Isn't This a Contract Marriage? Why Are You Sneaking Kisses! - Chapter 13

Three minutes were enough to agree on meeting again if the opportunity arose.

Gu Anxi’s smile hadn’t left his face since.

Right then, a notification chimed. Gu Anxi glanced down, and his expression shifted instantly.

“I’m so sorry, something came up at home. I have to leave early.” Gu Anxi nodded apologetically to Fei Qingya. “Please tell Auntie Yuran for me—Mommy will come to visit her in person next time.”

Seeing his hurried manner, neither Fei Qingya nor Shen Silie pried. Shen Silie raised a hand and waved with a smile. “See you next time.”

Gu Anxi nodded repeatedly and turned to leave with quick steps.

Just as Gu Anxi left, Fei Qingya was about to ask Shen Silie about what happened last time when a deep, pleasant male voice came from behind them.

“Long time no see.”

Fei Qingya whipped her head around. The tall figure before her made her freeze for a moment.

Shang Jichen had stood behind them at some unknown point, his gentle gaze now resting quietly on Shen Silie.

Hearing the voice, Shen Silie’s hand stiffened. The glass in his palm trembled slightly, sending ripples through the liquid. He looked up and met those familiar eyes; his throat felt blocked by something. It took a while before he squeezed out a sentence: “Long time no see, Mr. Shang.”

Sensing the subtle atmosphere, Fei Qingya furrowed her brows slightly and took a quiet step back, tactfully hiding to the side like an extra in a movie.

“What a coincidence. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

The third time.

After Shang Jichen said this, his gaze lingered on Shen Silie’s eyes for a few seconds. The corners of his mouth tilted up by a fraction, and his tone was light. “Fate.”

His steady pace of speech held a trace of imperceptible joy, and his tone had softened unconsciously.

Shen Silie took a deep breath. Meeting a semi-stranger in a setting like this always felt inexplicably awkward. He looked for Fei Qingya to break the ice, but she had already read the room and slipped away toward the edge of the tables.

Shen Silie turned to see that she had already snuck over to her sister, Fei Mingzhu. Seeing him look over, she even gave him a little wave.

This glance also put him directly in the crosshairs of a large group of people who were secretly watching them.

Shen Silie: “…”

He felt a sense of suffocation.

Noticing the youth’s unease, Shang Jichen’s expression shifted. He lowered his eyes slightly and offered an apology: “I’m sorry. I was too forward. Am I interrupting you and your friend?”

As he spoke, Shang Jichen’s eyelashes drooped. His voice remained gentle, but his mood was clearly dejected. He looked exactly like a pathetic, disappointed big dog.

Help!

A surge of guilt—as if he had bullied someone—washed over Shen Silie. He was suddenly at a loss. Panicking, he tried to explain: “No, not at all! It’s just… I didn’t think we’d meet again.”

“If you don’t have other plans right now, shall we chat?” Shen Silie had no choice but to bite the bullet and throw out an invitation.

“Alright.” Shang Jichen looked up, the disappointment in his eyes vanishing instantly as he accepted plainly. “It would be my honor.”

The two stood by the window chatting. The atmosphere was slightly awkward at first, with Shen Silie offering non-committal responses.

However, Shang Jichen was exceptionally skilled at handling certain people and situations. He easily grasped the subtle emotions in Shen Silie’s words and steered the conversation toward topics that interested him. He also quickly realized that the youth liked listening to stories.

Shen Silie soon relaxed completely. His initial wariness was thrown to the winds; he sipped his drink while listening curiously to the other man’s anecdotes.

Whenever Shen Silie looked elsewhere, Shang Jichen stepped slightly closer without making it obvious.

Before Shen Silie realized it, the distance between them had closed to within his personal safety zone. Shang Jichen tilted his head slightly; he could even smell the orange scent lingering on the youth.

With his back against the floor-to-ceiling window, moonlight flowed along Shen Silie’s slightly curled hair. His pearl-white silk suit made his skin look as warm and smooth as jade, emphasizing his slender waist and long legs. Soft black hair fell against his cheek, his eyelashes were long, and the three tear moles under his eye added a touch of charm. The brilliant lights reflected in his honey-colored eyes, looking both innocent and clean.

In the lavishly decorated ballroom, his looks weren’t overshadowed; instead, he blended in like the protagonist of an oil painting—breathtakingly beautiful.

Shang Jichen’s gaze wandered over the youth’s face. His voice paused before he offered a compliment: “Your clothes look very nice today.”

Shen Silie was taken aback. He looked down at his suit. “This? My friend picked it out for me. She’s always had good taste.”

“It suits you very well.” Shang Jichen’s tone carried a hint of approval, his eyes never leaving the youth’s face.

Faced with the compliment, Shen Silie wasn’t shy; he simply swapped his wine for a glass of juice from a passing waiter and moistened his lips.

It wasn’t right to let only one person talk. Shen Silie didn’t know what to talk about and wasn’t actually planning to develop a real friendship—he just wanted to get through the night. He ended up telling Shang Jichen a made-up story about how he used to help someone babysit years ago.

Shang Jichen didn’t seem annoyed at being brushed off. He continued to stare at the youth’s eyes without blinking, his thumb unconsciously rubbing the rim of his champagne glass as he drifted into a daze.

In the ballroom, guests’ eyes swept over the two of them. It wasn’t that their position was prominent—on the contrary, it was an inconspicuous corner.

It was just… even if one didn’t follow the entertainment industry, after half an hour of observation, word had spread. Everyone now knew the identity of the youth beside Shang Jichen. Some had already started whispering about whether the two knew each other beforehand.

Fei Mingzhu, at the center of the social circle, shot a thoughtful look in their direction.

Outside the window, a spring rain began to patter.

Their reflections overlapped quietly on the glass. Shang Jichen had, at some point, moved so close he was almost brushing against Shen Silie. From a distant, angled perspective, it looked as if the man had pulled the youth entirely into his embrace.

Shen Silie looked up and asked him how the bread tasted last time.

Shang Jichen arched an eyebrow, a flash of cryptic emotion crossing his eyes. With a hint of a smile, he replied:

“It tasted very good.”

The clamor of the surrounding guests seemed to be sealed away. Warm breath and the scent of sandalwood hit Shen Silie’s brow. He suddenly realized he was only a few centimeters away from Shang Jichen. The gaze coming from the other man was so gentle it felt as if it would melt him into the enchanting night.

Shen Silie discreetly took a step back.

Shang Jichen acted as if he noticed nothing, maintaining his gentle and proper expression. “Are you staying for the second half of the banquet?”

The banquet was divided into two parts: a three-hour social session followed by a formal dinner on the first floor. Depending on their schedule, guests could choose to attend one or both.

Shen Silie nodded and asked back, “What about you?”

Shang Jichen lowered his eyes and chuckled. “Naturally, I will be attending as well.”

Shen Silie nodded, showing little reaction. The seating for the second half was generally pre-arranged; he figured he wouldn’t be sitting with the man anyway.

Just then, Fei Yuran and Fei Mingzhu approached to offer their greetings.