The Return Of The God Level Assassin

Chapter 1322: YAN YANʼS 19TH BIRTHDAY (IV)

THEY settled into the seats inside the cabin, Luo Yan by the window and Shen Ji Yun beside him. The boat glided forward on its own. The driver was somewhere up front, hidden behind a panel, leaving the cabin to themselves. Through the wide windows, the city slid past in a slow, steady stream. Lights from the buildings reflected on the water, stretching and breaking apart with each gentle shift of the boat.

Inside, the warm glow from the small ceiling light softened the space between them. Luo Yan leaned into Shen Ji Yun, resting his weight against him, and Shen Ji Yun wrapped his arm around his shoulders, pulling him closer.

”Do you want a snack?” Shen Ji Yun asked.

”Will you feed me?” Luo Yan tilted his head up, blinking at him.

Shen Ji Yun let out a low chuckle. Instead of answering, he picked up a piece of strawberry from the plate, dipped it in chocolate, and held it in front of Luo Yanʼs mouth. Luo Yan opened his mouth and bit into it.

”Hmm... thatʼs good,” he said, licking his lips.

Shen Ji Yunʼs eyes fixed on Luo Yanʼs lips. He watched the way his tongue swept across them, slow and deliberate, and felt his own mouth go dry. He wanted to lean in and taste the chocolate there, to feel if it was as sweet as it looked. The space between them felt too wide, and all he wanted at that moment was to close it.

Luo Yan smiled to himself. One look at Shen Ji Yunʼs face, at the way his eyes stayed on his mouth, was enough to know exactly what he was thinking. He was a generous boyfriend, so he would help him out. But he was also a tease, so he would make him wait just a little longer.

”Do you want a strawberry too?” he asked innocently.

”Yeah,” Shen Ji Yun answered, his voice low as his eyes stayed fixed on Luo Yanʼs mouth.

Luo Yan picked out a large strawberry from the plate. He dipped it into the chocolate, coating half of it. Then he bit down on the bare end, holding the fruit between his teeth, and turned his head toward Shen Ji Yun. He looked at him, eyes bright with invitation. Shen Ji Yun took the hint. He leaned in and bit the chocolate-covered side. Their faces were close now, close enough that Luo Yan could feel the warmth of Shen Ji Yunʼs breath against his skin.

He bit down on his end of the strawberry. Shen Ji Yun bit down on his. Their lips met in the middle, and the fruit gave way between them. Sweet juice and chocolate spread across Luo Yanʼs tongue. Shen Ji Yunʼs mouth pressed against his, warm and insistent. Luo Yan opened his lips, letting Shen Ji Yunʼs tongue slide in. He tasted the strawberry and the chocolate, and underneath that, the familiar taste of Shen Ji Yun.

The kiss deepened, slow at first, then harder, like neither of them wanted to pull away. Luo Yanʼs hand came up to grip the front of Shen Ji Yunʼs jacket, holding him there. When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing hard, faces close, the remains of the strawberry long gone between them.

”That was...” Shen Ji Yun started.

”Hot,” Luo Yan finished with a grin. ”I know.”

They looked at each other and broke into laughter at the same time.

Luo Yan leaned his head back against Shen Ji Yunʼs shoulder once again. ”So what made you decide to rent a boat?”

”Well, itʼs your birthday, so I wanted to do something special,” Shen Ji Yun said. He lifted Luo Yanʼs hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. ”I thought a physical gift might not get the reaction I wanted, so I decided to give you something no one could take away.” He paused, turning Luo Yanʼs hand over in his. ”Memories.”

Luo Yan felt his heart skip at that. He would treasure any gift Shen Ji Yun gave him, and he did. His room now had a small collection of them, each one kept safe. But this, the boat ride, the time together, the memories they were making—this was something he wanted more than anything.

So he let himself relax and leaned into Shen Ji Yun. They sat together in the quiet warmth of the cabin, watching the river flow past. The water lay dark and smooth, catching the light from the buildings along the bank. Reflections rippled with each slow movement of the boat, stretching into thin lines of gold and white that spread across the surface. The city seemed painted on the water, shifting and reforming as they drifted. Luo Yan felt Shen Ji Yunʼs arm tighten around him, and he pressed closer, not wanting the moment to end.

They stayed like that, tucked against each other, as the boat circled back along the river. The city lights slid past in a slow, steady rhythm. The boat completed its loop and glided toward the dock where they had started. As they drew closer, the first burst of light shot up from somewhere on the bank, and the sky above them lit up with color.

The fireworks rose one after another, each burst different from the last. Some shot up in a single streak before breaking into wide sprays of gold and red. Others split into clusters of light that hung in the air for a moment before fading. A series of blue and silver blooms opened across the sky, close together, overlapping like petals. Then came a wave of green that spread out in long, trailing lines, drifting down toward the water before they disappeared. The colors reflected on the river, the surface rippling with each new explosion.

Luo Yan watched with his head tilted back, the light from the fireworks washing over his face. He was so caught up in the display that he barely noticed the soft press of lips against his cheek. He turned his head and found Shen Ji Yun looking at him. His blue gaze filled with love. Love for him.

Shen Ji Yun smiled. ”Happy birthday, Yan Yan.”