Chapter 6
Author: Qiao Luosheng
Tags: mutual affection, destined love, sweet romance, campus, modern
He wasn’t afraid, so how could Shang Zeyan be afraid?
Shang Zeyan found the movie source and said, “Then this one. Let’s start.”
Jiang Cheng immediately sat up properly.
He was actually very bold. Haunted old school buildings, grave-filled hills behind the school, horror novels that made girls in his class scream—none of those had ever scared him.
But once the movie started, Jiang Cheng realized Western horror was different from Chinese-style horror. It didn’t rely on psychological pressure, but on violence and gore.
For example, in this movie, a killer dragged a bloody knife and searched room by room. Just as he was about to reach the room where the protagonist was hiding, Jiang Cheng quickly covered his eyes and didn’t dare to look.
Huh? Why was there no sound?
He peeked through his fingers again.
Oh, the protagonist was hiding under the bed. The killer didn’t notice him.
Jiang Cheng quietly let out a breath.
“Tap, tap, tap.”
Footsteps of the killer leaving sounded in the background. The protagonist relaxed and crawled out from under the bed.
Suddenly, there was a terrifying “thud” sound, and at the same time the screen showed a pair of feet in front of him.
Jiang Cheng almost screamed, quickly covering his eyes again while still patting his fast-beating heart.
So scary!
Then came more tense confrontation and escape attempts.
Jiang Cheng was scared but couldn’t help peeking through his fingers again, wanting to know what would happen next.
Shang Zeyan wasn’t really watching the movie. His attention was basically on Jiang Cheng.
The way Jiang Cheng looked—scared but curious, fingers opening and closing, wanting to watch but not daring to—was even more interesting than the movie itself.
Chapter 5
Jiang Cheng only then noticed Shang Zeyan’s gaze. He blinked at him in confusion, as if asking why he was looking at him instead of the movie.
“I’m a little scared, I don’t dare to look,” Shang Zeyan said calmly, making up an excuse. “I can only watch you to judge what’s happening. I’ll watch when you dare to look.”
“……”
It didn’t sound wrong.
Jiang Cheng continued watching the movie.
But he couldn’t concentrate like before, because he noticed Shang Zeyan seemed to keep glancing at him from time to time. Even someone as slow as him could feel it—this kind of frequent looking didn’t feel normal between guys.
It didn’t feel like he was being treated as a “younger sister.”
At least, he never looked at his cousin like that.
After the movie ended, it was already 3 p.m.
Shang Zeyan suggested, “The sun isn’t so strong anymore. Want to take a helicopter for a ride?”
Jiang Cheng was instantly tempted. He had never even been on a plane before, let alone a private helicopter.
What would it feel like to ride in a helicopter? It must be a very new experience!
But… thinking back to Shang Zeyan’s gaze in the screening room, Jiang Cheng hesitated.
Better not get too close to him.
They already had an engagement agreement, and their relationship was sensitive. If they kept interacting like this, others might think they were actually going to fulfill the engagement. It was better to avoid suspicion.
Jiang Cheng avoided eye contact and typed: “It’s getting late. I need to go back and keep my grandfather company.”
That was the same excuse again.
Shang Zeyan gritted his teeth, but he couldn’t argue with someone who was “dying soon.” He could only send him back.
At the entrance of the Chen family house, Jiang Cheng said goodbye via text and tried to get out of the car—but the door was locked.
He turned around and looked at the car door, then at Shang Zeyan, signaling him to open it.
Shang Zeyan didn’t open it. Instead, he said, “No plans tomorrow, right? I’ll take you to pick an electric scooter.”
“!”
Jiang Cheng was shocked.
He had only casually mentioned he liked electric scooters that day, and Shang Zeyan was already planning to buy one for him.
It was hard for him to convince himself this was just brotherly care for a “sister.”
Oh no.
Was he really being targeted by a man?
This was absolutely something he couldn’t accept. This kind of thing felt like a “confession gift.” If he accepted it, he might wake up one day already moved into Shang Zeyan’s household registry.
Jiang Cheng quickly shook his head.
Shang Zeyan smiled. “What does shaking your head mean? No plans?”
Jiang Cheng had no choice but to type: “Not that. I’m not free tomorrow. A doctor is coming to see me.”
Shang Zeyan’s expression turned serious. “About mutism?”
Jiang Cheng nodded.
“Alright. Go see the doctor first. I checked—this condition can be treated. We’ll see what your uncle’s doctor says. If not, I’ll contact top experts in Beijing. We’ll definitely cure you.”
Jiang Cheng nodded again—but of course, this “treatment” was not something he could actually use.
Shang Zeyan finally couldn’t resist. He reached out and patted Jiang Cheng’s head.
Jiang Cheng froze instantly.
It was the first time he had been patted on the head by a man.
And Shang Zeyan’s undisguised gaze made him even more shocked.
If before it was just suspicion, now he was certain—
Shang Zeyan really had feelings for him.
He had actually been targeted by a man…
But it didn’t make sense. Shang’s mother had clearly said she treated him like a sister. Why would Shang Zeyan suddenly insist on fulfilling the engagement?
Why??!
Jiang Cheng panicked, opened the car door, and fled.
Even after entering the house, he still felt that gaze following him, giving him goosebumps.
The next day, Chen Pingzhou arranged for a doctor to treat Jiang Cheng’s “mutism.”
The reason they made up this condition instead of saying he was mute was because mutism is a psychological illness that cannot be easily verified with medical equipment.
Even if doctors checked him, they wouldn’t easily discover the truth.
Most doctors also recommended psychological therapy first, sometimes combined with medication.
Chen Pingzhou then suggested using a conservative approach: let her adapt to a new family environment, build trust, and slowly recover her will to speak.
As long as they could delay for two months, it would be enough.
The doctor agreed after hearing “her” situation, saying building trust in the family environment was indeed helpful and should not be rushed.
Old Master Chen, though a bit disappointed that he couldn’t hear her call him “grandfather,” still agreed.
Jiang Cheng secretly sighed in relief.
He was terrified before seeing the doctor—worried they would see through him instantly, especially since he even had an Adam’s apple.
If they checked his throat, he would be exposed immediately.
After successfully getting through this, he continued acting as Miss Chen.
His job was simple: please the old master and make him happy. The old master rested half the day anyway, so he had plenty of free time.
At noon, after lunch, the old master went to rest.
Jiang Cheng lay on his bed, playing on his phone.
Tomorrow was the college entrance exam result day. He opened his high school WeChat group. Everyone was chatting excitedly about going out to celebrate before results came out.
Some even @ him, inviting him to join.
Jiang Cheng replied: “I can’t go. I’m working.”
The class had a good atmosphere. No one looked down on him for being poor. Instead, they offered to support his “business.”
He explained he was working in another city for higher pay.
Soon someone noticed:
“Wait, isn’t Lao Zhan in South City?”
“Yeah yeah @Zhan Zhisheng weren’t you bored yesterday?”
Then someone directly called him out.
Zhan Zhisheng immediately responded:
“I’m coming I’m coming!”
“Ahhh my Cheng baby, send me your address!”
Jiang Cheng: “……”
He hit his own hand in frustration.
Why did he switch accounts? Why did he talk too much again?
Now things were messy.
He quickly made up an excuse: the factory was closed management, no one could leave.
People joked he might be in a scam or even “manufacturing weapons,” but didn’t press further.
After finishing the chat, he quickly switched back to Chen Yin’s account.
Then—
Shang Zeyan messaged him: “Done with the doctor? What did he say?”
Jiang Cheng replied: “Not serious. Just recommended conservative treatment—building communication in a familiar environment.”
Shang Zeyan: “Same as what I found. Experts also suggest games. Download Honor of Kings or Delta Force, I’ll play with you on voice chat. Maybe you’ll speak if you get excited.”
If Lu Xiyuan saw this, he would definitely be shocked.
Shang Zeyan was good at games but never liked carrying girls. He had once kicked teammates just for being too bad.
Jiang Cheng replied: “I don’t like games.”
Then quickly added: “The doctor gave me pronunciation exercises. I’m going to practice. Bye.”
Shang Zeyan: “……”
Jiang Cheng immediately shoved the phone under his pillow.
As long as he acted like an ostrich fast enough, the problem wouldn’t catch up to him
