It was also Ji Shang's first time learning how hard it was to soothe someone.
Especially a baby who normally seemed so well-behaved, yet could stay angry for so long.
He already knew he had been wrong. Given another chance, he would never touch Xiao Bei's phone, much less spank his bottom in anger.
Although it felt quite nice, and he rather enjoyed spanking him, he would not do it if Xiao Bei disliked it.
Xiao Bei still wanted to leave. Ji Shang felt he ought to respect that now and bring him home once his anger had subsided.
That was what he thought, but it still hurt terribly.
The baby he had cared for so lovingly was leaving with someone else. How was that any different from gouging out his heart?
Ji Shang drank miserably, intending to vent his emotions through alcohol.
Otherwise, he feared he would impulsively snatch his baby back. Xiao Bei disliked his domineering ways, so he needed to rein himself in.
Intense possessiveness stirred in his heart. Suppressing his emotions, Ji Shang took another long gulp.
He disliked drinking and social engagements, but right now, he had no better way to vent his feelings.
One glass followed another. In the end, he no longer knew how long he had been drinking.
Tugging at his tie, with several buttons undone at his collar and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, Ji Shang rose from his chair, intending to sneak a look at Xiao Bei.
Xiao Bei did not want to see him, but he wanted to see Xiao Bei.
Soon, a knock came at the door. Ji Shang froze at first, then quickly realized who it was and strode over to open it.
He moved so quickly that he bumped into a cabinet beside him, knocking an expensive ornament to the floor, where it shattered.
Ji Shang had no time to mourn it. He was too eager to see An Yubei.
Standing at the door with one hand on the handle, Ji Shang took a deep breath before opening it.
The instant he saw An Yubei, Ji Shang's heart tightened, and he desperately wanted to pull him into his arms.
But he held back. He was unsure what An Yubei meant to do.
Only when An Yubei threw himself into his arms did he truly realize that he could no longer live without him.
From now on, no one would ever take An Yubei away from him.
Hearing An Yubei's words, Ji Shang finally understood that this emotional roller coaster had all been Ji Dongsheng's doing.
He knew Ji Dongsheng was a sly old fox, but he had never imagined he would dare lie about something like this.
Apparently, he had thoroughly enjoyed muddying the waters between them!
Then he ought to return the favor with a generous gift, to show Ji Dongsheng just how serious the consequences of sowing discord could be.
Looking down and noticing An Yubei's bare feet, Ji Shang wrapped an arm around his waist, then supported his plump bottom and lifted him into his arms.
He turned toward the sofa, hooked the door with his foot, and gave it a little tug, pulling it shut.
The person in his arms was deeply uneasy, trembling against him and sobbing a little.
The soft boy had no sense of security at all, as fragile as a homeless little kitten.
The little kitten rested softly against his shoulder, his silky hair brushing Ji Shang's Adam's apple.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and a ticklish sensation spread through his body. Before he knew it, he wanted to tease An Yubei again.
Holding back the surging emotions inside him, Ji Shang hugged An Yubei tightly, his heart aching for him. He ought to soothe his baby himself. How could he have trusted anyone else?
It would never happen again.
Standing before the sofa, Ji Shang shifted him from a koala hug into a bridal carry, then turned and sat down, settling An Yubei onto his lap.
An Yubei felt nothing but security in Ji Shang's arms, yet he was still somewhat at a loss.
Ji Shang's face betrayed little emotion, and his eyes were completely calm. His words earlier had been very gentle, but now he had fallen silent again.
When Ji Shang said nothing, An Yubei felt uncertain.
An Yubei thought anxiously, Was Brother Shang still angry?
Would Brother Shang send me to herd sheep on the grasslands?
What should I do? Did Brother Shang still not want me?
An Yubei squirmed uneasily in Ji Shang's arms, like a pitiful kitten desperately needing his owner's compassion.
After mentally cursing Ji Dongsheng, Ji Shang rubbed An Yubei's head and comforted him. "How could I ever not want you, Xiao Bei?"
"I would never stop wanting you. I'm not angry either. I'm afraid you're angry."
Ji Shang rested his palm on the back of An Yubei's neck and kneaded it. "I was wrong. I'll never make you angry again."
"I'll respect you, Xiao Bei. I won't touch your things without permission, and I certainly won't spank your bottom."
The first part sounded fine, but at the last sentence, embarrassment crept onto An Yubei's cheeks, and he shyly hid in Ji Shang's arms.
With his entire face buried against Ji Shang, his voice sounded muffled. "It actually didn't hurt."
"You can spank me in the future too."
"I made a mistake. I shouldn't have lost my temper. It was only right for you to punish me."
An Yubei admitted his mistake uneasily. He simply did not want Ji Shang to think he was spoiled and overbearing, capable of nothing but throwing tantrums.
He would behave. He would not lose his temper again.
Ji Shang and Ji Dongsheng both doted on him. He should not use their favoritism to hurt the people who loved him.
As long as Brother Shang forgives me, I'll do anything.
Whether it meant being spanked or not losing his temper, all he wanted was Brother Shang. He did not want to leave him.
At that thought, An Yubei nestled into Ji Shang's arms and hugged him tightly.
Ji Shang wrapped an arm around An Yubei's waist and lifted his chin with his other hand, making him look at him.
"Xiao Bei, listen to me."
An Yubei's eyes were misty, gazing at you so pitifully that Ji Shang's heart melted.
His gaze passed over An Yubei's eyes, followed the tip of his nose, and landed on his soft, plump lips.
There was a little moisture on them, probably left by An Yubei licking his lips.
His thumb moved upward, brushing along An Yubei's soft, plump lips.
An Yubei looked at Ji Shang blankly without moving.
Ji Shang felt unsettled. He soon steadied his breathing and said, "I didn't punish you because you lost your temper."
"It was because you were thinking of running away from home. You wouldn't speak to me anymore."
"Do you remember what you said yesterday? 'Ji Shang, I'm never speaking to you again.'"
Ji Shang toyed with An Yubei's lips with his thumb. "Every word you said was like a knife stabbing into my heart."
"Xiao Bei, with me, you can always lose your temper. You can always make a fuss. I'll always dote on you unconditionally and favor you."
"But you cannot leave me. You cannot even think about it."
"Remember, you're mine. You cannot leave."
Ji Shang slid his thumb into An Yubei's mouth and pressed down on the tip of his tongue. "Will you remember that, Xiao Bei?"
An Yubei nodded. Unable to close his mouth, he let saliva trickle down the corner of his lips.
An Yubei slurped, closing his mouth around Ji Shang's thumb.
"Yeth, I know I wath wrong."
Ji Shang suppressed the ticklish feeling inside him and raised a hand to wipe the saliva from the corner of An Yubei's mouth.
"What did you say, Xiao Bei?"
With the foreign object gone from his mouth, An Yubei could speak properly again.
"I said I was wrong. I won't dare say those hurtful things again."
An Yubei said resolutely, "If I ever say those things again, you can spank my bottom, Brother Shang."
As he spoke, An Yubei released his hold on Ji Shang's waist and turned himself over on him.
He went from sitting to lying on his stomach.
An Yubei turned his head to look at Ji Shang and whispered, "I was wrong. Spank my bottom!"
An Yubei stuck his little bottom up, settling into a kneeling position with his upper body lowered.
Then he added, "Brother Shang, go easy. I'm scared it'll hurt."