After eating the cake, Aunt Lan and Uncle Zhou each gave Qiao Shu a birthday envelope. Now that they were older and didn’t quite understand what young people liked, they simply gave red envelopes so Qiao Shu could buy whatever he liked himself.
Qiao Shu held two big red envelopes tightly, his fingers exerting force. His eyes sparkled slightly under the reflection of the light.
Qiao Shu: “Thank you, Aunt Lan.”
Qiao Shu: “Thank you, Uncle Zhou.”
He smiled.
After Aunt Lan and Uncle Zhou gave him the birthday envelopes, they smiled and walked outside together, planning to meet friends to dance in the square.
Qiao Shu carefully placed the red envelopes in his pocket and extended his fair hand in front of Gu Chenyan. “Mr. Gu.”
Qiao Shu: “Let’s also enjoy the happy life of an old couple.”
Gu Chenyan smiled gently, covering Qiao Shu’s hand with his own. Qiao Shu’s hand shifted slightly, and their hands held tightly together.
Interlocked fingers.
Gu Chenyan: “Where do you want to go?”
Qiao Shu: “To the courtyard.”
Qiao Shu: “I want to swing on the swing.”
The courtyard was adorned with flowers, a fish pond, artificial hills, a swimming pool, pavilions, and more.
The swing nestled amidst a cluster of flowers.
The moon was unusually bright tonight, casting a faint glow on the flowers and the swing. The ground lights installed around emitted a warm yellow glow.
The courtyard at night is very beautiful.
Qiao Shu sat on the swing, smiling and blinking at Gu Chenyan. “Thank you, Mr. Gu.”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm.”
He naturally walked behind the swing and gently pushed it.
The swing swayed slightly.
But the movement was very small, not at all affecting Qiao Shu as he leaned his head back, comfortably against Gu Chenyan’s chest.
He leaned back like this, looking up at Gu Chenyan from below, while Gu Chenyan slightly lowered his head.
Under the moonlight, they smiled at each other.
A breeze blew.
Gu Chenyan suddenly glanced at his watch, then stopped gently rocking the swing and softly said, “I’ll be back in a moment. Wait for me.”
Qiao Shu: “Huh?”
Gu Chenyan: “I need to send a document to Assistant Chen in the study.”
Gu Chenyan was a busy man, managing such a large conglomerate as the Gu Group. Although he took the day off today, it was late, and it was normal for Assistant Chen to suddenly contact him about work.
Qiao Shu didn’t think much of it.
Qiao Shu: “You go ahead, I’ll wait for you.”
Gu Chenyan lowered his head, planting a kiss on Qiao Shu’s lips, and then he ruffled Qiao Shu’s head. “Wait for me for about 20 mins.”
Qiao Shu smiled, “Okay.”
Gu Chenyan left.
There was only Qiao Shu left in the courtyard. He looked at the moon, at the beautifully cared-for flowers around him, at the plump and carefree fish swimming in the nearby pond. He lightly tapped his feet on the ground.
The swing gently swayed again.
After a while.
Qiao Shu sighed softly.
Just now, when Gu Chenyan was here, he gently rocked the swing like this. Qiao Shu felt particularly happy, with a continuous stream of joy welling up from the depths of his heart.
Endless.
But at this moment.
In the courtyard, there was only him. The scenery was unchanged, the swing swaying unchanged, yet he felt—
Loneliness.
And solitude.
Qiao Shu glanced back at the second floor of the villa, “Little Mr. Qiao is getting more and more delicate.”
His voice was soft.
Then he chuckled.
He chuckled to himself for a while before reluctantly withdrawing his gaze. He placed his feet firmly on the ground, stabilizing the swing to prevent it from swinging.
Swinging alone was not fun.
Qiao Shu took out his phone and started playing, intending to pass the time until Gu Chenyan returned.
He opened Weibo and browsed through some private messages, most of which were birthday wishes and Children’s Day greetings from fans. As he scrolled, he noticed one fan had sent him a picture in a private message.
Qiao Shu casually opened the image.
It was a picture with text.
Glancing at it, he realized it was a fan-made fanfiction about him and Gu Chenyan. With nothing else to do at the moment, Qiao Shu raised an eyebrow and became quite interested, so he started reading.
【The moonlight tonight is beautiful, but Gu Chenyan’s mood is far from good. He found Qiao Shu swinging in the garden, his gaze gradually darkening as he quickly walked towards Qiao Shu.
“Are you happy?” Gu Chenyan’s voice was cold, tinged with a strong sense of danger. His slender fingers mercilessly gripped Qiao Shu’s chin, forcing him to look at him.
Qiao Shu winced in pain, furrowing his brows.
But he just grunted and turned his head away, saying nothing, even closing his eyes.
His indifferent attitude stabbed at Gu Chenyan’s eyes and heart. Gu Chenyan’s throat emitted a low growl like a wild beast, his eyes dark and intense as he stared at Qiao Shu.
The two stood in silence, facing each other.
Finally, Gu Chenyan let out a mocking laugh.
He rubbed his fingertips against the red mark left on Qiao Shu’s chin, a result of his earlier forceful grip.
Qiao Shu’s skin was fair and tender.
The forceful grip had left a red mark on his chin.
Gu Chenyan touched the red mark, a cold and fierce smile curling his lips. “Do you want to reconcile with your sweetheart?”
Qiao Shu’s eyelashes trembled.
Gu Chenyan keenly sensed Qiao Shu’s emotions, his own violent impulses becoming uncontrollable. Jealousy, possessiveness, and the urge to destroy surged through his body, making his eyes turn red, like a wild beast about to go mad!
And indeed, he went mad.
Gu Chenyan forcefully twisted Qiao Shu’s head and roared angrily, “Tell me, do you want to be with him?”
Gu Chenyan: “Do you want to leave me?”
Qiao Shu’s lips began to tremble.
But he still didn’t open his eyes.
Seeing that Qiao Shu couldn’t even be bothered to speak to him and looked at him as if he were dirty, Gu Chenyan laughed bitterly, no longer suppressing the rage inside him.
“Fine!”
“Great!”
“Qiao Shu! You’ve pushed me to this!”
“I want you to understand that you belong to me, Gu Chenyan. If I can’t have your heart, I’ll have your body!”
Rip
The sound of clothes tearing.
Qiao Shu finally opened his eyes, his gaze frantic as he raised his hand to try to cover his body, his voice trembling with questioning, “Gu Chenyan, what are you doing?”
Gu Chenyan forcefully pulled his hand away, his gaze fierce. “What am I doing? I’m taking you!”
Qiao Shu: “You!”
Qiao Shu was firmly pinned down on the swing, he struggled desperately, resisting, “No, no…”
His voice quivered with sobs.
But he couldn’t resist Gu Chenyan’s dominant actions at all, he had no resistance whatsoever.
…
“Mmm~”
His voice gradually changed tone, his slender fingers gripping Gu Chenyan’s shoulders tightly, “Stop, don’t… like this… ah!”
The man with red eyes paid no attention, he held onto Qiao Shu tightly, forcefully biting Qiao Shu’s lips, leaving a conspicuous mark of teeth on his lips. “You are mine!”
His gaze was obsessive.
“You are mine!”
“Qiao Shu! Don’t even think about escaping!”
…
Mmm hmm ahh…】
Qiao Shu’s cheeks burned as he looked at the thousands of yellow-colored characters below, his buttocks sitting on the swing couldn’t help but pout…
And shrink a bit.
He swallowed hard, unable to bear it any longer. Feeling panicked as if his butt was on fire, he hastily jumped off the swing.
Realizing what he had done, Qiao Shu whimpered, quickly covering his face with his hands.
Why did he jump!
Stupid Qiao Shu!
It’s just, it’s just, a…
It’s just a forced text swing play…
It’s not real…
Gu, Gu Chenyan wouldn’t really do that… force him on the swing like that…
Ah ah ah!
Qiao Shu slapped his face.
What was he thinking!
Looking forward to… pfft, he wasn’t looking forward to anything!
Qiao Shu hurriedly closed the picture and then closed Weibo. After closing it, he couldn’t help but sneak a glance behind him at the swing swaying slightly in the air…
His eyes flickered.
Could this, this swing, really… do that?
He voiced his soul’s question.
Qiao Shu nervously looked around.
The courtyard was empty at the moment, with no one but him, only flowers, trees, fish, and the moon…
None of these were people.
He swallowed hard.
He raised his hand to touch his slightly flushed face, carrying an unspeakable spirit of inquiry as he walked back to the swing.
The swing had no backrest.
It was a large, dark wooden plank, thick and sturdy, definitely not easily breakable.
Qiao Shu: “…”
Cough!
His gaze shifted to the iron chains fastened to the wooden plank, each chain thick and definitely not prone to sudden breakage.
Qiao Shu: “…”
He looked at the vines and flowers entwined on the iron chains, involuntarily recalling the fanfiction he had just read.
【Qiao Shu tilted his head back, his face a mixture of restrained pain and comfort. He suppressed his voice, but the sound of his breath in his throat intensified with the swing’s movement.
There was no protection on the swing. His hand groped in the air, finally grabbing onto the green vines wrapped around the swing. His fair fingers gripped tightly, crushing the newly bloomed small flowers on the vines, purple flower juice spilling over his palm and slowly dripping down his wrist…
A large hand reached out.
Covering his fair palm…】
Qiao Shu: “…”
Qiao Shu snapped out of it, quickly patting his cheeks, “What are you thinking!”
He quickly stepped back.
Avoiding eye contact, he dared not look at the vines on the swing again, muttering to himself nervously, “There’s no protection here, how could it be safe…”
Qiao Shu: “It’s not…”
Qiao Shu: “Why are you thinking about this?”
Qiao Shu squatted on the ground, burying his head, “Qiao Shu, you’re beyond redemption!”
His head is full of yellow trash!
Even a little yellow mosquito can bring it into reality…
“Qiao Shu?”
A familiar voice sounded not far behind.
Qiao Shu subconsciously lifted his head, which had been resting on his knees, and looked back.
Gu Chenyan swiftly walked across the cobblestone path, stepping under the moonlight, and squatted in front of Qiao Shu, his gaze filled with concern as he looked at Qiao Shu.
Gu Chenyan: “Why are you squatting here?”
Gu Chenyan: “Your face is so red? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere? Are you unwell?” His palm reached up to touch Qiao Shu’s forehead.
Qiao Shu: “…”
Feeling guilty, he touched his face and awkwardly stood up from the ground with a smile.
Qiao Shu: “It’s just, it’s just…”
Qiao Shu: “A bit hot.”
“Yes, a bit hot.” He raised his hand to fan himself.
Gu Chenyan: “Are you really okay?”
Qiao Shu blinked his eyes erratically, nodding firmly. “I’m really fine. It’s just hot.”
Qiao Shu: “And we have Zai Zai here.”
Qiao Shu: “If I’m uncomfortable, I’ll definitely tell you right away.”
Gu Chenyan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But Qiao Shu suddenly blinked, looking at Gu Chenyan with some confusion.
Qiao Shu: “You…”
The person who was supposed to be sending files just now had changed into a different outfit. He was now dressed in a suit, tie, cufflinks, watch, and leather shoes, looking very refined and even a bit formal. Even his hair was slicked back with gel.
Qiao Shu hesitantly asked, “Are you… going out? Did you suddenly get some work?”
There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Gu Chenyan replied, “No.”
Qiao Shu couldn’t help but feel like Gu Chenyan’s face was blushing at that moment, though he wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination.
This slight change sparked a bit of surprise in Qiao Shu’s previously disappointed heart.
Gu Chenyan: “Qiao Shu.”
Qiao Shu: “Yeah?”
Gu Chenyan took Qiao Shu’s somewhat soft hand and led him back to the swing.
He helped Qiao Shu sit down on the swing.
Qiao Shu: “…”
Qiao Shu tried hard to forget the adult content he had just seen, to purify his thoughts and look at Gu Chenyan with innocence. He touched his slightly flushed face and looked at Gu Chenyan. “You…”
Gu Chenyan: “Qiao Shu.”
Gu Chenyan’s deep voice interrupted Qiao Shu’s wandering thoughts. He took a nervous deep breath and stepped back a few steps, looking at Qiao Shu sitting on the swing.
Qiao Shu: “???”
Puff
It was the sound of knees suddenly hitting the grass heavily. Qiao Shu widened his eyes, watching as Gu Chenyan suddenly knelt in front of him with a very serious expression.
Ba-thump, Ba-thump
It was his heart beating.
Qiao Shu seemed to sense what was coming next. Nervously, he swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on Gu Chenyan who was kneeling before him.
The surrounding sounds of the wind, water, rustling of flowers and grass… all disappeared.
Gu Chenyan knelt in front of Qiao Shu, took out a velvet box from his suit pocket, and handed it to Qiao Shu.
He pursed his lips, his voice serious: “Qiao Shu, I love you. Will you marry me?”
Qiao Shu looked at the box.
Gu Chenyan: “I’m sorry.”
Gu Chenyan: “I haven’t given it to you all this time.”
He opened the velvet box, revealing a silver-shining ring inside, a men’s ring.
Qiao Shu blinked.
Gu Chenyan nervously watched Qiao Shu.
After a while, Qiao Shu finally calmed his pounding heart and flashed a big smile, then reached out his hand to Gu Chenyan.
Due to nervousness, Gu Chenyan was a beat slow in his response. He had never been this nervous before, not even when he returned to take over the vast Gu Group after graduating.
Qiao Shu chuckled, “Mr. Gu, what are you waiting for?” He wiggled his fingers. “Hurry up and help me put it on.”
Gu Chenyan snapped out of it.
He gave a faint smile and quickly took out the ring from the velvet box. His movements were unusually flustered. He grabbed Qiao Shu’s hand and slowly slid the ring onto Qiao Shu’s ring finger.
Qiao Shu’s fingers were delicate and fair. The ring on his finger gleamed with a brilliant light under the moonlight.
Qiao Shu: “It looks beautiful.”
Qiao Shu looked closely at his finger, at the perfectly sized and beautiful ring. Without warning, he opened his arms and leaned forward, falling into the embrace of Gu Chenyan, who was kneeling on the grass.
At this moment, Gu Chenyan’s reaction was swift. He securely held Qiao Shu and quickly adjusted his posture when receiving him, transitioning from kneeling on one knee to both knees, making Qiao Shu’s embrace even more comfortable.
“Mr. Gu—”
Qiao Shu hugged Gu Chenyan’s neck, laughter bubbling from him. “I love it so much. I love it!”
Qiao Shu: “My heart was about to jump out just now.”
Qiao Shu: “The ring looks so beautiful.”
Qiao Shu: “The moon is so beautiful.”
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu is so handsome, haha!”
Qiao Shu: “So happy!”
Qiao Shu: “Super happy!”
He expressed his happiness incoherently, hugging Gu Chenyan’s neck. Looking at the ring on his hand, his eyes filled with overflowing happiness and contentment.
Qiao Shu: “When did you prepare this?”
Gu Chenyan, now kneeling on the grass with Qiao Shu in his arms, looked at him with gentle eyes. “Two months ago.”
Qiao Shu: “Huh?”
Gu Chenyan: “The day you confessed to me.”
On that night, Qiao Shu confessed to him, and his heart stirred again, prompting him to bring up the idea of marriage. Qiao Shu agreed. But the next day, they found out he was pregnant.
After discussing it, they postponed the wedding.
But Gu Chenyan didn’t forget about it. He owed Qiao Shu a formal proposal and a pair of rings.
These were things he had overlooked before.
He had Chen Wenyuan contact a renowned Italian jewelry designer. With the designer’s assistance, it took him nearly a month to design the rings he wanted.
A few days ago, he had just received the finished rings.
So he thought to himself that on Qiao Shu’s birthday, he would make up for the proposal and give him the rings.
Despite not usually being superstitious, he even consulted a master to determine the auspicious time for the proposal.
Qiao Shu was still smiling.
He felt so overwhelmed with happiness.
Qiao Shu had never thought about Gu Chenyan’s formal proposal because they were already married, and he had confessed his love to him. As for the ring…
Qiao Shu was a bit scatterbrained.
Gu Chenyan was always so good to him every day that he hardly remembered he was missing a ring. He was completely intoxicated by their love.
And now.
On his birthday.
Gu Chenyan not only personally prepared his birthday celebration, spending the whole day with him, but he was also now kneeling in front of him declaring his love, formally proposing, and putting the ring on his finger.
What a surprise!
Qiao Shu hugged Gu Chenyan, and the two of them knelt on the grass together like fools.
He looked at Gu Chenyan, his face beaming with silly, happy bliss, then cupped Gu Chenyan’s face, leaned in, and kissed him on the lips.
It was a deep kiss.
With a crisp “smack” sound.
Qiao Shu: “I promise you!”
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu!”
Another kiss landed on Gu Chenyan’s lips.
Gu Chenyan hugged him, about to deepen the kiss with a pounding heart. But Qiao Shu pulled back a bit.
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu.”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu: “What about yours?”
Gu Chenyan: “?”
Qiao Shu widened his eyes, then lifted his hand, the one wearing the ring, and waved it in front of Gu Chenyan, wiggling his fingers.
Gu Chenyan was momentarily stunned.
Rarely did he feel so frustrated for being forgetful. He lowered his head and took out the ring that belonged to him from his pocket.
He had almost forgotten.
Qiao Shu grabbed the ring, joyfully examining it for a few moments, and planted a few kisses on it before looking back at Gu Chenyan. “Did you forget just now?”
Gu Chenyan admitted, “Hmm.”
Qiao Shu glared at him. “Give me your hand.”
Gu Chenyan chuckled and extended his hand.
Qiao Shu held the ring in one hand and grabbed Gu Chenyan’s hand with the other.
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu, do you consent to become Mr. Qiao’s partner, forever and ever, never to part?”
He looked earnestly at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan solemnly replied, “I do.”
Qiao Shu smiled. “Mr. Qiao also eagerly agrees. He said he wants to be together for eternity.”
Gu Chenyan nodded. “Good.”
Qiao Shu gently slid the ring onto Gu Chenyan’s finger, observing the ring on Gu Chenyan’s hand, then spread open his own hand wearing the ring.
His fingers intertwined with Gu Chenyan’s.
Their palms pressed firmly against each other, fingers tightly interlocked.
Qiao Shu glanced at their joined hands, then looked up at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan gazed at him with tender eyes.
Qiao Shu smiled.
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu, Little Mr. Qiao is very happy on his birthday today. He’s been happy since he woke up this morning.”
Gu Chenyan’s free hand lifted and caressed Qiao Shu’s cheek. “And he will continue to be happy in the future.”
Qiao Shu nodded firmly. “Yes.”
They looked at each other, their eyes filled with warmth.
Their hands, wearing rings, were tightly clasped together, bathed in the faint yellow moonlight that fell upon them and scattered over the grassy ground where they knelt facing each other.
The surroundings were very quiet.
They simply gazed at each other in silence.
Time seemed to blur.
Qiao Shu’s eyelashes trembled. He slowly closed his eyes, then tilted his head slightly upward.
His pink lips puckered.
Silently, he extended an invitation to his beloved, Mr. Gu Chenyan.
Simultaneously, Gu Chenyan leaned forward slightly, his head slowly moving closer to Qiao Shu’s.
In the moonlight.
On the grassy ground, their shadows slowly converged, then intertwined.
The kiss was gentle.
The lips were warm.
Qiao Shu felt like he was melting under the heat of Gu Chenyan’s lips, yet he didn’t retreat. Instead, he leaned further into Gu Chenyan’s direction.
He parted his lips eagerly.
Welcoming the assault that tied his thoughts in knots and made his body tremble.
His long lashes continued to flutter. The hand he held tightly with Gu Chenyan’s grew slightly sweaty from the warmth, but he was unwilling to let go. Instead, his fingers involuntarily tightened, becoming white at the knuckles, and the pink color on his nails faded slightly.
He firmly held Gu Chenyan’s hand.
The other hand was uncomfortably clawing at the grass, almost pulling it out.
But soon, this empty hand was also grabbed by Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan’s head tilted back slightly.
He watched as Qiao Shu, kneeling in front of him, exhaled heavily with his moist, red lips, his gaze deepening.
Then he leaned in again towards Qiao Shu.
He gently pecked Qiao Shu’s lips, gently and dominantly wiping away the wet traces around Qiao Shu’s lips.
Qiao Shu: “Gu Chenyan…”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm.”
Qiao Shu opened his watery, reddened eyes, looking at him with a delicate and aggrieved expression. “My knees are numb.”
Gu Chenyan smiled.
He stood up, then bent down and lifted Qiao Shu, who had no strength left kneeling on the ground.
He held Qiao Shu and sat him on the swing.
The swing was wide enough to support the weight and size of two people.
Gu Chenyan: “Is this okay?”
Qiao Shu: “Hmm?”
Gu Chenyan kissed him again.
Qiao Shu instantly understood, then shyly nodded, blushing.
The next moment, he was kissed again, and one hand was led to grab the vine on the swing.
“Hold on tight.”
