Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot

Chapter 1189 - 699: The First Embrace—Is Fourth Master Licking His Wounds? (3rd Update)

After Jiang Chengsi left, the old lady specifically called Jiang Shiyi aside to talk about Jiang Chengsi’s issues.

"Chengsi has been like this since he was young. Your grandfather says he’s a person of emotions. Don’t be fooled by how indifferent he seems; he’s quite sensitive..."

Jiang Shiyi nodded, but his gaze fell on the crooked-neck tree in the old lady’s arms. The little guy didn’t understand what they were talking about and babbled senselessly at Jiang Shiyi.

"You should show more care for him, come home often, and don’t bully him."

"I haven’t bullied him," Jiang Shiyi stated bluntly.

"Then why did he move to the East side to live?"

"Grandma, you don’t seriously think I forced him away, do you?"

"After all, Xiaosi is just putting on a brave front outside. At home, he’s a paper tiger. Among your brothers, who can he outplay? In terms of scheming, he’s the most naive."

"..."

Jiang Shiyi cleared his throat; indeed, the kid was somewhat silly.

After chatting with the old lady, he called Jiang Chengsi, having prepared his emotions, intending to be a caring elder brother tonight. But as soon as the call connected, music blared from the other end:

[Red lanterns are hung high, the firecrackers outside crackle]

[It’s New Year, it’s New Year]

[I’m eighteen this New Year]

...

Jiang Shiyi squeezed his phone; the emotions he had brewed instantly vanished.

After the music stopped, Jiang Chengsi’s voice sounded, "Bro, what’s up?" He was listening to the radio, songs like "Congratulations on Getting Rich" and "Happy New Year"—that type of music.

Jiang Shiyi knew he was in a bad mood and wanted to utter some comforting words. But the words were stuck in his throat, refusing to come out.

"Where... where are you now?"

"Going to meet a friend and watch fireworks."

"Okay." Jiang Shiyi really had a love-hate relationship with him; this guy truly had the knack for making people worry and drive them up the wall.

"Do you need anything else?" Jiang Chengsi asked, his tone light, clearly he had no other concerns. "If not, I’m hanging up. I’m driving."

"Be careful."

The old lady watched as Jiang Shiyi made the call, and in less than a minute, he hung up. She anxiously asked him how Jiang Chengsi was, worrying he was out racing, something might happen.

"What did you talk about? Hanging up so quickly?"

"He said he’s fine, meeting friends to watch fireworks."

"You believe that? He must be saying that so we won’t worry. How could you just hang up? You’re his brother, after all."

Listening to that song made Jiang Shiyi’s emotions collapse.

The entire night, he observed Jiang Chengsi’s mood. Though he had let go of the family’s matters, they still impacted Jiang Chengsi greatly; he was planning to be considerate for once, and yet...

He felt like kicking him twice!

Such a silly guy.

Jiang Chengsi, completely unaware of his brother’s emotional journey, continued playing his music.

**

Guandong Si Family

An old father watched his daughter change into new clothes, seemingly having put on some light makeup too, "Mom and Dad, I’m getting ready to go out."

"Tie your scarf, be careful going out, and call us anytime..." You Yunzhi helped to straighten her clothes.

"I understand."

"Come back early, don’t stay out too late."

"Dad? I’m leaving." She glanced at someone who kept showing her the back of their head.

He hummed lightly, but never looked at her, undoubtedly feeling a bit down; the daughter indeed reached the age for romance and marriage, but some part of the old father’s heart felt uncomfortable.

Clearly his little darling, yet now she will be wrapped around someone else.

Watching his daughter leave, You Yunzhi sat beside her husband, "On New Year’s, why so moody? Even if she’s meeting a young man outside, it’s natural she’s reached that age."

"I know, if I opposed her socializing, I’d have had someone follow her ages ago. I’m just worried she’ll meet some bad kid."

...

He watched the Spring Festival gala, still uneasy, suddenly hearing a roaring engine outside, brief and fleeting, yet unsettling his mind.

Who was this punk again, skipping the New Year’s Eve dinner, racing outside?

And the driver was none other than Jiang Chengsi!

He circled back from the suburbs, sure to pass by the Si Family, the engine’s hum resounded sharply in the silent night.

**

When he arrived at the neighborhood entrance, he saw someone under the streetlight from a distance. Today, she wore an exceptionally pretty dress, and the neon lights around the neighborhood were dazzling red, falling on her...

Amidst vivid hues was a note of pure beauty.

On New Year’s Eve, vehicles were scarce. When Jiang Chengsi’s car appeared, she noticed, waved to him slightly, lifted her dress a bit, and ran towards him.

Jiang Chengsi opened the door and stepped out; she was already by the car. With no cars and no one around, the young lady looked up at him slightly.

"Happy New Year."

Her eyes were very bright, and the neon lights reflected in them, as if glowing; for a moment, Jiang Chengsi’s heart was filled, so full it was about to explode, turning instantly warm.

It seemed that only now did he understand...

It’s not the presence of crowds that brings peace and assurance.

Sometimes, having just one person by your side is enough.

The distance between them wasn’t close, yet the young girl stood right in front of him. Perhaps she had just jogged a couple of steps, her breath uneven and slightly hurried, smiling at him.

Suddenly, he felt an inexplicable emotion flooding from deep within, like a dam breaking...

He suddenly wanted...

to hold her.

Always a man of action, in the next moment, he indeed reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.

To be honest, hugging a man, slapping shoulders, that’s quite normal. But with the young girl in front of him, he suddenly felt unsure about where to start.

Just this brief moment, and they both froze.

She could feel that Jiang Chengsi was acting differently today, but what was he trying to do?

So suddenly, coming up and just...

While she was in a daze, Jiang Chengsi took a step forward, and the breath from his nose turned into tiny white smoke in the cold air, lingering between them.

The cold night breeze gently blew, making even their breath cool, but the fingertips on her shoulder felt vaguely hot.

"Four..."

She was just about to ask if something was wrong, when the fingers on her shoulder applied a little pressure, nearly pulling her entire body into his arms.

On New Year’s Eve night, the temperature in Beijing was freezing. His body felt cool, and as her face leaned closer, his breath held a chill, instantly invading her whole body.

Clearly it was cold...

Yet inhaled through her nose, it turned warm again.

In that instant, it felt as if not only her body, but also her tumultuous heart was crashing over to him, even causing her nerves to tremble.

He was tall, almost completely capable of wrapping her in his embrace, blocking out the piercing cold wind, heating his entire being.

Jiang Chengsi probably thought he was a little crazy as, the moment she fell into his arms, his arms instinctively circled around her.

The surroundings were so quiet that he could hear the sound of his own heart beating, enveloped in the familiar scent of white sandalwood.

And the person in his arms seemed stunned, not struggling, just quietly leaning against him.

From this angle, he could see a small patch of skin on her neck.

Snow white...

He suddenly felt a surge of heat enveloping him, seemingly wrapped in some sort of joy.

The surroundings were too quiet, every second felt like a year.

"Happy New Year." His voice fell next to her ear, right into her proximity, low and a bit hoarse.

Maybe they were too close, and as he breathed out, residual warmth still lingered.

Just that little bit of warmth, penetrating her eardrum, sent a tingling sensation straight to her heart.

...

It seemed that this embrace was just for wishing a Happy New Year, yet both felt different emotions growing inside.

Jiang Chengsi coughed lightly, drove away, and for a few minutes, no one in the car spoke until they drove past a Central Square where there was a slightly larger crowd, she turned to look at Jiang Chengsi.

"Fourth Brother, where are we going to watch the fireworks?"

Jiang Chengsi was taken aback...

He only knew that somewhere in Beijing there was a fireworks display, and many people would buy fireworks to set off, but he...

didn’t know the address!

"I’ll ask someone." Jiang Chengsi coughed, a bit embarrassed. He knew Jiang Yanting had taken his wife and children there, but hadn’t asked for the address, so could only call him, "Hey, Second Brother, I want to know where you’re watching the fireworks at..."

His peripheral vision caught the person in the passenger seat, her back to him, looking out the window, her shoulders slightly shaking as she tried to suppress her laughter.

He hung up the phone and then turned to ask, "Didn’t you find out the location beforehand?"

"I only knew there was such a place." Jiang Chengsi turned the steering wheel, entering another road, "I just wanted to ask you out and forgot to ask for the address..."

In reality, everything was an excuse; Jiang Chengsi had acted on a whim wanting to meet her!

As a result, upon meeting, he couldn’t help but hug her.

Honestly, it was his first time hugging a girl...

Even now, he still felt hot all over.

**

Jiang Mansion

The old lady watched the Spring Festival Gala while advising Jiang Shiyi to care more for his younger brother. Jiang Jinsang, originally just listening on the side, inexplicably got involved.

"Xiaowu, don’t gloat over others’ misfortune. No matter what, Chengsi is your brother. Don’t bully him just because you’re younger. You’re going to be a father, don’t be so immature."

"This kid is quite good at hiding things, very vulnerable, doesn’t want people to see his vulnerabilities..."

"Now, he’s probably hiding somewhere licking his wounds."