After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! (BL) - Chapter 7

When Cheng Yi spoke, his voice was rarely soft, laced with a hint of panic and concern that was easy to miss.

In his eyes flickered a brief flash of unease—and something else: genuine care.

Shen Ran had always been the cheerful, carefree type, or else wearing that helpless expression whenever Cheng Yi pissed him off.

Cheng Yi had almost never seen him like this.

Now, with no one else in the room, Shen Ran’s tightly wound emotions finally loosened a little.

And with that, the tears he’d tried so hard to hold back threatened to spill over.

“…I’m not crying!”

He swiped at his face, fiercely wiping away the tears, then shoved Cheng Yi against the wall, glaring up at him.

They were only inches apart.

Cheng Yi froze, raising his hands like in surrender.
“What’s wrong? Did I piss you off? Even if I did, you don’t have to cry like this. Seriously, how un—…”

Before he could finish that last word, Shen Ran lost it.

He punched Cheng Yi hard in the chest, then suddenly buried his face in Cheng Yi’s arms.

Don’t talk to me like that.
After knowing everything, how could I possibly hate you?

He’d finally realized—
Behind the sarcasm and cold remarks, Cheng Yi had always been protecting himself from uncertainty and pain.
And even then, unintentionally, he’d shown Shen Ran care and concern.

Why had he never seen it before?

Why hadn’t he realized Cheng Yi could be this gentle, even in his own awkward, quiet way?

Shen Ran tightened his arms around Cheng Yi’s waist, eyes closed, letting his tears soak into the clean-scented shirt Cheng Yi wore.

The man he held—warm, real, solid—was truly Cheng Yi, standing right here before him.

Thank god. Thank god.

But Cheng Yi wasn’t feeling much calmer.

His whole back had gone stiff.

He glanced down, watching Shen Ran’s head buried in his chest, and found himself holding his breath.

Cheng Yi had no idea what had just happened or why Shen Ran was acting like this.

Why is he crying?
Why did he punch me, then hug me right after?

…Wait, can he hear my heart pounding?

Cheng Yi’s throat bobbed. He slowly reached out, intending to hug Shen Ran back.

But after a long hesitation, he withdrew his hands, pretending nothing had happened.

“Shen Ran, you’re hugging me way too tight. Trying to kill me or what? I can barely breathe.”

“…”

“And are you wiping your snot on my shirt? This thing cost me 18,000 yuan, don’t use it as a tissue.”

“…”

“Hey, Shen Ran. Don’t tell me you’re—”

“I’m not in love with you!”

This guy! Such a mood killer! Completely clueless!

Shen Ran punched Cheng Yi in the chest again, harder than before, snapping:

“Not everyone’s into you, okay?! And I didn’t wipe my snot on your shirt!”

Cheng Yi shrugged, innocent.
“Hey, I never said you liked me. You’re the one randomly denying it.”

“You—! Then what were you about to say?”

Cheng Yi crossed his arms, leaning lazily against the wall.
“I was gonna ask if Chen Xu dumped you. I mean, you’re crying like a heartbroken kid. Figured you came to me for comfort.”

“Why would Chen Xu dump me?!”

Just hearing that fake bastard’s name made Shen Ran’s bl00d boil.
“Him? Dump me? Like hell! I’d kick him all the way to Africa!”

Cheng Yi didn’t know what Chen Xu had done and just nodded, misunderstanding completely.

“Ah, right. You treasure him so much, no way he’d dump you. You two are probably still madly in love.”

“Madly in love your ass! Cheng Yi, did you forget how Chen Xu betrayed us?! Both of us died because of him, and you think I’m still in love with him?!”

Shen Ran nearly grabbed Cheng Yi’s head and shook it—make him remember all the awful things Chen Xu had done.

“Chen Xu… betrayed us?”
Cheng Yi’s confusion was genuine this time.
“Both of us… died? Shen Ran, did you not wake up from your nap yet?
If we’re dead, how are we having this conversation?”

Shen Ran froze in place.

“You don’t remember what just happened? We were in Hawaii. You and me. We…”

He tried to continue, but suddenly felt something soft on his forehead.

“Hmm. No fever.”

Cheng Yi withdrew his hand after checking, casually messing up Shen Ran’s hair in the process.

“I’m telling you, you definitely overslept and fried your brain. Go home already—stop wasting time here. …In fact, you’re clearly in no shape to drive. Come on, President Cheng himself will personally escort the little idiot home.”

“I’m not—I didn’t—!”
Shen Ran struggled furiously, trying to prove he was completely lucid.

But Cheng Yi wasn’t having it.
Without another word, he grabbed Shen Ran by the back of the neck, dragged him to the car, yanked open the door, and shoved him into the passenger seat.

“An idiot doesn’t need me to buckle his seatbelt for him, right?”

Shen Ran let out two furious huffs in response, yanked the seatbelt over, snapped it in place, and slammed the door shut.

“Hmph.”

That said, Shen Ran had to admit—
Ever since he’d realized he was reborn, he’d been a little frazzled.

Seeing Cheng Yi again had shaken him more than he expected—he’d lost control and cried. His emotions were a mess.

In a way, he was actually grateful Cheng Yi hadn’t been all sentimental—just his usual, annoyingly sarcastic self.

Cheng Yi’s sharp jabs had somehow cleared the fog in Shen Ran’s chest, let him breathe a little easier. He felt more grounded now.

The car soon came to a stop. Shen Ran looked up—
It was his apartment building.

Cheng Yi gave a lazy smirk.
“Get out. I believe our esteemed Boss Shen is perfectly capable of opening the door himself. Go on—good luck.”

Shen Ran didn’t move.

Now that he’d calmed down, there was something he had to ask.

He stared straight into Cheng Yi’s eyes.
“Cheng Yi, before I found you… do you remember what you were doing?”

Cheng Yi held his gaze, unbothered. His expression didn’t even flicker.
“I was in a meeting.”

…So it really was just him.
He was the only one who remembered.
Only he had come back.

Shen Ran’s heart tightened.
“Then… Cheng Yi, do you—do you li—”

“Hmm?” Cheng Yi raised a brow.

Shen Ran was going to ask—
Do you like me?

But he hesitated.
Looking into Cheng Yi’s eyes, the words caught in his throat.

After a beat, Shen Ran shook his head and looked away, pretending it was nothing.
“…It’s nothing. Thanks for the ride.”

He turned away too fast—and missed the way Cheng Yi’s eyes flickered intensely, for just a moment.

Opening the door, Shen Ran stepped into the cold wind, feeling it rush into his chest.

Behind him, the window rolled down with a hum.

Cheng Yi’s voice floated after him.
“Since I drove you home today… you owe me one.”