The Withered Tree Always Welcomes Spring chapter 70

Shen Jixue outlined Chen Xian’s appearance with almost greedy eyes, Chen Xian looked at Shen Jixue strangely, feeling that something was off about him. After a long while, he realized, “Where’s the bandage on your eyes?”

For some reason, Chen Xian inexplicably felt warmth in Shen Jixue’s vacant eyes, as if they could focus and see through him with just one glance.

Chen Xian didn’t know he could see now.

Shen Jixue blinked and calmly turned his head aside, not answering Chen Xian’s question. “My uncle just came.”

Chen Xian immediately forgot about Shen Jixue not wearing his bandage. He feared that Shen Jun might harbor resentment and seek revenge, fearing that Shen Jixue might be in danger.

“Where is he? What did he say? Did he come because of last time? Don’t worry, I’m here.”

An inexplicable emotion surged up, making Shen Jixue’s nose tingle and his eyes red. But he quickly restrained his emotions, pulling his hand back from Chen Xian’s, trying hard to remain calm, his moist voice deliberately sounding somewhat distant.

“You rejected me, didn’t you? You don’t care about me, do you?”

Chen Xian was taken aback by Shen Jixue’s words. Wasn’t this baseless? He stammered to explain, “I… I rejected… you, but I… never said I didn’t care about you.”

“What difference does it make? If you are going to reject me, then just leave me alone.”

“Xiao Shen… don’t get angry first. Your uncle… I’m afraid he’ll retaliate against you. You see…if he returns after leaving, he definitely won’t give up… he…”

Listening to Chen Xian’s clumsy explanation, Shen Jixue felt both soft-hearted and angry. Chen Xian clearly cared about him, clearly liked him.

Shen Jixue didn’t drag it out with Chen Xian, straightforwardly asking, “Chen Xian, do you like me now?”

Chen Xian stared in bewilderment, momentarily forgetting how to respond.

“Is it that hard to answer? I say I like you, and you can’t respond. Now I ask if you like me, and you still can’t answer. You always say I don’t understand, but do you? If you understand, why don’t you answer my question—do you like me, or not? Is there a third option?”

Several consecutive questions left Chen Xian dizzy. He was unsure, “We… were talking about your… uncle…”

“I’m talking to you about liking me.” Shen Jixue was brutally direct, ignoring the social rules of tactful communication between adults. “Why are you so good to me?”

“I…” Chen Xian choked up, “You’re alone, and there’s no one else…”

Chen Xian always had so many reasons. He was indecisive. That’s how he faced Jiang Ying’s betrayal and his own feelings.

“I know, you’re naturally too good-hearted! You’re like this with everyone. I’m not the most special to you, am I just deluding myself?”

It wasn’t as absolute as Shen Jixue said. Chen Xian thought that Shen Jixue was special to him, in turn caring for him.

 He cared about Shen Jixue and felt sorry for him. Pity was a complex emotion. Only when you really cared for someone would you feel pity.

“Where did you get the money for the surgery if you invested all your money in the ship?” Shen Jixue suddenly asked, “Where did you get it?”

Chen Xian took a deep breath. He knew he couldn’t hide it from Shen Jixue. “I borrowed it from a friend.”

Shen Jixue felt a great relief, “How could there be someone like you, Chen Xian? You make me love and hate you.”

“Do you have no ulterior motives towards me? Are you just generously kind, and even if it’s not me, you’d treat others the same?” Chen Xian weakly countered, “I don’t.”

Shen Jixue was so much younger than him. Even if he had ulterior motives, moral constraints would stop him from taking advantage.

“I’m not that noble.” Chen Xian closed his eyes and sighed heavily. Since it came to this point, he clarified to Shen Jixue, “Xiao Shen, you and Lin Qiao get along. People of the same age will suit you better. As an ordinary person like me, finding someone similarly ordinary to live with is probably good enough. I’m not very interesting, very boring, really ordinary.”

“What?” Shen Jixue looked bewildered. He didn’t know why Chen Xian suddenly brought up Lin Qiao, “What does Lin Qiao have to do with anything?”

“Young people like you will have more common topics.” Even without Lin Qiao, there who would be others more interesting than him, a silent man who only knew how to sail.

Shen Jixue turned to face Chen Xian, his face serious, and Chen Xian’s appearance imprinted in his pupils. “I don’t know why you brought up Lin Qiao. Do you think I’ll fall in love with someone else? Chen Xian, you underestimate me. Do you think I’m like Jiang Ying?”

“No…”

Shen Jixue’s cheekbones tightened, not giving Chen Xian a chance to speak. “I said I like you, I will always like you. I won’t change my mind halfway, nor will I be indecisive. I’m prepared to like you for a lifetime, what did you think of my liking?”

“I…” Chen Xian was completely speechless. He definitely didn’t mean that, but Shen Jixue looked so wronged, as if he really went too far.

Suddenly, Chen Xian’s wrist tightened, a huge force pulling him forward uncontrollably. He fell forward, Shen Jixue’s hand pressed against his back and kissed him forcefully.

Their lips collided violently, causing Chen Xian to grimace in pain. He struggled to push Shen Jixue away. After both managed to pull apart, Shen Jixue’s palms held Chen Xian’s cheeks, his strength surprising. Chen Xian’s cheeks were squeezed and deformed. The moist and hot tongue slipped in the gap, quickly entwining his tongue.

“Mm…”

Before he could struggle, Shen Jixue pressed down, pinning him tightly against the armrest of the bench.

Initially, Shen Jixue was all aggression while Chen Xian tried to dodge, but gradually, sparks flew. When Shen Jixue held Chen Xian’s wrists and let him support his cheeks, Chen Xian noticeably hesitated, his fingers involuntarily caressing Shen Jixue’s cheek.

This kiss suddenly took on a different flavor. Chen Xian let go of one arm and instinctively wrapped it around Shen Jixue’s back. Shen Jixue’s hands rested on Chen Xian’s shoulders, and after embracing Chen Xian’s neck, their bodies naturally pressed together.

Their tongues tangled and separated repeatedly until the last breath of air from each other’s mouths lingered, and they slowly separated.

Shen Jixue rested his forehead against Chen Xian’s, breathing heavily. “Chen Xian, do you like me?”

Chen Xian’s breath was also erratic. From those lacquered-like eyes, he saw his own absurd appearance. Being forced step by step by a boy ten years younger than himself was quite embarrassing. Did he like him or not, was it really that difficult to answer? They had reached this point—kissed and embraced—was he really so indecisive?

He wiped the moisture off Shen Jixue’s lips, softly saying, “Don’t regret it.”

Shen Jixue’s rapid breathing skipped a beat, a sense of grievance surging through him. He pounced directly onto Chen Xian.

Chen Xian was startled, afraid that Shen Jixue might fall, so he quickly held onto him and sat him up.

After holding him for a while, Shen Jixue looked up. He brushed aside the hair on Chen Xian’s forehead, unsure whether it was from running too fast just now or from his excitement during the kiss; the sweat on his forehead still hadn’t dried.

“I really hate you.” Shen Jixue complained softly, but his eyes were unwilling to leave Chen Xian for even a moment. He wanted to scrutinize every detail of Chen Xian—his eyebrows, his eyes, his nose, his mouth. He took in every expression of panic, embarrassment, and awkwardness that Chen Xian displayed, along with the flush on his cheeks after they kissed.

“When I ask if you like me, you always say lofty words. You neither answer nor reject me. You make me hate you, yet you treat me so well, making it hard for me to leave you. How can there be someone as detestable as you?”

Chen Xian felt ashamed under Shen Jixue’s accusations. Knowing that Shen Jixue couldn’t see, he instinctively avoided his gaze. He thought about how he restrained himself with so-called moral boundaries, making Shen Jixue take the initiative over and over, while he played the passive “good person” to satisfy his own sense of morality, hoping to alleviate his self-condemnation. He was truly despicable and cowardly.

“Sorry.”

Shen Jixue covered Chen Xian’s lips with his hand, pressed his cheek against his, and began to caress Chen Xian’s lips with his fingers. Gradually, his fingers slipped between Chen Xian’s lips, pinching his tongue. Chen Xian’s eyes quickly turned red.

“You can be shy too.” Shen Jixue traced Chen Xian’s features with his gaze.

Chen Xian gently pulled away Shen Jixue’s hand. Under the broad daylight, he felt overwhelmed by Shen Jixue’s aggressive gaze. He felt like Shen Jixue could see through him, see his embarrassment clearly.

“You…”

A bold thought popped into his mind. He reached out and waved his hand in front of Shen Jixue’s eyes. Shen Jixue blinked twice in response, a hint of ambiguity in his smile.

Chen Xian widened his eyes, took a while to find his voice, and despite his disbelief, he asked the question that troubled him, “Xiao Shen, can you see now?”