Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot

Chapter 418: 268 saccharine: never-ending cheesy talk, sprinkling sweet nothings left and right

"I’ll go get the camera," Tang Wan said with a smile as she ran toward the East Courtyard. "I bought an SLR a while ago, but I haven’t used it for some time."

There was good lighting in the courtyard, so everyone moved four chairs outside for the four elders. The two children stood in front, and the rest stood behind.

"Who’s going to take the picture?" Tang Wan asked, holding the SLR, as she looked at the people in the courtyard.

"It has to be Xie Duo, of course. Among our big family, he’s the only outsider," Jiang Chengsi teased.

Xie Duo felt like he was having a terrible day, but still, he took the camera from Tang Wan with a smile. While the three families were arranging themselves, he adjusted the lens.

Shen Zhixian originally stood on the edge. It was embarrassing for anyone to squeeze into the center spot for the photo, so he was keeping an eye on the two children. Having played together, the siblings were already getting along well, when suddenly he felt a tight grip on his wrist.

Someone was holding it in the palm of their hand.

He barely lifted his gaze when he saw Jiang Yanting standing beside him. Today’s festivities had everyone buzzing; Jiang Jinsang had been recuperating, abstaining from alcohol, whereas as the elder brother in the Jiang family, Jiang Yanting naturally drank his fair share.

With everyone present, it wouldn’t be right for Shen Zhixian to jerk away abruptly.

His hand didn’t show signs of drunkenness, but his palm was hotter than the scorching summer sun by several degrees.

Gripping her wrist tightly, the force felt like it was going to burn her skin and melt into her bones.

Xie Duo was adjusting the camera and choosing angles facing the group of people, so of course, he noticed every bit of their interaction.

Jiang Yanting, what are you doing, getting handsy like that?

He didn’t say anything and pulled Shen Zhixian next to his parents. When Shen Zhixian tried to pull away slightly, Jiang Yanting leaned in and whispered, "Is it bad to stand by me?"

His breath was hot and his voice deep.

It was noon in Pingjiang, with warm and gentle sunlight. However, Shen Zhixian was prone to sweating, and with their arms slightly touching, the provocative breath made her feel inexplicably hot and damp.

And his words left her unable to respond. She just stiffened up, not saying a word.

Then, his grip loosened, and Shen Zhixian’s tightly wound heart relaxed a little, thinking he was about to let her go, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next second...

His fingers slid down an inch, catching her hand. He laughed softly at her. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but his breath was heavy and deep, whispering in her ear.

That searing breath really could take someone’s life.

"Are you very nervous?"

Shen Zhixian sweats when nervous—it’s an instinctive bodily response beyond her control.

"I’m quite pleased that you’re nervous," he said.

"Cough—" Shen Zhixian cast a glance at the four elders seated in front of her.

Jiang Yanting, just shut your mouth!

"It means..." he edged closer, nearly touching her ear, "you still have feelings for me."

"Right... Xianxian."

His murmured whisper was intimate, and his crisp scent, laced with the sharpness of alcohol, infiltrated her every pore. Shen Zhixian was rigid, pushing against his chest with her arm to get him to be mindful.

He was usually so aloof and self-contained—why did he always turn out like this when drunk?

Nothing but sweet nothings!

During the photo, the whole family inevitably stood close together. Jiang Yanting’s intermittent words reached the ears of the four elders in front, Old Tang and the Shen elders merely treating it as a joke; however, the matriarch of the Jiang family cleared her throat.

Was this really her grandson?

Xie Duo was on the verge of losing it: Jiang Yanting! Your grandma, your parents, so many elders are present, and you two are "whispering" behind their backs? Have you no shame? noveldrama

Even if you’re trying to flirt, can’t you be more discreet?

Jiang Jinsang, leading Tang Wan by the hand, had already walked to the other side of Jiang Zhenhuan and his wife. Unlike the other two, they were definitely not awkward, standing boldly and properly.

Jiang Chengsi and Shen Shuci stood apart on either side, and Xie Duo adjusted the camera and distance once more, then snapped two photos for the elders to check the effects.

"This one is good," the old lady was quite satisfied. "Since everyone is here, let’s take a few more."

...

Xie Duo had thought that taking a photo would be the end of it, but what followed was not just the family photos for the three families, but each family also wanted individual shots. Jiang Jinsang then said he wanted to take a couple of photos with Tang Wan alone, and Jiangjiang raised his hand, wanting to take a few more with Taotao.

Taking photos didn’t take much time, but finding the right angles and striking poses took some effort.

When Jiang Jinsang and Tang Wan were taking photos, the elders were sitting in the corridor, teasing birds and drinking tea, watching the whole process, which made Tang Wan feel a bit out of her element.

"Can you two switch to another pose, please? Don’t just stand there stiffly," Xie Duo’s arms were getting sore. He had come to enjoy the wedding, so how did he end up working like this?

Tang Wan herself didn’t like taking photos, and with a bunch of people watching, she felt even more embarrassed.

Jiang Jinsang, on the other hand, was very generous; he stretched out his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace, holding hands, hugging and whatnot these had become basic moves for them. But with the elders watching, Tang Wan, caught off guard as she bumped into his chest, blushed with embarrassment.

"Oh my—" the old lady laughed out loud, an utter auntie laugh.

She never would have guessed that her Jinsang was usually so pro-active.

Tang Wan wished she could just hide in his embrace; his steady heartbeat hit her ears, causing her heart to flutter restlessly, as if it was being tightly clasped in a fist.

"Miss Tang, can you show your face, please?" Xie Duo began to assist.

"Wanwan?" Jiang Jinsang reached out to smooth her hair, "Are you shy?"

"No, not... really." Tang Wan tilted her face up slightly, and Xie Duo managed to capture a few shots.

Embracing each other, gazing into each other’s eyes, brimming with affection—

It would’ve been fine on any ordinary day, but with a crowd watching, it was too much for Tang Wan. Seeing her cheeks flushing, Jiang Jinsang felt a quiver deep inside, and leaning over, he pecked her cheek.

The elders watched with smiles that lit up their faces.

Jiang Chengsi, with his arms crossed, leaned against the corridor eating dried apricots, and couldn’t help but click his tongue—the public display of affection was—

"Shall we go take a couple more pictures?" Jiang Yanting looked towards Shen Zhixian.

"It’s not necessary, is it?"

"Then how about we take a few with the kids?"

Speaking of which, the four of them had never had a group photo. When he mentioned taking one with the kids, she agreed.

Jiangjiang was always a wild and rowdy type, and lately, Taotao, influenced by him, had become much livelier. The two of them kept striking different poses, while Jiang Yanting and Shen Zhixian stood stiff, almost resembling background boards.

"Second brother, loosen up a bit!" Jiang Chengsi laughed out loud.

Jiang Yanting knew Shen Zhixian was easily embarrassed, especially with a crowd watching, so he didn’t do anything over-the-top, sticking to proper decorum.

But in front of him, Jiangjiang was imitating Spiderman, then Iron Man, and even Transformers made an appearance. What was worse, he was adding his own sound effects, "biubiubiu—" coming up with his own sounds, and everyone burst into laughter...

Jiang Yanting took a deep breath, feeling super awkward—

Looking down at him, he wished he could just toss him out.

"Big brother, did you get that pose I did just now?" Jiangjiang was sweating profusely on his forehead and yet still insistent.

Xie Duo nodded, "Got it. What else do you want to mimic?"

"It’s a shame I didn’t bring the Spiderman costume."

Xie Duo’s mouth twitched. You want to change costumes? Thank heavens you didn’t bring one. Can’t you give me a break?

He looked at Jiang Yanting, a man with an utterly serious face, even the angles of his jawline, all exuding a certain sharpness. How on earth did he end up with such a lively son? Was this really his biological child? They looked nothing alike!