this person was calling Yan Yan “Yanyan” while Yan Yan called him “Brother Ye,” it appeared as if Jiang Ye was the protector, the host, while he(Zhuang Yiyun), was left with just the label of “friend,” further emphasized with the addition of “sort of.” The contrast was so stark that it felt like someone was dancing on his most sensitive nerves.

He still remembered when Ke Mingcheng asked Yan Yan to call him “gege,” and Yan Yan had said he only had one gege.

“Zhuang Yiyun, Yan Yan’s husband.”

Jiang Ye was stunned for a moment, then turned to Yan Yan for confirmation.

“He’s just talking nonsense because he drank too much. Brother Ye, don’t mind him.”

“I haven’t been drinking. Did I say something wrong? We’re indeed a couple who have met each other’s parents.” Zhuang Yiyun’s attitude became more assertive, and he shook Jiang Ye’s outstretched hand. “Yan Yan often relies on you here, thank you for taking care of him. You’re Jiang Li’s brother, right? I invite both you and your sister to have a meal together next time. We’d be honored.”

“Yanyan?” Jiang Ye didn’t respond to Zhuang Yiyun’s words and looked at Yan Yan instead.

“Do you believe in this nonsense? Ask the people around if I have a husband.”

Yan Yan didn’t want to discuss the complicated matter of marriage in front of Jiang Ye. Jiang Ye and his sister were quite different. Jiang Ye treated him like a little brother and protected him in the chaotic circle. He would never agree with that kind of game, and always insisting that Yan Yan should find a good boyfriend.

“I’m his husband!”

“Xiao Yan, marry me!”

The continuous shouts grew louder and more amused. Their eyes toward Zhuang Yiyun started to carry a teasing meaning, as if this handsome guy, despite his good looks, wasn’t quite right in the head.

Yan Yan playfully scolded, “Get lost! You dare to shout like that? With your looks, just be a zero for me.”

“Come on~ Brother Yan, husband, face me head-on.” The regular customer who had poked Zhuang Yiyun earlier said flirtatiously.

Jiang Ye finally believed it. Based on his understanding, Yan Yan was straightforward with everyone, with no ambiguity in his attitude, even when playing flirtatiously. His refusals were clear and firm, without exceptions.

There were rolling thunderclouds gathering around Zhuang Yiyun. Yan Yan was about to continue teasing the regular customer but just as he put the drink he had prepared in front of him, Zhuang Yiyun unexpectedly grabbed his hand.

“Let’s talk.”

“I’m busy.”

“Yanyan, let’s talk.”

Yan Yan met his deep, abyss-like eyes and, as if pricked, his attitude softened.

“Brother Ye, please have Harvey take care of it for me for awhile,” Yan Yan said as he took off his black vest, leading Zhuang Yiyun into the employee break room.

It was the busiest time now and the employee break room was empty. Yan Yan locked the door, isolating all the noise from the outside.

“What are you doing? I haven’t even scolded you for talking nonsense in the bar. Why are you angry?”

“I was talking nonsense? Haven’t we gotten married?”

Yan Yan frowned and asked him, “Right now, we’re in my social circle. I don’t have any intention of pretending to be something we’re not. Not respecting my wishes is breaking the rules of the game.”

“I’m stating a fact.”

“What kind of fact? What kind of situation requires one to be reminded of marriage?”

“Then marriage is also a fact.”

Yan Yan laughed in exasperation, and his good mood for the night crumbled. Was this person insane? Why was he starting to act unreasonable? Who brought up the agreement to get married, and who rejected all his advances? Now he was talking about facts?

“Why? You don’t want anyone to know? Do you want to maintain a single image in front of someone?” Zhuang Yiyun also felt like he had gone mad. His words were getting more and more unreasonable, but he couldn’t control himself. Just thinking about the situation earlier made him uncomfortable.

“Zhuang Yiyun, are you jealous?”

Zhuang Yiyun froze, his sharp Adam’s apple moving up and down. Just when Yan Yan thought he was going to refuse and deny it as he always did, he suddenly nodded.

He nodded once, and then again, he nodded more clearly.

“Yes, I can’t stand them calling you ‘husband’.”

“Then you should call me that too, that way, you won’t lose.” Yan Yan was stunned, he couldn’t believe Zhuang Yiyun had said that.

Little did he know that Zhuang Yiyun was even more stunned. He didn’t know when he had approached, he lowered his gaze, and in the ink-black depths of his eyes, Yan Yan’s face was reflected. His Adam’s apple moved lightly, and a husky “husband” passed through Yan Yan’s eardrums.