On the other side, after implanting spiritual waves and meddling a bit with Zhou Jinheng’s dream, Yin Minglu stopped interfering. He considered it as a small venting for the original owner. Little did he know that Zhou Jinheng got too immersed in the dream, unable to extricate himself.
Holding a bag of vegetables, he whistled while preparing a meal for himself. He cooked a few signature dishes and presented them beautifully on the dining table.
Yin Minglu was not the original owner. The original owner enjoyed taking care of others and doing household chores, while Yin Minglu preferred being waited on, being fed like a sweetheart, and disliked doing household chores. In fact, the number of times he actually cooked was few and far between.
Truly living the life of luxury, untouched by mundane tasks, like a splendid flower in the mortal world.
Even if he did cook, eating alone always felt a bit lonely. Yin Minglu didn’t like silence, so he took out his phone, snapped pictures of the dishes, and posted them on his social media.
After just taking a few bites of his meal, his phone started ringing with a series of “ding ding ding” notifications. A bunch of people liked and commented on his post. Some praised the dishes, saying they looked delicious and complimented him as a perfect man for the home. Some offered comforting words, encouraging him to move on, and others suggested going out for a drink, mentioning there were many young and handsome guys there, urging him to pursue a new romance. Of course, there were also those who wanted to introduce potential partners to him, some even expressing a self-recommendation.
Yin Minglu nibbled on his chopsticks, casually replying to a few comments. Just as he was about to exit, a new comment suddenly appeared among the crowd of likes and comments, startling him so much that his chopsticks almost dropped.
It was unusual for the boss to give likes to employees, especially during off-hours, creating a sense of awe and surprise. What shocked Yin Minglu even more was that this particular individual didn’t just like this post; they started liking all the way down. The continuous “ding dong” sounds left him bewildered, wondering why the boss suddenly had so much free time. Had they started browsing through the employees’ social media during work hours?
Moreover, when Yin Minglu checked, Lou Wang had almost liked most of his friends’ circle posts. Why did he say most and not all? Because he noticed that, even a WeChat post where he vented his frustrations received a like from Lou Wang. However, when it came to the friends’ circle posts related to Zhou Jinheng, it seemed as if Lou Wang deliberately skipped over them.
What did the boss mean by this? Suddenly doing this. Yin Minglu bit his chopsticks, pondering for a while. Staring at the series of red hearts on the backend, he seemed to understand something, yet also seemed confused. Recalling Lou Wang’s previous comments about pursuers to Zhou Jinheng, Yin Minglu’s heart skipped a few beats. Mechanically, he fed a few spoonfuls of plain rice into his mouth, even though it was tasteless, it somehow felt a bit sweet.
“…” It’s definitely not his fault!
Yin Minglu stood up, picked up the bag of rice and looked at it. It was Songjiang brand rice. Hmph, why does it taste so sweet? I won’t buy it again.
Rice: ??? You’re being completely unreasonable.
Without waiting for the next day, Yin Minglu tried to test his boss’s feelings but found himself blocked at the company entrance. The person who confronted him was Zhou Jinheng. Wearing a three-piece suit, he still looked handsome, but he seemed much thinner, and his face appeared worn out, as if he hadn’t closed his eyes for several days and nights. The dark circles under his eyes were pronounced.
During these days in the hospital, the death of the young man haunted him like a nightmare, preventing him from sleeping. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the bathtub stained with blood and the lifeless body of the young man. He was repeatedly startled awake, feeling as though he carried the life of his beloved on his shoulders. The deeper the love, the deeper the pain and guilt.
He had made one mistake after another, disappointing people both in his dreams and reality. How deep could love be?
He had contemplated many things, but he still wanted to seek forgiveness from the young man. He wondered if there was a chance, even the slightest possibility. Could it happen? He wanted to try, continuously try until the young man turned around, until he was forgiven, until a miracle occurred.
Seeing the figure of the young man, Zhou Jinheng’s eyes lit up with a long-lost spark. He tried to catch up with him in long strides, startling the person and making him look warily, “Zhou Jinheng, we’ve already broken up. What do you want?” Could it be that he was still persistent, trying to cling to him?
Seeing the young man’s guarded attitude, Zhou Jinheng smiled bitterly. Just as he was about to reach out to express his remorse to the young man, he was stopped by a tall and upright man.
Lou Wang stood in front of the young man, preventing Zhou Jinheng from approaching any further. He looked at Zhou Jinheng with a serious expression, then turned to the young man with a smile, “I’ll drive you. It saves you from being entangled.”
His handsome features, usually gentle and reserved, were now somewhat stern and domineering. Yin Minglu subconsciously agreed.
So, whenever Zhou Jinheng tried to pester him, Lou Wang would drive Yin Minglu home. Over time, he even started picking him up on the way to work, and he thoughtfully bought breakfast. As a result, Yin Minglu never once drove his newly purchased Dongfeng sedan out of the garage.
Whenever he checked, it was covered in dust.
Over time, Yin Minglu got used to the days when Lou Wang acted as his driver. Even though he was carefree and cheerful every day, the lively and energetic smile on his face would instantly disappear upon seeing Zhou Jinheng. It was replaced by an even greater dependence on Lou Wang.
Lou Wang’s eyes flickered slightly. He didn’t mind being scolded by that man1Zhou Jinheng as hypocritical. In fact, he wished the man would come a few more times, so that the young man would become even more dependent on him.
Occasionally, he would call the young man. Due to the uncertain relationship status, he dared only to maintain one call a day, afraid that crossing that boundary recklessly would be too much for the young man to handle, causing him to instinctively want to escape. So, Lou Wang had to exercise unprecedented patience, waiting for the young man to be willing to accept.
Of course, there were moments of anxiety. Like today’s call, the young man took a long time to answer, and when he finally did, Lou Wang heard the soft sound of the young man’s breathing. It lingered in his ears, incredibly sweet, causing Lou Wang’s heart to skip a beat. For several seconds, his mind went blank. This unusual sound made him crazy with speculation. Could it be that the young man had reconciled with his ex-boyfriend? Just thinking about this possibility made him feel like the world was falling apart. A surge of murderous intent towards that man filled his chest.
It turned out the young man was just exercising. Lou Wang’s tension dissipated instantly, returning to calmness. He advised the young man to rest well, and the young man obediently nodded, as sensible and obedient as he was in their work.
It seemed like this kind of interaction pattern had extended into their lives, gradually becoming more intimate. The young man was also slowly opening up to him. However, Lou Wang felt that the progress was too slow. He wanted to embrace the young man, kiss and hug him recklessly, but for now, he had to restrain himself.
Today, as usual, they went downstairs together. The young man opened the car door, stood in front of him, and hesitated as if wanting to say something. Lou Wang patiently waited for him to speak, even encouraging him with a smile. Unfortunately, the young man glanced at his face, lowered his head, seeming a bit shy, and in the end, he ran off without saying anything.
The smile instantly vanished from Lou Wang’s face. He didn’t want to endure it anymore.
After Yin Minglu went upstairs, he felt a bit regretful. Actually, the boss had been sending him off for quite some time, and he had wanted to invite him upstairs for some tea. Otherwise, it felt too cruel to just send him away like this. However, every time the words were on the tip of his tongue, he hesitated to speak, so he never actually invited him upstairs.
Just now, he felt like the boss also wanted to come up and sit for a while. Even waiting for him to speak. But every time he met Lou Wang’s deep and devouring eyes, Yin Mingluo’s heart would skip a beat uncontrollably, and he instinctively shifted his gaze away.
Due to his shyness, he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Feeling a bit regretful, he couldn’t help but walk to the hallway, wanting to see if the boss had left. Why hadn’t he heard the sound of the car starting and driving away? Even in a high-end imported car, there should have been some noise when leaving. Yin Minglu refused to admit that he felt a bit reluctant.
Just as his gaze was about to look down, a warm male figure suddenly approached from behind, pinning him against the wall. That magnetic voice continued, “You clearly wanted me to stay. Why didn’t you say so?”
Before Yin Minglu could react, he was forced into silence. His heart raced instantly, feeling the skin on his blood vessels become particularly thin and sensitive. The pitch-black night couldn’t conceal the feverish red on his face, especially with him being dominantly pressed against the wall, leaving him with almost no escape.
From behind, Lou Wang could mostly see the other’s trembling body due to sensitivity, as if he wanted to struggle but was afraid of causing more stimulation. This cute posture made Lou Wang unable to resist pulling the person even tighter into his embrace, wishing to meld them together.
With the proximity too close, the young man finally pleaded. Lifting his watery eyes, he weakly said, “So, can I invite you upstairs for tea now? Will you come up?”
Tap water or anything like that, he could certainly afford it. As for tea leaves, he would have to rummage around to find them.
Upon hearing this, Lou Wang raised an eyebrow, thinking that this kid really didn’t understand the situation. So, he decided to be straightforward and said, “Are we talking about the kind that lasts all night?”
As if a bomb had exploded, the young man’s neck turned completely red. He fell silent, pushing Lou Wang away silently. His little face was stubborn, displaying some resistance. Then, holding the keys in his pocket, he went upstairs.
Just when Lou Wang regretted if he had been too indiscreet, the young man opened his own door, walked in, and, seeing Lou Wang still hesitating outside, poked his head out awkwardly, saying, “Aren’t you here to drink tea? Why haven’t you come in yet?”
Lou Wang stood there stunned, looking surprised. Then he burst into a joyful smile.
After going upstairs, the young man actually poured him a cup of Tie Guanyin tea. Then, seemingly evading, he retreated into the bathroom. Lou Wang sat quietly in the living room, listening to the sound of running water, enjoying the tranquil moment with the young man nearby.
As long as the young man was unwilling, Lou Wang could choose not to do anything. After all, today he had successfully invaded the young man’s territory. For someone who was slow to warm up and reluctant to share their personal space like a little snail, it was already considered significant progress.
After about half an hour of bathing, the young man came out in his pajamas.
Because the young man’s apartment was quite small, he could only sit beside Lou Wang.
The body wrapped in the cool mist after the shower was incredibly enticing. In Lou Wang’s dark pupils, there was a lingering tenderness. He found that he liked the young man’s place because of its small size, which brought their breaths seemingly within reach.
The young man’s pajamas clung to his body, outlining the contours of his figure. Lou Wang gave a polite smile, afraid of offending and also afraid that he might not be able to resist the urge to pick him up.
However, the young man suddenly said, “I just took a shower. Don’t you want to see what color my underwear is?”
Upon hearing this, Lou Wang’s water cup in hand couldn’t help but tremble. He immediately looked at the young man, only to see a shy and blushing face. Lou Wang felt a bit dizzy, his voice muffled as he said, “Then let me take a look. Regardless of the color, I’ll like it.”
Whether it was pure and innocent white or seductively charming black.
Saying this, his slender fingers honestly moved towards the young man’s thigh, intending to see the color beneath the pajamas. Trailing up the leg, without finding anything, Lou Wang finally discovered something unusual. He couldn’t stay calm, “Not wearing anything?”
Indeed, there was nothing beneath the pajamas, accentuated by slightly parted knees, a revealing sight.
Lou Wang couldn’t describe the sensation in that moment. It felt as if colorful fireworks were exploding in his mind, and his rationality had completely snapped.
This must be the young man’s way of showing his willingness, right? Although there was still a bit of resistance, in the end, he accepted him gently.
The two finally had a defined relationship, and from then on, Lou Wang moved into the young man’s snug abode. The agreement to separate once Zhou Jinheng stopped bothering them became inconsequential. A small wardrobe crammed with their clothes, sometimes ties and underwear tangled together, with no distinction between yours and mine. Occasionally, in the rush of the morning, the young man even put on the wrong clothes. In such instances, he would exclaim, “Oh, how annoying!” and run back to the room to change, leaving a slight smirk on Lou Wang’s lips.
Lou Wang took over the young man’s daily life, even caring for his plants that needed sunlight and dew. He willingly took care of everything, including washing the young man’s personal clothing. Even when the young man blushed and scolded him with, “Pervert, I don’t want you to wash it. Just put it down,” it didn’t matter.
After some time, Lou Wang proposed, and after three seconds of hesitation, the young man agreed. However, during the acceptance, the young man asked, “Do you want to have children?”
In reality, Yin Minglu just casually asked because the word “marriage” reminded him of that child from before. In this mission, he had eliminated any chance of that child ever being born. He thought, perhaps all men, like Zhou Jinheng, might enjoy the feeling of having children around them.
“I don’t need children; I have you, and that’s enough. You are my child2sounds so damn wrong but okay.” Lou Wang said this, his long lashes slightly lowered, shading the light in his eyes and casting a faint shadow on his nose bridge. His entire face was excessively handsome.
As he spoke, he gently embraced the young man, handing him a spoon. Lou Wang carefully took care of him like caring for a child3…. Watching the young man obediently wolf down the food in one bite, he immediately scooped another spoonful, stopping only when the young man lazily said he couldn’t eat anymore.
In truth, Lou Wang didn’t like children at all; he only liked the young man. Perhaps there was a bit of opportunism in this relationship, causing Lou Wang to lack a sense of security. He always worried that if they had a child, half of the young man’s heart would be taken away.
How could he allow someone inexplicable to intrude into their world? He refused to let the young man’s attention be directed towards others, to give to others. Lou Wang was possessive to the extreme, wanting the young man to rely on him alone, with his gaze focused only on him.
For all eternity.
Why did he use the words “for all eternity”? Lou Wang didn’t understand, but it was a subconscious message. Engraved in the deepest part of his soul, it had become a powerful obsession.
Author’s Note:
Thank you for the support with votes or nutrient solutions.
Today’s update is a bit earlier.
Tomorrow will be at 23:30.
T/N: This arc’s chapters were so f##n long I thought my fingers were going to fall off. Another arc done we’re almost done with the novel hooray!
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