Lu Hui couldn’t pinpoint why he felt angry as he walked along the lengthy street with his back to the sunset. On both sides of the street, there were groups of two or three people who had come out for a post-dinner stroll – elderly individuals, children, couples, and friends walking together. Life wasn’t solely about murder cases and mysteries; it encompassed trivial matters—things so small that they couldn’t get any smaller but demanded attention to solve. This made Lu Hui feel a bit weary.
But Lu Hui never considered giving up. Even during arguments, he continued to love him.
About two hours later, as the sky darkened, Lu Hui knocked on the door.
Ji Fanyang opened the door. “You’re back.”
Lu Hui stepped inside and saw the meal set on the table. He quietly bent down to change his shoes.
“Let’s eat,” Ji Fanyang said.
Wearing soft slippers, Lu Hui walked to Ji Fanyang’s side, presenting an image akin to a large cat with drooping ears.
Ji Fanyang asked gently, “Are you still angry?”
“Are you angry?” Lu Hui asked.
“I’m not angry.” Ji Fanyang’s eyes, shallower than usual brown, reflected a faint honey-like gleam.
“Neither am I. I love you,” Lu Hui said. He leaned closer to Ji Fanyang, chin resting on the young man’s shoulder, arms wrapped around him. His breath brushed over Ji Fanyang’s earlobe as he spoke, “We’re still young, with plenty of time to torment each other, but you can’t leave me.”
“I thought I was the only one worried about that.” Ji Fanyang patted Lu Hui’s back. “I love you, but you forgot something.”
“What?” Lu Hui lifted his head.
“You forgot your phone. Your sister called and said your parents are already in Linhua, and they booked the same hotel as my parents.” Ji Fanyang said.
Lu Hui took in a sharp breath. “Why would that happen?”
“I think your parents did it on purpose.” Ji Fanyang shrugged.
“They definitely did it on purpose.” Lu Hui concluded. “We need to hurry over; my mom will drive your dad crazy.”
“Huh?” Ji Fanyang hadn’t interacted much with Song Jian, having met him only once. “But your sister said not to come.”
“She can’t stop me, can she?” Lu Hui frowned.
Ji Fanyang held Lu Hui back. “Let’s eat first.”
Lu Hui sat at the dinner table, picked up his chopsticks, and ate with a troubled expression, he said, “Tell me about your mom.”
“She—” Lu Hui picked up a piece of scrambled egg, put it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “She’s a carbon copy of me.”
“Haha, you admit it with self-awareness,” Ji Fanyang teased him, eyes curved in a smile.
“No, I’m the outdated version of her.” Lu Hui changed his wording and said seriously, “She’s the upgraded version of me.”
“So, she’s Lu Hui 2.0?” Ji Fanyang asked.
Lu Hui lowered his head and slurped on his porridge, “She’s Lu Hui 4.0.”
“Is it that exaggerated?” Ji Fanyang propped his chin on his hand. “So, she probably won’t object to us, right?”
“She doesn’t care about me; it’s all because of my dad.” Lu Hui suddenly put down his bowl, stared directly at Ji Fanyang, and said, “Lu Qingqiong is basically a clone of you.”
“…” Ji Fanyang looked at Lu Hui in bewilderment. “Really.”
“So, have some sympathy for General Ji.” Lu Hui finished his porridge, stood up, put the bowl in the dishwasher, and walked over to Ji Fanyang. He bent down, kissed the young man’s ear, and asked, “Do you want to go over tonight or tomorrow morning?”
“I…” Ji Fanyang frowned, saying, “I think we should go tomorrow; my dad doesn’t have a heart condition.”
“You naive little wolf.” Lu Hui ruffled the young man’s hair, then walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room. He picked up the guitar lying on the floor and produced a buzzing sound as he plucked the strings.
He lowered his head to tune it, played a few simple chords, cleared his throat, and started singing, “Baby!”
Ji Fanyang shook his head with a smile, got up, and tidied up the remaining dishes and chopsticks, tossing them into the dishwasher.
“Everybody knows I love you, baby1/全世界都知道我爱你.”
“Everybody knows it’s all I do.2/全世界都知道我是这样的人.”
The windows of the living room balcony opened, Ji Fanyang sat on the sofa, picked up a magazine, and casually flipped through it.
“You don’t even know when I dream about you.3/你不知道我在梦里见过你.”
“Everybody knows.4/全世界都知道.”
“Honey, don’t I deserve a reward?” Lu Hui asked, looking at Ji Fanyang while holding the guitar.
Ji Fanyang’s attention had long shifted from the magazine; he closed it, pursed his lips, and smiled, “Should I call the girl next door to cheer for you?”
“You can do that too, little girl.” Lu Hui put down the guitar, walked over, and sat on the sofa. Unexpectedly, Ji Fanyang leaned in and kissed him. Lu Hui naturally leaned back against the sofa, arms supporting the young man’s shoulders.
After establishing their relationship, they preferred the tender intimacy of close proximity, like weary birds gathering their feathers when returning home. The young man’s kisses were gentle and nimble, like the soft ears of a fluffy puppy.
Lu Hui’s arms steadied Ji Fanyang’s waist, pressing him into his embrace, “Be patient, little one.”
In Lu Hui’s eyes, the 28-year-old Ji Fanyang was still a kid who had recently graduated from college and hadn’t grown his wings. Although he seemed much more mature in his dealings with others than Lu Hui.
Wearing a gray cotton T-shirt and with his hair sticking up, Lu Hui looked like a college student. He kissed Ji Fanyang on the forehead and suggested, “Let’s go to the bedroom.”
————R18————
