Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me
Chapter 184 : Happy Birthday, Shen Jingwei (2)

Chapter 184: Chapter 184 : Happy Birthday, Shen Jingwei (2)

"I thought you forgot," Shen Jingwei remarked.

Yan Renzhong pushed the bouquet of red roses into his boyfriend’s arms and gave him a peck on the lips.

"How can I? I have been waiting for years to celebrate your birthday together."

Shen Jingwei blinked at Yan Renzhong several times. He still couldn’t believe his eyes. Did he fall asleep while watching the television, or what?

"But what about the shooting...?"

"I finished."

Yan Renzhong took off his coat and tossed it against the couch.

"You did? But you said... Mmmph..."

Before he completed his sentence, he was already pinned against the couch, his lips sealed by a ravenous kiss.

"Mmm..."

Shen Jingwei hooked his arms behind Yan Renzhong’s neck, begging him to deepen the kiss.

It felt so good to kiss him again.

And to feel his strong arms winding around his own body.

Shen Jingwei was loath to let his lover slip away from his embrace.

"Too bad that your birthday this year falls during the shooting period," Yan Renzhong sighed against his lips.

He peppered the side of Shen Jingwei neck with tiny kisses before he continued speaking, "but we have many more birthdays to celebrate, so don’t feel too bad about it."

Shen Jingwei hummed in agreement.

His own couch back at his former apartment was too small for two men to lie together comfortably, but Yan Renzhong’s couch offered ample space for two grown men to roll on.

Until of course they ran out of space and crashed unceremoniously at the edge of the couch.

"Arghhhh...!!!"

Shen Jingwei groaned.

Yan Renzhong, this hunk, just had to land on top of Shen Jingwei, almost crushing the man under him.

Yan Renzhong broke into a guffaw.

"How’s a broken rib or two for a birthday present?"

He dragged Shen Jingwei back onto the couch.

Shen Jingwei pursed his lips.

"Not the best birthday gift I have ever received, that’s for sure."

"Hahaha..."

Yan Renzhong cupped Shen Jingwei’s face in both his hands, treating the latter like a precious treasure he was.

"I have an even better gift for you."

"Oh? What is it?"

An mysterous twinkle flashed across Yan Renzhong’s eyes. His smile was somewhat off, but Shen Jingwei was unable to decipher the meaning behind it.

"You will find out later. For now, we should eat."

Yan Renzhong grabbed two of the shopping bags he brought and laid the content out on the table.

*A box of stir-fried longevity noodles with tiger prawns, crisp bean sprouts, thinly shredded scallions, tender chicken bits, and earthy shiitake mushrooms.

A bowl of eight boiled eggs.

A jar of high-quality rice wine, most likely sourced from a very exclusive store Shen Jingwei had never before heard of, let alone visited.

A box of tender, red-braised suckling pig slices, glazed in a rich, sweet-savory sauce.

And lastly, a steaming bowl of grouper, delicately cooked with thinly sliced ginger, tofu pieces, and wood ear mushrooms.

"..."

It was the kind of birthday feast his mother would cook for him every year when he was a child. Very festive and most importantly, very traditional.

Yan Renzhong cracked open a pair of wooden chopsticks and handed it to Shen Jingwei.

"Eat up."

"Where did you buy all of these?" Shen Jingwei gaped at Yan Renzhong, who was cracking his own pair of chopsticks.

"I ordered them from the Crystal Palace restaurant. Why, are they not to your liking?"

"They are! It’s just that... It is a little too much for two people, isn’t it?"

Yan Renzhong chuckled and shook his head slightly.

"Oh, my sweet Jingbao. You are going to need a lot of energy to survive the night."

"...."

With a terrified heart, Shen Jingwei began to eat.

The two men were always busy with work day after day. Yan Renzhong spent at least two days a week somewhere else, and he usually came back home late at night.

When morning came, he also left the apartment before Shen Jingwei even woke up.

Such nights when they could sit next to each other and eat dinner together were very rare. And because they were very rare, they were also very precious.

The air conditioning system kept the room cool, but a sensual symphony of the kisses they exchanged ignited a fire of passion between them, creating a romantic ambiance and fueling the suppressed desire in their hearts.

Shen Jingwei could see hunger in Yan Renzhong’s eyes, one that no food could satiate. Yan Renzhong probably saw the same thing reflected in Shen Jingwei’s eyes, because he tugged at the latter’s collar playfully and whispered in a deep, husky voice, "Now that we have finished with the main course, shall we proceed to desserts?"

Shen Jingwei had a feeling that Yan Renzhong was not referring to any pastries or ice cream.

He was right.

Yan Renzhong grabbed the last, unopened shopping bag and put it between them.

Shen Jingwei’s heart pounded hard against his chest as he watched Yan Renzhong rummage inside the shopping bag.

"With this," Yan Renzhong then said as he showed Shen Jingwei the item in his hand, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"...!!!"

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Author’s note :

*This author is here to bring you another lesson in Chinese culture!

These are all foods that people eat to celebrate their birthdays, and they each hold a certain meaning.

- Longevity noodles : Represent longevity and a long life.

- Eggs: Symbolize fertility and new beginnings.

- Pork: Often associated with wealth and prosperity.

- Fish: Represents abundance and good fortune.

- Chicken: Symbolizes happiness and prosperity.

- Rice wine : The word for wine, "jiǔ" is homonym with the word "long" in Chinese language, so it represents long life as well.

By the way, they are homonyms with number nine as well.

- The number eight : Represents wealth and prosperity. Hence you see a lot of Chinese restaurants that end with number eight, nine, or both.

In other words, yes, Yan Renzhong gave Shen Jingwei a very Chinese birthday feast and wished him everything starting from long life, greatest happiness in the world, down to a thick, thick wallet for the upcoming year