I Can Still Salvage It

Shen Mian didn鈥檛 sleep soundly that night. He had dreams all night long.

But they were good dreams.

In the dream, he seemed to have traveled to ancient times and became a useless prince who had nothing to do. His only hobby was teaching the mynah bird he raised to speak.

And Pei Zhiyi was his male pet raised in the mansion, although he didn鈥檛 know who he was, having lost his memory and collapsed in the woods. He had injuries on his body, blood staining his white clothes, truly a beautiful person in distress, incredibly captivating.

In an instant, it stirred the heart of this useless prince.

Since he picked him up, Pei Zhiyi belonged to him. Seeing Pei Zhiyi recover from his injuries, his face as beautiful as spring flowers and autumn moon, dressed in a white robe, reading under the lamp, exuding an elegant and enchanting aura, as if a fallen immortal.

Shen Mian鈥檚 vulgar and obscene thoughts became like young seeds in spring, relentlessly breaking through the soil.

So on a dark and windy night, he grabbed a jug of wine and carried the few remaining calligraphy stones in his pocket, going to discuss poetry, songs, the stars and the moon with Pei Zhiyi. He shyly said to Pei Zhiyi, 鈥淢ay your heart be like mine, always longing for you. I wish for nothing more than to sleep by your side.鈥?/p>

Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 expression suddenly became somewhat complicated.

But soon, he saw Pei Zhiyi smile at him.

鈥淪ure.鈥?/p>

Shen Mian was overjoyed, and his restless thoughts couldn鈥檛 be suppressed any longer. He pounced on Pei Zhiyi, overwhelming him.

It could be described as an eruption of wild instincts, too inappropriate to think of.

鈥?/p>

That dream felt too realistic. When Shen Mian woke up, he was confused for a while, staring at the ceiling and wondering, where was his carved wooden bed and the red silk canopy?

Most importantly, where was the half-dressed Pei Zhiyi!

He hadn鈥檛 even had a chance to do anything yet!

Shen Mian sat up abruptly.

He noticed that the curtains in the room were partially drawn,聽 allowing sunlight to filter through, casting dancing shadows on the wall.

But the messy bed had only him on it; Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 side was empty and neatly arranged.

He stared blankly at the half-empty bed, finally realizing that he wasn鈥檛 some useless prince but a struggling high school student in his sophomore year. Pei Zhiyi wasn鈥檛 a male pet but his handsome childhood friend who excelled academically in school.

But if he remembered correctly鈥?that handsome childhood friend of his held his hand and they confessed their feelings to each other the previous night. Why was he nowhere to be seen that morning?

Immediately after waking up, Shen Mian鈥檚 mind was flooded with infinite possibilities, ranging from Pei Zhiyi regretting and running away to the realization that last night was just a dream.

suddenly鈥?/p>

The door creaked open, and Pei Zhiyi entered the room wearing a thin black sweater, carrying a tray of food.

鈥淎re you awake?鈥?Pei Zhiyi placed the tray down, walked over to Shen Mian, and tidied up his messy hair. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e awake, hurry up, wash up, and have breakfast with me.鈥?/p>

Shen Mian became even more confused.

He stared at Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 face, feeling that there was nothing different from any other ordinary morning. Pei Zhiyi was still the same Pei Zhiyi鈥攇entle and caring鈥攂ut the sweetness and shyness of their recent confession last night seemed non-existent.

To confirm the previous night wasn鈥檛 just his imagination,聽 he tentatively said to Pei Zhiyi, 鈥淚 had a dream last night.鈥?/p>

鈥淲hat kind of dream?鈥?Pei Zhiyi raised an eyebrow in surprise. 鈥淵our dream sounds quite weird.鈥?/p>

Shen Mian stopped smiling, and his heart suddenly felt cold.

No way, was everything from yesterday really fake?

Those kisses, holding his hand, confessing to having secretly loved him for years鈥?were they all his imagination?

It was like a lightning bolt had struck his heart.

Fortunately, before he could feel heartbroken, he heard a chuckle.

When he looked up, Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 hand was supporting his cheek, and he lightly kissed his cheek.

鈥淭hat couldn鈥檛 be a dream,鈥?Pei Zhiyi coaxed him softly. 鈥淵ou are my boyfriend.鈥?/p>

Shen Mian felt dizzy and disoriented, but he couldn鈥檛 care less about Pei Zhiyi teasing him. Instead, he smiled affectionately at Pei Zhiyi.

Looking into Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 clear eyes under the sunlight, he had only one thought in his mind鈥攈is boyfriend was really handsome.

鈥?/p>

Shen Mian quickly finished washing up. While washing his face, he realized that his eyelids were swollen, probably from crying embarrassingly the previous night. He didn鈥檛 look good at all.

He wiped his face with a towel and thought that Pei Zhiyi must truly love him since he didn鈥檛 mind him looking like that.

After he stepped out of the bathroom, he sat down to have breakfast. Pei Zhiyi was still holding an ice pack for his eyes. Otherwise, if he went downstairs looking like that, his parents would surely ask him what happened to his eyes.

But even after the ice pack was in place soothing his eyes, Pei Zhiyi didn鈥檛 let go. He lightly touched Shen Mian鈥檚 skin under his eyes.

Shen Mian keenly sensed something, but he didn鈥檛 say anything. Instead, he felt a tinge of anticipation.

Just as he was eating his bread, he accidentally smeared chocolate on his lips.

Pei Zhiyi pretended to reluctantly use his thumb to wipe it off, saying, 鈥淲hy are you like a child, getting food all over yourself?鈥?/p>

As he said that, Pei Zhiyi lowered his head and licked the chocolate sauce off his lips.

In response, Shen Mian lifted his head.

Under the sunlight, the two exchanged a lingering kiss, their tongues intertwining. Shen Mian tasted the chocolate, while Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 mouth carried a faint hint of tea.

His Adam鈥檚 apple bobbed, and his hand uncontrollably reached out to hug Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 waist.

But just as his hands touched Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 slender waistline, the knocking on the door resounded.

鈥淢ian Mian, I鈥檓 coming in.鈥?Shen Changhe spoke as he turned the doorknob.

Shen Mian took a deep breath, widened his eyes, and pushed Pei Zhiyi onto the floor. Pei Zhiyi, on the other hand, was pushed, and his head nearly hit the window. Luckily, he managed to avoid falling off the table.

As Shen Changhe entered, he saw Pei Zhiyi sitting by the table with his legs slightly bent, while Shen Mian sat in his seat, seemingly unsure of how to act, appearing rather stiff.

Without thinking much, Shen Changhe placed the washed cherries on the table, allowing them to eat and work on their assignments together. But he didn鈥檛 forget to also scold his own son, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e quite lazy, sleeping until almost ten o鈥檆lock and having breakfast served by little Pei.鈥?/p>

Pei Zhiyi smiled gently and replied, 鈥淯ncle, it鈥檚 nothing.鈥?/p>

Shen Mian felt his heart pounding even more, and he looked at his dad and complained, 鈥淣ext time, could you knock on the door more gently? Consider the delicate condition of your son鈥檚 heart.鈥?/p>

His dad couldn鈥檛 be bothered and replied, 鈥淵ou think you鈥檙e delicate? Even diamonds aren鈥檛 as solid as you.鈥?/p>

After Shen Changhe brought the fruit, he left, but not before reminding them to head downstairs for lunch later.

Shen Mian鈥檚 flirty mood disappeared due to the interruption. He didn鈥檛 dare to engage in any erotic activities with Pei Zhiyi. Instead, he obediently sat in Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 embrace and focused on doing their assignments.

But as he wrote a few lines, he couldn鈥檛 help but nuzzle against Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 chin and Adam鈥檚 apple like a little kitten.

So clingy, Pei Zhiyi thought as he held Shen Mian, but a smile unconsciously curled up at the corners of his mouth.

With one arm around Shen Mian and the other writing the competition questions, Pei Zhiyi lightly kissed Shen Mian鈥檚 short hair, feeling a sense of peace he had never experienced before.

鈥?/p>

They finished writing by eleven o鈥檆lock, and Shen Mian went downstairs with Pei Zhiyi.

Shen Changhe was still cooking, and the thoughtful Pei Zhiyi naturally went to the kitchen to help.

Shen Mian lay on the sofa, watching him, feeling full of tenderness and sweetness.

He thought Pei Zhiyi looked really handsome wearing an apron. In an instant, he went from being a cool top student to a gentle boyfriend.

The same face, but a different vibe and aura from him. He truly didn鈥檛 think he deserved him, but the more he thought about it, the happier he became. He tried his best to hide it, not letting himself burst into shy giggles.

Su Ying was helping their daughter in doing some extracurricular handicrafts. Seeing Shen Mian鈥檚 idle posture, she found it particularly displeasing and said with disdain, 鈥淐an鈥檛 you learn from Zhiyi? Look at just how diligent he is. If you鈥檙e not good at studying, that鈥檚 one thing, but why are you even lazy in helping with chores?鈥?/p>

Shen Mian still cheerful replied, 鈥淚f he鈥檚 diligent, then I don鈥檛 have to be.鈥?/p>

Su Ying was speechless. 鈥淎re you still expecting Zhiyi to take care of you for the rest of your life? That鈥檚 wishful thinking. He will only take care of his girlfriend in the future.鈥?/p>

Shen Mian wasn鈥檛 the least bit annoyed; in fact, he felt ecstatic because he was that girlfriend. Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 skills would definitely benefit him in the future.

But as he thought about it, his smile faded slightly. He wondered how his parents would react when they found out about him and Pei Zhiyi.

Their family was relatively open-minded and didn鈥檛 oppose early relationships. They had even had serious conversations with him, saying that falling in love was a normal part of life as long as it didn鈥檛 affect his studies and he didn鈥檛 become a scumbag.

Of course, his dad added, 鈥淲ith your academic performance, even if you fall in love, there鈥檚 no room for a decline as you are already poor in studies.鈥?/p>

However, as open-minded as his parents were, they probably would have never imagined that their future daughter-in-law would be a man, someone they had personally cared for and loved almost as much as their own son.

Shen Mian absentmindedly folded the paper while helping his sister with the handcrafts, but when he placed it in front of Shen Yu, he realized that he had folded it incorrectly.

Shen Yu wanted a lily, but he had folded a rose, which looked out of place among the lilies.

鈥?/p>

During the meal, Shen Mian鈥檚 jade pendant around his neck was noticed by his parents.

Ever since he put it on the previous night, he hadn鈥檛 taken it off. Accidentally, it was now peeking out from his shirt, swaying gently against the fabric.

Shen Mian鈥檚 parents, being observant, recognized at a glance that it matched the pendant around Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 neck.

They looked inquiringly at Pei Zhiyi.

Pei Zhiyi admitted openly, 鈥淎untie, this is the birthday gift I gave Mian Mian. I already talked to my grandmother, and she agreed. I hope the pendant blesses Mian Mian with success in his exams.鈥?/p>

Even if he mentioned his grandmother, Shen Mian鈥檚 parents were still at a loss for words.

Shen Mian silently ate his meal. It wasn鈥檛 appropriate for him to say anything now and he couldn鈥檛 just give up that token of their love.

Su Ying paused and said, 鈥淢ian Mian is just celebrating a birthday. There鈥檚 no need for such a precious gift鈥︹€?/p>

It wasn鈥檛 that they couldn鈥檛 afford it, but their two children were still young, and there was no need to give such expensive presents.

However, Pei Zhiyi earnestly replied, 鈥淎untie Su, I gave Mian Mian this jade pendant because of its good meaning. Let鈥檚 consider it a superstition on my part, hoping that this item can offer him more protection. Plus, Mian Mian also gave me a gift that is much more valuable than this.鈥?/p>

Su Ying fell silent for a moment. She understood Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 intentions. Shen Mian had never been in the best of health since he was young, and she and Shen Changhe had taken him to the hospital countless times. Giving Shen Mian a Guanyin pendant was justified as it also carried a blessing.

But after some consideration, she curiously asked Pei Zhiyi, 鈥淲hat gift could he possibly give you?鈥?/p>

Pei Zhiyi smiled and replied, 鈥淗e asked me to keep it a secret.鈥?/p>

Shen Mian continued eating silently, struggling with the braised pork ribs in his bowl.

Of course, he knew what gift Pei Zhiyi was referring to.

He had given himself to Pei Zhiyi.

He found Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 subtle hints a bit headache-inducing, afraid that his parents would catch on to something, but he couldn鈥檛 help but curl up the corners of his mouth.

He lifted his head and glanced at Pei Zhiyi.

The two of them sat across from each other, just having an ordinary meal. But under the table, Shen Mian had taken off his shoes and was gently rubbing his foot against Pei Zhiyi鈥檚 ankle.

Pei Zhiyi ate his food calmly, but the look in his eyes as he glanced back at Shen Mian seemed to be filled with lust.

Although they hadn鈥檛 exchanged a single word, the atmosphere around them seemed to have risen several degrees.

The other three people at the table remained clueless, preoccupied in discussing where to travel during winter vacation.

聽

1

Author鈥檚 Note:

Some of the things that happened in Mian Mian鈥檚 dream will indeed come true, although not exactly as he imagined.

聽

1

Author鈥檚 Note:

Some of the things that happened in Mian Mian鈥檚 dream will indeed come true, although not exactly as he imagined.