Chapter 41 - Showing affection?
Translator: Hua
After accepting Grandpa Shen’s gift, the group moved to the flower hall1The open space living room in a traditional Chinese house. Picture here.outside for lunch.
As the butler had previously said, Grandpa Shen had been waiting for them for a long time. The food was ready, and it was obviously carefully prepared. Each dish was prepared with a lot of thought and the taste was quite good.
After happily eating a meal together, Jing Xun and Shen Yijin sat down with Grandpa Shen in the courtyard for a while. Naturally, the two were asked some questions about work, study, and life.
Most of the questions were from the perspective of concern for them. Shen Yijin answered whatever he was asked. He wouldn’t answer a question less or say more.
When it’s Jing Xun’s turn to answer the questions, he would say as much as he could and describe it vividly to make grandpa Shen happy.
“Hahaha, Ah Jin really sent you to school by bicycle?” It was hard to imagine that his grandson would do this kind of thing. The old man’s face, which was originally not too old, showed a few laughing wrinkles.
He then nodded his head and gave his seal of approval: “Well, it is indeed something that Ah Jin would do.”
As the protagonist of the topic, Shen Yijin looked very calm, as if he didn’t mind the disclosure of his own affairs.
He just sat quietly, listening to his grandfather and his lover talking about himself, his eyes focused on one spot as he listened attentively.
It was rare that his eyes weren’t so indifferent anymore. Those peach blossom eyes finally had some life.
Jing Xun noticed that Mr. gave the impression that he was indeed more gentle than unusual.
Because of this reason, he would tell Grandpa Shen more about Shen Yijin. Besides, he also liked to hear more about Shen Yijin from his grandpa.
……Although there was very little information that could be heard.
After all, he didn’t know why Mr left home at such an early age.
It’s not that Grandpa Shen didn’t love his grandson, but they had been separated for many years.
Even when Shen Yijin returned to his home country two years ago, he was caught up with the overall economic depression. The business world had its ups and downs. Whether it was Shen Yijin or his grandpa, there were too many things to be busy with. It seemed that they rarely had the chance to sit down and chat like this.
At last, old man Shen asked them: “When are you going to get married? Do you have any plans?”
He directed this question to Shen Yijin.
Shen Yijin said: “After paying grandpa a visit with Xiao Xun, we will hold an engagement ceremony in a few days.”
“What engagement ceremony? When did our family ever hold this kind of event?”
Old man Shen had a straightforward temper. He could say whatever he wanted.
At this moment, he was obviously very dissatisfied with Shen Yijin’s plan, and helplessly complained to Jing Xun: “Ah Jin, this kid is always like this. Everything has to be done in a methodical process, too old-fashioned.”
Jing Xun: “……”
Jing Xun felt that he couldn’t let Mr carry the pot alone. He considered it and tried to explain in an appropriate tone: “Because I wasn’t very familiar with Mr at that time, that’s why we decided to get engaged first…”
Of course, if Mr wasn’t such a methodical person, they would have stopped following the process long ago.
Well, their first meeting wasn’t a part of this process, but this couldn’t be said.
He was afraid of being questioned more, but fortunately grandpa didn’t ask how he and Shen Yijin met, otherwise it would really be…
“Hahahaha.” Grandpa Shen let out a hearty laugh, “Xiao Xun is not bad, you even know how to protect Ah Jin.”
Jing Xun instantly lowered his head: “…..”
It wasn’t a protection, he was just telling the truth…
Old man Shen said: “I don’t think engagement is necessary. My birthday party will be celebrated next month. Relatives and friends will come, so just announce it at that time. The wedding must be prepared in advance. You have to prepare it well. You got it, Ah Jin?”
Shen Yijin didn’t have a problem preparing for the wedding in advance, but he still said: “I’m afraid it’s inappropriate to mention us on Grandpa’s birthday.”
Grandpa Shen said that he was not so particular, and waved his hand: “There is nothing wrong with it. Grandpa likes this kind of double happiness2Two happy events come at the same time.. Things will be very lively.”
When he said this, no one else could object.
After sitting for a while, Old man Shen said that he was tired and wanted to go back to the house to rest. He asked Shen Yijin to take Jing Xun around.
Grandpa had developed a habit of taking a nap in recent years. Shen Yijin didn’t bother him, and immediately left the compound with Jing Xun.
In the courtyard, Old man Shen looked at the direction they were leaving, and asked the man named Ah Rong: “Do you think Ah Jin has changed a lot this time?”
“What?”
Ah Rong wanted to say yes, but didn’t young master Jin still sit there with a great momentum, readily silent, and making people confused as to what he was thinking?
But seeing the smile on the old man’s face, Ah Rong knew that he couldn’t say this. He followed along and said: “Young master Jin is still a young man after all. With emotional nourishment, his mood will naturally be cheerful.”
“Yeah.” Old man Shen nodded his head rather gratefully, “That’s good.”
“But…” Ah Rong said again: “That Mr. Yan, don’t you think he doesn’t match the young master?…”
Ah Rong couldn’t help but shrink his neck in response to old man Shen’s sharp gaze.
Obviously, the old man didn’t like to hear these words. He quickly explained: “I mean, that child is too good-looking and sweet-talking. I’m worried that young master Jin will be deceived… Master, you know that young master Jin has a straightforward mind, and didn’t have any friends before…”
“Don’t worry about this.”
As he said this, old man Shen walked into the house with his hands behind his back: “Ah Jin had told me about that child. Besides, I believe in Ah Jin’s vision.”
Ah Rong naturally helped the old man walk in, and said, “Yes, yes, yes.”
Perhaps recalling something sad, old man Shen was upset again: “Ah Jin is good at reading people, he was a hundred times better than his stupid father.”
Ah Rong: “Yes… ah no, don’t think too much about it, old master. Isn’t there an old saying, one’s own children and grandchildren have their own lives to live.”
The old man shook his head in unbearable sadness. He obviously didn’t want to talk about the previous thing anymore and went back to the house to rest.
Coming out of Grandpa’s courtyard, Jing Xun and Shen Yijin returned to their own courtyard.
The manor had not yet been opened to the public. The entire scenic area was very empty, and all the courtyards were also empty. The courtyard Jing Xun and the other party lived in was next door to Grandpa’s. The scope wasn’t that big, but the design was quite different.
Most importantly, the room was also antique. The windows were made of old-fashioned and retro styles. The furnishings in the house all resemble ancient times. Even the bed was…a carved solid wood bed, with silk curtains hung on the four corners, which was simple and luxurious.
“Can Xiao Xun get accustomed to it?” Shen Yijin asked after entering the house.
Jing Xun immediately expressed that it was ok.
This ancient big bed that had to be around 2.5 meters long in both directions. He found that the mattress was soft, and the sheet was also newly changed. The whole room was full of clean and sunny smells. When he opened the window, he could see the scenery of the small bridge and flowing water in the courtyard, which he couldn’t be more satisfied with.
But the two of them didn’t get to stay in the room much. Jing Xun was still thinking about going out to play.
He had been on the road all morning and had been sitting all the time, so he ought to go out for a walk now.
If he wanted to go out to play, he’d need mosquito repellent and sunscreen. When they set out, he was called by Shen Yijin to spray mosquito repellent on his limbs and other places.
Then, there was another straw hat on his head, which was placed in the house and equipped for every future visitor in the park.
Jing Xun’s head was a bit big visually because he was too thin, but it wasn’t obvious at normal times. As soon as he wore a straw hat, the effect was pretty obvious.
In particular, Jing Xun couldn’t help touching his head, and then looked at Shen Yijin who was also wearing a hat…
Both were wearing straw hats and casual clothes, but why did Mr give off a western cowboy vibe? !
Seeing the young man staring at him for a while, he changed to touch the hat on his head as he asked, “What’s the matter?”
Thinking that the hat was uncomfortable, he raised his hand to help the young man adjust the position of his straw hat.
Jing Xun: “……”
Come on, this time he looked like a long stalk with an umbrella-shaped cap……a mushroom, to be exact.
But Jing Xun still paid more attention to practicality than appearance. In order to effectively block the UV rays, he ended up wearing the straw hat and walked out with Shen Yijin.
The first stop was to go down the mountain and visit the zoo. Although the park had not yet been opened, the animals had already settled here.
The zoo project under the Shen Group’s amusement park was mainly based on adoption, rescue and protection of animals. There was no animal performance segment. Various supporting facilities suitable for raising animals were very complete.
It was said that the animals in this zoo were transported by Shen Group from a bankrupt zoo. The amusement park hadn’t opened yet, and the income was negative. Therefore, the cost of maintaining this place alone would be tens of millions every year.
However, he didn’t know whether this concept of protecting animals and money spending had been implemented all the time. The animals in the zoo were fat and healthy, they were living a leisurely and contented life.
Jing Xun took photos with some animals, fed the giraffes by hand, and pet some animals under the protection of the staff, including a chubby seal.
Anyway, he and Shen Yijin were the only two people strolling around. There were no tourists in the zoo around the clock, and the staff responsible for keeping animals were also happy to let these animals get close to him.
Some staff even suggested that he go down to the aquarium fish tank to play.
If it weren’t for the fact that Jing Xun didn’t know how to dive, he would really go down.
Of course, Jing Xun didn’t pet the animals all by himself. He sometimes proposed that Shen Yijin also come over and pet the animal with him.
Just like plants, Shen Yijin obviously had no feelings for animals. However, seeing the young man who jumped happily after touching the seal that his entire face turned red from excitement, he also stretched out his hand and touched the little seal’s round body.
At a glance, the seal knew how to enjoy itself. Not only did it not resist, it even squinted its eyes and wagged its tail, issuing a comfortable cry.
Jing Xun, who was moved by this cute sound: Ahhhhhh!
While screaming in his heart, he didn’t forget to take a photo of Mr and the seal in the same frame.
Then, he himself was patted.
——Shen Yijin touched his head with his dry hand.
……
Jing Xun couldn’t get a clear view of Shen Yijin because the straw hat blocked a part of his sight. When he looked up again, the Mr’s expression didn’t change much, except that the corners of his lips maintained an upward arc. It was obvious that he just smiled.
With small animals around, the mind was easily healed. Jing Xun hurriedly took Shen Yijin to see other cute animals.
They strolled around for a while through the journey. There were many resting places and self-service drink shops in the zoo. During the rest, Jing Xun turned over all the photos he had taken and looked at it with Shen Yijin. Finally, he selected nine best photos to form a nine-square grid and posted them on his WeChat Moments.
There were no words, just simple photos.
The focus of the post was on small animals. There were a few photos in which he also appeared. However, in the fifth photo, which was the one in the center of the nine grid, Jing Xun chose the photo of Shen Yijin petting the seal.
Because the little seal cried out comfortably when Shen Yijin petted it, it looked like the seal was giggling in the photo captured by Jing Xun. It was just too cute.
Jing Xun liked it alot, but considering that Shen Yijin had always been low-profile, he thoughtfully cut off the part where Mr’s face showed up.
Only Shen Yijin’s powerful arms, well-shaped hands, and the small round body of the little seal were left in the photo.
The photos were posted, and within two minutes, he received a large wave of likes.
Basically, it was all the likes from his classmates and seniors, of course, there were many comments as well. Some people asked him where he went to play, and some people told him to have fun, but there were also those with sharp eyes who immediately decoded where he went——
Senior sister Chu Qiao: Ah ah ah, did Xun Xun go to the zoo with that person? Have fun!
Assistant Xiao Tang: Mr. Yan looks so cute wearing a hat, like little maruko-chan3Chibi Maruko-chan is a shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Momoko Sakura. The series depicts the simple, everyday life of Momoko Sakura, a young girl everyone calls Maruko, and her family in suburban Japan in the year 1974. Picture here.. But does the boss actually pet the seal? That’s incredible!
……
Shen Yijin also saw Jing Xun’s Moments.
He didn’t play with his cell phone very often, and rarely checked WeChat Moments. It was Jing Xun who handed him his cell phone to let him look at it.
Shen Yijin slowly swiped the screen, carefully looking at each photo. When he swiped to the fifth photo, his finger hovered over the screen for only a moment, then he quickly switched to the next photo.
After looking at it all, Shen Yijin suggested that they should take a photo together.
Jing Xun also thought about it, he hadn’t taken a photo with Mr yet, so he hurriedly troubled the passing staff to take photos for them.
They didn’t choose a special background. They simply sat in the drink shops because the lighting here was not bad.
The staff was very diligent when taking photos. After taking a lot of photos in a row, she handed the phone back to Jing Xun, asking him to choose at will.
As soon as he saw these photos, Jing Xun fell in love with them.
In the photo, he and Shen Yijin were sitting next to each other. At a glance, there were two pairs of long legs.
Of course, the main focus of this photo was Mr. Maybe because of the filter, Shen Yijin didn’t look so cold anymore. With a close observation, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, as if smiling.
Well, not bad, the good old-fashioned Shen Yijin still knew how to cooperate with the pose.
Jing Xun was amused by his own thoughts. He smiled and showed Shen Yijin the photo. Shen Yijin also expressed his satisfaction. Then he said, “Post it.”
“Post what?” Jing Xun didn’t understand it for a while.
Shen Yijin: “Moments.”
“!”
Under the subconscious shaking, Jing Xun said: “…..can I?”
Shen Yijin said: “Yes.”
When talking, his long eyelashes drooped naturally. He looked at Jing Xun with his long and deep eyes.
“Of course, you can.”
Under the reflection of the sunlight, he looked just like a small mushroom.
1The open space living room in a traditional Chinese house. Picture here.2Two happy events come at the same time.3Chibi Maruko-chan is a shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Momoko Sakura. The series depicts the simple, everyday life of Momoko Sakura, a young girl everyone calls Maruko, and her family in suburban Japan in the year 1974. Picture here.