Gu Chenyan is too much.
This hug didn’t last long. When released, Qiao Shu couldn’t help but raise his hand to cover his chest.
Boom, boom
His heart was still pounding vigorously.
Gu Chenyan asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu replied, “Nothing, it’s fine.”
Gu Chenyan naturally held the handle of Qiao Shu’s suitcase, and his hand reached around Qiao Shu’s waist, gently touching the back of his shirt. “Let’s go home.”
“Okay.”
Qiao Shu tilted his head slightly, looking at the stern man beside him, who was half a head taller. Then he glanced back at the hand that protected him as they walked, a smile in his eyes.
Home.
As they got in the car, Qiao Shu secretly lifted his arm to his nose. Whether it was an illusion or not, he could still sense the faint, warm scent of Gu Chenyan on his sleeve, left from the hug earlier.
Gu Chenyan settled into his seat.
Qiao Shu looked at him, then looked at him again.
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu: “Gu Chenyan, what perfume are you wearing? It smells really good.”
Also strangely addictive.
Gu Chenyan: “I don’t use perfume.”
Qiao Shu blinked in surprise.
Then his cheeks flushed. So, was this Gu Chenyan’s natural “scent”?
Suddenly, a hint of sensuality.
Seeing Qiao Shu’s silence, Gu Chenyan thought for a moment. “It’s probably shower gel. If you like it, you can use mine.”
Qiao Shu nodded calmly. “Okay.”
When they returned to the small villa, it was already dinnertime. The house was empty. Qiao Shu asked curiously, “Where are Aunt Lan and Uncle Zhou?”
Gu Chenyan replied, “They went back to their hometown for a wedding banquet.”
Today seemed auspicious; Qiao Shu saw several wedding processions on the way home.
Gu Chenyan carried the suitcase to the closet and asked, “Are you hungry?”
Qiao Shu patted his stomach. “Not really.”
Gu Chenyan suggested, “How about dumplings for dinner tonight?”
Qiao Shu agreed, “Sure.”
Gu Chenyan nodded. “Alright, you go take a shower, and I’ll go downstairs to prepare the dumplings.”
Gu Chenyan left the room.
Qiao Shu was momentarily stunned.
Dumplings?
Dumplings personally made by Gu Chenyan?
Carrying an irresistibly sweet smile, Qiao Shu entered the bathroom with clothes to change into.
Foul play.
Way too foul.
The shower started.
Warm water cascaded over Qiao Shu. Without thinking, he reached for his own shower gel, but his hand hesitated upon seeing Gu Chenyan’s shower gel placed nearby.
“If you like it, you can use mine.”
Is it the same fragrance?
Qiao Shu covered his heated face, revealing a pair of bright eyes.
Ah!
So shameless!
Well, let’s give it a try.
Qiao Shu finished his bath quickly. As he descended the stairs, Gu Chenyan was still busily standing in front of the kitchen counter, wearing the pink apron that Aunt Lan usually wore.
Qiao Shu paused his steps.
Then secretly, he took out his phone, opened the camera, and aimed it at Gu Chenyan.
Click
Saved, perfect.
When he looked up again, he happened to meet Gu Chenyan’s gaze. Qiao Shu panicked for a moment, then calmly put away his phone and walked into the kitchen as if nothing had happened. “Let’s make dumplings together.”
Gu Chenyan shifted slightly to make room. “Sure.”
Qiao Shu was skilled at making dumplings. When he lived alone, he would make them for special occasions. He deftly wrapped a chubby dumpling and glanced at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan’s movements weren’t as practiced, but the dumplings he made turned out surprisingly beautiful.
Qiao Shu marveled, “Yours look better than mine.”
Gu Chenyan glanced at Qiao Shu’s dumpling. “Yours are also nice.”
Qiao Shu chuckled, “I didn’t know Mr. Gu could do this. In novels and TV dramas, CEOs usually don’t bother with such mundane tasks.”
Gu Chenyan looked at him. “I learned it.”
Qiao Shu asked, “Hmm?”
Gu Chenyan explained, “When I was in college, my father arranged for me to study abroad. He only provided one year’s tuition and one month’s living expenses, expecting me to work part-time until graduation.”
“Making money wasn’t difficult, but I couldn’t get used to foreign food. So, I bought cookbooks and learned to cook on my own. However, it’s been a long time since I’ve personally cooked.”
Gu Chenyan placed the neatly wrapped dumplings onto a nearby plate. “My skills are a bit rusty, so the taste might not be as good.”
Qiao Shu listened with keen interest. He realized he quite enjoyed hearing Gu Chenyan talk about these things. Every day, Gu Chenyan managed to surprise him.
Meanwhile, the water in the pot on the side began to boil.
Gu Chenyan washed his hands and poured the dumplings from the plate into the pot.
Qiao Shu also washed his hands.
The kitchen fell silent for a moment.
Qiao Shu glanced at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan covered the pot with its lid and then turned around. “We’ll need to wait a bit.”
Qiao Shu: “Okay.”
Gu Chenyan: “Do you have anything to do right now?”
Qiao Shu: “???”
“Nothing.”
Gu Chenyan: “Me neither.”
He walked toward Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu blinked, suddenly feeling a bit nervous.
Gu Chenyan stood in front of Qiao Shu. “I’ve been wanting to do this.”
Qiao Shu: “???”
In the next second, Qiao Shu’s eyes widened dramatically.
His lips felt a warmth that didn’t belong to him—slightly hot and tender.
Gu Chenyan’s breath invaded assertively.
Qiao Shu gazed at the man before him; their lips meeting so closely sent his heart racing.
Boom, boom
Qiao Shu’s hands clenched tightly on the slightly damp sink.
His mind went blank.
After an unknown duration, the warmth on his lips receded.
Gu Chenyan turned his head, and the tip of his nose gently brushed against Qiao Shu’s neck. “The shower gel suits you.”
With that, he restrained himself, taking a small step back and creating distance between them.
Qiao Shu: “???”
Is that it?
Qiao Shu stared incredulously at the man before him. Just like that?
All that nervousness for a mere brush of lips.
It didn’t even qualify as a kiss.
Qiao Shu covered his heart, which was still racing.
Excessive!
Whether it was regret or anger, Qiao Shu grabbed Gu Chenyan’s arm.
Qiao Shu: “Gu Chenyan.”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Qiao Shu: “If you tease, you have to take responsibility.”
He tiptoed, hands encircling Gu Chenyan’s neck, tilting his head, and once again pressing his lips against Gu Chenyan’s.
Qiao Shu: “Kiss me.”
Losing control was so simple.
On the kitchen’s glass door, a fair hand was firmly held by another hand with distinct knuckles, pressing forcefully against the glass.
Two figures pressed closely together.
Qiao Shu slightly parted his lips, the tingling sensation spreading throughout his body, making his legs weak and unstable, as if he wanted to slide down.
But before he could descend, his waist was firmly held by another large, hot hand
“Mmm~”
Qiao Shu made a slight sound, the other free hand tightly gripping the man’s shirt on his shoulders.
Time passed second by second.
In the end, the sound of boiling pots brought the two back to reality.
Qiao Shu leaned against Gu Chenyan, his voice slightly breathless: “The dumplings should be ready.”
Gu Chenyan: “Mmm.”
Qiao Shu: “The water is overflowing.”
Gu Chenyan: “No rush.”
Qiao Shu looked up, his eyes slightly damp and filled with curiosity.
However, Gu Chenyan reached out and covered Qiao Shu’s eyes.
Qiao Shu: “What are you doing?”
Gu Chenyan’s voice was hoarse. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Qiao Shu chuckled. “Then don’t use that tone to talk to me.”
After a while, Qiao Shu nudged Gu Chenyan. “The dumplings might be overcooked.”
Gu Chenyan: “Are you standing steady?”
Qiao Shu: “…”
His face reddened. “Yes.”
Only then did Gu Chenyan release him.
The pot lid rattled as the boiling water inside threatened to overflow. Gu Chenyan turned off the heat and removed the lid. The once turbulent water gradually calmed down, forming gentle bubbles.
Qiao Shu leaned in: “They’re blossoming.”
Gu Chenyan frowned. “Let’s redo it.”
Qiao Shu stopped his hand from pouring anything. “No, no, no. They’re still edible. They’ve just blossomed a bit; it’s fine.”
In the end, they had a meal of dumplings that had bloomed excessively during cooking. Although their appearance was altered, Qiao Shu felt they were the most delicious dumplings he’d eaten in years.
It was already late.
Gu Chenyan had left work early that afternoon to pick up Qiao Shu. After finishing tidying up the kitchen together, Gu Chenyan retreated to his study to work.
Qiao Shu returned to his room to pack his luggage.
The suitcase contained only a few items: the local specialties and candies he had bought in Lancheng had already been sent via courier and would arrive in a couple of days. So, inside the suitcase remained just the two sets of clothes and toiletries he had brought with him.
Qiao Shu organized everything neatly.
Finally, only one item remained in the suitcase: a brocade box.
Qiao Shu: “…”
He had forgotten!
Qiao Shu playfully tapped his head. “It must be Gu Chenyan’s overwhelming influence.”
Ever since they met, Gu Chenyan had consistently surprised him.
Ah, the power of attraction!
Qiao Shu held the brocade box and thought for a moment. Then, he tiptoed quietly toward Gu Chenyan’s study.
Although he knows Gu Chenyan is busy with work, Qiao Shu still wants to quickly deliver the carefully chosen gift to Gu Chenyan.
He’s curious to see Gu Chenyan’s reaction when receiving the gift.
Knock, knock
Gu Chenyan looked up. “Come in.”
The study door was cautiously pushed open, revealing a fair hand that grabbed the edge of the door. Following closely was a familiar head.
Qiao Shu peeked in. “Mr. Gu, can I bother you for a few minutes?”
Gu Chenyan: “Sure.”
Qiao Shu pushed the door open with confidence and stepped lightly into the study.
This was the first time Qiao Shu had been in this study.
The decor was simple yet somewhat serious. Two walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, crammed with books. There were also some glass cabinets, securely locked.
Qiao Shu glanced briefly but averted his eyes. He stood by the desk, separated from Gu Chenyan by the width of the desk.
Qiao Shu: “Gu Chenyan.”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Nervously and with anticipation, Qiao Shu pursed his lips. “I brought you a gift.”
Without waiting for Gu Chenyan’s reaction, Qiao Shu extended his left hand, which had been hidden behind his back, and placed it on the desk in front of Gu Chenyan.
Qiao Shu: “A gift.”
He smiled and said, “Open it and see if you like it.”
The dark brocade box rested in his fair palm, contrasting against the paleness of his skin.
Gu Chenyan reached for the brocade box.
Qiao Shu watched nervously.
The box was opened.
A deep blue cufflink appeared before their eyes.
After a dozen seconds:
Qiao Shu: “Do you like it?”
Gu Chenyan: “Yes.”
His gaze remained fixed on the cufflink, his eyes deep and mysterious.
But Qiao Shu stepped forward, gripping the edge of the desk with both hands. “Mr. Gu, what is it?”
Gu Chenyan looked up.
The visible nervousness of the young man before him was matched by his evident anticipation.
He smiled. “I like it.”
Qiao Shu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With excitement, he leaned forward again. “I’m glad you like it. I spent quite some time choosing it.”
He was brimming with self-satisfaction.
Gu Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “How long?”
“Huh?”
Qiao Shu thought for a moment. “I don’t remember.”
Eagerly, he circled around the desk and stood next to Gu Chenyan. “That’s not important. Can I put it on for you to try?”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
After a few seconds, he nodded. “Sure.”
Qiao Shu half-crouched down, removed Gu Chenyan’s original cufflink, and then took out the one from the brocade box. He aligned the tail parallel to the post, threaded it through the cuff, and secured it in place.
Qiao Shu stood up: “There you go.”
Gu Chenyan looked at the cufflink in his hand, but his mind replayed the image of the earnest young man helping him put on the cufflink earlier.
The boy’s warm breath, each exhale, brushed against the back of his hand. Due to their close proximity, he could even faintly smell the same shower gel scent on the boy’s skin—identical to his own.
Gu Chenyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
He looked up at Qiao Shu. “It looks very nice.”
Qiao Shu smiled. “Our tastes match, it seems.” He playfully placed the cufflink he had just removed back into the now-empty brocade box. “Can you wear this while working?”
Gu Chenyan: “Certainly.”
Qiao Shu confidently closed the brocade box. “In that case, I’ll take this back and not disturb your work.”
The study was once again left with Gu Chenyan alone.
Gu Chenyan stared at the reports on his computer but suddenly found it hard to concentrate.
The spot on the back of his hand, where the young man’s breath had brushed against him, hadn’t faded with time. Instead, it burned hotter.
One minute later.
Gu Chenyan stood up, shut down his computer, and walked out.
Qiao Shu, who had been reading a script by the bedside, looked up when he heard footsteps. “You’re done with work?”
Gu Chenyan: “Yes.”
He headed toward the wardrobe. “I’m going to take a shower.”
Qiao Shu: “Okay.”
A few minutes later.
Gu Chenyan, still slightly steamy from the shower, approached Qiao Shu. His voice was hoarse. “Qiao Shu.”
“I want to test my newfound knowledge.”
⌈Weekend chapters: 2⌉ ⌊Progress: 1/2 ⌋
