BPTCMW : Chapter 18

 

It was the first time Xia Yang saw more than one expression on Han Yi’s usually stoic face.

 

Shock, sternness, indescribable complexity… it was as if he used up all his lifetime’s expressions in that instant.

 

“Do you know what you’re saying?”

 

Looking at Han Yi’s darkening face, Xia Yang guessed that he might not understand the various meanings of a “hickey.”

 

Clearly, he was ignorant and uninformed in this area.

 

“Do you think I would pin you against the wall and kiss you? No, no, no, I don’t like nibbling on ice cubes; I can’t bring myself to do it.”

 

Han Yi: “…”

 

“I mean, hands are a substitute for the mouth. When you can’t use your mouth, use your hands. Nothing wrong with that.”

 

Han Yi’s eyes darkened as he stared at Xia Yang’s face. “Is it necessary?”

 

“Yes,” Xia Yang nodded, “Although one hickey doesn’t represent everything, it’s an important symbol of a harmonious marriage. Grandma will be overjoyed seeing it in the video. As a high-quality service provider, I’ve thought of everything for you. It’s up to you whether to do it or not.”

 

Han Yi lowered his eyelashes and fell silent, seemingly convinced by Xia Yang’s logical and reasonable argument.

 

But after a moment, he raised his eyes again and said, “No, I have to go on a business trip.”

 

Pfft!

 

Xia Yang laughed. The big ice block was thoughtful enough to consider his own reputation while on a business trip with a hickey.

 

“Then how about I take the responsibility for everything?”

 

Han Yi said, “Okay.”

 

Xia Yang: “…”

 

Fine, you play the “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” game perfectly!

 

Despite the inner grumbling, his sense of duty as a high-quality service provider prevailed.

 

Compared to removing the earring, giving a hickey should be much easier. He tugged at his shirt collar, exposing his fair neck.

 

“Come on, just go easy.”

 

Han Yi raised his arm and left two hickeys near Xia Yang’s collarbone.

 

This was the second time today he touched Xia Yang’s skin, the first being his earlobe, now his neck. His fingertips felt slightly warm; he thought it was the other’s high body temperature.

 

“It’s bruised.” He controlled his strength, keeping it to a minimum.

 

Initially, Xia Yang didn’t understand, but once he did, he widened his eyes and exclaimed, “Damn!”

 

“I said to go easy, gently, not to focus on the color!”

 

Han Yi: “…”

 

Han Yi: “I’ll ask Fang Ming to prepare some Yunnan Baiyao.”

 

“…”

 

In the end, Xia Yang didn’t use the spray, fearing that the hickeys he painstakingly got would be erased by the medicine.

 

However, he made a note of it in his little notebook, considering it a work injury from serving the client and that extra charges were needed for settlement.

 

* * *

 

The next morning, under the bright sunshine, Xia Yang headed out early to West City Manor.

 

Entering the villa, Mrs. Tang was waiting in the living room, and as he expected, Jin Yang was also there.

 

The table was filled with ginseng, deer antlers, tortoiseshells, and jewelry, and a gray-and-white Norwegian Forest Cat sat at the corner.

 

A table full of luxurious gifts plus a cat, all exuding the scent of money.

 

Jin Yang, who had been defeated by Xia Yang several times before, was very unhappy with him. Seeing Han Yi was absent and Xia Yang only brought a cake, he looked down on him and mocked, “As expected, someone from a poor family can’t be presentable. Grandma’s birthday, and you only brought a tiny cake?”

 

Xia Yang looked at the cake and smiled politely, “I’ll convey your doubts to my poor family’s husband. The tiny cake was specially ordered by him from Mi San.”

 

“You…” Jin Yang’s face turned red with anger, his mouth trembling, the words unsaid stuck in his throat. Mrs. Tang took the cake with a smile: “Xiao Yi knows I love sweets and that my blood sugar is high, so he always orders cakes no larger than ten inches. This child is very thoughtful.”

 

She then turned to Jin Yang with a reproachful look: “What’s wrong with you lately? Your words are getting nastier!”

 

Knowing he was at fault, Jin Yang lowered his head, clutching his clothes and muttering, “I… I didn’t know it was my brother’s cake.”

 

“It doesn’t matter who sent it; you shouldn’t speak like that. Basic manners,” Mrs. Tang sternly lectured. “The value of a gift lies in the thought, not in its cost. Not everything can be measured by money.”

 

“I know my mistake, it won’t happen again.” Jin Yang clenched his fists under the table.

 

Seeing the little rival suffer again, Xia Yang felt delighted. While Mrs. Tang briefly left the room, he turned and kindly advised, “You’re not gaining much by always targeting me. Why not find a job if you’re bored?”

 

Jin Yang, gritting his teeth, slammed the table in anger, “I’m a top model, I have a job!”

 

Xia Yang took a deep breath, feeling that this kid might be beyond help.

 

When Mrs. Tang returned to the living room, Xia Yang composed himself and took out a portable hard drive from his pocket.

 

This was the real gift of the day.

 

“Grandma, since Brother Xiao Yi couldn’t be here for your birthday, we’ve prepared something special for you.”

 

“Oh?” Mrs. Tang’s eyes sparkled with surprise.

 

Xia Yang connected the hard drive to the living room’s tablet and pressed play.

 

A soothing BGM started, and two handsome men appeared on the screen.

 

Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, looking incredibly harmonious and intimate.

 

Xia Yang’s voice floated from the video: “Grandma, surprise, surprise!”

 

Mrs. Tang was stunned.

 

On the screen, a gentle young man leaned on Han Yi’s shoulder, his hand mimicking a microphone near Han Yi’s mouth: “Brother Xiao Yi couldn’t accompany you on your birthday this time, so he will punish himself by singing ‘Learn to Meow’…”

 

Han Yi: “…”

 

Han Yi: “I don’t know how to sing, stop messing around.”

 

Xia Yang: “Hehehe~~”

 

Although rejected, Han Yi’s actions weren’t forceful, and his tone wasn’t annoyed. To an outsider, it looked like playful banter.

 

Mrs. Tang laughed, the wrinkles on her face unfolding like spring blossoms.

 

“Grandma, Brother Xiao Yi and I wish you a happy birthday, and good health and beauty!” Xia Yang made a heart shape above his head.

 

Han Yi also looked at the camera, “Happy birthday.”

 

Mrs. Tang’s nose tingled, tears welling up in her eyes.

 

Her Xiao Yi had always been a reserved child, rarely expressing emotions. After the car accident and leg injury, he became even colder, like a piece of polar ice, focusing solely on work and unwilling to say more than necessary.

 

But now, under the influence of the little sunshine, that cold heart was gradually melting. Even a simple “happy birthday” was immensely moving and comforting to her.

 

Mrs. Tang, trembling with excitement, held Xia Yang’s hand, her voice shaking a little: “This is the best gift I’ve ever received, bar none.”

 

Nearby, Jin Yang, who had given a pile of luxurious gifts, was nearly fainting from anger.

 

The video played over and over again, almost on a loop.

 

Xia Yang’s eyes were getting tired from aesthetic fatigue.

 

“Grandma, you’ve watched it six times. Should we… take a break?”

 

Mainly, he feared that if they continued, he’d dream of Han Yi tonight. Maybe even dream of him singing the enchanting “Learn to Meow”…

 

Mrs. Tang finally put down the tablet, exhaling with joy.

 

Xia Yang made a cup of lemon honey water and handed it to her. She took it, ready to say something, when her gaze shifted and she noticed the little hickey near his collarbone.

 

Oh! She had discovered something interesting!

 

Mrs. Tang’s eyes lit up instantly.

 

Having experienced the sweetness of love herself, she knew exactly what a hickey signified.

 

“Yangyang,” she smiled, but hesitated to speak.

 

Xia Yang, pretending to be shy, tugged his collar to slightly cover the hickey.

 

“…Um, you caught me.”

 

His shy little bunny look wouldn’t make anyone suspect he was the “hickey advocate.”

 

Mrs. Tang patted his back, a hint of comfort in her eyes: “Wait a moment.”

 

“Hmm?” Xia Yang didn’t understand what “wait a moment” meant.

 

Mrs. Tang turned and went to her room. Less than a minute later, Xia Yang’s phone rang. He took it out and saw he’d been added to a group chat—[Loving Family].

 

The group included him, Mrs. Tang, and Han Yi.

 

Before he could react, Mrs. Tang had already sent a voice message in the group—

 

[Spring Blossoms]: “Xiao Yi, I’m very happy to see you both so close. Grandma isn’t old-fashioned, but I still want to give you a warm reminder.

 

[Spring Blossoms]: “In the future, can you restrain your impulses a bit? You’re not young anymore, don’t be so reckless!”

 

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The author has something to say:

Tiger: Northeastern slang for reckless and impulsive, doing things without considering the consequences (used in this context).

Another usage: Are you “tiger”? (meaning foolish or dim-witted, not used in this context).

Not an official idiom: “recklessly tigerish.”

I hope this explanation is correct. If not, please feel free to correct me, O(∩_∩)O haha~

 

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