4 Please Come to My House for Dinner 04

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It was quite late when Su Ran arrived home. The house was quiet, and he initially assumed everyone was already asleep. As he bent down to change his shoes, when he straightened up, he suddenly saw Jiang Yi standing at the bedroom door, which startled him.
"Not asleep yet?" Su Ran asked.
Jiang Yi looked at him, his brows tightly furrowed. "Whose clothes are you wearing?"
The dim light cast Jiang Yi’s figure half in shadow. His tall, slender silhouette stretched a long shadow, ghostlike, evoking an eerie feeling.
Su Ran immediately turned on the light, and the sudden brightness made Jiang Yi squint. His eyes behind the lenses then fixed on Su Ran’s clothes.
Su Ran sensed Jiang Yi’s mood was somewhat subdued and quickly explained, "My work uniform got covered in a lot of cream, so I borrowed Mr. Lu’s clothes."
"Mr. Lu? Which Mr. Lu?" Jiang Yi asked.
"Lu Jin," Su Ran replied.
Jiang Yi’s frown deepened. "Bring me your work uniform."
Su Ran obediently fetched the bag placed by the entrance and handed it over, standing in front of Jiang Yi like a student awaiting a teacher’s approval.
Jiang Yi took out the uniform, confirming the cream stains, then tossed the bag aside. When he saw Su Ran changing clothes earlier, he had almost thought Su Ran had been with another man outside.
But now, looking at Su Ran standing before him, he realized how ridiculous that thought was. Anyone might do such a thing, but Su Ran? With his weak personality, how could he dare? Moreover, Jiang Yi knew well that Su Ran’s heart was entirely tied to him.
Besides, those who attended the birthday banquet of the Lu family’s eldest daughter were all wealthy or noble. Who would be interested in someone like him? Timid, submissive, and plain-looking—no one would fancy him.
Jiang Yi’s gaze settled on Su Ran’s face. His careful scrutiny paused instinctively; he had never looked at him so intently before.
They were from the same town, but Jiang Yi had moved to the city for school in middle school. They had only reconnected about half a year ago. Their families said the Su family had done them a favor, so it was reasonable that Jiang Yi helped Su Ran find a job.
The first time they met, Su Ran had dressed plainly and was awkward even taking him out for coffee, nervous to the point of not daring to meet his eyes. Jiang Yi barely paid attention, finding him dull and irritating.
But after half a year in the city, Su Ran seemed to have shed that rustic naivety. Looking at his face now, Jiang Yi could no longer call him plain.
"Yi?"
Jiang Yi snapped back to reality, somewhat annoyed, and coldly said, "Tell me everything that happened at the banquet."
He wasn’t invited to Lu Jin’s sister’s birthday banquet, yet Su Ran was left behind to attend, even borrowing Lu Jin’s clothes. This was beyond his expectations.
Su Ran recounted almost everything about the banquet, ending up a bit parched from talking so much.
Jiang Yi’s narrow eyes lowered in thought for a moment, then said, "You mean, Lu Wan always came to the store to buy cakes, and both he and Lu Jin praised your cakes several times?"
Su Ran nodded. "Yes, that’s right."
Jiang Yi rubbed his nose bridge. "Alright, I get it."
His tone signaled the conversation was over. Seeing Jiang Yi’s weary expression and knowing he hadn’t come home the previous night, Su Ran asked, "Is work going well? You don’t look so good."
Jiang Yi glanced at him with disdain, disliking Su Ran’s excessive concern, as if every glance and gesture needed his attention. "Mind your own business."
With that, Jiang Yi returned to his room. Su Ran stared at the closed door and immediately complained to 555, "Damn, I’m sick of this unlucky husband’s pathetic temper."
Seeing Su Ran discouraged, 555 quickly cheered him on, "Only by enduring hardships can one rise above! Don’t forget, the rewards are the highest on the platform, and the year-end best employee awaits us!"
Su Ran was speechless.
He turned toward the kitchen, opened the fridge to see if there was anything to eat. After drinking so much at the banquet, he was still hungry.

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Just as he took out a pack of bread, he heard movement in the living room, thinking Jiang Yi might be coming out to use the restroom. But turning his head, he saw Ye Qiao instead.
Su Ran blinked, watching him approach, and heard Ye Qiao say, "I’m just here for some water."
Su Ran moved the bread aside. "Want some bread?"
Ye Qiao waved him off, poured a glass of water, and leaned against the counter. Su Ran glanced at him, noticing the loose tank top he wore, his biceps bulging with strength.
Su Ran envied him greatly, sneaking a look at his own arms before quietly lowering his head to nibble on the bread.
Seeing Su Ran’s bowed head, Ye Qiao, who had overheard most of Jiang Yi and Su Ran’s earlier conversation through the thin walls, thought,
"Working late and coming home only to get scolded, then having to eat cold bread—poor little brother-in-law."
Ye Qiao stepped closer and stood beside him, tilting his head to see the fine hairs at the nape of Su Ran’s neck, revealing how thin he was. His head hung slightly, the bones at the back of his neck protruding.
"Ran Ran, let me warm you some milk," Ye Qiao said.
Su Ran, still absorbed in his bread, hesitated before replying, "No need, I’ll just eat a bit more and go to sleep."
But Ye Qiao ignored him, took a carton of milk from the fridge, filled a pot with water, and put the milk in it. "It’ll be ready soon."
Su Ran had planned to brush him off but was touched by Ye Qiao’s thoughtfulness. "Thanks."
Ye Qiao turned to look at him, then leaned close to whisper in his ear, "Next time I won’t tell Jiang Ge when you leave, so he won’t get mad."
Su Ran was surprised—Ye Qiao had overheard everything. Ye Qiao looked slightly guilty, but what did it matter to him?
"It’s all my fault, Ran Ran. If I hadn’t told Jiang Ge, he wouldn’t have gotten mad at you," Ye Qiao said.
Su Ran patted Ye Qiao’s shoulder. "It’s not your fault. I should call Yi to let him know next time."
Ye Qiao was surprised. "Ran Ran, Jiang Ge is really strict with you. You’re being wronged."
Su Ran’s face darkened with bitterness, recalling the past. Jiang Yi wasn’t really strict—he just cared about whether rules were broken or moods were upset. Actually, he didn’t care about Su Ran at all, always indifferent and never paying attention.
Thinking that way was really miserable. But as a weak husband who often deceived himself, Su Ran had his own logic.
"He usually doesn’t care about me…" Su Ran muttered, discouraged, "I should have told him. Leaving you alone at home without care was my fault."
Looking at Su Ran’s downcast expression, Ye Qiao felt sorry for him—a little poor soul who blamed himself after being mistreated.
Softening, Ye Qiao wrapped his arm around Su Ran’s shoulders and gently hugged him, soothing his back like holding a wet puppy. "Ran Ran, you’re doing well."
Suddenly embraced, Su Ran felt the warm palm on his back, leaving him somewhat flustered. He instinctively glanced toward Jiang Yi’s room—if Jiang Yi came out now and saw him hugging Ye Qiao in the kitchen...
Even imagining that made Su Ran alert. In this kind of scene, he should be the one in the room, after all...
*
Early morning, Su Ran’s biological clock woke him on time. When he slipped on his slippers and stepped out, he saw Jiang Yi already dressed in a suit, changing shoes by the entrance.
Since Jiang Yi mentioned a new boss had come, Su Ran noticed he’d been leaving early every day lately, seeming very tense.
Still sleepy, Su Ran rubbed his eyes and heard the door close.
The house was quiet again as he headed to the kitchen, only to see Ye Qiao coming out of his room.
"Ran Ran, don’t pack breakfast for me. I’m eating out with friends later," Ye Qiao said.

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Su Ran responded with a simple "Oh." Ye Qiao had told him yesterday he was going out with friends who paint together, also planning to do some sketching.
"Then let me help you pack," Su Ran said and went into Ye Qiao’s room.
He seldom entered Ye Qiao’s room before. Inside, many paintings were scattered about, some even lying on the floor.
Ye Qiao laid the clothes he wanted on the bed. Su Ran folded them neatly and packed them into the suitcase on the floor.
After Ye Qiao took out all the clothes, turning around, he saw Su Ran squatting on the floor. His pajamas were short and loose, exposing half his lower back.
His skin was fair and delicate, like fine mutton fat jade. Ye Qiao’s hand instinctively opened slightly, as if two hands could encircle him.
Su Ran’s feet went numb from squatting, so he shifted position. Ye Qiao averted his gaze, then squatted down to help, though with only one good hand, folding was difficult.
After a while, Su Ran looked at the messy suitcase and chuckled, leaning forward to grab Ye Qiao’s wrist. "Qiao Qiao, stop it, I’ll do it."
Ye Qiao paused, feeling the soft hand holding his wrist. He looked up along the pale hand and met Su Ran’s smiling face.
Su Ran leaned slightly forward; the loose collar of his top opened wide, and a striking splash of color suddenly caught Ye Qiao’s eye, making him look away as if shocked.
"Okay..." Ye Qiao said, sitting on the bed, his head awkwardly turned aside. He hadn’t expected such a mundane red in watercolors to linger so vividly in his mind.
The image grew increasingly vivid—would it be even more brilliant when suffering destruction...?
Suddenly, an untimely ringtone interrupted Ye Qiao’s thoughts. When he looked at Su Ran again, Su Ran had already stood up.
Su Ran answered the call, "Hello, Yi."
"Do me a favor. Check if there’s a document in the drawer of my desk," Jiang Yi said.
"Oh, I’ll check now," Su Ran replied.
"It’s very important," Jiang Yi added.
Su Ran left Ye Qiao’s room and went to Jiang Yi’s room to search the drawers. Ye Qiao leaned silently against the doorframe, expressionless.
Su Ran found the document. "Got it."
"Good, help me deliver it..." Jiang Yi hesitated, then said, "Forget it, I’ll come get it myself."
The call ended immediately.
Su Ran placed the document conspicuously on Jiang Yi’s desk. Seeing how urgent and distrustful Jiang Yi was, it had to be important.
When Su Ran returned to Ye Qiao’s room, he saw a drawing board on Ye Qiao’s lap. The paper showed something strange—two red beans blurred in water, with a faint red ripple spreading around.
Su Ran understood Ye Qiao’s sudden urge to paint—it was inspiration striking. "What is this?"
Ye Qiao looked at him, a faint smile on his lips. "It’s a secret."
His fingertips were burning. He painted desire onto paper but hadn’t expected to feel desire for Su Ran’s body.
Ye Qiao’s gaze returned to the drawing board, his fingertips lightly caressing the paper, yet his fingers moved uncontrollably, pressing down, growing even hotter in front of Su Ran.