Jing Li had actually noticed the commotion in the corner long ago, but at that moment, he was so immersed in the sweetness with Gu Tingshen that he couldn’t care about anything else.
Moreover, even if someone saw them, it didn’t matter. He didn’t feel there was any need to hide his relationship. Even if it were to be exposed, he wouldn’t mind admitting it.
He had never intended to engage in an underground love affair.
The two of them embraced and indulged in each other for a while longer. Jing Li finally looked at him with a smile and said, “How long do you plan to stay? I have two days off. Wherever you want to go, I’ll accompany you.”
“Really?” Gu Tingshen blinked in surprise, then smiled and pecked his lips, like a puppy who had just tasted meat, unable to get enough of his kisses. However, he didn’t pause his speech. “As long as you’re with me, I’m fine anywhere.”
“But didn’t you say a couple of days ago that you wanted to go home? Why don’t we visit your brother together?”
Of course, another reason was that the film city was too unsafe, especially after the previous ambush incident, which had left a considerable impact on Gu Tingshen. Almost every day during their video calls, he would reiterate his request for Jing Li not to go outside.
“Aren’t you afraid your brother will beat you up when he finds out?” Jing Li teased with a raised brow.
“Of course I am,” Gu Tingshen played along. “But who can blame me for stealing his precious little brother away? He’d be justified in beating me up.”
As he spoke, he once again pecked the lips of the person in his arms with a smile. “But who made Xiao Jing so irresistible? Even if he beats me to death, I would still…”
“Stop talking nonsense.” Before he could finish, Jing Li elbowed him in the ribs, eliciting a muffled groan from Gu Tingshen, who then chuckled softly, peppering kisses and murmurs of endearment.
After messing around for a bit, they got up and headed back to the hotel. They booked the earliest available flight back to the capital.
It was already early morning when they landed. Gu Tingshen had already arranged for a driver to pick them up at the airport. After getting into the car, he first sent Jing Li home and then headed back himself.
Since they had agreed to meet the next day for a date, they didn’t cling to each other too much.
When Jing Li arrived home, only the butler and servants were present, as his brother was staying at the company due to overtime work.
This had become a regular occurrence. Whenever Jing Li wasn’t home, his brother usually slept at the company after finishing his work.
Jing Li wasn’t surprised by this. He decided to mention it to his brother the next morning, then returned to his room to wash up and sleep.
He had a great night’s sleep.
When he woke up, it was already bright outside. Jing Li felt refreshed after a good night’s sleep.
Thinking about going on a date with Gu Tingshen in the afternoon, he couldn’t help but smile. He quickly got up, tidied up, and headed to the dressing room to pick an outfit.
After some thought, he sprayed a bit of men’s cologne on his sleeve. Satisfied with his clean and tidy appearance in the mirror, he finally felt content.
After changing, Jing Li noticed a white heart-shaped shell on the bookshelf. Remembering Gu Tingshen had asked for it, he took it down for a closer look. He decided to carve their names on it and give it to him tomorrow.
With that in mind, he placed the shell back and went downstairs for breakfast.
Jing Li remembered to call his brother to let him know he was back. Jing Yu was naturally delighted, but he had a packed schedule for the day and couldn’t accompany him. He could only apologize with regret.
Jing Li didn’t mind at all; instead, he felt more sympathetic toward his brother’s hard work.
After some casual conversation, Jing Yu promised to return home in the evening to accompany him, but his secretary soon reminded him of an upcoming meeting, so the brothers ended their call.
After breakfast, Jing Li began preparing for their afternoon date.
First dates always have a special significance. Jing Li knew many people liked their boyfriends to be a bit romantic, so he went out and ordered a bouquet of fresh flowers from a flower shop.
Returning home for a brief rest and a light snack, Jing Li soon received a call from Gu Tingshen, who said he was on his way to pick him up.
Jing Li responded with a smile, reminding him to drive carefully, and then left the house, carrying the prepared bouquet.
As he approached the gate, he noticed Gu Tingshen’s car parked by the roadside, with Gu Tingshen himself leaning against it, holding a bouquet of roses.
At the same time, the sound caught Gu Tingshen’s attention, and he looked up.
Seeing each other holding bouquets, both were momentarily stunned and then they burst out laughing simultaneously.
“It’s my first date, so I don’t have much experience.” Gu Tingshen smiled as he approached, offering his bouquet. “Since we both prepared, why don’t we exchange?”
“Okay,” Jing Li smiled in agreement, naturally accepting Gu Tingshen’s bouquet while handing his over.
After the exchange, they couldn’t help but laugh again at their childish antics. Their eyes met, and they once again laughed in unison.
Once inside the car, Gu Tingshen took Jing Li to the busiest commercial district in the capital city.
Here, they could find the world’s top luxury brand stores, romantic rooftop restaurants for couples, comprehensive entertainment facilities, movie theaters, and a myriad of enjoyable attractions for visitors.
According to Gu Tingshen’s research, it was the most suitable location for a romantic date.
Due to Jing Li’s public profile, even though they had disguised themselves, Gu Tingshen still made careful and thoughtful arrangements for their itinerary.
Their first stop was the luxury mall, which had a relatively lower flow of people compared to other places, making it less troublesome and allowing them to stroll comfortably.
Gu Tingshen took Jing Li to several familiar brand stores. Though both of their families received the latest fashionable clothes every season, shopping together in person felt different.
Inside the stores, surrounded by an array of clothing, Jing Li found everything fresh and exciting. He would pick up each item and hold it against Gu Tingshen, who indulged him, standing still and allowing Jing Li to fuss over him, even playfully asking, “Does it look good?”
“Shen-ge looks good in anything,” Jing Li smiled back at him, his eyes fixed intently on Gu Tingshen’s face. He was unsure whether he was referring to the clothes or the person himself.
It didn’t seem to matter; they simply gazed at each other, feeling a surge of sweetness welling up within their hearts, melting them into softness.
The sweetness of their love was so intense that even from a distance, it was impossible to ignore.
The salesperson accompanying them maintained a professional smile, but inside, they were buzzing with excitement. They clenched their fists in eagerness, barely containing their excitement at the sight of this godly couple, nearly fainting from the sweetness of their interactions!!!
However, the couple themselves remained oblivious to the salesperson’s inner turmoil. After finally selecting a few desired pieces, Jing Li handed them to Gu Tingshen, suggesting he try them on.
“No need. Anything Xiao Jing picks must be the best,” Gu Tingshen declined, turning to the salesperson. “Wrap these up and add one set in his size for each item.”
Jing Li was momentarily stunned but didn’t say anything further, simply responding with a light laugh, which served as an implicit agreement.
The salesperson, also taken aback initially, quickly recovered and smiled as they accepted the clothes to package them, though internally, they were already on the verge of fainting from the sugary sweetness of this couple’s dog food, barely clinging to consciousness.
After finishing their shopping, Gu Tingshen left the home delivery address with the store and then took Jing Li to the next essential stop for a couple’s date—the movie theater.
The movie theater was relatively crowded, so Gu Tingshen decisively chose the nearest screening and booked the entire VIP hall, leading Jing Li inside.
The movie seemed to be a romance film, but neither of them really paid attention to the plot. As soon as they entered, they were absorbed in each other’s presence.
The VIP seats were two connected sofas, and although the space seemed ample, the two men consciously sat side by side, leaning against the center armrest.
In the private VIP room, with only the two of them in close proximity and surrounded by darkness except for the screen in front, it was the perfect setting for certain intimate couple activities.
In this regard, Gu Tingshen proved to be a natural master. He first turned to Jing Li with a serious expression, “Xiao Jing, are you cold?”
“No, I’m not,” Jing Li instinctively shook his head. Although it was deep autumn, it was still far from cold, especially for him with his unique constitution.
However, Gu Tingshen’s purpose in asking was clearly not about temperature, as he immediately followed up with, “Well, I feel a bit cold.”
As he spoke, he leaned closer to Jing Li, their arms brushing together, before reaching out to grasp Jing Li’s slender fingers. Not satisfied, he forcefully intertwined their fingers, tightly locking them together.
This action was accompanied by a matter-of-fact explanation, “Holding hands like this makes it much better.”
Jing Li was momentarily stunned but soon realized Gu Tingshen’s intention, unable to suppress a light laugh. He found this side of Gu Tingshen both amusing and endearing, the warmth from his palm conveying endless sweetness.
Smiling, Jing Li intentionally tightened his grip on Gu Tingshen’s hand and playfully teased, “Does this make it warmer?”
Gu Tingshen turned to face him, nodding solemnly before bursting into a chuckle. Jing Li’s smile widened as they shared a silly laugh, and he then rested his head on the man’s broad shoulder, enveloped in the sweetness of their romance.
Even though they were mature adults, having experienced countless years, when it came to love, they seemed like teenagers falling for the first time. Just being physically close or simply gazing into each other’s eyes made them lose themselves in the sweetness, their hearts filled with unspeakable joy and affection.
Gu Tingshen allowed Jing Li to lean on him, the upturned corners of his mouth never faltering. Whenever Jing Li shifted, the tufts of hair on his head would brush against Gu Tingshen’s chin, tickling him and sending a tingling sensation through his heart, melting into tenderness.
Unable to resist any longer, he raised their intertwined hands and gently kissed Jing Li’s fingers.
Yet, this gesture seemed insufficient, only fueling an insatiable desire within him.
Gazing at the exquisite profile of the person in his embrace, observing the occasional flutter of long lashes in the dim light, and the slight movements of the delicate throat…
Gu Tingshen felt his heartbeat quickening, every inch of Jing Li’s skin beckoning him to come closer, ever nearer.
With that thought, he took action.
“Xiao Jing,” he called out in a husky voice. As Jing Li turned to look at him, Gu Tingshen leaned down, his other hand cradling the back of Jing Li’s head, and pressed his lips against those soft petals.
On the large screen in front of them, the male and female leads were also embracing and kissing after confessing their feelings.
Both on and off the screen, the same scene unfolded, beautifully complementary and unbearably sweet.
After the movie ended amidst their cuddling, neither could recall the plot, but they were undoubtedly satisfied viewers, their lips appearing even redder than before.
By the time they left the theater, the sky had darkened.
They didn’t visit any other places, proceeding directly to the rooftop restaurant Gu Tingshen had booked.
Located on the 101st floor, the restaurant was aptly named “Passion1一心一意 (yī xīn yī yì) – concentrating one’s thoughts and efforts / single-minded / bent on / intently. As I mentioned, I suck at naming stuff..”
The entire interior was designed with special glass, adorned with twinkling lights, exuding a romantic and luxurious ambiance. The carefully dimmed lighting created an intimate atmosphere at every table, sensual yet appropriately restrained, perfect for a romantic date.
Gu Tingshen had reserved a window-side table, offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. As night fell, the city lights below sparkled like stars, though their elevated vantage point shielded them from the bustling noise below.
The food was delicious, and even though there might have been minor imperfections, sharing the meal with each other made everything else insignificant.
They enjoyed a cozy dinner, and by the end, everything felt perfect, except for the impression that time seemed to pass too quickly.
But they had the future ahead of them.
Their entire day together had felt wonderful; they left the restaurant with smiles of contentment on their faces.
Their sweet and infectious atmosphere, combined with their striking appearances, drew the attention of many passersby, despite Jing Li wearing a mask.
One of those passersby was Jing Yu.
He happened to be dining nearby with business partners and noticed the conspicuous duo as he stepped outside. As he stared at them, he felt a growing sense of familiarity, but before he could scrutinize further, his partner called him back to the conversation.
By the time he looked back, the couple had vanished from sight.
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