ARBRMW : Chapter 76

Chen Xu didn’t really need to go to the bathroom. He just couldn’t resist the heat in his heart from Si Ye’s gaze, so he pulled him into the dimly lit alley behind the bar, a perfect spot for a secret rendezvous.

The sky was already completely dark, and the dim lighting from a distant street lamp added an air of intimacy to the alley. Chen Xu, wearing only a thin shirt, felt the early spring night’s chill. Si Ye wrapped him in his coat, holding him close. Pressed against Si Ye’s warm chest, Chen Xu felt the heat of Si Ye’s kiss, which quickly dispelled the cold and made him break into a slight sweat.

Si Ye had never kissed Chen Xu in such a secluded and simple place before, with the sounds of nearby residents adding to the atmosphere. It felt as if they had isolated themselves from the world, existing only for each other in that moment.

When Lu Hai came out looking for him, Chen Xu finally returned. “Where did you go? Did you eat something bad?” Lu Hai asked anxiously.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go,” Chen Xu replied, his voice a bit hoarse. Lu Hai sensed something was off but didn’t think too much about it since they were about to perform.

As Chen Xu walked past him, the multicolored lights revealed a conspicuous hickey on his collarbone. Lu Hai’s brain went blank for a few seconds before he realized that Chen Xu and Si Ye hadn’t gone to the bathroom.

Lu Hai muttered under his breath, “Damn it!” Their precious Xu was so young, yet he had already been completely taken. It felt like their family’s pig had been taken by someone else’s pig, and what’s worse, it was their pig who took the initiative!

Meanwhile, Zhu Yaoyuan was nervously pacing back and forth. “What if I forget the lyrics? Zhen Zhen said she’ll be in the audience. What if I mess up?” he fretted.

He had gone on a date with Qin Yuzhen that morning. Upon hearing about his performance, she decided to go home and get ready before heading to the bar. Despite wanting to pick her up himself, Zhu Yaoyuan had to settle for meeting her at the bar.

Seeing Zhu Yaoyuan’s nervousness, Ke Xinghao and Yuan Ren tried to comfort him, but he was still anxious until Chen Xu spoke up. “Do you want me to sing for you?” Chen Xu offered.

Stunned, Zhu Yaoyuan listened as Chen Xu continued, “My boyfriend will be watching. I don’t mind taking the spotlight. He’ll be captivated by my charm.”

This statement left Zhu Yaoyuan speechless. Considering that he was the lead singer, the center of attention, and could win Qin Yuzhen’s heart with a good performance, he quickly refused. “No, no, I’ll do it myself,” he said, stepping back to prevent Chen Xu from taking over.

Ke Xinghao and the others silently gave Chen Xu a thumbs up. “Xu is still the best.”

Si Ye stood among the crowd, gazing at the stage. As the lights dimmed and the music started, Chen Xu and his bandmates appeared on stage, instantly igniting the crowd. Fans waved their hands and screamed, some even holding light sticks as if at a major concert.

Si Ye’s eyes followed Chen Xu, who was playing the drums. The spotlight made Chen Xu look like a wild and untamed stallion. Just a few minutes ago, this same person had been tenderly kissing him. The thought made Si Ye’s blood boil, his gaze becoming intense.

After the performance, posts about Chen Xu’s band flooded the forums.

67l: Whoa! TEN finally found a reliable lead singer!

68l: I agree. Even though his singing isn’t perfect, his voice is great and he’s so handsome. This sunny type is perfect!

69l: I hope this new singer doesn’t leave soon like the last one!

70l: You guys are all talking about the new singer, but did no one notice Xu? He was gorgeous! If he debuted, he’d be a top star in no time!

71l: OMG, I saw the pictures. His look tonight was incredible. He can even pull off that purple hair. Look at those collarbones, prprprpr

72l: I’m a fan of Xu’s looks. I was worried TEN would disband with their declining activity, but tonight, I’m revived!

The thread shifted from praising the new singer to everyone fawning over Chen Xu’s looks. Suddenly, a passionate user posted a picture, causing an uproar.

378l: I can’t believe it! Is this guy real? Are you sure this isn’t photoshopped?

379l: Incredible! That face, that aura, so cool and reserved. Who is he?

380l: I need information about this guy in three minutes!

…

460l: Five minutes have passed, boss. Still no info. Are you going bankrupt?

In the bar, Si Ye sat at the counter, waiting for Chen Xu to finish removing his makeup. Several rounds of men and women came up to him with drinks, but he coldly ignored them.

“Hey, handsome, no need to be so uptight,” a flirtatious woman said, leaning in close. The strong scent of her perfume made Si Ye frown. Just as he was about to get up and leave, a white hand reached from behind, pushing her away.

The woman turned, ready to curse, but froze when she saw Chen Xu. “Xu?” she asked, thinking he finally showed interest.

Her excitement turned to shock as Chen Xu coldly said, “Sorry, please stay away from my boyfriend.”

The woman nearly dropped her drink. Xu had a boyfriend? And it was this incredibly handsome guy!

“Ready to go?” Chen Xu asked.

He rarely went out with Si Ye because of his busy schedule. Though he didn’t want to go home yet, he also didn’t want to stay and have others eyeing Si Ye.

“I just called the driver. We’ll leave in a few minutes,” Si Ye said, smiling and holding Chen Xu’s hand.

“Alright,” Chen Xu said, a bit sullen. He ordered a drink and sat at the bar with Si Ye, waiting for the driver.

“Xu, want to grab a bite?” Lu Hai asked as they emerged from changing and removing makeup.

“No, maybe next time. The driver will be here soon,” Chen Xu replied, sipping his drink. He figured Si Ye wouldn’t like their usual spots and planned to invite them to a nicer place next time.

“Alright,” Lu Hai nodded, and the three waved goodbye before heading to a hotpot restaurant.

Zhu Yaoyuan had already left with Qin Yuzhen, likely enjoying a romantic walk by now. Chen Xu and Si Ye were left waiting in the bar.

Their striking looks and presence drew attention, with many wondering about their relationship.

After finishing his drink, the driver called, saying he had arrived. Si Ye paid the bill, grabbed Chen Xu’s coat, and they prepared to leave.

“Xu! What’s your relationship with him?!” A drunken man stumbled towards them, angrily pointing at Chen Xu.

Si Ye immediately scowled, but Chen Xu remained unfazed. Without acknowledging the man, he took Si Ye’s hand and moved to leave.

The drunk man cursed, “You slut! I thought you had some dignity, but you’re just sleeping around for money. How much did this pretty boy pay you? I’ll double it for a night with you!”

Chen Xu knew this man, who had tried several times to buy him drinks and paid the bar owner to have Chen Xu accompany him, only to be politely refused each time.

Such people were not uncommon, and Chen Xu had long learned to ignore them. But seeing Chen Xu with another man broke their balance, and they couldn’t stand it.

Before Chen Xu could react, Si Ye kicked the man to the ground, his gaze icy. The commotion startled many patrons.

The kick was hard, and the man couldn’t get up immediately. His companions rushed to help him, panicked. “Mr. Zheng!”

Mr. Zheng coughed and then started vomiting, the stench making everyone back away in disgust.

Struggling to stand, Mr. Zheng pointed a trembling finger at Chen Xu and Si Ye, “You’ll regret this! I’ll ruin you both!”

“This is the first time someone has dared say that to me in A City,” Si Ye said, looking down at Mr. Zheng with cold disdain. His gaze sent a shiver through Mr. Zheng, making him realize he had messed with someone powerful.

Chen Xu, feeling a bit tipsy, tugged on Si Ye’s hand, “Let’s go.”

Seeing Mr. Zheng cower, the onlookers, who had expected a fight, laughed mockingly.

Si Ye helped Chen Xu into his coat and led him to the car.

The night’s drama quickly spread, revealing another surprise: the drummer Xu had a boyfriend, and he was just as stunning!

801l: Case solved, everyone. The gods date within their own circle.

802l: I’m crying! Xu has a boyfriend. I want to steal him, but I want his boyfriend too!

803l: It’s true! My friend tried to hit on the handsome guy, and Xu told her to back off. His possessiveness is insane. If the cold guy can’t handle it, hand him over to me.

The possessive little boyfriend, slightly drunk, slept soundly on his boyfriend’s shoulder.

…

When Chen Xu woke up again, it was the next day. Si Ye had already left for work. Yawning, he was about to get out of bed when he felt a chill.

Looking down, he swore, “Damn it.” Si Ye hadn’t even put any underwear on him. Had they succeeded last night?

But he had no memory of it, and it was a bit of a loss to forget his first time.

With no one else in the room, Chen Xu got up to find his clothes. Even walking a short distance confirmed nothing had happened, or he wouldn’t be moving so easily.

His body was clean, indicating Si Ye had wiped him down. Still, Chen Xu took a shower.

Afterward, he checked his vibrating phone.

King Hai: Xu, are you okay? I drank too much last night and just woke up. The boss said someone caused trouble for you.

Xu Zi: I’m fine.

Hao Zi: What? Who dares mess with our Xu? They must be asking for it!

Yuan Ren: You guys woke up early. Do you know how painful it was dragging you all back last night?

Yuan Ren: Xu, stay away from the bar for a while to avoid any trouble.

Hao Zi: Our Xu scared? He’s the toughest guy, never afraid of a fight.

King Hai: Shut up. Remember how you used to bully Xu and got your ass handed to you?

Hao Zi: Please don’t remind me. I was young and stupid.

They chatted a bit longer, with Zhu Yaoyuan still not responding. The single guys speculated he was too excited from his date and stayed up all night, which wasn’t far from the truth as Zhu Yaoyuan had kissed Qin Yuzhen and couldn’t sleep.

Chen Xu went downstairs and asked about Si Lin. Uncle Zhong said Si Lin had gone to class.

“Sir called for breakfast, but Si Lin didn’t come down. When asked what he learned yesterday, he said science. Sir asked a few questions, but Si Lin couldn’t answer.”

“Did Uncle say something?” Chen Xu asked, pausing with his fork.

Uncle Zhong nodded, “Yes, Sir scolded him for forgetting what he learned in one day. Si Lin’s face turned red, and he obediently went to class after breakfast. Sir said he would quiz him again tonight.”

Chen Xu felt for Si Lin, but he also sympathized with Si Ye’s busy schedule. Watching over an eighteen-year-old who still needed supervision was tiresome.

“Let me know when Si Lin is back. I’ll quiz him,” Chen Xu said, feeling for Si Ye. Unlike Si Lin, he didn’t mind keeping an eye on the rebellious teen.

Uncle Zhong smiled warmly, “Yes, Young Master Xu.”

By six in the evening, Si Lin returned. Hearing Chen Xu would quiz him, his eyes lit up.

As expected, only Chen Xu cared about him in this house!

But he celebrated too soon. Expecting Chen Xu to be gentle, he was surprised to find him as strict as Si Ye, if not more so.

“You forgot again after just five minutes,” Chen Xu said, his expression cold, making Si Lin feel like he was being cut by icy blades.

“Sorry…” Si Lin muttered, feeling like a failure.

Chen Xu handed him a notebook, “Write it down. A poor memory can’t compete with a diligent hand.”

“Oh.” Si Lin took the pen and paper, starting to write.

Chen Xu added, “If you can’t remember, write it ten times. If you still can’t, write it twenty times. If that doesn’t work, write it forty times, and so on.”

Si Lin froze in his seat, feeling struck by lightning.

“Isn’t this too harsh?” Si Lin felt like Chen Xu was scarier than his high school homeroom teacher.

Chen Xu didn’t answer, flipping through a professional book in English.

At ten, Si Ye returned home.

“Young Master Xu tutored Young Master Si Lin all evening and just went to his room,” Uncle Zhong said, smiling at the harmony.

Si Ye frowned. If Si Lin didn’t have ulterior motives, Chen Xu’s tutoring would make him happy. But now, it was bittersweet.

“Watching the stock market?” Si Ye’s voice suddenly sounded behind him, making Chen Xu jump.

Holding an iPad, Chen Xu was engrossed in the stock trends, not noticing Si Ye’s arrival.

“Yeah, have you eaten?” Chen Xu asked, turning around.

“I have.” Si Ye bent down to look at the iPad, his fingers sliding across the screen.

“You’re amazing,” Si Ye said, ruffling Chen Xu’s hair, feeling proud of his clever boyfriend.

“I did lose a bit of money,” Chen Xu confessed, blushing at the praise.

“Profits and losses are normal. You’ve been at this less than a year. I wasn’t as good as you at your age,” Si Ye said, kissing Chen Xu’s forehead. “You make me proud.”

Chen Xu shyly licked his lips, knowing Si Ye’s words were sweet nothings. Si Ye had started his own company at fifteen—how could he compare?

“Did you tutor Si Lin today?” Si Ye asked, holding Chen Xu’s hand.

“Yeah, did Uncle Zhong tell you?” Chen Xu wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t something to hide, and Si Lin would have had to study a second round if not informed.

“Don’t do it again. He should be more self-disciplined,” Si Ye said, pulling Chen Xu into his arms with a sigh.

“If he were, you wouldn’t need to quiz him,” Chen Xu said, smoothing Si Ye’s frown.

“I wish everyone were as good as you,” Si Ye said, hugging Chen Xu tighter.

Chen Xu stroked Si Ye’s brows, “I’m only good for you.”

Outside, he was fierce. In high school, his excellent grades and good looks kept him from being labeled a school bully, but he was tough.

Ke Xinghao and the others often said the school’s bully was just a puppet, with Chen Xu being the real power behind the scenes, always with his own theme music.

Si Ye couldn’t help but kiss him. Chen Xu was obedient, letting him kiss and touch, his body heating up even as he remained proactive.

Breathless, Chen Xu reached out, “Si Ye, let me help you.”

The formality in his words made Si Ye suspect it was deliberate.

He carried Chen Xu to the bed, his slender fingers feeling the tremors in Chen Xu’s waist.

“Are you doing this on purpose?” Si Ye asked, his voice low.

Chen Xu feigned innocence, refusing to admit it. Si Ye’s little boyfriend had quickly learned some tricks.

Kissing Chen Xu’s chin, Si Ye guided his hand, teasing his fingers until they trembled, almost pulling away but always caught by Si Ye.

“You have class tomorrow,” Si Ye reminded, glancing at him.

Chen Xu thought Si Ye was rejecting him, feeling a pang of disappointment.

But then Si Ye picked him up, heading to the bed. “So, we need to be quick.”

…

It turned out Si Ye’s quick was only for Chen Xu, not himself.

Afterward, Chen Xu tried to help Si Ye, but he refused. “Next time. It’s late, and if you start, it’ll never end.”

Remembering his last attempt to help Si Ye, Chen Xu blushed. As a man, why did Si Ye have so many advantages? Was it because he was still growing?

Would he be as steady as Si Ye at his age, not so sensitive?

By the time he was twenty-eight, Chen Xu understood some things couldn’t be forced.

Returning to school, Chen Xu handed back the task of supervising Si Lin to Si Ye. But Si Ye, lacking patience, conducted random quizzes.

Si Lin lived in constant fear, worried Si Ye would surprise him with a test. Worse, Si Ye took his phone!

The more mistakes, the longer the phone stayed locked away.

Si Ye wasn’t snooping. He used a military-grade box, indestructible, placing it in Si Lin’s room where he could see but not touch it.

Si Lin felt he would be driven mad by Si Ye and Chen Xu.

Yet his grades improved, and seeing his scores, Si Lin cried tears of gratitude. It was his highest score ever.

Unaware of Si Lin’s struggles, Chen Xu focused on preparing for a design competition.

Seeing Chen Xu’s sketches, Tang Zhen was stunned, “Wow, Chen Xu, is there anything you can’t do?”

Chen Xu calmly replied, “Yes, many things.”

“Like what?” Tang Zhen didn’t believe him.

“Having babies,” Chen Xu said, making the scene awkward.

Zhu Yaoyuan burst in, handing Chen Xu a stack of letters. “I met Lu Hai on the way back. He gave me these. Fans wrote to you. I even got a few!”

Chen Xu glanced at the letters, comparing them to his own large stack. Zhu Yaoyuan’s joy was simple.

His phone rang, and Chen Xu saw it was Si Ye. He took the call on the balcony.

Si Ye called to tell Chen Xu that the banquet for Si Lin would be held this weekend and he would pick him up after class to get new clothes.

“You’ve grown again. The old clothes are a bit short,” Si Ye said, thinking how quickly Chen Xu was growing.

“Okay,” Chen Xu agreed.

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