Are All You Straight Guys Like This Chapter 98

Early in the morning, An Yu was so sleepy he could barely open his eyes, slowly making his way downstairs in slippers.

He had slept with the air conditioning on last night. Beijing’s autumn was cold and dry, and when the rain stopped in the middle of the night, he was too thirsty to sleep and had forced himself to wait until now.

Halfway down the stairs, he suddenly noticed a figure in the living room, curled up on the sofa, watching TV. Startled, he nearly jumped out of his skin.

“…Ranran?” His heart thumped wildly as he looked at the clock on the wall.

It was 10:30 a.m.

The sky was still overcast.

Heavy clouds hung low on the horizon, with a mist of rain lingering. Although it was no longer raining, the intermittent showers and thunderstorms were expected to last another week.

After that week, it would finally be deep autumn.

The living room in the An household had no lights on. The dim, damp light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting slanted shadows across the wooden floor. Ye Ran sat there, eyelids drooping, hugging a cushion. He was still in his flannel pajamas, hair a bit messy, the corners of his eyes tinged red. He glanced at An Yu. “…Mm.”

Hearing his voice, An Yu sensed something was off.

He frowned, recalling what An Yu’s parents had told him about the Cheng family the night before. Keeping his expression calm, he picked up his mug and went to the kitchen for two glasses of water. While sipping, he peeked at Ye Ran and asked, “Ranran, what brings you here so early?”

Yesterday, Shen Shi’s intentions regarding Ye Ran had been clear. Everyone present understood he didn’t want Ye Ran to know the true nature of the Cheng family. An Yu, though angry at Father Cheng’s shamelessness, also thought considering Ye Ran’s personality, this approach was best.

…It would be best if Ye Ran never learned about the Cheng family’s misdeeds.

On this point, he and Shen Shi were completely aligned.

He even found it surprising that Shen Shi, despite being at the Ye residence for only a short while, already understood Ye Ran so thoroughly.

Ye Ran didn’t know what An Yu was thinking. His gaze wandered as he slowly took the water, thinking about the strange, almost surreal atmosphere at breakfast this morning.

After breakfast, before leaving, Shen Shi grabbed his suit jacket and casually told the dazed Ye Ran, “I’ll be back for lunch.”

Chen Ma smiled brightly and nodded repeatedly.

Old Li had just come in from the backyard, pleased with the progress of his side business as a gardener. Hearing this, he was overjoyed.

Except for him, no one found it strange.

Ye Ran recalled Shen Shi’s calm, measured gaze earlier, a presence that made him feel uneasy and helplessly cornered, almost tangible.

So, after Shen Shi left, he had panicked and forgotten even to change his clothes before rushing to the An household.

…He felt that something was very wrong.

Very wrong.

But exactly what was wrong, he wasn’t quite sure.

Seeing that Ye Ran didn’t seem shaken, An Yu realized he still didn’t know Father Cheng’s plan and breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s almost eleven. What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.”

It was as if a warning bell rang in Ye Ran’s mind.

He wanted to nod and stay at the An household, but his herbivore sixth sense recalled Shen Shi’s deep, dark eyes earlier, as if he had known Ye Ran would try to escape and had deliberately watched him until he obediently said “okay.”

He was still a little afraid of Shen Shi.

The man, high-ranking and composed, had the aura of a prime adult lion, seasoned in the business world, having weathered many storms. The long years had stripped away any impulsiveness or arrogance, leaving him like a deep, still pool, impossible to read.

This was both the desire and fear of Ye Ran, fresh out of college and sheltered in the artistic ivory tower, never having encountered the ways of the world.

After thinking for a while, he refused An Yu. “…I’ll go home to eat.”

An Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled, pinching his cheek. Feeling the soft flesh, his smile deepened. “No wonder you want to eat at home, you’re getting some meat on your little face.”

Ye Ran touched his cheek, asking, “Really?”

“Of course,” An Yu sighed. “You didn’t know how thin you got after the Ye family incident. You had so little flesh before, and you didn’t take care of yourself. I thought having you stay at my place would allow me to cook for you, but it seems you’ve been well taken care of.”

The carefully nurtured little rose seemed to bloom again, showing a hint of its former brilliance.

An Yu smiled at Ye Ran, a restrained smile, but his misty eyes, free of worry, became shimmering and soft, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He couldn’t help but excitedly tell him, “My artwork has been selected by the studio!”

“Wow!” An Yu cheered. “The most competitive national game company? That’s amazing, Ye Ran! From now on, the skins in the game you play will be drawn by you!”

Ye Ran smiled. “There are still some details to modify, but I won’t be doing them myself. They’ll be assigned to colleagues better at details and backgrounds.”

“Then I’ll wait for your skin pre-sale! D*mn it, I’ll buy ten accounts’ worth!” An Yu waved his hand grandly.

Ye Ran’s mood lifted; An Yu’s vision of a bright future replaced all the morning’s worries. His eyes shone as he watched An Yu pull out a gaming phone, show the character with his skin, and carefully explain the player experience.

“Anyway… this is a hot character. I’ve decided, I’m going to play it! This is my main hero!”

His relaxed mood lasted until they returned to the Ye residence.

At home, Ye Ran spotted a black Bentley parked at the door. He paused, embarrassed, looking down at his pajamas and feeling like a strange person wandering outside in sleepwear.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he silently prayed Shen Shi wasn’t in the living room.

The door was open. Warm air greeted him as he pushed it open.

The living room’s crystal chandelier illuminated the space, making everything clearly visible.

Ye Ran carefully stomped the water off his slippers, turned into the entryway, and immediately saw Shen Shi on the sofa, looking at a report. 

The thick reports were obscured by a black matte folder. Shen Shi frowned, his eyes dark and deep. The pressure on his fingers, gripping the pen, seemed to pierce through the paper. Xu Wen, sweating profusely, noticed Ye Ran’s arrival. Seeing Ye Ran hesitantly heading upstairs, Xu Wen chuckled at his wary demeanor. 

Shen Shi seemed to sense something, lifting his eyelids to glance at Ye Ran’s hurried departure. 

His cold, impatient aura lessened considerably. His eyelids lowered, and he stared at the reports in silence for a while. Xu Wen quickly said, “President Shen, Wen Na is still waiting for our reply…” 

Wen Na was the only woman among Shen Shi’s three special assistants. Decisive and efficient, with a sharp tongue and a decisive, resolute approach, she possessed a strong will and courage, which was why Shen Shi had sent her out to handle some reforms.

Shen Shi remained expressionless, his voice low and warning: “Tell her not to do anything unnecessary.” 

“Yes,” Xu Wen replied solemnly. 

Chen Ma was simmering soup in the kitchen, the sweet aroma of food filling the living room. A moment later, footsteps echoed down the stairs. 

Shen Shi paused, his work on the report fading slightly. Following the sound, he saw Ye Ran, now dressed in soft, well-fitting pajamas and clean slippers, quietly entering the kitchen. His voice drifted over: “…Chen Ma, we have guests. Prepare an extra pair of chopsticks and bowls.”

Xu Wen was momentarily stunned.

Guests?

Who?

Was it him?

Before he could finish thinking, Shen Shi, without looking up, understood Ye Ran’s intention. “You can stay.”

Putting down the folder, Shen Shi walked into the kitchen.

Soon, he returned carrying food and dishes, Ye Ran following behind with just a few pairs of chopsticks. He glanced at Xu Wen, smiling softly with a gentle, warm ripple on his cheek.

“Assistant Xu, you sit first.”

Xu Wen sat down dazedly. The dishes and utensils were provided by Shen Shi, as was the food. Ye Ran gently served him.

At that moment, he ate without tasting a thing, feeling he had reached the pinnacle of being a worker.

During the meal, Shen Shi and Xu Wen had no time to rest. Both had to return to the company to handle work, not just for the Beijing branch, but for the Haicheng headquarters as well.

Shen Shi, despite his status, had very little free time. Carrying the salaries of thousands of Shen employees, along with family responsibilities, he sometimes stayed at the company for a month during the busiest periods.

Everyone watched his every move. A calculating, strong-willed heir was someone everyone could trust.

Ye Ran saw Shen Shi and Xu Wen off at the door.

He stood in the hallway, dim light on his face, holding Shen Shi’s coat handed by Chen Ma, like a little wife sending her husband off, obedient and quiet.

Shen Shi’s Adam’s apple moved as he took the coat from Ye Ran, putting it on. His presence became even more imposing, but his tone was gentle. “I won’t be back tonight.”

Ye Ran paused, then nodded.

Old Li had parked the car outside. Xu Wen got in first; Shen Shi followed. His tall, upright figure was faintly visible in the rain and wind.

When he came back to himself, Ye Ran was already on the sofa, drinking the rock sugar pear water Chen Ma had given him.

The living room was warm and comfortable, keeping all the storm outside.

He was somewhat absent-minded, deciding to visit the Ye company tomorrow.

At that moment, An Yu called. His bright, energetic voice said, “Ranran, get ready tonight, I’m taking you out to have fun!”

…

After Ye Ran left, An Yu worried he might be affected by the gloomy Cheng Jiaming, especially since Ye Ran had come over so strangely that morning. He decided to take him out tonight. The club “Golden” had an event, supposedly inviting a dozen handsome men to dance. As the saying goes, the only cure for worries is beautiful men.

Since Ye Ran had been swayed by Cheng Jiaming before, An Yu decided to broaden his horizons tonight.

Ye Ran chuckled over the phone. “Okay, I’ll go.”

An Yu was very satisfied and promised, “A dozen men, guaranteed to make your heart race!”

By seven o’clock, An Yu drove to Ye Ran’s house, picked up Ye Ran, and headed straight to “Golden,” chatting non-stop, from cursing Cheng Jiaming to international affairs and back again. After this relentless banter, they arrived.

The night at “Golden” was understated, low-key.

The sign with the large characters “Golden” glowed with colored lights. Black-clad bodyguards stood at the door, and the heavy doors kept the music and screams inside.

An Yu, a regular, lifted the curtain and led Ye Ran inside to a pre-booked corner booth.

Dynamic music, flashing lights, and occasional screams and shouting filled the air.

The dance floor was full of men and women moving freely. Ye Ran’s ears hurt a little, so he rubbed them, adjusted, and sat in the corner, waiting for the show.

Next to their booth were some college students, seemingly just there for fun. An Yu chatted with them, and everyone laughed heartily.

The server brought fruit and drinks.

Ye Ran thanked them. He didn’t drink alcohol; during college, he had gone out with roommates once, got drunk, and was teased for rambling nonsense. Since then, he avoided alcohol completely.

An Yu knew this and called over the bartender for a separate watermelon juice.

Time passed quickly. Soon, the stage was cleared, raising everyone’s excitement. Screams and cheering continued endlessly.

“Andi! Andi!”

“Xiao Huo… Xiao Huo, I can finally see you!”

“Hurry up! I came today just to watch the dance!”

Ye Ran was amazed, whispering to An Yu: “Wasn’t it supposed to be once a year?”

An Yu was shocked too: “The market moves too fast; I’m behind on news.”

Then, all lights except the stage went out. Darkness enveloped the club. A single spotlight hit the center of the dance floor. Dry ice emitted a drifting white fog. Slowly, the fog swirled, and a figure emerged from the haze, exuding a powerful aura, upper body bare, wearing only tight-fitting shorts, heavily made up, high-bridged nose, lip piercing.

Ye Ran felt a dull ache as he watched, but around him, cheers and screams exploded.

The deafening shouts rivaled those of a concert; his eardrums throbbed in pain. An Yu, meanwhile, was already excitedly patting his arm, shouting at him: “This is exactly my type!!!”

Nearby, a small gay fan was screaming even louder: “Xiao Huo, husband! Xiao Huo, husband, look at me from the front!”

Ye Ran: “…”

As usual, Ye Ran picked up his watermelon juice and took a sip.

The sweet watermelon juice carried a faint hint of alcohol, subtle, making it taste even more refreshing.

He took another sip as more performers walked onto the stage, sunny and handsome, cute and obedient, dominantly ultra-A, all kinds of men in just shorts, showing off their physiques and flashing provocative gazes across the crowd.

An Yu’s voice was hoarse from yelling: “D*mn it, number 3! Number 3!”

The crowd around them shouted: “Number 8!” 

“Number 12!”

“Xiao Huo ahhh!”

Realizing he was the only one shouting for number 3, An Yu’s competitive spirit flared. He grabbed Ye Ran’s hand: “Ran Ran, shout number 3 with me!”

Ye Ran felt dizzy, as if a weight had dropped onto his head. Staring at the stage, the figures blurred, almost multiplying tenfold before his eyes.

His eyelids twitched; he took out his phone to turn on the flashlight and, speechless, looked at the watermelon juice in front of An Yu and his own watermelon-grape ice drink.

The watermelon-grape ice, a signature drink of “Golden,” contained rum. It was smooth and palatable, but surprisingly strong.

Ye Ran’s head spun; as the alcohol hit, his body started to heat up.

It was a bit cold outside, and he wore a black jacket over a simple crew-neck sweatshirt. Inside the crowded, noisy bar with the heating on high, he felt uncomfortable and took off his jacket. The corners of his eyes glistened with moisture as he waved the glow stick An Yu had handed him, calling out dully:

“…Number 3! Number 3!”

Number 3 was a Japanese-style, wolf-tailed handsome guy with light amber eyes. Seemingly noticing An Yu’s unrelenting screams, he suddenly looked over and gave a wink.

An Yu: “…”

An Yu: “………..”

D*mn, that wink was ridiculously flirtatious.

An Yu instantly calmed, his mouth dry, and he took a sip of the drink. Immediately, he realized something was wrong, the watermelon-grape ice contained alcohol. Today, he had dared to order it only because Ye Ran was with him, but now—

Wait!

He stiffened and quickly turned his head.

On the soft sofa in the corner, Ye Ran squinted, nodding his head, his pale, delicate cheeks flushed with a thin layer of sweat. His temple hair was damp, lips red, eyes wet at the corners tinged with faint red, seriously watching the stage, still dizzily shouting: “…Number 3!”

An Yu: “…”

Oh no.

He scrambled over. Luckily, everyone’s attention was on the stage; no one noticed the dizzy Ye Ran. An Yu put an arm around Ye Ran’s shoulders, careful not to jostle him, and called the bartender for a cup of warm milk.

The bartender looked at him sharply.

Good. Coming to the bar, drinking juice first, then milk, and still daring to ask for it warm.

“No,” the bartender said through gritted teeth. “We only have cold milk.”

An Yu was about to speak when Ye Ran, regaining some composure, tugged his sleeve: “…It’s fine. I’ll just drink some water.”

The bartender nodded immediately and soon brought a bottle of mineral water.

Ye Ran took a couple of sips, his throat quenched slightly. His eyes cleared, and he told An Yu: “I’m fine now.”

An Yu, worried, asked: “Really? Should we still go?”

Ye Ran knew how excited An Yu was for the upcoming dance, so he smiled and shook his head: “I’m fine. Let’s watch the dance first.”

He was still a bit slow in reaction but spoke clearly, not slurring like someone drunk.

An Yu hadn’t seen Ye Ran drunk for years. Hearing this, he relaxed and nodded: “Okay, let’s watch the dance first.”

The music on stage shifted, becoming more agitated.

The lights changed from soft white to wild, indulgent light red, tiny red sparks flashing over everyone’s heads, finally forming a beam that fully illuminated the men on stage.

The dance now purely showcased male strength and beauty.

Excited small gay fans in the audience screamed, wishing they could rush the stage.

An Yu was equally fired up, sweating slightly, shouting loudly, while Ye Ran sat quietly beside him, holding one of An Yu’s hands without moving.

As the dance neared its climax, An Yu sat upright. Suddenly, a soft gasping sound came from beside him.

Ye Ran’s hand twitched, as if trying to pull away.

An Yu turned cautiously to look.

Next to the booth, a composed, elegant figure leaned down and gently gathered the dozing, squinting Ye Ran into his arms. Ye Ran’s hand left An Yu’s; An Yu froze, squinting in the dim light at the man’s face.

“Uh… President Shen?” An Yu hesitated.

The man looked at him, wearing a black wool coat, tall and upright, as if he had just stepped down from the world of fame and fortune. A few strands of dark hair fell on his brow. He carried faint scents of red wine and cigarettes.

Shen Shi’s deep gaze lifted Ye Ran’s face from his arms and fell on An Yu.

He held Ye Ran steadily, his large, warm hand gently pressing the back of Ye Ran’s head, resting his face against his chest. His voice was low, calm, and warning: “I’ll take Ranran back first.”

Ye Ran was petite, leaning into Shen Shi’s chest, very small.

An Yu stared in astonishment, stunned for a long moment before nodding: “Ah…okay.”

With that, Shen Shi left as silently as he had arrived, walking at a measured pace. Outside, it was still drizzling, gray and windy.

He gathered Ye Ran into his coat, bowed his head, and quickly got into the Bentley waiting with hazard lights on by the roadside.

Only when he confirmed Ye Ran was safely in the car did An Yu exhale and return to the booth.

After that, the songs and dances seemed meaningless. He frowned, sensing something was off.

Xu Wen, watching Shen Shi carry Ye Ran into the car, hesitated: “…Young Master Ye is drunk?”

Tonight he had driven Shen Shi back to the Ye house.

The previous social event ended abruptly due to some matters. Shen Shi hadn’t dined out but returned home.

At Ye’s, Ye Ran was nowhere to be seen. Shen Shi, slightly tipsy, asked Chen Ma where Ye Ran had gone.

Chen Ma, unaware, replied without hesitation while knitting in the living room: “Ranran said he went with An Yu to ‘Golden,’ uh, or was it ‘Silver,’ to have some fun.”

Xu Wen nearly spat out his hot water.

Shen Shi’s expression darkened instantly. Without even taking off his clothes, he went out again.

Seeing Ye Ran so dizzy now, Xu Wen quickly understood: …At this age, kids naturally love fun.

He sighed. Shen Shi, however, spoke calmly: “What event is at Golden tonight?”

Xu Wen immediately replied: “A dance show. Fifteen men with varied appearances and temperaments are performing.”

Shen Shi hummed and didn’t speak further.

He was slightly drunk too, but the cold wind sobered his mind.

He didn’t let go of Ye Ran, who rested against his chest, cheeks flushed, eyes closed, sleeping drowsily.

Shen Shi quietly looked down at him, his eyes deep and inscrutable, like dark undercurrents rolling. After a while, he lifted a hand to touch Ye Ran’s head lightly, gathering him closer into his arms.

Through the rearview mirror, Xu Wen glimpsed the back seat.

The usually cold, indifferent man rested his head against the person in his arms, eyelids lowered, shadows cascading over him. Rarely, a hint of fatigue and tenderness showed on his face.

As if holding something precious.

He silently kissed the strands of hair at Ye Ran’s lips.

….

Back at Ye’s house, Xu Wen drove away, uneasy. He had to pick up Shen Shi again at 7:30 a.m. for two multinational meetings and new quarter strategies requiring board decisions.

Ye Ran, too sleepy to open his eyes, buried himself in Shen Shi’s chest, overwhelmed by the effects of the watermelon-grape ice.

His eyelashes damp with moisture, slightly drooping, breaths deepened, lips pressed together, his pale, delicate face glistening with faint sweat, helpless yet pitiful, forcibly awakened. After a while, he hazily opened his eyes and saw a man kneeling on one knee in front of him, holding his ankle.

At some point, his cotton socks had been removed.

Ye Ran sat on the soft sofa, weakly tilting his head: “Hm?”

The living room was dark.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the rain pattered, moonlight broke through the clouds, casting a thin silver glow.

The small Ye family garden was alive again. Morning glories, hibiscus, and other flowers intertwined, petals bright, stamens red, drenched in rain, shedding tiny blossoms.

Ye Ran’s misty eyes focused on the man in front of him, who took out a small black box and removed a reddish-brown anklet.

Reddish-brown beads threaded on a silver chain glistened under the moonlight.

Thoughts blurred and scattered.

Ye Ran lowered his head, his thin spine outlined by moonlight. His right foot rested on Shen Shi’s knee as the man carefully fastened the anklet.

Those long fingers, used to signing thousands of documents a minute, willingly held his heel, selecting and placing a beautiful chain.

His feet were beautiful, snow-white ankles, delicate arches, green-blue veins clear as flower branches. The reddish-brown anklet made them even more eye-catching.

“Ranran.” The final clasp of the anklet wasn’t fastened. Shen Shi held his ankle, speaking for the first time.

Half-kneeling in the heavy shadows of the living room, his calloused fingertips stroked the anklet over Ye Ran’s soft skin. In Ye Ran’s drowsy, bewildered gaze, he quietly looked up, paused, and said: “Yesterday, I didn’t make it clear.

“I don’t want you to seek someone you could marry,” he continued, fingers tightening slightly around Ye Ran’s ankle, voice low and gentle, in this empty rainy night, speaking to a Ye Ran too drunk to remember tonight’s events: “I want to marry you.”

….

The anklet was gently returned to its silk box, as if it had never existed.

Shen Shi leaned down, lifted Ye Ran, still pressing his head to his chest, shielding him from wind, rain, and darkness.

He carried Ye Ran into his bedroom, calmly wiping his face.

Once everything was done, he closed the bedroom door, leaving at a measured pace. His dark, inscrutable eyes revealed no emotion, calm, unfathomable.

Once again, he was the high-ranking, deep-minded heir of the Shen family.

The mature man’s subtle, silent affection, only tonight’s moonlight witnessed it.